The Yay - A Bay Area Theatre Podcast

She's an actress, a writer and a director. On her IMDB page, she's listed in films like Hopes Identity, The Confession and Robin's Hood. She's Kimberly Ridgeway and Norman and i had the pleasure of interviewing her this afternoon. We talk about AI's doing method acting, how black women are presented on stage and Kim's philosophy on directing and writing. Kimberly is currently teaching an online cl...

Norman and i welcome Brian Rivera, a local actor who currently works at the Intersection for the Arts, as well as the San Francisco Mime Troupe. Brian is one of the few bay area actors who's been on Broadway, understudying for The King And I. We talk about the current pandemic and the protests against police violence - we also talk about Brian's upbringing, his time in LA and New York as an actor,...

He was a recipient of TBA's TITAN Award for playwriting, the 2012 Emerging Artist Laureate by Arts Council Silicon Valley and the 2014 Leigh Weimers Emerging Artist Award. His play Writing Fragments Home was a semi-finalist for the Eugene O'Neill Playwright's Conference. He is Jeffrey Lo (Twitter and Instagram: @TheyCallMeJLo) and he is currently the casting director for TheatreWorks Silicon Valle...

The death of George Floyd has touched us all. Norman and I bring on Naseem Badie, actress, writer and political sociologist who studied at Oxford. We talk about how the death of a black man by the hands (or the knee) of the police is simply an extension of a greater systemic problem of imperialism that is endemic in many parts of the world. Naseem speaks about her growing up in war torn Iran durin...

In our first video podcast, Norman and I welcome Mallory Somera - actress, writer, producer and audio journalist who currently works for KCBS Radio in San Francisco (https://kcbsradio.radio.com). I worked with Mallory and her mom Earlena when we did a reading of Jeannie Barroga's Buffalo'ed and Mallory and I both worked at Bindlestiff Studios back in 2011. We talk politics (Biden's "you're not bla...

The Corona Virus or COVID-19 has affected all aspects of life, and theatre is no exception: all over the Bay Area, from ACT to the Altarena Playhouse, shows have shut down. Actors aren't getting paid, producers have to reshuffle their seasons and theatre owners don't have renters. Norman Gee and I get together to talk about the hard impact corona has had on all of us, and we talk of possible solut...

We're not letting a little thing like the COVID-19 virus stop The Yay! We have not one but two guests - Norman and I welcome director Amanda Bailey and actress Gretta Stimson – Amanda is directing Tiny Beautiful Things. We talk politics, Amanda and Gretta’s back story on how they got involved in theatre, and the amazing work of Cheryl Strayd and her play. We're well aware that most current shows a...

Judith Offer, who organizes staged readings at the Brooklyn Preserve, is our next guest on The Yay. Judith is a published poet and playwright who’s play Frame of Possibilities was directed by Norman Gee. We talk politics, her early days in Washington DC, playwriting in the bay area and her future. You can find more information on Judith Offer on her webpage: http://judithoffer.com SHOUTOUTS: The C...

On this episode of The Yay, Norman and I welcome Angel Adedokun, a young actress, singer, dancer, songwriter and “professional sunflower”, whom I’ve worked with, doing a staged reading for Lynn Aylward’s Snow’da’doh. Angel is also employed with Ray of Light Theatre. Angel talks about growing up in Indiana, her experiences with sexual harassment in the rehearsal space, and her future as a singer an...

On this episode of The Yay, Norman and I bring on ShawnJ West, veteran actor and director. ShawnJ is currently directing Sugar In Our Wounds, at the New Conservatory Theatre, which will open April 3 and close May 10th. ShawnJ directed me during the Playwright’s Center for SF two years ago. Norman, ShawnJ and I talk about concepts of directing, working with new playwrights as a director, and the ex...

On this post-Valentine's Day episode of The Yay, Norman and I welcome Maya Herbsman, certified intimacy coach and associate artistic director and education coordinator at Cutting Ball Theatre. Maya also works with the Intimacy Directors International. Maya just finished directing Ways To Leave A Body and will be working on Cyrano (opens April 9) at the Cutting Ball Theatre. You can directly reach...

On this episode of The Yay, Norman and I bring on Steven McCloud, a fantastic actor and singer (great vocal range!) – he and I shared the stage at the Town Hall Theatre when we did Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown. Steven talks politics, his time at San Francisco State, his work in the bay area and his views on the future of Bay Area theatre. You can hit up Steven directly via Facebook. H...

