The Yay - A Bay Area Theatre Podcast

Monique Crawford is our next guest on The Yay. Monique is an actress who has worked with Crowded Fire, ACT, Sacramento Theatre Company and Central Works - She talks about her upbringing, her work in bay area theatre and where she sees herself in the future. Monique is traveling to England to continue her MFA theatre studies – and she has a GoFundMe page, where all of us can support her. Please mak...

We have a rare Sunday Yay, where Jake and I bring on Brittany Sims, an actress who has worked with the Custom Made Theatre, the Oakland Theatre Project and the African American Shakespeare Company. She talks about her upbringing, her work in bay area theatre and where she sees herself in the future. Brittany can be contacted directly via Instagram: @iluvbritbrat89 Jameelah Rose has her own busines...

I had the pleasure to talk to Wynne Chan a year ago when we did our live Yay at Camp Monologa for Plethos’ fundraiser – now Jake and I get the chance to speak to her one on one. Wynne Chan is the managing director at Golden Thread Productions and has worked with other companies like the Pear Theatre, Plethos Productions, the Masquers Playhouse and SDC Productions. You can find out more information...

James Mercer II is our next guest on The Yay – James is a veteran actor, who has worked with ACT, Berkeley Rep, African-American Shakespeare Company, Irish Rep, and Arden Theatre Company. Jake and I talk about James’ Philly roots, his work in the bay area and where he sees himself in the future. James can be reached directly via email: jwdlmercer2@gmail.com. Jameelah Rose has her own business sell...

Our second half of our double Yay features artistic director and co-founder of Kunoichi Productions, Nick Ishimaru. We talk about Nick’s upbringing, his studies at Colorado State University, his first stint in the bay area working with Theatre Yugen, and where he sees himself in the future. Jameelah Rose has her own business selling healthy drinks - MelanA☥D is a black owned business that speciali...

We have a double Yay this weekend! Our first guest is Nikki Menez – she’s an actress, director and curatorial director at Z Space. Her last project was directing The Future that Liberals Want, at the Eclectic Box SF. Jake and I talk to Nikki about her upbringing, her next project and what plans she has for the future. Jameelah Rose has her own business selling healthy drinks - MelanA☥D is a black...

We’ve been dying to have Ed Mabasa on The Yay and we finally got him! Ed Mabasa is no stranger to anyone who’s been a part of Bindlestiff – he’s been an actor, writer, producer, tech guy – he’s the very modest guy who keeps Bindlestiff going and he is truly beloved there. We talk about his upbringing, his presence at Bindlestiff and what his future looks like. This show is dedicated to the incredi...

Tirumari Jothi is an actor and playwright who’s play, The Future That Liberals Want or; Résumé-Building in the Apocalypse, just finished up at the Eclectic Box SF. Jake and I talk to him about his background, what future projects he’s working on and his views of bay area theatre. You can see Tirumari perform every Saturday at 8pm at Critical Hit! Live Stand Up Comedy, located at It’s Your Move Gam...

On this Memorial Day episode of The Yay, Jake and I welcome Nicolas Logue, actor and fight coordinator – he’s also the associate professor at Winward Community College and Fight Director at Dueling Arts International. We talk about Nic’s upbringing, how he got into fight coordinating and where he sees himself in the future. Nic can be reached directly by email: logue@hawaii.edu Jameelah Rose has h...

Allan Samson Manalo is back in the guest chair for The Yay. When Allan was last with us (Episode 237), we talked about good times and the wonderful history of Bindlestiff Studios. Today, he talks about his show, In Bituin, the show he has created in loving memory of his late wife Joyce. We talk about how theatre can help in the act of recovery and healing – and reflection. Jameelah Rose has her ow...

Jake and I have been very busy but we’re back! And our good friend Julius Rea is back as well – his musical (based on his book), The Day The Sky Turned Orange, will be premiering on September 5th. We last had Julius on three years ago, when we talked about his play, Sarafael, and we can’t wait to talk about this new project. Jameelah Rose has her own business selling healthy drinks - MelanA☥D is a...

It's been a while but we’re back! And our next guest is teacher, lecturer and playwright Terry Boero. We learn about her upbringing her work at SF State, any new works she’s working on now, and her future. Terry can be contacted directly via Instagram at @merriberriterri and on Bluesky: Terry-Boero.bsky.social Jameelah Rose has her own business selling healthy drinks - MelanA☥D is a black owned bu...

Aaron Seymour is our next guest for The Yay. He is an actor who has worked at the Eclectic Box Theatre and last worked with Jake Fong doing A Soldier’s Story. Jake and I talk about Aaron’s upbringing, his thoughts on bay area theatre and where he sees himself in the future. Aaron can be contacted directly via Facebook Messenger. Jameelah Rose has her own business selling healthy drinks - MelanA☥D...

