Unique Experience for American Actor
When American student Sage Rose Buchalter accepted an academic exchange to the University of Southern Queensland, little did she know, she was about to become part of a truly unique experience.
Within days of arriving in Toowoomba, Sage auditioned for the USQ Shakespeare in the Park Festival production of Richard III.
“I have always enjoyed meeting new people, experiencing diversity and being involved with the arts so I thought, why not combine all of these into one great opportunity and study abroad in Australia,” said Sage.
A final-year student in the musical theatre program at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado, Sage is on exchange for six months in the USQ School of Creative Arts.
“So far I have been very blessed with the theatrical and musical opportunities I have been given here at USQ.
“I am thrilled to be participating in this year’s production of Richard III and as a performer in To Glee or Not to Glee.
Sage will appear as four characters in Richard III.
“I play the Duchess of York (Richard III’s mother), Lord Hastings, Catesby and Scrivener.
“They are all amazing characters and each has presented me with a different set of challenges; especially the Duchess of York.
“It has been hard to find the weight of the guilt she feels and to encompass the spirit of someone so much older than myself, who has watched her world fall apart at the hands of her son.”
Joining Sage on stage will be her six Australian classmates, cast across a massive 33 roles.
Richard III will be presented at 6.30pm on 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 October on a stunning open-air stage at the University’s Toowoomba campus.
“After I leave Australia I will return to Colorado, work and prepare for my final semester at University.
“Then I hope to move to Denver where I’ll audition for everything until I find the direction I want my life to take.
“You can be sure it will include singing, dancing, acting and writing and, who knows, maybe I'll end up back in Australia!”
Tickets for the Festival are available through the USQ Artsworx Box Office on 07 4631 1111.