Inaugural 2017 Season Announcement!
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Mission
Utopia Theatre Project uses new works and re-imagined classics to create experiential theatre which inspires social change, human creativity, and actor-audience connection. We support emerging playwrights and directors in the development of new plays through staged readings, talk-backs, and fully staged productions. We incorporate dance, music, and visual media into our productions, and encourage the expansion and diversification of theatre audiences.
Artistic Staff
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Founding Artistic Producer: Anne Yumi Kobori
Artistic Director: Ella Ruth Francis Associate Producer: Andre Abrahamians Artistic Director Emeritus: Maryssa Wanlass Executive Producer: Michael Kobori Financial Director: Sachiko Nagai-Kobori |
© 2017 Mark Vashro Photography
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Anne Yumi Kobori, Founding Artistic Producer
Anne is an actor, director, playwright, costume designer, and teaching artist. She founded Utopia Theatre Project in 2014 because she believes in artist-produced live theatre as a unique and powerful form of human connection. She was most recently seen as Masha in Utopia's immersive production of The Three Sisters. Her original plays Seeds (Director) and Every Day Alice (Alice) have premiered at Utopia. Additional performance credits include Nina in The Seagull (Utopia), the title role in Hamlet, Desdemona in Othello (Silicon Valley Shakespeare), Celia in As You Like It the musical (SF Shakespeare Festival), Peggy Maruyama in Allegiance (CCCT), and numerous ShotzSF comedy shorts. Anne graduated summa cum laude from Santa Clara University with a BA in Theatre Arts. www.anneyumikobori.com
Anne is an actor, director, playwright, costume designer, and teaching artist. She founded Utopia Theatre Project in 2014 because she believes in artist-produced live theatre as a unique and powerful form of human connection. She was most recently seen as Masha in Utopia's immersive production of The Three Sisters. Her original plays Seeds (Director) and Every Day Alice (Alice) have premiered at Utopia. Additional performance credits include Nina in The Seagull (Utopia), the title role in Hamlet, Desdemona in Othello (Silicon Valley Shakespeare), Celia in As You Like It the musical (SF Shakespeare Festival), Peggy Maruyama in Allegiance (CCCT), and numerous ShotzSF comedy shorts. Anne graduated summa cum laude from Santa Clara University with a BA in Theatre Arts. www.anneyumikobori.com
Ella Ruth Francis, Artistic Director
Ella adapted and played Irina in Utopia's world premiere of Three Sisters at The Bindery, SF. She was previously seen at Utopia in the world premiere of Seeds and the staged reading of Every Day Alice. Additional credits include Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival & Half Moon Bay Shakespeare Company), Pamela in Head Over Heels (New Conservatory Theatre), and La Ronde (Cutting Ball Theater). She received a 2019 Theatre Bay Area Award for playing Natalie in Next to Normal (Los Altos Stage). Ella is a resident artist with the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and a proud graduate of the Pacific Conservatory for Performing Arts. Love to my family and Myles. For Ruby and Quinn. See more at http://www.ellaruthfrancis.com.
Ella adapted and played Irina in Utopia's world premiere of Three Sisters at The Bindery, SF. She was previously seen at Utopia in the world premiere of Seeds and the staged reading of Every Day Alice. Additional credits include Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival & Half Moon Bay Shakespeare Company), Pamela in Head Over Heels (New Conservatory Theatre), and La Ronde (Cutting Ball Theater). She received a 2019 Theatre Bay Area Award for playing Natalie in Next to Normal (Los Altos Stage). Ella is a resident artist with the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and a proud graduate of the Pacific Conservatory for Performing Arts. Love to my family and Myles. For Ruby and Quinn. See more at http://www.ellaruthfrancis.com.
