Musical Cafe: The SF Bay Area Musical Theatre Development Program

Running For My Life, written and directed by Marilyn Langbehn. I'll be reading the role of the congresswoman from New York.

About the Capitol insurrection.

Bayfront Theatre
Fort Mason
Building B
3rd Floor

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/running-for-my-life-registration-955987984797?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tickets are free; reservations are required. Suggested donation is $20. Proceeds benefit Rock the Vote.

RUNNING FOR MY LIFE: A one-night in-person staged reading of the critically-acclaimed play to benefit Rock the Vote

The Box Office is Now Open!

Play Cafe/Musical Cafe Auditions - Sept. 9

Musical Cafe will present a staged reading of the new musical Pickpocket, by Sandy Kasten and Billy Wolfe, directed by Ciera Eis on November 3 and 4 at the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Theatre in downtown Berkeley.

Pickpocket takes place in 1903 New York and tells the story of Nance Olden, a young woman who is intent on stealing a Vaudeville star's diamond necklace. The ethics of survival come into play when Nance is given the opportunity to turn away from her life of crime, but will she be able to break away from her past and create herself anew? Based on the novel In the Bishop's Carriage by Miriam Michelson.

We are casting for 14 roles. Please see the Character Breakdown below.

Auditions will be held on Monday, September 9, from 6:45pm to 9:45pm at Central Works, located in the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant, Berkeley (about a 15 minute walk from Downtown Berkeley BART, or take bus ).

We invite actors of all races, genders, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disabilities to audition. Eligible actors must be at least 18 years old and fully vaccinated. Unfortunately we are not able to cast members of AEA.

Rehearsals will be held in October and early November in the East Bay. Technical Rehearsal will be 12:00pm-5:00pm on November 3.

Pay is $20/hr.

What to prepare:
PICKPOCKET AUDITION MATERIALS: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KHz6hFMModoLvdEOwG5L2tJt5UE1jyt3wHXTrys_jO0/edit?usp=sharing

Prepare
Please prepare the following Audition Materials (copy the link above) for the character you would like to audition for.
-Musical excerpt: provided for the character
-Script excerpt provided for the character

Additional:
-You might be asked to sing a musical excerpt from your audition binder. Please have 30 seconds of your go-to audition song prepared.

The Script is included in the materials above.
What to bring:
- Printed sheet music in a binder
- 5 copies of your one page black & white resume, which should include a small photo
- A printout of your digital vaccine record, available at: https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov
We will make a note that you provided your vaccine record. We will not keep a copy.

To request an audition time:
Email [email protected]. Write "Pickpocket audition time" in the subject line. If you haven't been asked to audition for a specific role, please let us know your voice type. Please include your phone number in your email.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
Nance Olden (Mezzo Soprano B3-F #5) - a thief, about 18.

Fred Obermuller (High Baritone/Tenor C3-A4) - a playwright and Vaudeville theatre manager, 40s.

Tom Dorgan (Baritone/tenor B2-G4) - a thief, about 20-25.

Betty (Alto B3-D5) - a Vaudeville performer, 30s.

Latimer (Baritone A2-C #4) - a lawyer, wheelchair-bound.
Angelo, a vaudeville performer.

Max Tausig (Baritone A3-D4) - a Vaudeville theatre manager.
Tipsy Man/ Karl, Mabel's husband.

Henrietta Ramsey (Alto C4-C5) - a wealthy socialite.
Violet, a Vaudeville performer/ Mother Douty, a fence.

Edward Ramsey (Bass/Baritone F2-F #4) - Henrietta's husband.
Mason, Tausig's secretary/ Jacob, a vaudeville performer.

Lady Gray (Alto C4-C5) - a Vaudeville performer.
Coatless Woman, 30s.

Policeman/Topham (Bass C3-C4) - a private guard.

Maggie (Mezzo Soprano Bb3-F5) - a Vaudeville performer, teens.
Mabel, a wealthy modern woman/ Miss Burnett, Latimer's housekeeper.

Ginger (Baritone/Tenor A2-G4) - a Vaudeville performer, teens.
Shoeshine Boy.

Wilson (Baritone/Tenor A2-G4) - a Vaudeville performer, teens.
Musician.

