Julius Rea
he/him
Oakland, CA
Julius Rea is a playwright, curator and performer. In 2018, he co-founded The Forum Collective, an arts organization that focuses on investigative theatre.
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Biography

Julius Rea is a Bay Area playwright, curator and performer. In addition to writing for publications such as the East Bay Express and EBONY magazine, he obtained a degree in Philosophy at San Francisco State University. In 2018, he co-founded The Forum Collective, an arts organization that focuses on journalism theatre and gallery curation. Rea is a part of Crowded Fire Theatre’s 2020-21 Resilience and Development Lab, leading up to a new play production in their 2021 Rough Reading Series.

Plays

sarafael
by Julius Rea

After her childhood friend accuses her brother of rape, Ari travels inside the mind of the man investigating the incident. This multi-layered story describes how sexual trauma warps when it enters either the public sphere or the subconscious.

Cast:
Sara (also Host): An understandably enraged and intelligent woman. Early 20s Rafael (also Interviewer): A stubborn, emotional party boy. Ari's sibling. Early 20s. Ari: A strong-willed sister and friend questioning her memory. Rafael's sibling. Mid 20s. David Ando: A crazed man investigating the truth. 20s - 30s. Notes: All characters are people of color (or BIPOC). Sara and David are of the same race; Rafael and Ari are siblings. Sara, Rafael, and Ari are in their twenties.
Mercy

Vivienne finally faces her sister's addiction and its impact on her son. In the apartment next door, Jonathan’s house arrest seems less important than his daughter's choice of college. While listening to fights through closed doors and thin walls, young Kenny learns about his forged family and the traits he may one day inherit.

This tender and matter-of-fact narrative explores normalized and adverse trauma in the home as well as through internet and news media between 2009 and 2019. Mercy was a finalist for the 2020 Bay Area Playwrights Festival.

Cast:
Vivienne: 40s; African-American female; a raw nerve; also plays “Mama 2” and “Viv" when designated Jonathan: 40s; African-American male; a calm storm; also plays “Father” when designated Connie: 30s - 40s; African-American female; an optimistic addict; also plays “Constance” and “Mama 2” when designated Kyra: late teens, 20s; African-American; a burgeoning adult; also plays “Janet” and “Younger Connie” when designated Kenny: child, 18; a quiet critic; also plays “Kyra,” “Johnny,” “Younger Jonathan” and “Daddy” (when designated) Jack: 20s - 40s; African-American male; a playful addict Note: -Kenny is played by an adult at all times.
Kaleidoscope

As industrious engineer Ervin explores his past, the memories of his two childhood best friends defend him through an exploration of his mother's mysterious abandonment.

His joyful memories with Geo and Cielo juxtapose his urgency to find a deeply hidden memory. Tinged with humor and nostalgia, this narrative also explores the nuances of navigating young adulthood with queer and BIPOC identities.

This piece was produced in Crowded Fire Theater's Resilience and Development Lab. Formally titled "rgb", this piece was a semi-finalist for the 2021 Bay Area Playwrights Festival.

Cast:
Geo (she/they, female-presenting): Indigenous. A sarcastic fighter as a young person. Also "Colleague" / "Nik" when designated. Ervin (he/him): The child of immigrants. Obsessed and fastidious as an adult. A playful misanthrope as a young person. Cielo (he/they, male-presenting): Black. A would-be lover as a young person. Additional characters: "Bijan" (solo), "Parisa" (solo), "Nik" (solo), "Voicemail," "Announcer," "Guy," "Father," and "Someone." Notes: -Although character ethnicities are noted above, it is more important that actors cast represent a shared otherness. Fluidity does not equal colorblind casting. Names and non-English languages can be altered.