Watch Me Shine, the musical

The San Francisco Company Watch Me Shine’s first performance was in San Francisco in June 2005.

		The San Francisco cast of Watch Me Shine (Clockwise from left) Arthur Scappaticci, Kieleil De Leon, Estelle Mays, Paige Boston, Nick Kealy and Jeffrey Van Dyk (not shown).

		Paige Boston is absolutely delighted to be a part of Watch Me Shine. Her credits include film, commercials, videos, radio and numerous theatre and light opera productions. Stage roles include Petunia in Cabin In The Sky and Ruth in Raisin with the Sacramento Light Opera, Mama Euralie in Once On This Island with the Western Stage, Dame Carruthers in Yeoman of the Guard, Bloody Mary in South Pacific, Miss Hannigan in Annie, and Vera Charles in Mame with the Davis Musical Theatre Company.

		Kieleil De Leon was recently seen in Aida and Children of Eden at the Willows Theatre. He starred as Booker T. Washington in Ragtime and appeared in The Cure with the Asian American Theatre Company. Other stage roles include Ali Baba, Big River, Smokey Joe’s Café, Hair, Grease, Six Degrees of Separation, Barnum, Grand Hotel, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Crucible, A Chorus Line and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

		Nick Kealy recently appeared as Gummo Marx in Minnie’s Boys with 42nd Street Moon. He was in the world premiere of Night of the Hunter at the Willows Theatre. Other Willows roles include Huck in Big River, Lieutenant Hayes in South Pacific, and Quartet in Babes in Arms. Nick played Jack in Into the Woods with the Ray of Light Theater, as well as Felix Lindor in Do black patent leather shows really reflect up? and Ritchie in A Chorus Line at CSU Chico.

		Estelle Mays couldn’t be happier to be in another Link/Sandel show. She sang in the choral debut of their song Watch Me Shine at the Sydney Opera House during the 2002 Gay Games, she played Queen Xandora in their intergalactic musical Dream World, and she has performed their songs with the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco. She spent a year playing Julie in the Australian production of Harold Prince’s Showboat and appeared on Broadway as a puppeteer in Julie Taymor’s Juan Darien.

		Arthur Scappaticci recently starred in the musical A Man of No Importance at the New Conservatory Theatre (Dean Goodman Award). Leading roles include My Gypsy and his solo performance The Importance of Being Oscar (Dean Goodman Award). Bay Area appearances include Mrs. Warren’s Profession, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Fox, Juno and the Paycock and Oliver! Feature films: Of Men and Angels, Tucker, and Spring Awakening. TV: Tartuffe and The Birthday Party for The BBC, and Macbeth for ITV.

		Jeffrey Van Dyk has performed in many shows in the Bay Area and around the country including Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, Candide and South Pacific. This past fall he co-produced and performed in Cabaret for the Atari Generation, which featured “songs that aren’t old enough to vote,” and it’s his interest in new works that brought him to Watch Me Shine. He has sung with the Redwood Symphony and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and can’t wait ’til the next time he can go surfing.

		Stephan Smith Collins (Understudy) displayed his prodigious versatility in roles including John Kerry, Richard Simmons, King Louis, J.Lo and a tap-dancing Mr. Peanut during a year with Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon. He was recently seen in the play I'd Kill for a Parking Space at the Shelton Theatre and has appeared in commercials for the San Francisco International Film Festival and in numerous independent films.

		Jacqueline McSwanson (Understudy) is a San Francisco native, most recently seen in the Kander & Ebb revue And the World Goes Round. Favorite roles include Madame Liang in Flower Drum Song, Bloody Mary in South Pacific, the Shogun’s Mother in Pacific Overtures, Charlotte in A Little Night Music, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Lalume in Kismet, Lady Thiang in The King and I, and Genevieve in The Baker’s Wife. Jacqueline last worked with Link and Sandel as the space goddess Terrafanna in their musical Dream World.

		James DuBeq (Costumes & Choreography) has 20 years experience dancing, directing, staging, and choreographing numerous lavish productions worldwide for companies including Velocity Circus and Carnival Cruises. He designed, staged, and choreographed Escapade, Destination SF, and Les Fauxlies Fantastiques—all produced in his native San Francisco. James is currently performing in the North American Tour of Miss Saigon.

Photos by Kent Taylor