Constance (Soprano C4-A5) - a Vaudeville performer, teens.
Coat Check Girl/ Henrietta's Maid/ Barmaid.

Play Cafe presents, “Writing Powerhouse 10-Minute Plays”, an online workshop taught by Jonathan Josephson on Sunday, September 29, 4 - 5:30 pm Pacific Time. This workshop is suitable for folks just starting to write ten-minute plays as well as those with some experience with the short form. https://www.playcafe.org/event-details/writing-powerhouse-10-minute-plays

Short plays are an exciting and efficient way for playwrights to explore new theatrical ideas and for theatres to get to know new writers. Ten-minute plays are easy to produce; fast to read; can be written in just a few hours; and can provide more imaginative freedom than a piece that may require dozens of hours and buckets of blood, sweat, and tears before arriving at a first draft. The best short plays pack all the wallop of their evening-length counterparts and can become a signature part of a playwright's body of work, especially for early and mid-career writers. In this workshop we will examine the opportunities and upsides of 10-minute playwriting, discuss structure hacks and global approaches that will help make your plays stand out from the stack, and uncover best practices for short play submissions, all in support of getting your dramatic stories ready for the stage. Join us for a hands-on workshop with time for questions and feedback.

Details and Registration including the instructor’s Bio: https://www.playcafe.org/event-details/writing-powerhouse-10-minute-plays

WRITING POWERHOUSE 10-MINUTE PLAYS | PlayCafe WRITING POWERHOUSE 10-MINUTE PLAYS, an online workshop will be presented by Jonathan Josephson on Sunday, September 29, 4-5:30 pm Pacific Time. This workshop is suitable for folks just starting to write ten-minute plays as well as those with some experience with the short form.

WRITERS’ ROOM WORKSHOP: READINGS & CRITIQUES OF SCRIPTS
An online Play Café workshop with writer-producer Rick Toscan, August 18, 12:30PM – 2:30PM Pacific Time. https://www.playcafe.org/workshops

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
Play Café’s Writers’ Room Workshop offers you the chance to hear and develop the first three pages of your script in a reading by professional performers. With contemporary streaming audiences bailing out of shows that fail to grab them in the first few minutes and professional script readers making decisions to pass or continue reading after only a few pages, we know those opening pages are critical for engaging audiences and decision makers. And we nearly always see editing issues undermining those first pages repeated throughout a script. Rick will compare your submitted script to a draft incorporating his suggested edits. The revised draft will then be read by our performers. Critiques of these opening pages will offer a practical guide for editing the full script. The Workshop is open to all levels of experience whether you’re coming from theatre, film and television, audio drama, or are just curious about the techniques of dramatic writing. The markup and edited drafts will be returned to you following the Workshop.

AUDITORS
Auditors are welcome to participate in the Workshop if you don’t want to submit a script but are interested in the critique process. Critiques will offer editing suggestions that auditors can apply to their own writing.

REGISTRATION and DETAILS, including INSTRUCTOR’S BIO – https://www.playcafe.org/workshops
Choose your level of registration, either as a WRITER or AUDITOR. The fee to participate as a WRITER is $32 for Play Cafe members and $40 for non-members. Register early! Only the first 10 scripts submitted will be read and critiqued. After registering you will be sent SCRIPT EXCERPT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES. Scripts will be due no later than July 28, 2024. Scripts must be limited to two characters or three, if that one is a bit part, as only two actors will be reading. Write to [email protected] to request the Play Café member discount.

Market Your Play with a Compelling Blurb, May 26, 4-5:30 pm Pacific Time. Play Cafe invites you to an online, hands-on workshop, led by Patricia Milton, to help you develop an effective blurb for your play or musical. Details & Registration:

Market Your Play With a Compelling Blurb | PlayCafe Play Cafe invites you to an online, hands-on workshop, led by Patricia Milton, to help you develop an effective blurb for your play or musical. $17 for members, $30 for non-members. Members can write to [email protected] to request the member code.

