If you’re familiar with Michael Flowers’ work as a director in Birmingham, you’re probably aware of his propensity for staging the work of Stephen Sondheim. And it may come as a surprise to you that he’s never directed a production of Sondheim’s “Assassins.” Well, that is changing. Flowers is directing a production of “Assassins” that runs Feb. 6-16 at the Virginia Samford Theatre, concurrently with a production of “What the Constitution Means to Me,” which is directed by his wife, Pat Anderson-Flowers. Flowers answered some questions about Sondheim, “Assassins,” working with Anderson-Flowers and more.
Tell me a little about yourself.
I grew up in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and caught the theater bug the fall of my senior year in high school when I was cast as George Gibbs in “Our Town” at a local community theater. My high school theater teachers, Pris Benson and Carol Conner McAdams, were the ones who inspired me to consider pursuing theater in some form or fashion. I played Riff in “West Side Story” at Northeast High School my last semester there, and I was hooked. I went to Arkansas State University to obtain a degree in journalism but quickly discovered that theater was my true calling. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre from ASU and went on to get my Master of Fine Arts in Directing from the University of Mississippi. Great teachers and mentors changed the course of my life!
Can you tell me about your career at Birmingham-Southern College?
I was at BSC for 37 years, from 1984 to 2021. During my time there I fulfilled the typical faculty responsibilities, teaching a myriad of classes, advising students and serving on many committees, in addition to directing two productions a year. I was chair of the theater department for several years and on two occasions I served as chair/co-chair of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts.
You’ve done shows outside of BSC all along. Who else have you worked with in Birmingham?
I’ve had the good fortune to work with Birmingham Children’s Theare, Birmingham Festival Theatre, Red Mountain Theatre (both in its current iteration and when it was Birmingham Summerfest), The Virginia Samford Theatre, The Alabama School of Fine Arts, Central Alabama Theatre and Terrific New Theatre.
You’ve specialized in the work of Stephen Sondheim. Can you tell me about that?
“Assassins” is my 13th production of a Sondheim show to direct. Most of these were at BSC, thanks to my wonderful colleagues and remarkable students who were willing to go along for the ride. Challenging material for undergraduates, for sure! The productions include “Passion” (my first Sondheim), “Company” (three times), “Into the Woods” (twice), “Sweeney Todd,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” “West Side Story,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” “Side by Side by Sondheim” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” So, I still have a few to go!
This is your first time directing “Assassins”?
This is my first “Assassins.” Honestly, I have avoided it all these years because I was afraid I wouldn’t know what to do with it. When Philip Mann arrived at VST as executive director, he approached me about directing it, and given I had not done it before, I couldn’t turn him down. So, I had a lot of catching up to do. It’s really an extraordinary musical. While it does deal with challenging subject matter, it is the perfect combination of script (by John Weidman) and music and lyrics (Sondheim). My respect for it is immense.
How would you describe the show to someone who hasn’t seen it?
“Assassins” is a collage of scenes and songs that focuses on the lives of nine presidential assassins (or would be assassins) who find themselves sharing the same world at times (imagine John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald in the same scene), as they search for answers to their problems. The show, while not suggesting they are heroes, does ask us to examine their lives and what would lead them to the act of assassinating/attempting to assassinate a president. While it’s serious stuff, for sure, it also has lots of humor. Its big question is, what is it about our culture that continually leads citizens to use violence (guns, in this case) to solve their problems (in this case, assassinating the president).
Can you talk about your cast a bit?
Oh, my goodness, what a group! They are 16 remarkable singers/actors/collaborators, whose talent, courage and passion are on display at every rehearsal. They completely believe in this story and throw everything they have into it. It is a privilege and a gift to be in the room with them.
What do you hope audiences will take away from this show?
I hope audiences will take time to reflect on the “big question” (see above) and have many conversations with family, friends and loved ones about the very nature of our country and our obsession with guns and violence.
Is it just coincidence that you and your wife, Pat, are directing shows at VST concurrently, or was that a plan?
It was the plan. Pat and I have worked together on many occasions over the years in different capacities, but we have never directed shows concurrently for the same theater in the same building. It’s been quite a trip! The only bad thing is that we won’t get to see each other’s opening night!
What’s next for you?
Next up is “The Minutes,” by Tracy Letts, at Terrific New Theatre this May and June. Can’t wait to tackle that script and to work in TNT’s new space with another wonderful cast.
“Assassins,” at the Virginia Samford Theatre Feb. 6-16.
