The power – and pressure – of perfectly casting a show
Starting Date: May 27, 2025
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The power – and pressure – of perfectly casting a show

let’s break it down – yellow face

From moderated discussions to curated experiences, our Let’s Break It Down events are designed to offer a deeper dive into the subject matter of each Mainstage show.

Yellow Face was inspired, in part, by the uproar around the casting of Jonathan Pryce in “yellowface” for the Broadway production of Miss Saigon.  The politics and process of casting continue to be a hot-button subject. To ensure respectful, inclusive representation. Join us in a discussion with folks who have years of experience navigating this critical step in the creative process. 

❋ Length: 1 hour

Tickets are pay-what-you-can

panelists

SALIM RAZAWI

Salim Razawi is a theatre maker who is thrilled to be at Shotgun. He majored in theatre arts in college with an emphasis in acting and a minor in communications. Having been involved in numerous theatrical productions, Salim is no stranger to the theatre. He has been on a two-year collegiate competitive speaking team where he was internationally recognized and awarded. When not performing, Salim spends his time teaching theatre arts, directing, and coaching private students through various companies in the bay area and is passionate about DEI work. One of his proudest accomplishments is Co-Founding T.E.A.M Theatre, a youth arts program in the tri-valley.

SALIM RAZAWI

Casting Director – Shotgun Players

KIMBERLY RIDGEWAY

Kimberly Ridgeway is an award-winning director, playwright, actor, and producer. Kimberly has directed projects for many Bay Area theaters including Altarena Playhouse, Central Works, City Lights Theatre Company, Dragon Productions Theatre Company, Oakland Theatre Project, New Conservatory Theatre Center, SF Playground, St. Mary’s College, Theatre Rhinoceros, Palo Alto Players, 3Girls Theatre and TheatreFirst; as well as for Three Willows Theatre (TX), National Black Theatre (NY), and Spokane Civic Theatre (WA).  Some of her favorite acting roles include Shelly in Colman Domingo’s  DOT, Mrs. Muller in Doubt, Duchess in Wonderland (World Premiere), Biz in The Human Ounce (World Premiere), and Camae in Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop for which she won the BroadwayWorld San Francisco Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play. Kimberly the Artistic Associate at Altarena Playhouse, a Brady Fellow Recipient for her play Soulmates (3Girls Theatre), the recipient of the Theatre Bay Area (TBA) Arts Leadership Residency (Central Works), and the 2024 winner of the June Anne Baker Prize for a commissioned new work. Up next: Kimberly will be performing in Lynn Nottage’s Sweat (June, Palo Alto Players), directing The Wisdom of Eve (September, Altarena Playhouse), and is the Co-writer and director of Snowbound: A Holiday Tale (December, Town Hall Theatre).

KIMBERLY RIDGEWAY

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