Interview: Santiago Sosa Talks Nashville Shakes' Apprentice Company

Since coming to Nashville two years ago, actor/director/teacher Santiago Sosa has found his new theater home to be "very welcoming and warm" as he's been graciously accepted into the family of artists who make Music City their home. And now, with auditions for Nashville Shakespeare Festival's Apprentice Company on the horizon (April 28 and 29), he's anxious to himself welcome new folks into the ever-growing family of theater types who are bent on improving their skills, expanding their understanding of all things Shakespeare and adding to their own personal bags of theatrical tricks - all while establishing roots in Tennessee.

"It's been great," Sosa says, reflecting on his two years in Nashville, which has included multiple roles for Nashville Shakespeare Festival. "I got here two years ago, and everyone has been very welcoming and warm. More than anything, people have accepted me and looked at me, instead of as competition, but more like 'what can you do to help us?' People want to get coffee and get to know me...I've traveled a lot in my career and Nashville has been one of the most welcoming places I've lived."

The experience has been so gratifying for Sosa that, as he has immersed himself in the community and shared his Shakespearean expertise with the locals, as it were, he's found them to be as excited as he is to talk about all things theater, in general, and all things The Bard, in particular. "It is gratifying, as a teacher, to see just how excited everyone seems to be to see what someone new has to offer the community," he explains.

When Nashville Shakes announced a whole new slate of workshops for local thespians, they sold out quickly, prompting NSF officials - who include artistic director Denice Hicks and operations manager Robert Marizga - to add a second section of workshops to accommodate demand.

"The biggest difference I've seen in Nashville from other cities I've lived in, is that people here like the classes and workshops offered, but even more they seem interested in the person teaching the workshop and what they bring to the table," he contends.

While workshops fill the need of more experienced actors to continue their education and to increase their knowledge, the Nashville Shakes Apprentice Company experience - a summer-long course of study that affords participants first-hand, on-the-job training via the upcoming Shakespeare in Centennial Park experience of bringing The Comedy of Errors to life, as well as the newest addition to the program: a production of Macbeth that will star AppCo members themselves - focuses on the needs of artists early in their careers.

It's less than a week until auditions, so what will Sosa and company be looking for among the newest members of AppCo? "Students who are willing to try the next level of training," Sosa suggests. "We've been doing this for years, so in 2016 we are going to up the expectations and the training and put the new AppCo members in the driver's seat. They'll be in this show, which Nat McIntyre will direct, Denice Hicks will teach about improve, Rene Milian will teach movement and I will be their dialect coach."

AppCo members will be called upon to apply what they have learned during the training period to help the well-received and critically acclaimed Shakespeare in the Park series be an even more important step in their evolution as artists.

"Usually, in apprenticeships like this, you do a little training and maybe get to play small roles or understudy roles, but this year we hope to make this less of a spear carrier...more of a spear-throwing type of experience for the AppCo," he suggests. "The focus is that you're not there to support us; instead, we're here to support you."

Nashville Shakespeare Festival's Apprentice Company doesn't have a set number of spots available, although Sosa says that in the past the number has tended to be between 14 and 16. This year, however, the number of apprentices may be different, with perhaps 16 to 18 apprentice slots available depending upon the number of people auditioning next week.

"We're looking for really wonderful students who want to learn about Shakespeare with a great professional company," Sosa says. "We're looking for people who have confidence, enthusiasm, passion and a desire to learn."

While watching the auditions, Sosa says he'll likely heed the advice given him by a director earlier in this career: "I had a director tell me once to not try to be a good or a great actor, but instead to be a good man who does something well. We will be looking for new apprentices, not necessarily the next Kenneth Branagh or Laurence Olivier."

Currently, Nashville's theater community boasts an ever-growing number of artists who have participated in AppCo and who credit the experience with helping them along the way in their careers, among them...

Christy Berryessa

What was the best part of your NSF APPRENTICESHIP? Well, meeting my future husband was pretty great. The next best part is getting to perform in a professional production in the park. I think there is only so much training you can have before you just have to go out and do it. AppCo. gives you both the training and the opportunity to do thing you are learning.

How did your NSF AppCo experience change you? I learned so much about speaking and acting Shakespeare. I learned about how to use my body on stage. I learned how to pick and prepare Shakespearean monologue, and countless other lessons. I would not be the actor I am today without my AppCo experiences. Another valuable thing AppCo provides is an opportunity to learn about professionalism. You are working alongside some of the best professional actors in Nashville and one of the reasons those people get cast over and over again is that they know the job. And not just acting, but how to talk to designers, how to conduct themselves during rehearsal, and how to behave backstage. The people I know who have gone through this program, especially the young people, come out with a serious edge in the area of professionalism because of this experience.

Emily Eytchison

What was the best part of your NSF APPRENTICESHIP and how did it change you as a person and as an artist? NSF's Apprentice Company was a foundational experience for me as a theatre artist! Not only did I get a chance to learn several different theatrical techniques (like beginning Suzuki method and Viewpoints) during training, but I also got a chance to be a part of the professional Nashville theatre world. It was my first taste of the vibrant, welcoming Nashville theatre family, and that is my primary recommendation for potential apprentices: do AppCo for excellent training, and for an introduction to a beautiful artistic community!

