Home base for all projects created and planned in conjunction with this initiative.
Overview
This initiative is being tackled through 6 different programs.
#1 is AUDITION/SHOWTIME A national call for short scripts by BIPOC writers elicited more than 70 submissions. Multiple readers evaluated these and a top 10 were identified. Each of these 10 writers were paid a $100 royalty. In coordination with this process, a city-wide open audition was conducted on Saturday May 4 at the Southeast Live Well Center, focusing on opportunities and roles for BIPOC characters. Our trio of partner companies (AST, TMM and SDBET) were joined by representatives from 8 other theaters to review materials gathered, and simple video recordings made of each performer participating. From this (long) day of auditions, a number of the actors were invited back that same evening to read the top 10 scripts. These selected actors were each paid a $50 honorarium for the same-day readings. The headshots/resumes/and (if available) audition readings are here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17Pg_E2SqQzpJQm9YH4ZRDKbuv3jARfBR?usp=sharing The readings of the selected scripts are posted and linked each to the others. You can start here for example: https://youtu.be/B5s8MKME4DA.
#2 is CENSUS & CENSIBILITY. API writers in San Diego met over a month, working with AST’s Director Gingerlily Lowe to generate new Census-related scripts. The best of these were pulled out into a 90-minute program of public, free, lightly staged readings. Presented at 3 different venues (2 in Promise Zone), June 4-11. See the full event PROGRAM, and a short summary wrap-up. Archival video of first public reading is online here.
#3 is THAT DON’T MAKE NO CENSUS. Produced and directed by SDBET (possibly renaming as UMOJA) Artistic Director Rhys Greene, a medley of short AND one longer-format script. Archival video of first public reading is online here.
#4 is KNOCK KNOCK, WHO’S THERE? a short, all-new original musical about census issues in Latino and Native American communities, produced and directed by TMM’s Artistic Director, Bill Virchis. August 29-30-31 at El Salon Theatre in San Ysidro. Archival video of the first public staging is here.
#5 will be a larger, longer stage production titled THE LAST CENSUS. This includes material developed in projects 2, 3, or 4, as well as with writers contacted through the initial open call for writers.
TENTATIVE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
April 10-13 – Old Globe Theatre
May 13-25 – San Diego Fringe Festival, Balboa Park
June 12-22 – LMEC Theatre, Logan Heights
#6 is titled THE NEXT CENSUS. A series of ongoing census-related programs with a mass-media component, online AND presented live in San Diego neighborhoods. All talent and material involved in THE LAST CENSUS projects 1-5 will have access.
First key art for THE LAST CENSUS, created by Anthony Washington.
