FRIDAY 5 (+1): Hunter Martin and Robyn Smith

Opening the spring theater season at Nashville's Lipscomb University is Peter and the Starcatcher, directed by David Ian Lee and starring a cast of 18 Lipscomb Department of Theater students briniging to life the prequel to Peter Pan, exploring the themes of what is important in one's development - and the events that conspired to create the world of Peter Pan. Based on the novel of the same name written by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry, Lipscomb's rendition of the show is one of the first such productions in Middle Tennessee.

Today, cast members Hunter Martin and Robyn Smith talk about their own journeys to a life in the theater, revealing details about themselves and their process and offering some suggestions for why you need to come see the show, which runs through February 26 in the Shamblin Theatre on the Lipscomb campus.

Read on to get to know Hunter and Robyn - then make reservations to see the show before they are all gone...

Hunter Martin

What was your first real taste of "live, onstage" theater? I went to New York for the first time with my family when I was about 11 or 12 and we got tickets to see Hairspray. That was one of my first experiences seeing theatre live on stage. I remember it being so much fun and people were eating it up. The room was filled with so much energy by the curtain call. That was a really cool thing experience.

What's your favorite pre-show ritual? Just as the cast gets called to places I love to gather everyone and we all put our hands in the middle of a big huddle and say a word or phrase on three and then we throw our hands in the air. Each night we say something different. I really love to do that because it brings the cast together and really enforces that fact that everyone is important and everyone has each other's back. I also eat a mint.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? A memorable "show must go on moment" would have to be when I was a part of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown last year at Lipscomb University. During one of our matinee shows the power went out in the theatre and we weren't sure if we were going on with the show, but we put on our mics and costumes one anyways hoping that the electricity would kick in before house opened. Luckily it came back on just in time, but I think for a moment we all thought we'd do the show in the dark.

What's your dream role? I guess my dream role would be The Genie from Aladdin. I grew up with the animated movie and the Broadway show seems like it would be a lot of fun. I love the fact that Genie is allowed to go off script and really make the scene go even further. That would be really fun.

Who's your theatrical crush? This is going to sound really weird, but my theatrical crush is Reba McEntire as Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun. When you think of theatre you don't think Reba, but I have watched clips of her performing that show and there is something about it. She has so much charm and you can really tell how much fun she is having up on that stage.

Why should people come see Peter and the Starcatcher? People should come see Peter and the Starcatcher because it has a great message and of course there is the "Peter Pan" factor, but there is a lot more to it than that. This show gives people an escapism and it makes them feel like a kid again. The world is so hard and we need shows like this to give us a feeling of safety and that anything is possible.

Robyn Smith

What was your first "live, onstage" taste of theatre? My first show was actually a production of The Trip to Bountiful, when I was 10 years old, a show noticeably lacking in children's roles. I was so excited to start being in shows that I auditioned anyway and the Director wrote in a small role for me and I haven't stopped since.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? My favorite pre-show ritual is taking a moment to go listen to the crowd that is coming to see the show, it gets me excited for the performance and in right mind to hopefully do the story justice.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? I was in a production of Crazy for You where I got to play Patsy, the very ditsy Follies girl. During the extremely long tap section of "I got Rhythm" a large set piece was rolled over my foot and broke two of my toes, but I had to finish the remaining 4 minutes of tap dancing before I could get offstage to check on my foot. It was only the first weekend of shows and there isn't much that can be done for broken toes so I finished out the second weekend of shows with two broken toes.

What's your dream role? I would love to play Jerusha Abbot in Daddy Long Legs.

Who is your theatrical crush? I have always loved Hugh Jackman!

Why should people come see your show? People will fall in love with the endearing story of a young boy trying to find purpose and a sense of home and a young girl striving to break free of societal constrictions and limitations imposed on her because of her gender. It's a story proving to be especially evocative given the current climate. This story has heart, it has passion, and a whole lot of fun. I really don't think you can leave this show without getting a little nostalgic and longing to embrace your inner child, while still being thankful that you have what all of the characters are searching for: home!

About the show: Lipscomb University Theatre is debuting its first show of the spring semester, Peter and the Starcatcher, opening February 17 in Lipscomb's Shamblin Theatre. The show will run February 17-18 and February 24-25 at 7:30 p.m. and February 19 and 26 at 2:30 p.m.

"Lipscomb's production of Peter and the Starcatcher is one of the first productions of this show in Nashville," said Beki Baker, chair of the Lipscomb theatre department. "The department is proud to be able to offer plays and musicals hot-off Broadway."

Directed by David Ian Lee, guest director of the show, the all-student cast is comprised of only 18 actors and two musicians. The actors appear multiple times as over 100 different characters, with most of the cast rarely leaving the stage.

The staged version of Peter and the Starcatcher is based on the novel of the same name by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry, which serves as a prequel to the story of Peter Pan.

The show follows a lonely orphan, Peter, who finds himself on a voyage to the deadly island of Rundoon. The audience will join him on his adventures confronting the dastardly pirate Black Stache, mermaids and monsters, and a young girl with special powers to protect the planet from the dangerous, mysterious substance called starstuff.

"Peter and the Starcatcher is a lot of fun- it's wild and irreverent," said Lee. "It's absolutely soaked in magic and imagination, but at the core it's a story about the choices made to become who we want to be. Starcatcher has a lot to say that will resonate with the kid inside all of us."

Lee said preparation for a show of this creative caliber has required the cast as well as directors and choreographers to bring a unique kind of storytelling and imagination to the stage that is sure to sweep the audience off their feet.

"It has been a delight to work with Lipscomb students, and a privilege to collaborate with the professional designers, technicians, and other artists involved with the project," Lee said. "Peter and the Starcatcher presents some unique challenges, it is a big show, full of songs, dances, fights, puppetry, stylized sequences - and that makes for a fun high-wire act."

Tickets are $17 for adults, $12 for university faculty/staff and $5 for students per show. For tickets, contact the Lipscomb Box Office at (615) 966-7075.

production photos by Kenn Stilger