I used to see a lot of theatre...I mean A LOT. If I wasn't in rehearsal or at a dayjob, I was probably at a show (or in a park seeing theatre, opera, a concert, you name it). Ask me about the new play scene & commercial world from the aughts and I will probably have some lengthy commentary to share with you. And then I moved to California. Life changed. Commutes became a factor. Small people entered this world. Time was no longer my own. I also made a commitment in 2010 to only buy theatre tickets if a production employed female Equity actors (I did allow myself to see shows that did not have any female Equity actors on contract if the ticket was a comp or as an invited guest).
I haven't seen that much theatre in the Bay Area.
At the end of 2013, I decided to get back into theatre going - I need to see plays for inspiration, motivation, entertainment & to be a part of the new play conversation once again. I am fortunate to have some free tickets at my disposal as an Equity actor - thank you to many Bay Area companies for offering us this benefit - and through our fantastic local service organization Theatre Bay Area (become a member now!). I try to see these shows early in production so that I can spread the good word (also, I always buy a concession or 2 & generously tip bartenders at any show that I see on a comp. Every bit help$.)
It has been exciting to see new work from companies that I love as well as experience some companies for the first time. I am attempting to see a wide range of work, however, availability (time and otherwise) at times limits my choices. As I have two big theatre trips coming up this summer (headed back to NYC & then Ashland for the first time), I want to document my theatre-going for the year. Here is what I have seen so far in 2014 (in addition to doing readings of news plays, attending readings of new plays, a Bal Littéraire & performing in CRYSTAL SPRINGS by Kathy Rucker all of March!):
JERUSALEM by Jez Butterworth - SF Playhouse January 28, 7p
HIR by Taylor Mac - Magic Theatre February 7, 8p (NextGen program)
SILENT SKY by Lauren Gunderson - TheatreWorks February 8, 2p
A MAZE by Rob Handel - Just Theater at the Ashby Stage February 21, 8p
LASSO OF TRUTH by Carson Kreitzer - Marin Theatre Company March 12, 7:30p
WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON by Min Kahng from the book by Grace Lin - Bay Area Children's Theatre March 15, 2p
SHE RODE HORSES LIKE THE STOCK EXCHANGE by Amelia Roper - Crowded Fire Theater at Thick House March 27, 8p
EVERY FIVE MINUTES by Linda McLean - Magic Theatre April 4, 8p (NextGen program)
HUNDRED DAYS by The Bengsons/book by Kate E. Ryan - Z Space April 12, 8p
TRIBES by Nina Raine - Berkeley Repertory Theatre April 19, 8p
THE SUIT based on "The Suit" by by Can Themba, Mothobi Mutloatse, and Barney Simon, adapted by Peter Brook, Marie-Hélène Estienne & Franck Krawczyk - American Conservatory Theater May 7, 2p
COMMUNIQUé n° 10 by Samuel Gallet, translated by Rob Melrose - The Cutting Ball Theater May 15, 7:30p
SHOW BOAT Music by Jerome Kern Book & lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II - SF Opera May 30, 6p (Final Dress tweet seats! #keepsrolling)
THIS LINGERING LIFE by Chiori Miyagawa - Theatre of Yugen June 6, 8p
SOUTH PACIFIC composed by Richard Rodgers lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Hammerstein & Joshua Logan - Mountain Play Association June 7, 2p
WALK LIKE A MAN by Laurinda D. Brown (adapted from her own novel) - Theatre Rhinoceros June 11, 8p
THE HOMOSEXUALS by Philip Dawkins - New Conservatory Theatre Center June 13, 8p
THE ORPHAN OF ZHAO adapted by James Fenton - American Conservatory Theater June 18, 2p
ONCE Music & Lyrics by Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová, book by Enda Walsh from the film by John Carney - SHN/National Tour June 18, 8p
Coming up...
FAILURE: A LOVE STORY by Philip Dawkins - Marin Theatre Company June 25 7:30p
SLEEP NO MORE, WHEN WE WERE YOUNG & UNAFRAID, IF/THEN, THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, A WRINKLE IN TIME, and who knows what else?
Happy theatre-going to you all!