A year’s worth of programs from the Yuba-Sutter regions community theater productions. Photo by Shamaya Sutton

YUBA-SUTTER, CA (MPG) – It’s been a whirlwind of a year for me but I still managed to grab the bull by the horns so to speak in terms of keeping up with the local performing arts world. In fact, I didn’t miss a single community based show (high schools and middle schools excluded). The productions included in my “judgings” came from The Acting Company, Convergence Theater Company, Yuba College Theater, Center Stage Productions, Creative Light Theater, and a new up and coming group called Creative Thinkers. All combined, there were  a total of 14 shows to catch this year from the above groups, but only 12 were eligible for this write as I personally participated in The Acting Company’s production of “The Dining Room,” and helped direct “Finding Nemo Jr.” for Rise Up Yuba-Sutter.

Out of these 12 I tried to find the ones that stuck out the most, leaving a lasting impression on both myself and the audience. I also try to recognize those “rising stars” in our community and those that go above and beyond in their love for the arts. So without further ado, let's get down to the 2024 Theater in Review: Recognizing Yuba-Sutter’s Brightest Stars.

Best Musical: “Newsies” by Center Stage Productions
Typically I would section a youth production off into its own category however I felt that “Newsies” raised the bar too high not to be included alongside its adult counterparts. It's always hard to decide on a “best,” but when I close my eyes and think back on the incredible theatrical year our community has had, one scene in particular flashes before me - a chain of leaping, twirling newsies delivering mail and belting in broadway fashion. From the dancing to the set design, acting and technical delivery, “Newsies” brought it all and then some. A true stand out from this production included Kelsey Watkins who played the role of Crutchie. Something about the way she delivered the song “Letter from the Refuge” charmed the crowd so entirely, it was one of those rare moments where you sit and think “now I can say I knew them when.”

This was the first time Center Stage decided to split their talent into two casts, one of which consisted primarily of teens (Newsies) and a younger production (Frozen Jr.) which was directed in part by some of the older cast members. Frozen Jr. also had astounding success and I hope to see Center Stage continue in its expanding curriculum.

Kelsey Watkins sings “Letter from the Refuge” during a showing of Newsies at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts in Yuba City. Photo by Shamaya Sutton

Rising Star (Junior): Maysann Phelps
Speaking of Frozen, this junior production stood out for some of the best cast character actors I've seen in years. Specifically I’d like to recognize Oscar Landis as Kristoff and Julia Swarm as Olaf who both completely nailed the voice and energy of their characters. Aside from all the cuteness, Maysann Phelps peaked my attention with some of her bold acting choices. She tended to shy away from the more cliche Disney interpretations of Princess Anna and instead brought an authentic teenage angst to the role. There were two moments where she used a shrill yet contained scream that grounded the character's frustration and justified her apparent immaturity having gone through adolescence without parents. On top of that her singing voice turned more than a few heads putting her at the top of my 2024 “rising stars” list.

Maysann Phelps, right, portrays princess Anna in a production of Frozen Jr. at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts in Yuba City. Photo by Shamaya Sutton

Best Play: The Glass Menagerie
Ok I’ll admit, I'm a sucker for Tennessee WIllimas, but I know a good show when I see one and this production had all the elements. JP Stottmann nailed the abstract yet intimately inviting stage design and director James Gilbreath put together an extraordinary cast. It's been my pleasure to watch many of these actors grow over the years but this production pushed some of them leaps and bounds beyond what I thought possible. I was on the fence with this one for a bit but the final 20 minutes or so won me over. Performed by candlelight only, we felt Williams intense romantic nostalgia as well as his deep regret and longing for the sister and family he lost. “Blow out your candles Laura,” one of the final lines of the play, actress Eloisa Lopez blew out the candles and the stage went black with nothing more than the lingering smell of smoke. This subtle sequence cemented itself into the memories of attendees, beckoning the true meaning of a memory play.

