There’s a new theater in Gilroy that’s making waves and drawing
crowds. Could it be the spark we need to revitalize our
downtown?
Limelight Actors Theater is the brainchild of Kevin Heath, a
local arts supporter who is passionate about helping Gilroy’s
downtown grow and flourish. Heath is confident that Limelight’s
presence downtown will help to showcase other businesses even
though it doesn’t have a permanent home.
There’s a new theater in Gilroy that’s making waves and drawing crowds. Could it be the spark we need to revitalize our downtown?
Limelight Actors Theater is the brainchild of Kevin Heath, a local arts supporter who is passionate about helping Gilroy’s downtown grow and flourish. Heath is confident that Limelight’s presence downtown will help to showcase other businesses even though it doesn’t have a permanent home.
In January and February, he presented staged readings and a cabaret at the Monterey Street Interim Center for the Arts, offering audiences the option of bringing their own dinner and wine to enjoy before the show. It was instant success as theater lovers gathered for an evening of food and entertainment in what appears to be an excellent acoustic setting. It was also an opportunity for the Gilroy Arts Alliance to show off the center, market it for future events and benefit from a percentage of the proceeds which Heath donated to the center.
Limelight’s next event looks like another winner. “One Way Ticket” will be performed at Lizarran Tapas Restaurant on Monterey Street this month. “One Way Ticket” is a montage of nine one-act plays all related to air travel. If you’ve ever had a travel experience that left you with an “I could write a book” feeling, you’re sure to relate to this one. The acts are mini sitcoms – three on an airplane, five in an airport and one in a doctor’s office. Heath shares the directing with Joanna Evans and joins the cast that features local and San Jose actors.
Although new to owning and managing a production company, Heath has had a theater connection since the first grade when he performed as the Partridge in a Pear Tree in Sidney, N.Y. His love of performing continued throughout the years and it was a natural step to enter New York State University at Geneseo as a speech and communications major. Before moving to California, his stage experiences included community theater in New York and Connecticut and a paid acting position in murder mysteries on a cruise ship in the Boston Harbor.
His “real” job was creating and writing educational pieces for a pharmaceuticals medical publishing company. He also worked at a Boston ad agency where he learned invaluable management skills that have influenced every aspect of his life. Tired of East Coast winters, Heath visited California, fell in love with San Francisco and relocated in June of 1999. He met his partner, Alan Obata, in September of that same year and moved to Gilroy in 2000.
While holding positions in public relations and human resources, Heath became involved in local theater, where he made new and lasting friendships. At South Valley Civic Theatre, he acted in “The Neil Simon Suites”, “The Foreigner” as Reverend David, and “Gypsy” as Tulsa, and produced and served on the board of directors. He performed one of his favorite roles, Leslie in “Holiday Snap”, at Pintello Comedy Theater.
Heath has put his passion for the arts into action. For the past two years, with the help of former employer, Dennis Daniel Co., he has organized fundraisers for the “Kids Discover Arts” event. An active member of the Gilroy Arts Alliance Board of Directors, Heath was recently appointed to the Gilroy Arts and Culture Commission. He is vocal about Gilroy’s need for a performing arts center and feels that businesses should support and contribute to the arts.
“They can only benefit”, he said. “Putting your name on a program or poster is marketing to a captive audience. Everyone wins.”
Gilroy’s free “Kids Discover Arts” event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Wheeler Community Center gymnasium. Local art professionals will donate their time and talent to guide children ages 5 to 11 in a variety of hands-on activities.
Pintello Comedy Theater recently celebrated nine years of outstanding theater and promises to continue giving us good theater and good fun. They are rehearsing “Kitchen Witches”, which will open April 15. The cooking show spoof starring Rosalind Farotte, Ruth E. Stein and Jeff Patereau is a must see.Put it on your calendar.
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March Events
– “One Way Ticket”
March 11, 12, 18, 19, 15, 16, 25 and 26; Doors open at 7:30 p.m., Performance at 8 p.m.
Lizarran Tapas Restaurant, 7400 Monterey St., Gilroy; (408) 472-3292; Dinner reservations at (408) 842-2095
– Kids Discover Arts
March 5, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wheeler Community Center, 250 W. Sixth St., Gilroy; Free activities for children ages 5 to 11, must be accompanied by an adult. (408) 846-0460
– “Anything Goes”
March 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 at 8 p.m.; March 13, 20 at 2:30 p.m.
Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, Monterey at Fifth Street, Morgan Hill; ww.svct.org
– “Colors & Characters”
Saturday, March 12, 7:30 p.m.
Gavilan College Theatre, Gilroy
Tickets: Booksmart in Morgan Hill, Porcellas Music and First St. Coffee in Gilroy, Postal Graphics in Hollister
– Auditions for South Valley Civic Theatre “Curtains, the Musical”
Saturday, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Adults and teens older than 16, prepare a song, bring sheet music, dress to move
16840 Joleen Way, F4, Morgan Hill; (408) 842-SHOW
