FRIDAY 5 (+1): THE MOTHERF*CKER WITH THE HAT Opens Tonight

Shawn Whitsell's Destiny Theatre Experience celebrates its tenth anniversary starting tonight with the opening of Stephen Adly Guirgis' The Motherfucker With the Hat at Nashville's iconic Darkhorse Theater.

Directed by Kurt Jarvis and featuring a cast of local stage favorites, along with some intriguing newcomers, including Michael Carlo, Megan Blevins, Matt N. Smith, Amie Lara and Tony Insignares.

"I love this play," says producer Shawn Whitsell, the founder of Destiny Theatre Experience. "I acted in a production of it in Clarksville [at the Roxy Regional Theatre] about five years ago and knew it was something I wanted to bring to Nashville one day. When Kurt approached me about doing it, I didn't have to think twice."

With opening night fast approaching, Jarvis' five actors found time in their overwhelming schedules to give us some insight into who they are and why they do what they do and to offer some suggestions about why you should see their show for today's installment of Friday 5 (+1) - read on and then make plans to see the show during its two-weekend run.

Megan Blevins

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? If this question is asking what was the first show I saw live, I think it was Peter Pan at The Paramount Theatre in my home town of Bristol, Tennessee...I was making a hook with my finger the whole show because I was in love with Captain Hook...still am. I was maybe six-years-old. However, if this question is about the first show I ever performed in myself, I think I was the color orange in kindergarten...

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I am a very anxious person, so I like to find a corner and relish my alone time before a show. I quiet my mind and go over every scene in my head.

What is your favorite "the show must go on" moment? While stage managing a children's show, one of the adult actors became violently ill and could not perform...I had to throw on a costume and jump onstage...I had never done children's theatre before.

Who is your theatrical crush? Look...I know he mostly does TV and film, but I have to say Kit Harington. He was trained as a stage actor and performed Dr. Faustus so I think that counts! Swoon.

What is your dream role? Maggie the Cat - Cat on A Hot Tin Roof.

Why should people come see The Motherfucker With the Hat? The characters are fantastically flawed...and you're going to have a blast experiencing their train wreck of a world!

Tony Insignares

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? When I was in Kindergarten, we did a play on Martin Luther King, Jr. At the time, I was extremely shy and quiet student so they gave me a non-speaking role as one of Dr. King's sons. On the day of the show, the student who was supposed to play Dr. King was sick and couldn't perform. Somehow, I knew his lines and auditioned on the spot, minutes before show time. I ended up performing the role of Dr. King including reciting the, "I Have A Dream" speech. Everybody loved it and let's just say my teachers and peers didn't look at me the same.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? Meditation, music, stretching, and having fun.

What is your favorite "the show must go on" moment? Where do I start? I'll give you two moments: The first was a show back in 2009 called The Dance on Widow's Row. The play was performed each week for a whole year and there happened to be a horrible storm one evening. The storm was so bad that it blew a fuse and the building had no electricity. The director/producer Barry Scott was about to cancel that night's performance due to the weather and no audience. At the last minute, there were guest coming in later than expected so we decided to still do the show, but using candles and flashlights for lighting. We basically improvised and ad-libbed within the storyline about the lights being out to go with the situation of no lights. Everybody loved it and the cast had a lot of fun doing it.

The second "the show must go on," moment was performing a month ago with sciatica in my back. It was during a Father's Day service at my church, Infinity Fellowship. Normally when I'm at my best physical condition, I like to move around and do some call and response with the church members to get them energized. Unfortunately, due to my back pain I knew I wasn't going to be 100%. But since it was a special occasion, I didn't want to just back out either. I called Rev. jeff carr to get his confirmation. I basically let him decide if I should do it or not and whatever he answered I would follow. He gave me the green light to perform and he said, "We'll make it work!" The audience had fun and I actually enjoyed it more than I expected.

Both these moments have taught me the importance of going with the flow. Some things aren't going to go the way you expect or as they say, "expect the unexpected." I believe the artist J.Cole said it best, "There's Beauty in the Struggle."

Who is your theatrical crush? I don't have a crush at the moment, but my theatrical influence is John Leguizamo. I've seen three of his one-man shows including Ghetto Klown in Los Angeles. I had the great opportunity to get his autograph and talk to him after the show. Not only is he a humble human being, he's was extremely talented and versatile performer. Actors like him have always been a major influence to me in my craft and I was much honored to watch him perform and meet him.

What is your dream role? Being a part of the production Hamilton. I always wanted to rap in a play and I guarantee that I will be checking that one off my bucket list.

Why should people come see The Motherfucker With the Hat? Why would you not want to see it? The title speaks for itself. But I digress, the story is awesome and funny even just reading the script. To see a live performance of it from this phenomenal cast and crew makes me wish I could watch it from an audience point of view as I'm performing it. This show is what I consider an escape from your own reality. It's like putting a mirror in front of society and learning to laugh at your own flaws. Just enjoy yourself. Life is too short to worry about the things we can't control.

Michael Carlo

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? I am very new to acting, especially in theatre. My first taste of theatre was seeing Cats and The Lion King on Broadway when I was very young. I was interested, but not enamored. Then a bit of acting in high school and a college course. Really, I just didn't have the confidence in myself or the support needed to be an actor when I was younger.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I haven't discovered my favorite pre-show ritual because this is my first show. But about an hour and half before rehearsal I like to have an easy pour Baileys and vodka coffee. A li'l alcohol to settle the nerves and some caffeine...just to keep those same nerves on edge! However, I imagine a glass of red to sip before being called to places before each show.

