South Bay Musical Theatre | Noteworthy Entertainment

What It Takes To Plan a Season

What It Takes To Plan a Season

by Walter M. Mayes, Artistic Director What if I told you that the next season’s story begins before the curtain rises on this one? While audiences are anticipating the Abbey bells, singing nuns, and adorable Von Trapp children of our 2025/26 season-opener, The Sound of Music, I’m already deep in the next act—reading scripts, tracking rights, and assembling the puzzle that will become South Bay Musical Theatre’s ‘26-’27 season. At first glance, planning a season might seem like picking your favorite shows and hoping for the best. In truth, it’s a nuanced, months-long process—one that blends artistic passion with financial [...]

By |2025-07-24T11:09:16-07:00July 24th, 2025|2025-2026 Season, Behind The Scenes, Blog-erviews!, Opinion|
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Why The Sound of Music at SBMT is the smart choice

Broadway Quality, Affordable Prices by Doug Hughes, Marketing Director If you’ve been dreaming of seeing The Sound of Music, you have two options in the coming year: wait until mid-2026 and pay over $100 per person to nab good seats for a touring production—or experience the magic much sooner, for a fraction of the cost, at South Bay Musical Theatre, your premier amateur musical theatre arts company in the South Bay. From Sept. 27 to Oct. 18, 2025, SBMT brings The Sound of Music to the intimate Saratoga Civic Theater. With just 298 seats and only 13 rows, every spot [...]

By |2025-07-11T09:49:15-07:00July 11th, 2025|2025-2026 Season, Blog-erviews!, Opinion|
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Why We Do This: Our Common Humanity

“I am not a robot” by Michael Paul Hirsch, Executive Director Why do we gather in a darkened room to watch people sing, dance and step into someone else’s shoes? Because theatre reminds us who we actually are and inspires us to be who we can become. In a world that urges us to be faster, more efficient, more robotic—where productivity often takes priority over people—theatre reminds us of what it costs to forget our humanity. Community theatre is more than entertainment. It’s a shared act of creativity, empathy, and connection. It’s messy. It’s raw. It’s real. And above all, [...]

By |2025-07-09T13:06:50-07:00July 9th, 2025|Blog-erviews!, Opinion|
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Hirsch named SBMT Executive Director

South Bay Musical Theatre Names Michael Paul Hirsch as Executive Director Performer, tech leader, and longtime volunteer to assume full-time leadership role July 1 Saratoga, CA, June 30, 2025 — South Bay Musical Theatre (SBMT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Paul Hirsch as its new Executive Director, effective July 1, 2025. Hirsch brings to the role a unique blend of artistic passion and professional expertise, having served the company for years as a performer, volunteer, and most recently as Board Chair and de facto Executive Director. The decision follows a recent strategic planning retreat by SBMT’s Board [...]

By |2025-06-30T18:07:22-07:00June 30th, 2025|Announcements, Board Election|
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Richard Cartwright honored at retirement

After 40 years providing SBMT excellent support as our Master Carpenter, Richard Cartwright has done his last show with us. Retiring to spend time with his wife, Marilyn, he hopes to travel and enjoy life free of production schedules for once. In addition to building nearly every set that has appeared on our stage since our 1994 production of Anything Goes, Richard has maintained our set shop and kept track of lumber, tools, equipment, and all the things that make theatrical production possible. SBMT has had many volunteers and helpers over the years, but none have had the lasting effect of the service that Richard has [...]

By |2025-06-14T17:20:24-07:00June 14th, 2025|Awards, Photos|
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Meet the cast of The Sound of Music

South Bay Musical Theatre is proud to announce the cast for our fall 2025 production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Congratulations to the entire company, and thanks to all who auditioned! We had 120 talented actors apply and it was a difficult decision. Lauren D'Ambrosio — Maria Rainer Brad Satterwhite — Captain Georg Von Trapp Kama Belloni — Mother Abbess Mohammed Ismail — Max Detweiler Jessica Whittemore — Baroness Elsa Schraeder Jackson Velez — Rolf Gruber Coraline Christian — Liesl Von Trapp Mandy Carmack — Sister Berthe Miriam Stern — Sister Sophia Erika Robertson — Sister Margaretta [...]

By |2025-05-23T15:07:46-07:00May 23rd, 2025|2025-2026 Season, Announcements, Meet The Cast|
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Auditions for The Sound of Music

Walter M. Mayes, Artistic Director of South Bay Musical Theatre announces auditions for  THE SOUND OF MUSIC Music by Richard Rodgers. Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse Suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp. Director: Walter M. Mayes Choreographer: Francesca Cipponeri Vocal Director: Rachel Michelberg Music Director: George Yefchak Initial auditions will be held Saturday, May 3, 2025 from noon – 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 4 from noon – 5 p.m. Audition sign-ups will begin on Saturday, April 5. Please schedule a vocal audition slot at: https://sbmt.ivolunteer.com/sbmt_soundofmusic_001 AUDITION INFORMATION Please prepare 32 bars of a song in the style of the show [...]

By |2025-04-25T16:19:01-07:00April 3rd, 2025|2025-2026 Season, Announcements, Auditions|
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See Titanic: In Concert April 12-13 in Saratoga

South Bay Musical Theatre (SBMT) is proud to present a special benefit concert of the Tony Award-winning musical Titanic on April 12 and 13, 2025, at the Saratoga Civic Theater. This limited engagement offers two performances: Saturday evening at 8:00 pm and Sunday afternoon at 2:30 pm. Notably, the April 12 performance will be ASL interpreted to ensure accessibility for all audience members. A Grand Production for a Noble Cause Featuring a dedicated ensemble of 44 singers and a 24-piece orchestra, this concert promises a rich and immersive musical experience. In the spirit of community and artistry, all participants are volunteering their time and [...]

By |2025-03-31T13:39:44-07:00March 31st, 2025|2024-2025 Season|
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Board Meeting Minutes for March 12, 2025

Board Meeting Minutes  3/12/25 Start: 7:10 PM End: 9:45 PM Board Members In Attendance: Michael Hirsch, Dan Singletary, Ann Lucena, Andy Switky, LaShonda Eagels, Marcy Bates, Braden Taylor, Tipu Purkayastha, Ray Smith Ex Officio: Walter Mayes (Artistic Director), Doug Hughes (Marketing) Summary of Action Items ACTION: Bio needed from Marcy and Ray for SBMT website ACTION: Michael completing curtain speech for Titanic concert ACTION: Michael finishing blog post ACTION: Michael and Doug to touch base regarding an invitation to our community to join committees ACTION: Michael to follow up with rehearsal studio lease agreement for 3 years renewal  ACTION: Michael [...]

By |2025-03-31T13:27:49-07:00March 26th, 2025|Board Minutes|
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Cast of Titanic announced

The dictionary defines “titanic” as an adjective meaning "having exceptional strength, size, or power." With that in mind, South Bay Musical Theatre is pleased to announce the titanic cast of Titanic, In Concert. which will be presented twice in the Saratoga Civic Theater on April 12 and 13, 2025 (on the 113th anniversary of the ship's fateful voyage). The cast of 45 singers—pictured here in alphabetical order—includes: Top row: Emily Acosta, Amy Alexander, Kyle Arrouzet, Anat Baird, Kama Belloni, Francesca Cipponeri, Joseph Cloward. Second row: Elyse Cook, Stephen Crocker, Derek DeMarco, Nique Eagen, Aaron Eberhardt. Third row: Finn Hekkala, Jason [...]

By |2025-03-02T11:29:35-08:00March 2nd, 2025|2024-2025 Season, Announcements, Meet The Cast|
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