The Yay - A Bay Area Theatre Podcast

On this episode, Norman and I welcome Lindsey Marie Schmeltzer, a very talented actress, singer and musical director to the show. Lindsey is currently in tech with Norman for Midsummer Night's Dream, and Lindsey and I shared the stage when we did A Civil War Christmas two years ago. We talk politics as usual, especially the impeachment hearings, the inability to have decent conversations with diff...

Norman is back! He and I welcome a new actress in the Bay Area, Diana Lauren Jones - Diana is a longtime theatre actress from the east coast who is getting her feet wet in the Bay and has participated in readings at the Play Cafe. We talk about her life growing up in New Jersey, her theatre training at Rutgers and how Bay Area theatre life is treating her. You can find Diana via Facebook, LinkedIn...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman is back after directing Dracula and performing in As You Like It. We welcome actor and playwright Paul Harkness. Paul’s play, On Hallowed Ground, was featured in a staged reading two days ago at the Play Café. Paul talks about growing up in the Bay Area, working as an actor in the 70's and his current writings. You can contact Paul directly via Facebook. SHOUTOUT...

On this episode of the Yay, I welcome Marianna Wolff, a veteran musical director with whom I worked with doing Grey Gardens and 110 In The Shade at the Douglas Morrison Theatre. We talk about Marianna’s growing up in Alameda, her training at Cal State Hayward, her work at the DMT, and her views of the future of musicals. Norman is away on vacation, celebrating his birthday with his family. SHOUTOU...

On this episode of the Yay, Craig Dickerson (as a guest host while Norman is busy with As You Like It and directing Dracula) and I welcome local actress and singer Jamie Strube. I saw Jamie when she did Stage Kiss with Kim Donovan (Episode 80) and Alan Coyne (Episode 29). Jamie talks about growing up in the bay area, dealing with inappropriate directors, and balancing motherhood with theatre. Jami...

On this episode of the Yay, I interview Paul Plain, veteran actor who is currently rehearsing for Bright Star, which will open October 4 and run through October 27th at the Contra Costa Civic Theatre. Paul and I shared the Town Hall stage, doing Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Paul talks about growing in in Jersey City, New Jersey; how his mom took him to shows in New York, where he saw...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I welcome Marah Catanus Sotelo, a talented actress and opera-trained singer. I worked with Marah when we did Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown at the Town Hall Theatre. Marah’s next performance will be at the Ross Valley Players, along with Mountain Play, doing She Loves Me. We talk about Marah’s growing up in the Chicago suburbs, her four year experi...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I bring on Dave Garrett, veteran actor, singer and Senior Manager at the Children’s Creativity Museum, a wonderful place to bring your child where they can learn about arts and music – all at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. You can find out more about the Children’s Creativity Museum here: https://creativity.org. Dave talks about his growing up, his time...

On this episode, Norman and I entertain LaMont Ridgell, a veteran actor, who blessed the stage of Bindlestiff Studios, Town Hall Theatre (Angels In America) and Off Broadway West, where he was in the TBA Award winning Master Harold and the Boys. LaMont talks about growing up in Michigan, being in the bay in the early 90s working in the video game industry, and his take on Bay Area theater as of no...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I bring on sisters Sheila and Anita Viramontes. Both ladies are actresses and singers. Anita just finished doing Once On This Island at the Contra Costa County Theatre, and Sheila and I shared the stage (Town Hall Theatre) doing Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. The Viramontes sisters talk about their upbringing, bellydancing, singing and acting arou...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I welcome Eiko Yamamoto, a local actress who will be playing Meiko in a new play by Jonathan Spector, Eureka Day. She’ll also be playing Ernestina in the DMT’s production of Hello Dolly! Eiko shares her experience in the theater, her upbringing and how theater life is treating her. You can follow or contact Eiko via Instagram (@EikoYH) or her website (https:/...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I talk with Letitia Duarte, talented actress who has worked with several bay area companies, like Central Works, Theatre of Yugen, Town Hall Theatre, Playground and Theatre Rhino. She’s currently working on Linda Amayo Hassan’s play Cheer! Story of a Dreamer. Letitia shares her story of an actress in the Bay Area and Los Angeles; we talk about racial diversit...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I rap with Rondrell McCormick, an actor and director who is a graduate of ACT – he has graced the stages of San Jose Stage Company, SF Playhouse, Center REP, Highways Performance Space and the Sundance Institute, among many others. Rondrell talks about growing up in racially charged North Carolina, his studies at ACT (where he met the great Denzel Washington)...

