Ian Hopp’s acting ambition

If his name seems familiar, it’s because actor Ian Hopps has been appearing in shows all over town of late. He’s in both of the Davis Shakespeare Festival’s summer shows, and in the past year, he’s also appeared in roles with Capital Stage, Big Idea Theatre and the Sacramento Theater Company.

His journey here followed a traditional path—mostly. The 20-something actor grew up in the Los Angeles area, and studied theater at San Francisco State, where he got to know the organizers of Davis Shakespeare.

After completing his degree in 2013, Hopps returned to Los Angeles and lived with his mother. Eventually, he looked north again.

“I saw that in Davis and Sacramento, there was a community of theater people that support each other, and I decided to move up here,” Hopps says.

Soon, he started landing roles at Davis Shakespeare and the Sacramento Theatre Company.

When he’s not acting Hopps supports his theater habit with a part-time restaurant job, and busking with an accordion—he bought one off Craigslist for $150, and taught himself to play.

During his time in Sacramento, Hopps has grown as an actor, developing skills in musical theater and stage combat. And he has ambitions to push himself even further.

“I’d like to do a show at the B Street Theatre. I’d like to help Davis Shakespeare continue to grow. I want to get an Actors’ Equity card,” Hopps says.

The ultimate role, he adds, would be playing the title role in Richard III, Shakespeare’s dark history play about a schemer who murders anyone who stands between himself and the throne.

Whatever the path, Hopps adds that he’s happy in his adopted city.

“I want to make Sacramento a home base, and branch out and work [in other cities, too].”