What is your favorite "the show must go on" moment? I have not had a "show must go on" moment yet! I'm excited and also TERRIFIED about what it's going to be. The place to find peace, I think, is in already having "the show must go on" as your theatre foundation. So, it really doesn't matter what it is, does it? The show must go on!! Barring crazy, emergency, catastrophic things of course! Right? I mean I'm new here, but right? Hello?

Who is your theatrical crush? My theatrical crush is probably Daniel Radcliffe, as in a crush on his craft. I mean my goodness the guy is super talented, he sings, he dances, he's a fuckin' wizard...As a crush in the physical sense I really don't know a lot of actors but Sofia Vergara always carries herself in a very attractive way. Inside and out and I'm drawn to that energy as well as the fact that she is a method and stage actor!

What is your dream role? My dream role is to book the job. I am new to the game and I have a lot to learn. With the help of my agent (The Avenue Agency) every job I book I step a smidge higher in knowledge, networking, craft and personal vision (goals). My dream job is to be an actor for life. But sure, a character on Fear, GOT, Netflix, Amazon, Preacher etc. That would be dope!

Why should people come see The Motherfucker With the Hat? People should come and see The Motherfucker With the Hat because we have worked our asses off to make this happen. And we all know hard work pays off. Destiny Theatre Experience (Shawn Whitsell) has been working with director Kurt Jarvis for over a year on this production. Furthermore, the audience will be able to connect with the storyline in a way that is emotional and funny. It's a rollercoaster ride of a show with a little bit of "who dunnit" in relationship to the hat. Plus, these actors are really amazing and genuine. There is a lot of chemistry to be seen onstage and felt by the audience in their seats. Buckle in and find out who The Motherfucker With The Hat is...Thank you for your time and consideration to come see our play.

Amie Lara

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? I've been singing and acting onstage since I was a child. My first Broadway show I saw live was Les Miserables in NYC at the Imperial Theatre!

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? My favorite pre-show ritual typically consists of a tea or coffee beverage along with meditation to get into character.

What is your favorite "the show must go on" moment? There are so many! Let's see...when I was performing the role of Nancy in Oliver, our Fagin filled the cup of gin with actual gin! I HATE the taste of gin, but Nancy kind of digs it! I went with it, and the audience had no idea.

Who is your theatrical crush? My screen crush is hands down Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Character crushes: Chris from Miss Saigon and Alfredo from La Traviata.

What is your dream role? I have had the opportunity to portray many amazing roles! I would still love to portray Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors one of these days. I would also love the opportunity to portray Nancy in Oliver again one day!

Why should people come see The Motherfucker With the Hat? The Motherfucker With the Hat touches on several real life emotions and issues. Every single one of us has made choices that we probably shouldn't have made at some point in our lives. This show touches on matters of the heart, dysfunction, anger, and everything in between. At the very least, watching the characters onstage will make you feel pretty damn good about your own life!

Matt Smith

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? I saw a community theater production of Fiddler on the Roof when I was very young and was immediately captivated. From then on, I begged my parents to take me to everything...operas, concerts, plays, musicals. My first real onstage experience as an actor was in a high-school production of William Saroyan's Hello Out There! and that's where I discovered that feeling. The MOMENT. Been chasing it ever since.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? First, I walk the set, going through the show in my mind. Then I check my costumes and props. Then I stretch and bounce up and down for a while to get limber and bring my energy level up. Finally, I sit down and quietly move into my own little world where I get into character. And before "places," one shot of booze...always from the same flask.

What is your favorite "the show must go on" moment? I directed ACT 1's production of Lilies a while back, and had to step into Phil Brady's role for the last performance. Phil played the role so beautifully and powerfully, and while I wouldn't claim to have matched that beauty and power, it was a scary, stressful and remarkably rewarding experience nonetheless.

What is your dream role? If I've learned one thing about "dream roles" over the last several years, it's that I can never predict the quality of any theater experience. I've played characters that I never would have put in that category when I read the play, but that have turned out to be exactly that. Luckily there are a lot of great roles out there for older actors, so I'm sure there are plenty of "dream roles" left to play.

Why should people come see The Motherfucker with the Hat? Because it's darkly, uncomfortably and nastily funny. And because these are real people with real struggles. Because we cuss...A LOT. And we fight. And get nearly naked. I mean, what more could you ask for?

About the show Kurt Jarvis directs Stephen Adly Guirgis' The Motherfucker With The Hat for a July 21-29 run at Nashville's Darkhorse Theater, marking the tenth anniversary summer production from Destiny Theatre Experience.

The Motherfucker With The Hat is a comedy about relationships, drug dependency and overcoming life's obstacles. Jackie, a petty drug dealer, is just out of prison and trying to stay clean. He's also still in love with his coke-addicted childhood sweetheart Veronica. Ralph D. is Jackie's too-smooth, slightly slippery AA sponsor. He is married to the bitter and disaffected Victoria. There's also Jackie's ride-or-die cousin Julio.

"I love this play," says producer Shawn Whitsell, the founder of Destiny Theatre Experience. "I acted in a production of it in Clarksville [at the Roxy Regional Theatre] about five years ago and knew it was something I wanted to bring to Nashville one day. When Kurt approached me about doing it, I didn't have to think twice."

Jarvis' cast features Michael Carlo, Megan Blevins, Matt N. Smith, Amie Lara and Tony Insignares. The show is directed Kurt Jarvis, who also directed Yellowman for DTE earlier this year.

Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. for performances on Friday and Saturday, July 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29. Showtime is at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, and again on Saturday, July 29.

The Motherfucker With The Hat will be presented at the Darkhorse Theater, 4610 Charlotte Avenue. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $10. For more information or to reserve tickets, contact Shawn Whitsell at destinytheatreexperience@gmail.com.

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