Goodbye England! Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Today I return to California. The ending is bitter sweet. I shed a few tears last night after several celebratory rounds of drinks with my friends and colleagues. I will miss them all very much. I am looking forward to seeing my folks and having some time to relax over the holidays. It has been a wonderful year. I have met the best people in the world, learned more than I could have imagined, and completed a dream. This has been the best year of my life (so far).

Things I will miss most:

1. My girlfriends

2. Pub Nights

3. The Shakespeare Institute Players

4. The Royal Shakespeare Company

 

5. Walking by the Birthplace every morning

6. Fancy Dress Parties

7. Laura's Antics

8. Cappuccinos at Gusto Ricco's

9. My Flat Mate, Jude

10. History Everywhere I look...



As You Like It Encore

On Thursday, 16 August 2012, As You Like It will be remounted by The Shakespeare Institute Players. We will perform an edited version for UK Summer Camp 2012. The summer camp will be visiting The Shakespeare Institute to experience their very first Shakespeare production. The camp benefits children who were directly affected by the events of 9/11. The 9/11 Scholarship Fund was established by the British Council to award scholarships to the dependents of victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to the U.S. I am excited to give these kids a piece of Shakespeare, a good laugh, and a touch of hope for their futures. We'll make Shakespeare scholars out of them yet! ;)

AYLI Review!

Sandy Holt from The Stratford Herald sang praises for our production of As You Like It at the Shakespeare Institute.  Naming it our "best performance to date."

I got a small mention in the article concerning my performance as Rosalind, words of encouragement that I am happy to share with you today:

"Jamie Sowers provided a convincing Rosalind who worked well with a strongly cast Cecilia Kendall White as Celia. These two offered the audience just the right balance of heroine, quaintness, determination and grace."

Check out the article here.

10 Day Countdown for AYLI!

Only 10 days left until As You Like It opens, and the butterflies are fluttering. I am so excited for the opportunity to portray one of Shakespeare’s greatest heroines. We are working through the second half of the show in rehearsal today, putting the finishing touches on before run-throughs begin. The adrenaline is already kicking in. I know this one will be one to remember.

To all of my L.A. and state side friends, I wish you could be here with me, but I feel your positive energy all the way across the pond. Thank you for your love and support.

As You Like It Read Through

Last night we had our first read through for As You Like It.  We have a large energetic cast, ripe with talent. I find the play very challenging both in language and intent. Rosalind is such a multifaceted character that I can scarcely keep up with her. It was a pleasure to sit around last night and have a good laugh with everyone - something that Institute Players have not done up to this point, with so many tragedies in the season thus far. I am looking forward to blocking rehearsals next week. Now to begin the process of memorizing my lines... Yikes!

As You Like It Casting!

I am pleased to announce that I have been cast as Rosalind in The Shakespeare Institute Player’s summer production of William Shakespeare's As You Like It. The production will take place July 19th-21st in the Institute Gardens. This will be my final show with the players, as I will be returing to California in September of this year. I am blessed to play my dream role in Shakespeare's home town and look forward to begining rehearsals at the end of this month.

I have always admired Rosalind because she is intelligent, witty, and an all-around strong woman. She disguises herself as a man in the play, which liberates her to share her female perspectives with her true love, Orlando. I find her very insightful when she speaks about love. She seems incredibly self-aware, embraces love, but is also able to joke about it. She is also the largest female role in the cannon, which presents an additional challenge. I feel honored to play her in Shakespeare’s home town, and during the time of the World Shakespeare Festival. We have our first read-through on April 25^th and I am eager to begin the process.

RSC Open Stages Photots

Here are the pictures I promised from the Shakespeare Institute Players' production of Shakespeare's King John in the Open Stages Showcase at the Royal Shakespeare Company!

(Left to Right: Richard Nunn as Philip and Will Sharpe as The Bastard)

(Will Sharpe as The Bastard)

(Left to Right: John Curtis as Hubert and José Alberto Pérez Díez as King John)

King John on the RSC's Courtyard Stage

Last night the Shakespeare Institute Players took to the Courtyard Stage as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Open Stage Festival - What a mouthful!

