Preston Mead might have been both excited and a little cocky when he walked into the first rehearsal for his first professional gig as an actor. He had landed the part of Young Herbert/Ensemble in Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 2016 production of “Great Expectations.”

“I was 15 years old, still in high school, and had booked professional work,” he said. “This would be a breeze after doing all that high school theater.”

He thought.

He quickly realized he was at rock bottom among those in the room when it came to experience, education and skill.

He left that first reading knowing he was going to have to work very hard just to reach a level that would not bring down the production.

“It lit even more of a fire in me,” Mead said. “I wanted to learn as much as I could from the professionals around me.”

His diligence paid off with four seasons at OSF.

He was cast as Young John Webster in “Shakespeare in Love” in 2017 and Sketch/Ensemble/Chorus in “Hairspray” in 2019

In 2020, he played Boy/Ensemble in “Peter and the Starcatcher” and was rehearsing for “The Tempest,” originally scheduled for 2020 but canceled because of the pandemic.

“It broke my heart when COVID shut down OSF,” he said. “It was my fourth season at the festival, a place where I had learned from great actors who made me a better performer.”

“Starcatcher” was the first play in which he had been cast as a lead, after working his way up from ensemble to featured player.

“It did force me to be creative with how I found work in the aftermath, opening doors I had never considered,” he said.

Next: ‘Clue’ at the Cabaret

Mead, a lifelong Ashland resident and now 24, can next be seen in “Clue,” the farce-meets-murder mystery based on the 1985 Paramount movie, in turn inspired by the classic Hasbro board game. It will play Feb. 2–April 7 at Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland.

Mead’s primary role in the play is as the nefarious Mr. Boddy, who blackmails the six guests of Hill House mansion and his butler’s wife — until he’s murdered.

“Mr. Boddy is a suave mysterious character who’s totally in control of the situation, until he’s not,” Mead said.

“I’m excited to play multiple roles,” he said. “I get to create several distinct personalities with unique characteristics.”

He enjoys planning different ways to portray characters, and then seeing what works best within the context of rehearsals.

“In the case of Mr. Boddy, I’m enjoying developing how he moves. For example, I have a few fun ideas for his mannerisms.”

Mead likes to come to the first rehearsal completely off book.

“I’m extremely dyslexic,” he said, “so I like to come into rehearsals memorized.”

Mead last worked for the Cabaret in 2021 in “Great American Trailer Park.”

“It was so much fun,” he said. “It’s an intimate space to play in, producing great energy and a strong connection with the audience.”

The Jim Carrey factor

When he was a kid, Mead saw Jim Carrey in “The Truman Show,” which had come out a year before Mead was born.

“I was blown away,” he said. “I had already fallen in love with him in ‘Ace Ventura’ and ‘Dumb and Dumber,’ but when I saw ‘the funny guy’ bring what he did to his role in ‘The Truman Show,’ where he made me laugh, sympathize, cry and smile — and question myself and the world around me — I knew I wanted to do what that man did.”

That led to Mead’s first time on stage, an improv class taught by Eve Smyth, co-director of Ashland Children’s Theatre.

“There were a lot of awkward pauses and silence when kids muddle through terrible sketches. But I remember the feeling of catching a line here or there that actually got a laugh from the audience. And I was hooked.”

His mother must have noticed the evolution of Preston the Thespian. It was she who “forced” him to audition for the Camelot Conservatory when he was 12. With an emphasis on the music side of show biz, the program was met with not a small amount of resistance by Mead.

“I thought musicals were stupid,” he said. “So was dancing. My plan had been to just be funny and then I’d magically become a famous actor.”

Rebecca Campbell, an actor, director and choreographer, changed his way of thinking.

“She showed me the joy in being disciplined and taught me that learning new skills is a huge part of what acting is,” he said.

Inspiration from a peer

Jonathan Connolly, was another inspiration. When he was in the eighth grade, Mead saw Connolly perform as the emcee in Ashland High’s production of “Cabaret.”

It was a bit daunting to see a boy just a year older perform with such confidence and talent. But it motivated him to work harder on his own skills.

“He’s someone who really pushed me to find mentors and dedicate myself to performing,” Mead said.

Connolly went on to study at Northwestern University and now has a career in stage and film.

Like many young actors, Mead works side gigs in the “real world” to help pay the bills.

“I am the stereotype,” he said, smiling. “I am a barista when roles are far and few between. Luckily, Rogue Valley Roasting Company is a fantastic place to work and very understanding when I need to swap shifts to audition.”

What might people be surprised to learn about him?

“Well, I’m incredibly introverted,” he confessed. “I love people and having a good laugh, but being alone is when I’m most happy.”

There won’t be much alone time during the run of “Clue” at Oregon Cabaret Theatre, but there will plenty of opportunities for Mead to enjoy the people around him and have a good laugh or two.

For more information about Cabaret shows and to purchase tickets, go to oregoncabaret.com or call the box office at 541-488-2902.