Category : Blog

From the Empathy Gym | Lessons from Strips of Paper

From the Empathy Gym | Lessons from Strips of Paper

March, 2016 Newsletter Bill English, Artistic Director I was an alienated teenager. I spent a vast amount of time alone, face down on my bed,...

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From the Empathy Gym | Transformers

From the Empathy Gym | Transformers

February, 2016 Newsletter Bill English, Artistic Director Several years ago, while in the lobby after performances of “Abigail’s Party,”...

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From the Empathy Gym | A Dangerous Place

From the Empathy Gym | A Dangerous Place

January, 2016 Newsletter Bill English, Artistic Director I attended my very first live theater performance at the age of 7. I saw Tad Lincoln...

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From the Empathy Gym | Mirror, Mirror

From the Empathy Gym | Mirror, Mirror

When I prepare to design a new set or craft a production concept, I often try to picture our stage as a giant 32’ x 16’ mirror in which we...

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Our “Story Within A Story”

Our “Story Within A Story”

The Play Within A Play Bill English, Artistic Director How we love the play within a play. Shakespeare loved them, Midsummer and Hamlet...

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From the Empathy Gym | The Temporary Forever

From the Empathy Gym | The Temporary Forever

  The Temporary Forever Before I became an artistic director, before I had a scene-shop and drafting associates and amazing carpenters to...

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From the Empathy Gym | Any Given Sunday

From the Empathy Gym | Any Given Sunday

These days, on any given Sunday, it seems that in my neighborhood, there are more people at Starbucks communing with their laptops and...

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From the Empathy Gym | The Antipathy Gym

From the Empathy Gym | The Antipathy Gym

Most of you have heard me talk about the Empathy Gym – how San Francisco Playhouse has built a safe space where our community can practice its...

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Happy August

Happy August

Happy August! Company is in full swing, and we all get a little rest from producing during its long run. I wanted to share some thoughts with you...

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San Francisco Playhouse Newsletter (August 2015) ‘From The Empathy Gym’

San Francisco Playhouse Newsletter (August 2015) ‘From The Empathy Gym’

 Happy August! Company is in full swing, and we all get a little rest from producing during its long run. I wanted to share some thoughts with...

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