Featuring new theatrical pieces, works in progress, readings, and experimental work by playwrights, dance companies, musicians, animation artists, and more, the New Strands Festival is devoted to supporting local, national, and international artists in the creation and completion of original theater.
This free, four-day festival enables artists to connect, and communities to participate in A.C.T.’s all-new performance venue, The Strand Theater, and to experience projects as they take shape.
For a full schedule of festival events, visit act-sf.org/newstrands.
SCHEDULE
-------
* "Thinking About Theater in the 21st Century" with Carey Perloff
Wednesday, May 17, 7–9 p.m.
The Rembe at the Strand Theater
How has the non-profit theater evolved over the past 50 years and what it might look like going forward? A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff discusses the challenges of creating live theater in the age of technology, the relationship of classics to new plays, and the crisis of representation in American theater.
* Clown Master Class with Stephen Buescher
Wednesday, May 17, 7–9 p.m.
The Rueff at the Strand Theater
Stephen Buescher (head of movement in A.C.T.’s Master of Fine Arts Program in Acting) leads participants through a series of fun exercises unlocking your inner clown.
To participate, email Ken Savage at [email protected]. Max of 16 participants. To observe the class as an audience member, click the reserve button below.
* Songwriting Master Class with Casey Lee Hurt
Thursday, May 18, 7–9 p.m.
The Rembe at the Strand Theater
Composer Casey Lee Hurt (The Unfortunates, Criminal Minds) leads a master class for a select group of emerging Bay Area songwriters where they will perform and fine-tune their original songs in front of an audience.
Six songwriters will be selected to participate in this master class. To be considered, please submit an mp3 of an original song along with a lyrics sheet (PDF) and a brief paragraph about your experience with transformation. We are looking for songs about rebirth, being reborn, transformation, and revival. All submissions must be emailed to Ken Savage at [email protected] by Monday, May 8 at 12 p.m. Selected songwriters will be notified by Friday, May 12.
* Playwriting Master Class with Dipika Guha
Thursday, May 18, 7–9 p.m.
The Rueff at the Strand Theater
Playwright Dipika Guha leads a masterclass for a select group of emerging Bay Area playwrights where they will share and fine-tune their writing.
Ten playwrights will be selected to participate in this master class. To be considered, please submit a brief paragraph about what you hope to work on and learn from the master class. All submissions must be emailed to Ken Savage at [email protected] by Monday, May 1 at 12 p.m. Selected playwrights will be notified by Friday, May 12.
This master class will not be open to an audience.
* New Strands Festival Happy Hour
Featuring drink specials and live music
Friday, May 19 at 6 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Drop by, grab a drink, and mingle with artists and fellow festival-goers before the evening readings begin.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Ma-Yi Residency
The Great Leap
by Lauren Yee
Directed by Lisa Peterson
Friday, May 19 at 7 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
When an American college basketball team travels to Beijing for a “friendship” game in the post-Cultural Revolution 1980s, both countries try to tease out the politics behind this newly popular sport. This play is inspired by events in the playwright’s father’s life.
* A.C.T. New Strands Residency
Fatherville
Co-created by Carey Perloff, Basil Twist, Darron L. West, Sheldon Smith, and Stephen Buescher
In collaboration with Pascal Molat, Bruce Turk, Peter Anderson, and Gregory Wallace
Saturday, May 20 at 12 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
Exploring ideas of lost fathers and wishful sons, shooting-gallery machismo and carnival family trips, Fatherville is a non-verbal, devised work back by popular demand from last year’s New Strands Festival.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Ma-Yi Residency
Snowflakes, or Rare White People
by Dustin Chinn
Directed by Mina Morita
Saturday, May 20 at 1 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
In a dystopian future, the dwindling white American population is protected by the federal government. Two of the last White Americans are brought to Nueva New York’s Museum of Natural History but are “freed” by a disgruntled activist. Is America ready for their return?
* Strands and Strings
Composed by Tania Chen
Saturday, May 20 at 3:30 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Internationally acclaimed pianist and video artist Tania Chen premiers a new piece exclusively for the New Strands Festival, to be performed by a string quartet in the Strand Lobby in conjunction with an original video installation.
