I've composed the scores for these plays and other projects. I play all instruments (real or sampled) unless noted:
Titus Andronicus (Thrillpeddlers 2006)
by William Shakespeare
Now recording!!
On The Sixes (Exit Theatre 2006)
by Sean Owens
Check out the Chronicle review
Recordings in progress!
Odd By Nature (Exit Theatre 2006)
by Sean Owens
See the Bay Times review.
Recordings in progress!
The Sweetest Swing In Baseball (Magic Theatre 2005)
by Rebecca Gilman
This was the American premiere of this Rebecca Gilman play about art and sanity.
- I'm Not Happy
- Sweetest Swing - Entr'acte
- I'm Glad They're Good
- Negative Space
- Sweetest Swing In Baseball - Bows
Sex and Mayhem (New Conservatory Theatre 2004)
by Donald Currie
A "one-man show" by Donald Currie (yet somehow including me on stage) about the '60s in San Francisco. Keyboard and guitar by me.
- My Portion Of Happiness
- Trip Back Home Scene
- First Trip Trope
- Acid Trip
- Diva's Seraglio
- Sashaying Into The Stud
- Girlfriends Forever And A Day
- Sex And Mayhem - Finale
Medea (Shotgun Players 2002)
by Roberson Jeffers
Three singers, a reed organ, and bloody children. Bekka Fink, Paula Arciniega, and Shannon Day sing. Percussion and organ by me. Lyrics are taken from the Roberson Jeffers version.
The Hairy Ape (Marin Theatre Company 2002)
by Eugene O'Neil
Percussion by Otto Huber and me, all vocalizations by Lauren Grace ( including seagulls and monkeys!) Nominated for the Bay Area Theater Critics' Circle for best sound design.
Old Man McGinty (2001)
by The Cast
Sketch comedy, with lyrics by Sean Owens. Sung by Bekka Fink, Sean Owens, Isaac Brantner, David Bicha, P.A. Cooley, Nick Sholley, and me.
It Coulda Been A Wonderful Life (Bannam Place Theatre 2001)
by Fred Raker
The Jewish version, by Fred Raker, who also sings on this.
Saint Rubidium's Temple (Somarts 2001)
by Larry Ackerman
An installation by Larry Ackerman with ambient sound.
All's Well That Ends Well (Theatre Rhinoceros 2001)
by William Shakespeare
A twisted take on Shakespeare. John Flanagan is singing.
12th Night (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival 2001)
by William Shakespeare
Shakespeare goes to the Andes. Kim Larsen sings, with David Reyes on guitar and Steve Senft-Herrera on bass.
Gun-Shy (Phoenix II Theatre 2001)
by Richard Dresser
Couples fight, we laugh. Lauren Grace and I sing. I wrote the lyrics. They are ironic.
The P.A. Cooley Show (Theatre Rhinoceros 2001)
Ed Sullivan gone berserk. There were 3 of these. Matt Weimer wrote the words. Libby O'Connell, Bekka Fink, David Bicha, and Kim Larsen sing.
The Crucible (Marin Theatre Company 2001)
by Arthur Miller
Vocals by a girls choir from Marin, from an old hymn.
Girlesque (Exit Theatre 2001)
by Sean Owens
A one-man, eight and a half-woman show performed by Sean Owens. Musicians are Otto Huber, drums; Sascha Jacobsen, bass; Damien Masterson, woodwinds. Singers are Lauren Grace, Bekka Fink, Milissa Carey, Donalda Gilligan, and Sean (as Carol Channing.) Sean is lyricist, of course.
Digging Hamlet (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival 2000)
by Russell Blackwood
A show for schools.
King Henry IV (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival 2000)
by William Shakespeare
Drum machine and my 1820 reed organ. Guitar by Benjamin Privitt.
Mr. Schpill And Mr. Tippeton (Marin Theatre Company 2000)
by Gilles Segal
Circus performers get "disappeared" by a fascist government.
