2023 CREATORS LAB
The Creators Lab is SFBATCO's incubation space for the development of original theatrical works by emerging creatives. This 8-week-long program is a creative space for developing concepts or initial drafts of theatrical works, with the intention of completing their first 15-30 pages, the first performable 15-30 minutes of music or choreography, or a full first draft. The Lab will operate in a virtual/in-person hybrid model. All participants will receive a $500 stipend for their participation. After the 8-week development process, participants will have an opportunity to present a staged performance or reading of their piece with actors.
Our 2023 Creators Lab Cohort: Maria Arreola, Charlotte Gutierrez, Reed Flores, Jamey Williams, Lilia Houshmand, Bacilio Mendez II
Creators Lab Celebration + Showing was held on July 9, 2023 at the Brava Theater Center in San Francisco.
THE PROJECTS
Mad City by Jamey Williams
Mad City is “Moonlight” meets Kendrick Lamar; an ode to hip hop and its potential to deliver us from poverty. More importantly, though, this play is a love letter to all the Black boys in the hood, especially the closeted queer ones. The ones who know the feel of a razor blade pressed against their flesh.
girl/LOST/found by Bacilio Mendez II
Chris and Carlos meet through a 12-step group for men recovering from meth addiction and are a happy couple until Carlos brings up starting a family. Given their considerable age gap, Chris is adamantly against it, but when Carlos gives him an ultimatum, Chris relents. After Carlos dies suddenly, Chris resents having to raise their adopted daughter Yesenia on his own and quickly succumbs to his vices.
[hyphenated] by Lilia Houshmand
[hyphenated] follows an Iranian theatre troupe in diaspora trying to find their story. Along the way, they are challenged to honor and uncover the traditions of the past, while creating new rituals and stories for their unknown cultural future. Together, they face the never ending quest of what home can be.
Cuckoo Edible Magic by Reed Flores
At the turn of the moon for Tumaiguini (Chamoru New Year), a seam in the fabric of the universe tears open, allowing a malicious unknown Alien superpower to enter our world. Best friends, Ren and Mai, set out on a journey to get a rice cooker — unbeknownst to them, they’ve set out on a journey of chaotic self discovery, intense bart rides, and demon cuckoos. Oh, and there’s some Queer love and healing in there too.
Yard Bird by Charlotte Gutierrez
When Beatrice, a child growing up in 1980's San Francisco, decides to spy on her new neighbors, she learns a lot more about them than she bargains for.
Facil A (Easy A) by Maria Arreola
When the classroom is nothing short of an escape room, what is there to do? Evelyn and Raul become trapped in their Spanish classroom during an exam, but no matter how many questions they get right, the door won’t open. Evelyn is burning out fast, but luckily Raul has some unconventional ideas for how to get them out of there. Hopefully one of his ideas will work.
What our 2022 Creators Lab participants had to say:
“This lab was definitely a sacred space for me, a space to write, space to hear my work read out loud, and space to dream.”
“The showing felt very magical because it’s the moment that you realize that your work is not in a vacuum and that it’s meant to ultimately be shared, felt, and commented on by others. The prompts were amazing and offered so much reflection. I think they were very guided which is exactly what any writer needs no matter how long they have been writing for. They were always fresh and offered something new to think about for the next days.”