Marin Theatre is delighted to present the West Coast Premiere of The Gift of Nothing, a heartwarming new musical for children of all ages and their families based on the book of the same name by Patrick McDonnell featuring his beloved Mutts comic strip characters, Mooch and Earl. This special production marks only the second time this musical has ever been staged and coincides with the 20th anniversary celebration of the original book—just in time for the holiday season. The Gift of Nothing follows Mooch the dog as he searches for the perfect gift for his best friend Earl the cat, only to discover that the greatest gift isn’t something you can wrap—it’s the gift of presence, friendship, and togetherness. Playful songs are underscored by warmth and humor to deliver a deeply touching message to young audiences and their families about the power and importance of social connection and imagination. 

Special Experiences and Family-Friendly Fun 

Marin Theatre’s production includes pre-show story hour in the lobby,hot chocolate and snack boxes available for purchase, and a festive holiday atmosphere. On Sunday, December 21st, the theatre will host a dog adoption event on the patio, giving families the opportunity to meet adoptable pets from Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. On Saturday, December 20th Marin Theatre will host a “relaxed performance” at 11 a.m., providing accommodations for guests who might benefit from a modified pre-show and performance environment—including those with autism, sensory or communication differences, or developmental disabilities.

Joseph O’Malley will be reprising his role of Ozzie, a good, kindhearted man and Earl the dog’s “person,” making a triumphant return from the Kennedy Center stage in 2014! Joseph recently appeared in Do You Feel Anger? and Waste at Marin Theatre, as well as Ms. Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. Other Bay Area Theatre: Berkeley Rep. (The Far Country), Aurora Theatre Co. (1984), Cal Shakes (War of the Roses), Marin Shakespeare and Center Rep. He has also performed at The Kennedy Center, The Guthrie Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse and B Street Theatre. Motion Capture: NBA2K, Mafia: The Old Country, Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, Fortnite. Joseph is a leadership and performance coach with Stand & Deliver. He earned an MFA from USC and a BA from Santa Clara University. 

Jordan Covington will be playing the genius of smooth positivity and enthusiasm–Mooch the cat! Jordan Covington’s most recent credits include Timon of Athens (ACT), The Tempest (Marin Shakespeare), Co-Founders (ACT), Fat Ham and Waitress (San Francisco Playhouse). He also performed in the USA premiere of Innocence at San Francisco Opera and In The Heights (Center Repertory). Covington’s favorite roles include Wale Owusu in Nollywood Dreams (SF Playhouse), Benny in In The Heights (Berkeley Playhouse), Chase in Finding Chase (New Canon Theatre), and Teddy/Nicholas in A Guide For The Homesick (Theatre Rhinoceros). Other local credits include Richie in Chorus Line (I Can Do That Theatre); and West Side Story and Pippin (Berkeley Playhouse). 

Making her Marin Theatre debut, Amanda Le Nguyen will be playing the role of Earl the dog, full of genius of exuberant joy and goodness! Amanda is a multifaceted Vietnamese American artist based in the Bay Area. She was recently seen in the world premiere of Cuckoo Edible Magic (SFBATCO). Other credits include Vietgone (OKC Rep and CLTC), the world premiere of The Hippest Trip, Soul Train the Musical, Poor Yella Rednecks and A Christmas Carol (A.C.T.), Patty Di Marco in School of Rock (PAP), Annelle in Steel Magnolias (LASC). Other past credits include the musical adaptation of Twelfth Night (SFPH), Shout! The Mod Musical (SBMT), and the local tour of Don’t Let Pigeon Drive the Bus (BACT). 

Charisse Loriaux returns to Marin Theatre as Millie–a slightly batty cat lady, and Mooch the cat’s “person”. She is honored to be returning to the Marin Theatre Company after playing Meiko in the Bay Area revival of Eureka Day. Recently, she portrayed Hippolyta/Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Marin Shakespeare Company and she engaged audiences as Aurora, a professional wrestler, in Work/Shoot at Playground SF. Charisse has collaborated with esteemed companies such as San Francisco Playhouse, Aurora Theatre Company, Magic Theatre, Crowded Fire Theater, Shotgun Players, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, Berkeley Playhouse, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. A proud graduate of SJSU, Charisse recently celebrated 20 years with Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre. 

Matthias Bossi will be making his Marin Theatre debut as Frank–Millie’s somewhat grumphious, tender-hearted husband. He will also be playing drums and percussion. Matthias Bossi was a member of the seminal bands Skeleton Key, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, and Fred Frith’s Cosa Brava. As a founder of the recording collective The Book of Knots, he’s had the pleasure of collaborating with Mike Patton, Blixa Bargeld, Tom Waits, Mike Watt, David Thomas, and Jon Langford. Bossi’s voiceover work can be heard on the sensational Little Baby’s Ice Cream commercials, and also on a guided audio tour of Golden Gate Park produced by SF-Based company, Detour. He currently writes music for This American Life, Hot Money, and journalist Michael Lewis’ hit podcast Against The Rules, and is neck-deep in the musical score for Mewgenics, a wild and wacky cat-centric video game created by indie developer Ed McMillen. 

Seen last season in It’s True, It’s True, It’s True, Alicia M.P. Nelson will be returning to Marin Theatre as Doozy, a spunky, web-obsessed little girl, and neighbor. Nelson holds a BFA in Acting from Boston University, and has trained in both classical theatre and Commedia dell’Arte in Greece and Italy respectively. She’s worked across the country in theatres including CalShakes, the San Francisco Mime Troupe, WAM Theatre, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Hillbarn Theatre, SF Playhouse, Berkeley Rep, and more. 

The Gift of Nothing features Direction and Choreography by Erika Chong Shuch (SDC), Music Direction by Daniel Feyer, Assistant Direction by Sam Howell Petersen, Scenic Design by Liam Rudisill, Costume Design by Becky Bodurtha (IATSE/USA), and Lighting Design by Allen Willner. Ash Strange is the Stage Manager