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Hillbarn’s Lee Foster in spotlight
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Lee Foster was recently recognized for her superior contributions to local arts.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Lee Foster is a woman of vision. The former executive director of Hillbarn Theatre recently received the theater’s 20th annual Bravo award, which recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to the arts in San Mateo County.
Foster, who headed up the theater for a decade and still serves on its board of directors, received the honor last week at a special ceremony in Hillsborough.
She said, “You create a world class team to do great work. A relationship develops between the theater, community and audience. And you use all resources available to help that vision come true.”
When Foster came on board, she was just what the struggling community theater company needed. Using knowledge gained while studying for a master’s degree in business at the University of San Francisco, she and the board developed a strategic plan.
First was a capital campaign to replace a worn roof. Next, she hired artistic director Toni Tomei. She also co-founded the children’s conservatory and formed bonds with Peninsula civic leaders and local business clubs.
Foster, who didn’t take a salary the first five years, was successful. Ticket sales increased more than 250 percent.
“Hillbarn is a place we can all come together and share our talents of all ages and do great works,” Foster said.
The Foster City resident also received the Foster City Honors Award in 2003 and the Diamond Awards from San Mateo County’s partner ArtShare in 2005.
Upon leaving Hillbarn, she joined the Junior Statesmen Foundation, a nonprofit high school civics organization, where she serves as senior director of marketing and development.
Take ‘Snapshots’
The West Coast premiere of the musical “Snapshots” opens TheatreWorks’ 39th season in Mountain View. Both book author David Stern and composer Stephen Schwartz are in residence at the theater, working alongside director Robert Kelley.
Stern and Michael Sheeman approached Schwartz — best known for “Wicked” and “Godspell” — about creating a new musical using some of his past hits. Schwartz rewrote some songs for the show, which features musical arrangements by Steve Orich.
The plot revolves around Sue and Dan, whose 30-year relationship and marriage are in crisis. As Sue finds an old scrapbook of photos, they begin to examine the various stages of their lives.
New songs include “Snapshots” and “Making Good;” old songs are “Popular” from “Wicked,” “Corner of the Sky” from “Pippin” and “All Good Gifts” from “Godspell.”
Beth DeVries, who plays Sue, makes her first appearance with TheatreWorks. She recently performed the role in the world premiere at Village Theatre in Seattle. Also debuting locally is Broadway actor Ray Wills as Dan.
Molly Bell, Michael Marcotte, Courtney Stokes and Brian Crum round out the cast. The show runs through July 13. Performances are Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m.
The Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts is located at 500 Castro St. Tickets are $26 to $64. Call (650) 903-6000 or visit theatreworks.org.
Comments from Examiner Readers
12:06 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 6, 2008 re: "Wicked ‘Witches’"
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8:22 PM MST on Wed., Aug. 13, 2008
re: "Performer gets risqué in new act"
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8:36 PM MST on Thu., May. 15, 2008
re: "Theater: Hillbarn closes season with Elton John’s ‘Aida’"
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6:07 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 18, 2008
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8:00 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 17, 2008
re: "Review: 'High School Musical' sticks to the status quo"
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10:40 AM MST on Sat., Oct. 6, 2007
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12:15 PM MST on Sun., Sep. 9, 2007
re: "A ‘Macbeth’ in the Macbuff"
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5:18 AM MST on Sat., Sep. 8, 2007
re: "A ‘Macbeth’ in the Macbuff"
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2:23 PM MST on Mon., Aug. 20, 2007
re: "A ‘Macbeth’ in the Macbuff"
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11:14 PM MST on Fri., Jul. 6, 2007
re: "A ‘Macbeth’ in the Macbuff"
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9:27 PM MST on Fri., Jul. 6, 2007
re: "A ‘Macbeth’ in the Macbuff"
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9:09 PM MST on Fri., Jul. 6, 2007
re: "A ‘Macbeth’ in the Macbuff"
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6:47 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 20, 2007
re: "Eye of the beholder at the heart of ‘Fat Pig”"
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2:03 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 13, 2007
re: "A trifle of a ‘Tempest’"
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10:45 AM MST on Wed., May. 30, 2007
re: "A harrowing choice at Theater J"
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9:33 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 23, 2007
re: "Shakespeare’s bloodiest"
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9:27 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 23, 2007
re: "Shaking up Shakespeare"
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9:23 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 23, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
GOOD
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Bessica said:
The government should get out of marriage entirely. Straight or gay, we need good family law to protect children, we need contracts for interdependent relationships. Marriage is an important institution. Rename the legal part something else for EVERYONE. Many GLBT on the site **bisexualmingle c o m** want the same-sex marriage.
