South Bay Musical Theatre | Noteworthy Entertainment

Michael Paul Hirsch

About Michael Hirsch

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So far Michael Hirsch has created 21 blog entries.

Designing a Fairy Tale Kingdom

By |2026-10-06T19:16:02-07:00October 6th, 2026|2026-2027 Season, Behind The Scenes, Blog-erviews!, Opinion|

How do you design a place for characters with names like Queen Aggravain, Sir Studley, and Prince Dauntless to exist and breathe? It all starts, like everything else in theatre, with the story. The characters and the plot of Once Upon a Mattress are exaggerated and fantastical, so the environment they inhabit should probably follow suit. After identifying major locations where the story takes place and speaking with the director, Doug Brook, about his vision for this world, a designer begins researching and developing concepts to make that vision achievable, practical, tangible, and inspired.  One of my jobs for this [...]

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Five Initiatives for SBMT’s Future

By |2026-09-17T16:12:51-07:00September 17th, 2026|2026-2027 Season, Announcements, Blog-erviews!, Opinion|

  Over the past several weeks, I have written about changes coming to South Bay Musical Theatre: the reasons we believe change is necessary and what we hope to accomplish. Now it is time to talk about what we are actually going to do. At our August board retreat and September board meeting, SBMT's executive team presented five strategic initiatives for the next several years. With the board's support, we are moving forward. Some are already underway, some have defined launch dates, and others will depend on partnerships, resources, and what we learn along the way. Expand & Diversify the Season [...]

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A Modern Performing Arts Company

By |2026-08-28T14:32:05-07:00August 28th, 2026|Blog-erviews!, Opinion|

In my last blog, I talked about why I’m proposing changes to SBMT in the future. I cited several reasons for some of the changes such as the fragility of the arts ecosystem, rising costs, the importance of community connection, changing audience demographics, and SBMT currently being in a state where we are strong enough to act. A modern performing arts company isn't defined simply by how many shows it produces. It's defined by the many ways it creates opportunities for people to experience, participate in, and support the performing arts. I thought I would talk a bit about what [...]

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What Comes Next for SBMT?

By |2026-08-14T10:12:04-07:00August 14th, 2026|2026-2027 Season, Announcements, Blog-erviews!, Opinion|

SBMT is… expanding? In a few weeks, the SBMT Board and executive team will gather for our annual Board Retreat. This is a chance to step away from the daily work of running a theatre company and think about the future. This year, the executive team will present three initiatives that could significantly expand what SBMT offers to the community. The rationale for expanding what SBMT is and does is simple: Last year, the community lost WVLO, a long-lived and cherished theatre organization in the South Bay. Its loss demonstrated how fragile the arts ecosystem currently is. We have been [...]

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California Recognizes Performing Arts as Essential

By |2026-07-17T11:59:56-07:00July 1st, 2026|2026-2027 Season, Blog-erviews!, Fundraising, Opinion|

This week, Governor Newsom signed California’s 2026-2027 state budget, which includes $12 million for the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (PAEPF). While that falls far short of the $40 million arts advocates have been encouraging lawmakers to invest, it remains an important commitment to California’s arts workforce and recognition that the performing arts are essential civic infrastructure. Thank you to everyone who called or wrote a letter of support to your local legislators to help get this initiative funded. The arts are not separate from California’s future. They are integral to everything we do and everything we aspire to be. [...]

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What Do You Need?

By |2026-06-19T18:08:58-07:00June 19th, 2026|Blog-erviews!, Fundraising, Opinion|

When I’m chatting with you in the lobby before a show, during intermission having a snack, or immediately afterwards when you’re still aglow from experiencing an outstanding performance, these are some of the questions you’ve asked recently regarding donations:  “What do you need?”  “How much should I be giving?” “How much do people normally give?” “What is the best way to help?” “What is the right amount?" Such deeply personal questions, ones I ask myself regularly. With so much need in the world, I do not take lightly that you’ve decided SBMT is worth supporting and investing in. You’ve told [...]

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Thank You Patron Manager, Kama Belloni

By |2026-05-27T09:56:07-07:00May 27th, 2026|Awards, Blog-erviews!, Opinion|

After six years as SBMT’s extraordinary Patron Manager, Kama Belloni retired from the position after we opened In The Heights. Fortunately for all of us, she still plans to remain involved as an SBMT volunteer as her time permits. SBMT Patron Manager Kama Belloni played Gooch in Mame, sang in the quintet of A Little Night Music, and starred as the Abbess in The Sound of Music. Over the years, Kama has built lasting relationships with countless patrons and donors, becoming one of the warm, welcoming faces audiences have come to associate with SBMT. Whether serving in the [...]

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The Arts Are Essential Infrastructure

By |2026-05-19T15:43:43-07:00May 19th, 2026|Blog-erviews!, Fundraising, Opinion|

Funding The State’s Creative Economy Strategic Plan Last Thursday, I drove up to Sacramento to represent SBMT at the presentation of the 2026 Creative Economy Strategic Plan with Senators Ben Allen and Susan Rubio. The California Joint Committee of the Arts is requesting $50 million for the California Arts Council to expand local assistance grants that empower communities through the arts and $40 million for the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (PAEPF) to ensure fair pay across the creative workforce. California’s economy is increasingly powered by innovation and creativity. Yet the artists, educators, performers, and nonprofit organizations that fuel that [...]

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Full Speed Ahead

By |2026-04-29T12:38:01-07:00April 24th, 2026|2026-2027 Season, Blog-erviews!, Fundraising, Opinion|

At last weekend’s On the 20th Century fundraising concert, in a theater filled with glorious music, tap dancing, and riotous laughter, we asked a simple question: Where do you want to go with us? You answered clearly: full speed ahead! Thanks to a $6,000 matching fund from Friends of SBMT, your generosity didn’t just meet the moment; it pushed us beyond our goal. Together, you gave over $7,000, unlocking the full match and bringing the total raised to over $13,000. That support helps fund our live orchestra, set construction, artist stipends, and much more. We are deeply grateful to everyone [...]

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The Cost of Live Theatre: Part 2

By |2026-04-10T11:38:49-07:00April 10th, 2026|2026-2027 Season, Announcements, Blog-erviews!, Fundraising, Opinion|

by Michael Paul Hirsch, Executive Director Summary: Ticket prices are going up starting next fall, and we want you to understand why: It's to better align us with reality and the actual cost of producing live musical theatre in today's world. (Note: Season subscriptions save you up to 25% if you are budget conscious).  Back in November, we answered one of the questions from our community about what it costs to run a theatre company. We outlined a high-level breakdown of SBMT’s revenue and expenses. We received several follow-up questions asking if we could continue the series and provide more [...]

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