KidsActing Alum Jared Titus "Finds His Grail" in Upcoming National Tour
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Jared Titus --tall, talented, and tremendously personable-- just graduated from North Carolina's Elon University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. But unlike many other recent college graduates, Jared knows exactly where he's headed next... On September 18th, he begins rehearsals for the next major North American tour of Spamalot, the Tony-winning musical based on the film Monty
Python and the Holy Grail. Jared will be performing in the ensemble, as well as understudying the role of the not-so-brave "Sir Robin," a role originated on Broadway by David Hyde Pierce. As he prepares for this latest quest in what promises to be a stellar stage career, we caught up with Jared to chat about his upcoming adventure... Because you see, once upon a time, in a nearby kingdom, young Sir Titus was actually a kidsActing star--
kidsActing: So let's get right to the first big question.. How the heck did you end up cast in Spamalot before you even got your degree? Jared Titus: Well, I went to an open call in New York City over Spring Break and auditioned, and then I was invited to a callback while I was there... And a few weeks later, I got an e-mail inviting me to final callbacks- but I couldn't go because I was performing in Hello, Dolly! at the North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh at the time. So, I sent in a video submission as my final callback, and somehow got the job through that! It was awesome. I couldn't believe it.
kA: So, wait - you were performing in a regional production of Hello, Dolly! when you got the call? What was that like?
JT: It was really exciting for me to work with all the people in Hello, Dolly! It was a very professional process... we only had six days to put up the show-- but everything was very organized and tracked, yet artistic at the same time. It was an awesome experience; all the people were really wonderful... And it was exciting to get out into the real world of performing professionally under a guest contract.
kA: Who played Dolly?
JT: Well, it started out with Cybill Shepherd, but she had an offstage leg injury mid-way through rehearsals, so they brought in Jacqueline Piro Donovan, who played Fantine recently in Les Miz on Broadway, and she was fantastic.
kA: Wow. And meanwhile you were finishing your final semester of college?
JT: Yeah, it was crazy. I had an hour-long drive to Raleigh every day. I got permission from my teachers to miss my afternoon classes - so, I would go to class in the morning, drive to Raleigh, have rehearsal from 2pm-10pm each day... and then just had to make up some of my classwork later.
kA: Sounds like your professors must be really supportive of your career.
JT: Yes, incredibly... Elon has totally changed me as an actor and a dancer and a singer. And as a person, too. You grow up so much in college, and the faculty is just amazing at Elon. I learned so much in honing my craft while I was there.
kA: Does the show Spamalot itself have any particularly special significance for you?
JT: Oh, yes. I love this show-- it's one of my dream shows, if not my biggest dream show... It's just such a funny show. I love comedy; I grew up watching Monty Python with my dad, and I'm a big believer that if you can make somebody else laugh, if you can help somebody in the theatre forget about their day and all their worries, well-that's when art really does something. It's such a fun, silly show. It's nonsense, but it's just awesome.
kA: What are you looking forward to the most about touring with the show?
JT: All of it, to tell the truth. I'm really exited to get to travel and see the country. It's going to be hard sometimes, I'm sure- I mean, I'm going to be in a bus, with the cast, all the same people, all the time. I think it will be like a family- there will be times when we're mad and will fight, but we'll have truly great times, as well. I'm just excited to experience that, all of it, and to have this adventure, and everything that goes along with it.
kA: What role do you think kidsActing played in getting you to where you are today?
JT: kidsActing shaped me so much as an actor. I got the opportunity to play such great roles, and such diverse roles when I was younger... and that's the best experience you can get -- to actually play those parts, to learn from those shows. You can sit in a classroom all day and listen, but actually getting up there and trying it on stage and seeing what that experience is like... that's what it's about. It really shaped me as an actor, and kidsActing is where I fell in love with theatre. I had so much fun there, it's where my love began, and that's when I decided I wanted to do this as a career. I remember that I used to look forward to rehearsal all day at school. I couldn't wait to get out and go to kidsActing...
kA: What are some of your favorite kidsActing memories?
JT: Well, I got to play Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, which to this day is still one of my favorite roles. It's just such a goofy role-- you get to do the French, and the constant flirting, and the big personality; it's a lot of fun to play on stage. I mean, you get to be a candelabra, what more can I say?
kA: That's great! You know, we just did Beauty and the Beast again this last semester.
JT: Really?
kA: Really! Funny how things come full circle... Anything else you want to say before we let you go?
JT: Well, I do have to say a big "Thank you" to [kidsActing founder] Miss Dede Clark; I love her- she's just a wonderful lady, and I'm so grateful for all that I learned from her.
kA: Thanks, Jared. Keep us posted if your tour comes through Texas. And break a leg (but not in the Cybill Shepherd way)!
