About Broadway by the Bay
“WHO NEEDS BROADWAY IN NEW YORK WHEN WE HAVE BROADWAY BY THE BAY” - San Mateo County Times.

Broadway By the Bay provides full scale professional musical theatre in San Mateo County. BBB is celebrating its 45th Anniversary Season with hits Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Annie, La Cage aux Folles (Sept. 16-Oct 3) and Broadway by the Year (Nov 12-21, 2010). BBB has performed at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center (SMPAC) since 1967. Next Spring, BBB will move to the historic Fox Theater in Downtown Redwood City, a 1928 art deco theater on the National Register of Historic Places

PAC: Brooke, please tell us what prompted the change in venue and what benefits will there be to BBB because of this move?

Brooke: The SMPAC center is undergoing renovations so we will be moving to The Fox Theatre in Downtown Redwood City for 1 to, I suspect, 2 years minimum.  We’re excited about the new venue as it will bring professional musical theatre to a potentially new audience in a vibrant downtown environment near many wonderful restaurants and shops.  We’ve never been able to serve alcohol, as SMPAC is located at a high school, so now we’ll be able to provide that offering as well.  We’ll need to work hard to adjust our sets to the smaller stage size, but we know the location and wonderful venue will be an asset. We also hope to be able to add our incredible line-up of talent to the Little Fox venue. 

PAC: Tell us about your current production, La Cage Aux Folles, opening this week.

Brooke: La Cage Aux Folles is an unforgettable and funny tale of unconditional love and the need to celebrate who we are.  It’s a wonderful comedy and is a winner of six Tony awards, including Best Musical.  The preview show opens this Thursday, September 16 and continues through October 3rd.

PAC:  October is National Arts and Humanities Month and PAC is getting the word out to San Mateo County arts organizations to post their October events on the Americans for the Arts www.americansforthearts.org and California Arts Council http://www.cac.ca.gov/artsday/ sites to participate in this national arts visibility campaign and put San Mateo County arts on the map (go to links to post).  Please tell us about your exciting gala coming up during October, National Arts and Humanities Month that would be perfect to add to those internet sites.

Brooke: Gladly. We have an incredible gala event on Sunday, October 17 at the Hotel Sofitel San Francisco Bay in Redwood City.  The gala benefits BBB and is entitled “An Evening with Ken Page”.  Ken is a major award-winning Broadway performer, having appeared in Ain’t Misbehavin’, Cats, Guys and Dolls, Les Miserable, Aida, The Wizard of Oz and more.  The evening includes cocktails, dinner and entertainment. Last year we had Lucy Arnez and she was absolutely fabulous.  We know this year will be a well attended show as well, so don’t delay in reserving tickets!

PAC: In addition to featuring four professional shows per year, Broadway By the Bay also offers programs for youth. Please tell us more about them.

Brooke: BBB offers three unique programs for youth, as well as year round classes in vocal training, dance and more.  Broadway Bound is a performing troupe of musical theatre students that ventures into the community to entertain and inspire.  The Cabaret by the Bay program showcases students individually with solos & duets and helps them develop a number of musical pieces in various styles.  Lastly, we have the summer Youth Theatre Conservancy program. It is a joint project of BBB and Notre Dame de Namur University and is a summer training program for adults as well as younger performers aspiring for a career in musical theatre or who want to improve their existing talents and skills.

PAC: Thank you Brooke for speaking with me today.  Enjoy the remainder of your exciting season!

Brooke: My pleasure. Thank you for helping us get the word out.

About Brooke
Brooke has been at Broadway by the Bay since 1989, first as a director and then serving as Artistic Director since 1992.  Brooke describes her job as being “responsible for everything on the stage, including sets, casting, hiring, orchestra, back stage, etc.”  She directs one play a year and scouts talent for four Broadway by the Bay productions a year.  In Brooke’s 18- year tenure as Artistic Director of Broadway by the Bay, the company has received innumerable nominations and awards from the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards.  Brooke’s directorial talents have earned nominations from BATCC for her productions of 42nd Street, Sweet Charity, Jesus Christ Superstar, Singing in the Rain and Camelot.  Her production of Guys and Dolls won five Bay Area Critics Awards, including ‘Best Direction’ and ‘Best Entire Production’.  In 2000 Brooke received Hillbarn Theater’s Bravo! award for her outstanding contributions to the performing arts.  In January 2009, The Peninsula Arts Council awarded Brooke its Diamond Award for Individual Artist. (Save the date for the 9th Annual Diamond Awards , January 27, 2011)

Broadway by the Bay (650) 579-5565

Administration & Box Office: 851 Burlway Road, Suite 300, Burlingame CA 94010

Theatre Location: 600 North Delaware Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94401