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A diverse cast of Tri-Valley residents will be performing a never-before-seen retelling of the classic story of Robin Hood and his infamous band of outlaws this month as part of the Sunol Repertory Theatre’s 2025 production.
Co-directors Chris Bobertz and Meredith Sarboraria told the Weekly the whimsical adaptation of the well-known tale of the famous archer, who takes from the rich and gives to the poor, will be a fun ride for the entire family.
“It’s fun, hilarious, full of gags and little Easter egg jokes,” Sarboraria said. “It’s also a play-within-a-play format, which lends an extra layer of goofs … SRT may not perform the classics, but we know how to show you a good time.”
Founded in 1982, the Sunol troupe is in its 42nd season production. Every year, the theater puts on plays inside Sunol Glen School’s auditorium and donates the funds it receives to the school. According to a press release from the theater, it has donated over $250,000 in total to the school over the years.
This year, the SRT has decided to put on a two-act comedy adaptation of the medieval classic Robin Hood. According to the two co-directors, the school’s band — which was involved in last year’s play — will be providing the background music for this month’s production of “Robin Hood & His Merry Men”.
Bobertz, a Sunol resident who was appointed to the school board last year, said the cast is made up of residents from all over Livermore, Dublin and Pleasanton. He said the age of actors range from as young as a fourth grader to as old as someone who is 90 years old.
Some of those actors include two of Bobertz’s kids, which he said has been nice because he has been able to spend more time with them.
“I think that is probably my favorite part,” Bobertz said. “My middle son … he loves getting on stage and he loves being a part of the team that puts on the show.”
Ever since rehearsals began in January, the team of actors, producers and directors have been working diligently to get ready for opening night this weekend.
With dress rehearsals coming up, Bobertz reminisced about how it hasn’t been easy these past two months — especially as a first-time director. He talked about some of the challenges like working with older actors who struggle with fight scenes where they have to fall down.
But Bobertz said the production has been really creative with using fourth-wall breaks such as switching out actors for stunt doubles in an obvious, but playful way, in order to mitigate some of these issues. He also said his co-director, Sarboraria, has definitely made things easier.
Like Bobertz, Sarboraria first got involved with SRT as an actor.
“I had met someone in an acting course a few months before auditions who had been involved with SRT and she suggested I try out,” she said. “I was cast in a supporting role, my first ever play outside of grade school pageants, and the rest is history.”
She said she really loves the group of people she is working with and the whole theater organization as a whole for what they do to fund the school.
“It is a whole lot of work and amazing to watch it come together,” Sarboraria said. “The best thing is when, literally, the whole town comes out to watch and they get really into their role as the rowdy audience. It really is a lot of fun and a piece of small-town life that most don’t get to experience.”
Like Bobertz, this is Sarboraria’s first time directing as well and she said that her favorite part of rehearsals so far has been watching the actors get comfortable with their roles and perform more naturally — even if there might be some mistakes here and there.
“I really enjoy witnessing what comes out of them naturally,” Sarboraria said. “It’s also really fun when someone makes Chris and I crack up at a point where the script on its own isn’t that funny. Sometimes the actors surprise you with their comedic timing and abilities; they really bring the play to life.”
“Robin Hood & His Merry Men” is set to open Saturday (March 8) at 7:30 p.m. After that, there will be at least two performances every following weekend through March 29 as well as a matinee show scheduled for March 22. For more information and ticket prices, visit www.sunol.net/srt.
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