Dede remembers...Jared's parents always supported his dream. In Texas, where football is king (and don't get me wrong, I love football; my uncle was major professional coach), Jared's parents sent him to kidsActing and to Dana Nunn's 620 Dance Center. He acted, sang and danced his heart out growing up. It wasn't always easy for them, as there was pressure for him to "be more like the other boys" -- but they never wavered. Jared believed in his dream and they believed in their son. And now they are getting to see their son's dream come true. What more could parents ask for? |
kidsActing believes that these events will expand your view of the arts in Austin. Art is subjective and therefore the events that we list and may not be appropriate for all age groups or for all families. Please use your discretion and contact the producers of the event if you have questions about its content.
Do you have an event to add to our calender?
Contact Jazmine at 512-905-4392 or email [email protected].
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Mona Lisa Artist's Talk
AMOAJune 23, 7-8pm www.amoa.org
Sixteen women artists each interpreted Da Vinci's iconic portrait for a photograph of themselves as Mona Lisa in this collaborative project. They then transformed Rino Pizzi's portraits through their own artistic process. Join us for a conversation with the project artists about portraiture, gender representation, and artistic collaboration.
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Alice in Wonderland
The Emily Ann Theatre June 3-26 www.emilyann.org Don't be late in joining the EmilyAnn Theatre in our musical journey this summer to Wonderland, where you will meet Alice and all of your favorite "mad" characters! This musical production, created by Michael Sirotta, is making its TEXAS PREMIERE here at the EmilyAnn! Fun and magical for families and audiences of all ages, be sure to join us or...OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!! _____________________________
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Chaplin-ify Yourself at Modern Times
Paramount Theatre
June 12, 2pm
www.austintheatre.org
In a modern and cold world of factories, the humanity of the Little Tramp shines through in his final appearance. Made long after the transition to sound films, Chaplin chose to have no dialogue but his usage of sound as comedy is far ahead of its time. Charles Chaplin, Paulette Goddard and Henry Bergman. Directed by Charles Chaplin.
Complete with Charlie Chaplin moustaches for the photobooth.
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Austin's Pizza is a proud supporter of kidsActing and Center Stage Texas!
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CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of our enrollment drawing
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Antonio Figueroa |
Go Ape in...
The Jungle Book
Cedar Park
2 Week Camp
Starts Next Week!
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To Be or Not to Be Hilarious !
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Abridged
3 week camp Jai Suire Stratford-Upon-Avon teacher is the director for this show!
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kidsActing's Award-Winning Musical
Monsters!
6 week camp
Original songs by Willie Nelson!
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Showtime Musicals
Full Day and Half Day
Ages 4-16
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Showtime Plays
Star Wars
Ages 6-11
The Lightning Thief
Ages 8-14
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Showtime Plays
with a finale song
The Ugly Duckling
Ages 5-9
Toy Story
Ages 5-11
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GLEE...
A variety show
Train with a professional vocal coach!
Ages 10-16
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On the Porch with Jim Swift features kidsActing students!
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while Mary Catherine Mooney played Marie, the Baker's Assistant, and other roles in the dynamic ensemble.
If you saw either the Advanced Class or the Lakeway Cast of this spring's magical musical production of
Beauty and the Beast, then you had another special opportunity to see all three of the kidsActing stars who were featured in Jim Swift's KXAN series about actors with disabilities who've found an artistic home on the Center Stage stage. Alex Beckham played the Beast in the Advanced Production, while Mary Catherine Mooney played Marie, the Baker's Assistant, and other roles in the dynamic ensemble. Meanwhile, Chloe Spanjersberg commanded the stage in the role of Mrs. Potts in our Lakeway production, wearing a fabulous custom-designed teapot costume! Swift's original broadcast last summer about these kids [which can be seen at
www.kxan.com] was honored with the Barbara Jordan Media Award in April. In a recent follow-up piece, legendary Austin actress Lana Dieterich, herself a survivor of polio (and who just closed a phenomenal run as the lead in Zach Scott's August: Osage) County, had some words of encouragement for Chloe about pursuing her dreams, www.kxan.com. In Lana's words, "You Go, Girl!" Kudos indeed to Alex, Mary Catherine, Chloe, and to all of the casts of Beauty and the Beast for another semester of great shows!
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Contact Information |
kidsActing at Center Stage Texas
2826 Real Street Austin, TX 78722 836-KIDS (5437)
www.kidsactingstudio.com www.centerstagetexas.com
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