I'm professional actor because of what I was taught at this school. Thank you Janis Bergman.

"What you don't necessarily realize when you start selling your time by the hour is that what you're really selling is your life." Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America "When someone works for less pay than she can live on -- when, for example, she goes hungry so that you can eat more cheaply and conveniently -- than she has made a great sacrifice for you, she has made of a gift of some part of her abilities, her health, and her life." Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America I made my first visit to Lohman Theater, on the Foothill College campus, to support Yelper VB's lead turn in the play adaptation of Barbara Ehrenreich's best selling book: Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. Lohman Theater, as it says on the web: "features an advanced audio system, lobby video monitors, and internet access throughout the facility. A large lobby area, suitable for receptions, doubles as a gallery space for art exhibitions. With an intelligent design that utilizes technology and maximizes space flexibility, Foothill's Lohman Theatre has many features which create a sophisticated, comfortable space for theatre patrons and performers." I was indeed impressed with the theater and had an excellent seat two rows from the stage off on the left side. Seat was comfortable with very good site lines. The students/actors helping with customer service were professional although I thought the "working" theme music was played too loud and the bathrooms were a bit messy. The play itself was written a bit ham-handed and obvious with two many quick scenes and a definite "pandering to the audience" feel to it. Unfortunately, the people who need to see this snapshot of the hardships the working poor face, namely Republican leaders and anyone in the Red States who keeps voting them into office, will never see it nor be open to its ultimate message that if one chooses to work, one should be afforded the dignity to be able to live on that wage. And it is interesting how our culture now treats the working poor. My son, who has grown up with a very bleeding heart liberal father who helps create affordable housing now asks me to estimate what everyone makes that he sees when we go out. When I see the derision in his face when I tell him how little the service workers we encounter probably make, I know that didn't come from me. That comes from our current culture, especially Orange County's culture on how the population views the working poor, and I definitely have my work cut out to teach him some knowledge and empathy. However, my feelings about the obviousness of the play and its message do not extend to the actors who from VB in the lead, to the Students and other actors supporting her, were absolutely outstanding. I was impressed with several of the actors performing not least of whom the actress who played Holly as she nailed that role perfectly. Having worked in customer service to pay my way through my first college degree I knew that character several times in my life and again, the young woman creating that character could not have been more suited for that role. As was VB playing Barbara; she inhabited that role almost perfectly too without really seeming to be "acting". A nice understated, hitting all the right notes yet bringing the emotion front and center. A fantastic effort by everyone in the cast! If you can see it before it closes on Sunday, I highly recommend it. seats I think are $18 on the weekends, $3.00 parking. There was a Goldstar deal but it has ended. I will definitely come out to this venue to see more performances. P.S. Wal-Mart comes under fire because of their documented abuse of workers including making them work without pay. A congressional report was just released that proves the American taxpayer is essentially subsidizing Wal-Marts profits since so many Wal-Mart workers have to access public assistance. The Walton Family's billions are essentially blood money paid from the backs of their workers and from taxpayers like myself who would never even step foot in one of their hideous stores. See the link I placed below: http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-walmart-pay-20130606,0,6295009.story read more

Many people are shocked to learn about my dismal feelings toward musicals. How could someone so bubbly/happy dislike something else that's frequently bubbly/happy?!? The short answer is that I also like a good story. And I don't like getting rudely yanked out of a good plot by an unexplained glazed over expression on an actor, looking off into the distance, who abruptly bursts into a song that is vaguely related to the plot. The Foothill Theatre Company made me like musicals. Well, musical. I saw the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee there last night and had an absolute blast of a time. The theater is comfortable and intimate, small enough that it seems most seats are just fine for viewing. Bathrooms are down an outside (cold) corridor, which I don't love, and I was glad I ate before coming, as the refreshments are on par with the fare at a high school homecoming dance (chips and candy-bars). But the performance was quite professional, with very high caliber acting and the singing, WAY beyond what I was expecting. It was quite a funny play, and I actually found myself sorry to see it end, as I *was* rather invested in the plot. Not bad Foothill Theatre Company. Thanks for reminding me why it's always good to keep trying things, even if you think you know how you feel about them. All things change, and sometimes for the better! read more

Wow! And I mean WOW! I just saw a musical here ("The Producers") and was absolutely bowled over by how professional everything was, from the excellent pit orchestra to the spot-on sound system (and sound guy, too, I'd guess), and -- the most important part -- simply amazing performers. I was expecting (somewhat snobbily, but frankly also based on experience) "city college" quality... a cute but sometimes ear-hurting amateur production. What I got was something pretty damn close to a full-price downtown production, but with much less in the way of moolah pain and parking inconveniences. Okay, to make this a more fair review, I do have a few nitpicks. - No bar. But the ones in city theatres tend to be crowded and overpriced anyway. - No bathroom or drinking fountain inside the theatre; had to walk around the corner and -- even as a guy -- wait and wait. - The audience seemed a bit less energetic than I'd expect given the hilariousness of the performance. - Only 8 costume changes and maybe only a half-a-million dollar set instead of a dozen costume changes and a $42 million dollar set. Oh, the horrors! :D * * * Anyway, you'd be crazy not to support this theatre, particularly if you live in or near the South Bay. Not only do the people associated with these performances deserve your support, you (and your hard-earned time and money) deserve the downright awesomeness of the Foothill College Theatre experience :). read more