Sponsored by a “Building Demand” grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Ma-Yi Residency
The Man from Saigon
by Don Nguyen
Directed by Hal Brooks
Saturday, May 20 at 4 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
As Saigon nears collapse in 1975, a South Vietnamese intelligence agent forges a complicated friendship with Richard Armitage, a charismatic US officer who would later become George W. Bush’s Deputy Secretary of State. This political thriller is based on experiences of the playwright’s father.
* Panel Discussion
The 2050 New Strands Festival: The Future of Theater
with New Strands Festival Artists
Moderated by Jeremy Cohen
Saturday, May 20 at 6 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
What will the New Strands Festival look like in 2050? A festival artist panel convenes at the Strand – A.C.T.’s artistic incubator for the future of San Francisco – to discuss the evolution of new work development, the state of the industry in San Francisco and beyond, and the challenges and opportunities of producing work for the next generation. Moderated by Jeremy Cohen, Artistic Director of the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis, panelists include Lisa Steindler, Artistic Director of Z Space; Mina Morita, Artistic Director of Crowded Fire Theater; and playwright Lauren Yee.
* New Strands Festival Happy Hour
Featuring drink specials and live music
Saturday, May 20 at 6 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Drop by, grab a drink, and mingle with artists and fellow festival-goers before the evening readings begin.
* A.C.T. New Strands Residency
Fatherville
Co-created by Carey Perloff, Basil Twist, Darron L. West, Sheldon Smith, and Stephen Buescher
In collaboration with Pascal Molat, Bruce Turk, Peter Anderson, and Gregory Wallace
Saturday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
Exploring ideas of lost fathers and wishful sons, shooting-gallery machismo and carnival family trips, Fatherville is a non-verbal, devised work back by popular demand from last year’s New Strands Festival.
* A.C.T. New Strands Residency
Revival
A New Musical
by Lucy Thurber and Casey Lee Hurt
Saturday, May 20 at 9 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
When you come from small-town America, it takes courage to leave and strength to stay. Obie Award–winning playwright Lucy Thurber (The Hill Town Plays) and composer Casey Lee Hurt (The Unfortunates) craft an epic musical about family and first love, the history of the land, and the power of the church.
* A.C.T. New Strands Commission
Port City
A New Musical
by Christopher Chen and Byron Au Yong
Directed by Meiyin Wang
Sunday, May 21 at 1 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
In a musical fable framed as a spectacular product launch, Bay Area playwright Christopher Chen (Caught) and composer Byron Au Yong (Stuck Elevator) investigate the psychological and philosophical questions of how technology shapes our lives.
This site-specific musical presentation of excerpts from Port City will lead the audience through different locations in The Strand Theater.
* New Strands / Ma-Yi Playwright-in-Residence
Strands and Strings
Composed by Tania Chen
Sunday, May 21 at 3:30 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Internationally acclaimed pianist and video artist Tania Chen premiers a new piece exclusively for the New Strands Festival, to be performed by a string quartet in the Strand Lobby in conjunction with an original video installation.
Sponsored by a “Building Demand” grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
* A.C.T. / Young Conservatory Commission for the Collaborative Youth Arts Project
Black Butterflies
by Darren Canady
Directed by Tyrone Davis
Sunday, May 21 at 4:30 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
When you’re a girl of color trapped between school, court, and the incarceration system, orange ain’t the new black. An exploration of how young women try to escape the “school-to-prison pipeline,” despite the community-wide complicity of parents, educators, and lawyers.
* New Strands Festival Happy Hour
Featuring drink specials and live music
Sunday, May 21 at 6 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Drop by, grab a drink, and mingle with artists and fellow festival-goers before the evening readings begin.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Z Space co-commission for the M.F.A. Program Class of 2018
Malicious Animal Magnetism
by Dipika Guha and Jeremy Cohen
Directed by Jeremy Cohen
Sunday, May 21 at 7 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
In 1973, amid men in suits, men weeping, and one psychiatrist in a Nixon mask, ten-year-old Peter witnesses a landmark moment in gay rights and reaches out to grab the hand of Oakland boy Deshawn. An epic story about love, queerness, and what we can't help looking at.
