Audience Testimonial: “Thanks to you and the troupe for presenting your thought-provoking 20/20. I continue with afternoon reveries, mostly of ways that decentralized revolution can happen. There’s rich fodder for me in several other scenarios. Blessing and thanks, Watersnake”
20/20: A Presidential Re-Election Play Where You Decide the Future Now Available for Streaming Online!
What happens if the President is re-elected? In 20/20, a play by Theatre Makers, the answer is up to the audience. 20/20 is now available as a series of ten videos you can stream online from the comfort of your home at http://ritualart.org/2020/video
Developed by grassroots company Theatre Makers, 20/20 combines speculative fiction and political satire in a work from co-writers Stardust Doherty and Kari Barclay. What would happen if the President were impeached? (that scenario came true!) If a corporation or the military staged a coup? If San Francisco became an independent country? A diverse cast of new talent performs roles ranging from dissident Muni drivers to frantic tech CEOs to new-age cult leaders to the President himself. With comedy and depth, the show asks how our current political situation will shake out.
“20/20 engages audience participation around the events of our day, highlighting social, political, economic, and environmental change (SPEEC) themes to fuel co creation of our collective future,” said co writer Stardust Doherty.
“The world is full of possibility,” said co-writer Kari Barclay. “We’ve taken 20/20 to extremes of utopia and dystopia, and I’m excited to see which scenarios the audience chooses for the actors to perform.”
The “20/20 Video” is a series of videos documenting the play’s award-winning original presentation at the 2019 San Francisco Fringe Festival.
Show Synopsis: The year is 2020. The President has been re-elected, the climate is heating up, the economy is in meltdown. In this satirical participatory performance, audience members choose the scenarios to stage: impeachment? a coup? a revolution? 20/20 asks what people power looks like in a time of vast uncertainty when even choosing to do nothing has consequences.
Theatre Makers provides common ground for diverse communities to collaborate on, incubate, and stage both newly created and historically relevant audience-participatory plays based on social, political, economic, and environmental change (SPEEC) themes. The project welcomes those interested in dramatic and musical theatre, professional and amateur theater, commercial and non-profit theatre, including non-traditional theatrical events (performance art, street theater, pop-up theatre, home theatre, puppet shows, etc.) with activities including, for example:
Discussions of all aspects of theatre creation and production
Exchanging information on opportunities available
Collaboration on incubating audience participatory plays and musicals based on social, political, economic, and environmental change (SPEEC) themes
Workshops of plays and musicals under development
Readings and staged readings of plays and musicals for educational and motivational purposes
Theatre Makers particularly fosters events that are inclusive and affirming of people based on class, race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, age, and other identities.
Theatre Makers is a project of the Ritual Art Troupe, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to fostering and developing multi-disciplinary arts, including conception, investigation, development, production, and sharing of musical, dance, visual, theatrical, cinematic, and literary works with special attention to conserving our cultural heritage, serving a wide range of audiences, and encouraging creators and creations from diverse communities.
Theatre Makers is pleased to present a video collection of the 20/20 play as performed at the 2019 San Francisco Fringe Festival. The collection starts with the Prologue / Act I / Decision Point video. At the Decision Point, viewers may choose to view one of the eight scenario videos or the Coda / End Credits video. See the Assassination Disclaimer below.
You can choose the 20/20 Video playlist:
20/20 Video Playlist
Or you can choose the videos of the eight scenarios and Coda / End Credits one by one below:
Prologue / Act I / Decision Point
Decentralized Revolution Scenario
Assassination Scenario
General Strike Scenario
Impeachment Scenario
Military Coup Scenario
Corporate Coup Scenario
Electoral Progress Scenario
Do Nothing Scenario
Coda / End Credits
.
