High School Drama: Hume-Fogg's JONATHAN HANKINS

If there is one constant about high school theater in Middle Tennessee, you can bank on this one: The musicals being performed onstage at Nashville's Hume-Fogg Academic High School are sure to be compelling and engaging - and equal to many of the community theatre and professional productions being mounted hereabouts.

Credit, of course, must go to 2014 First Night Honoree Daron Bruce, who helms the productions with his longtime artistic collaborator Lisa Forbis. Together, the two educators select challenging titles for their student actors and singers to tackle and, in the process, they choose shows that audiences want to see, sometimes offering the initial area productions for local theater-goers: Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights, which was onstage at this same time last year, is a prime example.

This year's show is Big Fish, the Andrew Lippa-John August musical based upon August's own screenplay of the same title. Opening tonight at HFA's auditorium, located symbolically on Nashville's very own stretch of real estate known as "Broadway." Starring Michael Dunaway, Lindsey George and Jonathaln Hankins, the musical runs through the weekend.

Which brings us to today's edition of High School Drama, introducing you to one of the show's leading men: Jonathan Hankins. Here's your opportunity to get to know more about the talented HFA senior prior to opening night (You've made your reservations, right? Curtain's at 7 p.m. Don't be late!)...

What's your greatest theatrical goal or ambition? My theatrical goal in life is to perform on the big musical stage on Broadway.

What role would you most like to play? If I could play any role in any show, it would be Jack in Into the Woods. Playing that role on any stage has always been a big dream of mine.

What's your most memorable experience in theater so far? My best experience in theatre was when I played Tobias in Sweeney Todd. Playing a younger role in the show was a great experience, and that role fit me very well. His solos and lines in the show were so fun to show to the audience.

Who's your favorite actor? My favorite actor is Matthew Broderick, when he played Leo Bloom in The Producers.

What show that you haven't seen yet would you most like to see? The show I would love to see live that I have not seen, is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The book is one of my favorites, and after reading reviews of the Broadway show, it is a must-see on my list.

About the show: Hume- Fogg's Big Fish; showtimes are November 3-5 at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, November 5, at 2 p.m. General Admission tickets (available 30 minutes prior to curtain) are $5 for students and $10 for adults. Reserved seats are $13 and are available at www.hfatheatre.com.

Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, Big Fish centers on Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest... and then some! Edward's incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him - most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. But their son Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father's epic tales.

Overflowing with heart, humor and spectacular stagecraft, Big Fish is an extraordinary new Broadway musical that reminds us why we love going to the theatre - for an experience that's richer, funnier and BIGGER than life itself.

photos by Rick Malkin