Oy, What They Said About Love
Steve Budd wonders why other people can tie the knot and he can’t. Oy, does he wonder! So he asked a bunch of couples what brought them together and keeps them from pulling apart. Meet a Jewish couple who met on Craigslist, an interfaith pair who met at a Halloween party, and more. Budd plays close to a dozen characters, using their own words taken from hours of interviews, and weaves in his relentless, heartfelt, and hilarious search for “the one.” Oy, What They Said About Love (Best of the 2024 SF Fringe) is the newest mashup of personal storytelling and documentary theater from an award-winning solo performer who “sparkles with manic and irrepressible charm” (Theatrius).
Seeing Stars
Ever wish that someone you love would change overnight? Be careful what you wish for! At 31, Steve moves back in with his parents. But when his gruff, distant dad transforms before his very eyes, Steve is in for the ride of a lifetime. "Seeing Stars" is a heartfelt and hilarious exploration of family dysfunction, mental illness, and a son’s desire to connect with his dad.
Press
“What They Said About Love”
“A hilarious take on how people fall in love.” East Bay Express
"'What They Said about Love' sparkles with manic and irrepressible charm." Theatrius
“…theater at its best. Funny, poignant, thoughtful, and revealing about the search for love.” Talkin’ Broadway
“Real love stories forged into a stage hit.” Mercury News
“… a charming and clever mashup of personal storytelling and verbatim theatre. A heartfelt, crowd-pleasing gem.” The Visitorium
“Truly a jaw-dropping audience experience.” Joint Forces Journal
“Smart stuff…delivered with an irrepressible charm. Budd is a confident performer, switching between characters…with ease.” Boyz Magazine (U.K.)
Standup meets storytelling
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In his documentary theater pieces, edutainer Steve Budd captures the physical and vocal nuances of dozens of characters, using their own words taken from hours of interviews, and weaves in his own personal stories.
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His poignant and funny shows will get people talking.
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Steve is always happy to follow his performances with Q&A’s, Talkbacks, and Workshops.
What They Said About Love
Steve wonders why other people can and he can’t—tie the knot, that is. So he asked a bunch of couples what brought them together and keeps them from pulling apart. Meet a New Age couple who swears they met before they met, a pair of Metal Heads who thought it would be a hoot to get married on 6-6-06, a couple who met on Craigslist, and more. Audiences hear their stories—along with Steve’s relentless and hilarious search for “The One.”
Best of the 2016 San Francisco Fringe and a Theatre Bay Area Top 5 Solo Show of 2018. Budd’s show has delighted audiences in LA, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Ottawa, and London. Critics hail the show as “Funny, poignant, thoughtful, and revealing” (Talkin’ Broadway) and “A hilarious take on how people fall in love” (East Bay Express). Find out how others look for love and, sometimes, find it. 60 minutes.
What They Said About Sex
Wondering what other people know about sex that you don’t? Find out in What They Said About Sex. Meet a gay man, a tantric sex practitioner, a trans man, and a sex positive octogenarian. Take a wild ride through their stories and secrets—and Steve’s. Discover what other people do between the sheets. Check out the newest 60 minutes.
The Crowd Goes Crazy!
Past Performances
The Crowd Goes Crazy!
"Intriguing"
“Had me thinking about my love issues!!! Talented, humorous, intriguing.”
"nuanced"
Jo T.: “It’s nuanced, heartfelt and absolutely fascinating!”
"What a night!"
Mindy G.: “What a night! Steve is so talented at portraying people in a raw and real way. Smoothly moving from one personality to another, exposing their flaws and quirkiness.”
"laugh-out-loud hilarious"
“Truly a stellar performance…captivating and laugh-out-loud hilarious all the way through.”
"moving"
Ruth G.: “An amazing show! Steve Budd’s research into love relationships was moving and real and his one-man portrayal of each of the characters—male and female—was spectacular!”
"left me thinking"
Hank O.: “Really left me thinking about relationships and masculine/feminine gender norms.”
"one tightly crafted piece"
Steven S.: “I have never witnessed such an ability to depict and convey so many characters in one tightly crafted piece. This piece (and this performer) deserve to be seen by many more audiences.”
"a joy to watch"
Alix W.: “Love is one of those mysterious topics that everyone is interested in, and his take on why some people find it and others don't, as well as whatever secrets we have to maintaining it, is a joy to watch.”
"very best of one-person theater"
Greg G.: “ The very best of one-person theater. The script is true to relationships of all kinds. Almost every issue I’ve ever grappled with came to the fore, and writer/actor Steve Budd nails our innermost conflicts with surgical precision!”
Trailer
"What They Said About Love"
Kudos From Colleges!
"We discussed themes in it when we returned to class"
Elena, college professor: “My students and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the show. We discussed themes in it when we returned to class—they thought that compassion, self-acceptance, and seeing 'love as a choice' was the message.”
"So good and so important"
Taylor, student: “You’re sharing the truth about relationships and from such a wide variety of people and experiences and ages. So good, and so important.”
"super impressed"
Caitlyn, student (theater major): I was super impressed with your show. You embodied each character so well and so distinctly. Thank you for performing here and for sharing this thoughtful, hilarious show.
"should be shown to most college students"
Austin, student: "This One-Man Show is perfect for college students and should be showed to most college students because of the details that it goes into about love that a lot of young people don’t realize until after they find themselves too deep in a relationship."
"shifted my view of the art of acting and writing"
Jocelyn, student: "Steve shifted my view of the art of acting and writing."
"ability to capture the mannerisms of characters"
Heavenly, student: "I value your ability to capture the mannerisms of characters, making clear depictions between each of them."
"Steve made the characters come to life!"
Anonymous, student: "Steve made the characters come to life! He also did a great job connecting with the audience.”
"Great narrative and theatrical structure"
Lindsay, college professor: "Super solid and enjoyable one-man show! Great narrative and theatrical structure. Steve Budd did a lovely job inhabiting so many different nuanced characters."
Praise from Professionals!
“Truly in the same vein as Anna Deavere Smith, Steve was both captivating and enlightening in his documentary style solo show. The characters were varied, dynamic and distinct. Thought provoking and endearing.”
Jessica Lynn Johnson, Solo Performer/Director:
"A funny, touching, very smart show. With sharply shifting accents, vocal rhythms, and body language, Steve Budd evokes a colorful kaleidoscope of couples and singles—discussing how they got together, stay together, or can’t pull it together.”
David J., Actor
“Steve’s specificity with each character he plays is amazing. Very sweet, touching and also quite funny! This is a great show to see with your significant other. A great celebration of love in all its forms!”
Megan B., Actor
“Steve Budd creates characters that are crystal clear and so distinct from each other, he is an absolute joy to watch. Warm, funny, and insightful…a rich and very entertaining look at what we experience when we fall in love!”
Laura Lundy, Producer/Actor/Director
