2011: 2012 - The Musical! - Archived Bios
DIRECTION & SCRIPT:
Wilma Bonet (Director) returns again, having previously directed Too Big To Fail and Posibilidad, or Death of the Worker. She was actress/collective member of the Troupe in the early 80's. She directed Jose Rivera's School of the Americas and Sandra Cisnero's The House On Mango Street for Teatro Vision in San Jose. She has also directed Jeannie Barroga's Walls, for Asian American Theater, Shakespeare's Twelfth Night for Women's Will, and Milcha Sanchez Scott's Evening Star/Doglady, Eduardo Machado's The Cook, Roy Conboy's Drive My Coche, La Posada Magica, and Vieques for Teatro Vision. Ms. Bonet's other directing credits includes: Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis, TheaterFIRST in Oakland, Cal State University Sacramento, TheatreWorks in Palo Alto and Latina Theatre Lab in San Francisco. As actress, Ms. Bonet recently appeared at Marin Theatre Company in Octavio Solis' Lydia, at the Mark Taper Forum in Luis Alfaro's Electricidad and at the Denver Center Theatre Company in Jose Cruz Gonzalez's September Shoes. Her one-person play Good Grief Lolita which toured the Bay Area, is published in Puro Teatro: A Latina Anthology. She has also performed at the American Conservatory Theatre, Campo Santo, California Shakespeare Theatre, Thick Description, El Teatro Campesino, the Old Globe, Dallas Theatre Center and other theater companies in the San Francisco-San Jose-Bay Area. Her television and film credits include What Dreams May Come, 8MM, Underwraps, Jack, Radio Flyer, and Nash Bridges. Awards: Marion Ross Award for Good Grief Lolita, Bay Area Theatre Critics Award, Los Angeles Drama-Logue Award, and Goodman Award for Outstanding Performance.
Bruce Barthol (Composer and Lyricist) was resident composer/lyricist with the Mime Troupe from 1976 to 2007, with over 35 productions to his credit, including: (Factwino Meets the Moral Majority (Bay Area Critics Award Best Score, 1981), Steeltown (1983), Seeing Double (OBIE AWARD, 1990), Eating It (Backstage West/ Drama-Logue Honorable Mention Original Score, 2000). Other Theaters include: San Francisco Shakespeare, (Twelfth Night, 1993), Borderlands Theater, Tucson (Fuente Ovejuna, 1997), (La Pastorela 1998-2007). ODC-San Francisco, Working Theater, NYC, Stanford University, CSU- Boulder and The Curious Theater, Denver, (Mall*Mart the Musical, 2007). He is an original (1966-1968) member of Country Joe and the Fish. He was a Harburg Fellow at NYU/Tisch where he received an MFA in Musical Theater Writing. He recently released a cd of his songs: The Decline & Fall of Everything.
Pat Moran (SFMT Collective, Musical Director, Composer) first worked with the Mime Troupe on 2005's Doing Good and he's been hanging around since then. In addition to his work on the summer show, Pat is a teacher with the Mime Troupe's Youth Theater Project, a freelance musician, and a private guitar instructor. He can be seen performing regularly with a number of bands including Lord Loves a Working Man (2009 SF Weekly Best Soul/Funk/R&B Award Winner) and Khi Darag (middle-eastern psychedelic dance party music). Pat was a guest artist composer and sound designer with the University of San Francisco in 2009.
Carla Pantoja (Fight Choreographer) is a Bay Area actor and fight director. This marks her third time doing the fight direction for SFMT and last year she performed as an actor in Posibilidad. Carla is a certified stage combat instructor through Dueling Arts International and a founding member of Dueling Arts San Francisco.
Michael Gene Sullivan (SFMT Collective, Playwright, Actor) joined the Troupe in 1988. In 1992 he became a Contributing Writer, and Resident Playwright in 2000. His scripts include Red State (2008 nominee, Best Original Script, San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critic's Circle), and Too Big To Fail (2009 nominee, Best Original Script, San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critic's Circle.) Michael has performed in, written, and/or directed over twenty SFMT productions. As an actor, Sullivan has also appeared in productions at the American Conservatory Theater, Denver Center Theater Company, Magic Theater, Theaterworks, Lorraine Hansberry Theater, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Berkeley Repertory Theater, and San Jose Repertory Theater, among others. He is also the author of his award winning one person show, "Did Anyone Ever Tell You - You Look Like Huey P. Newton?", and 1984, the critically acclaimed adaptation of George Orwell's dystopic novel, which opened at the Actor's Gang Theater under the Direction of Tim Robbins. Michael is also a blogger for the political website, The Huffington Post.
