Behind The Scenes

Maskmaker, maskmaker, make me a mask

By |2020-04-08T17:27:00-07:00April 7th, 2020|2019-2020 Season, Behind The Scenes, Video Link|

In the current pandemic environment, as shows from Broadway to the Bay Area are on hold, theatre costumers find themselves with no costumes to sew. But that doesn’t mean they are letting their talents go begging. Since they can't create costumes, they have found an even more pressing need and are building DIY cotton face masks for the local community. South Bay Musical Theatre artists Mae Heagerty-Matos (costumer), Patricia Bilello (props), and Elyse Cook and Barbara Heninger (performers), have all been creating masks to help fill the urgent need. “Right now, I’m donating masks to all first responders and at-risk people [...]

Spotlight on: Alexandra Teixeira, Stage Manager for She Loves Me

By |2020-02-07T21:12:47-08:00February 7th, 2020|2019-2020 Season, Behind The Scenes, Video Link|

During a busy tech week rehearsal for She Loves Me, we caught Alexandra Teixeira, the show's stage manager, in the theater lobby to ask her about her role and how things were coming along with the show's opening just a few short days away. Over the din of the orchestra playing in the background, she talked to us about her backstage assistants, her favorite parts of the show, the challenges they have discussed, and why people should attend. The show continues through Feb. 15, 2020, at the Saratoga Civic Theater in Saratoga, CA. Tickets at southbaymt.com/shows/ticket-sales/she-loves-me/ or 408-266-4734. Watch the five [...]

Spotlight on: Daniel Hughes, Vocal Director for She Loves Me

By |2020-01-31T21:18:09-08:00January 31st, 2020|2019-2020 Season, Behind The Scenes, Meet The Cast, Photos, Video Link|

Vocal Director Daniel Hughes is interviewed for the latest installment in SBMT's series on "The Art of Theatre." He discusses his involvement with the musical SHE LOVES ME, answering questions about the composers and their music, specific songs from the show, the use of harmony, and the role of a Vocal Director. He says he loves this production because of the talented cast, the transformational stories, the clever lyrics, and the satisfying escape it provides from the harsh realities of today's world. SHE LOVES ME continues its run at the Saratoga Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga, CA now through Saturday, [...]

Spotlight on: Joe Kelly, Music Director for SHE LOVES ME

By |2020-01-23T06:33:37-08:00January 23rd, 2020|2019-2020 Season, Behind The Scenes, Photos, Video Link|

Joseph Kelly, whose past work as Music Director for South Bay Musical Theatre has twice been nominated as a Theatre Bay Area finalist, tackles another tuneful score with the show SHE LOVES ME, running January 25 through February 15, 2020 at the Saratoga Civic Theater. In this interview, Joe shares his thoughts on the show's composers, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (better known for Fiddler on the Roof). He reveals his favorite song from the show (which may surprise you!) and talks not only about the show's journey to Broadway but also his own journey from French horn player to Music [...]

Martín Rojas Dietrich, director of SHE LOVES ME

By |2020-01-13T23:49:59-08:00January 13th, 2020|2019-2020 Season, Behind The Scenes, Photos, Video Link|

Martín Rojas Dietrich joins South Bay Musical Theatre for the first time, as director of the classic romantic comedy SHE LOVES ME, by the author of Cabaret and the composers of Fiddler on the Roof. In this video interview, he gives some background on how the 1937 play Parfumerie evolved into three movies and a Broadway musical that has seen two award-winning revivals. He describes the plot: two people who quarrel at work unwittingly fall in love as anonymous pen pals. He also talks about how the music elevates the show beyond the play or movie versions, and cites subtle similarities [...]

Gwyneth talks wigs for She Loves Me

By |2019-12-16T22:40:04-08:00December 16th, 2019|2019-2020 Season, Behind The Scenes, Meet The Cast, Photos, Video Link|

We interview Gwyneth Price Panos, Hair & Makeup Designer for South Bay Musical Theatre's upcoming production of She Loves Me. What hairstyles are apropos for a show set in the 1930s? Do cast members like wearing wigs or prefer styling their own hair? How do you determine what color hair should be matched with each character? Learn all this and more in this 2-minute video. Credit: David Simon, MidPen Media Center. Watch the video here, or read the transcript below. https://youtu.be/-bQrpj_dqls   GWYNETH PRICE PANOS: "Modern day audiences do have a certain expectation when watching period shows. You want to [...]

The romantic couples in She Loves Me

By |2019-12-04T22:32:33-08:00December 4th, 2019|2019-2020 Season, Behind The Scenes, Meet The Cast, Photos, Video Link|

The lead actors in "She Loves Me" discuss the type of characters they play in this brief interview with Marie Finch, Ben Hatch, Jessica Whittemore, and Carlos Nunez. The show is now in rehearsals, and opens January 25, 2020, running weekends through February 15 at the Saratoga Civic Theater. Tickets are available at southbaymt.com/shows/ticket-sales/she-loves-me/ or by calling 408-266-4734. Video courtesy of David Simon, MidPen Media Center. Watch the video below or scroll down to read the transcript of the interview.   MARIE FINCH: The character that I play… Balash… Amalia Balash… is very direct. She is stubborn. She doesn’t care what people [...]

Sara Dean on She Loves Me

By |2019-11-26T18:41:55-08:00November 26th, 2019|2019-2020 Season, Behind The Scenes, Video Link|

In our latest behind-the-scenes interview, SBMT Executive Director Sara Dean talks about SBMT's upcoming production of "She Loves Me," calling it "storytelling at its best." She provides a brief overview of the plot, and discusses the challenge of casting the show from the large pool of eager and talented actors who turned out for auditions. The show opens Jan. 25, 2020 and runs through Feb. 15 at the Saratoga Civic Theater. Watch the video embedded here, or read the transcript below. Video shot by David Simon; edited by Doug Hughes. https://youtu.be/bdMGc0QqWb4   My name is Sara Dean, and I am [...]

Spotlight on: Ed Hunter, Lighting Designer for Gentleman’s Guide

By |2019-10-09T05:31:16-07:00October 9th, 2019|2019-2020 Season, Behind The Scenes, Photos, Video Link|

Our series of backstage videos on “The Art of Theatre” continues with an interview with Ed Hunter, Lighting Designer for A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder. Ed talks about the challenges of lighting a complicated show like this one, how many people it takes to do the job, and the role technology plays in making it possible. The show is currently playing at the Saratoga Civic Theater through October 19, 2019. Tickets are available at southbaymt.com/shows/ticket-sales/gentlemans-guide/ or by calling 408-266-4734. Watch the three-minute video below, or read the transcript that follows. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/N7rAO-jN_Zc   Transcript: My name is Ed [...]

Spotlight on: A Change of Character

By |2019-10-07T06:38:44-07:00October 7th, 2019|2019-2020 Season, Behind The Scenes, Meet The Cast, Video Link|

Have you already seen A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder and want to gain additional insight to the backstage magic (or should we say madness?) that resulted in such a carefully choreographed continuous cavalcade of costumes? In this 15-minute video, capping our ongoing series on “The Art of Theatre,” we interview Michael Paul Hirsch, who plays nine unique characters in the show. Over the course of two-and-a-half hours, Michael undergoes 13 complete costume changes as he portrays members of the ill-fated D'Ysquith family—and some of them take place in less than half a minute! He and his three dressers (Taylor [...]

Go to Top