San Francisco Interviews

Christine Dwyer of RAGTIME at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Charts Her Own Course to Find the Character of 'Mother'
by Jim Munson - June 03, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld speaks to Broadway star Christine Dwyer about playing 'Mother' in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's new production of 'Ragtime,' which runs live in Mountain View June 1 to 26....

Ashley Garlick of THE PAJAMA GAME at 42nd Street Moon Finally Gets to Take on the Classic Musical Comedy
by Jim Munson - June 02, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to Ashley Garlick, who is starring as Babe in 42nd Street Moon's new production of the Golden Age musical comedy 'The Pajama Game,' running live in San Francisco June 2 to 19....

Robert Kelley of RAGTIME at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Brings the Great American Musical to Life
by Jim Munson - June 01, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld speaks with Bay Area theater legend Robert Kelley about his new production of 'Ragtime' running live in Mountain View through June 26th....

Erin Mei-Ling Stuart of MONUMENT, OR FOUR SISTERS (A SLOTH PLAY) at Magic Theatre Can Pretty Much Do It All
by Jim Munson - May 10, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to multidisciplinary performer Erin Mei-Ling Stuart about her role in Magic Theatre's world premiere production of Sam Chanse's 'Monument, Or Four Sisters (A Sloth Play)' running May11 to 29....

Adam Strauss of THE MUSHROOM CURE & ADAM STRAUSS IS NOT UNHAPPY at The Marsh Berkeley Embraces Radical Uncertainty
by Jim Munson - April 29, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to actor/playwright/comedian Adam Strauss about his two seriously funny solo shows, 'The Mushroom Cure' and 'Adam Strauss Is Not Unhappy' running at The Marsh Berkeley through May 27th....

McKenna Rose of FUN HOME at 42nd Street Moon Portrays Alison Bechdel's Youngest Alter Ego
by Jim Munson - April 20, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld speaks with young McKenna Rose, who plays 'Small Alison' in 42nd Street Moon's new production of the groundbreaking, Tony-winning musical 'Fun Home' running at the Gateway Theatre April 21 to May 8....

Crystal Manich of WEST SIDE STORY at Opera San José Brings Her Puerto Rican Heritage to the Iconic Musical
by Jim Munson - April 07, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to director Crystal Manich about her vibrant new production of 'West Side Story' at Opera San Jose, which runs April 16th to May 1st at the California Theatre. The Puerto-Rican born director brings her own heritage to this iconic piece of musical theater that she has loved since ...

Tim Bond of GEM OF THE OCEAN at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Honors the Legacy of His Friend and Colleague August Wilson
by Jim Munson - April 06, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld speaks with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Artistic Director Tim Bond about directing a new production of his friend & colleague August Wilson's enduringly relevant 'Gem of the Ocean' running live in Mountainview thru May 1....

Cindy Goldfield of A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING Offers a Fresh Take on Rodgers & Hammerstein
by Jim Munson - March 11, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to director & choreographer Cindy Goldfield about 42nd Street Moon's production of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical revue 'A Grand Night for Singing' running at the Gateway Theatre to March 27....

Roger Guenveur Smith of OTTO FRANK at Campo Santo & Magic Theatre Explores the Enduring Relevance of the Holocaust Survivor
by Jim Munson - March 10, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to Obie, Peabody and Bessie Award winning actor and writer Roger Guenveur Smith about 'Otto Frank' his new solo piece running as a Campo Santo production at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco. Guenveur Smith finds enduring relevance in the story of the Holocaust survivor....

Paul Gordon And Robert Kelley of SENSE AND SENSIBILITY at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Team Up to Bring Another Jane Austen Novel to Glorious Musical Life
by Jim Munson - March 04, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to composer Paul Gordon and director Robert Kelley about their collaboration on a glorious new musical adaptation of Jane Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility' which runs live onstage at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto from March 9th to April 3rd....

BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL at Lesher Center For The Arts Sings in Celebration of Life
by Jim Munson - February 22, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to legendary actor and singer Brian Stokes Mitchell about the uplifting show he'll be performing at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek on February 25th....

Dan Hoyle of TALK TO YOUR PEOPLE at The Marsh Explores the Messiness of Our Shared Humanity
by Jim Munson - February 10, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld speaks with acclaimed actor-playwright Dan Hoyle about 'Talk to Your People,' his new show running live at The Marsh San Francisco through April 16th that uses his trademark observational humor to delve into issues of race, privilege, power and masculinity....

