Sade Bassan: Future Focused

FUTURE FOCUSED

SPOTLIGHT ON: SADE BASSAN

By Lauren Speirs

19-year-old Sade Bassan shines both on stage and behind the scenes at The Naples Players.

Born and raised in Naples, Florida, Sade Bassan started performing in musicals in high school and did her first show with The Naples Players (TNP) as a backstage hand for You Can’t Take It with You. Her first onstage appearance with TNP was in Moana JR. and she was happy to find a place to do more theater.

“When I first came here I was performing at my high school and wanted to do more beyond performing. My best friend, Amy Tran, was working here at TNP.” With working backstage versus performing, Sade says she “found love in both of them and then the battle began - onstage or offstage?”

Currently, Sade is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Musical Theater as well as a Bachelor of Arts and Communications at the University of Tampa. For the immediate future, she would love more experience backstage as well as in the administrative office of the theater.

Looking further ahead, Sade says,

“I would like to run my own production company and create my own types of theater. I’m particularly passionate about representational theater - whether it’s race or gender. I would like to get those stories portrayed in an authentic way and create a space where I can produce and lead that.”

As far as The Wedding Singer goes, Sade says “I’m excited about the costumes - I have never worn an 80’s costume before! The fight scene has to be the most entertaining part. Everything about it is just so funny. We’re all throwing him into a dumpster and there’s just so much going on.”

The process to prepare the show is just as rewarding to Sade as being on stage. “The rehearsals are fun - the performers all know each other really well.

I missed dancing so much so I’m glad I got the opportunity to audition and be on stage here again.”

Sade’s main goal has always been to learn as much as she can about theater. “When I first started here, I dove really far into the backstage stuff. I even got stage manager certified with Cole (Butcher). Amy, Cole and I have a great relationship and I love helping out as much as I can.”

In 2019, Sade was nominated for Broadway Stars of the Future.

Even when Sade is a performer for a show, she’s still paying attention to all of the details happening off stage.

“When I’m in the show and I hear the stage manager talking, I love hearing everything that’s going on.”

After The Wedding Singer, Sade will be busy with fulfilling her degree requirements and auditioning for musicals once she returns to school. She hopes to perform on stage five to ten times over the course of the semester. On her breaks, she will be sure to come back and visit TNP as she loves her work at the theater, particularly with the KidzAct actors!