PERFORMERS:
Michael Bello (Musician) has been playing and writing music since he was a wee little boy. Eventually Bello graduated with honors from the Jazz department at Sonoma Sate University in '06 with a bachelor's degree in funkology. He has played in clubs, halls and at major festivals touring throughout the US with many projects. Bello is a multi-instrumentalist who has composed and performed with a wide range of groups like: Albino! Heavy Afrobeat, Lee Press-on and the Nails, Classical Revolution, Cuban Salsa with Rumbache and Fito Reinoso, Modern Dance with Lisa Townsend, and countless Jazz ensembles all over the Bay Area with groups like three little words, the Mel Graves Quintet, the John Kalleen group, and David Jeffery's Jazz Fourtet among many other local groups.
Lizzie Calogero (Actor) was born in Tehran and grew up among the brussels sprout fields of Bedfordshire, England, before moving to God's country in 1993. She has played short, feisty people of all genders and ages in theatres all over the Bay Area, including (more recently) Aurora Theatre, SF Playhouse, San Jose Rep, and Center REP in Walnut Creek.
Keiko Shimosato Carreiro (SFMT Collective, Actor) was born in Cambridge Massachusettes. Keiko holds a BFA in Interdisciplinary Arts and an MA in Multimedia from the University of Iowa. She arrived in San Francisco with the Horse Drawn, Caravan Stage Company of Canada. She has been an actor, designer and director for the Mime Troupe since 1987. Keiko has also designed costumes for many other Bay Area Theater companies including, The San Francisco Circus School, Berkeley Rep, S.F. Shakespeare in the Parks, The Asian American Theater Company. She has directed City for Sale, and Gotta Getta Life for the Mime Troupe, and Cowboy versus Samurai for the Asian American Theater Company. After a three year hiatus from the Mime Troupe Stage, Keiko is very happy to be back on the deck.
Cory Censoprano (Actor) is performing with the Mime Troupe for the first time, and is thrilled at the opportunity to work amongst Troupers. He received his BA in Theatre Arts at San Jose State University in May where he founded SJSU's long-form improv squad, The League of Extraordinary Improvisers. His credits include Buried Child as Dodge, Dog Sees God as Van, Twelfth Night as Feste, The Seagull as Konstantin, Yellow Face as David Henry Hwang, and Louis Valdez's Mummified Deer as Cosmé. His film credits include Cheap Fun, a 2011 indie-film making its rough-cut debut at Cinequest Film Festival, Top of Her Class which made it to the International Campus Movie Festival 2010, and numerous other short films. Cory would like to thank his SJSU faculty, friends, and most importantly his family for their guidance and support.
Siobhan Marie Doherty (Actor) is enjoying her return to the Bay Area after many years in NYC. She has recently performed in Taylor Mac's The Lily's Revenge at The Magic and in A Three Little Dumpling Adventure at the Bay Area One Acts Festival. In NYC she often haunted The Brick and The Ontological. She is an artistic associate of Old Kent Road Theatre, and received her BFA from NYU Tisch. Catch her next Spring in Tender Loin with Cutting Ball.
Ben Flax (Understudy)
Marilet Martinez (Understudy) first got to work with SFMT as a workshopper back in 2003. She is happy to make the transition to understudy. As a native of San Francisco, and the Mission, she relishes the opportunity to work with a theatre in her neighborhood and that has such an awesome message! Marilet has worked with Impact, Crowded Fire, African American Shakes, Brava, Woman's Will, Cutting Ball, Teatrovision, Calshakes, Shadowlight, SF Playwrights Center and others. She is a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts. She is a teaching artist for Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Word for Word. This actor is brought to you by the undying support and love of her family and friends.
James Mitchell (Musician) is in his third year with the San Francisco Mime Troupe. Born and raised in Napa, California, Mitchell began his musical journey at age nine. Over the next few years he studied piano, trombone, bass guitar and tuba. By age 15, he was gigging on a regular basis at several different clubs, restaurants and wineries with a jazz band that he would later become the leader of. At 17, his band performed in London, England at the Boar's Head and Wimbly Hall. He then toured for several years with Bumble, a San Francisco-based punk/ska band while founding many other bands and side projects. After receiving his B.A. in Music from Sonoma State University in 2006, he moved to San Francisco where he has remained ever since as an activist, composer, performer, and educator. Mitchell is an integral part of the bay area jazz community and remains very active in the environmental movement.
