sapphoweb.VIRTUAL

JUNE 24 - JUNE 25 @ 8PM VIA ZOOM
The Real Sappho
written by AIMEE SUZARA
directed by NAILAH HARPER-MALVEAUX

 

Will the real Sappho please come to the mic?

Welcome to Oak-Island, to a not-too-distant future, where this queer icon - the Original Lesbian, the poetess you thought you knew - finally reclaims her story.

Poet-playwright Aimee Suzara’s world premiere - The Real Sappho - is a confrontation, a celebration, and the new beginnings of a classic.

FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT

I was invited by Cutting Ball Theater to work on a play about Sappho in November 2019. Before “pandemic” became the a way of life, we met in crowded cafe, my squirming 11-month old in tow. I was thrilled about the idea and from then on, a journey of research and writing began. From exploring Estelle Lewis’ play Sappho: A Tragedy in Five Acts (1868) I delved into Sappho’s poetic fragments, learning about papyrology, how the fragments were found on shards of pottery and Egyptian sarcophagi — the myths and fictions invented about and around Sappho since her time of 610-570BCE to now.

I asked myself, “who would Sappho be, now?” and re-envisioned her instead of praying to Aphrodite, honoring Oshun; instead of the community of Lesbos, I wrote “Oak-Island.” Over the 2.5 years, the story and their characters emerged, haunting me in dreams and from the sea in Cuba. Sappho, calling through the ages, became The Real Sappho, an Afro-Cuban-Pinay, queer, mother, teacher. As it is a new work, I sat in many rehearsals, revising, allowing into the text not only the director’s and dramaturg’s, but actors’ lively comments, remaining permeable to their embodiments of their characters so that they, now, are a part of its fabric. Set pieces were built, costumes made, music sent from Cuba, songs sung, choreography set and all were in movement and sound, filling the small theater with songs for Oshun, spoken word, laughter, sensuality and dance.

Then – COVID came crashing in, interrupting everything – at the last moment, shutting the live production completely down. In a brief time, the work had to be adapted for a Zoom format.

What you’ll experience are the most essential elements of what on stage would be expansive. Imagine rivers, seas and cliffs; picture dancers in white skirts billowing at a Rumba class. Stage directions will guide your mind’s eye. Zoom cannot replace the stage, but storytelling at its core is intimate: dancing from the throat, expressed through facial expressions and eyes.

Once you've got your ticket, arrive right at 8pm to view the slideshow that will offer visual context, from the sets to locations that inspired Oak-Island. Witness these characters that have been living in the actors’ bodies, not able to fully express as they would on stage, but still, a part of them. And be prepared to participate – grab pen and paper to write to a prompt while you are a student in one of Sappho’s classes. You can start now: “I see a world where…”

The World Premiere has been cancelled … for now. I am honored you’ll join this powerful group of collaborators to witness an indelible phase of the play’s journey, sending it towards the next one, when it lives on stage. As Sappho says: “someone / in some future time / will think of us.”

- Aimee Suzara, playwright

NOW VIRTUAL
Due to COVID-19 cases within our production, The Real Sappho will now be presented as a virtual event on Friday, June 24 at 8pm and Saturday, June 25 at 8pm. Please join us to experience this extraordinary new play and the talents of our creative team!

FOR ASL ACCESSIBLE TICKETS
To ensure Deaf and HH audiences may experience this Virtual Premiere, Cutting Ball Theater is offering The Real Sappho with ASL options for our June 25 performance. If you need accessible tickets, please purchase online tickets for this date – we will have interpreters in the Zoom room to assist. ASL access provided by Pro Bono ASL.

Rehearsal trailer

PRESS PHOTOS

Photography by Estela Hernandez

CREATIVE TEAM

cir.aimee
Nailah Harper-Malveaux.cir
Kim Euell - Dramaturg

AIMEE SUZARA - PLAYWRIGHT

is a Filipino-American poet, playwright, performer. Aimee Suzara released her debut poetry book, SOUVENIR in 2014. A YBCAway awardee, her work has been presented nationally; selected for the Utah Arts Festival, One Minute Play Festival, United States of Asian America; and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts among other grantors. www.aimeesuzara.net pronouns: she/her

NAILAH UNOLE DIDANAS’EA HARPER-MALVEAUX - DIRECTOR

is a multidisciplinary theatre director focused on new play development and community engagement. She creates, facilitates and curates artistic engagements that center intersectional experience and celebrate the beauty, complexity, resilience, imagination, and joy of those living in the margins, particularly Black and Indigenous women and queer folks. Select directing credits include Dipika Guha’s world premiere of Getting There (postponed to Jan. 2022) and Loy A. Webb’s The Light at Shotgun Players. She is a Resident Artist at Crowded Fire and former Directing Fellow at Berkeley Rep and Community Producing fellow at A.C.T. She graduated with a B.A. in Theatre Studies and American Studies from Yale University. pronouns: she/her

KIM EUELL - DRAMATURG

is an award-winning playwright, dramaturg and educator who is dedicated to developing socially relevant new work for the stage. She’s the Resident Dramaturg at San Francisco’s Zaccho Dance Theater and a Company Member at Penumbra Theater. Recent dramaturgical credits includeFlex at Berkeley Rep’s Ground Floor and The Humana Festival. Kim teaches in the Theater and Digital Cinema Programs at Southern Oregon University as well as for VONA. pronouns: she/her