New Strands is made possible by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Fund for New Work, Theatre Forward, the Priscilla and Keith Geeslin New Strands Fund, and San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development - Invest in Neighborhoods.
show less
This free, four-day festival enables artists to connect, and communities to participate in A.C.T.’s all-new performance venue, The Strand Theater, and to experience projects as they take shape.
For a full schedule of festival events, visit act-sf.org/newstrands.
SCHEDULE
-------
* "Thinking About Theater in the 21st Century" with Carey Perloff
Wednesday, May 17, 7–9 p.m.
The Rembe at the Strand Theater
How has the non-profit theater evolved over the past 50 years and what it might look like going forward? A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff discusses the challenges of creating live theater in the age of technology, the relationship of classics to new plays, and the crisis of representation in American theater.
* Clown Master Class with Stephen Buescher
Wednesday, May 17, 7–9 p.m.
The Rueff at the Strand Theater
Stephen Buescher (head of movement in A.C.T.’s Master of Fine Arts Program in Acting) leads participants through a series of fun exercises unlocking your inner clown.
To participate, email Ken Savage at [email protected]. Max of 16 participants. To observe the class as an audience member, click the reserve button below.
* Songwriting Master Class with Casey Lee Hurt
Thursday, May 18, 7–9 p.m.
The Rembe at the Strand Theater
Composer Casey Lee Hurt (The Unfortunates, Criminal Minds) leads a master class for a select group of emerging Bay Area songwriters where they will perform and fine-tune their original songs in front of an audience.
Six songwriters will be selected to participate in this master class. To be considered, please submit an mp3 of an original song along with a lyrics sheet (PDF) and a brief paragraph about your experience with transformation. We are looking for songs about rebirth, being reborn, transformation, and revival. All submissions must be emailed to Ken Savage at [email protected] by Monday, May 8 at 12 p.m. Selected songwriters will be notified by Friday, May 12.
* Playwriting Master Class with Dipika Guha
Thursday, May 18, 7–9 p.m.
The Rueff at the Strand Theater
Playwright Dipika Guha leads a masterclass for a select group of emerging Bay Area playwrights where they will share and fine-tune their writing.
Ten playwrights will be selected to participate in this master class. To be considered, please submit a brief paragraph about what you hope to work on and learn from the master class. All submissions must be emailed to Ken Savage at [email protected] by Monday, May 1 at 12 p.m. Selected playwrights will be notified by Friday, May 12.
This master class will not be open to an audience.
* New Strands Festival Happy Hour
Featuring drink specials and live music
Friday, May 19 at 6 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Drop by, grab a drink, and mingle with artists and fellow festival-goers before the evening readings begin.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Ma-Yi Residency
The Great Leap
by Lauren Yee
Directed by Lisa Peterson
Friday, May 19 at 7 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
When an American college basketball team travels to Beijing for a “friendship” game in the post-Cultural Revolution 1980s, both countries try to tease out the politics behind this newly popular sport. This play is inspired by events in the playwright’s father’s life.
* A.C.T. New Strands Residency
Fatherville
Co-created by Carey Perloff, Basil Twist, Darron L. West, Sheldon Smith, and Stephen Buescher
In collaboration with Pascal Molat, Bruce Turk, Peter Anderson, and Gregory Wallace
Saturday, May 20 at 12 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
Exploring ideas of lost fathers and wishful sons, shooting-gallery machismo and carnival family trips, Fatherville is a non-verbal, devised work back by popular demand from last year’s New Strands Festival.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Ma-Yi Residency
Snowflakes, or Rare White People
by Dustin Chinn
Directed by Mina Morita
Saturday, May 20 at 1 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
In a dystopian future, the dwindling white American population is protected by the federal government. Two of the last White Americans are brought to Nueva New York’s Museum of Natural History but are “freed” by a disgruntled activist. Is America ready for their return?
* Strands and Strings
Composed by Tania Chen
Saturday, May 20 at 3:30 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Internationally acclaimed pianist and video artist Tania Chen premiers a new piece exclusively for the New Strands Festival, to be performed by a string quartet in the Strand Lobby in conjunction with an original video installation.
