A SCENT OF FLOWERS: Meet the Cast, part 1

A SCENT OF FLOWERS: Meet Jess Berry

Friends and Family,

I can't believe that we are officially one week from beginning rehearsals for A SCENT OF FLOWERS, the final production of our 2011-2012 Season. There is a lot of internal buzz surrounding this production. It feels like we've unearthed a kind of buried treasure in this beautiful, mysterious and rarely produced play by James Saunders, and we've assembled a very exciting cast of artists to bring it to life. So, to coincide with the beginning of rehearsals, we are launching a weekly profile of the faces you will see on stage beginning July 14th. So let's begin!

INTRODUCING: Jess Berry as "Zoe."

Fresh from Griffin Theatre's acclaimed, Jeff Nominated production of PUNK ROCK, her role in A SCENT OF FLOWERS will mark the first time Jess has stepped onto a BSTC stage. Despite being a new face in the Chicago Theatre scene, Jess has already worked with such Chicago area companies as the Artistic Home and Griffin.

A SCENT OF FLOWERS revolves around the mysterious, lyrical journey that Zoe takes through the avenues of her own young life. Onstage and pivotal in every moment of this complex and deeply emotional play, the actress playing the role of Zoe has no small task ahead of her. I asked Ms. Berry to talk about what attracted her to this unique play and this difficult role, this is what she had to say:

"I was immediately drawn to Zoe because of her complex emotional layering as a young woman. Zoe has a big heart, and does everything wholly... she loves big, and hurts just the same. Her words strike a chord with me and I knew Zoe and I have an undeniable bond: the fear of being alone.

It is exciting to dive into such a full character that has a huge emotional range. It is every actress' dream to find someone like Zoe and to bring her story to life on stage. It is also very scary! Zoe goes through so much pain, and when committing yourself to truly expressing her story it can leave you emotionally raw and incredibly vulnerable. A Scent of Flowers is a mystical, yet heart-wrenching journey of a lifetime and I am excited to experience it with the great people of BackStage."

A role like Zoe is deceptively hard to cast. On the surface level, Zoe is an everywoman: young, lovely, conventional and vibrantly alive. She has conventional needs; love, family, acceptance and a safe place in the world. Seems like an archetypical "ingenue" role. But Saunders gives Zoe the challenge of perspective. Zoe examines -- in an urgently lyrical manner -- her conventional life by beginning the play at the end of that life. It is a deeply emotional perspective shift, leaving Zoe no room to hide from the truths of her young life. The actress playing Zoe -- who never leaves the stage for a moment -- must demonstrate an ability to be both witness and guide to her own final journey.

On audition day, Jess seemed to have an instinctive grasp on the emotional richness of Zoe's journey. In the audition room, she demonstrated a effortless youthful exuberance when reading with audition partners. She also demonstrated a suprising emotional range, again with the same kind of effortlessness, rare in an actor so young. Finally, though, it was her ability to listen deeply and with clear intention, and to wordlessly but actively process events around her that sealed the deal for the casting director and I. I am very excited to have Jess on board for this deeply challenging, transporting play.

A SCENT OF FLOWERS, featuring Jess Berry as "Zoe" opens July 14th at the Building Stage. Each week until opening we'll introduce you to another cast member, so look for another profile next week!

All my best,

Matthew Reeder

Artistic Director

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BackStage Theatre company uses the intimate art of theatre to explore the diverse experience of family.