Life Is A Dream
October 2 – November 1, 2015
Gala Opening: October 9
written by Pedro Calderón de la Barca
In a new translation by Andrew Saito
directed by Paige Rogers
The rightful prince Segismundo has been imprisoned by his father, the king, following a prophecy: Segismundo will bring his country turmoil and his patriarch an untimely death. Yet suddenly the prince is set free.
What is a young man to do in the wide world when he’s never known anything but his solitary tower? And is his fleeting freedom a reality – or is it just a dream?
Cutting Ball favorite David Sinaiko and son Asher Sinaiko, making his Cutting Ball debut, square off as King and Prince in Life is a Dream, their struggle fueled by live percussion scored for the production. Directed by Acting Artistic Director Paige Rogers and in a new translation by Resident Playwright Andrew Saito, Cutting Ball infuses fresh life and characteristic edge into Calderon’s lauded classic.
Photo Credit: Fiona McDougall, OneWorldPhoto 2015
Reviews
Director Paige Rogers delivers a physically exuberant production...From the very start, this 75-minute version of the Dreamcomes out swinging.
- Chad Jones, Theaterdogs
[Life is a Dream] gains a degree of added resonance through the casting of Cutting Ball veteran David Sinaiko as Basilio and his son, Marin Academy junior Asher Sinaiko as Segismundo. The depth of connection, both affectionate and competitive, between king and prince is readily apparent
- Robert Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle
Director Paige Rogers uses playful staging and a whimsical cast to infuse this traditionally dense and multi-motiffed play with energy, movement and (gasp) fun!
- Rhonda Shrader, DogMom's Dish
"Life is a Dream,” directed by Paige Rogers and with a new translation from Andrew Saito, is shrouded in intensity.
-Ariana Vargas, Daily Cal
Features
Real-Life Father and Son Play Father and Son in Life Is a Dream
- Emily Wilson, SF Weekly
Cutting Ball dreams a classic ‘Dream’
- Robert Hurwitt, SF Chronicle
Asher Sinaiko (Segismundo) makes his professional theater debut in Cutting Ball's Life Is a Dream. He has played La Fleche in The Miser, one of the Clowns in Hamlet, Sherlock Holmes, and Fagin in Oliver! He is a Junior at Marin Academy in San Rafael.
David Sinaiko (Basilio) is a Cutting Ball Associate Artist, appearing in many of their productions, including: Mount Misery; Ubu Roi; Krispy Kritters in the Scarlett Night; Strindberg's Chamber Plays;Tenderloin; …and Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi; The Bald Soprano; Endgame; Taming of the Shrew; Macbeth; 365 Plays/365 Days; and Woyzeck. He is a founding member of Chicago's acclaimed New Crime Productions (Heart of a Dog; The Balcony; Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas; Accidental Death of an Anarchist; Methusalem; and Alagazam!) and has been seen at Shotgun Players (Antigonick), Just Theater, The Goodman Theatre, The Actor's Gang, Golden Thread, Crowded Fire, and SF Playhouse, and 10 seasons performing David Sedaris' The Santaland Diaries. Film and television: The Grifters, Bob Roberts, Carnosaur and The Untouchables. David co-directs the theater program at Marin Academy.
Peter Warden (Clotaldo) is making his Cutting Ball Theater debut. He recently made his San Francisco debut with The Breadbox in their production of The Pillowman and has been seen in a number of productions in Sonoma and Marin County including The Servant Of Two Masters, Almost Maine, The Lonesome West and Other Desert Cities. He is a graduate from Sonoma State University with a B.A. in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Acting.
Sango Tajima (Rosaura) is making her Cutting Ball Theater debut. She is co-founder of a new producing ensemble Dirty Hands, member of a political theatre collective The Bonfire Makers, and Associate Artist of Ragged Wing Ensemble. After serving as the Artistic Direction Apprentice at Magic Theatre, she’s acted in various productions with Campo Santo, Impact Theatre, Bay Area Children's Theatre, and New Conservatory Theatre Center. Recent roles include Orangutan in Dirty Hands’ Water by the Spoonful, Philipa in Impact Theatre’s Year of the Rooster, and Becky Lou in Campo Santo/ACT’s Holy Crime. BFA in Acting from the University of Michigan.
Grace Ng (Estrella) is a Bay Area native making her Cutting Ball debut. Past credits include: Fiddler on the Roof (Chava) with Berkeley Playhouse, Faulted (Noreen) and The Seeing Place (Antigone) with foolsFURY, One-Minute Play Festivalwith Playwright’s Foundation, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (Min Li) with Bay Area Children’s Theatre, The Bay Area One Acts Festival, and Spring Awakening (Martha) with San Francisco State University. She holds a BA from San Francisco State University's Theatre Arts Program, and has trained with Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York.
Michael Wayne Turner III (Clarin) is an award winning actor and poet, with a background in modern contemporary dance. Past local credits include Chinaka Hodge’s Chasing Mehserle. Michael is a regular with the African American Shakespeare Theatre and the Bay Area Playwrights Foundation, and has also worked with ACT, Intersection for the Arts and Campo Santo.
Matthew Hannon(Astolfo) is a native of San Diego and makes his debut at Cutting Ball Theater. Regional theatre credits include Agamemnon in Aulis: An Act of Nihilism in One Long Act, Ben in Seascape with Sharks and Dancer, Juror No. 8 in Twelve Angry Men, Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest, Harker in Dracula, and Cradeau in No Exit, which Matthew also produced and directed. Upon completing his degree in Theater & Performance Studies at UC Berkeley, Matthew was awarded the Travis Bogard Memorial Prize, which celebrates the work of an actor who distinguished themselves in the arena of acting and performance.
Barry Despenza (Lead percussionist, guard) is proud to be apart of his first Cutting ball production. Barry has appeared in Yerna Buena's children's creativity theatre production of Josephine and the sheep of Dreams as the Sandman. Extra roles in Steve Jobsand NBA Pilot. He has also appeared in numerous student films and voice over projects. Barry loves busking on the streets and producing music. Currently attending San Francisco Art Institute as a New Genres major.
Samantha Behr (Guard) was last seen as Stella in the critically-acclaimed production of Streetcar Named Desire with Role Players. Also this past summer, she worked with Wily West Productions where she originated the characters of Isla in I Saw Itand Freya in Zero Hour. Other Bay Area credits include the staged-reading of The Things They Carriedwith Word for Word, the staged-reading of Pro Bono with SF Playhouse, The Pavilion at Cinnabar Theatre, and Sylvia with Independent Cabaret Productions. She holds a degree in Theater from Trinity University and is an alumni of the National Theater Institute.
Production Team
Paige Rogers, Director
Andrew Saito,
Michael Locher, Set Designer
Courtney Flores, Costume Designer
Hamilton Guillén, Lighting Designer
Carissa Ibert, Dramaturg
Josie Felt, Stage Manager and Sound Designer
Associate Producers
Janet Maughan
Steven Kimczak
Actor Sponsors
Vivian and Michael Brown ( sponsoring Mr. David Sinaiko)
Mary-Kay Gamel and Tom Vogler (sponsoring Ms. Tajima)
Pat and Stuart Lum (sponsoring Mr. Asher Sinaiko)
Group I (Sponsoring Mr. Turner)
Special Thanks
The Hall
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Equator Coffees & Teas
Chai Bar by David Rio