Since that first play, Rod has worked both on and off stage with many theater groups in the area including Center Stage, Odyssey Theater, South Valley Civic Theater( SVCT), and also with Civic Light Opera and West Valley Light Opera in San José. Both he and his wife, Marion Pintello, served on the Board of Directors for GCT, which became SVCT, for 20 years.
Although Rod started out being cast in musicals, his true passion is centered around comedy. After leaving the Board of Directors for SVCT both he and Marion decided to embark on creating a venue for actors in the area to showcase their comedic talent, and Pintello Comedy Theater( PCT) was born in 2003. Since then they have put on over 54 productions and have had 106 different performers from the South County area on their stage.
When asked why he wanted to do something as crazy as starting his own theater company, Rod simply responded,“ Putting on a show with great people on stage and an audience in front of you is like having a big party with friends and family in your own home.” And PCT is truly a family theater when it comes to operation. Not only husband and wife as a team, but PCT includes their whole family. Their daughter Whitney Pintello helps with every aspect of running the theater from set design to directing and producing. Also in the ranks you will find their son Simon Pintello and their sonin-law Charley Gilmore who fills the role of technical guru helping to keep their lights, sound and special effects running masterfully. Even the grandkids are involved.
One of the aspects that sets PCT apart from other local theater groups is that they are exclusively a comedy theater. Every once in a while there is some music involved, but even the musicals are comedies. Rod’ s favorite part of being on stage in front of an audience is knowing that something funny is about to happen and anticipating the audience’ s laughter.
Rod is not on stage very often these days focusing mostly on the very demanding day-to-day schedule of set construction and the never-ending list of demands set forth before a producer, but you can catch him starting April 14 th in their upcoming production of“ On a First Name Basis” by Norm Foster and directed by Marion Pintello. This two-person play features Rod Pintello as a successful but cantankerous novelist who suddenly discovers that he knows nothing about his maid of 28 years, played by Ariane Borgia. She, on the other hand, knows absolutely everything about him! He makes it his mission to learn all he can about her.
Matthew Russell Hendrickson has been involved with community theater for over 35 years. He is currently a designer’ s assistant for Brotin Design, a founding member of a local film production company, Oscar Dante Motion, and is still heavily involved with local theater.
Now playing
On A First Name Basis
By Norman Foster
April 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 May 5, 6
A successful, but cantankerous, novelist suddenly discovers that he knows nothing about his maid of 28 years. She, on the other hand, knows absolutely everything about him! He makes
it his mission to learn all he can about her.
Playing At Pintello Comedy Theater 8191 Swanston Lane • Gilroy pintellocomedy. com
Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike
April 21, 22, 28, 29, 30 May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13
Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play. Middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia share a home in Bucks County, PA, where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike. Old resentments flare up, eventually leading to threats to sell the house.
Playing At South Valley Community Theater 7341 Monterey Street • Morgan Hill svct. org
Cabaret Show
Weekends April 7 to April 29, Matenee April 23
A cabaret show featuring different artists each week. The productions are directed by Diane Milo and benefits Avon 39: The Walk to End Brest Cancer. Featured artists are: D-Cup Divas, Morgan Dayley, Diane Milo & James Creer, Gloria
Murillo & Adrien Gleason, Kristina Nakagawa.
Playing At Limelight Actors’ Theatre 7431 Monterey Road 408 472 3292 LimeLlightActorsTheater. com
Coming Soon!
Alice in Wonderland Jr.— May 5-7 & 11-14 This show features 80 local kids singing and dancing in a fun musical show, produced by Carol Romo. Put on by the City of Gilroy and Theater Fun at the Gilroy High School Theater
Alice Through the Looking Glass— June 16-17 A dazzling ballet production featuring local talent produced by South Valley Dance Arts, Juliet Smith and friends. Put on by the South Valley Dance Arts southvalleydance. com
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN MARCH / APRIL 2017 gmhtoday. com
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