San Francisco Playhouse
Address533 Sutter Street
San Francisco
 United States
Capacity99/50
Opened2003
Years active2003 - Present
Website
www.sfplayhouse.org

The San Francisco Playhouse is a non-profit theater company based in San Francisco, CA established in 2003 by Bill English and Susi Damilano. Located at 533 Sutter Street, the company houses two theaters, a 99-seat main stage, and a 50-seat black box. The goal of the Playhouse is to provide an intimate theater alternative to the traditional Union Square theater fare. Based on the principle of "YES!", they aim to provide a creative home and inspiring environment where actors, directors, writers, designers and theatre lovers converge to create works that celebrate the human spirit. [1]


Season Format

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San Francisco Playhouse currently operates six Main Stage productions per season, as well as two Sandbox World Premieres. Selection of shows for the Main Stage depends on the theme of the season and input from subscribers and board members. Sandbox Productions are selected by the literary committee after an open submission process.

Season 8 - 2010/2011

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The upcoming season at the Playhouse, like the previous 7 seasons, has been given an overall theme. This season, the 6 plays will explore the question: 'Why Theatre?'. Among the scheduled plays are two West Coast Premieres and Two World Premieres, including the first work ever commissioned by The Playhouse.

The Plays for Season 8 are:

Sandbox

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Launched in 2010, The Sandbox Project was set up to present World Premieres in the theater's 50 seat Stage 2. The mission of The Sandbox is to promote new works utilizing top-notch directors and actors, with limited design elements and as little financial risk as possible.

The first production as part of the Sandbox initative was Safe House by Geetha Reddy. Originally comissioned by PlayGround, this was a PlayGround co-production. The second production was The Apotheosis of Pig Husbandry by William Bivins.[2]

Production Playwright Director Performance Dates
Safe House Geetha Reddy Nancy Carlin 2/13/2010 - 3/6/2010
The Apotheosis of Pig Husbandry William Bivins Bill English 5/21/2010 - 6/12/2010

Rising Stars

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The Rising Stars program, begun during the 2009/2010 season, the aim of which is to provide the opportunity to Bay Area school students to attend shows at the Playhouse, funded by donations from subscribers and patrons.[3]


Previous Seasons

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Over the course of 7 seasons, the Playhouse has produced 39 mainstage productions and has received 57 various awards. Their productions have varied from comedies to tragedies, from dramas to musicals. Listed below is the performance history from each season.

2003/2004 Season

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Production Playwright Director Performance Dates Awards
It Had To Be You Renee Taylor & Joseph Bologna Bill English 12/5/2003 - 1/9/2004 n/a
The Glory of Living Rebecca Gilman Bill English 2/6/2004 - 3/13/2004 2004 SF Bay Guardian Spotlight - Best Cast

Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Best Director: Bill English
Dean Goodman Excellence Award - Actress: Lauren English
Dean Goodman Excellence Award - Best Actor: Michael Janes
Dean Goodman Excellence Award - Best Director: Bill English

The Smell of the Kill Michele Lowe Bill English 4/9/2004 - 5/15/2004 2004 SF Bay Guardian Spotlight - Best Cast

Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Best Director: Bill English

The Fantasticks Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt Diane Schuster 6/12/2004 - 8/21/2004 Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Best Production

Bay Area Critics Circle (winner) - Principle Performance: Mark Farrell
Bay Area Critics Circle (winner) - Principle Performance: Katy Stephan
Bay Area Critics Circle (winner) - Best Director: Dianna Shuster
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Best Ensemble
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Supporting Performance: Graham Cowley
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Supporting Performance: Joe Bellan
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Supporting Performance: Louis Parnell
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Supporting Performance: Brian Degan Scott
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Music Director: John Florencio
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Costume Design: Emily Ehrlich Inget

2004/2005 Season

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Production Playwright Director Performance Dates Awards
The Violet Hour Richard Greenberg Bill English 9/17/2004 - 10/23/2004 n/a
Our Town Thornton Wilder Bill English 11/19/2004 - 12/18/2004 Bay Area Critics Circle (winner) - Supporting Performance: Lauren English

Bay Area Critics Circle (winner) - Supporting Performance: Keith Burkland
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Best Production
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Best Ensemble
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Principle Performance: Wanda McCaddon
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Best Lighting Design: Jon Retsky
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Costume Design: Marjorie Moore