On this episode of the Yay, I’m riding solo as the host, as Norman Gee is busy rehearsing for As You Like It (see SHOUTOUTS below) – I interview Isabella and Gianna Capozzi, the youngest guests on The Yay – the two sisters are still in high school but perform in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, at the Town Hall Theatre. The sisters talk about what theater means to them and the impact of...

On this episode of the Yay, I bring on Craig Dickerson as a co-host, as Norman Gee is busy teaching kids at the Eugene O’Neill house – Craig and I interview Kathy Ferber, a veteran actress with whom I share the stage with at the Town Hall Theatre doing Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Kathy talks about her early life in Southern California, the incredible life of her mother, who was the...

Episode 115: Shaotian Cai by The Yay - A Bay Area Theatre Podcast

Surprise! A New Yay! On this episode (on a Monday evening), Norman and I bring on Keaton Wilkerson, a fantastic vocalist and actor who is currently starring in Town Hall Theatre's Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, playing now until June 22nd. Keaton talks about his education, his love of musical theater and where he wants to be in the future. We also squeeze in some current events like th...

On this episode, Norman and I welcome Amber Rubarth, a singer, musician and co-creator of a new musical, The Paper Raincoat (www.thepaperraincoat.com). The show is sponsored by the Musical Cafe (www.musicalcafe.org) and there'll be two showings; tonight (June 1) and June 2nd, at 8pm. If you have time, check it out. Amber shares about her time growing up in California, moving to Nashville, the crea...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I have the great pleasure to talk to Dawn Monique Williams, the new associate artistic director at Aurora Theatre. Dawn is a veteran actor and director, the former associate director at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and has worked with a vast amounts of theater companies, including HERE Arts Center, Profile Theatre (in Portland OR), ACT, Chautauqua Theatre...

On this episode of the Yay, I have the pleasure of interviewing Joyce Domanico-Huh, a very talented actress who is currently in Sister Act, playing at Theatre Rhino (http://therhino.org). I had the pleasure of seeing Joyce in Generation Theatre’s interpretation of Twelfth Night, called Olivia’s Kitchen (directed by David Valayre and starring Deborah Cortez); Joyce played Viola. You can directly co...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I bring on Shaye Angelo Acevedo, a brilliant bay area actor who was our Chester Himes in my production, Four Men in Paris. Shaye is also a singer and musician. You can directly contact Shaye via Facebook or on Instagram here: SAngeloAcevedo SHOUTOUTS: The Victorian Ladies’ Detective Collective (Central Works Theatre) May 4 – June 2 Alan Coyne (Episode 29) is...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I bring on Lily Tung Crystal, award winning coach, artistic leader, actress, singer and producer - she is the founder of Ferocious Lotus Theatre (https://www.ferociouslotus.org). She is currently directing Flower Drum Song at the Palo Alto Players (http://www.paplayers.org). You can contact Lily via Facebook or view her personal webpage at https://www.lilytun...

On this episode of the Yay, I interview Circle Dai, a young Chinese actress who studied at ACT and has performed for the San Francisco Shakespeare Company and has shared the stage with Radhika Rao (Episode 21). As usual, we talk a bit about politics, acting techniques she's learned from school and her experience as a young actress. You can contact Circle directly on Facebook or on Instagram (Circl...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I bring on Shannon Mauldin, actress and basketball coach – Shannon and I last shared the stage doing Civil War Christmas at the Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette. We talk about working with kids, keeping the fourth wall on stage, and keeping composure - not letting your emotions get the best of you. SHOUTOUTS: Helen (Theatre of Yugen) Mar 29 – Apr 27 https://www...

On this episode of the Yay, I bring on Jaimelee Roberts, a bay area actress who I worked with in Texas Chainsaw Musical – a musical written by Cory Bytof and was in the SF Fringe Festival. She's currently a dance teacher for children and is working on her Masters in Family Therapy. SHOUTOUTS: Helen (Theatre of Yugen) Mar 29 – Apr 27 https://www.theatreofyugen.org/helen Adrian Deane (Episode 82) is...