Michael Gene Sullivan (SFMT Collective, Head Writer, Actor) joined the Troupe in 1988 as a replacement actor. Began writing for the Troupe in 1992 (Social Work), directed his first SFMT show in 1995 (Coast City Confidential), and became headwriter for the Troupe in 2000. In the last twenty years Michael has performed in, written, and/or directed over twenty Mime Troupe productions, including Offshore (actor/writer), 1600 Transylvania Avenue (writer/director), Mr. Smith Goes To Obscuristan (actor, co-writer, co-director), Showdown at Crawford Gulch (actor/writer), GodFellas (actor/writer), and most recently Making a Killing (actor, writer, co-director). Other work includes performances with American Conservatory Theater, Denver Center Theatre Company, the Magic, Eureka, and Lorraine Hansberry Theaters, the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Theatreworks, and the Berkeley and San Jose Repertory Theaters. Michael is the author of the award winning one person show, Did Anyone Ever Tell You - You Look Like Huey P. Newton?, which he performed in New York, Vancouver, and San Francisco, and is the author of 1984, the critically acclaimed stage adaptation of George Orwell's dystopic novel. The play, directed by Tim Robbins, opened at the Actor's Gang Theatre in Los Angeles, has been performed in Europe and Asia, and has had several American tours.
Victor Toman (SFMT Collective, Actor) was born and raised in Oregon City, Oregon. After completing his B.A. in Dramatic Arts from the University of Oregon, Victor moved to San Francisco. He joined the Tony Award-winning San Francisco Mime Troupe in 1997 and has appeared as a principal actor in Making A Killing, GodFellas, Showdown at Crawford Gulch, Mister Smith Goes to Obscuristan, 1600 Transylvania Ave, Eating It, City For Sale, Damaged Care, The Independent Female, and Revenger Rat. In addition he has choreographed many of the Troupe's musical numbers for the past 10 years. In 2005 he had the honor of directing Doing Good. He has also performed locally with Sideshow Physical Theater, El Teatro de la Esperanza, Berkeley Repertory Theater, The Joe Good Performance Group, The Dance Brigade, Intersection for the Arts, The Ellen Bromberg Ensemble and Elbows Akimbo to name a few. Outside the area he has performed with The Caravan Stage Company in Toronto, and Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis. In 2008 Victor graduated from UC Davis with an MFA in Dramatic Arts.
Neil Wadhawan (Musician) has a diverse background in performing and teaching. He is a devout lifelong student of music and has performed everything from Heavy Metal to Jazz to Indian Fusion to performing in Yoga classes. Neil's unique ability comes from his knowledge of both Western and Eastern music, especially Indian Classical. Neil has taught Drum Set, Tabla and rhythm theory privately and has taught as a guest lecturer at The University of Minnesota. Neil has led many drum circles and drum groups and has held many workshops and lecture demonstrations at various art festivals and private events. Neil has an extensive performance history which includes performing with renowned World Guitarist, Bush Grant Recipient and author of Hal Leonard instructional books; Greg Herriges. Neil has performed on drum set with some of the Midwest's biggest names in Modern Jazz such as, Chris bates, Michael Lewis, Paul Metzger, Adam Linz etc. Neil has been a devout student of Tabla learning from some of the greatest living Tabla masters such as Pandit Anindo Chatterjee and Ustad Shabbir Nisar. Neil is especially interested in the similarities and differences between western and eastern music and advanced rhythm theory. Neil is very passionate when he plays or teaches music.
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Eric Andler (Sound Engineer) after many seasons of volunteering with the Mime Troupe, is thrilled to be working with them in a full time capacity! Eric has been fortunate to work with many lovely Bay Area artists such as Dandelion Dance Theater, ODC, Fresh Meat, Climate Theater, and RAW Dance to name just a few. He currently holds the position as Audio Director for Smuin Ballet. Originally from Illinois, Eric received his theatre training from a state university in a town named Normal. He would like to thank his Family, friends, and collaborators, here and abroad, whose love, patience, and inspiration make him the man he is today. Enjoy the show!
Emilica Sun Beahm (Costume Designer) is excited to be working with SFMT for the second time. Since moving to the Bay area four years ago Emilica has received her B.S. in Apparel Design and Merchandising from SFSU, and begun working on productions in the bay area. Recently she finished designing and building Star Drek for Lamplighter's Musical Theater, the Tales of Hoffman for Berkeley Opera Co, and has worked with various musical groups helping to design stage costumes and memorabilia.
