SFBATCO Works-in-Development
At SFBATCO, we champion new and exciting works and really believe in the process of development, trial and error, workshops, staged readings, and collaboration. Scroll down to see some of the projects we are in the process of developing. Support the development of new work by donating today.
Cuckoo Edible Magic
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 and New Roots Festival, this world premiere promises to evoke laughter, tears, and a craving for some ha gao.
The Day the Sky Turned Orange
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.
Every Saturday Night
Every Saturday Night is an original musical that takes audiences back to San Francisco’s Fillmore District in the 1950s, when it was a burgeoning African-American community, replete with scores of jazz clubs. The show takes place in the after-hours club that Ardella runs out of her basement and is seen through the eyes of a young boy, her son, enthralled with the transformation of the people in his community from their daytime personas to their nightlife ones. Inspired by true events, acclaimed Bay Area Playwright, Composer and Director Danny Duncan’s new work offers a boisterous and heartfelt glimpse into the “Harlem of the West” before San Francisco’s Western Addition Redevelopment permanently changed the district.