Check out our upcoming workshops:
Market Your Play with a Compelling Blurb, May 26, 4-5:30 pm Pacific Time. Play Cafe invites you to an online, hands-on workshop, led by Patricia Milton, to help you develop an effective blurb for your play or musical. Details & Registration: https://www.playcafe.org/event-details/market-your-play-with-a-compelling-blurb
and
REWRITES WITH LAUREN GUNDERSON, an online workshop on June 2, 4-5:30 pm Pacific Time. Play Cafe is thrilled to announce that Lauren Gunderson will discuss rewriting and getting your first draft from good to great, as well as a wide-ranging Q&A about career, process and activist art. Details & Registration: https://www.playcafe.org/event-details/rewrites-with-lauren-gunderson

Rewrites With Lauren Gunderson | PlayCafe Lauren Gunderson will discuss rewriting and getting your first draft from good to great, as well as a wide-ranging Q&A about career, process and activist art. $17 for members, $30 for non-members. Members can write to [email protected] to request the member code.

You don't want to miss Play Cafe's first workshop of 2024:

Play Cafe invites you to an online workshop, PLOT STRUCTURE IN THEATRE, FILM, TV & AUDIO DRAMA, presented by writer-producer Rick Toscan, Sunday, Feb. 25, 12:30PM – 2:00PM PDT (San Francisco)/8:30PM – 10:00PM GMT (London) https://www.playcafe.org/workshops

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
The workshop will explore the elements of dramatic storytelling in writing for theatre, film, series TV, and audio drama. We’ll look at the similarities and differences in story structures and the ways the verbal storytelling techniques of playwriting contrast with the visual storytelling typical of film, episodic TV and audio. The workshop will include how the application of story structure principles can combine with your voice as a writer to encourage professionals to read past page one of scripts. Key elements of plot structure will be examined including the impact of theme. Slides used in Rick’s presentation will be sent to participants following the workshop, providing a guide to the essentials of structure in the art and craft of dramatic writing.

REGISTRATION AND MORE DETAILS, INCLUDING RICK’S BIO:
https://www.playcafe.org/workshops Suggestion donation: $15 - $25.

Today, Oct. 30, is your last opportunity to experience Musical Cafe's Fall Showcase 2023 of new musicals by Bay Area writers and composers. Freight & Salvage at 8PM.

Details & Tickets here: https://www.playcafe.org/musical-cafe
Discount Code: MCShow23

Check out The Yay podcast about the Musical Cafe Showcase.

Info and ticket Info about the Showcase:
https://www.playcafe.org/musical-cafe

‎The Yay w/Norman Gee & Reg Clay: Episode 268: Richard Jennings, Greg Beattie And Ray Christensen on Apple Podcasts ‎Show The Yay w/Norman Gee & Reg Clay, Ep Episode 268: Richard Jennings, Greg Beattie And Ray Christensen - Oct 21, 2023

Jewish Boys: The Musical is a heartfelt, human-focused story of a nice, Midwestern Jewish boy who, in search of the man of his dreams, ends up finding himself.

Another one of the four new musicals which Musical Café is Showcasing at the Freight & Salvage Oct. 29 & 30.

Details and Tickets here:
https://www.playcafe.org/musical-cafe

Director - Ciera Eis
Music Director - Billy Wolfe
Dramaturg - Melissa Hillman
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Joshua Gilstein

CAST
JACOB - Marshall Forte
ADAM - Preston Stone
ALEXANDER / BOY 3 / BOY 5 - Steven Barrett
BOY 2 / BOY 4 - Elio Amador
WOMAN / SONIA - Meghan Crosby-Jolliffe
FRIEND / GOOGLE HOME - Alexandra Rivers
STALKER - Andy Collins

Jewish Boys: The Musical is a heartfelt, human-focused story of a nice, Midwestern Jewish boy who, in search of the man of his dreams, ends up finding himself.

Another one of the four new musicals which Musical Café is Showcasing at the Freight & Salvage Oct. 29 & 30. Details and Tickets here:
https://www.playcafe.org/musical-cafe

Director - Ciera Eis
Music Director - Billy Wolfe
Dramaturg - Melissa Hillman
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Joshua Gilstein

CAST
JACOB - Marshall Forte
ADAM - Preston Stone
ALEXANDER / BOY 3 / BOY 5 - Steven Barrett
BOY 2 / BOY 4 - Elio Amador
WOMAN / SONIA - Meghan Crosby-Jolliffe
FRIEND / GOOGLE HOME - Alexandra Rivers
STALKER - Andy Collins

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

Mirabai, the Barefoot Princess
The Story of the Girl Who Fell in Love with a God

One of four musicals being showcased by Musical Cafe on Oct. 29 & 30 at the Freight & Salvage.