Sponsored by a “Building Demand” grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Ma-Yi Residency
The Man from Saigon
by Don Nguyen
Directed by Hal Brooks
Saturday, May 20 at 4 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
As Saigon nears collapse in 1975, a South Vietnamese intelligence agent forges a complicated friendship with Richard Armitage, a charismatic US officer who would later become George W. Bush’s Deputy Secretary of State. This political thriller is based on experiences of the playwright’s father.
* Panel Discussion
The 2050 New Strands Festival: The Future of Theater
with New Strands Festival Artists
Moderated by Jeremy Cohen
Saturday, May 20 at 6 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
What will the New Strands Festival look like in 2050? A festival artist panel convenes at the Strand – A.C.T.’s artistic incubator for the future of San Francisco – to discuss the evolution of new work development, the state of the industry in San Francisco and beyond, and the challenges and opportunities of producing work for the next generation. Moderated by Jeremy Cohen, Artistic Director of the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis, panelists include Lisa Steindler, Artistic Director of Z Space; Mina Morita, Artistic Director of Crowded Fire Theater; and playwright Lauren Yee.
* New Strands Festival Happy Hour
Featuring drink specials and live music
Saturday, May 20 at 6 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Drop by, grab a drink, and mingle with artists and fellow festival-goers before the evening readings begin.
* A.C.T. New Strands Residency
Fatherville
Co-created by Carey Perloff, Basil Twist, Darron L. West, Sheldon Smith, and Stephen Buescher
In collaboration with Pascal Molat, Bruce Turk, Peter Anderson, and Gregory Wallace
Saturday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
Exploring ideas of lost fathers and wishful sons, shooting-gallery machismo and carnival family trips, Fatherville is a non-verbal, devised work back by popular demand from last year’s New Strands Festival.
* A.C.T. New Strands Residency
Revival
A New Musical
by Lucy Thurber and Casey Lee Hurt
Saturday, May 20 at 9 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
When you come from small-town America, it takes courage to leave and strength to stay. Obie Award–winning playwright Lucy Thurber (The Hill Town Plays) and composer Casey Lee Hurt (The Unfortunates) craft an epic musical about family and first love, the history of the land, and the power of the church.
* A.C.T. New Strands Commission
Port City
A New Musical
by Christopher Chen and Byron Au Yong
Directed by Meiyin Wang
Sunday, May 21 at 1 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
In a musical fable framed as a spectacular product launch, Bay Area playwright Christopher Chen (Caught) and composer Byron Au Yong (Stuck Elevator) investigate the psychological and philosophical questions of how technology shapes our lives.
This site-specific musical presentation of excerpts from Port City will lead the audience through different locations in The Strand Theater.
* New Strands / Ma-Yi Playwright-in-Residence
Strands and Strings
Composed by Tania Chen
Sunday, May 21 at 3:30 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Internationally acclaimed pianist and video artist Tania Chen premiers a new piece exclusively for the New Strands Festival, to be performed by a string quartet in the Strand Lobby in conjunction with an original video installation.
Sponsored by a “Building Demand” grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
* A.C.T. / Young Conservatory Commission for the Collaborative Youth Arts Project
Black Butterflies
by Darren Canady
Directed by Tyrone Davis
Sunday, May 21 at 4:30 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
When you’re a girl of color trapped between school, court, and the incarceration system, orange ain’t the new black. An exploration of how young women try to escape the “school-to-prison pipeline,” despite the community-wide complicity of parents, educators, and lawyers.
* New Strands Festival Happy Hour
Featuring drink specials and live music
Sunday, May 21 at 6 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Drop by, grab a drink, and mingle with artists and fellow festival-goers before the evening readings begin.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Z Space co-commission for the M.F.A. Program Class of 2018
Malicious Animal Magnetism
by Dipika Guha and Jeremy Cohen
Directed by Jeremy Cohen
Sunday, May 21 at 7 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
In 1973, amid men in suits, men weeping, and one psychiatrist in a Nixon mask, ten-year-old Peter witnesses a landmark moment in gay rights and reaches out to grab the hand of Oakland boy Deshawn. An epic story about love, queerness, and what we can't help looking at.
New Strands is made possible by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Fund for New Work, Theatre Forward, the Priscilla and Keith Geeslin New Strands Fund, and San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development - Invest in Neighborhoods.
