San Francisco Interviews
Daniel Thomas of 'MOONBEAMS' SUBSCRIPTION SERIES at 42nd Street Moon Delivers the Joy of Musical Theatre Right to Your Own Home
by Jim Munson - September 22, 2020, San Francisco
42nd Street Moon, San Franciscoa??s venerable theatre company dedicated to celebrating and preserving the art of the American musical, is about to launch a paid virtual subscription series called MoonBeams. Consisting of five very different and highly entertaining shows, the series will run from Sep...
Katy Sullivan of PANDORA at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Represents an Exciting Expansion of Possibilities in the World of Theater
by Jim Munson - September 16, 2020, San Francisco
The best part of my job as a theater writer is that I get to speak with fascinating people, and they dona??t come more fascinating than actor and Paralympic athlete Katy Sullivan, who plays the titular role in TheatreWorks Silicon Valleya??s benefit online workshop reading of Pandora. This intriguin...
Geoff Hoyle of WHAT WILL I BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? at The Marsh Lives to Play to Fool
by Jim Munson - September 09, 2020, San Francisco
Ah, just when we need it the most, here is the perfect tonic for our troubled times! The Marsh is bringing comedic legend Geoff Hoyle in his latest work, What Will I Be When You Grow Up?, to a small screen near you. Presented on Saturday, September 12th at 7:30PM PDT, the show will be followed by a ...
Brian Copeland of THE WAITING PERIOD at The Marsh Wants You to Know You Are Not Alone
by Jim Munson - September 02, 2020, San Francisco
As the San Francisco Bay Area reaches six months of sheltering-in-place, the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for mental health have become more prevalent than ever. In response, The Marsh is bringing back virtual LIVE performances (with post-event discussions) of Brian Copelanda??s captivating...
Giovanna Sardelli of PERFECT 36 at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Loves to Tell a Good Story
by Jim Munson - August 24, 2020, San Francisco
In celebration of Womena??s Equality Day and the Centennial of the 19th Amendment, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley and The Womana??s Club of Palo Alto will present a virtual performance of excerpts and songs from the dynamic musical Perfect 36, with lyrics and book by Laura Harrington, music by Mel Marv...
Jacob Kornbluth of STEPHANIE'S MARSHSTREAM at The Marsh Brings Clarity & Humor to Complex Issues
by Jim Munson - August 18, 2020, San Francisco
Emmy and Sundance Film Festival Award-winning writer and director Jacob Kornbluth will chat with Stephanie Weisman, Founder/Artistic Director of the Marsh this Thursday August 20th at 7:30pm PDT as part of the ongoing a?oeStephaniea??s MarshStreama?? series. Kornbluth will discuss his entertaining a...
Sheila E. of WE STAND TOGETHER Uses Her Musical Talents to Effect Change for Racial Justice
by Jim Munson - July 23, 2020, San Francisco
We Stand Together, a one-night virtual benefit in support of justice for Black lives, will premiere at 7:00pm PDT on Thursday, July 23rd on both Youtube and Facebook. It will include appearances by Sheila E., Mahershala Ali, Misty Copeland, Ledisi and a host of other top artists, activists and commu...
Karen Ziemba of SHAKESPEARE IN VEGAS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Lights up Stage and (Small) Screen
by Jim Munson - July 21, 2020, San Francisco
Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba and Tony Award nominee Patrick Page head the dynamic cast of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's benefit online reading of Shakespeare in Vegas, a rollicking comedy by Suzanne Bradbeer. Presented by TheatreWorks' New Works from Home program in partnership with Vegas Theatre ...
Hershey Felder of HERSHEY FELDER: BEETHOVEN LIVESTREAM at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Brings the Legendary Composer to Life
by Jim Munson - July 07, 2020, San Francisco
What better way to spend a summer evening than in the company of artistic genius in the form of iconic composer Ludwig van Beethoven as interpreted by renowned musical theater artist Hershey Felder? On Sunday July 12th at 5pm PDT, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley will present a livestream of the hit show...
Robert Kelley Looks Back on His Amazing 50-Year Run at the Helm of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
by Jim Munson - June 25, 2020, San Francisco
It is time for Robert Kelley to take a richly-deserved curtain call. June 30th will be his last day as Artistic Director of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley after a mind-blowing 50 years in that role. It is not hyperbole to state there isn't another individual who has had a more profound influence on the...