Maryssa Wanlass, Artistic Director Emeritus
Maryssa is a Bay Area based actor, director, and teaching artist. She directed the acclaimed gender-bent Romeo and Juliet with The Free Theatre. Performance credits include The Winter's Tale, Macbeth (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival), As You Like It, Hamlet, Merry Wives of Windsor (Livermore Shakespeare Festival), Betrayal (Pear Avenue Theatre), Persuasion (San Jose Stage), Crime and Punishment (San Jose Repertory Theatre), Enchanted April, Witness for the Prosecution (Center REPertory Company), Much Ado About Nothing, Good Person of Szechuan (Woman's Will), How I Learned to Drive, Gaslight (Hapgood Theatre Company), Picture of Dorian Gray, All About Eve (Theatre Rhinoceros). As a teaching artist she can be found empowering young women through the Girls' Leadership Institute, giving maximum security inmates a voice through improv acting workshops with Red Ladder Theatre Company, and helping at-risk young adults in West Oakland discover Shakespeare's stories through SF Shakes' Midnight Shakespeare program. www.maryssa-wanlass.com.
Maryssa is a Bay Area based actor, director, and teaching artist. She directed the acclaimed gender-bent Romeo and Juliet with The Free Theatre. Performance credits include The Winter's Tale, Macbeth (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival), As You Like It, Hamlet, Merry Wives of Windsor (Livermore Shakespeare Festival), Betrayal (Pear Avenue Theatre), Persuasion (San Jose Stage), Crime and Punishment (San Jose Repertory Theatre), Enchanted April, Witness for the Prosecution (Center REPertory Company), Much Ado About Nothing, Good Person of Szechuan (Woman's Will), How I Learned to Drive, Gaslight (Hapgood Theatre Company), Picture of Dorian Gray, All About Eve (Theatre Rhinoceros). As a teaching artist she can be found empowering young women through the Girls' Leadership Institute, giving maximum security inmates a voice through improv acting workshops with Red Ladder Theatre Company, and helping at-risk young adults in West Oakland discover Shakespeare's stories through SF Shakes' Midnight Shakespeare program. www.maryssa-wanlass.com.
Actors
Mary Baird* (Sorin in The Seagull)
After 40 years of acting on and off Broadway, regionally, and nationally, receiving awards for her performances in HOLIDAY MEMORIES, NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY and BLUE PLATE SPECIAL, Baird returned to California. Recently in INDIA INK at ACT, she created the role of the mother in FRAULINE ELSE at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Played the title role in MOTHER COURAGE at The Lost Nation Theatre. At The Mint Theatre in WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS, created the role of Sister Frances Regis in the rock musical GRACIE AND THE ATOM at Artists Repertory Theatre. Baird appeared in MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY at B St. Theatre, HANK WILLIAMS LOST HIGHWAY Center Repertory Theatre, and is a member of PlayGround. Some of her favorite roles include Sook in A CHRISTMAS MEMORY, SHIRLEY VALENTINE, Nurse in ROMEO and JULIET, Bessie in AWAKE and SING, Sister Aloysius in DOUBT and Ann Kron WELL.
After 40 years of acting on and off Broadway, regionally, and nationally, receiving awards for her performances in HOLIDAY MEMORIES, NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY and BLUE PLATE SPECIAL, Baird returned to California. Recently in INDIA INK at ACT, she created the role of the mother in FRAULINE ELSE at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Played the title role in MOTHER COURAGE at The Lost Nation Theatre. At The Mint Theatre in WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS, created the role of Sister Frances Regis in the rock musical GRACIE AND THE ATOM at Artists Repertory Theatre. Baird appeared in MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY at B St. Theatre, HANK WILLIAMS LOST HIGHWAY Center Repertory Theatre, and is a member of PlayGround. Some of her favorite roles include Sook in A CHRISTMAS MEMORY, SHIRLEY VALENTINE, Nurse in ROMEO and JULIET, Bessie in AWAKE and SING, Sister Aloysius in DOUBT and Ann Kron WELL.
Dameion Brown (Dorn in The Seagull)
Dameion played Macduff in 2015 under the direction of Lesley Currier as part of Marin Shakespeare's Arts in - Corrections programs. He played "Othello" in 2016 with the same company, a performance that earned him the best principal actor award from Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, as well as a nomination for best principal actor for the Falstaff awards. Dameion also works in the community as a Case Manager for the TRansitional Age Youth ((TAY) population. He also holds Restorative Justice circles in the community with (TAY) youth. Dameion is honored to be working with Utopia Theatre Project for the first time and is equally "thrilled to be on a team with such amazingly talented artists".