Assassination Disclaimer:
The writers expressly denounce the assassination of political figures and intend the fictional Assassination scenario in the “20/20” play to discourage any such actions. During these politically polarized times, we have noticed a trend on left and right to direct animus toward individual figures and to imagine that violence against individuals would solve shared political woes, when the truth is that such strategies or tactics would only cause a strong reaction of repressive laws and human rights abuses, rather than constructive political change. Out of concern for human life and for our collective power, we oppose true-life assassinations and present them here merely in the context of fiction to channel those impulses harmlessly in a sort of catharsis for those daydreaming about such possibilities.
20/20 Free Library Cast and CrewActors Olga Molina, Chris Schachern, and Jude Gallegos at 20/20 Free Library Tour rehearsal20/20 Free Library Tour Actors Saourubh Verma, Tajianna Okechukwu, and Olga Molina 20/20 Free Library Tour Audience at San Francisco Main Library on March 1, 202020/20 Free Library Tour Scenarios Selected by Audience at San Francisco Main Library20/20 Free Library Tour Fans Mob Actor Saourubh Verma at San Francisco Main Library
What happens if the President is re-elected? In 20/20, a play by Theatre Makers, the answer is up to the audience. 20/20 will be presented as part of the San Francisco Public Library’s “SF by the Bay” science fiction and fantasy celebration. Performances are free of charge on February 29 at 10:30am at the Bernal Branch Library (500 Cortland Avenue), February 29 at 3:00pm at the Richmond Branch Library (351 9th Avenue), and March 1 at 2:00pm at the Main Public Library (400 Larkin Street, Latino/Hispanic Community Room), in San Francisco.
Developed by grassroots company Theatre Makers, 20/20 combines speculative fiction and political satire in a work from co-writers Stardust Doherty and Kari Barclay. What would happen if the President were impeached? (that scenario came true!) If a corporation or the military staged a coup? If San Francisco became an independent country? A diverse cast of new talent performs roles ranging from dissident Muni drivers to frantic tech CEOs to new-age cult leaders to the President himself. With comedy and depth, the show asks how our current political situation will shake out.
“20/20 engages audience participation around the events of our day, highlighting social, political, economic, and environmental change (SPEEC) themes to fuel co creation of our collective future,” said co writer Stardust Doherty.
“The world is full of possibility,” said co-writer Kari Barclay. “We’ve taken 20/20 to extremes of utopia and dystopia, and I’m excited to see which scenarios the audience chooses for the actors to perform.”
The “20/20 Free Library Tour” is a revival of the play’s award-winning original presentation at the 2019 San Francisco Fringe Festival.
Show Synopsis: The year is 2020. The President has been re-elected, the climate is heating up, the economy is in meltdown. In this satirical participatory performance, audience members choose the scenarios to stage: impeachment? a coup? a revolution? 20/20 asks what people power looks like in a time of vast uncertainty when even choosing to do nothing has consequences.
Theatre Makers provides common ground for diverse communities to collaborate on, incubate, and stage both newly created and historically relevant audience-participatory plays based on social, political, economic, and environmental change (SPEEC) themes. The project welcomes those interested in dramatic and musical theatre, professional and amateur theater, commercial and non-profit theatre, including non-traditional theatrical events (performance art, street theater, pop-up theatre, home theatre, puppet shows, etc.) with activities including, for example:
Discussions of all aspects of theatre creation and production
Exchanging information on opportunities available
Collaboration on incubating audience participatory plays and musicals based on social, political, economic, and environmental change (SPEEC) themes
Workshops of plays and musicals under development
Readings and staged readings of plays and musicals for educational and motivational purposes
Theatre Makers particularly fosters events that are inclusive and affirming of people based on class, race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, age, and other identities.
Theatre Makers is a project of the Ritual Art Troupe, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to fostering and developing multi-disciplinary arts, including conception, investigation, development, production, and sharing of musical, dance, visual, theatrical, cinematic, and literary works with special attention to conserving our cultural heritage, serving a wide range of audiences, and encouraging creators and creations from diverse communities.
