Barely six months after graduating from Lipscomb University with a musical theater degree, the 2012 Tecumseh High school graduate has landed a co-starring role on the CMT sitcom, “Still the King,” which stars Billy Ray Cyrus.
Just over a week into filming the second season of the series, the actor, singer and dancer is still pinching himself to see if it’s real.
“It’s overwhelming,” Pritt said. “It didn’t hit me until I was actually there in the hair and makeup trailer.”
Cyrus walked up to the newcomer and introduced himself, treating him like a colleague off the bat, which Pritt found humbling and welcoming. He belonged.
Growing up in Beavercreek, Pritt caught the performing bug early. By high school, he did his first two years at Greenon before going to Tecumseh, his interest in performing arts was solidified.
He honed his skills mainly in the Dayton area with groups including Muse Machine, but also performed locally, including in “Bye Bye Birdie” with the Ohio Performing Arts Institute.
Pritt worked at several theme parks, a touring production of “Fiddler on the Roof” and with competitive show choirs. With television production increasing in the southern U.S., his Nashville residence proved big in landing his new role.
It almost didn’t happen.
His agent got a call for Pritt to see “Still the King’s” casting directors and he couldn’t go as he was committed to a holiday celebration.
“They actually said I could come down at my convenience, which is amazing and unheard of. My agent wasn’t real happy,” Pritt said, laughing. “I figured if it was meant to be it was meant to be.”
After doing 10 scenes for the casting team, it was meant to be. Pritt received the call not long after saying he had the part.
Shooting started Monday, Dec. 5. Although most of his performing skills are in stage productions, Pritt is getting a crash course in television production.
He literally got a wake-up call with a 3:30-4 a.m. time to be at the studio by 5:30 to shoot around 7:30. They did around 20 takes of one scene, doing various angles.
“The cast and crew made it easier. I’m learning a lot,” he said.
Pritt isn’t contractually allowed to talk about his character or anything else about the new season of “Still the King,” which will premiere in spring of 2017.
CMT is one of several networks doing original television productions. It recently also picked up the former ABC series, “Nashville.”
Since landing this role, the gates have opened to multiple offers including a film and shot at doing a live network version of “Bye Bye Birdie,” a show he knows well. Eventually Pritt would like to move to Los Angeles or New York.
“Things just started booming,” he said. “I’m just trying to keep a clear mind.
“If I’d have told myself this when I was in school I wouldn’t have believed it. You just keep doing what you love to do and it can happen.”
For more information on Pritt, go to his website at www.dallasjamespritt.com/.
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