Monster Neal Bell Bill English 2/11/2005 - 3/19/2005 n/a
Kimberly Akimbo David Lindsay-Abaire Kent Nicholson 4/16/2005 - 5/21/2005 n/a
Art Yasmina Reza Robin Stanton 6/11/2005 - 9/3/2005 n/a

2005/2006 Season

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Production Playwright Director Performance Dates Awards
The Crucible Arthur Miller Bill English 9/17/2005 - 10/22/2005 SF Bay Times - Top 10 Shows of 2005

Bay Area Critics Circle (winner) - Best Director: Bill English
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Best Production

Prelude to a Kiss Craig Lucas ? 11/12/2005 - 12/30/2005 n/a
The Mystery Plays Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa ? 1/14/2006 - 2/18/2006 Bay Area Critics Circle (winner) - Lighting Design: Jon Retsky
Our Lady of 121st Street Stephen Adly Guirgis Bill English 3/4/2006 - 4/22/2006 n/a
Roulette Paul Weitz Susi Damilano 5/6/2006 - 6/10/2006 Bay Area Critics Circle (winner) - Best Set Design: Bill English
Putting It Together Stephen Sondheim Dianna Shuster 6/24/2006 - 8/12/2006 Bay Area Critics Circle (winner) - Best Supporting Performance: Mary-Pat Green

Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Entire Production
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Best Director: Dianna Shuster
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Best Ensemble

2006/2007 Season

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Production Playwright Director Performance Dates Awards
The Ride Down Mount Morgan Arthur Miller Joy Carlin 9/29/2006 - 11/4/2006 n/a
Reckless Craig Lucas Louis Parnell 11/18/2006 - 12/30/2006 Bay Area Critics Circle (winner) - Best Actress: Susi Damilano

Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination) - Best Director: Louis Parnell
SF Bay Times - Top 10 Shows of 2006

Three Seconds in the Keep Deb Margolin Leigh Fondakowski 1/13/2007 - 2/17/2007 n/a
Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train Stephen Adly-Guirgis Bill English 3/3/2007 - 4/21/2007 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (winner): Best Male Performance: Carl Lumbly

Top 10 theatre for 2007 by Chad Jones, Theatredogs.com
Top 10 theatre for 2007 by Richard Connema, Talkinbroadway.com
5 most notable performances of the year: Carly Lumbly & cast.
Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (nomination): Entire Production
Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (nomination): Best Ensemble

First Person Shooter Aaron Loeb Jon Tracy 5/2/2007 - 6/9/2007 Top 10 theatre for 2007 by Robert Hurwitt, SF Chronicle

Top 10 theatre for 2007 by Chad Jones, Theatredogs.com
Top 10 theatre for 2007 by Richard Connema, Talkinbroadway.com
Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (winner): Original Script: Aaron Loeb
Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (nomination): Entire Production
Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (nomination): Best Male Performance: Craig Marker
Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (nomination): Best Ensemble

Man of La Mancha Mitch Leigh, Joe Darion, Dale Wasserman Jon Tracy 6/30/2007 - 9/1/2007 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (winner): Best Male Performance: Louis Parnell

Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (winner): Musical Director: David Dobrusky
Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (nomination): Best Female Performance: Cathleen Riddley
Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (nomination): Director: Jon Tracy

2007/2008 Season

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Production Playwright Director Performance Dates Awards
Six Degrees of Separation John Guare Bill English 9/22/2007 - 11/11/2007 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (winner): Best Female Performance: Susi Damilano

Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (nomination): Entire Production
Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (nomination): Best Male Performance: Daveed Diggs
Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (nomination): Director: Bill English
Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (nomination): Best Ensemble

Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge Christopher Durang Jon Tracy 12/1/2007 - 1/30/2008 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (nomination): Director: Joy Carlin
The Scene Theresa Rebeck Amy Glazer 2/2/2008 - 3/8/2008 Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Howard Swain: Supporting
Coronado Dennis Lehane Susi Damilano 3/22/2008 - 4/26/2008 Best of 2008; Karen d'Souza, Mercury News

Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Entire Production
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Best Ensemble
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Stacy Ross: Supporting

Bug Tracy Letts Jon Tracy 5/10/2008 - 6/14/2008 Best Actor: Gabe Marin, by Lee Hartgrave, Beyondchron.com