On Saturday, we (the players) were busy rehearsing the show, setting our technical elements with the RSC staff, and attending a vocal workshop. Then on Sunday we opened with several other groups from the surrounding area. We were of course the only production of King John in attendance. The bottom section of the theatre was sold out.

It feels good to represent the Institute Players, but even better to share the stage with them as honorary RSC actors for the day. I am hoping to acquire some pictures from the production - so check back soon!



Titus Opening!

Titus Andronicus opens tonight at the Shakespeare Institute! I have been putting my best foot forward during the process, trying to remember that each day I am allowed to act is a gift. This production has been a trying experience for me. There have been a few bumps along the road to say the least. However, last night's run-through reignited my excitement. We may have a show on our hands!

Titus Andronicus Casting!

I am thrilled to announce that I will be playing Saturninus in the Spring production of Titus Andronicus at the Shakespeare Institute! Jon Harvery will be directing this cross gendered production for the Shakespeare Institute Players, in which most the characters will be played by women (all except Titus). This allows me the opportunity to play a character that I would not normally be considered for. Our first read-through will take place after the holiday season, which gives me plenty of time to prepare for the role. I am looking forward to getting started!

The Changeling Closes!

For the last few weeks I have been working relentlessly on the Shakespeare Institute Player's production of The Changeling. Playing Beatrice-Joanna has been a challenging and rewarding experience for me. With a short rehearsal process and only 4 performances, I have hardly had time to know my role as deeply as I would like. This production has been filled with many trials, tragedy and frustration - Yet through it all, we were able to collectively deliver what has been hailed as "the best Players production in the last decade". Bravo cast! Let's keep the good work on the rise with our spring production of Titus Andronicus!

I am thrilled to announce that I will be playing Saturninus in the Spring production of Titus Andronicus at the Shakespeare Institute! Jon Harvery will be directing this cross gendered production for the Shakespeare Institute Players, in which most the characters will be played by women (all except Titus). This allows me the opportunity to play a character that I would not normally be considered for. Our first read-through will take place after the holiday season, which gives me plenty of time to prepare for the role. I am looking forward to getting started!

The Changeling Opens Nov. 25th!

Good news! The Changeling opens this weekend at the Shakespeare Institute presented by the Shakespeare Institute Players. Betrayal, adultery, murder, inescapable passions, alchemical lore and
bed tricks - A fantastic combination for a rarely revived masterpiece of Renaissance drama. I will be playing Beatrice-Joanna. I invite all my UK friends to come along for an evening at the Institute. For all of my US friends, we are filming the show and there should be a chance for you to see it at some point should you so chose. Let the festivities begin!

The Changeling by Thomas Middleton & William Rowley will be directed by alumna Joy Leslie Gibson. Performances will be in the Lecture Hall, Mason Croft (home of The Shakespeare Institute). Dates & Times: Friday, 25th & Saturday 26th November at 7.30 p.m. with matinees on Saturday, 26th and Sunday, 27th November at 2.30 p.m. Tickets are £8 (£7 concessions - students, OAPs, UB40s).

Changeling Transformation

The Shakespeare Institute Players production of Middleton & Rowley's The Changeling is starting to take shape. With only 4 rehearsals left, all I can say is: It's about time! All the players have been juggling busy schedule, doing research, studying, working and attending university classes and events. We are finally at the point where the scripts are out of our hands and we are able to truly PLAY. Wish my luck, everyone! This is my first full length production in the UK and I am excited to show my fellows what I really have to offer!

The Players present THE CHANGELING!

Yesterday afternoon I auditioned for the Shakespeare Institute Players - the postgraduate drama group here in Stratford. As a group we had decided to produce The Changeling by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley.

To my surprise, I have been cast as Beatrice-Joanna (the leading lady)!

I am a little anxious to be taking on this role at the institute. As this is my first encounter with the play, I will being doing extensive research over the next few weeks as we enter rehearsal.

Tonight I am off to see Cardenio, Shakespeare's lost play re-imagined, at the Royal Shakespeare Company. I truly cannot wait to sit in the Swan and bathe myself in what I hope to be a brilliant show.