The Yay - A Bay Area Theatre Podcast

In this Fourth of July episode of The Yay, I interview Jeannie Barroga (www.jeanniebarroga.com), acclaimed playwright, as we talk about her techniques in playwriting, her growing up as a Filipina American, and how she views theater in the Bay Area. Enjoy!

It's another double double for the Yay! While Norman Gee is still out on vacation, I interview talented actor Benjamin Couch. We talk about the fantastic community of Bindlestiff Studios, acting techniques and life as an actor in the Bay! Happy Fourth, everybody!

In this episode of The Yay, I speak with one of the founders of Bindlestiff Studio and its resident playwright, Conrad Panganiban - we talk about his many plays he's written about Filipino life in the Bay Area, what theater means to him and we talk a bit about today's politics. Norman Gee is on vacation with his family and will be back on July 7th. Enjoy!

In another double-double, I interview husband-wife team Christine U'Ren and Gene Moscy - both are writers, actors and producers. Christine has a talent for writing plays in the style of the Victorian Age (her work, Lady Susan, is an adaptation of Jane Austen's writings), and Gene writes plays about zombies and the undead. Gene is also a video game developer. I shared the stage with both of them as...

In another double-double Yay Podcast, Norman and I talk about Johnny Depp's "assassination" comments and how some liberals are learning some of the bad lessons from the conservatives. Norman also plugs Tender Napalm, a play by Philip Ridley, which will be playing at the Temescal Arts Center from July 14 - August 5.

Our second Yay podcast this week has me interviewing Scott Munson, a playwright of works such as WWJD, Charley's Aunt '66, a 50's adaptation of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband, and Dearest Frank Lights a Cigar. Scott and I talk about his upbringing during the turbulent late 60's, his concept on playwriting, and a surprising talk about religion and faith. It's a fascinating interview and I hope you...

This week, you get two Yays! Norman and I talk about the shooting at the Congressional Baseball practice field earlier this week and the UPS shooting in San Francisco and how you can never lose control - both in life and on stage. Norman talks about breaking down Polonius in Shakespeare's Hamlet and we talk about how to prepare yourself for musical auditions. Later on, I'll interview Scott Munson,...

In today's episode, we talk with stage actor, photographer and voice actor Colin Hussey. We talk about David Mamet's book True or False, the flow of dialogue in scripts, Colin's latest project (Sundita) and us being blue collar artists. We give a special shout out to David Stein and Ragged Wing, who is fundraising for their Spring season - please donate at www.raggedwing.org. Norman gives a shout...

This week, Norman and I welcome Craig Souza, actor, director and one of the board members of Theater Rhinoceros, which celebrates 40 years doing theater in the Bay Area. Craig talks about his experiences as a director; we share old stories of the now defunct Eastenders Repertory Theater and the late Chuck Polly; Norman promotes Hella, the story of Henrietta Lacks, the black woman with a special ge...

This week, we bring in Will Hammond, local recording artist and actor. Norman, Will and I talk about what Memorial Day means to us, Youtube channels, crazy Sheriff Clark and any past regrets. Norman and Will share their first time acting in New York, and Will shares a touching story of his grandmother. Please give us feedback and the question of the day: if you're an actor, what's your day job?

While Norman is out visiting family, I bring on Jerome Joseph Gentes, the producer of the Musical Cafe and playwright of Or: Or the Play Of Light, part of the PlayGround series, playing at the Potrero Theater in San Francisco.

Norman and I talk about fake news, handling small roles, and self promotion. We give a shout out to Elizabeth Carter, who will be in The Commons at the Utopia Theater; Norman talks about Emmitt & Ava and I promote The Musical Cafe. This Friday, we'll have Jerome Gentes, the producer of the Musical Cafe.

In this episode, Norman and I take an odd turn and talk about relationships and honest communications - I reference an article from the New York Times about Open Relationships (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/magazine/is-an-open-marriage-a-happier-marriage.html) and a Slate artlcle on how marriages change when you have children (http://www.slate.com/articles/life/family/2017/05/happy_mother_s_d...

Norman and I talk about how our mothers have influenced us in our acting careers. We also give a shout out to George Coker and Deb Carriger, who had birthdays this past week. Norman plugs Hannah and the Dreaded Gazebo (his upcoming production) and I plug the Musical Cafe (www.musicalcafe.org), my upcoming show.

On Episode 4, Norman and I talk about beats and objectives and how important it is for the actor to have a "life" inside his/her character when they go on stage. We also talk about current politics (Trump and North Korea), shout outs to former teachers Don Freuchte and Fred Lee (Duke Ellington School of the Arts); Robert Sicular leaving the bay to work for Colorado Shakes; shout out to old friends...

This podcast is mostly about Actor's Equity - the pros and cons of AEA and why some theater companies employ Equity actors and why don't. We also talk about James Baldwin's documentary I Am Not Your Negro, the protests at Berkeley on 4/15, and why some theater companies fail while others succeed.

On Easter Weekend, Norman and I talk about what religion means to us, the need to create and share in theater and life and I make an analogy of today's current political situation to Eugene Ionesco's Rhinoceros. We also talk about on Ayn Rand, the different generations (Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, Millennials), the poor asian passenger aboard United that got rudely ejected and effective and ineffective...

The inaugural episode. Norm and I talk about Jordan Peele's Get Out and intelligent scriptwriting for a black audience; "community" in the theater community, growing up in the '60s and '70s, how technology affect our lives, the pros and cons of nostalgia and the ongoing hell that is the Trump Administration. It's life in the theater.. and the theater of life.