From Reality TV to the Stage: The Making of “Nobody Loves You”
An interview with the creators of a new comedy at A.C.T., Tchaikovsky sweeps audiences off their feet at SF Symphony, and SF Opera celebrates influential women throughout their history.
Nobody Loves You creators Itamar Moses and Gaby Alter have known each other since they were children. Director Pam MacKinnon sat down with them to talk about their origin stories, their inspirations, and how they found themselves writing about the evanescent world of reality TV.
Pam: I’d like to begin by asking both of you what was the original inspiration, the original spark for this musical?
Itamar: I literally remember where we were, Gaby. We were in a Thai restaurant. It’s not there anymore, I think it’s a bank now, but it was on the second floor of a building on 7th Avenue in Park Slope. So you and I were having dinner there, and we were thinking of doing a show together, and I remember pitching this idea I’d had: “Maybe it could be about reality TV.”
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Pam: So 2006, you have an idea. Gaby, when did you know what it would sound like?
Gaby: I tend to write things that are more pop influenced, and I like to try different genres of pop. We figured that because it was about a reality show that it would have that kind of score, as opposed to a more traditional one. Once we got in a room together, we found more details of how it would sound based on the lyrics and the characters’ voices, and the overall tone of the comedy, which is sort of silly and precise at the same time.
On the Stage
This week, take in a swan song, a piece of Russian theatre, or the resurrection of a musical.
Chan Conducts All-Tchaikovsky
Classical | San Francisco Symphony
March 13–15 | Tickets
Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is a fairy tale made flesh: tender and violent, ethereal and primal. Thanks to Tchaikovsky’s music, you can watch the enchanted swans glide across the moon-dappled lake of your mind, no ballerinas needed.
More Events
- Uncle Vanya | Berkeley Repertory Theatre | Now – March 23 | View the Program
- Jesus Christ Superstar | Berkeley Playhouse | Now – March 30
- Nobody Loves You | American Conservatory Theater | Now – March 30 | View the Program
- Benjamin Beilman & Steven Osborne | Cal Performances | March 9
Next Line
A new Shakespeare theatrical tour comes to a town near you and celebrate Women’s History Month with SF Opera.
- American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) has just announced they will present a modern verse translation of Julius Caesar by Shishir Kurup as part of its OUT Tour. The production will have public performances at the Rueff at A.C.T.’s Strand Theater from March 14–16 and March 28–29, 2025, bookending a tour to schools and community sites across the Bay Area. From March 18–27, the tour will bring Shakespeare’s political drama to students and audiences in San Francisco, Hayward, and San Jose.
- This March, San Francisco Opera celebrates the women who have shaped its past, present, and future. From visionary leaders to behind-the-scenes contributors, these trailblazers have advanced artistic excellence, innovation, and inclusivity within the company. Their impact reflects the resilience, creativity, and community spirit that continue to define San Francisco Opera today. Read the full story to learn more about their lasting influence.