Spring Storm (Marin Theatre Company 1999):
by Tennessee Williams
A Tennessee Williams world premiere. Musicians are: Terry Waterman, drums; Sascha Jacobsen, bass; Damien Masterson, sax; Randy Weiss, violin; Nik Phelps, flute. Nominated for the Bay Area Theater Critics' Circle for best sound design.
The Glass Menagerie (Aurora Theatre 1999):
by Tennessee Williams
Handbells and piano for a sad sound.
Mere Mortals (Marin Theatre Company 1999):
by David Ives
Six short comedies. This won a Bay Area Theater Circle Critics' Award for best score. Damien Masterson plays sax and harmonica. Randy Hurst sings my lyrics.
The Puppetmaster Of Lodz (Marin Theatre Company 1999):
by Gilles Segal
A man hiding out refuses to believe the Nazis are gone and acts out his life with puppets. Creepy show. Ben Goldberg plays clarinet and Damien Masterson plays harmonica.
Blood Knot (Marin Theatre Company 1998):
by Athol Fugard
Two brothers in South Africa, dealing with racism. Mike Ashenfelder on guitar.
The Turn Of The Screw (Marin Theatre Company 1998):
by Jeffrey Hatcher
Two actors play all the roles. Scary! Randy Weiss on violin.
The Last Hairdresser (Theatre Rhinoceros 1997):
by Doug Holsclaw
Doug Holsclaw wrote the words in this comedy about forced beauty school. Lead singers are P.A. Cooley, Brian Yates Sharber, and Doug Holsclaw; backup singers are Sandy Shlecter, Alexis Lezin, and Kim Larsen.
Much Ado About Nothing (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival 1997):
by William Shakespeare
Gerson Perla and Len Moors sing to Shakespeare's words. Jeff Terflinger on mandolin.
The Big Drag (Theatre Rhinoceros 1997):
by Sean Owens and Chris Leeder
Film noir parody with gender stuff going on. Trauma Flintstone sings to lyrics by Chris Leeder.
The Stand-In (Theatre Rhinoceros 1997):
A closeted actor portraying a gay tango-dancing umpire is exposed in this hilarious show about television. Damien Masterson on harmonica.
Finally, A Child (Gelassenheit Arts Presenters 1996)
A dance piece choreographed by Philip Jones.
The Old Lady's Guide To Survival (Marin Theatre Company 1996):
by Mayo Simon
One old lady goes blind while her neighbor becomes demented. But it's funny, really.
Becket (Marin Theatre Company 1996):
by Jean Anouilh
Norman versus Saxon culture, with religious overtones. Singers are Celia Shuman, Patty Wolfe. Dulcimer by Rob Carrriger.
The Comedy Of Errors (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival 1996):
by William Shakespeare
More Shakespeare...
Picnic (Marin Theatre Company 1996):
by William Inge
1950s, before James Dean. Hymns and patriotic songs were the sources.
All In The Timing (Marin Theatre Company 1996)
by David Ives
A parody with words by David Ives. Singers are Amy Dondy, Loretta Janca, Ken Stegmiller, and David Varnum.
Kindertransport (Marin Theatre Company 1996):
by Diane Samuels
The Nazis allowed German Jews to send their children abroad for a period of time, to rejoin them later... or not. A very sad play. Damien Masterson plays harmonica. Harvey Weinappel on clarinet.
Drugs Of Our Times (1995)
Commissioned by John Newmeyer, musically illustrating a chart on prevalence of drugs for the past 40 years.
Two Gentlemen of Verona (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival 1995):
by William Shakespeare
Shakespeare on a beach on Lake Tahoe... Vocals by Ken Stegmiller.
Be My Valentine (San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 1995):
by Carl Sandler
A short film about young gay relationship fantasy by Carl Sandler.
King Lear (Shakespeare Santa Cruz 1995):
by William Shakespeare
The challenge: "Victorian/Sondheim/Techno..." Kim Larsen sings.
