SARAH BOWDEN / Blog

Apr. 30th, 2016

The Bump

Doing "the bump" with Mr Mike Russell!
The boys asked me last night if I would sing a prince song, as a tribute... How could I say no! Prince himself stood on that very stage, in Quasimodo and gave a small concert. I didn't even come close to doing his music the justice it deserves, but I felt a special magic last night.... ‪#‎feelingblessed‬
Thank you for the music boys, thank you for the photo: gudrun arndt

Apr. 23rd, 2016

Dolly Parton

It's Official!
I'll be playing the role of "Doralee Rhodes" in the Musical "9to5" this summer in Merzig!
Dolly Parton is one of my Heroes! We get to sing her music!
Aghhhhhhhhhh!
I could not be more excited!
‪#‎9to5themusical‬

Jan. 31st, 2016

I Believe in Magic

Fun Facts with Sarah..

Sometimes life is "snafu"

But... I believe in Magic...

Summer 2015, working at the Wintergarten Varieté in Berlin. Due to the strange metal construction we have to crawl under to enter and exit the stage, hyperactivity and way too much Red Bull consumption, (nothing of the ordinary for me, really)... I tend to bump my head a lot backstage!! This one time, I manage to bump into a screw and it's a blood bath, so much blood! I completely freak out, convinced I'm dying, get rushed to hospital (the one a 2.5 minute walk away) in an ambulance (not a drama queen at all) to have my very bloody head glued back together! All in all, a pretty dramatic evening! I was admittedly in a little shock after all that blood! I really had no idea heads can bleed that much!

By now it's 2am and I have a big day ahead of me, a trip to Darmstadt to audition for Cabaret, and my dream role "Sally"! It's a 4.5 hour train ride there, for a 2 hour audition, a 4.5 hour ride back.. adding to this, I would have to play the show that evening in the Wintergarten, Berlin... This means, I have to be on that train in a few hours, at 4am! All in all not a grand problem, thinking I can sleep on the Train ;) besides, they told me I have a light concussion and should be supervised sleeping for a night... The train has lots of people! Good plan!

There is one small problem, I've been told not to wash my hair for 48 hours! Yeah, right! So I wash.. around the spot where the glue is, and decide to wear a bowler hat to my audition to cover the crusty, bloody patch of hair! Brilliant! I'm so smart!

Bowler hat in hand, audition bag packed, not slept yet.. I go downstairs and hail a taxi! We start to drive and I begin to cry! :/ shock? I'm not feeling that great either, a little shaky... It's 4am, I'll call my Mum in Australia, she'll be awake! She hears my story, and Orders me to go back to bed!!! Mum knows best, I very tearily, ask the driver to take me back home. He does so, and asks for no money! (I mean the tears, the bowler hat, the shaking and the bloody head! I must have looked a treat!)

Long story Short... No audition for Sarah, which means not even the chance to fight for the "Sally Bowles" Job (the competition is always tough). I can't even begin to explain how sad I was about this.. It's my DREAM role, if I could play this everyday and nothing else, ever.. I would be ecstatic! It really is one thing, not to get the job when you've auditioned and weren't chosen... But when circumstances out of your control prevent you from even being able to present yourself as a worthy candidate... Simply put, that just sucks! I was sad about this for a while....

Life is funny Sometimes and you have to Trust your path...

Yesterday, as in Darmstadt, a wonderful colleague had her Sally Bowles Premier, I also stood onstage.. in Zwickau, and played... Yes, Sally Bowles! (a successful audition, that appeared at a later date) I got to perform and create this story with one of my very dear friends, one of my favorite people, an inspiration for me... Mr Gianni Meure! I could not have asked for more of a dream come true! Well, Isn't that a bit a magic!

I guess what I really want to say is this: life is strange and sometimes it feels hopeless and seriously messed up. There are these moments when the walls are closing in and it seems, that the future you so very much longed for is drifting away from you.

Do not despair: of course, there is heartache and it's a massive challenge. But open your eyes and get yourself out there. The magic in all of this is if you don't give up, stay positive, kind and driven.... Your dream will come to you! Maybe not exactly how you thought it would happen, but sometimes... in even more magical ways than you could have possibly ever dreamed of. This is what I wish for you and all the ones you love: The courage to keep believing in magic."

Jan. 26th, 2016

The Audition

A quick bathroom ‪#‎selfie‬ before, "The Audition"....

It never gets easier does it! For Example... today driving, in my car, alone, more than 6 hours in total, there and back to spend 4 minutes on stage, singing 2 songs... Or last week, driving 6 hours through the night and through a snow storm, after a flight and a show! To sleep in a hotel, (that has a gym, so you can warm up), before taking the train for an hour to sing a few songs, and dance your butt off.... In total, at least this time, a 3-4 hour experience....

We are constantly proving ourselves, our talent, our drive, our skills, our love, our passion, our ability to stay fit, in shape, sharp and hungry for it!

I have so much respect for the artists in out business... the art of performing live theatre, musical, opera, circus, all of it! It's such a challenge, such hard work, such a struggle, and in the end so wonderfully rewarding!

Congratulations to everyone, myself included, even when we don't get the job.... For chasing the dream, fighting the fight, and waving the banner!

Let's keep making Art! :D

bathroom selfie 1

Jan. 22nd, 2016

Memories - Rehearsals

Rehearsals are my favorite part of this job!!
It's been over 2 weeks since our last "West Side Story" in "Wuppertal"
It's been a very long time since I really miss a production when it's over! I miss the people, I miss performing it... What a Wonderful, nourishing, life changing couple of months that was!
It still overwhelms me, it still warms my heart to think of the show we created, the journey we all went on to get it there, and all of my stupidly talented colleagues!
I am normally a person who tries to look ahead, to keep moving forward... This morning I choose to look back!
I am immensely grateful and truly thankful for this wonderful time!
(Thank you Christopher Tölle for the photo)

rehearsals