Dameion played Macduff in 2015 under the direction of Lesley Currier as part of Marin Shakespeare's Arts in - Corrections programs. He played "Othello" in 2016 with the same company, a performance that earned him the best principal actor award from Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, as well as a nomination for best principal actor for the Falstaff awards. Dameion also works in the community as a Case Manager for the TRansitional Age Youth ((TAY) population. He also holds Restorative Justice circles in the community with (TAY) youth. Dameion is honored to be working with Utopia Theatre Project for the first time and is equally "thrilled to be on a team with such amazingly talented artists".
Elizabeth Carter* (Trigorin in The Seagull)
Elizabeth is thrilled to be working with Utopia Theatre Project on The Seagull. A long time Bay Area actor, Elizabeth recently emersed herself in directing Bondage for AlterTheatre. This past summer she was seen in Shaw's You Never Can Tell and Othello at California Shakespeare Theater. Elizabeth’s Bay Area theatre credits include The Convert at Marin Theatre Co. where she was nominated for both SFBATCO and TBA Awards, Fences at Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, Nickel and Dimed at TheatreWorks, Merry Wives of Winsor at SF Shakespeare Festival, Trouble in Mind, Wittenberg where she was nominated for a SFBATCO Award and The Heir Apparent at the Aurora Theatre Co. Elizabeth teaches Shakespeare performance at Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts. She is a graduate of Mills College and The Marymount London Drama Program. In the fall you can catch her in The Black Rider at Shotgun.
Elizabeth is thrilled to be working with Utopia Theatre Project on The Seagull. A long time Bay Area actor, Elizabeth recently emersed herself in directing Bondage for AlterTheatre. This past summer she was seen in Shaw's You Never Can Tell and Othello at California Shakespeare Theater. Elizabeth’s Bay Area theatre credits include The Convert at Marin Theatre Co. where she was nominated for both SFBATCO and TBA Awards, Fences at Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, Nickel and Dimed at TheatreWorks, Merry Wives of Winsor at SF Shakespeare Festival, Trouble in Mind, Wittenberg where she was nominated for a SFBATCO Award and The Heir Apparent at the Aurora Theatre Co. Elizabeth teaches Shakespeare performance at Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts. She is a graduate of Mills College and The Marymount London Drama Program. In the fall you can catch her in The Black Rider at Shotgun.
Ben Euphrat* (James in Every Day Alice)
Ben is an actor, musician, and musical director. He has worked as a musician/actor at various Bay Area theater companies including Marin Theatre Company, the Magic, Shotgun Players, TheatreFirst, Central Works, ACT, and Theatreworks. Ben has worked extensively in film and commercial, and has studied improv with the Groundlings and IO West. His latest album, Portrait, is a solo project coming out soon. www.BenEuphrat.com
Ben is an actor, musician, and musical director. He has worked as a musician/actor at various Bay Area theater companies including Marin Theatre Company, the Magic, Shotgun Players, TheatreFirst, Central Works, ACT, and Theatreworks. Ben has worked extensively in film and commercial, and has studied improv with the Groundlings and IO West. His latest album, Portrait, is a solo project coming out soon. www.BenEuphrat.com
Sean Garahan (Medvedenko in The Seagull)
Sean has been an actor and teaching artist in the Bay area for the past six years. He was recently seen as Bernard in Boeing Boeing at Ross Valley Players and as in Matt Burke in Anna Christie at Dragon Theatre. He has a BA in Theatre from Emerson College and is a Resident Artist with the SF Shakespeare Festival. www.seangarahan.com
Sean has been an actor and teaching artist in the Bay area for the past six years. He was recently seen as Bernard in Boeing Boeing at Ross Valley Players and as in Matt Burke in Anna Christie at Dragon Theatre. He has a BA in Theatre from Emerson College and is a Resident Artist with the SF Shakespeare Festival. www.seangarahan.com
Norman Gee* (Dr. Avshalom/Smythe/Rabbit in Every Day Alice)
Norman was much about Paris last year, performing in Word for Word’s France tour last spring, then ending the year directing Four Men in Paris at the Douglas Morrison Theatre. He can often be seen at the Monday Night PlayGround at Berkeley Rep, and is also a company member of Ubuntu Theater.
