Solo Fest 2024 Spotlight: Steve Budd
The PlayGround Solo Performance Festival is PlayGround’s annual celebration of the best in California solo performance. Now going on its seventh year, this year’s Solo Fest runs January 26-February 11, 2024, with nine double-bill performances over three weeks in-person at Potrero Stage and simulcast.
Today’s spotlight: Steve Budd in Seeing Stars, 1/26 & 1/27 at 7pm
Ever wish that someone you love would change overnight? Be careful what you wish for! At 31, Steve moves back in with his parents. But when his gruff, distant dad transforms before his very eyes, Steve is in for the ride of a lifetime. Seeing Stars is a heartfelt and hilarious exploration of family dysfunction, mental illness, and a man’s desire to connect with his dad. Steve Budd plays multiple characters in this drama-with-laughs. Directed by Mark Kenward.
STEVE BUDD, he/him, is an actor, writer, storyteller, and award-winning solo performer living in Oakland. He has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Boston University, and has trained at The Marsh and with The Groundlings in L.A. Budd has performed with the San Francisco Playhouse, Custom Made Theatre Company, New Conservatory Theatre Center, Central Works, Impact Theatre, Marin Shakespeare Company, Wheelock Family Theater, The Theater at Monmouth, and The English Theatre Company of Israel. His previous solo shows include What They Said About Love and What They Said About Sex.
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH THE ARTIST
What was the seed of this play? What inspired you to write it?
The seed of this play was wanting to share the story of my father’s mental health crisis and stay in a psych hospital–and the dramatic impact that had on me and my connection with my dad.
Why is a solo show the ideal way to tell this story?
I’m a solo performer, so this is how I tell stories. It’s such a personal story that it makes sense for me to tell it myself.
What are your artistic influences for this show?
I’m influenced by the solo work of Anna Deavere Smith.
What surprised you during the creation of this piece?
Part of what surprised me was how well the disparate elements of the story came together.
Is there anything audiences should know about you or your piece before they attend?
This is a serious story, but parts of it are quite funny.
PlayGround SoloFest 2024 features Amy Bouchard, Steve Budd, Geoffrey Grier, Bethany Mitchell, Miyoko Sakatani, Sonia Sawkar, Nicole Soul, Jill Young, and Hector Zavala, performed live at Potrero Stage and simulcast online. Online registrants can view the on-demand recording for up to one week following the live performance. Admission is free (donations gratefully accepted) and advance reservations are required. NOTE: For in-person attendance, masks are voluntary (PlayGround will provide masks for those who don’t have them). Online viewing is available through https://tickets.playground-sf.org (after reserving ticket, log in, go to main menu at “home”, select “tickets for upcoming performances”, find your show, and click “watch”). For box office questions, including streaming/on-demand access, email boxoffice@playground-sf.org.