Featuring new theatrical pieces, works in progress, readings, and experimental work by playwrights, dance companies, musicians, animation artists, and more, the New Strands Festival is devoted to supporting local, national, and international artists in the creation and completion of original theater.
This free, four-day festival enables artists to connect, and communities to participate in A.C.T.’s all-new performance venue, The Strand Theater, and to experience projects as they take shape.
For a full schedule of festival events, visit act-sf.org/newstrands.
SCHEDULE
-------
* "Thinking About Theater in the 21st Century" with Carey Perloff
Wednesday, May 17, 7–9 p.m.
The Rembe at the Strand Theater
How has the non-profit theater evolved over the past 50 years and what it might look like going forward? A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff discusses the challenges of creating live theater in the age of technology, the relationship of classics to new plays, and the crisis of representation in American theater.
* Clown Master Class with Stephen Buescher
Wednesday, May 17, 7–9 p.m.
The Rueff at the Strand Theater
Stephen Buescher (head of movement in A.C.T.’s Master of Fine Arts Program in Acting) leads participants through a series of fun exercises unlocking your inner clown.
To participate, email Ken Savage at [email protected]. Max of 16 participants. To observe the class as an audience member, click the reserve button below.
* Songwriting Master Class with Casey Lee Hurt
Thursday, May 18, 7–9 p.m.
The Rembe at the Strand Theater
Composer Casey Lee Hurt (The Unfortunates, Criminal Minds) leads a master class for a select group of emerging Bay Area songwriters where they will perform and fine-tune their original songs in front of an audience.
Six songwriters will be selected to participate in this master class. To be considered, please submit an mp3 of an original song along with a lyrics sheet (PDF) and a brief paragraph about your experience with transformation. We are looking for songs about rebirth, being reborn, transformation, and revival. All submissions must be emailed to Ken Savage at [email protected] by Monday, May 8 at 12 p.m. Selected songwriters will be notified by Friday, May 12.
* Playwriting Master Class with Dipika Guha
Thursday, May 18, 7–9 p.m.
The Rueff at the Strand Theater
Playwright Dipika Guha leads a masterclass for a select group of emerging Bay Area playwrights where they will share and fine-tune their writing.
Ten playwrights will be selected to participate in this master class. To be considered, please submit a brief paragraph about what you hope to work on and learn from the master class. All submissions must be emailed to Ken Savage at [email protected] by Monday, May 1 at 12 p.m. Selected playwrights will be notified by Friday, May 12.
This master class will not be open to an audience.
* New Strands Festival Happy Hour
Featuring drink specials and live music
Friday, May 19 at 6 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Drop by, grab a drink, and mingle with artists and fellow festival-goers before the evening readings begin.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Ma-Yi Residency
The Great Leap
by Lauren Yee
Directed by Lisa Peterson
Friday, May 19 at 7 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
When an American college basketball team travels to Beijing for a “friendship” game in the post-Cultural Revolution 1980s, both countries try to tease out the politics behind this newly popular sport. This play is inspired by events in the playwright’s father’s life.
* A.C.T. New Strands Residency
Fatherville
Co-created by Carey Perloff, Basil Twist, Darron L. West, Sheldon Smith, and Stephen Buescher
In collaboration with Pascal Molat, Bruce Turk, Peter Anderson, and Gregory Wallace
Saturday, May 20 at 12 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
Exploring ideas of lost fathers and wishful sons, shooting-gallery machismo and carnival family trips, Fatherville is a non-verbal, devised work back by popular demand from last year’s New Strands Festival.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Ma-Yi Residency
Snowflakes, or Rare White People
by Dustin Chinn
Directed by Mina Morita
Saturday, May 20 at 1 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
In a dystopian future, the dwindling white American population is protected by the federal government. Two of the last White Americans are brought to Nueva New York’s Museum of Natural History but are “freed” by a disgruntled activist. Is America ready for their return?
* Strands and Strings
Composed by Tania Chen
Saturday, May 20 at 3:30 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Internationally acclaimed pianist and video artist Tania Chen premiers a new piece exclusively for the New Strands Festival, to be performed by a string quartet in the Strand Lobby in conjunction with an original video installation.