On this episode of The Yay, Norman and I welcome sound designer, lighting designer, and master electrician Daniel Hall. We geek out about lighting and sound tech in theatre, the issues we're having with AB5 (a recurring topic) and Daniel's views on Bay Area Theatre. We also have a poignant talk about Kobe Bryant and how we handle death. Daniel's next gig will be working with the New Conservatory T...

On this episode of The Yay, Norman and I welcome Amy Turningbrook (formerly Amy Crumpacker), an actress, director and playwright, who helps run Third Street Playhouse. We talk politics, her growing up in southern California, her time with Fantasy Theatre in the ‘80s and the future of theatre. You can find out more about Amy by visiting her page on Facebook and on the Third Street Playhouse Faceboo...

On this episode of The Yay, Norman and I bring on Sylvia Kratins as a guest. Sylvia is a veteran actress and costume designer who has worked extensively with Off-Broadway West and Central Works. Sylvia and I last worked on Life x 3. We talk politics, Sylvia’s history and her thoughts on bay area theatre and the ramifications of AB3 and its affect on local theatre. Sylvia can be contacted directly...

On this episode of The Yay, Norman and I welcome Melissa Momboisse, actress, singer and teacher at Pure Barre at Walnut Creek. Melissa and I shared the stage at the DMT doing Grey Gardens, where she played the younger Edith Bouvier. Melissa was also a Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor and was featured on the Pharmacy Podcast. Melissa talks about her journey in theater, her battle with cancer and her futu...

On the first episode of the Yay for the year 2020, I welcome Ely Sonny Orquiza, actor and director, who's last show was Driven, a Theatre Rhinoceros piece he directed. His next show will be Gloria, at ACT's Strand Theatre. Ely and I talk about his upbringing in Manila, his studies at UC Berkeley, the transition between acting and directing and his views on Bay Area theatre. You can find more infor...

Happy Holidays to all! Today, Norman and I welcome Rico Anderson, a veteran actor that is currently in LA, having been seen on multiple TV shows like Truth Be Told, The Rookie, S.W.A.T. and Rosewood. You can see Rico on the upcoming horror movie, Get Gone, coming out next year. You can find more information on Rico Anderson via his homepage: https://www.ricoanderson.com Also, please click on his I...

Happy Holidays to all! This is our 2nd Yay podcast for today – and we have a special guest, David Moschler, creator of Awesome Orchestra, a group that brings together Bay Area music-lovers for orchestral adventures. Norman, David and I talk about his upbringing in North Carolina, the difference between conducting for musical theatre as oppose to operas, the importance of understanding the language...

Happy Holidays to all! For our pre-holiday Yay, we’re giving out TWO Yays! Norman and I welcome our first guest, Michael Wayne Rice, a talented actor and director, who recently directed Othello at the Livermore Shakespeare Company this year. Michael talks about his growing up in the bay, his short stint in New York, his work as a director for Livermore Shakes and his former podcast, Cool As Hell T...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I welcome Percival Arcibal (Percy Neo Anderson RCbal), a veteran actor I’ve worked with at Bindlestiff Studios. Bindlestiff is celebrating its 30th Anniversary, bringing exciting theatre to the Filipino and bay area community. We talk about Percy’s migration to the US from the Philippines (escaping from the Marcos regime); his work at Bindlestiff and his view...

Happy Holidays to everyone! On this post-Thanksgiving episode of The Yay, I welcome Brian Bonham, a former member of Theatre Rhubarb, an actor and a comedian. Brian and I worked on The Marriage of Bette and Boo, back in 2001. Brian, his fiancee Tracy and I talk politics, the early days (late 90's) of the Bay Area, and how theatre is helping him in his current job as an occupational therapist. Norm...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I bring on Michael Barrett Austin. Michael is a local actor, singer and songwriter, who shared the stage with Norman in As You Like It. Michael shares his upbringing and acting in commercials as a youth, his training at Whitman College, finding his wife in the theatre and how theatre in the bay has treated him. You can learn more information and contact Micha...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I welcome playwright Lynn Aylward. Lynn has had her plays featured on The Playground and The Playwright’s Center of SF. Lynn talks about her upbringing in suburban Philadelphia, her artistic career in New York and her writings (Snow Da Goh and 12:25). You can directly connect to Lynn via Twitter: @lynnalyward SHOUTOUTS: Midsummer Night’s Dream (Arabian Shakes...

Racial diversity in the theatre. Appreciation and respect for women in the rehearsal space. Resisting the KFC Chicken sandwich craze ;) These and many other things Norman and I talk about with our good friend Radhika Rao, actor, director and educator who last graced our podcast on Episode 21. Radhika gives her perspective on how women are treated in theatre as actors and as directors (and we use c...