(WBIR-CROSSVILLE) - The Cumberland County Playhouse has been part of the community for 50 years. One actor hasn't been in Crossville that long, but he is still a familiar face on the stage.
"I just fell into it and got bitten by the bug as they say," Jason Ross said.
Jason Ross fell into acting and ended up on stage at the Cumberland County Playhouse almost 20 years ago. He's still there after two decades for more than a dozen shows a year.
"They're fabulous. Everyone says it's like Broadway-caliber here. It is. The lights are always spectacular. You really get top notch quality live entertainment," he said.
It is a repertory theater with a core group of professional paid actors. It's normal to work six days a week on not only performances but also rehearsals and education programs.
"I loved playing Henry Higgins in 'My Fair Lady'. That was the first thing I ever saw that made me want to do all this. Any Sondheim. 'Into the Woods.' 'A Little Night Music.' I've played Oliver. Captain Hook in Peter Pan was one of my favorites," he said.
And then there's his current character in "Singing in the Rain."
"Just over-the-top fabulous-ness full of life," he said. "I get to run around with a riding crop and a megaphone and I have a British accent."
The performances at the Playhouse feature a mix of professionals and members of the community.
"It's a very nurturing atmosphere where you can come in as a kid and grow here and learn so much. You get a great opportunity to work with professional people and watch them and learn from them and take classes," he said.
That family atmosphere appeals to the veteran actor who hopes to work at the Cumberland County Playhouse for a long, long time.
"The community is very supportive and they love us. I mean, people retire here just because the Playhouse is here. We're one of the top regional theaters in the country. We churn them out year after year after year. It's the Dream Factory," he said. "I am living my dreams. Most days."
Jason Ross starts rehearsal this week for "Mary Poppins" where he will play the father, Mr. Banks.