Sponsored by a “Building Demand” grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Ma-Yi Residency
The Man from Saigon
by Don Nguyen
Directed by Hal Brooks
Saturday, May 20 at 4 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
As Saigon nears collapse in 1975, a South Vietnamese intelligence agent forges a complicated friendship with Richard Armitage, a charismatic US officer who would later become George W. Bush’s Deputy Secretary of State. This political thriller is based on experiences of the playwright’s father.
* Panel Discussion
The 2050 New Strands Festival: The Future of Theater
with New Strands Festival Artists
Moderated by Jeremy Cohen
Saturday, May 20 at 6 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
What will the New Strands Festival look like in 2050? A festival artist panel convenes at the Strand – A.C.T.’s artistic incubator for the future of San Francisco – to discuss the evolution of new work development, the state of the industry in San Francisco and beyond, and the challenges and opportunities of producing work for the next generation. Moderated by Jeremy Cohen, Artistic Director of the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis, panelists include Lisa Steindler, Artistic Director of Z Space; Mina Morita, Artistic Director of Crowded Fire Theater; and playwright Lauren Yee.
* New Strands Festival Happy Hour
Featuring drink specials and live music
Saturday, May 20 at 6 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Drop by, grab a drink, and mingle with artists and fellow festival-goers before the evening readings begin.
* A.C.T. New Strands Residency
Fatherville
Co-created by Carey Perloff, Basil Twist, Darron L. West, Sheldon Smith, and Stephen Buescher
In collaboration with Pascal Molat, Bruce Turk, Peter Anderson, and Gregory Wallace
Saturday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
Exploring ideas of lost fathers and wishful sons, shooting-gallery machismo and carnival family trips, Fatherville is a non-verbal, devised work back by popular demand from last year’s New Strands Festival.
* A.C.T. New Strands Residency
Revival
A New Musical
by Lucy Thurber and Casey Lee Hurt
Saturday, May 20 at 9 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
When you come from small-town America, it takes courage to leave and strength to stay. Obie Award–winning playwright Lucy Thurber (The Hill Town Plays) and composer Casey Lee Hurt (The Unfortunates) craft an epic musical about family and first love, the history of the land, and the power of the church.
* A.C.T. New Strands Commission
Port City
A New Musical
by Christopher Chen and Byron Au Yong
Directed by Meiyin Wang
Sunday, May 21 at 1 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
In a musical fable framed as a spectacular product launch, Bay Area playwright Christopher Chen (Caught) and composer Byron Au Yong (Stuck Elevator) investigate the psychological and philosophical questions of how technology shapes our lives.
This site-specific musical presentation of excerpts from Port City will lead the audience through different locations in The Strand Theater.
* New Strands / Ma-Yi Playwright-in-Residence
Strands and Strings
Composed by Tania Chen
Sunday, May 21 at 3:30 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Internationally acclaimed pianist and video artist Tania Chen premiers a new piece exclusively for the New Strands Festival, to be performed by a string quartet in the Strand Lobby in conjunction with an original video installation.
Sponsored by a “Building Demand” grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
* A.C.T. / Young Conservatory Commission for the Collaborative Youth Arts Project
Black Butterflies
by Darren Canady
Directed by Tyrone Davis
Sunday, May 21 at 4:30 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
When you’re a girl of color trapped between school, court, and the incarceration system, orange ain’t the new black. An exploration of how young women try to escape the “school-to-prison pipeline,” despite the community-wide complicity of parents, educators, and lawyers.
* New Strands Festival Happy Hour
Featuring drink specials and live music
Sunday, May 21 at 6 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Drop by, grab a drink, and mingle with artists and fellow festival-goers before the evening readings begin.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Z Space co-commission for the M.F.A. Program Class of 2018
Malicious Animal Magnetism
by Dipika Guha and Jeremy Cohen
Directed by Jeremy Cohen
Sunday, May 21 at 7 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
In 1973, amid men in suits, men weeping, and one psychiatrist in a Nixon mask, ten-year-old Peter witnesses a landmark moment in gay rights and reaches out to grab the hand of Oakland boy Deshawn. An epic story about love, queerness, and what we can't help looking at.
New Strands is made possible by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Fund for New Work, Theatre Forward, the Priscilla and Keith Geeslin New Strands Fund, and San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development - Invest in Neighborhoods.
read more
This free, four-day festival enables artists to connect, and communities to participate in A.C.T.’s all-new performance venue, The Strand Theater, and to experience projects as they take shape.
