Rodney Earl Jackson Jr. (he/him) is the Artistic Director & Co-Founder of The San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (SFBATCO), now in its 12th year! He made his Broadway debut in “The Book of Mormon” the same summer he began the venture of SFBATCO. In his 35 years of life, he has been blessed to grace international stages, participate in workshop/development processes for major plays and pre-Broadway shows (such as Toni Stone and Ain’t Too Proud), and bring his artistic insights, creative experiences, and fresh ideas to his home theatre company: SFBATCO. A native of San Francisco, he cultivated his love and foundation for the performing arts, particularly theatre, through public city organizations such as SFartsEd, San Francisco Recreation & Park’s YPTMTC, and the Ruth Asawa SF School of the Arts, where he graduated from the theatre department. He proudly holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama, and he acknowledges the incredible support of the SFBATCO staff and board, who champion his vision and creative voice in the Bay Area. Additional theatre credits include Berkeley Repertory "Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations", SFBATCO's "I, Too, Sing America" & "Toni Stone" co-produced by Arena Stage and American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) where he is a proud member of the Board of Trustees. His directorial work was last seen at Zspace for the world premiere of “The Day the Sky Turned Orange”.

✨ Karaoke song
Anything John Legend

🎭 First show that made you love theatre
Little Shop of Horrors

🍿 Fave rehearsal snack
Fruit! good energy, sweet, and keeps you light and buoyant

🌁 Bay Area fave
A rooftop with a dope view

💬 Why theatre matters to you
We don't just empathize, we are changed and are better people every time we leave that sacred space (even if you don't know/realize it in the moment)

Aidaa Peerzada (She/her) is a Black and Pakistani American multi-disciplinary theatre maker originally from Maryland. She attended the Baltimore School for the Arts and later earned her BFA from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, where she first began creating original work. She has worked with SFBATCO since 2016 (Cultural Corridor, Salt Pepper Ketchup, One Google and One, Death and The Artist). In 2020, she received a TBA Leadership award with SFBATCO, which created her first role within the organization. Since then, she has supported original productions like Cuckoo Edibel Magic and The Day The Sky Turned Orange, and has spearheaded SFBATCO’s Creators Lab program. As a playwright, her work has been developed with Crowded Fire Theater, The Playwrights Foundation, Prop Thtr, Northern Sky Theater, Meet Cute LA, C3T (UC Davis) and SFBATCO. Her credits onstage include Magic Theater, Marin Theater, Word For Word, Oakland Theater Project, SF Creative Core (YBCA), Golden Thread, SFBATCO, the Pittsburgh Public, Illinois Shakespeare, Utah Shakespeare, Steppenwolf, Quantum Theater, and American Players Theatre.

✨ Karaoke song
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac

🎭 First show that made you love theatre
The Wiz

🍿 Fave rehearsal snack
Peanut Butter Pretzels

🌁 Bay Area fave
Corona Heights 

💬 Why theatre matters to you
Because it can change the world!

Kai is the Outreach and Marketing Apprentice at SFBATCO and a marketing, communications, and arts professional with experience in theatre marketing, audience engagement, community outreach, and front-of-house operations. She has supported productions including Chicken & Biscuits, Shakespeare Over My Shoulder, and Every Saturday Night. Kai holds an Associate degree in Digital Marketing from CUNY and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from San Francisco State University. She is also a yoga instructor at Radically Fit, where she combines her passion for movement, wellness, and community.

✨ Karaoke song
Roses by Outkast

🎭 First show that made you love theatre
Perfect Crime

🍿 Fave rehearsal snack
Carrots and hummus

🌁 Bay Area fave
Dolores Park

💬 Why theatre matters to you
Theatre creates a space where people can connect through shared stories. It has the ability to bring communities together and inspire dialogue that extends far beyond the stage.

Sal Mattos is the Special Events Apprentice at SFBATCO, having previously worked with companies like Theatre Bay Area, Twitter, and GayGamer as digital marketing, content, and community leads. A San Francisco native, he has been working in the Bay Area theatre scene for most of his life. As an an actor he's appeared on stages such as NCTC, Custom Made Theatre Co., Berkeley Rep, Golden Thread, and many more. As a writer he has won playwriting awards, and was a founding member and writer of the Hot Mess sketch comedy troupe. His drag queen and stand up comedy alter ego Fran Zaya can be seen on stages such as Cobb's Comedy Club and Eclectic Box, ad well as drag shows all over the Bay including the monthly Sunday Funday Drag Brunch at The Detour, which he also produces. You can keep up with him (and her!) on Instagram @salfranzaya

✨ Karaoke song
Push - Matchbox 20 and The Origin of Love from Hedwig

🎭 First show that made you love theatre
Cabaret

🍿 Fave rehearsal snack
Arizona Iced Tea and Slim Jims

🌁 Bay Area fave
Karaoke at Riptide and The Monster Show at The Edge

💬 Why theatre matters to you
In an ever more isolating and overwhelming world, theatre can drown out the noise and let us reconnect, not as customers or worker bees but as humans.

Rodney Earl Jackson Jr. (he/him) is the Artistic Director & Co-Founder of The San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (SFBATCO), now in its 12th year! He made his Broadway debut in “The Book of Mormon” the same summer he began the venture of SFBATCO. In his 35 years of life, he has been blessed to grace international stages, participate in workshop/development processes for major plays and pre-Broadway shows (such as Toni Stone and Ain’t Too Proud), and bring his artistic insights, creative experiences, and fresh ideas to his home theatre company: SFBATCO. A native of San Francisco, he cultivated his love and foundation for the performing arts, particularly theatre, through public city organizations such as SFartsEd, San Francisco Recreation & Park’s YPTMTC, and the Ruth Asawa SF School of the Arts, where he graduated from the theatre department. He proudly holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama, and he acknowledges the incredible support of the SFBATCO staff and board, who champion his vision and creative voice in the Bay Area. Additional theatre credits include Berkeley Repertory "Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations", SFBATCO's "I, Too, Sing America" & "Toni Stone" co-produced by Arena Stage and American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) where he is a proud member of the Board of Trustees. His directorial work was last seen at Zspace for the world premiere of “The Day the Sky Turned Orange”.

Marcelo Javier (he/him) co-founded the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (SFBATCO) in 2014. During the pandemic he was seen weekly on SFBATCO’s virtual variety hour Live with Rod & Marce on twitch.tv/SFBATCO. Acting credits include Riff in West Side Story (SFBATCO) I Too Sing America (SFBATCO), Not Another Holiday Show! (SFBATCO), Home for “all of” the Holidays (SFBATCO), Skippyjon Jones (Theatreworks USA), Rent (Syracuse Stage), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bathwater Productions). Directing credits include Death and the Artist (SFBATCO) One Googol and One (SFBATCO) Celebrate 12th Night Joyfully With Kathryn Crosby (NYPL at Lincoln Center), Cinderella (African American Shakespeare Co.) Not Another Holiday Show! (SFBATCO), La Posarela (SFBATCO 2017 & Community Music Center 2015). @elmarcelojavier on all social media platforms.