The Yay - A Bay Area Theatre Podcast

Episode 80: Kim Donovan by The Yay - A Bay Area Theatre Podcast

On this episode of The Yay, Norman and I host Claudia Rosa and Guillermo Orneles, producers and creators of The Prida Project. The Prida Project is a glorious collage of the music, dance, theatre and poetry of Cuban American playwright Dolores Prida. We talk about the Kavanaugh hearings, Kaepernick and Nike (and the black police officers' association that backs the Nike ad); we also dive into the...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I talk to Paige Rogers, the director of Uncle Vanya, which will open at the Cutting Ball Theater (at the Exit at Taylor) on September 21st. Norman, Paige and I also have a very special conversation about alcoholism - the importance of being honest, addressing the issue, and breaking familiar patterns in order to get well. Paige shares her life story, how she...

On this episode of the Yay (recorded yesterday), Norman and I welcome Cary Ann Rosko (http://caryannrosko.com/Site/Home.html), actress and singer and professional therapist. Cary has worked extensively with the Lamplighters Music Theatre and I shared the stage with her at the Playwright's Center of San Francisco showcase. We talk about: the politicization of crimes against women (the horrible deat...

On this episode of The Yay, Norman and I welcome Lisa Kang (www.lisakang.net), a local playwright who had her short play, House of Days featured in the Playwright's Center for San Francisco Showcase. We talk about the death of Aretha Franklin, Omarosa's book, surrealism, Lisa's upbringing, and her efforts to use her writings to bring attention to the environment. SHOUTOUTS: King of Cuba (Central W...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I talk to Bridgette Dutta Portman, local playwright who has plays featured at the Playwright's Center Showcase and the upcoming SF Olympians IX Festival this November. Check out her personal website at www://bridgetteduttaportman.com We talk about: Sasha Baron Cohen duping several Republican figures, like Sheriff Arpario; the ongoing trial of Paul Manafort; a...

On this Friday episode of The Yay, Norman and I welcome Barbara Michelson-Harder, actress and co-owner of Off-Broadway West (and the wife of Richard Harder, who was on Episode 26 of the Yay). We talk about current events, like the 18 year old black woman killed on a Bart train, the US being the worst developed country for women giving birth, and Barbara's take on holding on to your faith in the ag...

On this early bird episode of The Yay, Norman and I entertain talented actress Gwen Loeb. We talk about politics - specifically California politics (we're hoping Gavin Newsom won't incite the wrath of right wing voters in the midterms by going too far left). Gwen also shares her background, growing up in Illinois and her experience as a working actress in the bay area since 1995. We also have a sp...

On this episode of The Yay, Norman and I talk to Vonn Scott Bair, veteran actor, playwright and a member of the Playwright's Center of San Francisco. We talk about politics (like the British protest of Trump), the movie Sorry To Bother You (which has Wylie Herman in it - he is in Episode 54 of the Yay), and the concept of angry white men in films and television (like Walter White in Breaking Bad)...

On this post-Fourth episode of The Yay, Norman and I talk to Danny Martin, veteran actor with whom I shared the stage with when we did 110 In The Shade. We talk about current events, like the children who still haven't been reunited with their parents on the border and the kids in Thailand trapped in the caves. Danny talks about his upbringing, his devotion to kids as an educator, and his life as...

On this pre-Fourth of July episode, it's just Norman and I (as it used to be a year ago, when we did our first seven podcasts). Norman and I talk about the actor thinking of him/herself as a business - where will you go in the future, what is your career path and what are you looking to get out of Bay Area theater. We also talk politics - Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement, Trump's domination of...

On this episode of The Yay, Norman Gee and I welcome Valerie Weak, actress and creator of the Counting Actors Project. Norman and I talk about the failed Zero Tolerance policy of the Trump Administration and the potential violation of the Flores Settlement. Valerie talks about her upbringing, her experience as an actress in the Bay Area since the 90's, and the Counting Actors Project - keeping Bay...

On this episode of The Yay, Norman Gee​ and I welcome an old friend, Michael Dorado​ - actor, director and board member of Bindlestiff Studios. We all talk about technique (like the "skull scream"), politics (like Jeff Sessions' use of the Bible to justify destroying families; and London Breed's election), and Michael's career in acting, both on the stage and on film. We also get a look at the inc...

