Director
new works. anti-racist, pro-feminist, queer-affirming theatre productions. practical equity.
by William Shakespeare, produced by The Rustic Mechanicals, WV’s only touring Shakespearean Troupe, 2019.
Trina Byard, costume & production design; Samantha Huffman, hair & makeup design; Millie Omps, Fight Choreography
Adapted by Mountain Community Theater from the novel by Valentine Davies. Based upon the Twentieth Century Fox motion picture Miracle on 34th Street.
produced by the Buckhannon Community Theatre, the Buckhannon Opera House, 2018
bri conley, production designer; carol baxa meese, costume designer
local press coverage in The Record Delta
local press coverage at my buckhannon.com
press release & promotion from The City of Buckhannon
by Nicky Silver
produced by TheatreLAB, The Basement, 2015
Michael Jarrett, Lighting Design; Daniel Allen, Scenic Design; Maggie McGrann, Costume Design;
McLean Jesse as Sydney; Chandler Hubbard as Ronald; Evan Nasteff as Ethan; Morgan Meadows as Cybil; Joshua Guiterrez as Lance
winner of the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Ernie McClintock Ensemble Award, 2015
CRITICAL RESPONSES:
"Review: TheatreLab's 'The Altruists': Humor and energy carries latest play at TheatreLab" Style Weekly Magazine
"Director K.B. Saine [sic] has whipped her cast into fighting form, and the show bounces to each new scene with near manic energy."
http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/review-theatrelabs-the-altruists/Content?oid=2229532
"Theatre Lab's The Altruists is nearly perfect" GayRVA
"The Altruists is brilliant, magic theater."
http://www.gayrva.com/arts-culture/theatrelabs-the-altruists-is-nearly-perfect/
Theatre review: 'The Altruists' Richmond Times-Dispatch
"director kb saine expertly whipsaws Silver’s narrative across Daniel Allen’s three-bed set in The Basement, TheatreLAB’s raw and unblinking performance space"
http://www.richmond.com/entertainment/arts-theater/article_a5689a0f-c4c6-5504-9cd0-57f5135623ea.html
"Great Ensemble Rocks The Altruists for TheatreLAB" Mondo Johnny (blog posts of WCVE [NPR affiliate] critic John Porter)
"This is an ensemble play, and director kb saine has returned to Richmond and put together a killer ensemble."
http://mondojohnny.blogspot.com/2015/07/great-ensemble-rocks-altruists-for.html
OTHER:
a blog post for TheatreLAB by kb:
http://www.theatrelabrva.org/#!The-Altruists-why-this-why-here-why-now/coc4/55ae48c60cf22effe2e1d5dd
CRITICAL RESPONSES:
THEATRE REVIEW: THE GLASS MENAGERIE
"kb saine and her troupe of radiant young actors remind us in Sycamore Rouge’s luminous staging of Tennessee Williams’ 1944 masterwork, this is not a menagerie in the literal sense. Rather, it is a collection of glittering hopes, each one trapped inside a life unfulfilled, never to see the light of day." Richmond Times- Dispatch
EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCES AT SYCAMORE ROUGE
"The thought-provoking and heart-searching drama was expertly directed and cast by kb saine, and was received by the audience with great enthusiasm. ... kb saine is to be congratulated for her expertise in directing and her choice of cast, and thanked for bringing this American classic to Sycamore Rouge. This is a production that would grace any stage. Don't miss it while we have it here in Petersburg." Petersburg Progress-Index
MEMORABLE GLASS MENAGERIE FOR SYCAMORE ROUGE
"Director kb saine has taken on an American classic and crafted a solid evening of theatre out of it, even with the ghosts of memory dancing on the edges of the stage." WVCE radio, John Porter (text)
WCVE Public Radio, John Porter (audio file)
SYCAMORE ROUGE: THE GLASS MENAGERIE
"Director Saine keeps the dialog crisp and flowing and the actors keep the energy high which keeps the audience entranced with this masterful emotional presentation." Showbiz Radio
by Suzan-Lori Parks, produced at Sycamore Rouge in February/March 2012
Karim Badwan, Lighting Design; kb saine, Scenic Design; Margarette Joyner, Costume Design; Philip Milone, Technical Director
Ronnie Brown as Booth; Delvin Young as Lincoln
video clips:
"boosted": http://youtu.be/anqLwqw5F-w
"budget": http://youtu.be/vN0MKxN8jyo
CRITICAL RESPONSES:
"Dog Eat Dog," Style Weekly
"Director kb saine has smoothed out some of the awkward edges of Suzan-Lori Parks' celebrated but thorny script. She's also cast two of the area's most charismatic actors to portray brothers whose lives are a jumble of hustling, heartache and betrayal. ... With its slow-building intensity and devastating crescendo, "Topdog" shows Sycamore Rouge at the top of its game."
(review is no longer available online)
"Sycamore Rouge Play Deals With Life," Petersburg Progress-Index
"Artistic director kb saine is to be commended for expertly directing and taking on such a difficult task, capturing these complex and conflicted brothers and bringing them to life."
http://progress-index.com/lifestyles/sycamore-rouge-play-deals-with-life-1.1279388
"Topdog/Underdog at Sycamore Rouge", Mondo Johnny
"Director kb saine has the advantage of a superior cast and a perfect environment in which to stage her production."
http://mondojohnny.blogspot.com/2012/03/topdogunderdog-at-sycamore-rouge.html
"Topdog/Underdog: An American Cain and Abel Story", Urban Views Weekly
http://urbanviewsweekly.com/2012/02/22/topdogunderdog-an-american-cain-and-abel-story/
by Mary Zimmerman, produced by Sycamore Rouge at the Battersea Estate, 2011
CRITICALRESPONSES:
"Theatre Review: The Odyssey," Richmond Times-Dispatch
"The setting provided a fine backdrop for an evening of storytelling — and storytelling is what this production of "The Odyssey," directed by kb saine, does best."
