THE FRIDAY FIVE: Jenna Pryor from DISNEY'S TARZAN THE MUSICAL

By: Mar. 20, 2015
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

Inspired by BroadwayWorld.com's Friday Six, welcome to BroadwayWorld Nashville's latest installment of The Friday Five: five questions designed to help you learn more about the talented people you'll find onstage throughout the Volunteer state. This week the spotlight shines on Jenna Pryor, who caps a peripatetic 2014-15 season with the role of Jane Porter in Arts Center of Cannon County's Disney's Tarzan the Musical, which opens tonight at the theater in Woodbury.

First coming to Nashville to study at Belmont University, Jenna's made her presence known on the local theater scene, taking on such varying projects as Matt and Ben, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The Last Five Years. Just ahead of opening night, she graciously agreed to take on our Friday Five and gives us some insight into whom Jenna Pryor, actress, really is...

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? I played the ugly stepsister in Cinderella when I was in second grade and realized I had the ability to make people laugh. I've been in love ever since!

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? With a show as high energy as Tarzan, I love just dancing around backstage with the cast. Usually I put on Beyonce and just shake all the nerves out.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? Considering I have a tattoo with that quote, I have many. My favorite has to be when I was making my first entrance as Eileen in Moon Over Buffalo and face planted while running across stage. I ripped my hose, got blood on my dress, and crawled off stage on my hands and knees. Later during a talk back that night a kid asked me how I made the fall look so real...lots of practice.

What's your dream role? Meryl Streep's daughter. But really... It changes frequently. Right now it's between Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde and eventually The Witch in Into the Woods as I gain more years under my belt.

Who's your theatrical crush? Collin Peterson! His voice is heavenly and his presence is unmatched. I am so honored to be able to bring such iconic characters to life onstage with him.

About the show: The classic tale of Tarzan unfolds in early 1900's as a shipwreck leaves an infant orphaned on the West African coast. The helpless baby is taken under the protection of a gorilla tribe and becomes part of their family. When he eventually encounters his first human, Jane Porter, both of their worlds transform forever.

Tarzan is directed by Darryl Deason, music direction of Allison Hall, and choreography by Lauren Johnson. The cast includes Collin Peterson (Tarzan), Allison Hall (Kala), Matt Henry (Kerchak), Jenna Pryor (Jane), Gerald Oliver (Terk), and Noah Garrison (Young Tarzan) and also features Blake Holiday, Haley Ray, Kyle McCurry, Chamberlin Little, Fred Hutchison, Greg Ray, Matthew Wells, Kennon Cliché, Zavior Phillips, Jonathan House, Kalyn Choate, Kate Hatch, Holly Adams, Rachel Cole, Jamie Kirkland, Sharron Bessant, Lauren Johnson, James Bessant, Chesley Sanford, Joshua Ferguson, Nolan Ragland and Carter Cantrell.

Tickets are $15 with discounts available for students and seniors and can be purchased by calling (615) 563-2787 Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or online at artscenterofcc.com and (subject to availability) at the door one hour prior to show time.

The Arts Center is located on 1424 John Bragg Highway, just west of the town of Woodbury, approximately 20 minutes from Murfreesboro, Manchester, and McMinnville and one hour southeast of Nashville.



Videos