Sarah Uriarte Berry is a Broadway and touring theatre performer with esteemed credits such as Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” on Broadway, and her Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle award nominated origination of the role Franca in “The Light in The Piazza.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she has hosted her weekly ‘Porch Song Trilogy’ performance series and showcased her talents to her neighborhood in Long Beach, California from the stage of her front yard.
Though the coronavirus pandemic has closed the curtain on the majority of live performances, there is a familiar feeling in the open air before Sarah Uriarte Berry’s ‘Porch Song Trilogy’ event. Cars are lining up on either side of Knoxville Avenue, people are setting up their lawn chairs to get the best view, and the chatter from other audience members paints the scene. The sun is setting through the trees and the show is about to start.
Sarah Uriarte Berry made her Broadway debut in 1993 playing Eponine in “Les Misérables” and has continued participating in the theatre world since then with touring productions, other Broadway roles, and vocal music teaching. She has spent most of her life in California, where she was born and raised, and now lives in Long Beach, California where she hosts her weekly performance series from her front porch.
‘Porch Song Trilogy’ is titled from the 1970s play and consequent 1980s film of the same name. It encapsulates the casual outdoor and front-porch setting, as well as the fact that three songs are performed. These three songs are of a theme that Berry announces via social media the morning of the performance. Sometimes they surround a certain musical theatre composer, sometimes it’s within a holiday season, sometimes they cover a popular singer’s discography, etc.
They are performed by Berry, along with occasional surprise guests, including her family members (her husband also has a selection of Broadway and theatrical credits), her vocal music students, and Broadway stars who she has befriended through her work.
Below is a video of Sarah Uriarte Berry's husband, Micheal Berry, and Jessica Phillips performing a song from the musical "Next to Normal." Both were understudies to the leading roles of Dan and Diana, respectively, when the musical was on Broadway. Phillips has gone on to star as Heidi Hansen in the Tony Award Winning musical "Dear Evan Hansen" on Broadway.
Theatre fans and next door neighbors alike flock to her front yard to see the show every Friday, and have been for the past year. It began on April 3rd, 2020 and 53 Friday night shows have been performed since then. The people who attend have been present for many weeks prior, so Sarah tries her best to introduce herself to new faces (including my own!).
Long Beach and Los Angeles county, where she holds her events, have had strict lockdown procedures amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been a variety of enforced curfews so residents are safely at home, Long Beach schools have just started allowing students the option to return to limited in-person teaching, businesses have shifted from outdoor only to take-out only to limited in-person seating, and everything in between. Long Beach currently (as of April 26th, 2021) is in the purple tier of California’s Color Coded Tier System, meaning 50% capacity is allowed in-person at restaurants, places of worship, and higher education institutions. Among these restrictions, the section in the code that regards to live theatre simply states “Closed.”
Amidst the pandemic, social distancing and self-isolation have become normalized. Berry refuses to let her community feel alone.
By promoting the wearing of masks while watching the performance, having audience members sit distanced from each other on the street and sidewalks, and performing from the safety of her porch, Sarah Uriarte Berry has created a place for her neighborhood to be united through music. The audience applauds together, laughs at Sarah’s jokes, and taps their feet to the beat of the music. They watch the sun over Berry’s home on Knoxville to the sound of her serenading them.
Theatre may be on hold, but it will return. Sarah Uriarte Berry’s ‘Porch Song Trilogy’ performance series is hosted every Friday in Long Beach, California, with updates on her social media for more information!
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