FHSTC Actor Profile: The Lead’s Take 

Q.) What can you tell me about the upcoming production and can you tell me your personal feelings on being the lead role?

A.) Yes! So, I’m very excited. The Outsiders is just a great story, I’ve always loved it, I read it in… seventh grade, I think? It stuck with me then. For the lead role, I just think that Ponyboy is a really interesting, kind of complex role, that I think S.E. Hinton did a great job fleshing out as just a realistic depiction of a teen, and I think that’s a really great thing and cool to portray. I’m incredibly excited about being the lead.

Q.) It’s no secret the theatre company is running a little differently this year. Could you tell me a little bit more about how the theatre company is structured now as well as your personal feelings about where the company stands (budget-wise)?

A.) Yes, so, I think that it’s definitely different, and that’s no secret, but I think that it’s in a good place. I think we still have the capabilities to put on a great show, and I know that’s what we’re going to do. I know that budgeting is different, and is less than it has been in the past, but I think that’s not what makes a show; a show is made with so much more than that. So we’re going to find a way to push through and put on a great show no matter what. That’s something to be excited about.

Q.) How do you think the outcome of this show will affect future productions?

A.) I think that it kind of is going to be a tone setter for, almost… what we’re doing with this new look of the theatre company, with this new budget, with new supervision, all that stuff. It’s going to show that we are still capable of doing great things and it will set that tone for both onlookers as well as the company itself, so it will build confidence for everybody involved.

Q.) What, if any, are your most major concerns for the show?

A.) I think that… I’m really just— I think we have a great cast, we’ve got a great team behind it, so there’s not really much you can worry about other than [budget]. I do think that, since we, like, have less budget than what we’ve had in the past, that’s something that will have to be dealt with but I think that we’re going to do a great job and it’s going to be amazing no matter what. I have confidence and I’m not super concerned.

Q.) What would you say to people who are interested in theatre in order to convince them to join the company (at the current state that it’s in now)?

A.) I would say that it’s an amazing community. You really get the experience of being involved in these productions, which is such a great experience… but more than that, it’s really about finding friends, finding a family, and finding a place where you can just be yourself.

The Outsiders will be performed in the auditorium at Franklin High School, from November 1 to November 3.