Sat May 9, 2026
SF International Arts Festival presents Eddie Jen in "Seeking a Penpal for the End of the World"
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Seeking a Penpal for the End of the World is the true story of an immigrant Taiwanese drag queen writer in San Francisco who began writing to his retired, white, Republican high school English teacher from Bountiful, Utah, in the aftermaths of January 6th, 2021, when Trump 1.0 tried to destroy our democracy.
But what happens when the political discussions stop, and the personal begins?
Can you really be "friends" with your English teacher?
Can you talk to them about drugs?
Sex?
An immersive, participatory show, Seeking a Penpal is like English class again -- except this time with a drag queen as teacher.
"Funny, witty, or provocative as well as realistic, serious and entertaining," wrote Jo Tomalin for the FringeReview at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025. "It's hard not to become fascinated with this story."
"An achievement in crowd immersion, where you won't find a performance that cultivates connection quite like this anywhere else," wrote Audrey Yeung for The Student. "Truly a memorable contribution to this year's Fringe. There is nothing else quite like it."
show less
But what happens when the political discussions stop, and the personal begins?
Can you really be "friends" with your English teacher?
Can you talk to them about drugs?
Sex?
An immersive, participatory show, Seeking a Penpal is like English class again -- except this time with a drag queen as teacher.
"Funny, witty, or provocative as well as realistic, serious and entertaining," wrote Jo Tomalin for the FringeReview at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025. "It's hard not to become fascinated with this story."
"An achievement in crowd immersion, where you won't find a performance that cultivates connection quite like this anywhere else," wrote Audrey Yeung for The Student. "Truly a memorable contribution to this year's Fringe. There is nothing else quite like it."
Seeking a Penpal for the End of the World is the true story of an immigrant Taiwanese drag queen writer in San Francisco who began writing to his retired, white, Republican high school English teacher from Bountiful, Utah, in the aftermaths of January 6th, 2021, when Trump 1.0 tried to destroy our democracy.
But what happens when the political discussions stop, and the personal begins?
Can you really be "friends" with your English teacher?
Can you talk to them about drugs?
Sex?
An immersive, participatory show, Seeking a Penpal is like English class again -- except this time with a drag queen as teacher.
"Funny, witty, or provocative as well as realistic, serious and entertaining," wrote Jo Tomalin for the FringeReview at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025. "It's hard not to become fascinated with this story."
"An achievement in crowd immersion, where you won't find a performance that cultivates connection quite like this anywhere else," wrote Audrey Yeung for The Student. "Truly a memorable contribution to this year's Fringe. There is nothing else quite like it."
read more
But what happens when the political discussions stop, and the personal begins?
Can you really be "friends" with your English teacher?
Can you talk to them about drugs?
Sex?
An immersive, participatory show, Seeking a Penpal is like English class again -- except this time with a drag queen as teacher.
"Funny, witty, or provocative as well as realistic, serious and entertaining," wrote Jo Tomalin for the FringeReview at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025. "It's hard not to become fascinated with this story."
"An achievement in crowd immersion, where you won't find a performance that cultivates connection quite like this anywhere else," wrote Audrey Yeung for The Student. "Truly a memorable contribution to this year's Fringe. There is nothing else quite like it."
show less
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