8 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I thought it was a great production and both Alexa Ortega and Adam Barry were absolutely fantastic.
23 agree | 16 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Government Inspector: Quite poorly done. Actors unprepared. Line delivery mishaps. Overpriced. Prop failure at the end. It reminded me of sequels such as Oceans v11 - v13, where a group of well known actors use their names to draw a crowd and sell tickets. Uk. The result is a mediocre performance, in part because of too many cooks -- and some of these cooks, e.g. Geoff Hoyle are really good. Hopefully this review will save someone else the time and money.
24 agree | 17 disagree
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Parkside Poulegene said:
Re: High School Musical I just took my daughter Sharmuta to this show and we had to leave early! When we got home I took away all her "High School Musical" CD's and tee-shirts. If she even mentions the show again she's grounded for a month, and that goes for her other mother too. This show is really racist, homophobic and pro-Zionist and pro-Bush-Terror. There's too many white people in it. This show needs to be shut down and outlawed.
18 agree | 18 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Thank you for the first honest review that I have read on this production. The length of Act two was tortuous to sit through.
391 agree | 338 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I bet the scene where Macbeth and Macduff are branishing their CLAYMORES is a hoot!
307 agree | 320 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Playing naked? Not really - the main character's body is covered by fur! As the reader before wrote the actor playing Macbeth is extremely hairy. It is quite strange to see how hairy a mans body can be... His body hair was the most impressing thing of the whole play.
330 agree | 299 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Bloody, Bold, Resolute, and Naked - AND HAIRY!!! I read an article that all actors were not allowed to shave any body hair three months before the play started to look "naturally". So it is impressive how hairy the actor playing Macbeth is - he has a furry chest and even a quite hairy back and bushy pubic hairs. It is very unusual today to see such a hairy actor fully nude, because normally an actor shaves at least his back hairs doing a nude scene on stage or in a movie... So big compliments to Daniel Eichner for presenting us his great furry body fully nude!
359 agree | 314 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Good review... one of the few critics able to articulate some of the problems with this show. I left at intermission and the lighting was troublesome. sometimes I wonder what the other critics are thinking --- if you are still curious fgo on Saturday afternoons when the tickets are "pay what you can."
393 agree | 351 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Munch claims "there is no denying" that the nudity in WSC's "Macbeth" "does little to enhance or elevate Shakespeare’s Scottish play." Well, the critics at www.PotomacStages.com and www.DCTheatreScene.com have taken the opposite view. Potomac Stages, in fact, wrote: "in no uncertain terms that this is a quality production that presents "the Scottish play" in a new and very effective light (or is that a new and very effective darkness?)." DC Theatre Scene wrote: "The actors’ nudity provides an extra dimension to their presentations...By being physically naked, these actors become emotionally naked as well. This production of Macbeth is a great gift to those who have the will to receive it. We are unlikely to see anything like it in the foreseeable future." So it seems the only thing there is no denying is that Munch doesn't speak for everyone.
411 agree | 320 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Tonight's performance of "Macbeth" started at 8:05 pm and was done precisely at 10:30. I'm not the best at math, but that seems like under 2 and half hours...not over 3 hours, which the critic claims the play to be.
397 agree | 362 disagree
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JaimeK said:
Shame Fat Pig wasn't given an actual review on the acting. There were some pretty phenomenal performances. Especially Erin Riley as Helen and Courtney Ryan as Jeannie. Very VERY good show.
523 agree | 411 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Closes in 4 days
455 agree | 406 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why review it a few days before it closes and not mention its closing in the review?
447 agree | 436 disagree
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EdnBetty said:
We just returned from Titus Andronicus, the play that Kenneth Tynan called "the worst play Marlowe ever wrote". We expected gore and got it! Tsoutsouvas was also great, but Valerie Leonard was vamping it over the top. And that voice set my teeth on edge!
751 agree | 486 disagree
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Reader said:
Yes, "She Stoops to Comedy" at Woolly Mammoth is a treat!
551 agree | 470 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Oh, we just a-DORed this show!
578 agree | 463 disagree
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