A trio of dancing queens revel in kitschy glory in the 2018 production of Mamma Mia.
…‘community theater at its best’ There is a dedicated group of regulars who return year after year. Lisa Hinman of Novato is one of those. She’s been attending musicals on the mountain for the past 10 years. “The productions are highly professional and entertaining. And some of the special effects are extraordinary,” she says. “During South Pacific two World War II aircraft flew overhead right on cue. And in The Sound of Music , I remember Maria standing off in the distance singing, ‘the hills are alive!’ That was a special moment.” Katherine Kopp, a Mount Tam hiker says, “I’ve been going to Mountain Play shows for 14 years. I usually stay at the historic Mountain Home Inn on top of the mountain and hike down.” Diane Heinge recalls a special moment in West Side Story , “At the end of the show one of the performers proposed to the actress playing Maria. She said yes!” Eleven decades ago three hikers climbing Mount Tam came across a grassy knoll. From that secluded site, the Mountain Play evolved. And what a journey it has been. Productions evolved from the initial Abraham and Isaac and Shakespeare , to such modern classics as The Sound of Music, South Pacific and Fiddler on the Roof . This year Broadway comes to the mountain with the contemporary, award-winning musical Kinky Boots . There’s top talent and upbeat music. It’s community theater at its best. g
theatergoers, seems she was an overwhelming success: “Lola stole the show”…”Phenomenal! Miss Jaye is SO fabulous!!!”… ”Best Lola I’ve ever seen.”t “Though Kinky Boots was written [more than] 10 years ago, it’s still relevant today,” Miss Jaye says. “It’s all about not being afraid to be yourself, and accepting other people who may be different.” In the show, Lola helps Charlie save the family business. “She discovers herself in the process and, in turn, changes the minds of every single person in the factory—which is pretty incredible,” Miss Jaye says. “I hope to show the human side of Lola. There’s so much more to her than flash and glitter.” In a particularly poignant scene, Lola sings, “Not My Father’s Son.” “That’s very personal for me,” Miss Jaye says. “I’m going through similar things with my own father.” …behind the scenes As the company’s executive director and artistic producer, Grady brings a love of music, a passion for the theater and organizational skills to the job. Her initial involvement with the theater group came as organizer of the 2008 annual fundraising gala. She became a full-time staff member in 2010. Grady has worked as a director, producer, musician and songwriter in most genres of music and theater. Her interest in the performing arts came early on. “When I was 5 years old, my mother took me to see the The Sound of Music ,” she says. “I was enthralled sitting there listening to the von Trapp kids singing ‘Do-Re-Mi.’” A few years later she saw Julius Caesar at San Francisco’s A.C.T. Conservatory. “Actors with spears jumped off the stage. I thought that was really cool,” Grady says with a laugh.
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48 NorthBaybiz
April 2024
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