News and Media
News and Media
Skyline College Dance, Drama, and Music Departments Present:
Performance Dates:
April 19, 20, and 21, 2024.
Spindrift School presents relatable Disney musical
New Theater Program Offers students a lesson in arts
Students at San Bruno Park take to the satge
Countywide Celebration of the Arts
Join us on Saturday, September 30, 12:00-3:00pm for an exciting and free event at San Mateo’s Central Park Outdoor Stage, a public space for all to enjoy live performances. We invite you to be part of this day to share in the joy and delight that these diverse talented local artists and organizations bring to our community.
Bring your family, friends, and a picnic and enjoy our talented emcee Gary D. Ferguson and performers:
Musicians and singers will entertain us with a blend of acoustic, soul, jazz and hip-hop, Polynesian Voices, American/Irish pop folk songs, and America the Beautiful will be sung A cappella
Poets will inspire us with free verse, narrative, and spoken word styles
Dancers will kick up their heels in the tradition of ballet, Contemporary Afro-Brazilian, South Indian classical, Folklorico, hip-hop, and Chinese Kongfu Dance
Actors and actresses will use their magic leaving you to want more
2023 Fall Musical
AUDITIONS: Skyline College Fall Musical 2023
Are you ready to seize the day and shine on the stage? Skyline College is thrilled to announce auditions for the iconic rock musical "Rent" by Jonathan Larson. If you have a passion for performing arts and want to be part of an unforgettable production, we invite you to audition for this groundbreaking show. Join Director Gary D. Ferguson, Music Director Jude Navari, and Tech Director Josh Harris in presenting a musical that changed the landscape of musical theatre forever.
About the Musical
Set in the bohemian neighborhood of East Village in New York City, RENT follows the lives of a group of struggling artists and musicians, who face the challenges of love, friendship, creativity, and the realities of living with HIV/AIDS. Jonathan Larson's powerful music and poignant storytelling create a show that resonates with audiences of all ages.
Save space in your Fall 2023 schedule on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-5 pm. Rehearsals/courses have a late start in September.
School of Rock!
‘School of Rock’ brings together musical mix
With its live music and “roof-raising energy,” the show demands a larger stage than Spindrift’s previous productions. Ferguson, who also teaches at Skyline Community College, arranged for the musical to play at the college theater. “School of Rock” will run for seven shows, May 23-28. Tickets are available at the Spindrift website, spindriftschool.org/tickets.
My sit down with Gianna Franco of KPIX.
ADULTS: Spindrift School of Performing Arts is looking for Adults for our Spring Production of School of Rock! Rehearsals for Adults are 6 weeks beginning April 9th 2023. Rehearsals run Sunday through Thursday from 6:30-9:30pm. Tech week begins May 15th. There will be 4 performances. Opening Night is Friday May 26th a 2 show Day on May 27th and closing on Sunday May 28th.
All performances are at the newly remodeled Skyline College theater seating 550 guests. Adult Actors are 100% volunteer. There is no pay for this production. Come be a part of the inaugural combined adult/youth production!
Skyline College is pleased to announce auditions for our tentative Spring 2023 LIVE production of HEATHERS The Musical,
directed and choreographed by Gary D. Ferguson.
Audition Details
Audition Dates: November 3 and 6, 2022. (Callbacks: November 10)
Audition Location:
Rm. 1115
Skyline College
3300 College Drive
San Bruno, CA. 94066
Please prepare BOTH:
your best 16-32 bars of an up-tempo song (fast tempo) AND
your best 16-32 bars of a ballad (slow tempo).
Please bring your own backup accompaniment recording that can be played from your phone, tablet, or computer.
Gary’s artistic journey began as a scholarship student w/ Alvin Ailey & Gus Giordano Dance Companies, an experience which instilled a “passion for dance, music, theatre & movement.” After years spent on Broadway, national & international tours, Vegas residencies, theme parks & cruise ships, Gary decided that it was time to bring his artistic “eagerness & dedication to the Bay Area.” With an MBA in International Business & a Bachelor’s degree in Arts Management with an emphasis in Dance Management, Gary is, undeniably, an arts organization’s dream.
