Community theater groups like SBMT tend to be tightly knit organizations, and it’s common to see the same actors appearing in show after show. Our audiences enjoy following their favorite artists and seeing what roles they will tackle next. Once in a while, however, a show is announced that is an actor’s dream, and it attracts very talented people from outside our pool of perennial performers to our auditions.
That’s exactly what happened with SBMT’s upcoming production of The Bridges of Madison County. Both of our romantic leads, though highly credentialed elsewhere, are making their SBMT mainstage debut with this show, and we are thrilled to welcome them!

Playing the role of Francesca is Alicia Teeter, who comes to us following performances at Tabard, Lyric, Hillbarn, Palo Alto, and Foothill theatres, and the Woodland Opera Company. She has also performed as a soloist for the Las Vegas Master Singers and the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Those of you who attend SBMT’s shorter-run “bonus” shows may have seen her in The Genius of Leonard Bernstein, Jerry’s Girls, or Broadway by the Decade: 1980s. Alicia grew up in Saratoga, and her parents still live here, so she is thrilled to be performing for a home town crowd.

“I was drawn to this production because of the material,” she says. “Jason Robert Brown has written such a lush, gorgeous, and moving score.  I can’t believe how lucky I am to get to sing it!
“My experience working with SBMT has been lovely,” she continues. “It is a very warm and welcoming group of people.  (Director) Diane Milo and I met years ago performing in a show together, and it is a treat to work with her as director.”


The role of Robert Kincaid will be played by Chris Janssen, who has some funny things to say about how he prepared to tackle this demanding part.(Hint: it has something to do with popsicle sticks! Be sure to read his biography in the program when you get to the theater.) Chris has performed in New York in such shows as The Secret Garden, Pippin, Children of Eden, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Bay Area audiences may have seen him at Palo Alto Players or CMTSJ.
 

Bottom line? This is a show that captured the Tony Award for its score and orchestration—and we are blessed with some professional-caliber singers to bring it to life. Don’t miss this high-quality, soul-stirring production. Get your tickets today while great seats are still available! Once the show opens, word of mouth typically spreads like wildfire, resulting in sold-out performances.

 
For more information about the show itself (plot synopsis, performance dates, complete list of cast and crew, online ticket info) visit the SBMT website. Thanks! See you at the theater!