Gene Kahane pens the poem "You May Not Know," a tribute to his Jewish father who survived the camps in the 1940s,

If you're someone prone to dressing up, toe tapping when the music starts and eager to leap onto the dance floor, well...you're invited to glam it up when you come see The Great Gatsby, starting next week! Help add to the ambience, show your bling, then shake a leg! We open on February 27th, 7pm, Daisy's Mercantile.

The Foodbank Players is thrilled to introduce the incredible cast bringing F. Scott Fitzgerald’s world to life! Head over to https://foodbankplayers.org/shows/cast-of-the-great-gatsby to see their photos and bios—you won’t want to miss these talented performers!

Join us for *The Great Gatsby*, opening **Thursday, February 27th** at **Daisy's Mercantile on Park Street in Alameda, CA**! Don't miss this dazzling adaptation—reserve your seats now!

**Visit http://foodbankplayers.org and follow the link to Eventbrite to RSVP.** Admission is FREE but donations are welcome. Proceeds will go to the Alameda Food Bank

Gatsby poster teaser! Full poster reveal with details coming soon! Thanks Scott Slone! A heads up: Due to limited seating in our performance space you'll need to make a reservation! More on that soon. Keep your eyes open for the green light! 🤎

As we mentioned last month (see our December 26 post), FBP veteran Even Mooney will be featured in "Calendar Girls" produced by Masquers Playhouse. And now, tickets have gone on sale. Get your tickets now!

Thanks to the magical technical skills of the marvelous Tara Pilbrow and the remarkable Luis Araquistain, you can now support our Refill the Tank campaign right from your electronic devices! 🖥️📱💫 Here's our new donation page.

We’re bringing F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless tale to life this March, indoors, with *all that jazz*! Stay tuned for performance details—mark your calendars for the first three weekends of March.

**Meet the Cast:**

**Nick Carraway** – Paul Bisesi

**Jay Gatsby** – Matt Hess

**Daisy Buchanan** – Darrah Jones

**Tom Buchanan** – Sam Weiner

**Jordan Baker** – Kelsey Goeres

**Meyer Wolfsheim** – Ben Rings

**Myrtle Wilson** – Mary Watson

**Wilson / Owl Eyes** – Justin Nilsen

**Butlers / Henry Gatz** – Bill Brobeck

**The Fitzgerald Sisters** – Frida and Katya Schiesser

**Directed by Gene Kahane**

Get ready for an unforgettable journey into the glitz, glamour, and drama of the Roaring Twenties. As always, this production is done in support of the Alameda Food Bank

The Foodbank Players, known for our daring leaps from play to play, are turning a new page in 2025! For the first time, we’re thrilled to announce an ENTIRE SEASON of incredible productions. Woohoo! Woohoo!

**Our 2025 Season Lineup**

*The Great Gatsby* – March 2025

*The Taming of the Shrew* – June 2025

*Hamlet* – September 2025

*A Christmas Carol* – December 2025

Mark your calendars, gather your friends, and prepare for a year filled with drama, laughter, and a touch of holiday cheer!

Thanks, Alanna, for her continued support of our plays and project to support The Alameda Food Bank!. Alanna is the first to donate as part of our Refill the Tank fundraising campaign as we work on our upcoming play, The Great Gatsby! If you'd like to join Alanna and help us continue to perform for our community please leave a message here or email genekahane@gmail.com. Your donation is tax deductable. Thank you!

Still Life is a coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama that tracks 15-year-old Dafne through the last four months of 1999; the last four months before her mother dies of leukemia. Still Life features FBP Veteran Anika Jensen as Dafne and FBP Actors Karin Jensen and Aaron Bruce in supporting roles. For more details, visit the Still Life website.

FBP veteran Even Mooney will be featured in the upcoming Masquers Playhouse production of Calendar Girls, opening this February. For more information, check out the Masquers Playhouse's website at https://www.masquers.org/calendar-girls/

When Annie’s husband John dies of leukemia, she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They manage to persuade four fellow Women’s Institute members to pose nude with them for an “alternative” calendar, with a little help from hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence. The news of the women’s charitable venture spreads like wildfire, and hordes of press soon descend on the small village of Knapeley in the Yorkshire Dales. The calendar is a success, but Chris and Annie’s friendship is put to the test under the strain of their newfound fame.

FBP is pleased to announce that our next show will be The Great Gatsby with performances in March!

Please help West End Arts District in supporting organizations like The Food Bank Players. They share with FBP in the belief that arts and culture are essential to nurturing a strong and vibrant community.

To all who joined us for The Foodbank Players' production of A Christmas Carol, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! ❤️ Your laughter, tears, and applause brought this timeless story to life in a way that only a warm and supportive audience can.

Don't miss out! Come and enjoy A Christmas Carol!

First Congregational Church, 1912 Central Ave., Alameda, Ca

Seating is first come first served

DONATIONS WELCOME - all proceeds support the Alameda Food Bank

Congratulations and thank you to Kelsey Goeres for her wonderful piece in the most recent Bay Station Eagle on how she came to be a part of the foodbankplayers! Actor, director, writer, editor- your heart and talents are a treasure.

