Stay Tuned for our Comeback Production in 2008

Wow! The premiere of Lost and Found in the Mission at Mama Calizo's Voice Factory was met with appreciative audiences and an enthusiastic review in the San Francisco Bay Times. Only one problem: the run was too short! Plans are now afoot to further develop the show and mount a new production in 2008. We're all (artistic directors and cast) looking forward to the next incarnation of this wild ride. A big thank you to our supporters, audience, and community, who made the residency and premiere possible! - Susie and Rowena

photo by Borys Procak

We open May 31st: Reserve your Tickets now!

The cast, from left to right: Robert Kellerman, Rowena Richie, Jocelyn Truitt, Joan D. Saunders, Peter Griggs, Carole Landes, and Flo Nakamura. Lost and Found in the Mission, an original theater production created and directed by Susie Hara and Rowena Richie, is based on true stories from scraps of paper found on the streets of San Francisco's Mission District. The show runs May 31st through June 9th. Photo by Borys Procak.

Spotlight On...Robert Kellerman

Robert heard about our audition through the Z Space Studio which is where Susie and I first collaborated, so we had a good feeling about him right away. He brings a playwright's instinct and physical comedy to his roles, has a rich singing voice and doesn't mind doing a little dirty work. In this photo, by Borys of course, he's pictured with Joan D. Saunders working on "Vocabulary Duet," a merengue-infused scene based on a found Spanish to English vocabulary list. Here's Robert's bio: Robert Kellerman has a B.A. in Literature from the State University of New York at Purchase and a Master's from NYU's Interactive Telecommunications program at Tisch School of the Arts. He appeared in a solo performance of "Kaddish - Song for My Father" at the Yerba Buena Theater Festival in July, 2006 and most recently in a provocative new work by Paul Heller, "Saigon / California," at the Phoenix Theatre in San Francisco. Robert also directed a lovely short play by Lisa Kang, "Molly Shines the Floor," which was presented at the City Lights Theatre in San Jose as part of its New Play Readers Series. Photo by Borys Procak.

Spotlight on . . . Peter Griggs

Boathouse & Co. is lucky that one day in February, Peter stuck his head in the door of Mama Calizo's Voice Factory and asked if we were auditioning. Yes! we said. Two weeks later he joined our cast, and in these last couple of months, Peter has brought a versatile blend of movement, acting, and singing skills to our work together (not to mention a good measure of humor).

Peter's Bio: Originally from Seattle, this San Francisco transplant has been involved in numerous incarnations of stagecraft. Growing up in acting, dance, and voice classes made for an interesting beginning and present. In his youth Peter was part of a Company called "Greaspaint" where he learned the wonders of dance, iambic pentameter, improv, stage combat; a foundation for the creative arts was formed. Musical endeavors include: “A Chorus Line” (Bobby), Peninsula Civic Light Opera, “West Side Story” (PePe), Sunnyvale Community Players, Godspell (Judas/John) - Palo Alto Players; and many more. In San Jose he was involved with the Young Peoples Theatre where he played Mr. Jordan in “Heaven Can Wait”as well as SJCC’s groundbreaking play “AS IS”. Peter’s passion for the theatre is inspired by new works. In Seattle he was heavily involved with the nationally renowned “Alice B. Theatre” [A Queer theatre for all people]; while in residence he performed, workshopped, directed, and wrote original pieces. In San Francisco Peter has been lucky enough to work with Erika Shuch (ESP Project), Crash Cabaret, reveller/dancer with New College [EPI rocks!] afficionados Dwayne Calizo and Jessica Fudim. Peter feels very honored to be working with Row & Susie in this, a truly inspired piece of art. Photo by Borys Procak.

Spotlight on . . . Jocelyn Truitt

We first saw Jocelyn's headshot and resume on the Theatre Bay Area website; we thought she had a certain undefinable quality that fit with our idea or maybe our ideal of several Lost and Found in the Mission characters. It turns out our hunch was right . . . she's an invaluable member of our ensemble. She is also currently appearing in a production of Lysistrata with the Actor's Ensemble of Berkeley at the Live Oak Theatre, now through May 12. Some biographical background, in her own words: This is Jocelyn’s first production with Boathouse & Co., and she is excited to be involved with such an innovative project as well as this group of fun and talented people. A native of Columbia, Maryland, she moved to the Bay Area in 2000. She has since studied at both the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre and American Conservatory Theater, most recently completing its 2006 Summer Training Congress. Past roles include Silvia in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Steele in A Piece of my Heart, and Rena in Jitney. (Photo by Borys Procak)

Lost and Found in the Mission

My current favorite publicity shot. The cast, from left to right: Robert Kellerman, Rowena Richie, Jocelyn Truitt, Joan D. Saunders, Peter Griggs, Carole Landes, and Flo Nakamura. Photo by Borys Procak.

