Bill Bowers

BILL BOWERS

www.Bill-Bowers.com

Hailed by critics as the most accomplished and renowned mime of his generation, Bill Bowers currently performs and teaches the art of physical storytelling throughout the world!  His methods and exploration of universal truths transcend the spoken word to educate and touch audiences of every language.

 An award-winning actor, Bowers has appeared on the stages of Broadway, The Kennedy Center, The White House, Steppenwolf and Radio City Music Hall to name a few. His Broadway credits include Zazu in The Lion King and Leggett in The Scarlet Pimpernel. He has also portrayed the great silent clowns: Charlie Chaplin in the world premiere of Little Tramp, Pierrot in the world premiere of Beethoven N Pierrot, and Petruchka with The Colorado Symphony.

 Bill Bowers was born and raised in the wilds of one of the quietest places on earth, “Big Sky Country” Montana. Growing up before the advent of social media, his childhood was surrounded by circles of silence and conformity. For Bowers, coming to terms with being gay in a small western town also meant keeping secrets in order to survive. This mix of inaudible mayhem, humanity and beauty led him to explore and love the meanings and physicality of

the unspoken. At a young age, he would find his way to the art of mime.

 Today, the opportunity to make the ancient art form of mime accessible to a contemporary audience drives his professional artistry. Bowers is a mime who also talks, deftly interspersing narrative with stunning visual portraits. He marries classical aspects with contemporary sound effects and music, poses present-day considerations through physical tapestries, and invites a wholly transformative look at the humor, pain and beauty of our humanity through simplicity and grace.

A passionate student and educator, Bowers studied with the legendary Marcel Marceau and currently serves on the faculties of New York University, Stella Adler Conservatory, and William Esper Studios. He is also presently a Visiting Professor at Williams College. He holds an MFA from Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts, and an Honorary PhD from Rocky Mountain College.

THE NEW YORK TIMES - “To watch Bill Bowers… is to see the technical elements of a style that brings Marcel Marceau readily to mind, joined to the American West.  Mime can be wonderful - the air between him and us is his palette.”

 THE HUFFINGTON POST - “With a combination of evocative physical theater and story-telling charm, Bowers slowly but surely turns an audience from knowing laughter toward something close to universal truth. … beyond amazing.”

Bill Bowers is a wonderful mixture of skill and diligence, humor and heart—

a real artist for humans. He makes you laugh and cry and think, all in one swoop.

Maybe he’s really an angel.”

-—Anna Deavere Smith

Bill Bowers is a real theatre artist.  Working with the simplest of tools, he creates a world of poetry, meaning and deep emotion.”   -Terrence McNally

“Bowers’ comedic style might be defined as Robin Williams crossed with Martin

Short... ”

—THE NASHVILLE SCENE

Bowers is a latter day Will Rogers.    Woman About Town

Bill Bowers is the Freddie Mercury of mime…  a student in California!

Bill Bowers is the love child of Danny Kaye and Lawrence Olivier.   John Turturro

“What Cirque de Soleil did for the circus, Bill Bowers does for mime.This fresh,

utterly original and brilliantly skilled performer evokes new depths of emotional

response from his art form. In fact, he enlarges it.”

—John Pielmeier, playwright

(AGNES OF GOD, THE EXORCIST)

“Bill Bowers, a Mime at the top of his profession, is one of America’s most exciting

all around performers. His style is his own, his performance is universal.”

—Richmond Shepard,

NY PERFORMING ARTS INSIDER

“Bowers is quite simply a sensation, a professional of sparkling energy, big presence

and a liquid body.... He is irresistible.”

— THE MISSOULIAN

“Bowers is a superb and acrobatic mime in the tradition of Chaplin and Keaton....”

—ST.LOUIS LIGHT

QUOTES for EDUCATION/TEACHING:

What Arts Educators say about BILL BOWERS

   Bill Bowers is a consummate performer as well as an exceptionally gifted teacher.  He has a unique ability to connect a student’s natural impulses to physical movement.  Freedom of expression – which must include spontaneous physical expression – is an essential component of the actor’s craft.  As a director and educator I find Bill’s talents in this area to be of immeasurable value to me and to my students.

                                                     William Wesbrooks, Director of Vocal Performance

                                                             The Steinhardt School at New York University

Bill Bowers is a dynamic, generous, intuitive teacher who gives students both a role model to emulate and an energetic guide through the theatrical wilderness of mind, body, and spirit.  As a performer, his subtlety and grace combined with a wildly responsive body and face make him a dazzling concert of the human experience.  Our students at Eastern Oregon University learned more from Bill in three days than many of their master classes all term.  He left us a happier, more creative, more thoughtful department.  

                           April Curtis, Department Head, Eastern Oregon University

Enthusiasm was high for a week after your show.   The students loved it and learned in the process.              

                                               Head Teacher, Markley School, Milford PA

His magnetic personality, knowledge of his craft, and above all, his talent as a mime, excites the students and makes them want to learn.

                                                Lynn Winik, Middlesex College, Edison NJ

Bill Bowers is magic.  His work with students and professionals is artistic, sensitive, and provocative.  His presence inspires, enlightens, and entertains. Holly Logue, Department Chair, Kean University    

Bill finds the truth, shares it with us, and invites us to go past his performances and explore the truth in our own heart, in our own imagination, in our own soul.   

                                            -Jim Caron, Missoula Children’s Theatre

 “Bill receives the respect and attention of students initially because of his impressive resume, amazing talent and artistry; he maintains their respect because of all of this --- plus his amazing capacity as a giving mentor and his personal compassion to each and every student.”

                                    Jeff Gibson, Director of Theatre

                                    Middle Tennessee State University

 "Bill Bowers is a phenomenal teacher.  Plain and simple.  He manages to bring out the best in students because he finds a way to tap into their strengths and individual talents.  He is an ideal teaching artist: approachable, generous, organized, patient, and above all, gifted as both a performer and an instructor.  It is clear that students and teachers alike are grateful for his work, and we will continue to find opportunities to bring him into the classroom."

• -Gad Guterman, Education Director,  
• The Vineyard Theatre NY

 "Bills’ true and fine artistry on stage translates to his keen art of teaching in the studio.  Students at all levels can truly benefit and gain from such a master." 

                                     Yoav Kaddar,West Virginia University

Bill Bowers is Amazing!!

 He will inspire you, he will inspire your students and theatre as you know it will be changed forever. If you have the opportunity to bring him to you school do so now!

 Bill is a gifted performer and an inspiring teacher. I can’t wait to bring him back to my school and students!

 Elizabeth Hunt-Lucarini

International School of Luxembourg