FBP has completed 2 out of the 3 weekends for our run of "A Christmas Carol". We thank those who made donations in person as well as those who made donations on-line at https://alamedafoodbank.networkforgood.com/projects/214060-food-bank-players-2023

The incomparable Don Martin wears 3 outfits, speaks in 3 voices and is threeriffic!

Whether Ebenezer Scrooge is played by Alistair Sim, George C. Scott, Michael Caine or a duck, the central character of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is an iconic grouch.

In this classic reimagining of A Christmas Carol, the miserly Miss Scrooge shuns joy and generosity, scoffing at the festive season.

And we hope to see you after this Holiday at one of our performances of A Christmas Carol!

• Based on the story by
• CHARLES DICKENS
• Directed by
• GENE KEHANE

And just like that, our journey with King Lear has come to an end. We're sad to close the curtain on this production, but our hearts are full knowing we had the chance to share it with such a wonderful audience.

Don't miss out! And please tell your friends.

SHOWTIMES: October 26, and 27 at 2 PM at The Healing Garden, 1435 Webster Street, Alameda. Free admission, donations to the Alameda Food Bank happily accepted!

FBP veterans Bruce Kaplan (as Willy Loman), Evan Mooney (as Uncle Ben/Stanley), and Kara S. Poon as (Miss Forsythe) are featured in this Actors Ensemble of Berkeley production of Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman", opening November 15th. Check it out!

This will be our 3rd production of the play and we are looking for actors who might want to help jolly up that Scrooge person! If interested please email genekahane@gmail.com for more information. Rehearsals in November, performances the first 3 weekends in December! Thanks!

It was a lot of fun! There are two weekends left and, if you haven't made it yet, please come. If you've seen the show, encourage your friends to come. If you can't come, consider donating to the Alameda Food Bank anyway; https://alamedafoodbank.networkforgood.com/projects/214060-food-bank-players-2023 They also let us know they are in need of volunteers.

Please join us as The Foodbank Players proudly presents this timeless Shakespearean tragedy that explores power, family, and fate.

Anne McKereghan, Realtor with Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty, meets with Food Bank Players founder, Gene Kahane, and Kelsey Goeres

Be sure to watch FBP veterans Martie Muldoon and Donna Blevins in The Encore Players’ production of THE CURIOUS SAVAGE opening November 16.

Congratulations to Stewart and Caitlin on the day of their nuptials!

September 11, 2024 marks the 3 year anniversary of The Foodbank Players. Having had to cancel the first weekend’s shows due to unhealthy air conditions, and having to replace an actor ten days prior, we put on Sylvia at the Healing Garden on a lovely Saturday afternoon.

Our first day of blocking (putting actors in there place - on stage, that is) was last Saturday (Sept 7).

It was great fun! Thanks to Ben, our stage manager, for use of his back yard, and to Gene, the producer, for pizza and beverages!

Next week we begin the work to bring King Lear to the stage in October.

We're excited to introduce our cast of King Lear which will play the last 3 weekends of October. More news about the performances coming soon. To be sure you get the latest news about such performance, sign up for our mailing list.

• KENT: Luis Araquistain
• GLOUCESTER: Don Martin
• EDMUND: Evan Mooney
• KING LEAR: Gene Kahane
• CORNWALL: Venee Call-Ferrer
• ALBANY: Tim Morrill
• GONERIL: Jasmine Ng
• REGAN: Darrah Jones
• CORDELIA: Kara S. Poon
• EDGAR: Paul Bisesi
• OSWALD: Karin Jensen
• FOOL: Caitlin Kenney
• KING OF FRANCE, MESSENGER, SOLDIER: Kate Rockwell
• DOCTOR, CAPTAIN: Bill Brobeck
• KNIGHT, GENTLEMAN: Sally Geary
• BURGUNDY, FIGHTING SERVANT: Frida Schiesser

[Painting: King Lear Weeping over the Dead Body of Cordelia 1786–8, James Barry]

Still Life,' a coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama set in the late 90s.

Here's a very inspiring Richmondside article about FBP veteran Karen Buchanan. Karen played Lysandra in our May, 2023 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

I was overjoyed to represent The Foodbank Players and accept the very generous grant from the Kiwanis Club of Alameda.

Playing August 24-September 8 (3 weekends); shows are Sat and Sun at 4pm; PLUS Labor Day Monday Sept 2, 4pm at John Hinkel Park, Berkeley.

Regarding the event for National Night Out this evening, FBP director Gene Kahane conveys this message of thanks…

The Foodbank Players will be participating in National Night Out! We’ve been invited to do a presentation (full details are in the works) to help promote public safety and, as always, raise money for the Alameda Food Bank. AUGUST 6, 2024 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. WE'LL BE IN THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE HARBOR BAY CLUB

The Foodbank Players will be holding auditions for our next production, King Lear, on Thursday, August 8th at 7pm in the Healing Garden!

Some great news from the Alameda Post about the Alameda Food Bank! On July 22, the Planning Board approved the design review for the Alameda Food Bank’s planned addition of a 10,000-square-foot warehouse to Building 607 at 677 West Ranger Avenue.

