American Stage makes its return to live performance

Bay area professional theater companies began easing their way back into the business of show-making a number of months ago – taking baby steps, of course, adapting room capacities, and seating charts, and making whatever other pivots they were most comfortable with.

This weekend, the lone holdout finally returns. Although American Stage produced some innovative and enjoyable virtual theater during the doggiest dog days of the pandemic, the oldest professional theater house in the bay area has been missing in physical action since it got through two previews of Natalie Symons’ The People Downstairs in March 2020.

This weekend (May 14, 15 and 16) a company of five American Stage performers will put on a 7 p.m. “pop-up” show at the Factory St. Pete (in the “grassy knoll” area adjacent to the Reading Garden).

Uncaged, subtitled A Night of Song and Laughter … Together, is “a true variety show,” according to American Stage associate artistic director Kristin Clippard, who’s co-directing with Tiffany Ford.

“It’s a mish mash of things,” Clippard explains, “a mix of original monologues that the performers wrote, sketch comedy contributed by our writers Gavin Hawk and Ricky Wayne, and we’ve got some solos and duets.

“And probably the thing I’m really excited about the most is a medley: We’re calling it our ‘Pandemic Medley.’ It’s a bunch of songs mashed up that are just sort of parodies of pandemic life.”

The cast includes Patrick A. Jackson, Bonnie Again, Julia Rifino, John Perez and Donovan Whitney. Juan Rodriguez is music director.

“What a delightful group of humans to be back in the swing of creating original, fun comedy,” Clippard says. “I laugh every day. We are just really enjoying each other, and the art of making it up again.”

There’s no set date for American Stage to return to its actual stage, but Clippard is quick to point out that theater actually began as a outdoor activity, historically speaking.

“I think it’s very conducive to theater. Because it really is truly just about performers and an audience. At its most essential level, it’s about coming together to share an experience. And so much of what we’re doing is reflecting back on this incredibly weird time that we’ve all gotten through together.”

The 7 p.m. start time, she adds, should make things reasonably cool. “The sun will be setting, and it’ll be a nice twilight time to be enjoying a show.”

Actors, singers, writers (and directors) doing what they do best – and what they love to do – has been in relatively short supply for 14 months.

“I think everyone is so hungry for this, both performers and audience,” says Clippard. “Because we’ve been deprived of it for so long. It’s so wonderful to be able to set aside all of our worries about ‘Where is my next job coming from?’

“So being able to put aside everyday worries and cares and being able to just focus on creating something that is going to give people a beautiful, joyous and hilarious experience is quite wonderful.”

Details and tickets here.

Donovan Whitney in rehearsal for “Uncaged.” Photo by Kristin Clippard.