Spotlight on: Micael Bogar

 
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We are proud to introduce Micael Bogar! Roman Women is Micael's debut with We Players, and we are so happy to have her wit, depth, and collaborative spirit.

Here's what Micael had to say about the process:

Q: What's been the most profound aspect of working on Roman Women?
A: Feminist theatre so often goes into what's wrong with society and how women are unequal in so many ways. While this play certainly has a lens to that, this play also stands on its own two feet as a piece of bad ass theatre. The physicality, language, relationships, musicality, and space make it a damn good piece of theatre that was created by women and is performed by women. What's more feminist than that?

Q: What's been the most surprising part of the process?
A: The wind. It's so windy and cold. If you're coming, dress for the arctic. It's cold outside at the Palace of Fine Arts.

Q: Do you have a funny memory of the process?
A: There's been a lot of laughter and some tears too, throughout the process. The funniest memory was when we were exploring bird bodies in a studio space and we turned into a pack of vultures and descended onto a bathroom. We shredded this handful of paper towels. It was intense. Wasteful to the environment, but seriously intense. I guess you had to be there.

Q: Why should people attend Roman Women?
A: Getting to spend two hours (if dressed appropriately) at the Palace of Fine Arts is reason enough, its a beautiful beautiful venue. That coupled with the music in the show is even more of a plus. And then when it comes to the actual show, there's a lot to explore in terms of the power of ritual, the power of women's voices, the power of seeing and being seen. There's orgasms, there's blood, there's a birth canal. I mean...ya....

Q: What makes Roman Women relevant?
A: We've taken the text of an old well-known Shakespeare play and turned it on its head. We've shaken it and seen what's left standing. We've done this with a feminist lens and our hope is that you will never experience the roles of women in Shakespeare plays the same way again.

Don't miss Micael in Roman Women, extended by popular demand through June 3rd. Get your tickets now!
http://www.weplayers.org/roman-women-2018

Actor Spotlight: Nick Dickson

We’d like to introduce you to our friend Nick Dickson, playing Flute/Demetrius!

Long-time We Players’ fans will remember Nick as Sebastian in our production of Twelfth Night all the way back in 2012. We’re so happy to finally be working with him again! Nick’s clown training and movement skills have been indispensable in helping to create this physically complex show. During long rehearsals Nick keeps us all laughing with a great sense of humor and we couldn’t be more grateful for his constant willingness to try something new. Don’t miss Nick’s fantastic performance in our Midsummer of Love; the specificity that he brings to both characters is really a treat!

Join us at El Sobrante’s Kennedy Grove this Saturday and Sunday and back in Golden Gate Park 7/27-30. Tickets are going fast!
http://www.weplayers.org/midsummer-2017 

Photos: Lauren Matley

Have you met Romeo?

Meet the gallant Mohammad Shehata!

Q) How has working with We Players changed your perspective of theater, or of the world at large?
A) We Players emphasizes all of those things which make theatre unique and separate from any other form of art or entertainment. I’m reminded of the great potential for intimacy and awe in theatre which can only come from the kind of communion that We Players aims so clearly to establish.

Q) Describe We Players in four words.
A) Community. Brave. Mysterious. Now.

Q) Any funny or memorable We Players moments, anecdotes, quotes/metaphors you'd like to share?
A) We went to dinner as our characters one night, and were given special missions to accomplish while at dinner. One of my tasks was to be in disguise, so I put on a Russian accent. It made no sense but it was crazy fun. It was like a version of Romeo and Juliet put on by 5 year olds who just stole and devoured Mama’s cookie batter. That’s what we get up to in rehearsal… what the hell are we doing?

Q) Tell us about some new favorite of yours, whether it's a lunch dish, a singer, movie, color, or something else entirely. What is it about this new thing that's rocking your world?
A) I’ve seen the film A Separation (written and directed by Asghar Farhadi) about 8 times now. Talk about flawless filmmaking. I require all of you to view it. You’ll be reminded of what it’s like to be nourished in every way a story caught on camera is supposed to nourish you.

All photos by Lauren Matley

Actor Spotlight: John Steel Jr.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords! You know not what you do!"

Meet John Steele Jr. as Benvolio!
(He's also a playwright and fervent tea enthusiast!)


Q: Describe We Players in four words.
A: Challenging, engaging, immersive, enlightening.

Q: How has working with We Players changed your perspective of theater, or of the world at large?
A: I have really reconnected with nature during this rehearsal process. I'm a city boy by choice, but I have never felt so at ease and at home in the elements as I have delving into Romeo and Juliet. Also, I have always been a fan of theater that doesn't occur in an actual theatre, but the idea of using the art form to bring awareness to the stories that are already a part of our cultural history is exciting. And having performed in a few state parks before, I am so proud to be working with a company that makes it their mission to bring attention to those natural gems that our country must continue to protect and value.

Q: Any funny or memorable We Players moments, anecdotes, quotes/metaphors you'd like to share?
A: One night when hopping from studio to studio [at our Romeo & Juliet Montalvo artist residency], a few of us began singing a basic choral chant in the round, but it slowly evolved into a bizarre choral chant version of the Sir Mix-A-Lot classic "Baby Got Back." We all took it so seriously, and sang through our little version, and once we had finished and we fully registered what we had created, we burst into hysterics.

Q: Share with us something about your process for creating your character thus far.
A: One of my favorite things about finding Benvolio has been discovering what a skilled fighter he is and has to be. Verona is a place where everything is in turmoil. Benvolio doesn't enjoy violence, but he understands the need for self-protection so he has learned how to fight with the best of them. Our brilliant fight choreographer approached the fighting styles in the play as a means of understanding the character, so I got to have a lot of input into what makes the way Benvolio blocks an attack different than how Tybalt or Mercutio would do it.

Q: Anything fun you'd like to tell us about yourself? Something that your audiences might never get the chance to ask about?
A: I have a red-nose clown persona named Scooter who has a panic disorder. But he tries his best, bless his heart, and he's usually okay if he has his safety goggles. When I was young I learned how to do balloon animals and basic juggling, so of course Scooter learned too. It's quite a process though. It usually takes him a few (maybe more than a few) tries to get it right.

Romeo & Juliet rehearsal photos by Lauren Matley

Actor Spotlight: Rush Rehm

Here's Romeo & Juliet actor spotlight #3!

Rush is an actor, the artistic director of Stanford Repertory Theater, a professor of Theater & Performance Studies and Classics at Stanford, and a published author in the areas of Greek tragedy and contemporary politics (phew!)-you’ll meet Rush in Romeo & Juliet as Friar Laurence.

 Q: Describe We Players in four words.
 A: Fun, Intimate, Engaged, Ava! 

 Q:How has working with We Players changed your perspective of theater, or of the world at large?
 A: I’ve lived too long and seen too many things for anything in the theater to change my view of the world. As for the theater, there are many ways to make it, and many of them are valid, rewarding, and effective. We Players is one such way.

 Q: What’s your hometown? How has it shaped you? 
A: No hometown, I traveled as a child. I like Greece, Paris (duh), Australia, New Zealand, Cuba, Berlin, London, Istanbul, I could go on. 

 Q: What would you be if you weren’t an actor? 
A: Few people (me included) are just “an actor.” What /who else would I be? Depends on the day. 

 Q: Tell us about some new favorite of yours, whether it’s a lunch dish, a singer, movie, color, or something else entirely. What is it about this new thing that’s rocking your world? 
 A:  Joseph Conrad. 

Photos by Tina Case Photography

Actor Spotlight: Libby Oberlin

Drum roll, please! Here’s our Romeo & Juliet Actor Spotlight #2! 
Meet Libby Kelly Oberlin as CAPULET (Lord and Lady) 

Q: Describe We Players in four words. 
A: Profound, extraordinary, meaningful, purposeful 

 Q: How has working with We Players changed your perspective of theater, or of the world at large?
 A: Shakespeare got it right when he said, “All the world’s a stage” and We Players takes that quite literally. Working with We really makes you realize that art can and _is_ happening all around us- and it does not have to be confined to a theater. I’ve worked on non-traditional stages and locations but the thought, research, and care that We puts into deriving meaning from a place is quite special. The place becomes another character, another player, and a real means of inspiration.

Q: Any funny or memorable We Players moments, anecdotes, quotes/metaphors you’d like to share? 
A: I think I’m going to get away with it this time so don’t tell Ava or Brooke but, in the past two shows that I’ve performed with We I’ve had the “pleasure” of wearing a flesh colored unitard, known as the nuditard. When in the nuditard during rehearsals, I’d sometimes wear a sweatshirt to keep warm. Park goers always did a double take when they saw me, as it looked like I forgot to put on my pants. Memorable, for sure! 

 Q: What’s your hometown? How has it shaped you? 
A: I grew up in Springfield Massachusetts, the birth place of basketball. No, I’m not a good basketball player but I definitely jammed and broke a number of fingers when I played as a kid. Most Springfield residents I know have an incredible knowledge of and mental repertoire of 90’s R&B songs, myself included. Mary J Blige was/is everything!! 

 Q: If you weren’t an actor, what would you be, and why?
 A: I’ve always known I would be an actor. Since I was seven years old. In addition to acting, I’m also a theater teacher. I can’t get enough! 

 Q: Tell us about some new favorite of yours, whether it’s a lunch dish, a singer, movie, color, or something else entirely. What is it about this new thing that’s rocking your world? 
A: As of 3 years ago, my new favorite person is my daughter Maeve. She’s the coolest!     

 

Photos by Tina Case and Jim Norrena 

Actor Spotlight: Courtney Walsh


We can’t believe week two of rehearsals at Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park is coming to a close. As we learn more and more about each other as fellow cast members of Romeo & Juliet, we will share those insights with you here in our Actor Spotlights!

Meet Courtney Walsh, our Mercutio!

Photo: Lauren Matley

Photo: Lauren Matley

 

WE: Describe We Players in four words…

CW: Adventurous, smart, committed, fun.

WE: How has working with We Players changed your perspective of theater, or of the world at large?

CW: Performance outside the black box removes inhibition. No room for self-consciousness at play or at large.

WE: Any funny or memorable We Players moments, anecdotes, quotes/metaphors you’d like to share?

CW: You can have a whole conversation between two people using just my character’s name:
Mercuti-YO!
Mercuti-you-HO!
Mercuti-WHOA!
Mercuti-GO.
Mercuti-NO!!
…Etc :)

WE: Tell us a little sumthin’ about you:

CW: I have four children, ages 12-23, and have been married 25 years. I have a horse and do competitive dressage. I also took several years off of acting to be a lawyer representing abused children. I have argued in the California Supreme Court.

WE: What is it about this new thing that’s rocking your world?

CW: Girls never get to sword fight - but now I do!