On this episode of The Yay, Norman and I speak to Don Hardwick - actor, director and currently a member of the Playwright's Center (http://playwrightscentersf.org). Among current events, we talk about Rosanne - the show and the woman; JR Smith of the Cavs and his miscue with 4 seconds left in the NBA Finals; and Samatha Bee and her negative comments. Don also shares with us his upbringing and what...

On this Memorial Day episode of The Yay, I talk to Joel Knopf, local actor and musical writer - his musical, The Last Ibex, will be one of four musicals presented at the 2018 Musical Cafe Showcase (https://www.musicalcafe.org). Joel was a singer in THREE of the FOUR shows done last year, showing off his incredible talent. Joel talks about the show and his life in the bay as a writer and performer....

In this episode of The Yay, Norman and I entertain Peter Fitzsimmons, veteran actor and art dealer (getglobalart.com). Peter talks about his experiences as an actor in the Bay Area and his film/television experiences in LA. We also talk about: the NFL owners ban on kneeling, Morgan Freeman sexual harassment charges and - a deep subject - what it means to be a black man. SHOUTOUTS: In The Heights (...

On this mid-week episode of The Yay, Norman and I chill with Michael Mohammed - teacher at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, as well as an actor, director, dancer and classical singer. We talk about current events - the Meghan Markle/Prince Harry wedding, the North Korean nuclear talks breaking down, and Michael tells us about his life as an artist in the Bay Area. Shoutouts: Scapegoat - di...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I host Jed Parsario, a great young actor who is currently rehearsing for White, a Shotgun production that will be performed July 6 through August 5th. I know Jed from Bindlestiff Studios and the Stories High XII production. We talk about Dennis Glover aka Childish Gambino's video "This is America", the conservative white privilege of calling the cops - and we...

This is our one year anniversary of The Yay!! Special thanks to everyone who listens and has contributed to this show - I can't thank you enough. Norman Gee is back from France (where he performed the Lucia Berlin Stories) and we welcome acclaimed actress and singer Crystal Brown, who graced the stage two weeks ago for Anton's Well performing The Human Ear (at the Central Works' stage). We cover a...

On this episode of The Yay, I have the pleasure of interviewing Isaiah Dufort, Asst. Director at San Francisco Art & Film for Teens (www.artandfilm.org). Isaiah was also a writer and director for several Eastenders projects, which is where I know him. Isaiah talks about the differences between writing for the stage and film, the challenges of teaching film to teenagers, and we talk about politics...

On this episode of The Yay, I talk to James Centrofanti, a talented local actor who I worked with at Off Broadway West (The Birthday Party; Life x 3) and who also did film work in New York. James talks about his experiences in the theater both in the bay and in New York, the differences between the stage and on camera, the changes happening in San Francisco and we also talk about politics and the...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I talk to Cassidy Brown, actor and producer, who is acting with Norman in the Lucia Berlin Stories for Word for Word (http://www.zspace.org/storiesbyluciaberlin). We all talk about the March for Our Lives which is happening all over the world, the controversy over the store in Oakland that won't serve uniformed officers, and today's news media. Cassidy talks...

On this episode of the Yay, Norman and I welcome Jacob Bronson to the show. Jacob is an actor and a gifted opera singer who performed with me when we did Candide for the DMT. We talk about current events, like the Andrew McCabe firing and his memos he's given to Mueller afterwards, as well as the chaos going on in the Trump Administration. Jacob also talks about his life and his views on Bay Area...

On this episode of The Yay, I interview a great friend and a great actor, John Hutchinson, whose career spans a half century. John is an older member of Eastenders and we acted on stage last in Pride Open - we also did 100 Years of Political Theater, where he starred in Vlac Havel's Audience. John talks about his early days, growing up in pre and post war Los Angeles, his travels to Venezuela, Tex...

On this episode of The Yay, Norman and I talk to Carolyn Doyle, actress and writer of Refrigerator Mom, which had two successful runs at the Marsh - Carolyn is also a former Eastender'er who shared the stage with me doing Fear & Misery in the Third Reich. Carolyn talks about her upbringing in the New England area, her first experience with Bay Area theater in the late 80's and a very personal pers...