The Women of Wildflower

In honor of the women in my life and International Women’s day, I want to share with you this amazing group.

In 2015, two friends and I hatched a crazy notion – we needed to start an all-female Shakespeare ensemble. This was during a production of an all-female/all-male cast summer for Sacramento Shakespeare festival. Our research on other all-female productions was coming up sparse. We had the opportunity to be interviewed by Girls on the Grid and the reasons the ladies gave for being excited about an all-female production – auditioning for any and all roles regardless of gender, freedom, empowerment – were all the reasons we needed an all-female company.

That September, we launched Wildflower Women’s Ensemble with our production of Henry V, offered free in Fremont Park. Here are our founding members:

We considered it a success because we rehearsed it, mounted it and people watched it. But more importantly, women took on roles, both on and off stage, they might not have been able to in the mainstream theatre world.

Next we tackled Macbeth in spring 2016. One season down!

Bring on the problem plays. We attacked Measure for Measure in the late summer with Kim McCann-Lawson at the helm.

Last winter we held our first fundraiser – Winter Blossoms: An Evening with the Women of Wildflower. We hoped for 20 people and maybe to raise some money to cover costs. It far exceeded our expectations! Nina Dramer directed a very short Two Gentlemen of Verona – that makes four plays completed out of the 38!

Now for our present project. We are taking on the Shrew! Rehearsals have begun and it’s exciting. More photos to follow.

Why do I mention this? Because this group of women is amazing to work with. Dedicated to our company and our craft, we believe in what theatre can do for us and our community. We are teachers, state workers, designers, baristas, dancers, musicians, students, daughters, sisters, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, but most of all friends. And on this day of honoring women, I am honored to be among the brightest and best Sacramento has to offer!

Here’s to 35 more plays!