Spotlight On...Joan D. Saunders

Today we stopped traffic with our publicity photo shoot. When the storm passed, we took over the bus-stop at Mission and 11th. Check back later to see our "best of" photos. Speaking of stopping traffic, today's Spotlight features Joan D. Saunders, a.k.a. Lois, the librarian (can't you tell?), and the "finder" in our story. Joan D. loves high heels. (Those are the shoes we didn't choose for this shoot in the background--photos by Borys, of course). "I like them to be at least three inches," Joan told me. She has a lot of spark, beautiful Spanish, and can sing a mean B. Here is her biography: Joan D. Saunders attended North Dakota State University, majoring in both Spanish and English, then attended graduate school at Southern Illinois University and Florida Atlantic University, where she studied linguistics, specializing in phonetics. She was an avid participant in music and drama as a teenager and young adult, then shifted into work related to her education. Three years ago, after a long career as an editor, Joan went back to her first loves, acting and music. She continues her acting and musical theater training, primarily at American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. She also studies singing on an ongoing basis in private training with singing teacher Ava Victoria (NATS). In October 2006, Joan participated in a 20 hour acting and improv workshop taught by Alan Arkin. Only 20 participants were allowed in the workshop. Joan says, “It was one of the most amazing and valuable experiences of my life.” Over the last 12 months, Joan has completed five independent films, with a principal role in three of them.

Spotlight On...Flo Nakamura

Here's Flo. She won us over with her initial email saying, "I'd like to audition w/ you this saturday, if you think you can use a butoh-hula-modern dancer. (i'm also an ex-singer w/ assorted groups for ~20 years back in the day.)" We auditioned her and we said, YES, let's go with the FLO! Photo by Borys Procak, per usual. By the way, that crucifix set is for another show. Here's Flo's bio:
Flo Nakamura took dance classes from childhood on, dropped it . . . returned to it via 100s of improv jams at Judson Church in New York City. Eventually, she began dancing with Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre and the Giinko Marischino/Wild Hair Jabong ensembles in Hawaii. Transplanted last year into the rich soil that is San Francisco, she continues to delve into the intersections of performance, inspiration, and meditative (non-thinking) dance improvisation here, and can be seen from time to time at Bare Bones Butoh in the Mission. Flo has also sung for start-up rock and world-beat bands in Boston and New York, in the 80s and 90s. More at www.iamlovingthis.com.

Spotlight On...Carole Landes

For the next few weeks we'll be profiling individual members of our cast, so be sure to check back to see* the "performer of the hour." Carole is the first person we auditioned and we hired her on the spot. She's playful and vibrant and works hard! Here's her bio: Carole Landes has been part of the Bay Area theatre scene for many years, including roles in The Diary of Anne Frank, Grease, Dream of a Common Language, White Lies, Whose Life Is It, Anyway?, Broadway Bound, Over the River and Through the Woods, and It's Only a Play for which she received a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle nomination and a Best Actress Award from Theatre Rhinoceros. She has also appeared at Fringe Festivals in San Francisco and at Dominican University. Carole has toured with her solo dramatization of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper, and the widely acclaimed play, Purple Breasts. She was thrilled to be part of the film, Seniors Rocking, developed by the world renowned dancer, Anna Halprin. She has done commercial work on TV and radio, and was last seen in a Mythbusters commercial on the Discovery Channel, and as a lover of Brazilian music, has danced in the streets of Bahia and San Francisco during Carneval.
*Photo by Borys Procak

Post-it Post

Last night in rehearsal we played a game of "pass the post-it." Post-its are one of my favorite categories of handwritten found artifacts. Susie--pictured* above in purple top and red pants, tries to convince Rowena--pictured opposite in red top and purple pants to: "BRING ME BACK TO WAREHOUSE," which is exactly what one of our found post-its states. My current favorite reads: "Success at last," followed by an illegible scribble, as if the writer drifted off--or worse? Perhaps this is the suicide note that Lois has been looking for all along...
Stay tuned.
-Rowena
*Photo by Borys Procak.

Song of Lost and Found

(Left to right) Joan D. Saunders, Rowena Richie, Susie Hara, Flo Nakamura, Carole Landes, Robert Kellerman, Miquela Sierra, Jocelyn Truitt, and Peter Griggs rehearse The Song of Lost and Found. We're already finding our way . . . as we begin exploring the songs, dance, and characters of Lost and Found, we're finding new insights into the material. --Susie

Boathouse & Co. Performance is Underway

Well, we did it! We cast our lines and "hooked" seven dynamic performers from different pools for our show "Lost and Found in the Mission." Introducing our cast (From left to right in photo): Miquela Sierra, Joan D. Saunders, Flo Nakamura, Robert Kellerman, Peter Griggs, Jocelyn Truitt, and Carole Landes, with directors Susie and Rowena seated on the floor in the foreground. For our first rehearsal we set our intentions and our sails in motion. Already there are beautiful sounds coming from the ensemble, who got right down to work on "The Song of Lost and Found," a song Rowena wrote. Hearing it for the first time "live" the way she'd been imagining it was an amazing gift for Rowena. After rehearsal Susie, Borys (our indispensable Production Manager, Publicist, and Photographer), and Rowena concluded we were already smitten with our gang. Looking forward to making this a remarkable experience for all, including our audience. Please stay tuned. Bon Voyage! --Boathouse

Lost and Found in the Mission May 31 - June 9

Boathouse & Co. Performance Group presents Lost and Found in the Mission, a music/ dance/ theater piece by Rowena Richie and Susie Hara. The piece is based on letters, notes, grocery lists, post-its, homework assignments, and other ephemera found on the streets of the Mission District of San Francisco. We'll be posting more information, samples of found material, photos, and work-in-progress in the next few months. The show will run May 31 - June 9, 2007, at Mama Calizo's Voice Factory, at 1519 Mission Street in San Francisco. Come and get lost and found.

Last summer, Susie and Rowena had a two-week artist residency at the Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest, IL where we began working on Lost and Found. We invited our fellow residents to an open rehearsal. Here they are viewing our found materials.