Lillian Groag of CARMEN at Opera San José Takes a Fresh Look at the All-Time Classic
by Jim Munson - February 09, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld checks in with celebrated director-actor-playwright Lillian Groag about her imaginative new staging of the classic opera 'Carmen' playing live onstage at Opera San Jose February 12th thru 27th....

Miranda Rose Hall of THE KIND ONES at Magic Theatre Brings a Bold Theatricality to Characters Living on the Margins of Society
by Jim Munson - February 08, 2022, San Francisco

BroadwayWord speaks to much in-demand playwright Miranda Rose Hall about her newest work, the darkly comic thriller 'The Kind Ones,' now receiving its world premiere production live onstage at San Francisco's venerable Magic Theatre through February 20th....

Adam Gwon & Giovanna Sardelli of ALICE BLISS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley & Montalvo Arts Center Bring a Heartrending New Musical to Life
by Jim Munson - December 17, 2021, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to lyricist Adam Gwon and TheatreWorks Director of New Works Giovanna Sardelli about their collaboration with Montalvo Arts Center on the development of the new musical 'Alice Bliss.'...

Giovanna Sardelli of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Believes We Can All See Ourselves in This Timeless Tale
by Jim Munson - November 29, 2021, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to Giovanna Sardelli, the irrepressible director of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' running December 1 to 26 at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto....

Li-Leng Au of GREAT EXPECTATIONS at San Jose Stage Company Has Been Dying to Get Back Onstage
by Jim Munson - November 19, 2021, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to actor Li-Leng Au, who is thrilled to be back onstage in San Jose Stage Company's production of Dickens' 'Great Expectations' as adapted by playwright Neil Bartlett, running thru December 12th....

Elkhanah Pulitzer of DIDO AND AENEAS at Opera San José Sees Opportunities for Renewal and Rejuvenation in the Pain of Tragedy
by Jim Munson - November 05, 2021, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to director Elkhanah Pulitzer about her new production of Henry Purcell's Baroque masterpiece 'Dido and Aneas' which marks Opera San Jose's return to live performances November 13th to 28th....

Alison Ewing of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at 42nd Street Moon Is Thrilled to Be Back Onstage in a Sondheim Classic
by Jim Munson - November 02, 2021, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to leading lady Alison Ewing about playing Desiree in 42nd Street Moon's new production of Stephen Sondheim's 'A Little Night Music' playing November 4 to 21 in San Francisco....

Doug Varone of DOUG VARONE AND DANCERS at The Hammer Theatre Center Offers a Whole New Way to Experience the Iconic Score to 'West Side Story'
by Jim Munson - October 22, 2021, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to award-winning choreographer and director Doug Varone about his company's upcoming program in San Jose, which includes 'Somewhere,' his take on the iconic score from 'West Side Story.' They also discuss Varone's choreography for two musicals that have become cult classics - 'Th...

Justin Huertas of LIZARD BOY at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Combines His Twin Passions for Comic Book Heroes & Musical Theater
by Jim Munson - October 03, 2021, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to Justin Huertas, the multi-talented playwright, composer and star of 'Lizard Boy' at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. His new indie folk-rock music will be performed live in person Oct. 6 to 31 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, kicking off TheatreWorks Silicon Va...

Wei Wang of THE MARSH FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICAL VOICES 2021 at The Marsh Makes the Leap to Film
by Jim Munson - September 28, 2021, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld talks to virtuoso ballet dancer, choreographer and director Wei Wang about his ambitious new film 'Aphrodisia' created in collaboration with Stephanie Weisman as part of The Marsh New Festival of Musical Voices 2021, which runs September 30 to October 10, 2021....

Sidney Outlaw of MOZART AND SALIERI at Opera San José Finds Himself Entering the Prime of His Career
by Jim Munson - September 23, 2021, San Francisco

It would appear that acclaimed baritone Sidney Outlaw is having the busiest year of his career. In addition to starring as composer Antonio Salieri in Opera San José’s new virtual production of Rimsky-Korsakov’s 'Mozart and Salieri,' Outlaw will be performing 'Barber of Seville,' 'Porgy and Bess,' a...

Cate Hayman of CHESS IN CONCERT at 42nd Street Moon Aims to Be an Old-School Diva for Our Times
by Jim Munson - September 21, 2021, San Francisco

BroadwayWorld chats with Cate Hayman, star of 'CHESS in Concert' at 42nd Street Moon. The show marks Moon's return to live, in-person performance and features a killer score by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson and renowned lyricist Tim Rice. It remains the only musical of the modern era to gen...

