KPFA - Bay Area Theater

Sean San Jose, the newly appointed Artistic Director of the Magic Theatre in Fort Mason Center, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky.

One of the founders and current Program Director of the legendary Campo Santo performance troupe, Sean San Jose is a noted Bay Area actor who has worked in several venues, including the Magic, Cal Shakes, ACT and Berkeley Rep. He’s also a playwright, director and most importantly, an activist in expanding the arts to unrepresented communities. He is also a guest lecturer at UC Berkeley and has served on several boards throughout the Bay Area artistic community.

The Magic is presenting a block party event at Fort Mason on Thursday, August 5th, starting with a VIP event at 5 pm and food trucks, music, and performance outdoors at 6 pm. For more information, go to the Magic Theatre Website.

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KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Song of Summer” by Lauren Yee, directed by Bill English, at San Francisco Playhouse live, and streaming on demand, through August 14, 2021.

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Johanna Pfaelzer is tha Artistic Director of Berkeley Rep, one of America’ premier regional theatres. She is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky

In this interview, she discusses in depth a new streaming production, “The Waves in Quarantine: An Experiment in Six Movements,” which consists of six short films based on Virginia Woolf’s “The Waves,” written by Lisa Peterson, conceived by Lisa Peterson and Raul Esparza, and directed by Lisa Peterson, which runs on the Berkeley Rep website through May 28, 2021, free with RSVP required.

Johanna Pfaelzer also discusses Berkeley Rep’s life during the pandemic, through the events of Black Lives Matter, and how the company is hoping to open up in the coming months. Finally, she discusses the plays in the upcoming season, scheduled to start in the fall.

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This podcast was originally posted on May 7, 2019.

Annette O’Toole, lead performer in the Berkeley Rep production, “The Good Book,” written by Denis O’Hare and Lisa Peterson,  and directed by Lisa Peterson, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky.

Annette O’Toole has had a long career in television, film and theatre, including regular stints as Superboy’s mother, Martha Kent, on Smallville, as the star of the TV series The Huntress and most recently in stints on the current Netflix series The Punisher and the upcoming series Virgin River. She has also appeared in leading and supporting roles in film, and more recently has appeared in several off-Broadway plays.

Photos: Richard Wolinsky, creative commons.

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Jason Graae discusses his latest show, “Perfect Hermany,” singing the songs of computer/lyricist Jerry Herman, streaming on the 42nd Street Moon (April 10 -May 2) and Musical Theatre West  (April 15-25) websites, with host Richard Wolinsky.

Jason Graae has appeared on Broadway in A Grand Night for Singing, Falsettos, Stardust, and Do Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? and off-Broadway in several shows, including the original cast of Forever Plaid.  He’s appeared on television as a guest on Frasier, Friends, China Beach and other shows, and has appeared innumerable times in various concerts. He has also sung on over 45 CDs, including reconstructions of several musicals of the 1920s through 1940s.

Jerry Herman (1931-2019) was the composer/lyricist of such shows as Helly Dolly!, Mama, Mack & Mabel, Milk and Honey and La Cage Aux Folles, along with several lesser known musicals.

Jason Graae has performed several times with both 42nd Street Moon and Musical Theatre West, and along with various benefit concerts for Moon, he appeared on “Scrooge in Love” on the Gateway Theatre stage in late 2019.

Both productions also feature local singers as a warm-up act. The 42nd Street Moon production streams at specific times Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. The Musical Theatre West production streams on demand.

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