Bill Bowers Biography

Bill Bowers (born April 16, 1959) is an American mime artist and actor based in New York City. As an actor, mime and educator, Bill has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. He is an Adjunct Instructor instructor at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and teaches at the Bill Esper and Stella Adler studios. He is married to Costume designer and supervisor Michael Growler.

Early life

Bill was born in Missoula, Montana and graduated from Montana's Rocky Mountain College with the Dean's Cup, President's Award, and was Valedictorian. After graduation he headed East to New Jersey where he continued his collegiate studies and earned an MFA from Rutgers University's prestigious Mason Gross School of the Arts.

In 2001 Bowers was awarded an Honorary Ph.D. from Rocky Mountain College, and was invited to give the Commencement speech in 2011. He has received numerous awards and accolades for his solo performances, and also named Artist of Eminence by the University of Wyoming in 2009.

Resume

Bowers appeared on Broadway as Zazu in Disney's The Lion King, and Leggett in The Scarlet Pimpernel. Bill's autobiographical play IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, opened Off Broadway in 2006 at the Rattlestick Theater, and enjoyed a sold-out, extended run. Since that time IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING has been presented throughout the U.S, and has received numerous awards, including Best Performance at the International United Solo Festival, International Fresh Fruit Festival, and the Dallas/Fort Worth Critics Forum. In 2009 he premiered his newest play, HEYOKAH/HOKAHEY at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. HEYOKAH/HOKAHEY has also been produced in Colorado, Montana, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Bill's original mime shows, Night Sweetheart, Night Buttercup and Under A Montana Moon, were produced Off Broadway and received critical raves. UNDER A MONTANA MOON has been performed all over the world, from Romania, to Macedonia, Japan and Norway. Bill has performed on the stages of Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and the Kennedy Center.

His regional theater credits include The Berkshire Theater Festival, The Denver Center Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse, George Street Playhouse, Montana Rep, Two Rivers Theater, Paper Mill Playhouse, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Repertory of St. Louis, and the Pioneer Theater Company. Bill played the title role in George M! at Broadway in the Rockies, and starred in Fully Committed at The Tennessee Repertory Theater and The Arkansas Repertory Theater. His new solo work, BEYOND WORDS, premiered in New York City in the Fall of 2011 and is now being presented throughout the U.S.

Bowers can be seen in the feature film, Two Weeks Notice, starring Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant. His television credits include All My Children, One Life to Live, Remember W.E.N.N., Law & Order, and Disney's Out of The Box. While on Broadway, he was featured on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Today Show, and The Tony Awards.

Bowers has studied with the legendary mime Marcel Marceau.