In June 2020, an editor for the organization commented on this very site to discuss my writing for them. It was a welcome freelance opportunity during COVID-19 slowdowns.
(Also available on my official byline page.)
Previews, Reviews, and Round-ups
In addition to all the main articles below, I also recently (June 2021) began writing arts round-up pieces for LNM.
- Juneteenth 2021 events (June 2021)
- Berkeley Rep’s 2021-22 season (July 2021)
- SF Ballet’s 2022 season (July 2021)
- EXIT Theatre and SF Fringe return to in-person performances for Autumn 2021 (July 2021)
- Bay Area theatres cancelling or postponing their season due to COVID-19’s Delta variant surge (August 2021)
- Pulitzer Center’s “End of Isolation” Tour, featuring a pandemic-redux version of Sarah Shourd‘s The Box. (August 2021)
- Oakland Theater Project returns to in-person shows with Every Brilliant Thing (October 2021)
- Museum of the African Diaspora reopens this week after 19 long months (October 2021)
- Bayview-Hunters Point artists shine at Shipyard Open Studios (October 2021)
- Review: We Are Bruce Lee: Under the Sky, One Family at the Chinese Historical Society of America (July 2022)
- Preview: It’s Qwere’s Mighty Real 2022 (November 2022)
- Preview: 24th Annual SF International Hip-Hop DanceFest (November 2022)
Features and Interviews
“Out of the Shadow of COVID: S.F.’s Favorite Foul-Mouthed Puppet Show keeps you Laughing during Lockdown” (August 2020)
I interviewed Dave Haaz-Baroque of Shadow Circus Creature Theatre to discuss August 2020 show during the COVID-19 lockdown.
“I Left My Art in San Francisco: An Interview with Woke Creator/Cartoonist Keith Knight” (August 2020)
I interviewed award-winning cartoonist Keith Knight on the eve of his first live-My interview with award-winning cartoonist Keith Knight in the lead-up to his first live-action venture, the Hulu series Woke. The show, set in SF, tackles racial profiling and Black identity.
“The Price of Survival: What’s the Future of San Francisco’s Indie Performance Spaces?” (September 2020)
My first feature for the company, in which I cover the Save Our Stages Act, the RESTART Act, the IVA, and why San Francisco – nay, the entire country – needs its independent performing arts and the venues that host them.
I give particular attention to traditional live theatre, which is frequently lost in the discussion of mainstream live performance.
“Life’s a Drag(on): Writer and actor Puja Tolton discusses her surreal new short film, set in a Tolkien-inspired Oakland” (November 2020)
I’ve known Puja Tolton and the folks at Awesome Theatre for years now. So, when the publication expressed interest in a piece about their new film I Broke the Looking Glass (running on-demand all through December 2020), I figured I could give it a shot.
“Cool Yule: Kat Robichaud is ready to bring some Hilarious Holiday cheer to 2020 with her Darling Misfit Album” (December 2020)
I had the chance to chat with Kat Robichaud, co-creator of Misfit Cabaret, about her new Christmas album, life during lockdown, and Misfit Cabaret: The Movie.
“Dark Hues, Bright Futures: The Black Woman is God moves Online” (December 2020)
In which I chat with exhibit curator/co-founder Karen Seneferu about taking the project virtual in the year of COVID-19 and Breonna Taylor.
“The often-forgotten history of POC railroad workers is illuminated in Oakland revival of 1991’s Binding Ties” (February 2021)
My first published piece of 2021 covered the 30th anniversary of a landmark Bay Area theatre show. Not only were its PoC stories still relevant, but its “drive-in” presentation made for effective viewing in the age of social distancing.
“The Plight of the Barcades: How three gaming bars are surviving the pandemic” (March 2021)
In which I spotlight three Bay Area “Barcades” and discover how they plan to fight through the pandemic.
“Getting with ‘The Program’: SF Neo-Futurists adapt to pandemic with Two Shows, one performed Over the Phone” (June 2021)
In which I interview members of the SF Neo-Futurists about their online show, World Wide Wrench, and their interactive phone experience, The Program.
“Chatting With Sean San José: Magic Theatre’s new artistic director to center local artists of color” (July 2021)
In which I interview the co-founder of Campo Santo as he takes up his new role as artistic director of SF’s world-renowned Magic Theatre.
“Announcing its 25th season, Killing My Lobster sketches out its future” (February 2022)
In which this piece (originally written for another outlet) finds me looking at SF’s quarter-century-old sketch institution as it goes through major transitions.
“Jim Henson exhibition reveals the Muppets’ ties to the Bay Area, as well as his lesser-known innovations” (June 2022)
In which I interview the curator of the Contemporary Jewish Museum about their new exhibit focusing on the great Muppeteer.
“‘Vicious Cycle’ hosts dish on Reproductive Rights, Joe Biden and more ahead of live 100th episode” (June 2022)
In which I interview the “blosts” of the menstruation-comedy podcast Vicious Cycle as they prepare for the live recording of their 100th episode and stare down a possible repeal of Roe v. Wade.