And while Gary the professional & Gary the businessman are, in & of themselves, impressive facets of this artist, what really sold us on Mr. Ferguson was Gary the educator. One only need peruse his teaching philosophy to see that he exudes the Spindrift spirit through and through:
You do not have to be able to dance to be a dancer. It should be something that is available to anyone that has a passion to move. My goal is to take those that are not dancers & give them a passion for the art form; to take those that are already accomplished dancers & elevate the culture of dance so that it does not become just about steps & choreography but more about the feeling & emotion of what they are doing.
With a philosophy like the one above, it should come as no surprise that Gary will be spending plenty of time in the classrooms of SSPA. From acting as Director/Choreographer of our winter production of Mamma Mia!, to continuing the cultivation of our Spindrift Dance Company, to bringing new offerings to the SSPA lineup of classes (Intermediate/Advanced Jazz, All-Levels Open Ballet Adult Tap & more), Gary brings all the freshness of a new voice & all of the polish of an experienced artist.
SSPA must have done something right to be earning such a gem; we can’t wait for you to join him in class so that you too can fall in love with this sparkling individual that we have the honor of calling Artistic Director.
What’s going on at Los Altos Youth Theater!
Los Altos Youth Theater Mission is to provide young artists to collaborate with professional artists in rehearsing both plays and musicals. It is our belief that people of all abilities have the right to experience and participate in the arts and that theater offers uniquely positive avenues for building relationships, developing creativity, and increasing confidence.
May 5 – May 15, 2022
Ruthless, The Musical
Music by Marvin Laird, Lyrics and Book by Joel Paley
Directed and Choreographed by Gary D. Ferguson
Eight-year-old Tina Denmark knows she was born to play Pippi Longstocking, and she’ll do anything to win the part in her school musical. Her mother, fellow students, and the rest of the world had better watch out because nothing will stop her quest for stardom!! Cunningly spoofing classic musicals and campy films from Gypsy to The Bad Seed, this aggressively outrageous musical garnered rave reviews during its long Off-Broadway run.
“Campy, quirky, ridiculous, stupefying, laugh-out-loud funny: Call it what you will, Los Altos Stage Company’s production of “Ruthless” will leave you breathless with laughter”.
“Gary Ferguson proves how strong direction can make a mediocre script much better”.
By JOANNE ENGELHARDT | For The Daily News
Solo show at Los Altos Stage is ‘Brilliant’
If you can take 75 minutes out of your life before Dec. 19 to experience Los Altos Stage Company’s production of “Every Brilliant Thing,” do it.
Gary Ferguson directs this show with a gentle matter-of-factness.
By JOANNE ENGELHARDT | For The Daily News
Skyline College is pleased to announce auditions for our tentative Spring 2022 LIVE production of PIPPIN.
Heir to the Frankish throne, the young prince Pippin is in search of the secret to true happiness and fulfillment. He seeks it in the glories of the battlefield, the temptations of the flesh and the intrigues of political power (after disposing of his father, King Charlemagne the Great). In the end, though, Pippin finds that happiness lies not in extraordinary endeavors, but rather in the unextraordinary moments that happen every day.
Behind The Curtain
an interview with Gary D. Ferguson
Guys and Dolls
I am so excited to be partnering with Peninsula Ballet Theater as they launch their inaugural musical theater season. I am extremely proud to be directing Guys and Dolls for PBT’s newly formed sister company “Peninsula Broadway Productions”.
Hailed as the perfect musical comedy, this award-winning classic gambles with luck and love under the bright lights of Broadway.
Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls ran for 1,200 performances when it opened on Broadway in 1950. It received nearly unanimous positive reviews from critics and won a bevy of awards, including Tony Awards, Drama Desks and Oliviers.
Set in Damon Runyon's mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler, Nathan Detroit, tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they've been engaged for fourteen years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the strait-laced missionary, Sarah Brown. Guys and Dolls take us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually, everyone ends up right where they belong.
Frank Loesser's brassy, immortal score makes Guys and Dolls a crowd pleaser and is a treat for audiences of any age.
Friday, February 11th
Saturday, February 12th
Performance times announced soon
Behind the Curtain
Where I as the host introduce you to creative thought leaders in the visual and performing arts, as they share their personal and professional journeys, providing insight into the creative process, illuminating career pathways, and shining a spotlight on the impact of creative arts in cultural and social movements.