Aldo Billingslea of POLAR BEARS, BLACK BOYS AND PRAIRIE FRINGED ORCHIDS LIVESTREAM at Juneteenth Theatre Justice Project Hopes to Create Meaningful Change
by Jim Munson - June 18, 2020, San Francisco
More than 30 Bay Area theatres are joining forces to present a reading on Juneteenth, encouraging donations to support a bold Go Fund Me Campaign that aims to fundraise one million dollars for Black theatre projects in America. Spearheaded by PlayGround, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, and Planet Earth ...
Lauren Yee & Jim Kleinmann of PLAYGROUND ZOOM FEST Celebrate the Development of New Works
by Jim Munson - May 29, 2020, San Francisco
PlayGround, San Francisco's renowned theatre development lab, is currently in the midst of hosting the nation's largest fully digital new play festival, PlayGround Zoom Fest. Already running and continuing through June 14, 2020, the ambitious five-week online event gathers leading voices in American...
Robert Kelley of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley on the HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN Livestream Benefit Performance Happening This Mother's Day
by Jim Munson - May 05, 2020, San Francisco
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has the perfect Mother's Day entertainment for you! On Sunday May 10th at 5pm PDT, they will band together with a number of theaters across the country to present a livestream of the hit show 'Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin,' a tribute to America's greatest songwriter. T...
Stephanie Weisman of MARSHSTREAM at The Marsh Gives Us the Scoop Behind the New Daily Streaming Platform
by Jim Munson - April 24, 2020, San Francisco
The Marsh San Francisco has long been known as the city's breeding ground for new performance. Like theater companies the world over, The Marsh is also having to invent new ways of engaging with audiences while in-person performances are suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Their creative solutio...
Loretta Greco of FAR APART ART at Magic Theatre Brings the Theater World Together Via a Daily Podcast Featuring the Company's Playwrights
by Jim Munson - April 20, 2020, San Francisco
Theater companies all over the world are rising to the challenge of staying connected to their audiences and continuing to serve them while in-person performances are suspended for an indefinite period. San Franciso's storied Magic Theatre has come up with a creative solution by instituting 'Far Apa...
Director Robert Kelley of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Takes Us Behind the Scenes of the New Musical Now Available for Streaming
by Jim Munson - April 10, 2020, San Francisco
Good news for musical theater lovers! TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's recent, acclaimed production of Paul Gordon's Pride and Prejudice will now be available to stream. Presented by Streaming Musicals, Pride and Prejudice will receive a a?oevirtual opening nighta?? on Friday, April 10 at 3:30pm PT/ 6:...
Robert Kelley of THE BOOK OF WILL at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Turns His Focus to Lauren Gunderson's Theatrical Love Letter after RAGTIME Is Postponed
by Jim Munson - March 26, 2020, San Francisco
It's a sad scenario that has been playing out in theaters all over the world for the past several weeks. How to reach the heart-breaking decision to cancel a show, knowing that you're about to put a team of people out of work and deprive your audience of some much-needed solace at this critical time...
Sherry Glaser of OH MY GODDESS! at The Marsh Berkeley Brings the Feminine to Light as the Great Jewish Mother of Us All
by Jim Munson - March 06, 2020, San Francisco
Sherry Glaser is bringing her one-woman a?oeOh My Goddess! A Comedy of Biblical Proportionsa?? to The Marsh Berkeley for a 6-week run. To say she has had an unorthodox career would be an understatement. After spending her formative years in the early 80's San Diego improv scene alongside other youn...
Judith C. of WELCOME TO THE CANCER CAFE at The Marsh Berkeley Uses Her Own Story to Bring Some Healing to Others
by Jim Munson - March 04, 2020, San Francisco
Judith C. is an inveterate health care provider, even if her methods of practice have changed dramatically after being diagnosed several years ago with Multiple Myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. Working as a PT Clinical Specialist in Chronic Pain, Judith never imagined being on the other side of t...
Wilma Bonet of DON'T EAT THE MANGOS at Magic Theatre Loves Doing Theater That Makes the Audience Think
by Jim Munson - February 26, 2020, San Francisco
Bay Area acting luminary Wilma Bonet is currently starring in the Magic Theatre's world premiere of a?oeDon't Eat the Mangos,a?? Ricardo Pérez González' wickedly funny drama about a Puerto Rican family confronting its own legacy. Bonet has had a remarkably long and varied theater career, including s...