Marga Gomez of SPANKING MACHINE at The Marsh Returns to Live Performance With Her Hilarious and Intensely Moving Memoir of Growing Up Brown and Queer
by Jim Munson - September 15, 2021, San Francisco

Good news! The Marsh will soon be once again presenting live, in-person performances at their San Francisco location with Marga Gomez's 'Spanking Machine' running September 17 through October 23. BroadwayWorld speaks with Gomez about her hilarious and heart-rending new memoir piece about growing up ...

Don Reed of GOING OUT at The Marsh Is Thrilled to Be Back Where He Belongs, Performing Live Onstage in Berkeley
by Jim Munson - August 19, 2021, San Francisco

The Marsh couldn't have chosen anyone more fitting for its return to live in-person performances than fan favorite Don Reed, whose partnership with The Marsh encompasses many hit shows over the past decade. Starting August 21st, Reed performs his brand-new one-man show 'Going Out' at The Marsh Berke...

Sean San José of THE NEW AGE OF MAGIC GALA at Magic Theatre Wants to Invite Everyone to the Party
by Jim Munson - July 28, 2021, San Francisco

For his opening salvo as Magic Theatre’s newly appointed Artistic Director, Sean San José has decided to throw a party. On Thursday, August 5th, Magic will present its 2021 gala 'The New Age of Magic' outdoors at Fort Mason. San José strongly believes theater should be for everyone, not just people ...

Jessica Bird Beza of BAY AREA PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL at Playwrights Foundation Uplifts the Work of a Diverse Array of Theater Makers
by Jim Munson - July 15, 2021, San Francisco

Pulitzer winners Paula Vogel, Katori Hall, Annie Baker & Sam Shepard are just 4 of the many celebrated playwrights whose work was developed in the Bay Area Playwrights Festival (BAPF). Established in 1976 and currently led by Playwrights Foundation’s Executive Artistic Director Jessica Bird Beza, th...

Festival Opera's Zachary Gordin Working Out His Vocal Cords, His Body & The 2021 Season
by Gil Kaan - July 10, 2021, San Francisco

estival Opera will be offering their first hybrid online/in person event since the pandemic restrictions loosened up - UN RAGGIO DI SPEME (RAY OF HOPE) July 11, 2021. Got the chance to chat with Festival Opera’s general director Zachary Gordin on Festival Opera’s upcoming season and staying sane dur...

Hai-Ting Chinn of ASTRONAUTICA at The Marsh Explores the Wonders of Outer Space from the Perspective of Women Astronauts
by Jim Munson - June 22, 2021, San Francisco

And now for something ethereal, funny and more than a little trippy. On June 26, The Marsh presents 'Astronautica,' a musical drawn from the words of women who have traveled through outer space, to its digital platform, MarshStream. Conceived and performed by Hai-Ting Chinn, Lindsay Kesselman & Kirs...

DC Scarpelli & Peter Budinger of DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL: DC AND PETER'S GLORIOUS ROMP THROUGH THE GOLDEN AGE OF TV THEME SONGS at 42nd Street Moon
by Jim Munson - June 03, 2021, San Francisco

After the myriad stresses of the past year, we could all use some straight-up entertainment and 42nd Street Moon is providing just that with Don’t Touch That Dial: DC and Peter’s Glorious Romp Through the Golden Age of TV Theme Songs. Conceived and directed by DC Scarpelli and Peter Budinger, the sh...

Jeffrey Lo of WRITING FRAGMENTS HOME at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Believes in the Power of Storytelling as a Tool to Foster Empathy
by Jim Munson - June 02, 2021, San Francisco

Jeffrey Lo seems to be just about everywhere these days. As if his day job as TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s Director of Community Partnerships / Casting Director weren’t enough, he is also enjoying quite a successful career as a director and playwright. With the recent, tragic spike in prejudice and...

Jeff Greenwald of 108 BELOVED OBJECTS at The Marsh Makes it OK to Let Go of Material Things by Holding Onto Their Stories
by Jim Munson - May 25, 2021, San Francisco

If you've been spending some of your pandemic downtime attempting to declutter your life and have found yourself struggling to let go of certain items of no discernable value or use, Jeff Greenwald has got just the show for you. On May 29th, the acclaimed travel writer and performer will bring his n...

Candace Johnson of MUSIC TO MY EARS - HEARING ADOLPHUS HAILSTORK on MarshStream Shares Her Passion for Art Songs by Black Composers
by Jim Munson - May 18, 2021, San Francisco

If, like me, you’re not all that familiar with art songs by Black composers, Candace Johnson is here to show you what you’ve been missing out on. On May 22nd and 23rd, the acclaimed soprano and actress will perform her new show Music to My Ears - Hearing Adolphus Hailstork to kick off The Marsh’s ne...