It is with tremendous appreciation, giddy joy, and boundless humility that we announce that the Foodbank Players have received a generous grant from the Kiwanis Club of Alameda.

This amazing Foodbank Player, having just wowed 'em for 3 weeks as Silvius in As You Like It, is about to play the part of Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit for TYR.

Don't miss out on the funny, romantic, and silly fun! Can't come but would like to donate to the Food Bank? Then, please CLICK HERE TO DONATE. Thanks!

A couple of young, and bright FBP stars in this awesome dystopian story about corporate greed!

This is the ninth play by the Foodbank Players, and for those who’ve seen all or most of their shows, something special has been happening over the course of that time.

FBP veteran, Robert Paine, can be seen in this riveting production!

It'll be a HOOT!

Come a little early to order lunch at Calafia Taqueria right next door to our performance space (so you can eat and watch!). Calafia is one of our awesome sponsors. Burritos and Shakespeare! What can be better!?!?

The Foodbank Players wish you a happy and safe 4th of July! Look for us in the Alameda 4th of July parade (entry #103), and come watch us in As You Like It, opening July 7! It'll be a HOOT!

As You Like It opens in less than a week! Starts July 7!

Performances July 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 in The Healing Garden, 1435 Webster Street, Alameda, at 2pm. Free admission, donations to the Food Bank happily accepted! Seating is first come first serve. The shows are outdoors, some shade provided through the generous sharing of patio umbrellas, but dress for weather, hydrate and use sunscreen!

A little poem about As You Like It which open just one week from today!!! Performances July 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 in The Healing Garden, 1435 Webster Street, Alameda, at 2pm. Free admission!

More charming actors, this is Aaron and Kristin who play Silvius and Sophie, come see them also on July 7th.

Zoe Bruce will be playing Caldwell B. Cladwell in the Tomorrow Youth Repertory production of Urinetown. Opening July 12.

Professional voice actor Shawn Smith sits down for five questions with FBP director Gene Kahane.

For As You Like It we're adding a few songs from John Denver to help tell the story.

FBP star Aaron Bruce is featured in Our Town with the Pinole Community Players! Other FBP members are in this too. Be sure to scroll through the pictures (look for the arrows) to see!

An adorable poster with performance details: July 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 in the Healing Garden, 2pm, free admission, donations to the Food Bank happily accepted!

The play opens July 13! Congratulations, Lisa, for your role as The Mayor’s Wife!

The Alameda Food Bank announced that during the recent Stamp Out Hunger Drive you donated 13,387 pounds of food!

Silicon Valley Shakespeare kick-starts their mainstage summer season this weekend with their 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 Shakespeare in the Park 𝘈𝘭𝘭'𝘴 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 production‼️ For details visit https://www.svshakespeare.org

It is with a sad and thankful heart that I belatedly share the passing of Nick Cabral.

Ah! Summer! Some sunshine can be wonderful but our actors would like to avoid TOO MUCH of a good thing.

Actors Torey Bookstein and Cory Kahane muse about their roles a Rosalind and Orlando in The Foodbank Players' production of As You Like It which opens July 7, 2024 in Alameda, CA.

See the description of the event in splendiferous verse by Gene Kahane!

The Cast of As You Like It (order of appearance)

• Orlando- Cory Kahane
• Adam- Fran Kahane
• Oliver- Paul Bisesi
• Charles- Hannah Landau
• Rosalind- Torey Bookstein
• Celia- Kelsey Gores
• Touchstone- Jenn Strach
• LeBeau- Ben Rings, Karin Jensen
• Duke Frederick- Jennifer Morrill
• Duke Senior- Maya Rath
• Amiens- Hannah Landau
• Jaques- Ronnie Anderson
• Corin- Bill Brobeck
• Silvius- Aaron Bruce
• Phoebe- Kate Rockwell
• Sophie the Sheep- Kristina Buendia
• Stage Manager- Yela Rivera

Congratulations to the wonderful cast!

[Painting: Daniel Maclise (1806–1870), The Wrestling Scene in ‘As You Like It’ (1854), oil on canvas, 129 x 177.1 cm.]

FBP Director Gene Kahane and Stage Manager Yelanis Rivera held auditions today (May 18, 2024) for the upcoming production of As You Like It.

Martie appears on Chanticleers Theater production of Just My Type!

Foodbank Players veteran, Richard Bunker, will be playing King in the Silicon Valley Shakespeare‘s production of All’s Well That Ends Well. Playing June 7–23, 2024.

Spring cleaning is here! And for The Foodbank Players, that means a refresh for our website.

Auditions: Saturday, May 18th from 1-3 in the Healing Garden, 1435 Webster Street, Alameda.

Macbeth contemplates the last day of the The Food Bank Players run of the play by the same name.

Last Two Performances

This Sat and Sunday April 27, 28 at 4pm

Location: the Healing Garden, 1435 Webster Street in Alameda

Admission is FREE - donations are welcome - proceeds go to The Alameda Foodbank

On December 12th, 2023, the Foodbank Players were among the fortunate recipients of grants from the Alameda Rotary Club. We thank the Rotarians for their beautiful support of so many organizations that do such good on this island and are honored to be among them all.