“How Oakland native Nataki Garrett brought the Oregon Shakespeare Festival through the biggest threat in its history — COVID-19” (July 2022)
In which I interview the first Black woman to lead the world-renowed Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.
“Peaches Christ talks about the dark, drag-fodder magic of ‘Death Becomes Her’” (August 2022)
In which I interview the man behind the world-renowned drag legend to talk about changes at (and in) The Castro ahead of the 30th anniversary show for Death Becomes Her.
“The Medak Center: New Berkeley Rep artist housing complex to let passersby view plays in progress” (August 2022)
In which I interview Berkeley Rep’s higher-ups to ask about their new building; part residence for out-of-town actors, part incubator for new works.
“Tina D’Elia dishes on her solo show ‘Overlooked Latinas’ and the fight for queer visibility” (October 2022)
In which I interview the renowned SF performer and casting specialist about her new solo show.
“Aerialists join opera singers for Cavalleria Rusticana adaptation” (February 2023)
In which I interview multi-talented Bay Area pop diva Sophia Santulli about her upcoming aerial adaptation of the classic Pietro Mascagni opera.
“Playwright Eugenie Chan takes on climate change in sci-fi adventure with shadow puppets” (February 2023)
In which I interview the renowned SF-born playwright about her latest work, an climate-themed sci-fi fantasy with marionettes.
“‘Forever Wave’ radio play set in post-apocalyptic, water-besieged San Francisco” (March 2023)
In which I interview fellow Bay Area playwright/journalist Nicole Gluckstern about returning to the production side of theatre with her upcoming radio drama.
“A few words with clown extraordinaire Sara Toby Moore” (June 2023)
In which I interview the multi-hyphenate Bay Area clown about their new show… and the tragic curveballs of life that brought it into existence.
“Wayne Harris performs ‘Train Stories’ to honor Black American railroad workers” (September 2023)
In which I interview the playwright and activist about his upcoming three-person show focusing on an oft-overlooked chapter of Black American history.
“Crowded Fire Theater takes on digital landscape in ‘Edit Annie’” (September 2023)
In which I interview co-directors Nailah Harper-Malveaux and Leigh Rondon-Davis ahead of their new Crowded Fire show, a satire about celebrity and privacy in the digital age.
“SF Ghost Hunt tour guide Christian Cagigal on board for spooky historical season” (October 2023)
In which I interview renowned Bay Area magician Christian Cagigal about his hosting the SF Ghost Hunt Walking Tour for its 25th spooky season.
“PUSH Dance’s Raissa Simpson begins troupe’s 18th season with a new permanent home” (October 2023)
In which I interview the artistic director of the renowned SF dance troupe on the eve of their opening a new venue in The City.
“Dimension Dance Theater’s Deborah Vaughan reflects on five successful decades” (October 2023)
In which speak the artistic director of Oakland’s 50-year-old Black-owned dance troupe on the eve of their biennial celebration.
“Kim Epifano celebrates 20 years of San Francisco Trolley Dances” (October 2023)
In which I dig into the 20th anniversary of the SF troupe that dances through public transit.
“Rotimi Agbabiaka returns as delicious evil witch in ‘Sleeping Beauty’ holiday show” (November 2023)
In which I interview the eclectic Bay Area performer ahead of his return to the annual Christmas show for Panto in the Presidio.
“ACT bids farewell to long-running ‘Christmas Carol’” (November 2023)
In which I look at the history ACT’s beloved annual classic as it retires its long-running popular version and prepares a bold new version.
“New galleries offer inviting spaces for independent artists in San Francisco” (December 2023)
In which I take a look at two new, small, independent galleries in San Francisco: Bounty and the Jonathan Carver Moore gallery.
“SF’s Fog Design+Art going strong on 10th anniversary” (January 2024)
In which I mark the 10th anniversary of beloved SF festival that marks the unofficial start of the Bay Area art season.
“Idris Ackamoor marks 50 years with Danny Glover, Rhodessa Jones for Underground Jazz Cabaret” (January 2024)
In which I interview the legendary musician (and two of his celeb friends) as he celebrates an half-century of unbroken creativity.
“Margo Hall leading charge for Black women’s voices at Lorraine Hanberry Theatre and beyond” (February 2024)
In which I interview the wonderful, talented AD of one of the most important Black theatres in the world, located here in SF.
“‘AfroSiscan’ Ashley Smiley premieres ‘Dirty White Teslas Make Me Sad’ at Magic Theatre” (February 2024)
In which I interview the author behind Magic Theatre’s new world premiere of a play about the gentrification of Black folks in SF.
“SF’s Golden Thread Productions’ artistic director points to importance of season focus on Palestine” (March 2024)
As Palestine continues to suffer genocide under Israel, the AD of the Bay Area’s premiere Arab-themed and -run theatre company has chosen to dedicate an entire season to highlighting Palestinian voices.
“Bay Area audiences are curious about a new ‘queer cowboy musical’” (March 2024)
In which I interview one of the Bay Area’s most-prolific designers as he debuts his new musical.
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The Thinking Man's Idiot (Charles Lewis III) 