Company in the News Jan-2026
Check out what company Playwrights, Actors, and Directors are up to this December including: Lana Richards, Katja Rivera, Michael Barrett Austin, Tanika Baptiste, Kimberly Ridgeway, Jan Probst, Emily Keyishian, Carolyn Doyle, Eiko Moon Yamamoto, Lisa Gaye Thompson, andBridgette Dutta Portman!
Continue scrolling for Katie Rubin‘s Audition Announcement of “The 39 Steps,” adapted by Patrick Barlow.
Lana Richards is Assistant Directing The Odyssea by We Players. The Odyssea, based on the first full translation of The Odyssey by a woman, Emily Wilson, and brings a distinctly modern voice and female perspective to the work. The Odyssea commissioned by the Society of Classical Studies for their Annual Meeting at San Francisco’s Hilton this January. In addition to the conference performance, there will be five public performances at the Orchid Pavilion at the Conservatory of Flowers. More info HERE!
Katja Rivera is looking forward to meeting her third grandchild, a little girl we are calling Flower for now, due January 24! Good energy welcome!
Michael Barrett Austin will be performing in the musical ‘Once’ at Berkeley Playhouse February-March 2026. Tickets available HERE!
Tanika Baptiste is thrilled to announce that she will be directing The Color Purple with Pittsburg Theatre Company, presented at the California Theatre in Pittsburg and Campbell Theatre in Martinez.
This powerful and deeply moving musical is a celebration of resilience, love, and self-discovery, and I’m honored to help bring this story to life with such a talented company and creative team. The Color Purple holds a special place in American theatre, and I’m excited to explore its music, heart, and humanity on the California Theatre stage.
They open January 30th-Feb 22nd and would love to see you in the house! Tickets available HERE!
Kimberly Ridgeway is directing Becky Mode’s Fully Committed, opening January 23, 2026 at the Altarena Playhouse (Alameda, CA). More info HERE!
Jan Probst is excited for her zany family adventure play ROAD TRIP to receive its first Australian production, as part of the third season of A Promenade of Shorts at Red Phoenix Theatre in Adelaide. This popular mini-festival runs January 15-24. More info HERE!
A lovely article about Emily Keyishian that was published in a few Bay Area news outlets! Read More HERE!
Alexis Standridge‘s short play, orginially written for a Monday Night Playground, is getting produced as a one act at the end of January!
Alexis started a production organization with two other theatrical artists, and they’ve been putting on shows around the bay, with a particular focus on the south bay. The organized is called “Shitty Little Theatre,” and “true to [their] name, [they] put on weird, kinda shitty shows and events with the focus of supporting original work and small artists at any cost, often for no cost at all!”
They are putting on their first original theatre show on Jan 24 and 25th in Oakland. It’s inspired by 16 Tons which got into Feb 2025 Best of Monday Night Playground.
“Thanks to Playground for inspiring me and laying the groundwork for a very fun show. It’s called Death Via Water Cooler, and it’s a farcical comedy about death, sex and office work, inspired by my experience of losing four family members in one year while working a shitty office job.”
Carolyn Doyle is thrilled to be performing “Good Grief! Tales From a Persistent Blockhead” as part of PlayGround’s Solo Festival – January 26th – February 8th. More info HERE!
Eiko Moon Yamamoto is performing as Jack’s Mother In Into the Wood at San Francisco Playhouse until January 17th, 2026. More info HERE!
Lisa Gaye Thompson has been honored with a 2025 Three Girls Theatre Brady Fellowship. Her full-length play, At the End of Our Streets, the Stars, set entirely in the magical world of the San Francisco Bay will receive its first staged reading on May 17, 2026.
Bridgette Dutta Portman‘s play AGELESS, set in a future world where aging has been eradicated, will have a staged reading with UP Theater in Manhattan on January 18, 2026. More info HERE!
From Katie Rubin:
!!! AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT !!!
The 39 STEPS
AEA and Non-Union Roles Available
Sixth Line Studios is thrilled to announce auditions for the fast-paced, hilarious “The 39 Steps”, adapted by Patrick Barlow
THE STORY: Mixing Hitchcock’s classic spy thriller with outrageous comedy, The 39 Steps follows the thrilling misadventures of Richard Hannay, an ordinary man who finds himself framed for murder and tangled in a shadowy international conspiracy. On the run across Britain, Hannay encounters a whirlwind of eccentric characters, romance, and danger—all brought to life by a small cast playing dozens of roles. Fast-paced, clever, and wildly theatrical, the play is a high-energy romp that celebrates inventive staging, physical comedy, and quick-fire storytelling.
CHARACTERS:
Richard Hannay – 30s–40s.
A charming, ordinary man thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Confident, resourceful, and increasingly frazzled.
Annabella Schmidt – 30s–50s.
A mysterious foreign woman—seductive, secretive, and dangerous. This character also plays three other female roles. (The actress must be able to perform a German accent, upper-crust British accent, and a Scottish accent.)
Clown 1
Any age. A versatile comedic actor. Plays multiple characters; strong physical comedy required.
Clown 2
Any age. A highly adaptable performer. Rapid character changes, accents, and precise timing.
——————————————–
AUDITION DETAILS
???? Location: The Village Theater, Danville, CA
???? January 5 & 6
⏰ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
???? Auditions are in 15-minute increments
CALLBACKS
???? January 12 & 13
⏰ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
???? Callbacks will also be in 15-minute increments
Please prepare a 2-minute audition appropriate to showcase the qualities of the character(s) you’d like to play.
For callbacks, sides will be provided ahead of time.
???? To schedule an audition:
Please email info.sixthlinestudios@gmail.com with your preferred 15-minute time slots
SHOW DEETS:
Rehearsal: Feb 9-March 5, 2026
Tech: Feb 28 and March 1, 2026
Dress rehearsals: March 3-5, 2026
Opening night: March 6, 2026
Closing Night: March 29 2026
4 shows per week for 4 weeks
For more information, visit our site: SixthLineStudios.org