Our next guest is Ryan Marchand, an actor who has worked with Theatre Yugen, the San Francisco Opera and Handful Players. Ryan was last seen on stage at Theatre Yugen, doing A Noh Christmas. Jake and I learn about Ryan’s background, his work in bay area theatre and where he sees himself in the future. Ryan can be reached directly by Instagram: gone_aw_ry Jameelah Rose has her own business selling...

Nicole Tung is an actress and choreographer and she’s our next guest on a special two episode Yay. Nicole is the former director and choreographer at South Bay Musical Theatre. Jake and I learn about Nicole’s upbringing, her work at South Bay Musical Theatre and what she’s doing these days. Nicole can be reached directly via Instagram: @nicole__tung Jameelah Rose has her own business selling healt...

Richard Perez, the artistic director at Town Hall Theatre, is our next guest on The Yay. I have had wonderful memories performing at Town Hall and it’s an honor to have Richard on. Jake and I listen as Richard talks about his upbringing, his education at Arizona State University, his leadership at Town Hall and where he sees himself in the future. Richard can be reached directly via email: Richard...

Jake and I welcome Tory Williams, an actor who worked with Jake when they did A Soldier’s Story. Tory talks about his upbringing in Little Rock, Arkansas; his time as an actor in the bay and where he sees himself in the future. Tory can be contacted directly via Instagram: @torywofficial SHOWS: The Oracle (The Lost Church SF) LAST SHOW Jan 11! Diana Brown (Episode 242) is in the show https://thelo...

Joey Alvarado is our next guest as we welcome in 2025! Joey is a veteran actor who’s last show was A Noh Christmas at Theatre of Yugen. Joey has also worked with the Pear Theatre and Z Space, among other companies. Jake and I talk about Joey’s upbringing, how he got into theatre and where he sees himself in the future. Joey Alvarado can be reached directly via Instagram: @tito_sexty Jameelah Rose...

This is the end of the year and it’s altogether fitting that we bring Norman Gee back as our guest for the last Yay of 2024. We’ll give an assessment of how the year has been, what Norman has set for the future and we’ll give Norman the proper send off and thanks for being a magnificent host of the Yay from 2017-2024. Norman can be reached directly via Instagram: @whosyrhoosier Jameelah Rose has h...

Actor, editor and color grader Mark Anthony joins Jake and I as our next guest on The Yay. Mark is a graduate of SF State University and has been on many stages in the bay area like Town Hall Theatre, Theatre Rhinoceros and the Altarena, where Jake and Mark shared the stage. We talk about Mark’s upbringing, studying at SF State, how theatre in the bay has treated him and where he sees himself in t...

Jake and I introduce Devon LaBelle as our next guest. Devon is a prop master and scenic designer who has worked with Crowded Fire, Shotgun Players and the Contra Costa Civic Theatre. She is a two time TBA award winning props designer for her work on Vanya, Sonya, Masha and Spike (CCCT) and Eurydice (Shotgun Players). We talk to her about her upbringing, her studies at SF State and where she sees h...

Bessie Zolno is our next guest on The Yay! Bessie is an actress, fight coordinator and an intimacy/violence choreographer – she was the former director of Center Stage. We talk about her background, her views on intimacy on the stage and where she sees herself in the future. You can contact Bessie directly via Instagram: @bessiezolno You can learn more about Bessie Zolno via her personal webpage:...

Jake and I are doing two Yays this weekend! Yesterday we had fight choreographer Brandon DiPaola – today we have actor Sean Purcell, who last performed with Jake in A Soldier’s Play two years ago. We talk to Sean about his upbringing, his studying at Buffalo State University, his life as a bay area actor and what he’s doing now. Sean can be reached directly via Instagram: @purcsn12 Jameelah Rose h...

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving ;) Jake and I welcome Brandon DiPaola, an actor and fight coordinator. Brandon talks about his upbringing, his career in the bay, and where he sees himself in the future. You can follow Brandon via Instagram: @dipaola.brandon Brandon’s resume can be found online here: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/brandondipaola Jameelah Rose has her own business selli...

Brady Morales-Woolery is our next guest on the Yay. Brady is an actor who was last seen on stage in the ACT production, Private Lives. Brady talks about his upbringing, studying at UC Berkeley and where he sees himself in the future. You can follow Brady via Instagram: @bradalius You can learn more about Brady via his website: https://www.bradymwoolery.com Jameelah Rose has her own business sellin...