Details & tickets: https://www.playcafe.org/musical-cafe
Discount Code: MCShow23

Director: Roshni Datta
Music Director: Cesar Cancino
Dramaturg: Gary Graves

Cast:
Erolina Aleksandar
Torey Bookstein
Lijesh Krishnan
Marshall Forte
Arturo Montez
Sonia Gambier
Andy Collins
Lena Sibony
Steven Brock, tabla

Get Your Tickets Now! https://www.playcafe.org/musical-cafe

New Musical, Legend of the Werewolf, by Bay Area by local writer / composer Ray Christensen.

Part of Musical Cafe's Showcase of New Musicals at the Freight & Salvage Oct. 29 & 30.

Details & Tickets: https://www.playcafe.org/musical-cafe
Discount Code: MCShow23

In rural England in 1906, Tom Scarborough is overpowered by the culture of fear surrounding him, and he himself becomes the horror that fear has created.

Cast:
David Tuttle
Melanie McBride
Milo Boland
Timothy Lynch
Michael De Martini
Arturo Montes
Michael Vetrovec
Elio Amador

Director: Marianna Wolff
Music Director: Cesar Cancino
Dramaturg: Anthony Clarvoe
Guitar: Stephen Danska

You don't want to miss The Very Last One and Only Highly Endangered Mountain Lion in Pennsylvania by Greg Beattie and Jon Kull! One of four musicals being showcased by Musical Cafe on Oct. 29 & 30 at the Freight & Salvage.
Details & tickets: https://www.playcafe.org/musical-cafe
Discount Code: MCShow23

Cast:
Andy Collins
Torey Bookstein
Steven Barrett
Dan Wilson
Alexis Lane Jensen
Tina Marzell

Director: Loretta Janca
Music Director: John Johnson

Musical Cafe’s Fall 2023 Showcase of New Musicals has received Theatre Bay Area’s Homegrown achievement! Our production is creating jobs and creative opportunities right here in the Bay Area.
Oct 29 & 30 at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. See new musicals before they go to Broadway!
Details and Tickets: https://www.playcafe.org/musical-cafe

Musical Cafe Fall Showcase for New Musicals Excerpts from four new musicals by Bay Area writers and composers are being presented in concert format as part of Musical Cafe - 2023 Fall Showcase for New Musicals. The Very Last One and Only Highly Endangered Mountain Lion in Pennsylvania by Greg Beattie and Jon Kull Jewish Boys: The Musical...

Musical Cafe’s Fall 2023 Showcase of New Musicals has received Theatre Bay Area’s Homegrown achievement! Our production is creating jobs and creative opportunities right here in the Bay Area. Learn more about our show.

Musical Cafe Fall Showcase for New Musicals Excerpts from four new musicals by Bay Area writers and composers are being presented in concert format as part of Musical Cafe - 2023 Fall Showcase for New Musicals. The Very Last One and Only Highly Endangered Mountain Lion in Pennsylvania by Greg Beattie and Jon Kull Jewish Boys: The Musical...

The Box Office is open for Musical Cafe's Fall Showcase of new musicals by local writers and composers at the Freight & Salvage, Oct. 29 & 30.

Details and tickets: https://www.playcafe.org/musical-Musical Cafe: The SF Bay Area Musical Theatre Development Program

Tickets start at $12 for students. There are $22 tickets for seniors and members of Play Cafe, TBA and the Dramatists Guild.

Musical Cafe is thrilled to announce the four musicals which will be showcased at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, California on October 29 and 30. Save these dates!

THE VERY LAST ONE AND ONLY HIGHLY ENDANGERED MOUNTAIN LION IN PENNSYLVANIA
Book and Lyrics by Greg Beattie
Music by Greg Beattie and Jon Kull
Director: Loretta Janca
Music Director: John Johnson
Dramaturg: Ron Lytle

The Very Last One and Only Highly Endangered Mountain Lion in Pennsylvania is at one level the sweet story of a hapless, lonely but lovable mountain lion who discovers the power of friendship on his quest for what he's lost: his wife, his dignity, his destiny and his roar. At another, it's a cautionary tale about the need of the oppressed and endangered to unite against tyranny and media distortion. Altogether, it's fast-paced, uplifting musical comedy for all ages.

