World Premiere of Sign My Name to Freedom: The Unheard Songs of Betty Reid Soskin

We are thrilled to release another exhilarating production from San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company our into the world! Sign My Name to Freedom marks SFBATCO's first ever commissioned book musical; it also proudly stands as our first production to be developed through our New Roots Theatre Festival, all the way to its World Premiere production. Over the past four years, we've poured countless hours into honing every aspect of this production – from the script and music, to choreography, to aerial storytelling. Along this journey we've been incredibly fortunate to regularly collaborate with the iconic Ms. Betty Reid Soskin and her family, hoping to tell the story in a manner as authentic and dynamic as its main character.

Bringing Ms. Soskin’s life and music to the stage is both an honor and a career highlight for us as Artistic and Managing Directors, and her story perfectly embodies SFBATCO’s vision. A true trailblazer in the spirit of Rosie the Riveter, Ms. Soskin exemplifies resilience and courage – qualities that resonate deeply with the Bay Area ethos. Her journey, which serves as a beacon for Black Americans, women, and people of color around the world, is masterfully captured in the writing of playwright Michael Gene Sullivan. 

Our extraordinary creative team of Bay Area artists, including Elizabeth Carter, Angie Doctor, Daniel Savio, laura elaine ellis, Mikiko Uesugi, Tiersa Nureyev, Claudio Silva, Joanna Haigood, and many others, have poured their hearts and souls into crafting Sign My Name to Freedom. Together, they are ensuring that this production will be an unforgettable experience for audiences across the San Francisco Bay Area as we celebrate our organization’s 10-year anniversary.

This production encapsulates everything that SFBATCO has stood for over the past decade: telling uniquely Bay Area stories while investing in and celebrating People of the Global Majority. We are beyond excited to share it with in-person and virtual audiences. Thank you to all who are joining us on this incredible journey and for investing in the local arts community.

Rodney Earl Jackson Jr, Co-founder and Artistic Director
Adam Maggio, Managing Director