Quick Chat: Ama J. Kuwonu

In her first year on APT's stage, Ama Kuwonu has truly uncovered the essence of APT. Playing both the hilarious Minnie Fay in The Matchmaker, alongside lover-girl Silvia in The Two "Gentlemen" of Verona, Ama invites you along to learn about her process as an actor as well as the pockets of peace she's found in these magical woods.

APT: Ama, you have been such a delight to have on our stage this summer! How has your season been?
Ama: This is my first year at APT and it's simply been a blessing. :)

APT: We are so glad to hear that. Would you mind telling us a bit more about your background before coming to APT?
Ama: I graduated from a conservatory program in Chicago and have been living and working there for the past two years! Then, last summer, I performed in my first Shakespeare show, Twelfth Night, with Oak Park Festival Theatre. Towards the end of that run, Peter Anderson, the Artistic Director and director of the production, was in communication with Carey Canon. He encouraged our cast to audition for APT, so a bunch of us took a day trip at the end of August to Spring Green, auditioned, saw Fallen Angels, and the rest is history!

APT: Sounds like it was meant to be! Now that you're here in the woods - what parts are you playing? What about these roles do you enjoy?
Ama: This season, I am having the time of my life playing Minnie Fay in The Matchmaker and Silvia in The Two “Gentlemen” of Verona! Let me tell you: both of these roles have been a WONDERFUL stretch for me.

I wasn’t too familiar with comedies before this season, but I learned a ton about their rhythm watching and rehearsing Wilder’s play with our director, Brian. He has such strong instincts for comedic timing! Now, the comedy feels like pieces of choreography that I can melt into. And because the time period is so specific, stepping into the world of The Matchmaker always feels like a full character transformation!

As for 2 Gents, the music is, hands down, one of my favorite elements of our production, especially now that we are running the show. We worked hard as a team to marinate the music into the text, and now our band (Elleon, Tim, and Nate) absolutely crush it every single night and really acts as the heartbeat of the story. One of my favorite musical moments happens as I prep for Silvia’s balcony entrance in “Love Is an Overwhelming Light.” The stairs up to the balcony are actually right next to the band, so sometimes, the underscoring with that harmonica rings through me so deeply that it actually brings me to tears by the time I open that window! It’s so beautiful.

APT: Having watched the show a few times now I agree - it is beautiful. With two very different shows, what does your pre-show look like? What about your post-show?
Ama: Pre- and post-show routines are so important, and I’ve just settled into my own little groove!

I hop on my yoga mat for at least 15 minutes of stretching. I want to tap in with my body, see where I’m at for the day, and loosen up. From there, I start connecting that movement to my vocal warm-up, with a focus on finishing with a clear channel of sound from my diaphragm, out to any wall in my room. Then I hit a nice shower to sort of “reset” and make sure to sing along to my earworm of the week (right now it’s “Caliche” by Emily King). It’s fun, puts me in a good mood, and also helps connect my breath to my articulation.

Once I’m in the dressing rooms, sometime before my first scene, I always make sure to say my lines out loud while looking at the script so I have them fresh in my mind; especially with the Shakespeare in 2 Gents!

My post-show wind-down starts with lip trills in the car home! Then it’s mostly giving some love to my cat, Cocoa, doing my skincare routine, having a snack, and reading a Substack article in hopes of also decreasing my doom scrolling. It’s a nice way to slowly transition out of the show and back into myself.

APT: That sounds so relaxing. Playing two iconic roles amongst APT's beautiful scenery, I'm sure you've had some stand-out moments. Do you have a favorite memory?
Ama: Without a doubt, it was the afternoon I trekked up the hill for The Matchmaker’s first preview and saw all of our patrons spread out across the picnic tables. At that point, I had only seen the final tech runs for other productions, so I didn’t understand just how much the property swelled with people before the house opened. It was glorious. And it made me emotional. Genuinely.

Walking among those who were about to fill our seats as they grilled, laughed, and lounged helped me better understand what APT was to its community. It was an experience. Definitely for me, as the actor, to take to the stage and feel their beaming energy every night. But certainly for them too, to step onto the property and immediately engage with the space as a welcoming and comfortable extension of their own stomping grounds.

APT: I feel you captured APT's essence completely. Thank you for that! Let's end with a fun one. Could you give me an example of a time you thought "I can't believe this is my job."
Ama: Sometime in June, I had one of my favorite vocal sessions with the lovely Sara Becker, head of APT’s Voice & Text! That afternoon, we were focusing on character work for Minnie Fay, and Sara invited me to fill the space and dance all around the room, being as big or loud as I needed to be, for as long as I needed, before running lines for the hat shop scene. It was so fun and freeing; I felt so charmed.

But also, the way Sara used transference (or substitution, in Uta Hagen’s terminology) with her share of the lines that day really helped me better gauge Minnie’s reactions to the period's social norms. I definitely left with a wash of amazement!

APT: It sounds as though you've had a season bursting with joy and discovery! Thank you so much Ama!

Photo by Dan Norman