Actors Eloisa Lopez, right, and Christian de la Torre, left, perform the final scene of The Glass Menagerie by candlelight at Yuba College Theater. Courtesy of Yuba College Theater

Best Actor/ Actress: Ben and Cassie Fifield
There's an obvious choice for this category and it has to go to a theatrical family that has had a nonstop year. Cassandra Fifield starred as Mrs. Peacock in “Clue” and Lucy Harris in “Jekyll & Hyde.” She was also the musical director for both those productions as well as “Frozen Jr.” Likewise, Ben Fifield portrayed the sheriff in “Salt of the Earth” and starred as Mr. Boddy in “Clue” and Dr. Jekyll/Mr.Hyde in “Jekyll & Hyde.” Meanwhile their son, Ethan Fifield, made his debut leading role as Jack Kelly in “Newsies.” He also provided custom drawings for the show's projection design and was credited with costuming “Salt of the Earth.”

Essentially, this meant that the Fifield’s spent their year living between theaters, volunteering their talents to the local community. All three have undeniable stage presence and quality vocals to back it up. Without a doubt, the Fifield’s are the Yuba-Sutter regions “it” family of the year when it comes to the performing arts and we can’t wait to see what they do next.

Best Director: James Ferreira
James Ferreira, a former president of The Acting Company, returned to directing this past year with a production of “On Golden Pond.” Previously, his acting capabilities won recognitions from the Sacramento Area Regional Theater Alliance (SARTA), and his directorial abilities seem to be on par. Watching “On Golden Pond” was reminiscent of watching a live recording of a sitcom. Keeping that type of energy and comedic pace is no small feat, it takes strong vision and a well crafted cast of actors. This is where the production really sparkled. Pat Hill and Neil Thorson starred as Ethel and Norman Thayer, bringing a rare sense of authenticity and charm to their roles. Lauren Coats and Matt Coats complimented their contributions as Chelsea Thayer Wayne and Billy Ray Sr., and Roger Warner rounded out the production with a vibrant youthful presence as Billy Ray Jr. Ferreira himself took on the comedic role of Charlie Martin. The set was also well thought out, adding depth and cohesiveness to the production. Its trick door made me believe there had truly been an onset stage malfunction!

They say that the best directed shows don’t make you think about the direction at all, you simply sit back and enjoy the story. And that's exactly what Ferreira accomplished in “On Golden Pond.”

Best Design / Marketing: Talia Baxter
Pictures say a thousand words, without them we may never be able to choose what we’d like to eat off any given menu. And I think good pictures are equally important when it comes to theatrical marketing. Once again Talia Baxter, a local photographer, showed out with her incredible skill for crafting quality production shots. The shows I'm referring to are “Clue” and “Jekyll & Hyde.” The photos used in “Clue” for each character's onstage portrait looked like they came straight out of a modernized game board. I believe there were player cards made with these as well adding new “collectables” for local theater enthusiasts. The entire production of “Clue” was visually stimulating from start to finish, a nod to directors Corinna Hayes and Tanda Phelps. Meanwhile Jekyll & Hyde’s production poster looked professional enough to be engraved in part onto glass, which it was! These souvenir glasses were only available during the productions run at the Sutter Theater’s interior bar.

Contributions such as these are what helps put butts in seats and cannot be easily overlooked.

The poster design for Jekyll & Hyde starring Cassie Fifield, left, Ben Fifield, center, and Mariah Larios shot and designed by Talia Baxter. Courtesy photo Convergence Theater Company

Rising Star: Johnny Daugherty

“The Princess Bride” was Creative Thinkers inaugural production, hosted at Glad Tidings church in Yuba City. Johnny Daugherty played the role of Enigo Montoya, and If I didn't know better I would have sworn he was lip syncing his lines to the voice of originating actor Mandy Patinkin.

Daugherty was a joy to watch especially during his impressive fencing scenes. The stage combat really shown in this production and rumor has it we might be seeing some similar antics in the spring of 2025 with an interpretation of Robin Hood. 

Johnny Daugherty, left, played the role of Enigo Montoya in Creative Thinkers inaugural production of The Princess Bride hosted at Glad Tidings church in Yuba City. Photo by Shamaya Sutton