Jared's Blog

A little peek into the thoughts of Southwest Shakespeare Company's Artistic Director, Jared Sakren.

Find out what's on the mind of our artistic director, Jared Sakren, from casting upcoming shows, the Bard, and let him know what you think and more.

BLOOD ROYAL OPENS TO GREAT RESPONSE

READ WHAT CRITICS ARE SAYING....

"Blood Royal" is a beauty...a 2 1/2 hour carnival ride of mayhem....anchored by several powerhouse performances."

---Kerry Lengel, The Arizona Republic

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"an invigorating, non-stop roller coaster ride of extreme highs and lows... Dr. Michael Flachmann's Blood Royal is an auspicious, truly astonishing beginning to what promises to be a most fantastic and welcome season for Southwest Shakespeare Company."

--- Joe Gordon, The Mesa Examiner

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"...by condensing 50 years of intrigue and warfare into two acts, adapting playwright Michael Flachmann and director Jared Sakren drive home the outrageous cost that the lust for power inflicts upon history....The production is anchored by several powerhouse performances, starting with Larry Stone as the pious, timid king....Lana Buss brings equal fire to the role of his queen, Margaret....and Spencer Dooley is riveting as hunchbacked Gloucester, the future Richard III....

There is no detail in this production that does not demonstrate careful thought. Chris Tubilewicz's set is minimalist but versatile, and Elena Deida's costumes are flat-out gorgeous." ---Kerry Lengel, The Arizona Republic

"SW Shakespeare Company's Artistic Director Jared Sakren has brilliantly staged the evening, imbuing Flachmann's Blood Royal with thoroughly thought-through and umcompromising vision. Sakren has taken his large, excellent ensemble of twenty-two performers and turned them into a miraculous cast of 100's."

"Lana Buss is magnificent..Her every scene is electrifying. Larry Stone is superb...Eric Schoen is simply marvelous...Eric Thompson is equally wonderful...Spencer Dooley is a true chameleon...Dooley is a fascinating actor who steals his every scene...."

"Elena Deida has designed the sumptuous, resplendent costumes. Chris Tubilewicz's splendid sets and Daniel Davisson's dazzling lighting design animate the action and drama beautifully. Fight director David Barker has staged the play's astounding twenty-seven virulent battle scenes with a malevolent, rancorous violence."

--- Joe Gordon, The Mesa Examiner

2010-11 SEASON ABOUT TO BEGIN!

WELCOME TO OUR 2010-2011 SEASON! We are getting pretty excited here at SSC about our upcoming season, with a world premiere adaptation starting us off, several of Shakespeare's greatest works, a couple Arizona premieres, and one of the most talented and exciting companies of actors we have ever put together! Get your tickets now as this season is sure to sell out on most nights! Couple that with the fact that we are producing two shows in the Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse, which only holds 200 seats, and you can see why it's important to BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!!

----Jared Sakren, Artistic Director, SSC

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SHAKESPEARE AT THE BILTMORE

THIS PAST JUNE, SOUTHWEST SHAKESPEARE

COMPANY PARTNERED WITH THE ARIZONA

BILTMORE RESORT IN PHOENIX, TO REVIVE

TWO OF ITS SEASON HITS, NOEL COWARD'S

"BLITHE SPIRIT" AND "THE COMEDY OF ERRORS",

IN TWO THEATRICAL VENUES SPECIFICALLY

CREATED FOR THIS EVENT. "COMEDY" was

presented outdoors under the stars at the

"Cottage Court Theatre", and "BLITHE" was

presented inside in the Frank Lloyd Wright

inspired "Aztec Theatre". Both productions

were fully- produced, with most of the

original casts returning. The Biltmore also

created Dinner and Theatre Packages at

their restaurants for those who wanted a

more complete evening. The event was

such a success discussions are already

underway to return next June, 2011. So,

if you have a reason not to see our shows

in Mesa, you now have no excuse to see them, as

they are coming to you!!!

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RICHARD III GETS STANDING OVATIONS

RICHARD III,

opened and closed to near sell-out

crowds and standing ovations every

night. Los Angeles actor Bo Foxworth

thrilled our audiences with his portrayal

of one of the most charming and chilling

villains Shakespeare ever wrote with

his portrayal of the "bottled spider"

of the title. I felt we achieved a new

level of artistry in our production

values with this epic story of one man's

reign of terror, including David

Barker's unforgettable final sword

fight and death of Richard at the

Battle of Bosworth Field. If you

missed this spectacular production,

and even if you saw it, you should

make plans to see the first production

of this coming season--- "BLOOD ROYAL"

--- Michael Flachmann's original

adaptation of the "HENRY VI" Trilogy,

sometimes referred to as "The Wars

of the Roses"---that is the prequel to

"RICHARD III". But be prepared---it's

easily as bloody, and action-packed, as

"Richard III"!

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BLITHE SPIRIT PLAYS TO FULL HOUSES

BLITHE SPIRIT OPENED AND CLOSED

AS THE FOURTH SHOW OF OUR SIXTEENTH SEASON,

TO FULL HOUSES AND ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCES.

I personally had a blast playing the insane

Madame Arcati, along with Ben Tyler,

Justine Hartley (both shown below with me),

Serena Vesper, Tink Hirsch, Doc Coates, Dawn

Tucker, and Mariah Lee!)

This production was later revived

as one of two shows we produced as part of

"Shakespeare At The Biltmore" at the Biltmore

Resort this past June, which, along with the

revival of "Comedy of Errors" made for a very

successful signature event.

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