COLLEGIATE THEATRICS: Boston Conservatory's James Spencer Dean

One of Nashville's favorite young actors is quickly growing up. As a teenager, he was onstage for countless area theater companies, but now he's known as James Spencer Dean and he's pursuing his bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theater at The Boston Conservatory. Who'd have thought that Spencer Dean, who delighted audiences in numerous Act Too productions and was a 2012 First Night Most Promising Actor, would now be known as "James Spencer Dean" and wowing audiences in the northeast just as did back home?

Born in Fort Myers, Florida, Spencer grew up in Franklin, Tennessee. His most recent credits include Mike in A Chorus Line (he did double duty as dance captain), Victor Von Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein, Ambrose Kemper in Hello, Dolly! and Andy Lee in 42nd Street. Obviously, Mr. Dean has been pretty busy since setting off for college.

His favorite quote: "I get this feeling inside because I remember when I used to stand outside that stage door and watch all these girls come out of there, with their eyelashes and their make-up and I'd think: "God, I'll never be that old. I'll never be that old. I'll never be old enough to walk out of that stage door." But deep down inside I knew I would and, goddam it, I've come this far and I'm not giving up now." -Diana Morales, A Chorus Line

During a brief holiday break trip home to Franklin, we were able to get him to chisel some time out of his crazy busy schedule to talk about his college experiences and we are happy to share them with you today...

So, how's your college theater career going? Has it lived up to its advance hype? I can hardly put into words all I've learned over the past three semesters! I've already started going to open calls in New York due to my eagerness to put my training to work! Being a conservatory student, we spend Monday through Friday training in music, dance, and theater - all day, every day, which is exactly what I wanted! As for my actual "career" at school, it's been pretty solid! I've been a part of a few school shows, but I actually didn't audition for stuff next semester. I want to use this time to audition in New York City more frequently and focus on myself a little bit more! It has definitely lived up to the hype! Gearing up to go to one of the oldest, most well-known musical theater conservatories wasn't going to be all fun and games. I knew I was in for the real deal, and I feel like I couldn't have landed in a program that suits me better.

What's your favorite part of studying at The Boston Conservatory? I really love how much of an emphasis Boston Conservatory puts on being a triple threat! I believe it's become an essential nowadays when auditioning in New York, and I love that I feel like I'm being trained to go in for singer calls, dancer calls, or even a Shakespeare company! They really work on preparing us for anything we could come across in the future, and the program truly spends four years creating you to be an artist with the tools to sustain a career.

Have your future plans changed since your college experiences? College has only fueled me to obtain my dreams faster, to be honest! Some people scoff when I say that I want to book straight into a Broadway show after college, but honestly, if you're a musical theater major and that isn't your dream, what are you doing? I'm so eager to be able to thank my mom in my Broadway bio! Corny, but I've been thanking her in every bio since my first regional show ten years ago and I can't wait till I make all her hour long drives to the best voice teacher and thirty minute drives to dance worth every cent!

What collegiate theatrical moment looms largest in your mind? This past semester, I was incredibly fortunate to be a part of Emerson College's student produced production of A Chorus Line where I played Mike and also served as dance captain. During one of our dress rehearsals, the boy playing Mark, the role I played at The Larry Keeton Dinner Theater in 2011, had to step out for another rehearsal. I stepped right in and performed his part that opens the 20-minute "Montage." As soon as we went offstage, a cast member came up to me and paid me an unforgettable compliment. It was at this moment that I realized how incredible the training I'm receiving is, and I realized I would have never earned that compliment in high school. It assured me that Boston Conservatory is training me to be the artist I've always dreamed of becoming. I also get to surround myself with some of the most talented college students, and it constantly inspires me to be the best I can be! Shout out to my MT '17 family!

What advice would you offer to high school students considering making the plunge? Never doubt yourself. This business is hard, and the only people that survive are the people that can't do anything else and need theater to live. Invite yourself the opportunity to be one of those people. Never question if you're going to fail or if you should be doing this. Know that you're doing what you love because nothing else can make you as happy. Some say, "the name of a school doesn't mean anything," but it's the training that earns those schools the name they have. Find a school with the right training for you and fully immerse yourself in your studies. The rest will fall into place!