HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA: Hume-Fogg's Shawn Sookram Has His Moment in the Spotlight

Welcome, dear ladies and gentlemen and all supporters of theater (both local and otherwise) to our second installment of High School Drama, our weekly feature that introduces BWW Nashville readers to some of Music City's hardest working teenaged actors. Fortunately, we live in a city made all the more unique and interesting by the creative people who live here and create art every day. We are especially fortunate in the theater community to be blessed by scores of talented individuals who make a night in the theater both compelling and challenging.

Throughout Middle Tennessee, high school theater is growing by leaps and bounds, led by outstanding educators like Mary Ellen Smith, Matt Smith, Paula Flautt, Daron Bruce, Jenny Noel and Will Butler, and their students are making their mark on the theater community, not only in academic productions but in community and professional projects, as well.

This week, the High School Drama spotlight falls upon the tremendously versatile Shawn Sookram from Hume-Fogg Academic High School. Having just completed a run in the school's fall production of The King and I, earlier in 2014 he gave a stunning performance as the Emcee in Cabaret. Both productions were directed by 2014 First Night Honoree Daron Bruce, who has led the charge for outstanding high school theater at Hume-Fogg, continually crafting productions that elicit praise and applause from audiences and other educators alike.

During the summer, Shawn was part of the cast of Grease at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theater (appearing alongside his teacher, director and mentor Bruce) and attended a two-week film acting intensive at AMDA University in New York City. The 17-year-old senior's past performances at HFA include playing Chino in West Side Story and IQ in Hairspray. Shawn is also a member of the Blue Note Show choir as well as Concert Choir.

What's your theatrical goal in life? My goal is to star in a show on Broadway in New York. I'd also like to
maybe get into on-camera acting. If I'm ever to become a big star, the first thing I plan on doing is buying my mom a house.

If you could play any role in any show...what would you choose? I would love to play Aladdin in Aladdin. I would love to play Aladdin because I am very similar to that character in real life, and who doesn't want to go on a magic carpet ride?

What's been your best theatrical experience to date? My favorite theatrical experience would have to be playing the Emcee in Cabaret at the end of my junior year. It was such a fun role and I
really enjoyed every moment I got to be on stage as the Emcee.

Who are your favorite actors? My favorite actors on Broadway are Adam Jacobs and Alan Cumming. My
favorite camera actors are Tobey Maguire, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, and James Franco.

What show that you've never seen would you most like to see? I feel guilty that I haven't seen Chicago... I would definitely like to see that show the most.