BWW Interviews: RYAN BOWIE Gives His Heart to Answer THE FRIDAY FIVE

Inspired by BroadwayWorld.com's Friday Six, welcome to Nashville.BroadwayWorld.com'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.

Today, the spotlight falls upon Ryan Bowie, who is a company member and director of fundraising and development at Clarksville's Roxy Regional Theatre, currently onstage in the staged reading of Moises Kaufman's Gross Indecency through Saturday night, March 24, and who will be opening in The Red Badge of Courage (running March 30-April 7) and in Spring Awakening (April 13-May 5). Obviously, Ryan pours his blood, sweat and tears into his work-but you've probably never realized just how true that assertion is.

Find out what makes Ryan Tick-onstage and off-in today's installment of The Friday Five and then go to Clarksville in the next few weeks and see him in action…

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? I played Raggedy Andy in a crazy production with the Professional Theatre in my hometown. Prior to that, I don't think I had seen anything live onstage, besides the Ice Capades, of course.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? For me it is all about the music.  Sometimes it is just sitting backstage listening to the pre-show music or some playlist that goes along with the show.  Music for me is what gets me in the groove.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? When I was playing Ryan Evans in Disney's High School Musical, I was preparing for a two-show day. I slept in and decided to have a bagel for breakfast. As I was cutting the bagel the knife slipped and I cut the piece of skin between your thumb and index finger. I got the blood to stop by the time the matinee began thanks to liquid scar and then right out of the gate, with the first jazz hand, it split open and I bled out all over my costume on stage.  

What's your dream role? God, at this point who knows. Every role is a dream isn't it? I have been fortunate enough to play several of my dream roles. There are a few I would love to revive.  

Who's your theatrical crush? Sutton Foster. Every role she is in I would love to play in drag. Bernadette Peters. She has such a mesmerizing stage presence.