About the Cast of ‘Woody Guthrie’s American Song’

Mujahid Abdul-Rashid* (Man) makes his Willows Theatre debut in this production of Woody Guthrie’s American Song.  He has appeared with Sacramento Theatre Company in Queen of the Remote Control (Askok); S.F.’s Magic Theater in Relativity (Malik); at the Dean Lesher Center in My Children, My Africa (Mr. M); with the Lorraine Hansberry Theater in Seven Guitars (Canewell), Tambourines to Glory (Buddy Lomax), and The Amen Corner (Luke); and at Palo Alto’s TheatreWorks in Two Trains Running (Memphis Lee).

Michael Ching* (Second Young Man) made his first appearance on our stage 11 years ago in our first production of Woody Guthrie, playing the Second Young Man.  He last performed here in 2004 as Herbie in Gypsy. Michael received a Dean Goodman Choice Award for Best Actor in a Comedy for our Teahouse of the August Moon, in which he played the role of Sakini. He has performed in theaters all over the Bay Area, including: TheatreWorks, Berkeley Rep, Aurora Theater, Marin Theater Co., American Musical Theater of San Jose, San Jose Stage Co., San Francisco MimeTroupe, Woodminister, Thick Description, California Conserveratory Theater, Center Rep of Walnut Creek, Peninsula Center Stage, and Contra Costa Musical Theater.  His favorite roles include the King in The King & I, Woody in Woody Guthrie’s American Song, and Carlton in the S.F. Mime Troupe’s Offshore.  Along with his stage work, he has appeared in feature films including Matrix Reloaded, Sweet November, Fearless, and 3^rd Wish; and in the TV series Nash Bridges, Midnight Caller, Hallmark’s Spring Awakenings, and Gone but Not Forgotten.  When he’s not on stage or in front of a camera, he is a casting director and owner of Grant Ave Casting, specializing in multicultural casting in the Bay Area for feature films, commercials, corporate videos, and photo shoots. Born in San Francisco, Michael studied drama at San Francisco State University and later at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.  He is the son of Larry and Vicki Ching, both of whom performed at the Forbidden City nightclub in San Francisco in the 1950s.  Married, his wife Kay is his constant inspiration.

Cindy Goldfield* (Woman)  A two-time Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle award and Dean Goodman Choice award recipient, Cindy is pleased to be returning to the Willows, where last year she had the distinct pleasure of appearing as Ellen in Over the Tavern. Other Willows credits include Brimstone (Mairaid), Moon Over Buffalo (Roz), Dames at Sea (Ruby), Merrily We Roll Along (Gussie), In the Beginning (Dot), Nunsense 1, 2 and Nuncrackers (Srs. Amnesia and Leo), Singing Fools (director), Annie Warbucks (director/choreographer), Rags (choreographer) and 1776 (choreographer).  Other regional credits include: A Christmas Carol (ACT); Menopause the Musical (TOC Prod); The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Center Rep), Another Midsummer’s Night (TheatreWorks), Crimes of the Heart (Playhouse West); Oliver! (Broadway by the Bay); Moving Bodies (Marin Theatre Co.); and Mack & Mabel, Sweet Adeline, Peggy Ann, As Thousands Cheer, and Once in a Blue Moon (42nd Street Moon).  In addition, she enjoys a successful voice-over career and the cabaret collaboration of Goldfield and Koldewyn with the inimitable Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Sam Misner* (Young Man) is delighted to be making his debut at the Willows Theatre.  In the Bay Area, he most recently played Arlequin in The False Servant at San Francisco’s Abydos Theater.  Regionally, he has performed at the Geva Theatre Center (Rochester, N.Y.); California Shakespeare Theater in Orinda; and Foothill Theatre Company (Nevada City, CA), and has spent four seasons with Shakespeare Santa Cruz.  Sam balances his theatre work with a regular schedule performing original music with Megan Smith as part of an Americana/Bluegrass duet.  He holds a B.A. in Theater Arts from the University of California at Santa Cruz and is a member of Actor’s Equity Association.