For a full schedule of festival events, visit act-sf.org/newstrands.
SCHEDULE
-------
* "Thinking About Theater in the 21st Century" with Carey Perloff
Wednesday, May 17, 7–9 p.m.
The Rembe at the Strand Theater
How has the non-profit theater evolved over the past 50 years and what it might look like going forward? A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff discusses the challenges of creating live theater in the age of technology, the relationship of classics to new plays, and the crisis of representation in American theater.
* Clown Master Class with Stephen Buescher
Wednesday, May 17, 7–9 p.m.
The Rueff at the Strand Theater
Stephen Buescher (head of movement in A.C.T.’s Master of Fine Arts Program in Acting) leads participants through a series of fun exercises unlocking your inner clown.
To participate, email Ken Savage at [email protected]. Max of 16 participants. To observe the class as an audience member, click the reserve button below.
* Songwriting Master Class with Casey Lee Hurt
Thursday, May 18, 7–9 p.m.
The Rembe at the Strand Theater
Composer Casey Lee Hurt (The Unfortunates, Criminal Minds) leads a master class for a select group of emerging Bay Area songwriters where they will perform and fine-tune their original songs in front of an audience.
Six songwriters will be selected to participate in this master class. To be considered, please submit an mp3 of an original song along with a lyrics sheet (PDF) and a brief paragraph about your experience with transformation. We are looking for songs about rebirth, being reborn, transformation, and revival. All submissions must be emailed to Ken Savage at [email protected] by Monday, May 8 at 12 p.m. Selected songwriters will be notified by Friday, May 12.
* Playwriting Master Class with Dipika Guha
Thursday, May 18, 7–9 p.m.
The Rueff at the Strand Theater
Playwright Dipika Guha leads a masterclass for a select group of emerging Bay Area playwrights where they will share and fine-tune their writing.
Ten playwrights will be selected to participate in this master class. To be considered, please submit a brief paragraph about what you hope to work on and learn from the master class. All submissions must be emailed to Ken Savage at [email protected] by Monday, May 1 at 12 p.m. Selected playwrights will be notified by Friday, May 12.
This master class will not be open to an audience.
* New Strands Festival Happy Hour
Featuring drink specials and live music
Friday, May 19 at 6 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Drop by, grab a drink, and mingle with artists and fellow festival-goers before the evening readings begin.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Ma-Yi Residency
The Great Leap
by Lauren Yee
Directed by Lisa Peterson
Friday, May 19 at 7 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
When an American college basketball team travels to Beijing for a “friendship” game in the post-Cultural Revolution 1980s, both countries try to tease out the politics behind this newly popular sport. This play is inspired by events in the playwright’s father’s life.
* A.C.T. New Strands Residency
Fatherville
Co-created by Carey Perloff, Basil Twist, Darron L. West, Sheldon Smith, and Stephen Buescher
In collaboration with Pascal Molat, Bruce Turk, Peter Anderson, and Gregory Wallace
Saturday, May 20 at 12 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
Exploring ideas of lost fathers and wishful sons, shooting-gallery machismo and carnival family trips, Fatherville is a non-verbal, devised work back by popular demand from last year’s New Strands Festival.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Ma-Yi Residency
Snowflakes, or Rare White People
by Dustin Chinn
Directed by Mina Morita
Saturday, May 20 at 1 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
In a dystopian future, the dwindling white American population is protected by the federal government. Two of the last White Americans are brought to Nueva New York’s Museum of Natural History but are “freed” by a disgruntled activist. Is America ready for their return?
* Strands and Strings
Composed by Tania Chen
Saturday, May 20 at 3:30 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Internationally acclaimed pianist and video artist Tania Chen premiers a new piece exclusively for the New Strands Festival, to be performed by a string quartet in the Strand Lobby in conjunction with an original video installation.
Sponsored by a “Building Demand” grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Ma-Yi Residency
The Man from Saigon
by Don Nguyen
Directed by Hal Brooks
Saturday, May 20 at 4 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
As Saigon nears collapse in 1975, a South Vietnamese intelligence agent forges a complicated friendship with Richard Armitage, a charismatic US officer who would later become George W. Bush’s Deputy Secretary of State. This political thriller is based on experiences of the playwright’s father.
