I was recently fortunate enough to conduct and interview with Eddie Curry. Eddie is the director of casting for Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, where he also directs and performs. Eddie is a 22 year professional actor and member of Actors' Equity Association.

Are you a native Hoosier?

I was born in Salem, Indiana, and attended Indiana State University Theatre Department from 1985 to 1989.

What made you want to become an actor?

I got involved in drama club in high school, was hired for my first professional "gig" before the end of my senior year, but it wasn't until I got involved in the theatre department at Indiana State that I truly started wanting it.

What was your first big break?

After attending the Institute of Outdoor Drama cattle call auditions at the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville (when I was a senior in high school), I was cast by Theatre West Virginia to be in the chorus of HONEY IN THE ROCK, THE HATFIELDS & McCOYS and OKLAHOMA. I spent the summer of 1985 in Beckley, West Virginia making $125 a week. I learned a lot more that summer than I knew I was learning at the time.

Of all the shows on your resume, what are some of your favorite?

I have favorites from every theatre I have ever worked in. At Beef & Boards I have been blessed to play so many fabulous roles; Mordrid in CAMELOT, Psuedulous in A FUNNY THING, Nathan Detroit in GUYS AND DOLLS, Rev. Moore in FOOTLOOSE...and many many more. But the one show that haunted me for years after, because it was by the fabulous experience I had doing by which all subsequent experiences would be measured, was PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES. I did this in the professional summer theatre that the Indiana State Theatre department produces in the summers there in Terre Haute during the summer of 1987. It was a one of those one of kind experiences.

Name you favorite playwrights

David Mamet, Terrance McNally, Larry Shue and Tony McDonald

What's the last thing you saw on stage that had a big impact on you?

AVENUE Q. I love this musical. The music is fabulous, I could totally relate to the message of the show, and it was theatrically clever. Wish we could do it at the Beef, but it is not for our crowd.

If you could swap places with one person for a day, who would it be?

Reb Porter. He has my dream job! I would love to be the traffic guy for a radio station and the arena announcer for your, Indianaaaa Pay-cerrrrsssss!

What are your favorite books?

I am not much of a reader. I guess the book that I couldn't put down once I started reading it was....and this is going to be so sad.....A SEASON ON THE BRINK. I was a huge Steve Alford and Bob Knight fan at the time that book came out.

Favorite websites?

I am a news hound so I like hitting all of the news sites.

Tell us about your current or most recent production?

I most recently had the pleasure of being on the IRT main stage for the first time. I played Professor Willard and the man in the cemetery in a beautiful production of OUR TOWN. Masterfully directed by Peter Amster. I am currently working on directing the 15th annual A BEEF & BOARDS CHRISTMAS. What's the funniest thing that happened to you in rehearsals? I played Ouiser in STEEL MAGNOLIAS for the first week of rehearsal while the woman cast as the actual Ouiser directed and blocked the show. Truth be told...I was a much better Ouiser.

What is on the horizon?

The Beef & Boards 2008 season has me pretty busy. I will continue on as the casting director for the theatre and I will be in and direct a lot of shows. In January I will be playing the lead in RUN FOR YOUR WIFE. I will then direct SHOWBOAT and PETER PAN. And this summer, my biggest project yet. I will be playing Leo Bloom opposite Doug Stark's Max in our mega production of THE PRODUCERS. This is going to be a big year for me.

"Spotlight on..." is a continuing interview series