When modern-day Cambridge physicist Sophie travels back in time to 1666 England, her chance encounter with guitar-strumming, 23-year old Isaac Newton prevents him from seeing the mythic apple falling and discovering his famous Theory of Universal Gravity. 

To return home, Sophie must restore history and navigate the world of 1666, where Natural Philosophers are the pop stars of their day, emerging enlightenment thinkers have one chance at fame, and radical women struggle to leave their mark. 

Along the way, she encounters historical luminaries such as Isaac’s rival Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, aspiring astronomer Edmond Halley, and the fearless Duchess Margaret Cavendish, who is embroiled in her own quest for fame and scientific recognition.

Joel Chapman / Composer & Music Director
Matt Herrero / Composer
Weston Gaylord / Lyricist
Jessia Hoffman / Playwright
Ken Savage / Producer & Director
Regina Victor / Dramaturg
Tanya Telson* / Stage Manager
Camryn Daniels* / Assistant Stage Manager

Performers: Taylor Iman Jones*, Nathaniel Rothrock*, Dave Abrams*, David R. Gordon*, Sarah Jiang*, Phil Wong*, Amy Dubose, Jessica Coker Mohr, Marcus J. Paige, Nicholas Biddle, Weston Gaylord, Matt Herrero, Kay Sibal

Band: Dan Feyer, Mark Abbott, Kendra Grittani, Ernesto Mazar-Kindelán

*Member of Actor’s Equity Association

Thu 11/14 8:00 PM
Sat 11/16 8:00 PM

September 2020. San Francisco. An ominous sky.

High school science teacher Amari must let go of her grief while starting a new relationship; her brother, QC, grapples with the realities of long-COVID and his future as an artist; and her student, Alé, is just trying to pay for remote therapy.

Painted with the background of the ongoing pandemic, Black Lives Matters uprisings, and an upcoming election, these interconnected San Franciscans face yet another sobering moment: the day the sky turned orange.

This R&B and pop musical from Julius Rea, Olivia Kuper Harris, and David Michael Ott is a testament to living through the trials of 2020 as well as a compassionate reminder of the importance of caring for our planet, our communities, and ourselves.

Olivia Kuper Harris / Music & Lyrics
David Michael Ott / Music & Lyrics
Julius Rea / Playwright
Rodney Earl Jackson Jr. / Director
Vince Chan / Choreographer
Aidaa Peerzada / Dramaturg
Enkidu Khan* / Stage Manager
Jon Gallo / Associate Music Director

Performers: Roeen Nooran*, Markaila Dyson*, Phaedra Tillery-Boughton*, May Simon Ramos, Nina-Sophia Pacheco, Wesley Barker, Lai-Ling Bisset, Jeremy Brooks, Vince Chan

*Member of Actor’s Equity Association

Fri 11/15 8:00 PM
Sat 11/16 5:00 PM
Sun 11/17 4:00 PM*

*Includes a talkback with the creative team

When otaku-besties Ren and Mai step outside to discover an anime-blue sky, their first thought is, “Damn, this edible is strong.” But they quickly discover something more sinister afoot. A Sailor Moon-esque adventure through the Bay Area pits our nunchuk-armed heroes against one villain after the next - from a maniacal rice cooker to evil BART contortionists to supercharged Dim Sum cart ladies. These unlikely heroes must save the Bay Area, but they can’t do it alone: they’ll need help from Mai’s tough-love parents, Ren’s over-involved sister, and maybe even a cute corner store employee. 

The two friends’ quest is as wacky as it is poignant. CHamoru playwright Reed Flores explores themes of Bay Area AAPI life, Queer love, and complex family dynamics–both “born” and “chosen.” Developed through SFBATCO’s Creators Lab, Cuckoo Edible Magic promises to evoke laughter, tears, and a craving for some ha gao.

Reed Flores / Playwright & Director
Aidaa Peerzada / Dramaturg
Lauren Quan* / Stage Manager

Performers: Lisa Hu*, Gwynnevere Cristobal*, Simon Santos, Risa Ferrer, Alex Trono

*Member of Actor’s Equity Association

Sat 11/16 2:00 PM*
Sun 11/17 8:00 PM*

*Includes a talkback with the creative team

Step into the mesmerizing world of 'Library Play,' an Afrofuturistic Monodrama that delves into the essence of being a guardian of stories and histories, especially those of forgotten people. Follow the journey of a new librarian who must protect the library and its untold stories from the encroaching threat of A.I. cyborgs. With the unlikely alliance of a resourceful middle schooler and a minstrel superhero, they embark on a daring quest to safeguard the rich tapestry of black oral history within the library's archives.

As the plot unfolds, a profound revelation surfaces: each of us is a custodian of our own stories, and it is our duty to preserve and honor these narratives as sacred. This innovative solo performance is a whirlwind of action, humor, and introspection, offering a message of hope and resilience that resonates deeply in today's world.

The development of Library Play is funded, in part, by the Kenneth Rainin Foundation and the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation.

Austin Dean Ashford / Writer & Performer
Dahlak Brathwaite / Director
Ashley Smiley / Dramaturg
Taylor Mendez / Stage Manager
Nikki Meñez / Z Space Producer

Fri 11/15 6:30 PM*
Sat 11/16 3:30 PM
Sun 11/17 6:00 PM*

*Includes a talkback with the creative team

SFBATCO’s 2024 cohort of creators – Maya De La Rosa-Cohen, Hasti Jafari, Christina Li, Ashley S Raggs, and Edith Castorena –  present five original works developed in in SFBATCO’s incubation space for emerging creators. Excerpts from these unique pieces explore themes of family, heritage, San Francisco life, freedom, and more. 

In Clay Street, Chinatown, a Chinese woman learns freedom’s cost in 1870s San Francisco. Named For My Mother explores fathers’ and lovers’ impact on three generations of San Francisco women linked by magic, fog, and one name. Bay Dreaming tells the story of an African American girl in San Francisco losing her mother and her acting dreams. Homing Pigeons & Co follows two Iranian friends, one stuck in a police van and the other under a blanket across the world, and their pet fish. Finally, The First Three tells the mostly true story of three queer trailblazers who take on an unprecedented legal battle in 1990's San Francisco.

Maya De La Rosa-Cohen / Playwright
Hasti Jafari / Playwright
Christina Li / Playwright
Ashley S Raggs / Playwright
Edith Castorena / Playwright
Aidaa Peerzada / Creators Lab Program Lead
April Ballesteros / Stage Manager

Clay Street, Chinatown by Christina Li, Directed by Jamie Yuen-Shore. Featuring: Wei-Jen Liao, Crystal Tong, Cynthia Lagodzinski, Drew Paton.
Named For My Mother by Edith Castorena, Directed by Karina Gutierrez. Featuring: Marcia Aguilar, Carla Gallardo, Natasha Casino.
Bay Dreaming by Ashley Raggs, Directed by Phaedra Tillery-Boughton. Featuring: Brittani McBride, Mikki Johnson, Natasha Casino.
Homing Pigeons & Co. by Hasti Jafari, Directed by Nakissa Etemad. Featuring: Lilia Houshmand, Yasaman Asgari, Sonia Azizi.
The First Three by Maya De La Rosa-Cohen, Directed by Jon Moscone. Featuring: Drew Paton, Sonia Azizi, Carla Gallardo, Marcia Aguilar, Yasaman Asagari.

Thu 11/14 6:30 PM
Sat 11/16 6:30 PM
Sun 11/17 2:00 PM*

*Includes a talkback with the creative team