I stepped in to play Greg opposite Lisa Appleyard as Kate, Venee Call-Ferrer was Tom, Phyllis and Leslie, and the wonderful Sofia Valdez played Sylvia, the dog of dogs. A certain actor held his script, we only did two shows, but the audiences were so generous in spirit and donations that we took in nearly $2,000 for the Alameda Food Bank. And so we began. 9 plays later, and with over $32,000 raised, we are a thing, a heart-driven, clumsy, beautiful thing- an all volunteer theater company blessed to be able to perform together, before so many loving attendees, with a simple prime directive- help the Food Bank help those people who are struggling with food insecurities. We use and reuse set pieces found and stored in a shed given to us by Lisa, wearing well worn costumes, holding thrifted props, and reciting the most powerful and graceful lines ever written, mostly by William Shakespeare. So many memories…

How after a performance of our Beatle-themed Much Ado, enjoying ourselves at the Fireside, someone said, so, we’re a theater company now, what’s next, Gene? And thus we were anointed! That next show was Hamlet, with a remarkable cast, where we all sang Hallelujah at the end under the lights of the Healing Garden, our home. Our first indoor show was our first A Christmas Carol, with the remarkable Bob Paine as Scrooge, performed at the First Congregational Church of Alameda (thank you Lisa and Laura). We traveled Midsummer to the parks, closing gloriously in the cold and fog at Tillman on Bay Farm. Then Romeo and Juliet, where Julian and Anika swelled and broke our hearts, especially when we got to act on the Bruns Stage at Cal Shakes (thanks Clive and Cheryle). Another Christmas Carol back at FCCA, this time with Scrooge a tech-bro played by Cory Alexander Kahane. Then Macbeth, where Luis and Darrah played the leads with such strength and conviction, bravo friends. And just this past July we put up As You Like It, with a sonnet reciting sheep, a gaggle of joyful, talented thespians, and a guy dressed as a dear and a lion.

We are a community theater in the purest sense because we literally perform in the community- on a stage in a former parking lot at 1435 Webster Street. But also because we’re supported by our three wonderful neighbors- Calafia Taqueria, Patina and Rust, and The Fireside. We’re a sponsored project of the West End Arts District and work alongside the wonderful West Alameda Business Association (thank you Tara, Linda and Elissa). Daisy’s on Park Street, Santoro’s Deli, and All Good Living are our business sponsors, along with the incredible Alameda Post. The Rotary Club of Alameda and the Kiwanis Club have given us grants to cover our costs, as did The Alameda County Arts Commission. But those who buoy us the most, and really make all things possible, are the many people who sit and watch our shows, then afterwards fill the orange buckets with cash and checks. They also fill our hearts, with hugs and praise, the regulars, the folks who wander down the street, hear something, then look over the fence to find a play, a Shakespeare play, being performed in West Alameda, outdoors, under the sun. All of them, all of you, from the tipsy guy who gave us a standing ovation to the family on Bay Farm who gave $1,000, are parts of the engine of love and theater that is The Foodbank Players, quite likely the most unique theater company anywhere, ever.

Deepest thanks to every person who has performed for us, my former student actors back again, my family, those who have been in one show, or 8 of 9 (yay, Bill), the musicians who have played and sung, the incredible crews (Quinn, Aris, Yela), the stupendous Scott Slone who’s done our posters, dear Julia for yourself and your acting children, Dots Pretzels and Oreos, our official snacks, Tanoa for the stage, Luis for tech support and your talent, Jeff Raz the remarkable, Shannon at Julie’s Coffee and Tea Garden (our corporate headquarters) and Shakespeare, who once wrote, “The plays the thing,” and oh wow was he right.