Meet the Cast of The Winter's Tale! Spotlight on Sharon Stevens (Hermione)
Sharon Stevens is Classics on the Rocks' Managing Director, and also finally back onstage this summer playing the role of Hermione. One of Shakespeare's more intense roles for women, Hermione must endure a false accusation, a harrowing trial, and sixteen years "dead" before she gets her (SPOILERS!) maybe-sorta-happy ending.
In addition to the below Q&A, Sharon shared some of her insight into Hermione specifically in another recent blog post.
What's your favorite thing about your hometown?
There are so many things to love about San Diego! It’s one of those places that when you grow up there you don’t realize that the rest of the world ISN’T 70 degrees and sunny (with no humidity) year round! But if I have to pick one thing I would probably pick Balboa Park which is where the Zoo and the Old Globe are. It’s my happy place.
What does your ideal Saturday look like?
Sleep in. Make coffee. Go out for bagels or a good diner breakfast. Go for a walk down to Astoria Park and walk along the water. Then end the evening at home making a fun fancy cocktail and watching a movie while hanging out with my husband and cat.
What's your favorite role you've played, Shakespeare or otherwise?
Hermione is certainly up there. But I will say that Kate in Taming of the Shrew will always hold a special place in my heart since that’s when I met my husband (and COTR artistic director) Will.
What excites you about The Winter's Tale?
It’s such an interesting mix of drama and comedy. We tear you down emotionally and then lift you back up. I also love getting to play a character who has some really high highs and some very low lows. The range is an exciting challenge.
Featuring a mad king, an exit pursued by a bear, and three of Shakespeare's strongest female characters, The Winter's Tale is a lesser-known, lesser-told story that gives us both tragedy and comedy, love and loss, winter and spring.
The Winter's Tale performs July 20, 21, 27, 28 at 7pm and July 29 at 5pm at the Alchemical Theatre Laboratory. Tickets may be purchased in advance here.
About Classics on the Rocks:
Shakespeare doesn't have to be complicated and it's our mission at Classics on the Rocks to make classical theatre accessible, exciting, palatable, and fun for everyone - whether you're brand new to Shakespeare or have read the canon cover to cover.
At Classics on the Rocks, we believe that just as whiskey doesn't need anything more than rocks to tame it's bite. Shakespeare doesn't need fancy concepts, modernizations, frilly costumes, or big sets to make it relatable. All you need are talented actors who trust the text and tell the story. It's classics served simply on the rocks.
