Jason Evans, former Missouri State student, landed a role in the Classic Stage Company’s upcoming revival of Sondheim’s “Passion” in New York City. Evans will be appearing as Private Augenti alongside stars Melissa Errico, Ryan Silverman, and Judy Kuhn.

Evans was a student of the BFA program from 2005-2008. During this time, Evans was involved in many projects, including school and local productions,  student films and student written one acts. Evans also played the leading role in an indie film that shot in Puerto Rico, Spain and North Africa.

After studying at MSU, Evans worked in Los Angeles for three years, mostly on regional theater projects, playing the lead in “The Last 5 Years,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Miss Saigon,” “The Smell of Success,” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Evans also appeared as a background cop in multiple episodes of “General Hospital.” His upcoming role in “Passion” was the first audition he attended with his new agent in NY.

“It’s a real dream come true. The musical is by Stephen Sondheim, who I’ve idolized since I was at MSU. Meeting him was a trip. The cast of the show is small, I’m one of nine characters, none of us ever leave the stage (or barely leave), and I also understudy the lead. My role was a late addition to the cast, and I didn’t have much time to prepare the material before my audition. Luckily I already knew it, because as I said before, I love the composer and I’m familiar with most of his work.”

Evans offers a few pieces of advice to other aspiring actors. “Be in it for the right reasons. If you want to be an actor because you want a glamorous life in Hollywood, quit now. Let your art and your need to create drive you, and with patience, you’ll get where you set out to be. No job is too small. Student films, background work, non-paying readings and workshops. Keep busy. It doesn’t matter if what you’re doing at the moment doesn’t pay great, or at all. You never know who’ll you’ll meet or what you may learn from the project, no matter how small it is. If you’re starting out and trying to make a name for yourself, you can’t afford to be picky. Go see as much theater as you can. Good, bad, doesn’t matter. Support your friends, and support the art.”