Meet Mike Bowers Actor and Director | Actor and Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mike Bowers Actor and Director and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike Bowers, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I want the work I do to have an impact, and sometimes that means going against what is traditionally done. I moved to Los Angeles just over ten years ago with no industry contacts and only a few friends, working for $9/hr doing retail at the time. That was a huge risk, leaving a city where I had some career momentum and a network of theatre contacts. But I don’t regret it. It forced me into a new paradigm that forced me to hone my skills as a writer, something I’d been interested in for a long time. And eventually I was able to find a theatre community here that has given me opportunities to act, write, direct, and produce. Taking risks is necessary to force yourself to grow as a person and an artist.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have always been passionate about storytelling and about making art that makes a difference, as well as presenting theatre in a new way than people might expect. I started as a Theatre major at Florida State University and after leaving with my degree, moved to Seattle to work as a stage manager for a time. But I couldn’t stay away from acting and directing. I left behind a strong trajectory towards becoming an Equity stage manager in order to pursue my passions, drastically decreasing my income and forcing me to take on more traditional side jobs like retail and food service. Even today, I don’t get paid to act or direct, I do it purely for the love of the craft and the art that I am able to create with like minded artists.

The thing I’m most proud of are the two shows I directed in the last year and a half with Conundrum Theatre Company. I directed a production of “Cabaret” that lifted up and shone light on the various marginalized communities that were affected by the Holocaust, including homosexuals, people of color, political dissidents, and of course, Jews. It was a powerful piece that I am honored to have been a part of, especially given the rise in dangerous fascist and anti-Semitic rhetoric in America lately. More recently, I directed a production of “Zanna, Don’t!”, a lesser known musical that explores the idea of the world being gay and heterosexual people facing discrimination. With so many states enacting anti LGBTQ+ legislation in the last several years, it was an important story to tell through music and humor that really forced the audience to think. In addition to that, multiple cast members described the experience of working on the show “life-changing”, and that might be the best result any director can ask for.

I’ve learned so much along the way. About connection between human beings. About trust. About love. And about how artists lift each other up. That’s the kind of experience I want to share with anyone I work with, in my capacity as an actor, a director, a producer, or even just an audience member.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many amazing spots in this city, and as a big foodie and lover of cocktails, I love sharing my favorite spots with friends. The Federal in North Hollywood is a long-time favorite, as is Fat Dog around the corner from them. Over in Los Feliz, there’s Home Restaurant, Alcove, and Bar Covell. And one of my favorite spots for a late night cocktail is The Dresden. But my favorite spot that I’m at all the time is Over/Under in Burbank. The staff is amazing, the food is delicious and the drinks are divine. Highly, highly recommend.

Outside of dining, I am a regular season ticket holder at the Ahmanson Theatre, and I see a lot of shows at The Pantages as well. A Noise Within in Pasadena does great work also.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Conundrum Theatre Company

Instagram: @bikemowers

Image Credits
Iah Bearden-Vrai