* Panel Discussion
The 2050 New Strands Festival: The Future of Theater
with New Strands Festival Artists
Moderated by Jeremy Cohen
Saturday, May 20 at 6 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
What will the New Strands Festival look like in 2050? A festival artist panel convenes at the Strand – A.C.T.’s artistic incubator for the future of San Francisco – to discuss the evolution of new work development, the state of the industry in San Francisco and beyond, and the challenges and opportunities of producing work for the next generation. Moderated by Jeremy Cohen, Artistic Director of the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis, panelists include Lisa Steindler, Artistic Director of Z Space; Mina Morita, Artistic Director of Crowded Fire Theater; and playwright Lauren Yee.
* New Strands Festival Happy Hour
Featuring drink specials and live music
Saturday, May 20 at 6 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Drop by, grab a drink, and mingle with artists and fellow festival-goers before the evening readings begin.
* A.C.T. New Strands Residency
Fatherville
Co-created by Carey Perloff, Basil Twist, Darron L. West, Sheldon Smith, and Stephen Buescher
In collaboration with Pascal Molat, Bruce Turk, Peter Anderson, and Gregory Wallace
Saturday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
Exploring ideas of lost fathers and wishful sons, shooting-gallery machismo and carnival family trips, Fatherville is a non-verbal, devised work back by popular demand from last year’s New Strands Festival.
* A.C.T. New Strands Residency
Revival
A New Musical
by Lucy Thurber and Casey Lee Hurt
Saturday, May 20 at 9 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
When you come from small-town America, it takes courage to leave and strength to stay. Obie Award–winning playwright Lucy Thurber (The Hill Town Plays) and composer Casey Lee Hurt (The Unfortunates) craft an epic musical about family and first love, the history of the land, and the power of the church.
* A.C.T. New Strands Commission
Port City
A New Musical
by Christopher Chen and Byron Au Yong
Directed by Meiyin Wang
Sunday, May 21 at 1 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
In a musical fable framed as a spectacular product launch, Bay Area playwright Christopher Chen (Caught) and composer Byron Au Yong (Stuck Elevator) investigate the psychological and philosophical questions of how technology shapes our lives.
This site-specific musical presentation of excerpts from Port City will lead the audience through different locations in The Strand Theater.
* New Strands / Ma-Yi Playwright-in-Residence
Strands and Strings
Composed by Tania Chen
Sunday, May 21 at 3:30 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Internationally acclaimed pianist and video artist Tania Chen premiers a new piece exclusively for the New Strands Festival, to be performed by a string quartet in the Strand Lobby in conjunction with an original video installation.
Sponsored by a “Building Demand” grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
* A.C.T. / Young Conservatory Commission for the Collaborative Youth Arts Project
Black Butterflies
by Darren Canady
Directed by Tyrone Davis
Sunday, May 21 at 4:30 p.m.
The Rembe at The Strand Theater
When you’re a girl of color trapped between school, court, and the incarceration system, orange ain’t the new black. An exploration of how young women try to escape the “school-to-prison pipeline,” despite the community-wide complicity of parents, educators, and lawyers.
* New Strands Festival Happy Hour
Featuring drink specials and live music
Sunday, May 21 at 6 p.m.
The Lobby at The Strand Theater
Drop by, grab a drink, and mingle with artists and fellow festival-goers before the evening readings begin.
* A.C.T. New Strands / Z Space co-commission for the M.F.A. Program Class of 2018
Malicious Animal Magnetism
by Dipika Guha and Jeremy Cohen
Directed by Jeremy Cohen
Sunday, May 21 at 7 p.m.
The Rueff at The Strand Theater
In 1973, amid men in suits, men weeping, and one psychiatrist in a Nixon mask, ten-year-old Peter witnesses a landmark moment in gay rights and reaches out to grab the hand of Oakland boy Deshawn. An epic story about love, queerness, and what we can't help looking at.
New Strands is made possible by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Fund for New Work, Theatre Forward, the Priscilla and Keith Geeslin New Strands Fund, and San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development - Invest in Neighborhoods.
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The Strand Theater
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1127 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
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