Jonah M. Jackson

What was the best part of your NSF APPRENTICESHIP? For me, the most special part of the NSF AppCo experience was forging so many new relationships. During the Apprentice training, you're with this group of people all day learning and playing together, and it becomes a very tight-knit group. It gives you a sort of support system going through the transition to rehearsals with the professionals involved with the show, who, in addition to being amazing performers, are incredibly gracious, supportive, good humans. And the shared experience of everyone in the Park together in whatever Mother Nature decides to throw at you brings everyone even closer, so that by the end of the summer it really feels like a family.

How did your NSF AppCo experience change you? My time with NSF changed me because I got to feel what it was like to be totally immersed in my craft, especially during the week that we had ApCo training during the day in addition to rehearsals at night. It can be grueling, but the experience was affirming because I came out of it knowing that this is the kind of art I want to make and I am willing to work hard for it. It was also a masterclass in adaptability because so many wacky things can happen out in the Park. There were times where, due to circumstances beyond their control, people were out for a performance and we had to come together as a team to make the adjustments to make it work. Sometimes it decides to rain, and sometimes there are loud concerts or sporting events in the area. And of course there are the airplanes that love to fly overhead during someone's big scene or monologue. But I think that is all part of what is so fun and magical about NSF - every day is an adventure and you take it as it comes.

What advice would you offer others considering auditioning for the AppCo? Without question, I would advise anyone I know that is a young theatre artist to do AppCo. You grow so much in a short time through the training and experiences and learning by watching and doing. Even if you have never done a Shakespeare play before, you can have the opportunity to stretch yourself in a new way by working and learning the language and techniques and acquiring a new skill set. And those skills become more tools in your toolbelt that you can apply to any other projects you work on in the future. It is also an awesome opportunity to get integrated into the Nashville theatre community and work with some of the coolest people you will ever meet.

Nashville Shakespeare Festival will hold auditions for its 2016-17 Season on April 28, from 5 to 10 p.m., April 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and April 30, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Audition any day for: Equity Auditions (Romeo & Juliet): Open to Actors' Equity Association members. Non-Equity Professional Auditions (The Comedy of Errors and Romeo & Juliet): Open to Non-Equity Professional Actors; and NSF Apprentice Company Auditions (Macbeth): Open to ages 13 and up. $500 tuition if cast. Scholarships available.

ALL AUDITIONS ARE BY APPOINTMENT. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS HERE TO SCHEDULE.

Audition Requirements Prepare one Shakespearean monologue up to 2 minutes in length. Choose material that is meaningful to you, that expresses something about how you feel about the world and the mark you want to make on it, and that you enjoy performing. Additional Requirement for The Comedy of Errors: One country or folk song from before 1975. Self-accompaniment, a cappella or cd/Mp3 accompaniment will be welcome. Bring three copies of your headshot and resume.

Location Auditions will be held at the NSF offices at: Nashville Public Television, 161 Rains Avenue, Nashville.

The Nashville Shakespeare Festival does not have housing for out-of-town actors. Video auditions are accepted only if you can be available for callbacks.

Shakespeare in the Park 2016:

• The Comedy of Errors, Directed by Denice Hicks; Running August 20 -September 18; Rehearsal begins July 18. Most rehearsals will be 5-10 p.m. 10 Paid Professional Roles Available. Callbacks May 8, 1-6 p.m.
• Macbeth, Performed by the NSF Apprentice Company, Directed by Nat Mcintyre; Running August 11 -September 9; Training begins July 11; Callbacks May 1, 1-6 p.m. Public Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays - Sundays and Labor Day Monday. All types and ethnicities encouraged
• Winter Shakespeare 2017: Romeo and Juliet, Directed by Santiago Sosa; Running January 4 - 29, 2017. Rehearsal begins December 5, 2016. Most rehearsals will be 10 a.m-6 p.m. (School matinees will begin January 4 / Public Performances January 5) Public Performances: 7:30p.m. Thursays - Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Sundays. School Matinees: 10 a.m. Tuesdays - Fridays 5 Equity Contacts Available
• Professional Roles:
  Romeo 16-22 M
  Juliet 16-22 F
  Mercutio 21-31 M
  Benvolio 16-24 M
  Tybalt 21-31 M
  Friar 35-60 M
  Nurse 35-60 F
  Capulet 35-60 M
  Lady Capulet 35-45 F
  Prince/Chorus 35-45 M
  Paris 18-25 M
• Apprentice, Student or Community Roles:
  Montague 35-45 M
  Gregory/Friar John/Night Watch 18-23 M/F
  Sampson/Night Watch 18-23 M/F
  Lady Montague 35-45 F
  Balthasar 15-19 M/F
  Abram/Understudy Mercutio M
  Peter/Understudy Romeo M
  Musician/Messenger/Understudy Juliet F
• Callbacks May 7, 4-9pm

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