INTERVIEW WITH ACTOR JAMIE BREWER
Education Dramaturg Ted Sod spoke with actor Jamie Brewer about her role as Amy in Amy and the Orphans.
Ted Sod: Where were you born, and what made you decide to become an actor? Where did you get your training? Did you have any teachers who profoundly influenced you?
Jamie Brewer: I was born in Los Alamitos, California. I started studying acting/theatre when I was in 8th and 9th grades. It was part of a College for Kids summer program that helped me learn everything about theatre from development of characters to getting the play on its feet, including costuming and building and painting sets. I learned everything about theatre production. When I was in high school, I was part of a theatre club and learned fun facts about theatre and helped with productions. After graduating from high school, I got involved in Dionysus Theatre in Texas. Deb Nowinski, the founder of Dionysus, brought together actors with disabilities and actors without disabilities to audition for parts equally, and we performed in plays together. I became a resident troupe member, and we traveled around to schools and other places performing in plays. After living and working in Texas, I moved back to Southern California and continued my theatre education at a local college. I’ve been involved with different theatres here in California. I’ve gone to school to learn the Sanford Meisner technique for acting. I started learning Meisner when I went to Ruskin School of Acting, and I’ve been continuing to learn those techniques. I’m also part of a theatre class called Born to Act Players. I’m taking college classes, and I am learning about many other areas of theatre when my work schedule allows. I have a Musical Theatre certificate, and I am going for my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. All the teachers I’ve had were—and still are—a positive influence on me.
TS: Why did you choose to play the role of Amy in Lindsey Ferrentino’s Amy and the Orphans? What do you think the play is about?
JB: I chose to play Amy because I can relate to her personality, her love for movies, and her independence. There are many traits to Amy that I love, and I want to thank Lindsey for thinking of me for this role. This is an amazing play about a road trip among three siblings, Jacob, Maggie, and Amy, and who they are, what they learn from each other, and how they begin to understand the choices their parents made in caring for Amy.
TS: What kind of preparation or research do you have to do before rehearsals begin in order to play this role, if any?
JB: In preparing to play this role, I talked with Lindsey for several long sessions in order to understand her Aunt Amy’s personality and how she talked. This helped me to understand who Amy really was and how she lived her life. I always prepare for a role by studying and reading the script front to back—multiple times. Then I highlight and tab each line I say, so I won’t lose my place when I’m in rehearsals. After highlighting my lines, I write them out in a composition book that has my notes on the character in it. I find this allows me to take my time while memorizing each line.
TS: How is this character relevant to you? I realize the rehearsal process hasn’t begun yet, but can you share some of your initial thoughts about
12 ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY
who your character is with us? What do you find most challenging/ exciting about this role?
JB: I see a lot of myself in Amy—her personality is a little like mine. Amy is someone who is like glue in certain ways. Amy’s sister, Maggie, and her brother, Jacob, fight with each other often, and Amy finds humor where there’s tension. I love that in Amy’s eyes everyone who comes into her life is a friend. Every role is challenging, but this role is exciting for me because it’s my first play in New York City. It allows me to show everyone that just because someone may have Down syndrome, it doesn’t limit their opportunities. It allows me to show that we are all more alike than different. I’m excited to bring Amy to the New York City audience.
TS: At this early stage in your work, how do you understand Amy’s relationship to her brother and sister, Jacob and Maggie? How do you understand Amy’s relationship to Kathy?
JB: I understand that for a lot of Amy’s life, she never really knew her family because she lived in Willowbrook for a short time and then in the foster care system. Amy’s the younger sister to Jacob and Maggie. She’s the baby of the family. I feel that we start to see the relationship build among all three when the road trip begins. Amy’s relationship with Kathy started when Amy started living in the group home after she was too old for the foster care system. Kathy and Amy act like sisters even though they are not biologically related.
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