I grew up in San Francisco watching Gilbert and Sullivan and A.C.T. During the 1970’s, I worked in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe. Seeing Junkanoo in the Bahamas, mask dances in Mexico, and Easter Mass in Rome expanded my understanding of what theater could be. I think trying to understand foreign languages and cultures started me writing plays, principally to make sense of cultural and political differences and how other people perceive the U.S. For example, “Scavengers,” which will premier in Spanish in Mexico City, retells the Conquest of Mexico by examining how present day Mexican orphans defend their empire against an American pastor. My “Beijing, California” imagined a future Chinese takeover of the U.S. in which financial success depends on learning Chinese and Chinese mores. I used the story to examine what exactly makes us North Americans. It premiered with The Asian American Theater in 2010.
Most recently I've been producing my one-man/one-boy play "Wolves" in Bay Area living rooms and intimate spaces. My current project - in development with Central Works Writers Group (Berkeley) - is probably called "Goats" and is about how we create memory.
Successes
1. I was recently chosen to attend the Djerassi Resident Artists Program. This is my second time so I look forward to the unencumbered work hours and beautiful landscape, the international artists who will be with me, the coyotes, rabbits, and the scrumpous food. I urge all to apply.
2. I received $1000 grant from the Zellerbach Family Foundation to produce my play "Wolves" in living rooms and other intimate spaces.
3. I received a $500 grant from The Center for Cultural Innovation. Any CA artist can apply - the grants are easy to write and the organizaiton gives handy advice if you need it. These are for 'building capacity', that is learning how to do the business of being an artist. I learned about building an audience.