CAST AND CREW

Tierra Allen
Alan Quismorio
carolinamoronesCIR
Kayla May Paz Suarez
RADHIKA RAO
Jeunee Simon

TIERRA ALLEN - ACTOR (ROLE: CLEIS, OTHERS)

has won an Isadora Duncan "Izzie" Dance Award, earned award nominations from Theatre Bay Area, and performed with the Black Choreographers Festival, Dance Brigade’s D.I.R.T. (Dance in Revolt(ing) Times) Festival, Campo Santo, BAMBDFEST, Magic Theatre, TheatreFIRST, 3Girls Theatre, the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, and others. Her speculative abolitionist short film THE REMEMBERING TIME is screening this June at the International Queer Women of Color Film Festival.  pronouns: she/her

ALAN QUISMORIO - ACTOR (ROLE: ALCAEUS)

is an alumni of Crowded Fire Theatre Company, appearing in their productions of 49 Miles, Slaughter City, and One Big Lie. He performed extensively in the Bay Area, with the Magic Theatre, Oakland Public Theatre, Brava! Women in the Arts, Shotgun Players, and Word for Word. As a director, his works include Dooley (Jon Sims Center), Thunder Above, Deeps Below (Bindlestiff Studio), and, most recently, Theatre Rhino's inaugural pop-up theatre production of The Underpants Godot. He was last seen onstage in Theatre Rhino's World Premiere of Boni Alvarez's Driven. pronouns: he/his

CAROLINA MORONES - ACTOR (ROLE: ERINNA, OTHERS)

is a multidisciplinary performer and educator focused on telling stories that empower through poetry and movement. Most recently played the role of Marina in Pericles: Prince of Tyre, SF Shakespeare Festival. Currently teaching for The American Conservatory Theatre (Studio-ACT) and is the Education & Engagement Consultant for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  pronouns: she/her

KAYLA MAY PAZ SUAREZ - ACTOR (ROLE: MALAYA, OTHERS)

was born and raised on Chochenyo Ohlone land (San Lorenzo, Ca) and now resides on Munsee Lenape land (Spanish Harlem, NY) KMay is currently developing a second iteration of their one person show The Kaylamay Project (first workshopped with through Awesome Theatre Artist in Residence program 2019) KMay is excited to be home in the Bay Area to breathe life to a Filipinx character. Mabuhay! pronouns: she/they/Siya - Tagalog

RADHIKA RAO - ACTOR (ROLE: ATTHIS, OTHERS)

is thrilled to return to Cutting Ball for the fourth time. She is a proud resident of San Francisco (thank you Rent Control!) works as an improviser, actor and teacher in the Bay Area. Radhika also does improv retreats and communications coaching through improv in organizational settings. Check her out in “Hiraeth" and "Strings Attached” streaming on Amazon Prime. www.radhikarao.org  pronouns: she/her

JEUNÉE SIMON - ACTOR (ROLE: SAPPHO)

is an actor, director, and intimacy coordinator. Recent acting credits include: Intimate Apparel (Lorraine Hansberry Theatre), Stoop Stories (Aurora Theatre Company), La Ronde (Cutting Ball Theater), Men On Boats u/s (American Conservatory Theater), among others. Simon is a proud recipient of the 2017 RHE Artistic Fellowship and a 2019 Directing Apprentice with PlayGround. jeuneesimon.com pronouns: she/her

Ramon Ramos Alayo (he/him) - Choreographer

Sarahi Arellano (she/her) - COVID-19 Safety Manager and Production Assistant

James Ard (he/him) - Sound Designer

Cassie Barnes (she/her) - Associate Lighting Designer

William Campbell (he/him) - Lighting Designer

Beckett Finn (he/him) - Technical Director  

Maya Herbsman (she/her) - Intimacy Choreographer

Liz Kreter-Killian (they/them) - Head Electrician

Einar Leliebre Nuñez (he/him) - Composer

Eliza Mascoll (she/her) - Stage Manager

Robert Neapolitan (he/him) - Production Manager

Kathleen Qiu (she/her) - Costume Designer

Adeline Smith (she/her) - Properties Designer, Assistant Scenic Designer

Mikiko Uesugi (she/her) - Scenic Designer

COMMUNITY PARTNER

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)
NCLR is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. Since its founding, NCLR has maintained a longstanding commitment to racial and economic justice and the LGBTQ community’s most vulnerable.

Serving all members of the LGBTQ community and allies, NCLR's Legal Information Helpline provides basic information about laws that affect LGBTQ people. To contact our Legal Helpline or access any of our free legal services: www.nclrights.org/get-help

From fighting FL’s discriminatory “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill to advocating for the most vulnerable transgender youth and providing free legal assistance for LGBTQ immigrants and asylum seekers, at the heart of NCLR's work is our commitment to fighting for Justice, Access + Equity for 45 years. Help us keep that fight going. Support Our Work

EDUCATION PARTNER

STRONG WOMEN OF COLOR EXHIBITION
by The Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco, Tenderloin Clubhouse

Cutting Ball Theater commissioned art pieces from BNG to showcase in our lobby through out the run of the show that had a tie in to The Real Sappho. Please join us in celebrating the artistic minds of the Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco, Tenderloin Clubhouse! This exhibit explores the concepts of femininity and strength, with a focus on women of color and their lived experiences.

All these pieces are available for purchase.

Your safety is our priority! That's why proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is required to attend live performances in Cutting Ball Theater's 2021/2022 Season. To learn more, read our full COVID-19 Safety Plan.