Heather Orth of THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD at Foothill Music Theatre Delights in Playing Eccentric Cockney Ladies and Also Digging Into Darker Roles
by Jim Munson - February 25, 2020, San Francisco
Heather Orth stars as mysterious opium den proprietress Princess Puffer in Foothill Music Theatre's new production of Rupert Holmes' rollicking musical comedy a?oeThe Mystery of Edwin Drood.a?? A Tony Award winner for Best Musical, the show is based on an unfinished novel by Charles Dickens. As the ...
Monique Hafen Adams of CHICAGO at San Jose Stage Company Gets Her Shot at the Dream Role of Roxie Hart
by Jim Munson - February 04, 2020, San Francisco
Monique Hafen Adams is one of those theater performers who work so frequently throughout the Bay Area that they seem to be part of some kind of unofficial, regional rep company. Over the past several years, she has worked with most of the higher-profile theater companies in the area and has played c...
Emily Skinner of COME TO THE MOON at 42nd Street Moon Tells Tales of Working with Hal Prince, Cher and More
by Jim Munson - January 30, 2020, San Francisco
The inimitable Emily Skinner will be headlining 42nd Street Moon's gala fundraiser a?oeCome to the Moona?? on Tuesday, February 4th at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. After bursting onto the scene with her Tony-nominated performance in a?oeSide Show,a?? Ms. Skinner has gone on to star in s...
Philip Labes of MORE GUNS! A MUSICAL COMEDY ABOUT THE NRA at Z Space Brings a Wickedly Funny Slant to a Deadly Serious Topic
by Jim Munson - January 10, 2020, San Francisco
You might not be familiar with the name Philip Labes, but there's a good chance you've seen him in guest roles on buzzy TV shows like a?oeWatchmena?? and a?oeGLOWa?? or co-starring with Anthony Rapp and Cheyenne Jackson in the feature film a?oeOpening Night.a?? Or perhaps you've seen his music video...
Mona Golabek of THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Helps Us Find Our Common Humanity by Telling Her Mother's Story
by Jim Munson - January 08, 2020, San Francisco
Mona Golabek, the sole performer of a?oeThe Pianist of Willesden Lanea?? at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, has truly followed a singular path, both in her career and in her life. She first came to prominence as a virtuoso concert pianist appearing with major orchestras around the world. In 1998, she b...
Paul Gordon of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Makes the Works of Jane Austen Sing
by Jim Munson - December 02, 2019, San Francisco
Tony-nominated composer Paul Gordon is one of those rare musical theater creators who, like Lin-Manuel Miranda, can write the whole show a?" book, music and lyrics. Gordon's latest work is the musical a?oePride and Prejudicea?? soon to start its world premiere run at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. He ...
Jason Graae of SCROOGE IN LOVE! at 42nd Street Moon Delivers the Dish on His Thriving Career
by Jim Munson - November 22, 2019, San Francisco
Jason Graae is soon to star once again as the title character in a?oeScrooge in Love!a?? at 42nd Street Moon, where has found a sort of Bay Area artistic home in recent years. This eternally youthful performer is now a veritable showbiz veteran, having starred on Broadway several times, toured the c...
David Hirata of A BOX WITHOUT A BOTTOM at The Marsh Berkeley Works Some Serious Magic
by Jim Munson - November 15, 2019, San Francisco
David Hirata is the creator and sole performer of a?oeA Box Without a Bottom (Soko-nashi Bako)a?? currently running at The Marsh Berkeley. Within the context of a magic show, Mr. Hirata connects his own personal story to that of earlier Japanese magicians in a way that explores the illusions of race...
Nassim Soleimanpour of NASSIM at Magic Theatre Travels the World to Create New Forms of Theater
by Jim Munson - November 08, 2019, San Francisco
Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour has forged quite a singular career. His elliptical works have been performed all over the world, including two lengthy runs in New York featuring a virtual Who's Who of stage actors. His play Nassim adheres to an unorthodox format wherein its sole actor, a diff...
Ariela Morgenstern of GYPSY at Bay Area Musicals Rises to the Challenge of Momma Rose
by Jim Munson - November 05, 2019, San Francisco
Ariela Morgenstern's story is a variation on the old chestnut 'local girl makes good.' The San Francisco native returned home a few years ago after a fruitful decade based in New York. BroadwayWorld spoke with her shortly after she had begun rehearsals for that Mount Everest of a role, Gypsy's Momma...
