Company In the News – November 2025

Check out what company Playwrights,  Actors, and Directors are up to this November including Davern Wright, Alanna McFall, Ben Chau-Chiu, Chris Steele, Carolyn Doyle, Eiko Moon-Yamamoto, GG Grilli, Jacinta Kaumbulu, James W. Perry, Lisa Morse, Louis Parnell, Norman Gee, Ross Peter Nelson, and Wayne Wong.

Davern Wright invites you to listen to the debut episode of his new fantasy podcast musical OUT FROM UNDOR on all major podcasting platforms, including YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The ten-minute-long episode introduces Scarla, a girl who lives in a kingdom where every citizen is ranked on a ten-point scale of attractiveness — and those ranked below “seven” are enslaved in a hellish subterranean colony called “Undor.” What follows is an action-packed journey full of extraordinary characters, sweeping romance, and unforgettable songs. More information here.

Alanna McFall’s newest play, The Crypt-O Keepers, has weathered five rounds of the WeirdStock new play competition and by winning, has been selected for development through with Awesome Theatre for their upcoming 2026 season. The full announcement about its inclusion in the season will be announced at the November 13th “Not-Gala” fundraising event at Eclectic Box, but some version of the full play will be presented in the new year as a developmental work with Awesome Theatre.

Ben Chau-Chiu is assistant directing A.C.T.’s OUT Tour production of Timon of Athens, also featuring PlayGround member Chris Steele. Public performances will be at the Rueff in the Strand Theater in SF on Nov 8, 15, 21, 22.

Carolyn Doyle is thrilled to be performing her one person show Good Grief! Tales From A Persistent Blockhead as part of the 9th Annual Playground Solo Performance Festival running January 16-February 8, 2026 at Potrero Stage.

Eiko Moon-Yamamoto will playing Jack’s Mother in Into the Woods at San Francisco Playhouse from November 20, 2025 – January 17, 2025

GG Grilli directs his students from Bentley School in The Servant of Two Masters at the Lesher Center for the Arts — a classic comedy reimagined! With the wit of Monty Python, the physical comedy of Charlie Chaplin, and a dash of 1950s flair. Join mischievous servant, Truffaldino, as he tries to outsmart his masters, an old miser, a couple of grumpy waiters, and everyone in between – all for the sake of love and a good meal. Packed with songs, improv, and audience fun, this modern take on Goldoni’s classic is a silly smorgasbord you won’t want to miss! When: Monday, November 3, Tuesday, November 4, & Wednesday, November 5 – all shows @ 7:15pm. Where: The Lesher Center for the Arts, Vukasin Theatre: 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek CA 94596, Tickets: $15/adults, $10/students & seniors

Jacinta Kaumbulu will be reading in the “Stage Reading Extravaganza” at the Magic Theater in the play Training Wheels by Robin Bradford Directed by Andrea Gordon. Featuring Deb Fink, Carrie Paff, and Brian Rivera. She will be reading stage directions. Presented by Rainbow Zebra at Magic Theater November 24 7pm; 2 Marina Blvd, Building D San Francisco, CA 94123 https://www.rainbowzebraproductions.org/

Rats are Racist by James W. Perry, will be performed on November 20th in Chicago, IL as part of the “321 Plays for Trans Futures” 11-hour play festival. In Times of Peace by James W. Perry will be presented at the Salem State University Veteran’s Play Festival in Salem, MA from November 7th thru November 9th.

Lisa Morse is so excited to share her next project with you: Mary Jane, by Amy Herzog at The Magic Theatre in Fort Mason. Nov 6th-Nov 30th, Thur-Sat at 7:30pm and Sun at 4pm. I’m profoundly proud of this piece; the writing (Tony nominated Amy Herzog), the cast (Lisa Morse, Stacy Ross, Leontyne Mbele-Mbong, Danielle Levin, Anna Takayo), the direction (Amy Kossow): it is all top-notch. It is the kind of production that takes you on a journey and leaves you with more energy and hope than you had when you walked into the theatre. I’d be so honored if you’d make time to be in one of our audiences.

Louis Parnell is currently appearing in NOISES OFF at the San Francisco Playhouse through Nov 8 as Selsdon. He is also in rehearsal there as an understudy in their next production of INTO THE WOODS which will play till mid-January. Info for for both can be found at https://www.sfplayhouse.org/sfph/

Norman Gee is delighted to begin another season as Associate Producer with Playground-SF, where he regularly directs & acts. He is currently performing in the Dance/Theater hybrid, My Obsession with Hamletmachine, featured last summer in Merry Wives of Windsor with SPARC/Livermore Shakespeare, and earlier appeared in the new play Buttercup at the Marin Shakespeare Studio. Gee’s worked with companies including A.C.T., SF-Shakes, Lorraine Hansberry, TheatreWorks, Shotgun Players, CentralWorks, Ubuntu, San Jose Stage, and SF Mime Troupe.  Norman Gee is also Artistic Director of Oakland Public Theater (OPT), last fall producing INVENTORY/James Baldwin Abroad, which celebrated Baldwin’s centennial, with long-time collaborator Richard Talavera, recently deceased. 

Ross Peter Nelson has two plays in the upcoming Last Chance New Play Festival in Helena, Montana. A new short play, Excalibur, updates one of Aesop’s more relevant fables, and the one-act, Zoloft Tango, playfully examines psych meds and work-life balance. The Fest run Nov 6-16, 2025.

Wayne Wong makes his Berkeley Rep debut in Jessica Huang’s MOTHER OF EXILES, playing Nov 14 – Dec 21.