Maurice Beesley (Technical Director) was tricked into auditioning for the Senior Class play in 1961. Since then he has built scenery for A.C.T., S.F. Opera and Berkeley Rep., and others of fond memory. He has been a member of the stage crew of nearly every theatrical venue in San Francisco and has supervised tours around the West and to Hawaii. Maurice has been a proud member of Local #16, I.A.T.S.E. for thirty years.
Hugo E Carbajal (Mask-maker) has been a theatre artist for 15 years. A performer, director, teacher, and mask-maker with an MFA in Actor Created Physical Theatre from Naropa University. Studied the Jaques Lecoq physical theatre method at the London International School of Performing Arts. Currently a performer/educator with Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre Programs. Truly excited to be making masks and working for the first time with SF Mime Troupe.
Don Cate (Senic Designer) taught Theatre at City College of San Francisco for 23 years. He also taught at San Francisco State, California College of Arts and Crafts, Solano Community College and Pomona College. His designs have been seen at The Magic Theatre, the Julian Theatre, Theatre Rhinoceros, The Berkeley Stage Company and A.C.T. He's worked with the Oakland Ballet, Theatre Flamenco and the Xoregos Dance Company. He has been the recipient of two Bay Area Critics Circle Awards and the Subscribers' Award at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. He was awarded and Artistic Associates Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and received the Excellence in Education Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Lawton Lovely (Asst. Sound Engineer) is a Senior Theatre major and American Studies minor at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. There he has had the opportunity to be involved in multiple productions in a variety of areas. Recently he has Performed, Directed, Designed Set & Sound, and has served as Technical Director and builder for shows at Miami University. He came to the Troupe last summer as the sound intern and a workshop participant. Upon completing his summer internship he concluded that it wasn't enough. So he decided to return this summer for another round at the Mime Troupe.
Spain Rodriguez (Poster Designer) legendary underground cartoonist, created the first underground tabloid, Zodiac Mindwarp. His character Trashman, Agent of the Sixth International, was an icon in underground newspapers of the '60s. Big Bitch, another popular Spain character, appears in She Comics. Spain's work currently appears in the online graphic novel Dark Hotel, the LA Weekley and Blab. His graphic novel, Nightmare Alley, was recently lauded by Time Magazine.
Karen Runk (Production Stage Manager, Web Programmer) moved to SF with the intention of only staying for a few months. One and a half decades later she's still here! This is largely due to the talented folks at the Troupe. Runk first experienced the Troupe by stage managing two '97 youth projects, Revenger Rat Meets the Merchant of Death and Inside Out. After which she ran screaming into the arms of the Magic Theatre and there she stayed, contently for two years. The Troupe then wooed her back for their '99 Summer Production City For Sale. Still under the Troupe's wooing spell she's stage managed a plethora of their summer shows and has only managed to escape, successfully, one full summer back in '02 when she worked with SFShakes.
Wan-Yin Tang (SFMT Collective, Tour Manager) is a recent graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, a performer, director, and most recently teacher of theater. In the past, she has been heavily involved with UCSC's multi-cultural theater troupe, Rainbow Theater, and has also served as artistic director for UCSC's student theater company, BarnStorm. She started off as an intern and workshopper at the troupe, and is now currently ecstatic to be working with the Youth Theater Project and the Troupe's summer season. The Troupe is her wacky family and home away from home, and she is so glad to be working here as an artist as well as a member of the staff!
Daniel Yelen (Props Designer) is honored to work with the Mime Troupe for a third year. This summer he concludes nine seasons and 43 productions of Donald Pippin's Pocket Opera. A performer for Lamplighters Music Theater since 1987, he segued into designing props for five of their shows. Subsequently he designed four San Francisco Free Civic Theater productions. Recent work includes The diary of Anne Frank for Custom Made Theater, and As you like it for Curtain Theater. Perennial affiliations include the San Francisco Opera Guild's Opera á la Carte educational program, and the Gilbert and Sullivan Scenes program offered by the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In addition to furnishing props and set pieces, he often assists in costume design and construction, and his handiwork has appeared on the stages of Actors Ensemble of Berkeley, Curtain Theater, Masquers Playhouse, Multi Ethnic Theater, Pocket Opera, and SF Free Civic Theater.
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