Basking in the love-glow,  we selected plays for Sheherezade and finalized our directors for the show in December.  In January we had a table reading and finalized the cast.  SHEHEREZADE 14 will run in June and features short works from Jennifer Roberts, Terry Anderson, Madeline Puccioni, Madeleine Butler, Steve Koppman,Vonn Scott Bair, and Jim Norrena.  I am really excited about the selections this year with some interesting and captivating material that will be funny and devastating, sweet and poignant.  (I'll blog about that in April). Wes Cayabyab  who has been in the last five Sheherezade's is switching to a Director's role with Amy Crumpacker who joins us for the first time. While Jason Jeremy, who used to be a regular player in Sheherezade back in the day, is returning to acting in the show.   The cast also includes Philip Goleman coming off a string of roles with Ross Valley Players - including ARMS AND THE MAN playing now, Catherine Ludtke - who is busy being amazing in Custom Made's TOP GIRLS, Leontyne Mbele-Mbong who has been garnering audience and critical raves in African American Shakespeare Co's MEDEA, which closes this weekend.  Also joining the cast are Rick Homan who composed and played music in our production of Patricia Milton's BELIEVERS in 2012,Cameron Galloway who you can see at DivaFest's DIVAS TELL ALL, and Gareth Tidball who will be here for her summer break from New York University's theatre program.

We also kicked off our collaborative writing project for what became SUPERHEROES where 8 playwrights - The Playmaker's League - wrote as many short plays as they could in 6 weeks around a facilitated central theme.   Jennifer Lynne Roberts served as Head Writer and provided weekly inspiration and sub-topics for the writers. This creative storm resulted in 114 scripts, which were narrowed down to just 29 for a hilarious marathon reading back in February.  In February we also did private readings of all of the plays for the season, finalized the Superheroes line-up (11 plays between 1 and 10 minutes each), and casting for the show.  We have Alicia Coombes and Chelsey Little directing plays by Bridgette Dutta Portman, Jennifer Lynne Roberts, Karl Shackne, Laylah Muran de Assereto (moi),  Morgan Ludlow, Patricia Milton, Rod McFadden, and Susan Jackson and live music written and performed by Kat Downs from local band Sit Kitty Sit (whose band was at SXSW this March).  We are thrilled to have performers Barrett Courtney (with his SF debut), Brian Flegel (most recently in PCSFs 24 Hour Fest, and a frequent player with Pear Avenue's reading series), Dan Wilson (of Radio Star Improv), Jenna May (recently returning to the Bay Area from Seattle), and Karen Offereins (most recently of Custom Made's THE PAIN AND THE ITCH and returning to us from last year's SHEHEREZADE 13) and actor Shelley Lynn Johnson completes the cast. I can't wait to see them take on our superheroes; their woes, predicaments, and foes.  Look for the trading cards!

We are *this* close to finishing up the casting for Stuart Bousel's EVERYBODY HERE SAYS HELLO! which will be directed by Rik Lopes and will run in rep with SUPERHEROES in July/August.  The short list is pretty impressive and exciting for this multilayered character piece.  

We recently finished casting our fall shows running in October, and also in rep, with Krista Knight's UN-HINGED and Morgan Ludlow's DROWNING KATE and will both be directed by Wesley Cayabyab.  These two shows will share some cast members and like the whole season, includes a fantastic group of actors.   UN-HINGED will feature Rick Homan, Cameron Galloway, Genevieve Purdue Smith, and Scott Cox.  

DROWNING KATE will feature Colleen Egan, Scott Cox, and Genevieve Purdue Smith.

Quinn Cayabyab and Ellen Chesnut along with our directors have been conjuring magical and amazing design concepts for all of the shows, which will feature some pretty cool things that will be dynamic and interesting to see up on stage.

