SNAPSHOT | Eric J. Little

In brief: Eric, 34, is an actor, teacher, director and writer, and the owner of a very fat resume. His five Suzi Bass Award nominations (Atlanta’s professional theater awards) include his winning turn in Superior Donuts at Horizon Theatre (lead actor, 2011). He’s back at Horizon these days as a Sudanese refugee-turned-American in the world premiere of Third Country, based on real-life events in Clarkston. Its run, which was just extended, continues through Oct. 25 (tickets HERE or at 404.584.7450). He’s also a newly minted artistic associate at Theatrical Outfit.

The “J”: Stands for Jerard, for no special reason. His first name, however, comes from his father’s admiration of Erica Kane, the infamous serial bride on the soap opera “All My Children.”

Hometown: Detroit until age 5, then Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Lives now: In a Smyrna apartment. He’s single.

Next stop, Atlanta: Moved here in September 2005 after graduate school. He came to love the city while visiting his brother, who attended college here. It felt less scary than New York or Los Angeles, although either city, or both, may be in his future.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Alabama A&M University and an MFA in acting from Louisiana State University.

Where you’ve seen him (stage): At Theatrical Outfit in Fly, High John the Conqueror, A Lesson Before Dying and Gee’s Bend. At True Colors Theatre Company in Broke-ology, Our Town and Miss Evers’ Boys. And at Georgia Shakespeare, Aurora Theatre, the Alliance Theatre and Marietta’s Theatre in the Square.

Where you’ve seen him (film/TV): On “Necessary Roughness” (USA Network), “House of Payne” (TBS) and as the lead in the short films Perfect Day and A Beautiful Death.

Commercially speaking: He’s part of a pretty famous Haas avocados spot that tends to run during baseball playoffs.

First time onstage: In third grade in a show called Stone Soup; he wore one of his mother’s aprons. And at church, as an Easter angel addressing those looking for Jesus, with the lines, “He is not here. He has risen.”

Day job(s): Imaginator (performer, writer, choreographer and director) at Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. Adjunct theater professor at Clark Atlanta University. Producing director of the EBC Players Drama Ministry at Elizabeth Baptist Church.

On theater: The art form made its first impression when he was a schoolboy taking field trips to the Bama Theatre, especially when the house lights went down and the curtain went up. Then he realized he enjoyed speaking in front of people, that they enjoyed him doing it and it might be his future. “Even if I have a great career in film and TV, I would never leave theater,” he says.

Dream job: Series regular on a TV show. “I love watching TV, and I would love the regularity of the acting.”

Dream role (stage): Troy Maxson in August Wilson’s Fences (in 19 or 20 years). Citizen Barlow in Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean, a role he understudied in an Alliance/True Colors reading in 2008.

Dream role (film): “I always wanted to play a high-powered attorney. It just looks engaging.”

Third Country ride: He was part of workshops in July and August for the Horizon world premiere. And two public readings, plus rewrites, rehearsals and now, finally, performances. “It’s a great process because you’re the first person who’s going to play this role. And that’s beautiful.” He learned about laws, refugees, the Muslim faith, how to speak Arabic with a Sudanese accent, and enough soccer to fake it.

Endnote: “I’m blessed, i’ll say that.”

::

Kathy Janich, Encore Atlanta’s managing editor, has been seeing, covering or working in the performing arts for most of her life. Please email: kathy@atlantametropub.com.