A Season That Strengthened Our Community
As I reflect on South Bay Musical Theatre’s 63rd season, I am proud of my confidence in the skill and artistry of the many artists who contributed to our success. Confidence, too, in our audiences. If we commit ourselves to excellence and authenticity, our community will respond.
This season, they exceeded my expectations.
Celebrating a season of artistic conviction, new voices, and audiences eager to return.
We began with a record-breaking production of The Sound of Music, welcoming longtime patrons and introducing new families to the magic of live musical theater. During the holidays, we launched an entirely new tradition with our inaugural holiday concert, Let It Show, created by Bob Sunshine and me from the ground up. What began as an idea quickly became two warmly received performances—then three as we added a performance to meet demand—that reminded us how eager our audiences are to celebrate together through music.
Our winter production of Little Women offered a different kind of success. It may not have matched the blockbuster sales of some of our larger titles. Still, it accomplished exactly what we hoped it would: presenting a thoughtful, beautifully crafted piece of musical storytelling that resonated deeply with those who experienced it. We followed that with our fundraiser concert presentation of On The Twentieth Century, a little-known musical that was great fun for all (particularly me, as I got to perform for the first time in years!), which raised more than $16,000 in support of South Bay Musical Theatre and demonstrated once again the generosity of this community.
Then came In The Heights. The response was extraordinary. Audiences embraced it enthusiastically, critics praised it, and performance after performance affirmed what many of us already believed: when we tell vibrant stories with excellence, authenticity, and heart, people show up.
What makes this season particularly meaningful is that it reinforced the artistic philosophy I have maintained since I was hired as Artistic Director: High standards and broad appeal are not opposing goals. We do not have to choose between artistic integrity and audience enthusiasm. By working closely with our marketing team and support staff, and remaining committed to producing exceptional-quality work, we expanded our reach while honoring the expectations of patrons who have supported SBMT for decades.
We welcomed families through The Sound of Music. We attracted one of the most diverse audiences in recent memory through In The Heights. Along the way, we continued delivering the level of musical theatre excellence our core audiences have come to expect from this organization.
The statistic that fills me with the greatest optimism is this: throughout this season, fifty-five artists made their debut in a South Bay Musical Theatre production!
Fifty-five people walked into our rehearsal halls, many for the first time, and found a place to contribute their talents. Some arrived knowing few people. By closing night, they had become part of the fabric of this company, joining the staff, crew, orchestras, and the performing veterans who help make us the strong company we are.
Community theatres can only survive and prosper if they focus on renewing themselves. Seeing so many new faces alongside the dedicated volunteers and artists who have formed the core of SBMT for years reminds me that the future is not something we can wait for. It is something we must build, one production at a time, with as much help as possible.
The excitement surrounding our recently announced 64th season suggests that audiences are eager to continue this journey with us. Season subscription ticket sales for Once Upon a Mattress, Come From Away, and South Pacific, along with our three concerts, Holiday Sunshine, MusiComedy, and Candide, have begun with remarkable enthusiasm. People are returning because they trust the experience South Bay Musical Theatre provides: ambitious productions, outstanding talent, and a welcoming community where everyone belongs.
As we look ahead, my desires are simple: Those who discovered us this season will come back; the fifty-five newcomers who joined our stages and production teams will return to future auditions and volunteer opportunities; and our longtime supporters will continue to champion the work we do.
Most of all, I hope we continue to believe that great musical theatre has the power to bring people together across generations, backgrounds, and experiences.
Thank you for being part of this season’s story. I cannot wait to see what we create next.
— Walter M. Mayes, Artistic Director
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