We've also been taking the opportunity before we are ensconced in rehearsals to go to shows!  Associate artist Kat Kneisel is performing with the multi-talentedDiana Brown in COLLECTED STORIES for Expressions Productions.  This play about mentorship, storytelling, trust, betrayal, literary success, and loss is well worth seeing.  We are especially proud of Kat's terrific portrayal of the mentee who outgrows her mentor with heartbreaking emotional fall out.  Quinn Cayabyab, myself and friends caught the show on Sunday March 23rd and Jennifer Roberts along with Jim Norrena, Patricia Milton, and Bridgette Dutta Portman caught the show Friday March 28th.

Jason and I went to see Cutting Ball's RISK IS THIS series closer EX MACHINA on Saturday the 29th.   And various company members have theatre dates to see TOP GIRLS, MEDEA, RAT GIRL,  ARMS AND THE MAN, THE CRUCIBLE, DIVAS TELL ALL and more!  

The company is also looking forward to going to the gala in May to support Morgan Ludlow and Ryan Hayes for their Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle nominations for last summer's GORGEOUS HUSSY!

Say hi when you see us around and have a great spring!

Laylah Muran
Executive Producer
Wily West Productions

What most excites you about BOA this year?

I've seen the BOA festival a couple of times in past years, and I was always blown away by the diversity and talent that comprises the SF indie theater scene.  From the very first production I saw, I thought to myself,  "I want to be a part of that."  So I'm extremely proud that Wily West finally gets to share the stage with such an amazing group of cutting edge theater-makers.  I didn't think I was going to be able to do this project, considering I was already working on two other theatrical productions. But, Quinn Whitaker convinced me that I could do it, and so I took on three theater projects simultaneously. I guess it worked out! This festival, like the SF Fringe, is one of the best representations of the SF indie theater scene, and it's exciting to simply be a part of it. 

How did 3 SISTERS WATCHING THREE SISTERS come to be?

Wily West kicked off our 2013 season with an experimental staged reading this year: we gave (carefully selected) playwrights 6 days to write a short script based on a theme or subject, then they competed for best play based on audience votes.  They were split into two teams and the festival was called the "Showdown."  Ignacio was part of  a group of writers who were given the topic "he found it in a dark hole in the woods."  What I loved about Iggy's script is that he didn't take the topic literally, he worked it into a well-structured storyline with subtlety,  and let his characters tell their story through strong relationships. (His team won, by the way.) 

What did you learn by participating in BOA this year?

On a personal level, I learned how tough I am. Not only did I juggle a full-time job along with rehearsals, production meetings and logistics for three different shows, I persevered in a crisis.  There is only one set piece for Three Sisters, but it's vital to the show.  The actors must be sitting in a row of theater seats.  We were assured that we had theater seats available to us, then a week before Opening the seats fell through. I had a mere four days to come up with a row of theater seats and I realized that there was no way I would take no for an answer. I made myself crazy, but with a little help, I found those seats.  

What is your favorite Chekov character and why?  

Oh god, I'm not going to kid myself here. I could go to my bookshelf right now and scour my Chekov collection for inspiration, or arbitrarily say "Nina" or "Irina," but the truth is, I don't have a favorite.  I find Chekov's characters tedious and melodramatic. Maybe I relate to the Philistine in Iggy's play a little bit. 

What will audiences get for their money by attending BOA this year? 

Simply put: an amazing night of entertainment.  They'll get their money's worth and then some.  They'll get to see the array of talent coming from SF actors, writers, directors and technicians, who produce work with little to no budget.  And they will be humbled and awed. 

BAY AREA ONE ACTS plays at the Tides Theatre. 533 Sutter Street in San Francisco. Tickets available for only $20 (cash only) at the door!  

KAT KNEISEL most recently played several roles in Wily West's critically acclaimed production of LAWFULLY WEDDED.  Kat served as director for Wily West's production of the PCSF annual short play festival SHEHEREZADE XI & XII.  Kat has been an artist for Wily West since the very beginning when she took a lead role as Mrs. Brannan in THE WIDOW WEST for the maiden production in 2008.  Since then she has served as the Assistant Director for MAIDRID'S BOW and took a lead role in Wily West's smash hit NYMPH O' MANIA.  Kat has studied at Sarah Lawrence College in New York and the British American Drama Academy in London.  She had a brief theatrical career in Manhattan before moving to the Bay Area in 2005.  She has worked with the Playwrights' Center of San Francisco, PianoFight and the Actor's Ensemble of Berkeley.