(review is no longer available online)
"Battling the Elements," Style Weekly
"Director KB Saine [sic] has done her best to pep up the adventures, using imposing shadow puppets to evoke a certain nasty beast, for example. Her modern infusions are also energizing"
http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/battling-the-elements/Content?oid=1568159
by Yasmena Reza (translated by Christopher Hampton)
co-produced by Richmond Shakespeare and Sycamore Rouge, at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 2011
Brittany Dilliberto, Lighting Design; Keith Saine, Scenic Design; Lindy Bumgarner, Costume Design; Philip Milone, Technical Director
d.l. hopkins as Marc, J. Ron Fleming as Serge, and Dave Blake White as Yvan
CRITICAL RESPONSE:
"ART Shines for Sycamore Rouge and Richmond Shakespeare," Mondo Johnny (blog posts of WCVE [NPR affiliate] critic John Porter)
"Director kb saine has crafted a witty production... a well done play that will make you laugh and think – sometimes at the same time."
http://mondojohnny.blogspot.com/2011/04/art-shines-for-sycamore-rouge-and.html
"Theatre Review: "Art" at VMFA'a Leslie Cheek Theatre," GayRVA
"Director k.b. saine’s deeply theoretical, well-paced proceedings tone down Marc and Serge’s relational aggression and instead channel the friendship’s (…or shall I say rivalry?) exponential hostility as an indictment of Jacques Derrida’s deconstructionist philosophy – in laymen terms – that “modern” art is a cultural construction."
http://www.gayrva.com/arts-culture/theater-review-art-at-vmfa%E2%80%99s-leslie-cheek-theater/
(other reviews are no longer available online)
A FUN VIDEO FROM OPENING NIGHT, made by KWoo10:
Art Opening Night Video
by David Sedaris and Joe Mantello; produced by/at Sycamore Rouge, 2009
remounted at The Greenbrier Valley Theatre, 2010
Andrew Bonniwell, Lighting Design; Jason Winebarger, Scenic Design; Ruth Humphrey, Costume Design; Philip Milone, Technical Director
Tommy Schoffler in Santaland Diaries; Jaqueline Jones in Season's Greetings
CRITICAL RESPONSES:
Theatre Review: 'Santaland Diaries' and 'Season's Greetings'," Richmond Times-Dispatch
"As directed by kb saine, the two pieces are artfully paced and always amusing"
(review is no longer available online)
"A David Sedaris Christmas," Style Weekly
http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/a-david-sedaris-christmas/Content?oid=1381628
"Santaland Charms at Sycamore Rouge," GayRVA
http://www.gayrva.com/arts-culture/santaland-charms-at-sycamore-rouge/
(World Premiere) by Woody Eney, produced by/at Sycamore Rouge, 2009
Brittany Dilliberto, Lighting Design; Geno Brantley, Scenic Design; Kay Renee, Costume Design; Philip Milone, Technical Director
CRITICAL RESPONSES:
"True Story of Acceptance Plays out at Sycamore Rouge," Petersburg Progress-Index
"Director kb saine deserves several rounds of applause. See the show"
http://progress-index.com/lifestyles/true-story-of-acceptance-plays-out-at-sycamore-rouge-1.352042
"Review of '40 Acres and a POW'," Richmond Times-Dispatch
"Sycamore Rouge, aside from being one of the most scenic venues in the area, has carved itself a niche with productions that examine the human condition, raise probing questions that do not have ready answers, and introduce characters that define a particular period or place"
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/entertainment/2009/oct/18/apow18_20091017-220406-ar-21915/
"Get you a German boy: 40 Acres and a POW," Richmond Acting/Examiner
"Directed by kb Saine, 40 Acres and a POW is not a perfect play, but is it worth going all the way out to Petersburg to see? Absolutely."
http://www.examiner.com/article/get-you-a-german-boy-40-acres-and-a-pow
(World Premiere) by kb saine; produced by/at Sycamore Rouge
Brittany Dilliberto, Lighting Design; Katie Frye, Scenic Design; Kay Renee, Costume Design
archival critical responses for this production are no longer available online
video clip:
watch a very amateur-made video clip of the closing scene here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrkdcKUxcDY
by Arthur Miller; produced at/by Sycamore Rouge, 2010
Brittany Dilliberto, Lighting Design; Keith Saine, Scenic Design; Lindy Bumgarner, Costume Design; Philip Milone, Technical Director
CRITICAL RESPONSES:
"Sycamore Rouge Rises to the Challenge of 'The Crucible'," Richmond Times-Dispatch
"The Crucible...shows the new standard to which the company is holding itself: a simple but evocative set, expert lighting, top-shelf costumes, ambitious direction and an accomplished cast."
(review is no longer available online)
"Bewitched at Sycamore Rouge," The Petersburg Progress-Index
"A standing ovation is extended to director kb saine for passing the test with dazzling colors."
(review is no longer available online)
