Articles by Susan Rife

About Susan Rife

Lover of arts & books; ukulele learner; therapeutic knitter; long-distance runner. Former Arts and Books Editor at Herald-Tribune.

Back in the Limelight

When word started going around last summer that Kevin Heath was shutting down his 10-year resident theater company at the Gilroy Center for the Arts, the theatrical community and audience let out a collective gasp of dismay. While there’s no shortage of community theater in [...]

Journey through Oz

Christopher Niemann is no stranger to composing. His first work was premiered by the South Valley Symphony in 2013 while he was still a student at Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill. “I was writing music and one of my former scout masters, who also plays in the orchestra, had [...]

‘Rock of Ages’: Teenaged cast brings big-hair era to life

There’s nothing like the enthusiasm of young people for the music of an earlier generation to ratchet up the excitement of a community theater musical production. Savvy casting, strong voices and solid acting in South Valley Civic Theatre’s production of the high school [...]

Violinist performs in festival’s preview concert

The perfect music for a romantic Valentine’s Day weekend is, in the opinion of violinist Gabriel Anker, Tchaikovsky’s Concerto in D Major. “For me, personally, no other piece for the violin represents love more purely,” said Anker, who will perform the concerto on Feb. [...]

Teens take the stage in ‘Rock of Ages’

The cast of the jukebox musical Rock of Ages was born literally in a different century from the music they’ll sing in South Valley Civic Theatre’s teen production. But they are thrilled at the chance to sing such glam-band hits as “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Hit [...]

Passion for home

International prize-winning pianist Astrid Morales Torres will present a program she calls a “musical journey” through Europe, America, Russia and Mexico as the second in a series of preview concerts for the forthcoming Coyote Creek Music Festival. Morales, who is presently [...]

‘Steel Magnolias’ a whirlwind of emotions

Don’t be deceived by the light and fluffy interactions between a group of women who convene for haircuts and manicures at Truvy’s beauty salon in small-town Chinquapin, La. There are powerful emotions pulsing beneath the snipping of hair scissors, the hum of hair dryers and [...]

Classical duo kicks off series

The first in a series of concerts to benefit the inaugural Coyote Creek Music Festival will feature the Ghaderi-Focks Duo Nov. 23 in Morgan Hill. The duo—violinist Kimia Ghaderi and pianist Andrew Focks—are members of the artistic advisory committee to the chamber music [...]

SV Civic Theatre’s ‘Steel Magnolias’ begins four-week run

What rings true about “Steel Magnolias” is its familiarity. Anyone who’s lived in a small town, in the South, or had their hair done at a beauty shop will see themselves somehow in the story of the women who congregate at Truvy’s salon in small-town Louisiana for [...]

‘Cinderella’ a memorable opening to SVCT’s season

There’s something about the sheer joy and enthusiasm radiating from a cast of theater kids singing and dancing their little hearts out in a musical that can charm the most seasoned theatergoer. And the young people who opened South Valley Civic Theatre’s 51st season with [...]

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