What most excites you about this production?

I love getting to play multiple roles in an ensemble cast setting, which is something I haven’t done since performing in Sheherezade in 2009.  I also haven’t performed in a fully staged production since Wily West’s NYMPH O' MANIA in 2010, so it’s exciting for me to be back on stage without a script in my hand.  I am thrilled to work with this cast- some old friends and some new faces.  And of course, I’m really psyched for Wes’ directorial debut- he has already hit the ground running, juggling 16 short scenes and 8 actors. 


I’m proud to be a part of something that focuses on the issue of marriage equality while the Supreme Court makes history.  I’m glad to be artistically addressing this issue while the rest of the world is debating, protesting or cheering.

What is the greatest challenge you face with this show?

Playing multiple roles in a production of short plays is always challenging.  Besides the various (sometimes lightning quick) costume changes, it can be difficult to switch between characters seamlessly.  I oscillate between playing the pragmatic best friend to a heroin junky, then from a menacing wood nymph to a grieving daughter who just lost her father to cancer.  It’s psychological and emotional aerobics. 

What kind of research are you doing to prepare?

One of my favorite things about acting is the research you get to do.  You might study philosophy, dance, sign language, religion, or motorcycles, for example.  Since my best friend IS gay and I would LOVE to see her get married, one of my characters is not a huge stretch for me.  However, having never done heroin, I will probably have to experience it for myself to really get into the role. (Just kidding!)

But, Wes is teaching me the proper syringe etiquette and I will probably re-watch Trainspotting or Naked Lunch or something. (Even though I’m only on stage for about 2 minutes as that character!)

What have been some of your favorite previous roles (or productions you have been involved with)?

Most of my favorite roles have been written by Morgan Ludlow!  I absolutely loved Woman in a Box, written by Morgan for Sheherezade 2009.  NYMPH O' MANIA was my favorite Wily West production, because I got to play an uptight, neurotic and narcissistic woman, who, with the help of some psychedelic mushrooms, comes completely unwound by the end of the play.  A similar favorite of mine was Janet in Rocky Horror Picture Show, for basically the same reasons. (And they both strip down to their underwear during the show!)

Since this play is about the right to marry what are some of your personal feelings regarding marriage that you would be willing to share?  

Oof, what a question. I understand and respect those that “don’t believe in the institution of marriage.”  I don’t like thinking of marriage as an “institution” either.  That, I don’t believe in.  I do believe in a lifetime commitment and partnership shared between two people with a ritualistic ceremony (and big party!) to commemorate it.  When my husband and I had our Jewish marriage ceremony, our Rabbi gave us the freedom to decide what we wanted the breaking of the glass to symbolize.  Since this was 2011, and no progress had been made in California, we decided to have our Rabbi speak of marriage equality, and the breaking of glass symbolized that our society was still broken on this issue.

What do you hope audiences will take from this production?

I hope that this production will offer insight into real human experiences of this subject matter.  These stories (besides a couple of hilarious fantasies) offer a realistic view into the lives of people any of us could know and/or relate to.  I hope that they are moved to tears and laughter, and will feel an even deeper sense of satisfaction with the history that has just been made.

KAT KNEISEL just served as director for Wily West's production of the PCSF annual short play festival SHEHEREZADE 13.  Kat has been an artist for Wily West since the very beginning when she took a lead role as Mrs. Brannan in THE WIDOW WEST for the maiden production in 2008.  Since then she has served as the Assistant Director for MAIDRID'S BOW and took a lead role in Wily West's smash hit NYMPH O' MANIA.  Kat has studied at Sarah Lawrence College in New York and the British American Drama Academy in London.  She had a brief theatrical career in Manhattan before moving to the Bay Area in 2005.  She has worked with the Playwrights' Center of San Francisco, PianoFight and the Actor's Ensemble of Berkeley.