As You Like It

For ten weeks I covered a comprehensive behind the scenes look of the actors from the cast of ‘As You Like It’. A William Shakespeare pastoral comedy put on by the Bainbridge Island Preforming Arts. Preformed in the fresh air and under the wide open skies at the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island. 

This documentary series shows how the actors prepared for the performance  -  Learning their lines, determining blocking of each scene, developing their character, photoshoots, fight and dance scene choreography, wardrobe fittings, and many other details necessary to be ready come opening day. I hope this series provides insight into the creative process of these outstanding theater performers. 

Covering “a day in the life” of these performers from early rehearsals, to dress rehearsals, and performances was so rewarding and truly fun. Spending so much time with the actors allowed me to gain their trust, which means I was able to take the best possible images. They invited me into their lives to photograph them in the hard moments of learning and growing that comes with the creative process. They were unfazed by me photographing from an arms length distance. I could truly take the pictures that show what it was like to be deep in the scenes alongside the cast.

continued below…

One of my favorite aspects about this series was covering the early rehearsals where the actors were just starting to break down their lines - gaining an understanding for what the dialogue meant, the type of vernacular, and playing around with different tones. With Shakespeare, the language is more elaborate than how we typically speak today.  It was key to building the foundation, understanding what they were really saying.

I was amazed by how quickly and seamlessly they could switch into character. They could be speaking normally about anything and when it was time to jump into character, it took only a few seconds. They could be discussing the direction of certain scenes and then jump back into character without hesitation. This kind of creative mastery is intriguing to me. 

The amount of lines that they needed to memorize was astounding. Some had more then others, but they all had lines and timing to coordinate. Unlike film actors who can just do another take if they get the lines wrong, or only need to know the lines for the specific scene they are currently filming, these performers needed to know all their lines inside and out without any breaks or stops. Live performances don’t pause for you to refresh you memory or allow for any “do-overs”.

continued below…

After about the fifth or sixth rehearsal, I started to understand how the repetition and constant rehearsing can help them learn their lines. Just from being there one or two times a week I started picking up the lines myself. “More, more, I prithee, more!” I’d shout as I was at home walking around spewing the few lines that I had memorized. The constant repetition was key to this memorization. There were lines I memorized without even trying or thinking about it. It was fun to be in the actors shoes and see how out of repetition they can begin memorizing the script. 

continue below…

In addition to the day in the life style photography, I also took portraits on the side between scenes. Black and white individual portraits were used in the programs. Character portraits in full costume were a particularly creative opportunity as I place each actor in a different setting at the outdoor theater. We also did a large cast photo (first photo at the top) right before one of the final performances. I am super happy with the final result of this shot. We managed to get this photo with about 10 minutes before the start of the performance. I was going for a Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue type shot. I lit each cast member individually and then photoshopped them all into one photo.

continue below…

By dress rehearsals the show really came to life. With the actors donning their era specific attire, I felt so under dressed walking around in shorts and wind breaker. Maybe I should have also been fitted for tights and puffy shirts - thinking, BUT I WANT TO BE A PIRATE too (please, someone underwent this Seinfeld reference)!

After photographing one to two rehearsals a week for eight weeks, I thought I had seen it all. I thought I had captured everything I needed, knew the play inside and out, memorized their exists and their entrances. It was not until a week after opening night that I attended the show as an audience member that I really saw everything. There were subtle facial expressions, ways that they engaged with a really audience, and reading the crowd that was not present during rehearsals. All the edges had been polished and each actor had added numerous subtle nuances to their performance.

It was clear that they had really made each character their own. They had enough shows to gage the audiences reactions to certain scenes and had made adjustments to make the show even better. Everything just flowed. You could see them having fun with the performance. 

continue below…

After months of auditions, table reads, weeks and weeks of rehearsals, dress rehearsals, hours spent memorizing lines, performances, and tear down,  you would think each actor or actress would want a little time off. Not at all. In fact, many of them jumped right into auditions for the next play. Even with the massive time commitment it takes! It is truly inspiring to see how passionate these performers are and how eager they are to throw themselves into the next creative challenge, the next performance, the next opportunity to grow in their craft.

The hardest part of this project was having it all end. I had enjoyed watching them preform every week, doing what they love more then anything else and having so much fun doing it. The cast was so kind and friendly in welcoming me into the group.  I’m bummed to see it come to an end. I wish this entire cast could just stick together and start work on the next play… and count me in as their resident behind the scenes photographer. 

continue below…

Cast

Orlando - Gavin Michaels

Adam - Will Langemack

Oliver / Oliver Martex / Fight Captain - Kristopher Jones

Charles / Corin - James Milton

Rosalind - Amanda Rae Pease

Celia/Dance Captain - Citori Luecht

Touchstone - Gary Fetterplace

Duchess Frederick/Audrey - Laura Knight

Playwright by William Shakespeare

Directed by Kristi Ann Jacobson

Produced by Bainbridge Island Preforming Arts

Stage Manager - Tamara Bale

Costume Design - Janessa Stycke

Set Design - Richard Schug