WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Michael Edwards

Covering theater for as long as I have is not without its privileges, chief among them being the opportunity to witness some very talented people come and go from the various stages in my life (and at varying stages in their careers) on the various stages I have been honored to cover over the years. While keeping up with them nowadays may be as easy as signing onto social media, their contributions to the cultural fabric of a major creative hub like Nashville (a city where virtually everyone sings, writes, makes music, and/or has a development deal in the works) may be unknown to a great many people now walking in their very footsteps.

More importantly, perhaps, seeing as how I know where the bodies are buried-both literally and figuratively-I am provided a unique perspective on the personalities that have shaped theater in Tennessee for at least the past 37 years (if you count that first show I reviewed as a college sophomore). Today you will be introduced to two of the best people to ever walk onto a Tennessee stage via what has quickly become our most popular feature series...WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Ask anyone who was around Nashville theater from the 1970s through the 1990s who the best-known actor was and chances are they'll answer, "Michael Edwards." Enormously talented and ridiculously versatile, he is perhaps best known for his tenure at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, where he took on a wide-ranging slate of challenging roles. He came to Nashville in 1970, for one show at The Barn and settled in for a 20-year run. "Why? Work! It kept appearing...good people and good challenges."

Now making his home in Orlando, Florida - while continuing to pursue his almost 50-years-long (he's currently on year number 49) career on stages all over the country, Michael Edwards tells us this week all about his time spent in Nashville and where those years have led him...

"I will soon celebrate my 50 years(1966-2016) of making a living in theatre...not getting wealthy but making a living,paying bills, having a home, being part of a family of vagabonds and gypsies and illusionists....and I still love every moment of the process," he says.

Most recently, Michael Edwards was in Nashville in 2013 for Labor Day Weekend's celebration of The First Night Honors, during which he was honored along with John Chaffin, Jim Crabtree, Carolyn German, Corbin Green, Jamey Green, Nan Gurley and Jane Kelley.

How in the world did you ever end up in Nashville? Although born in Knoxville, I had attended College in California and was scrambling to find work like the other thousands of hopefuls in Hollywood,working in Montana, Wyoming ,Utah and Nevada in stock and regional theatres. Returning to visit my family (mother and brother) still in Knoxville I came with friends to Nashville and always looking, got an audition at The Barn Dinner Theatre..."Big John" Chaffin (Sr.) heard it was a good audition and said, "Well, hell, I won't pay you in from California but if you show up here, there's probably work." I took him at his word and in six months I arrived back in Tennessee with temporary housing in Nashville (they put us up at the theatre) and was hired for a role in The Girls in 509, a political comedy. I worked for the Chaffins for 20 years, with the short time when they sold the business to Advantage Companies which, without the passion, drove it into bankruptcy. The Chaffin family got it back and asked me to serve as artistic director and it became Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre - and it's still entertaining audiences in the metro Nashville area.

What did you learn during those early days? The old adage "you learn to do by doing" was never so true as in the 1970s and '80s in Nashville. We - and there was a strong group of passionate performers - managed to make some theatrical magic because no one told us we couldn't. Twenty years is a great foundation for any career. Theatre, theme parks (yes, I worked at Opryland), television (The Nashville Network), regional and community theater, Theatre Nashville, Circle Players, Cumberland County Playhouse, TRT ( now Nashville Rep), touring, a few films and a lot of hard work and "sweat equity" in making magic from burlap, spirit gum, roast beef and green beans. I think every actor should have the experience of working in the trenches in dinner theatre, community theater, and truck and van touring ....maintaining and energizing the performance and focus. It's the education of experience and survival.

What's your most noteworthy memory of your time in Nashville? My most vivid memory of Nashville is the excitement, the passion ,the belief that we were doing great theatre, be it silly farces, mysteries, musicals, classic American drama, six-times-a-day theme park shows, childrens theater, cabaret shows - whatever. We had faith and conviction. It was great.

Who are some people who had an impact on who you are as an actor and an artist during your days in Music City? I have to say the lasting folk were my mentors, Barbara Moore, Ruth Sweet, all the Chaffins, Clara Hieronymus, Sara Morrow, the Crabtree family, and the fellow magicians Phil Padgett, Pam Atha, Jerry Hammons and many more - and the novices who have continued to make magic. Nashville is still a passionate,energetic,and dedicated city

Do you have any advice for actors, artists, technicians, arts administrators pursuing their passion in Nashville? To any actor beginning in the Nashville area - or any area, for that matter - my advice is the same given to me almost 50 years ago: Work anywhere, take the job, listen and learn from every person me meet. Later on, you will have time to be picky or more exclusive about your opportunities. But until then, work anywhere, learn everything, believe everything - but the press. The best time to find work is when you're working, pursue auditions when you are in performance. There's an energy and confidence that surrounds you. Take risks, but don't be foolish or inconsiderate of commitments or reputations - and always have fun.