The FRIDAY FIVE (on Monday?): TUNA's Asa Ambrister & Patrick Goedicke

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. Yes, we realize this is Monday, but we were so busy celebrating Marriage Equality in Tennessee last Friday that we lost track of the date.

Today, we train our spotlight on Asa Ambrister and Patrick Goedicke, the two versatile actors who bring the whole town of Tuna, Texas, to life in Red, White And Tuna, the latest incarnation of the Tuna cycle at Miss Jeanne's Dinner Theatre. The show opened Friday night and continues through July 12...so here's your opportunity to get to know Asa and Patrick and then make reservations to see their wacky characters before the show's run ends.

Asa Ambrister

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? My mother is a musician and would play the piano for all our school Christmas plays. My big break was getting cast as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in second grade. I took it very seriously - and was not pleased when Santa forgot his lines.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I drink coffee until I feel queasy, pace a lot, and do vocal warm-ups...Unique New York...and all that.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? I had a touring experience for several months where my partner did not like me and was openly hostile. I had to simply focus on my work. The rest of the time, it felt like prison! I couldn't exactly hop out of the van in Indiana and walk home.

What's your dream role? I have been flirting with the role of David in Brad Fraser's Love and Human Remains for a few years. The material is bold and gritty and provocative. I would love to do it to shake things up a bit.

Who's your theatrical crush? Creatively, I love what George W. Manus, Jr. did with Out Front on Main.
I like Angela Gimlin's spunk and humor. Crush-wise, well...I am too shy to reveal that.

BONUS: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people. Primarily, people seem to be surprised how quiet I am offstage versus my stage personalities. I can go stretches of time without saying a lot.

Patrick Goedicke

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? I played a severely mentally challenged man in Remembering Oliver for 29th Street Rep in NYC a long, long time ago...audience members said I made them uncomfortable, which I thought was a bad thing, but my sweet director Vera Beran said that is "exactly what the character should evoke!"

What is your favorite pre-show ritual My favorite pre-show ritual is pacing while going over lines!

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? My favorite the show must go on is Tuna, as I have contracted poison ivy this week-but I will still put on bra and pantyhose-the show must go on!

What's your dream role? My dream role is King Lear, but so far, no luck!

Who's your theatrical crush? My theatrical crush if very easy-Patti Lupone!

BONUS: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people. Most people will probably be surprised that my mother, before she passed on, said I was the bastard child of JFK! I think she was kidding, but you never know...