BWW INTERVIEWS: Kaye Ayers-Sowell, A Life in the Theatre

While millions of aspiring theatre artists head to major cities to pursue their dreams, millions of others ply their trade is smaller markets like Nashville. Take Kaye Ayers-Sowell, for example: an Illinois native she headed to Music City USA after her graduation from Millikin University and has stayed busy since then, working for virtually every theatre company in town.

Most recently, she appeared in Picasso at the Lapin Agile at Boiler Room Theatre and now serves as secretary of the board of directors for Street Theatre Company. She's appeared in productions for Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, Actors Bridge Ensemble, Circle Players, ACT I, Nashville Shakespeare Festival - well, you get the idea...this woman has built an impressive resume in Nashville, including an acclaimed turn as the Stage Manager in ACT I's production of Our Town, Nurse Ratched in Street Theatre Company's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and one amazing turn as Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show for one very lucky and grateful director (yours truly).

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Kaye sat down and answered some questions about her "Life in the Theatre" in Nashville. Clearly, she's someone we give thanks for in Music City every time she steps onstage.

Jeffrey Ellis: What was your first "taste" of theatre? Kaye Ayers-Sowell:

If you could imagine a six-year-old standing on The Edge of her seat in a 1,200 seat theatre after watching a production of Annie and saying to her mom "That's what I wanna do when I grow up!" you'd see me! Little did she know, 12 years later I would be on that very stage opening up 42^nd Street in my first college production at Millikin University. The funny part was, she reminded me of the story after the show. I think I cried because it was all due to her letting me follow that dream.

What was your first "real job" (or "responsibility") in the theatre?

After college I moved to Chicago for about a year. A friend of mine from college was up there as well and asked if I wanted to audition for a new staged reading of a play. Who's going to turn that down? As it turns out I got a part, went to rehearsals, and got a little money on the side. Too bad I hated living in Chicago.

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in theatre?

The actual idea of doing theatre as a job didn't really hit me until I was in high school. It was a natural fit for me even though I didn't have a theatre department at my school. We barely had a chorus. So, I worked through the summers either in the fields of Illinois or as a lifeguard. After work I would drive 25 miles to start rehearsals. I'd get home at around 10:30 p.m. and start it all over again in the morning. The summer months were the only time I was able to do any theatre at all. I thought, if I could just get paid for this I could drop my other summer job!

Why do you pursue your art in Nashville? What are the best parts of working here?

After living in Chicago, I knew I loved a big city, but I need that small town feel. When you grow up with a total of 1,700 people in your town, a city like Chicago is daunting. I followed a theatre friend from college to Nashville. He started a company and asked me move. I fell in love with this place immediately! This city has art museums, music, a great mix of people, and imagination without the scary feel of a huge city. You can perform edgy shows, musicals and original shows and you know there's an audience out there who will appreciate it. I'd say the best part of working in Nashville is the people in the theatre community. People actually encourage you, not shut you down. We all want to support others who share in our craft. When you ask for help, you're going to get it. That's rare.

If you could play any role, direct any work, design any production, mount any production...what would it be and why?

I have an affinity for The Bard, so a role that is very dear to me is Katharina in Taming of the Shrew. She's independent, tough and stubborn...very much like me. But then she finally falls for that guy who she so vehemently pushes away. Again, like me. And I love the humor conveyed in the play as well. Who doesn't love a good laugh?

Who would play you in the film version of your life story? Right now, I couldn't think of anyone. See, they have to be a tomboy who shoots guns and rides a Harley but who also has a glamorous side, and does it all with a sunny disposition. My Mom always said they broke the mold when they made me! Ha!

What's your favorite play/musical?

A Streetcar Named Desire is one of my favorite works. The passion that everyone has in that play is remarkable. The characters are so true and gritty. You get to see the bad and the good, but passion drives the play. I even have a rare hardbound script illustrated by Al Hirschfeld that I keep locked up.

If you could have dinner with any three figures (living or dead, real or fictional) who are a part of the THEATRE, who would you choose and why?

My dream dinner would include Shakespeare (duh!), Tennessee Williams and Oscar Wilde. I know I'm crazy for not including Wendy Wasserstein! Those three figures were so ahead of their time, they moved theatre forward. All three are very distinct in their works, but they tackled ideas, movements and people like no other. Their works have stood the test of time.

Imagine a young person seeing you onstage or seeing a production in which you played a major role coming up to you and asking you for advice in pursuing their own theatrical dream...what would you say?

What can you say? "Good Luck!" If they really want to pursue it I'd say this, "toughen up!" Get used to rejection and don't take things too personally. Even though you may have the talent for job, you may not have the look. There are just some things that you can't control. Self-reflection is the hardest thing an actor can face. It's not how you see yourself, its how others see you. When you start delving into characters outside of your normal range, that's when people will start to take notice. I admire actors who are like chameleons. They can transform so much in every role they present, that you don't see the real performer. That's the mark of a truly gifted actor. Sadly, I'm not there yet...but I'm working on it!