4 minute read
Meet the Seaberg Family: Sharing a Life Filled with Love and Theatre Arts
Photo by Kim Lind Photography
Article by Eve Marie Shahoian, Danville Resident since 2013
www.DanvilleLivingCA.com
When two people share a passion for both their work and each other it is a very special union. Stephanie and Jeff Seaberg, recent newlyweds, have known and worked together in theater over the last 14 years, and it was their love for theater arts and teaching children that brought them together. Jeff has lived in West Danville since 2003 and Stephanie since 2010. Over time, while working together and growing Theatre Performance Workshop (TPW) and KAOS camp in Danville, Stephanie and Jeff fell in love. It’s like a fairy tale love story, which they most appropriately fulfilled at their themed and theatrically inspired wedding this September in Bodega Bay. On their most special day, Stephanie wore her Wizard of Oz ruby slippers, tapping three times, as Dorothy would do, and Jeff wore his signature hat from the show Me and My Girl. Stephanie and Jeff set off to the Island of Maui for their honeymoon, where Jeff had proposed to Stephanie two years earlier. As Stephanie explains, “My best friend got engaged a year earlier and had a very elaborate proposal, and I jokingly dared Jeff to try and top him.” Jeff ended up proposing to Stephanie in a helicopter during their vacation, and Stephanie refers to that trip as “amazing”. I think it’s safe to say Jeff topped her friend’s proposal!
Photo by Kim Lind Photography
Stephanie is not new to Danville, having attended San Ramon Valley High and Diablo Valley College. Her parents are Steve and Janet Lauck, her sister is Anne De Santes and, her late brother is Kyle Lauck. Jeff was born in Aurora, Illinois, but moved to the Bay Area in 1989, the same year Stephanie moved here from San Joaquin Valley. His parents are Carl and Joanne Seaberg, and his three siblings are his brother Jerry and sisters Kim and Kris. Stephanie’s grandfather was George Lauck, owner of Lauck’s Bakery in Fresno, Ca. Stephanie grew up hearing that “ he sold the most pies and cakes under one roof on the east coast.” In honor of Lauck’s Bakery, Stephanie used a vintage Lauck’s Bakery cake knife to cut her wedding cake. With a family history of baking it’s not a surprise that in Stephanie’s spare time she loves to cook, and refers to herself as a “Culinary Magician” and jokingly proclaims herself, “The best cook in Danville.”
In their home, Stephanie and Jeff have a motto
Their home is often bustling with friends to celebrate many occasions, as they host an annual Oscars Party, Christmas dinners, and many cast parties. Stephanie used to host Sunday night sit down dinners with college friends where they always raised a glass and said, “Food is love!” before each meal. To this day she and Jeff still say this. In addition to theater, Jeff loves the Chicago Cubs. It’s no surprise that Jeff shed tears of joy when the Cubs won the World Series back in 2016. Stephanie explains, “It was right after Jeff proposed to me.”
Both Stephanie and Jeff lead very active lives contributing much to theater arts in the Danville community and throughout the Bay Area. Theatre Performance Workshop is their pride and joy. It is an after school class that performs original plays by Jeff and Stephanie during the school year at Village Theatre. During the summer months they begin KAOS Camp, which is a two week long drama camp that local kids flock to.They have both been involved in theater their entire lives, both on stage and off. Stephanie appeared in The Wizard of Oz at the Pittsburg Community Theatre last year, and Jeff was the Director/ Producer/Writer for the madcap comedy Wigged Out, which played in Danville for four years. Jeff is also a regular performer for Tri-Valley Rep shows, which are held at the Bankhead Theatre in Livermore. He most recently played Nicky the Mobster in Bullets Over Broadway. Jeff was awarded the Tri-Valley Hero Award in 2012 for his work in play writing. Stephanie has been a drama instructor for Golden Oak Montessori in Castro Valley for the last two years, where she directs original plays that she writes for the schools. When not teaching, Stephanie is a costume designer for Chanticleers Playhouse. She won the “Best Costume Award” in 2017 for the production of The Addams Family. Stephanie is also the secretary to the PAC McGucken Committee and won the “PAC award for achievement” in 2016. Jeff and Stephanie attend an annual actor’s camp in Occidental every Labor Day weekend called McGucken. “It’s a great opportunity to workshop ideas, promote shows and perform.”
For each show Stephanie gives away three full scholarships to kids who qualify for FLP, which is a wonderful way to bring the arts to underfunded families. Jeff and Stephanie have six unofficial children whom they call family. They are: Mallery Martinez, Hannah Sylwanowicz, Mike Anderson, Gordon Brown, Angie Motter and Rachel Maneloveg. They met all of them through TPW when they were little children and have grown into an extended family together. They were even bridesmaids and ushers at their wedding, and celebrate birthdays, Christmas, an occasional road trip and almost never miss a graduation. Stephanie shares, “They even bring their boyfriends and girlfriends over to meet us, and now in their mid twenties and spread across the state they still come over when they can.”
They enjoy walking to restaurants, all the local hangouts and have their regular routine. Stephanie explains, “Monday is fried chicken night at Revel, happy hour at Maria Maria on Wednesday, Bridges is their “Cheers”, and on Saturdays, Jeff walks to the farmers’ market to buy sunflowers for me.” Since they both teach in the community they really enjoy going to events like Hot August Nights and running into their students, both young and old. They especially love seeing their students during the Danville tree lighting because the kids are full of holiday spirit.
