Category: Uncategorized
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New Year, New Energy: What’s Ahead in 2026
I am no soothsayer or diviner, but I am empathetic and perceptive enough to sense a shift carrying us toward a far more optimistic trajectory in 2026. From my discussions with you in the lobby of the theater, I know you feel it too. Last week, Doug Hughes, our Marketing Director at SBMT, wrote about…
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The Cost of Live Theatre
I occasionally like to post answers to questions asked from the community. You can always ask your question using this convenient anonymous form. This question came in the other week: “I think it would open a lot of eyes and maybe inspire a few more donations to have a blog outlining all the costs associated with…
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Cheers, Tears, and Standing Ovations
Walking into a full theatre charged with the voltage of raw human energy anticipating a musical adventure is titillating, intoxicating, and just so much fun! Nothing compares to it. Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of watching well over 3,000 of you go through that very experience with our production of…
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Children and Art
“Children and art… children and art…” Several recent events in my personal life have inspired me to do something that I‘ve been putting off for over 10 years: updating my will. Big changes like sending my children away to college, becoming empty-nesters (or “free-birds” as my wife likes to call it), purchasing an electric vehicle,…
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Running a Theatre Company
August 21, 2025 Since stepping in to SBMT’s Executive Director position in July, I have been delving into documents and spreadsheets, agreements and archives to compile, organize, and analyze over 60 years of SBMT producing theatre here in the South Bay. My goal was to become as much of an expert on SBMT as I…
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SBMT’s AI Policy: Protecting People, Creativity, and Integrity
by Michael Paul Hirsch, Executive Director and Walter M. Mayes, Artistic Director August 14, 2025 At South Bay Musical Theatre, every costume stitch, scenic brushstroke, musical note, and marketing image tells a human story. These are crafted by artists, technicians, and volunteers who pour their time and talent into creating something authentic and memorable. Our…
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Why We Do This: Our Common Humanity
“I am not a robot” July 9, 2025 Why do we gather in a darkened room to watch people sing, dance and step into someone else’s shoes? Because theatre reminds us who we actually are and inspires us to be who we can become. In a world that urges us to be faster, more efficient,…
Michael Paul Hirsch 