Norman was much about Paris last year, performing in Word for Word’s France tour last spring, then ending the year directing Four Men in Paris at the Douglas Morrison Theatre. He can often be seen at the Monday Night PlayGround at Berkeley Rep, and is also a company member of Ubuntu Theater.
Christian Haines* (Arkadina in The Seagull, Robert in Seeds)
Christian Haines is the founding Artistic Director of AmiosNYC and AmiosWest. He has been seen in Jihad Jones, Value Over Replacement (TBA Award for Featured Actor), Romeo & Juliet, Miss Julie, Death of a Salesman, Aloysius in New York, Escape from Roosevelt Island, Bartleby the Scrivener, Cloud 9, Macbeth, King John, 5th of July, This is Our Youth, The Altruists, Woyzeck, Snake in Fridge, Trip to Bountiful and dozens more. He holds an MFA from the National Theatre Conservatory and loves his wife.
Christian Haines is the founding Artistic Director of AmiosNYC and AmiosWest. He has been seen in Jihad Jones, Value Over Replacement (TBA Award for Featured Actor), Romeo & Juliet, Miss Julie, Death of a Salesman, Aloysius in New York, Escape from Roosevelt Island, Bartleby the Scrivener, Cloud 9, Macbeth, King John, 5th of July, This is Our Youth, The Altruists, Woyzeck, Snake in Fridge, Trip to Bountiful and dozens more. He holds an MFA from the National Theatre Conservatory and loves his wife.
J Jha (Paulina in The Seagull)
J is a transgender, asylum-seeking immigrant from India who is practicing the art of story telling while finding what their own story is. Disrupting a post MBA life in India J jumped into the MFA-Acting program at the University of Washington, graduating class of 2014. Have told other stories across the Bay : Sarah Shourd’s The Box at Z-Space, Michael Moran’s Grapes of Wrath at Ubuntu, Peter & the Starcatcher at Berkeley Playhouse, Rickshaw Girl at BACT, Eat the Runt at Altarena, Waiting for Godot and Death of a Salesman (Ubuntu).#Translivesmatter www.pankajkjha.com
J is a transgender, asylum-seeking immigrant from India who is practicing the art of story telling while finding what their own story is. Disrupting a post MBA life in India J jumped into the MFA-Acting program at the University of Washington, graduating class of 2014. Have told other stories across the Bay : Sarah Shourd’s The Box at Z-Space, Michael Moran’s Grapes of Wrath at Ubuntu, Peter & the Starcatcher at Berkeley Playhouse, Rickshaw Girl at BACT, Eat the Runt at Altarena, Waiting for Godot and Death of a Salesman (Ubuntu).#Translivesmatter www.pankajkjha.com
Joshua Marx* (Peter in Every Day Alice)
Joshua is an actor, professor of Theatre Arts at San Jose State University, professional fight choreographer, producer of Immersive Theatre, and has an MFA in Acting from Rutgers University. His acting credits include Romeo and Juliet, Timon of Athens, and The Great Gatsby (Alabama Shakespeare Festival); The Importance of Being Earnest, Over the River and Through the Woods, and A Christmas Carol (Flat Rock Playhouse); As You Like It (Theatre Under the Stars); One Man Two Guvnors (TheatreSquared); Crimes of the Heart (Theatreworks); Luna Gale (The Aurora); A New Girl in Town (42nd Street Moon); The Elephant Man (Hillbarn Theatre); South Pacific (Woodminster Playhouse); and Thoroughly Modern Millie (CCMT). www.j-marx.com
Joshua is an actor, professor of Theatre Arts at San Jose State University, professional fight choreographer, producer of Immersive Theatre, and has an MFA in Acting from Rutgers University. His acting credits include Romeo and Juliet, Timon of Athens, and The Great Gatsby (Alabama Shakespeare Festival); The Importance of Being Earnest, Over the River and Through the Woods, and A Christmas Carol (Flat Rock Playhouse); As You Like It (Theatre Under the Stars); One Man Two Guvnors (TheatreSquared); Crimes of the Heart (Theatreworks); Luna Gale (The Aurora); A New Girl in Town (42nd Street Moon); The Elephant Man (Hillbarn Theatre); South Pacific (Woodminster Playhouse); and Thoroughly Modern Millie (CCMT). www.j-marx.com
Melissa Ortiz* (Masha in The Seagull, Masha in Seeds)
Melissa is very excited to be a part of this wonderful production. Favorite roles include: Emily in Value Over Replacement, Julie in Miss Julie, Rhonda in Surf City, Shirley in 5th of July, Edward/Victoria in Cloud 9, and Echo in Eleemosynary. She received her MFA in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver, Colorado. She sends her love to her very amazing family and her totally awesome husband.
