By Doug Hughes, Director of Marketing

As we turn the page on another calendar year, I want to pause for a moment to say thank you.

Thanks to you, 2025 has been one of the most successful and meaningful years South Bay Musical Theatre has experienced in recent memory. From packed houses to powerful performances, from new traditions to renewed momentum, this past year reminded us why community theatre matters, and how much stronger it is when a community stands behind it.

Rather than try to capture everything in words alone, we’ve put together a short video retrospective celebrating the highlights of calendar year 2025. You’ll see moments from Urinetown, Brigadoon, and our virtually sold-out fall production of The Sound of Music. All three shows exemplify the artistry, passion, and joy you helped make possible through your patronage and financial support. The video is embedded below and can be watched right here on our website.

But wait—there’s more!

While the video focuses on what happened onstage, the full story of 2025 stretches far beyond the footlights.

This year bridged two seasons: the latter half of our 2024–2025 season (Urinetown, Broadway By The Decade, Titanic in Concert, and Brigadoon) and the opening of our 2025–2026 season with The Sound of Music. It also marked the launch of something entirely new: our original holiday concert, Let It Show: A Broadway Holiday Celebration. The enthusiastic response to its inaugural performances just last weekend gives us great hope that a new SBMT holiday tradition has begun.

Behind the scenes, 2025 was a year of growth and evolution. We welcomed Michael Paul Hirsch into a new full-time role as Executive Director, building on his years of leadership as Board Chair and positioning SBMT for a strong future.

We strengthened our operations with the introduction of a formal Understudy Policy, kept patrons informed about protecting themselves from third-party ticket scams, and continued adapting to a changing world with a thoughtful A.I. policy. We also listened closely to our audiences by conducting a patron survey and shifting our Second Saturday performance to an afternoon matinee.

Artistically, the year brought renewed energy. We celebrated an influx of new talent auditioning for and appearing in our productions, ensuring that SBMT remains a welcoming home for both seasoned performers and first-time faces. Looking even further ahead, we were thrilled to announce that SBMT has secured early rights to perform COME FROM AWAY. The announcement is already generating excitement throughout the local theatre community, even though the show won’t reach our stage until January of 2027.

None of this happens without dedicated volunteers and leadership. We are deeply grateful to our Board of Directors, including newly elected officers Tipu Purkayastha (Chair), Ann Lucena (Vice Chair), Andy Switky (Secretary), and Ray Smith (Chief Financial Officer), along with at-large members Steve Sammonds, Cathie Thermond, Caroline Moore, Marcy Bates, Dan Singletary, LaShonda Eagels, Dick Robbins (and yes, myself, in addition to my role as Marketing Director). Their expertise and new ideas are already making an impact, and we can’t wait to see where they will take us in the years ahead.

This year also brought moments of reflection and remembrance. We said goodbye to longtime SBMT stalwart C. Michael Traw, whose contributions and presence helped shape this company during its formative years. 

And to top it all off, we were voted “Best Small Theatre Company” of Silicon Valley by the readers of Metro in December. That’s the fourth time we have received such recognition, and we deeply appreciate your loyalty.

As we head into the new year, our annual fundraising campaign continues. If SBMT has brought you joy, inspiration, or connection this year, please know that your continued support helps ensure the music keeps playing, the stories keep being told, and the curtain keeps rising.

From all of us at South Bay Musical Theatre, thank you for being part of an extraordinary year. We can’t wait to share what comes next.