Honorable mention for Chad Jones' 2008 Top Ten
Top 10 theatre for 2008 by Richard Connema, TalkinBroadway.com
Outstanding Actress: Susi Damilano by Richard Connema, Talkinbroadway.com
Outstanding Actor: Gabriel Marin by Richard Connema, Talkinbroadway.com
Bay Area Critics Circle (winner): Susi Damilano: Principal
Bay Area Critics Circle (winner): Jon Tracy: Light Design
Bay Area Critics Circle (winner): Cliff Caruthers: Sound Design
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Entire Production
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Jon Tracy: Director
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Zehra Berkman: Supporting
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Bill English: Set Design

Cabaret Joe Masteroff, Fred Ebb, John Kander Bill English 6/28/2008 - 9/18/2008 Top 10 theatre for 2008 by Richard Connema, TalkinBroadway.com

Outstanding Actor: Louis Parnell by Richard Connema, Talkinbroadway.com
Outstanding Actress : Karen Grassle by Richard Connema, Talkinbroadway.com
Bay Area Critics Circle (winner): Lauren English: Principal
Bay Area Critics Circle (winner): Karen Grassle: Supporting
Bay Area Critics Circle (winner): Louis Parnell: Supporting
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Entire Production
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Best Ensemble
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Bill English: Director
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Martin Rojas Dietrich: Musical Director
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Valera Coble: Cabaret
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Barbara Bernardo: Choreography

2008/2009 Season

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Production Playwright Director Performance Dates Awards
Shining City Conor McPherson Amy Glazer 10/1/2008 - 11/22/2008 MVP Award: Paul Whitworth, by Robert Hurwitt, SF Chronicle

Top 10 theatre for 2008 by Chad Jones (#6)
Top 10 theatre for 2008 by Charles Brousse, Marin IJ
Top 10 theatre for 2008 by Richard Connema, TalkinBroadway.com
Outstanding Actor: Paul Whitworth by Richard Connema, Talkin Broadway.com
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Principle Male Performance
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Valera Coble: Costume Design

Abraham Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party Aaron Loeb Chris Smith 12/13/2008 - 1/17/2009 “Outstanding Play”, 2009 New York International Fringe Festival

Top 10 theatre for 2008 by Chad Jones (#4)
Top 10 theatre for 2008 by Bay Area Reporter
Top 10 theatre for 2008 by Richard Connema, TalkinBroadway.com
Bay Area Critics Circle (winner): Chris Houston: Composer
Bay Area Critics Circle (winner): Kim Richards & Tom Segal: Choreography
Bay Area Critics Circle (winner): Aaron Loeb: Original Script
Bay Area Critics Circle (winner): Velina Brown: Supporting
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Bill English: Set Design
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Chris Houston: Sound Design

Landscape of the Body John Guare Bill English 1/31/2009 - 3/7/2009 n/a
The Story Tracey Scott Wilson Margo Hall 3/21/2009 - 4/25/2009 Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Craig Marker: Supporting Performance

Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Ensemble
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Margo Hall: Director

Dead Man's Cell Phone Sarah Ruhl Susi Damilano 5/9/2009 - 6/19/2009 Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Amy Resnick: Principle Performance

Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Bill English: Set Design
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Cliff Caruthers: Sound Design

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Dale Wasserman Bill English 6/27/2009 - 9/5/2009 Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Patrick Alparone: Principle Performance

Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Dave Maier: Fight Director

2009/2010 Season

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Production Playwright Director Performance Dates Awards
First Day of School Billy Aronson Chris Smith 9/26/2009 - 11/7/2009 Bay Area Critics Circle (winner): Zehra Berkman: Principle Performance

Bay Area Critics Circle (winner): Billy Aronson: Original Script
'Bay Area Critics Circle (winner): Bill English: Set Design
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Entire Production
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Bill English: Principle Performance
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Ensemble
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Chris Smith: Director

She Stoops to Comedy David Greenspan Mark Rucker 11/21/2009 - 1/9/2010 Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Entire Production

Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Amy Resnick: Principle Performance
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Liam Vincent: Principle Performance
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Ensemble
Bay Area Critics Circle (nomination): Mark Rucker: Director

Animals Out of Paper Rajiv Joseph Amy Glazer 1/19/2010 - 2/27/2010 n/a
Den of Thieves Stephen Adly-Guirgis Susi Damilano 3/10/2010 - 4/17/2010 n/a
Slasher Allison Moore Example 5/1/2010 - 6/5/2010 n/a
The Fantasticks Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt Bill English 6/19/2010 - 9/4/2010 n/a

References

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