JEWISH BOYS: THE MUSICAL
Book, Music, & Lyrics by Joshua Gilstein
Director: Ciera Eis,
Music Director: Billy Wolfe
Dramaturg: Melissa Hillman

Jewish Boys: The Musical is a heartfelt coming-of-age story that unfolds as an emotional journey of self-discovery and love. Jacob Feldman ventures from a Midwest college town to the vibrant city of Chicago, looking for a larger dating pool (and maybe even a husband!). In Chicago, Jacob finds more than he ever imagined – transformative moments, a chosen family, and a crescendo of life's authentic aspirations.

LEGEND OF THE WEREWOLF
Book, Music, & Lyrics by Ray Christensen (Ray Christensen Voice)
Director: Marianna Wolff
Music Director: Cesar Cancino)
Dramaturg: Anthony Clarvoe

Legend of the Werewolf explores the dark side of belief via a story inspired by a favorite tragic hero from classic horror films. Chilling and compelling songs in a style somewhere between Sondheim and King Crimson challenge the audience as well as the musical theatre genre.

MIRABAI, THE BAREFOOT PRINCESS
Book, Music and Lyrics by Leah Sirkin
Director: Roshni Datta
Music Director: Cesar Cancino
Dramaturg: Gary Graves.
Mirabai, the Barefoot Princess tells the story of the 16th century ecstatic Indian songstress who is in love with the playful flute-playing god Krishna, but is forced to marry a prince. This modern rendering of the Mirabai story highlights feminist themes and features a variety of musical styles from Indian classical and folk, to bhangra, hip hop and the blues.

MUSICAL CAFE AUDITIONS
Contact [email protected] for an audition time on Monday, September 11 at Berkeley Rep, 2071 Addison Street. Please put "AUDITION TIME" in the subject line. Include your phone number in the body of the email.

If you can't attend the auditions on Sept.,11, but would like to be considered for the October 29 & 30, 2023 Showcase at The Freight and Salvage, please email a PDF of your resume / headshot and include your phone number so possible alternatives may be addressed.

About the Showcase:
The Musical Cafe Showcase is a series of performances, each featuring songs and scenes from four new stage musicals by Northern California writers and composers. Rather than follow a cabaret-style format of presenting only songs, we include dialog from the shows so that the audience gets a sense of the stories for which the songs were written.
The writers of each musical featured in the Showcase are responsible for their own casting with assistance from Musical Cafe staff. Actors may be cast in more than one featured musical. Pay is $20 per rehearsal hour and/or performance hour, not to exceed a $400 maximum per showpiece. Performers may be cast in more than one showpiece.

Rehearsal dates and locations will be determined by each creative team. Tech/dress rehearsal is the afternoon of October 29 at The Freight & Salvage. The October 29 (Sunday) & 30 (Monday) Musical Cafe Showcase performance evenings will be at The Freight, directly across the street from Berkeley Rep.

• A skilled accompanist will be provided. Plan to sing with the accompanist, not with recorded music.
• Prepare excerpts of two contrasting 16-bar songs and one 1-minute contemporary monologue. If you don't have a monologue prepared, we will provide some for cold reading.
• Bring sheet music in your key, clearly marked to the 16-bar length, and twelve (12) copies of your resume. Headshots are optional but strongly requested. One copy is sufficient – it can be a photocopy.
• This is Non-AEA only and we can make no exceptions.
• Performers must be age 18 or older.
• We are an inclusive theatre community and welcome performers regardless of identities, abilities and orientations.
• Bring a list of all possible conflict dates and times between September 15 and October 30 for scheduling considerations.
• We require that all performers and backstage crew be fully vaccinated for Covid-19. Please obtain a copy of your Covid-19 vaccine record from the California Health Department and bring a printout with you to the auditions. We won't make a record of your medical information; we will merely note that you are in compliance. https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov (Have the record sent to your email rather than your phone so that you can easily print a copy.)

Digital Vaccine Record Get a digital copy of your vaccination record