SEAN KANA
MUSIC DIRECTOR AND Co-COMPOSER / ORCHESTRATOR
LARRY the MUSICAL
‘Larry the Musical’ puts unsung Filipino American labor rights leader Larry Itliong in the spotlight
https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/larry-itliong-larry-the-musical-18672594.php
An integral part of that love letter is what Kana describes as a “mixtape,” the production’s soundtrack that encapsulates a range of musical styles, from pop to traditional Filipino music that incorporates folk instruments such as the octavina (a small stringed instrument), the gangsa and agung (both of which are similar to gongs).
Sean Kana, Bay Area native and music director for “Larry the Musical: An American Journey,” leads the cast through their score in the Cabaret space of the Brava Theater, where the cast rehearses on Feb. 2, 2024.
Camille Cohen/Special to the Chronicle
A NEW HOPE
Cast of Larry The Musical
A Labor Leader’s Legacy Is Set in Song With ‘Larry the Musical’ - An Interview with KQED
To co-compose the music, Pangilinan collaborated with another longtime Filipino artist in the Bay Area theater scene, Sean Kana. Kana, who also serves as music director, says audiences can look forward to a lot of musical styles reflecting Filipino culture.
“You’re going to hear pop, you’re going to hear jazz, you’re going to hear folk, you’re going to hear tango,” says Kana. “Which is all reminiscent of Filipino pop music. It’s a big mixtape.”
Hand in hand, the mixtape-style musical delivers a timely message about the fight for equal rights and the hard work of building solidarity to grow a movement for social change.
“Sean Kana’s magnificent 18 piece orchestra completes the offering with splendid music ...”
Sean Kana bringing the music for ‘Smokey Joe’s Café’ - Mercury News
Sean Kana has been a key part of the success of the best musicals staged by Broadway By The Bay over the past few years, earning rave reviews for his musical directorship of such shows as “Cabaret,” “Westside Story” and “Oklahoma.”
He’s also been a part of lots of other productions around the Bay Area, including playing keyboards in “Triangle” and “Rags” for TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, and he also teaches in the masters of fine arts program at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Read More →
Smokey Joe's Cafe - Talkin' Broadway
...Even music director and pianist Sean Kana gets to let loose vocally in a winning duet with Ken ("Stay a While"); and his entire, extremely excellent band has a chance to shine individually in act two's opening, "Baby, That Is Rock & Roll." Danny Min plays a mean bass; Steve Cassinelli, a vibrant guitar; Larry DeLaCruz, a hyped-up sax; and Ken Bergman, a take-notice set of drums. Read More →
‘Smokey Joe’s Café’ rocks the Fox Theatre in Redwood City - Mercury News
There’s a whole lotta shakin’ going on at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City for the next two weekends. Also a lot of shimmying, rockin’, rollin’, yakety-yakin’, swingin’ and all-out liveliness.
That’s because the addictive performers in “Smokey Joe’s Café” are gonna find you, entice you, captivate you and frequently astonish you with their polished dancing, their exuberant singing and mega joyful antics in Broadway By The Bay’s latest smash production. Read More →
The Hits Keep Coming This Summer As Broadway By The Bay Opens 'Smokey Joe's Cafe' - Vmedia
...The songs serve as the soundtrack to the lives of an entire generation. While most musicals create memories, "Smokey Joe's Café" taps existing ones and, by doing so, forms an immediate and intimate connection with the baby boomers and Gen X audience, also the millennials in the busy crowd at the Fox Theatre can’t help but be swept away with the songs...Superb Music director, Sean Kana is perched on a rolling piano that the cast moves downstage as Kana brings the passion out of the songs and sings with the cast in “Stay a While”. His on stage band include the lively Danny Min (bass), Steve Cassinelli (guitar) Ken Bergmann (drums), and Larry DeLaCruz (saxophone). Kelly James Tighe’s clever and exquisite set design keeps the the band on stage in Joe’s Cafe. It was nice to see the band with the company as the two hour show flew by. Read More →
Broadway By The Bay fills the Fox with a fabulous ‘The Producers’ - Mercury News
...This production has very few miscues. Conductor Sean Kana provides energetic musical direction (augmented by a solid, 22-piece orchestra), and Nicole Helfer comes up with some knockout choreography (original choreography is by Susan Stroman). Read More →
“The Producers” is hilarious romp in world of Broadway musical mischief - Morgan Hill Life
Jasen Jeffrey’s direction and choreographer Nicole Helfer is wild and leaps to the outer fringe of imagination. From a backup group of Nazi cooing pigeons to little old ladies doing a tap dance with walkers – the shtick never stops.
Sean Kana’s magnificent 18 piece orchestra completes the offering with splendid music that does not miss a cue. Scenic Design by Kelly James Tighe, lighting by Aaron s Pivey, sound Jon Hayward with stunning costumes by Leandra Watson bring in a upscale production.Read More →
Broadway By the Bay’s ‘West Side Story’ an exciting rumble - San Francisco Examiner
...Folena’s work is beautifully abetted by Sean Kana’s musical direction and Nicole Helfer’s choreography. Kana coaxes the best out of players worthy of the term orchestra. The result is an energized, fluid and riveting treat for the ears. Helfer pays the right kind of props to iconic Jerome Robbins moments and then blends them beautifully with her own passionate and rigorous steps. The opening number, “Dance at the Gym” and “Gee, Officer Krupke” are worth the price of admission. Read More →
Completely fabulous 'Cabaret' at Broadway By The Bay - Regardingarts.com
...Broadway By The Bay has done this production right, with an excellent, eight-piece band (conducted by Sean Kana), and a fabulous cast of excellent singers. Who can also dance, act, and get the jokes across. Read More →
Come to the ‘Cabaret’ - Mercury News
Forget your troubles. Just remember, life is a “Cabaret.”
Your mind will be at ease if you attend the musical running at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City through Sept. 29. There are some outstanding performances in a tight show, buoyed by a top-flight orchestra directed by Sean Kana. Read More →
Dazzling WEST SIDE STORY at Broadway by the Bay - Vmedia
...Leonard Bernstein's complex score is one of the most difficult to recreate, and when it is done correct, it will wow you. Music director Sean Kana assembled a first rate pit of musicians that brings this musical to life. You could just enjoy the texture of this musical by the orchestration alone. Kana's work is to be applauded along with his eighteen piece polished orchestra. Read More →
Jean Valjean and Cosette OPEN BBB's 50th SEASON Its Grande - Impressive and not to be missed - Vmedia
Set designer, Kelly James Tigne, created a three story maze of texture for the 35 member cast to work within. - Paris of 1832 is highlighted with Erik Scanlons projections. The costumes are full of character an age by Kate Schroeder. The roaming moody lighting deep and is spot on by Michael Ramsaur. Sean Kana's musical direction and a keen orchestra recreates Claude-Michel Schonberg's score that never out stages the actors. Devon Larussa did the choreography, there is not much dancing in this musical, but the Innkeeper scene is very busy, and the iconic march in “One Day More” will make any LeMiz fan stand and cheer. Read More →