Melissa is very excited to be a part of this wonderful production. Favorite roles include: Emily in Value Over Replacement, Julie in Miss Julie, Rhonda in Surf City, Shirley in 5th of July, Edward/Victoria in Cloud 9, and Echo in Eleemosynary. She received her MFA in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver, Colorado. She sends her love to her very amazing family and her totally awesome husband.
Katie Rubin* (Hattie/Queenie/Cat in Every Day Alice)
Katie is a nationally touring solo performer, comic, and regional theater/commercial actress. She was most recently seen in Christopher Chen's You Mean to Do Me Harm at SF Playhouse. She has an MFA in Acting, teaches Acting and Improv at Stanford and A.C.T., and facilitates an online writing class for comics, solo artists, and writers of all kinds. Katie has written and toured three one-hour stand up comedy shows and five original solo theater pieces. She is currently on commission to develop her 6th solo show at Capital Stage, where she will be performing her stand up show, What. The Hell. Is Happening? on February 10.
Katie is a nationally touring solo performer, comic, and regional theater/commercial actress. She was most recently seen in Christopher Chen's You Mean to Do Me Harm at SF Playhouse. She has an MFA in Acting, teaches Acting and Improv at Stanford and A.C.T., and facilitates an online writing class for comics, solo artists, and writers of all kinds. Katie has written and toured three one-hour stand up comedy shows and five original solo theater pieces. She is currently on commission to develop her 6th solo show at Capital Stage, where she will be performing her stand up show, What. The Hell. Is Happening? on February 10.
Jessica Uher (Isabel in Every Day Alice)
Jessica is a Bay Area native and life-long actor/dancer. Her training includes a BFA in Acting from Boston University and physical acting studies at the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy. She spent the last two years performing in The Speakeasy, Boxcar Theatre’s 1920’s immersive production.
Jessica is a Bay Area native and life-long actor/dancer. Her training includes a BFA in Acting from Boston University and physical acting studies at the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy. She spent the last two years performing in The Speakeasy, Boxcar Theatre’s 1920’s immersive production.
Mark Vashro (Constantine in The Seagull)
Mark is very excited to be a part of Utopia Theatre Project. He is an actor and filmmaker originally from Boise, ID and now calls the Bay Area his home. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in acting and in film production. He works as an actor and producer on commercials, industrials, short films, feature films, as well as live theater. He has produced several feature films including a cross country bicycling documentary titled "Bike Against the Wind" for which he won Best Director at the Boise Film Festival. He has also produced many short films including "Thunder Road," the 2016 Sundance Grand Jury prize winner. Most recently you may have seen him act in The Speakeasy as Harry or Herman. He will be performing in What You Will down at The Pear Theater this summer. As he continues to learn about the world around him, he is always excited to find new stories. www.markvashro.com
Mark is very excited to be a part of Utopia Theatre Project. He is an actor and filmmaker originally from Boise, ID and now calls the Bay Area his home. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in acting and in film production. He works as an actor and producer on commercials, industrials, short films, feature films, as well as live theater. He has produced several feature films including a cross country bicycling documentary titled "Bike Against the Wind" for which he won Best Director at the Boise Film Festival. He has also produced many short films including "Thunder Road," the 2016 Sundance Grand Jury prize winner. Most recently you may have seen him act in The Speakeasy as Harry or Herman. He will be performing in What You Will down at The Pear Theater this summer. As he continues to learn about the world around him, he is always excited to find new stories. www.markvashro.com