Robert Townsend of LIVING THE SHUFFLE at The Marsh Berkeley Has Some Hollywood Tales to Share with You
by Jim Munson - October 28, 2019, San Francisco
Filmmaker Robert Townsend has truly had a singular career ever since coming to prominence with his groundbreaking 1987 film a?oeThe Hollywood Shuffle.a?? That satirical comedy about Black actors dealing with racial stereotypes in the film and TV industry was famously self-financed by Townsend maxing...
Jackie Evancho Explores Her Love of Theater Music at San Jose Civic Audiorium
by Jim Munson - October 25, 2019, San Francisco
BroadwayWorld spoke with Jackie Evancho in advance of her November 1st concert in San Jose. It's hard to believe, but the little girl with the big voice who rose to instant fame on 'America's Got Talent' is now a young adult. Her most recent album is titled 'The Debut' and is comprised entirely of c...
Director/Choreographer Martín Santangelo of ENTRE TU Y YO at Z Space Shares His Passion for Flamenco as a Dramatic Form
by Jim Munson - October 22, 2019, San Francisco
Following on the rousing success of Antigona, their acclaimed and wildly popular flamenco adaptation of Sophocles' Antigone, Noche Flamenca returns to San Francisco's Z Space with their latest program Entre Tú y Yo (You and I). Conceived, choreographed, and directed by Noche Flamenca Artistic Direct...
Mina Morita, Director of THE CHINESE LADY at Magic Theatre Pushes Boundaries to Tell Stories in New Ways
by Jim Munson - October 14, 2019, San Francisco
Director Mina Morita spoke with BroadwayWorld the day before Lloyd Suh's a?oeThe Chinese Ladya?? started performances at the Magic Theatre. Ms. Morita has a thriving career as a theatre maker, serving as Artistic Director of Potrero Hill's Crowded Fire Theater, which is devoted to the creation of ch...
Keith Pinto of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW at San Jose Stage Company Unleashes His Inner Vaudevillian
by Jim Munson - September 27, 2019, San Francisco
Keith Pinto is one of those fortunate stage actors who seems to work almost constantly. If you attend Bay Area theater with any regularity, chances are you've seen him, most likely in a role that showcases his energetic performance style and talent for movement. His latest role is the iconic a?oeswe...
Dan Hiatt of MARK TWAIN'S RIVER OF SONG at TheatreWorks Talks about Finding the Character of Twain and Looks Back on His Remarkable Career
by Jim Munson - September 24, 2019, San Francisco
BroadwayWorld recently caught up with Bay Area theater mainstay Dan Hiatt while he was in the midst of rehearsals for TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's new musical a?oeMark Twain's River of Songa?? in which he plays the title role. Mr. Hiatt discussed his process for finding the character of Twain, and...
Daren A.C. Carollo & Daniel Thomas of TITANIC IN CONCERT at 42nd Street Moon Discuss Their Successful Collaboration & the Upcoming Moon Season
by Jim Munson - September 04, 2019, San Francisco
42nd Street Moon opens its 27th season on September 7th & 8th with a concert staging of Maury Yeston & Peter Stone's a?oeTitanica?? with full orchestra. BroadwayWorld spoke recently with Moon's Artistic Directors Daren A.C. Carollo and Daniel Thomas about the show and Moon's upcoming season. The two...
Director Leslie Martinson of THE 39 STEPS at TheatreWorks Finds the Comedic Rhythms in a 'Nutball Farce' and Shares Her Insights as a Casting Director
by Jim Munson - August 23, 2019, San Francisco
Director Leslie Martinson of THE 39 STEPS at TheatreWorks talks about finding the comedic rhythms in a 'nutball farce' and shares her experiences as a casting director. Martinson has been a TheatreWorks mainstay for decades, starting as an usher while she was still in school, then working as an act...
Melissa Gialdini of RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA at Foothill Music Theatre Talks about Combining Performing with Doing Hospice Work
by Jim Munson - July 19, 2019, San Francisco
Melissa Gialdini is thrilled to be playing stepsister Gabrielle in 'Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella' at Foothill Music Theatre now running through August 4th. Melissa recently spoke to BroadwayWorld about the show, her love of performing and her rich life outside the theater....
Maria-Christina Oliveras Talks KISS MY AZTEC!, the Importance of LatinX Stories and Our World "Getting Browner"
by Matthew Blank - July 16, 2019, San Francisco
Maria-Christina Oliveras takes us through her involvement with the world premiere musical KISS MY AZTEC!...