- Fools Had Ne'er Less Grace
- King Lear - Intermission
- King Lear - Postlude
- Lear Awakens
- With a Heigh-Ho
As You Like It (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival 1995)
by William Shakespeare
Kim Larsen and Ken Stegmiller sing on these songs, with words by William S.
Keely And Du (Marin Theatre Company 1995):
by Jane Martin
She's going to get an abortion after being raped and is imprisoned by radical anti-abortionists until she delivers. Ugly yet touching.
Twelfth Night (Theatre Rhinoceros 1994):
by William Shakespeare
Guys in a submarine. And it's Christmas. Words by Will. Vocals by Kim Larsen.
The Assassination of Federico Garcia Lorca (UC Santa Cruz 1994):
by Luis Oropeza
A one man show by Luis Oropeza, about the life and death of the Spanish poet. Guitar and vocals by Grillo. Violin by Randy Weiss. Percussion by Bobby Wallace.
Wilder, Wilder, Wilder ( Marin Theatre Company 1994)
by Thornton Wilder
Three short plays about Christmas dinner, a car ride, and a train ride ending in death. But pretty.
The Taming Of The Shrew ((San Francisco Shakespeare Festival 1994)
by William Shakespeare
Golden Gate Park, foggy, with synthesizers.
Power Of Positive Painting (1993):
by Matt Nikitas
The theme for Matt Nikitas's Home improvement show.
Go! Greenbelt (1993):
A promotional film for a major bicycle ride for open space.
Fun With Colors (1992):
by Compton's New Media
A "Berenstein Bears" video game score.
A Live Woman In The Mines (First Unitarian Church, Berkeley 1992):
A musical version of an actual Gold Rush melodrama. Singing is Milissa Carey. Lyrics, by me, are derived from the script.
The Tempest (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival 1991)
by William Shakespeare
A magical show, in Golden Gate Park, with Sydney Walker and Albert Takazauckas. Ken Stegmiller sings Ariel. My favorite Shakespeare songs.
Learn About Letters (Brittanica 1991)
by Brittanica Software
An early computer game for kids; another "Berenstein Bears."
Plunger (Climate Theatre 1990)
by Steve Logue
A one-man play about diabetes, IV cocaine, and a fall from the Cliff House, by Steve Logue. Alan Lornie is on violin and Frederick on guitar.
Curbs And Corridors (Paul Taylor Dance Company 1990)
by Christopher Gillis
A big dance piece choreographed by Christopher Gillis, performed at City Center in New York.
The John Law Quintet (1989)
Andy Baron-sax; John Law-drums; Mike Ashenfelder-guitar; Kevin -bass
Studies With David Conte (1989)
These were for a composition class with the Maestro. The San Francisco Saxophone Quartet performed live.
Faces In Business (San Francisco Chamber Of Commerce 1989)
These were for radio spots, with a theme and background pieces.
Dance Suite #1 (1988)
But never danced... Otto Huber-drums; Randy Weiss-violin; Mike Ashenfelder-guitar.
Paul Valery Songs (1986)
Sung by Donna McKay-Randozzi.
San Francisco School of the Performing Arts (1984)
The final exam... Milissa Carey, Randy Hurst, Bekka Fink, and I sing on the first song; I wrote the lyrics. Dave Tutton wrote the lyrics to the second song and sings.
Something Better (1983)
by Don Seaver
A musical with book, lyrics, music, and direction by me; at least the songs still hold up... Sung by Shannon Day, Bekka Fink,
Southwestern Medical School Senior Film (1983)
A fairly professional film created by, produced by, and performed by the students. Vocals are Don, Julie Graves, Mary Ellen Bluntzer. Guitar by Brad. (I don't remember the other musicians...) My lyrics, born of our pain.
The Blue Carter Band (1982)
Blue was the singer and the first song got a little airplay. I wrote the words.