Brian Kameoka's blog

Shows to See in Sacramento

Here are some shows in Sacramento I recommend seeing:

• FINAL WEEKEND: Bat Boy: The Musical at Sacramento State.  I wrote a review on my blog here. Amanda Morish and Peter J. Carroll are great, and you can get tickets for as cheap as $5 this weekend.

• I Am My Own Wife at B Street Theatre (closes 11/7). Bee critic Marcus Crowder calls it a "riveting production" with an "astonishing performance by Greg Alexander" and I totally agree.

• tick, tick... BOOM! at New Helvetia Theatre (through 11/14).  A great production of Jonathan Larson's pre-Rent musical. Patti Roberts in the News & Review says it has a "winning combination of a superbly talented cast, a strong and inventive directing team, and a first-rate live cabaret band. [full disclosure: I helped with publicity for this show and took their press photos]

Upcoming (shows I'm planning on seeing):

• Capital Stage's Speech & Debate (through 11/8)

• New interns have arrived at the B Street Theatre, so I plan on checking out their weekly Wednesday post-show performances, which I blogged about previously here because I believe it's Sacramento's best theatre bargain.  These performances should resume 11/11, but call the B Street box office at (916) 443-5300 to confirm.

• Broadway Sacramento presents Spring Awakening (11/4 through 11/15).  I mentioned this on Facebook and Twitter, since I know almost nothing about the show.  Consensus was, "go see it!" so I am.... here's a promo video for the show:
  
   
  

Also, for one of the best online guides to what's playing in town, check out Sacramento365.com.

Social Networking workshop w/League of Sacramento Theatres

Chris McSwain (Twitter: @ChrisMcSwain) and I are presenting a workshop on social networking next week for the League of Sacramento Theatres.  Space is limited, and the League is handling RSVP's, so if you're interested contact me and I'll put you in touch with the right person.

If you're not familiar with the League of Sacramento Theatres, check them out at SeeAPlay.com 

Social Networking on the Web 101
A League of Sacramento Theatres Marketing Workshop

Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogging and MySpace ... gibberish? confusing? a way to kill time online? Perhaps, but also a practically free way to engage current and potential audience members. The session will introduce various online social networking sites, talk about what works and doesn't work, and give tips on increasing the number of your fans, friends and followers. Learn innovative ways to entertain your audience and promote your productions on the Web. Bring your Internet success and horror stories to share.  Presented by Chris McSwain and Brian Kameoka on Monday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m.

 

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World Baseball Classic 2009

Photo "April 15, 2006: Baseball" by Matt McGee licensed under a Creative Commons license

What a game - Japan wins 5-3 in extras to repeat their 2006 inaugural World Baseball Classic win.  I watched it on tape delay, and had to do my best to avoid hearing the results (I was at a bar in the evening and had to sit facing away from the TV's as well as look away when I used the bathroom-they had a TV over the urinals, and of course I had to avoid reading Twitter).  Luckily, I did succeed at staying in the dark, and it really paid off.  This game gave us:

- A tight score - great pitching and defense by both sides really kept either side from running away with it.

- Names you know - Ichiro.  Iwamura.  Even Johjima (who's star has faded with the Mariners but was great for Japan in his first WBC appearance).

- What's in a name?  It was kind of funny to hear Jon Miller/Joe Morgan/Steve Phillips struggle with the names.  They gave a good effort, and were self-deprecating more than anything.  I did hear Miller call Uchikawa "Ugi-yuchi" at one point, and guys, if there's a player named Bum Ho Lee, please find a way to say it without making it sound like "bung hole."

- Names you will know - Shin Soo Choo, who I was a fan of as he rose in the Mariners organization.  Even though he's a Cleveland Indian now, I'll be rooting for him to become a big star.  He played like a star in this game.  And Uchikawa, who in left field had one of the greatest plays by a left fielder (ever).  Yu Darvish claims he doesn't want to come to the US to play, but if he ever does, he'll be a huge star.  Oh, and by the way, stop telling us how Aoki has "surpassed Ichiro in hitting" in Japan.  Ichiro is, and always will be, in a league of his own.

- A comeback! Extra innings! - Also, I kind of have a sick fascination with the statistical anomaly in baseball that a pitcher can get a blown save and then the win...

I was already a fan of the WBC after it's debut in 2006.  I'm even more a fan now.  I love that it's March 24th and we've had some amazing baseball already.  Though the US team had better get it together and get serious about the WBC.

The PR guy's quandary

There's that oft-quoted line, "there's no such thing as bad publicity."  I was thinking about that in regards to this item ("Layoffs hit two Sacramento theaters") which was posted to the Bee's website and will, I assume run in tomorrow's print edition.  It mentions my layoff from B Street Theatre along with cuts at Sacramento Theatre Company.  Times continue to be tough.

Is it bad publicity?  Possibly for B Street and STC - though I hope not.  I hope only good comes from it (maybe people will clamor to make donations!).  Funny thing, I'm still in PR/Marketing mode - just texted someone to pick up the hard copy for me (I'm out of town), wondering what the placement will be in the paper, will it be in the arts or business section?

Oh, if you're hearing about my layoff for the first time, um, sorry I didn't tell you, and (1) I'm OK, (2) I'm staying in Sacramento and (3) I'm looking for work if you know of anything.  I'll post more later and talk to you soon.

I was wondering who said "there's no such thing as bad publicity" - I had assumed it was P.T. Barnum.  But it was actually Irish playwright Brendan Behan who said it, and the complete quote is:

"There is no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary."