About Us
Lucky Penny Productions is the product of a dream shared by two people - one a fourth-generation Napa native, the other a midwestern expatriate. Taylor Bartolucci (the native) and Barry Martin (the expat) met in late 2008 and discovered they had much in common in their love for live theatre, and soon fell to talking about creating their own theatre company. A few weeks later an opportunity presented itself, and Lucky Penny Productions was born.
Lucky Penny's first two plays were West Coast premieres and both were smash hits. In May 2009 "Baggage", a comedy by Sam Bobrick, was presented inside the Napa Valley Wine Train Station. The second show, "Looking" by Norm Foster, was staged in November 2009 at the Napa Valley Opera House Cafe Theatre. Then Lucky Penny shook things up with Neil LaBute's "The Shape of Things," a killer kickoff to our 2010 season, followed by "The Love List" and "Private Eyes."
2011 was a year of new ideas and outside projects. Two custom-tailored musical comedy shows were produced for local non-profit events - Taylor starred in Gypsy and Barry preached in The People's Temple, both with Napa Valley Conservatory Theatre. The pair then teamed up for Kiss Me, Kate at 6th Street Playhouse - a production that was voted Best Local Musical in the Bay Area broadwayworld.com awards. They wrapped up the year with Snowing at Delphi, a co-production with Napa Valley Players.
Lucky Penny's first two plays were West Coast premieres and both were smash hits. In May 2009 "Baggage", a comedy by Sam Bobrick, was presented inside the Napa Valley Wine Train Station. The second show, "Looking" by Norm Foster, was staged in November 2009 at the Napa Valley Opera House Cafe Theatre. Then Lucky Penny shook things up with Neil LaBute's "The Shape of Things," a killer kickoff to our 2010 season, followed by "The Love List" and "Private Eyes."
2011 was a year of new ideas and outside projects. Two custom-tailored musical comedy shows were produced for local non-profit events - Taylor starred in Gypsy and Barry preached in The People's Temple, both with Napa Valley Conservatory Theatre. The pair then teamed up for Kiss Me, Kate at 6th Street Playhouse - a production that was voted Best Local Musical in the Bay Area broadwayworld.com awards. They wrapped up the year with Snowing at Delphi, a co-production with Napa Valley Players.
About Barry..
Barry Martin wrote, and produced his first play in 7th grade. While majoring in theatre he performed in repertory with the Missouri Theatre Ensemble. After college he spent 23 years in commercial radio. (The first radio show he created was "The Show Tune Show," reflecting his love for musical theatre.) He later spent many years as a talk show host. Returning to the stage in 2008, Barry has been seen in The Dining Room, Murder at the Howard Johnson's, The Gingerbread Lady and Night Watch at Dreamweavers Theatre, in Born Yesterday at Silver Moon Theatre in Sonoma, and in five of Lucky Penny's shows - Baggage, Looking, The Love List, Private Eyes and Snowing at Delphi. Favorite roles from the past include Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire and Michael in I Do, I Do! His most recent appearances have been playing Fred Graham/Petruchio in Kiss Me, Kate and Lord Charles Hardwick in the West Coast Premiere of Kite's Book, both at 6th Street Playhouse, and playing Jim Jones and Stephan Jones in The People's Temple with Napa Valley Conservatory Theater. Barry is a member of the Dramatists Guild.
Barry Martin wrote, and produced his first play in 7th grade. While majoring in theatre he performed in repertory with the Missouri Theatre Ensemble. After college he spent 23 years in commercial radio. (The first radio show he created was "The Show Tune Show," reflecting his love for musical theatre.) He later spent many years as a talk show host. Returning to the stage in 2008, Barry has been seen in The Dining Room, Murder at the Howard Johnson's, The Gingerbread Lady and Night Watch at Dreamweavers Theatre, in Born Yesterday at Silver Moon Theatre in Sonoma, and in five of Lucky Penny's shows - Baggage, Looking, The Love List, Private Eyes and Snowing at Delphi. Favorite roles from the past include Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire and Michael in I Do, I Do! His most recent appearances have been playing Fred Graham/Petruchio in Kiss Me, Kate and Lord Charles Hardwick in the West Coast Premiere of Kite's Book, both at 6th Street Playhouse, and playing Jim Jones and Stephan Jones in The People's Temple with Napa Valley Conservatory Theater. Barry is a member of the Dramatists Guild.
About Taylor...
Taylor Bartolucci is a stage veteran with more than 60 productions under her belt. Debuting at the age of 4, she has performed around the Bay Area, as Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods with Pacific Theater Alliance, as Fredrika in A Little Night Music with North Bay Opera, and in numerous roles with Napa's Dreamweavers Theatre Troupe. While earning a Theatre Arts degree at Pepperdine, she starred as Dolly Levi in The Matchmaker, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof and as Goneril in King Lear. She received training at the American Conservatory Theatre as well, and has performed commercial voiceover work. She has been seen in Lucky Penny's Productions of Baggage, Looking, The Shape of Things and The Love List, and in 2011 starred as Mama Rose in the Napa Valley Conservatory Theater production of Gypsy and as Lilli Vanessi/Katherine in Kiss Me, Kate at 6th Street Playhouse, and was featured in cabaret shows at 6th Street and at The White Barn. Most recently she won raves as Brenda in Snowing at Delphi and as Janet Van Der Graaf in The Drowsy Chaperone. When not on stage, Taylor directs the sales and marketing efforts for her family winery, Madonna Estate, which has been producing fine grapes and wine in the Napa Valley since 1922.
Taylor Bartolucci is a stage veteran with more than 60 productions under her belt. Debuting at the age of 4, she has performed around the Bay Area, as Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods with Pacific Theater Alliance, as Fredrika in A Little Night Music with North Bay Opera, and in numerous roles with Napa's Dreamweavers Theatre Troupe. While earning a Theatre Arts degree at Pepperdine, she starred as Dolly Levi in The Matchmaker, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof and as Goneril in King Lear. She received training at the American Conservatory Theatre as well, and has performed commercial voiceover work. She has been seen in Lucky Penny's Productions of Baggage, Looking, The Shape of Things and The Love List, and in 2011 starred as Mama Rose in the Napa Valley Conservatory Theater production of Gypsy and as Lilli Vanessi/Katherine in Kiss Me, Kate at 6th Street Playhouse, and was featured in cabaret shows at 6th Street and at The White Barn. Most recently she won raves as Brenda in Snowing at Delphi and as Janet Van Der Graaf in The Drowsy Chaperone. When not on stage, Taylor directs the sales and marketing efforts for her family winery, Madonna Estate, which has been producing fine grapes and wine in the Napa Valley since 1922.