What: 20/20: A Presidential Re-Election Play Where You Decide the Future
When/Where: February 29 at 10:30am at the Bernal Branch Library (500 Cortland Avenue), February 29 at 3:00pm at the Richmond Branch Library (351 9th Avenue), and March 1 at 2:00pm at the Main Public Library (400 Larkin Street, Latino/Hispanic Community Room), in San Francisco
Ticketing: All performances free of charge and open to the public
Theatre Makers is co-creating a new play called You Too. The play is about abuse, the #metoo movement, and hope for the future.
You Too tells the story of a female Senate candidate running against a former Hollywood director accused of harassing women. The media orchestrates the race between the two candidates and manipulates the reaction from the audience, playing with true and false accusations, and questioning the whole nature of harassment. Throughout the course of events in the play, our characters evolve and learn to find their own ground. Join us for a thought-provoking and inspiring theater experience!
Join us just after the play for a live panel discussion with the director/co-playwright, cast members, and representatives from nonprofit organizations such as SAVE and Narika. You’ll be able to ask questions (confidentially if you prefer) and get the latest info on both the play and the resources available for victims of workplace harassment and domestic violence.
This original play will have a limited run of performances in Fremont and Oakland. Produced by the Theatre Makers project of Ritual Art Troupe, a small non-profit organization, the play employs a diverse cast of actors and creative personnel living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Iryna Lymar will direct the play, which she co-wrote with Stardust Doherty.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Adult language, scenes of domestic and work abuse, and simulations of slapping and harassment. No nudity. Parents, please consider the maturity level of your teenager before bringing them to the play — no pre-teens please.
Performances
You Too will have a limited run of performances in the San Francisco Bay Area:
7:00pm on November 9, 2019, at Fremont Community Center, 40204 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont, CA
8:00pm on November 14, 2019, at First Unitarian Church, 685 14th Street, Oakland, CA
8:00pm on November 15, 2019, at First Unitarian Church, 685 14th Street, Oakland, CA
The Fremont venue is accessible to wheelchair users (and we are trying to verify that the Oakland venue is also accessible). Captions will not be available at these performances.
Theatre Makers is grateful for the support of the following community partners for the You Too production:
Helpline 1-800-215-7308
24-HOUR HOTLINE (510) 794-6055
These non-profit organizations are doing amazing work in the area of domestic violence prevention, advocacy, support, education, healing, and wellness.
Volunteer
We are seeking set designers, painters, prop master, wardrobe master, roadies (rental truck driver), sound and light crew, funders, venue staff, sign language interpreters (ASL), and other volunteers to stage this new woman-directed play.
To volunteer and participate in production of the You Too play, please send an email to iryna@ritualart.org
The best way to find out about volunteer opportunities is to join the Theatre Makers Meetup group. More info at http://ritualart.org/theatremakers/
Playwrights Circle reading and critique session of the You Too play at the St. James School in San Francisco on November 14, 2018.
Recruitment for the You Too play at the Women’s Marches on January 19, 2019, in Oakland and San Francisco.
Kick-Off Meeting for the You Too play from 7pm to 9pm on Monday, March 18, 2019.
Auditions for the You Too play took place on August 25, 26, 27, and September 14, in San Francisco.
Rehearsals for the You Too play have taken place on September 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30, October 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28, and November 3 and 8 in Fremont, Oakland, and San Francisco.
Opening night of the You Too play took place on November 9 at the Fremont Community Center in Fremont, CA.
Performances, including our final performance, of the You Too play took place on November 14 and 15 at the First Unitarian Church in Oakland, CA.
Please support community-based revolutionary theatre and include Ritual Art Troupe and the Theatre Makers project in your giving this season!
Summary: Donate to our “20/20 Play Library Tour” crowdfundraiser We reached our initial goal for January 1, 2020. Now, we are trying to raise funds for the actors’ and stage manager expenses by the end of February 2020.
Ritual Art Troupe has accomplished a lot recently– you may have experienced some of our shows!
You Too: a play about the #metoo movement with 3 performances in Fremont and Oakland in partnership with local domestic violence prevention nonprofits Narika and SAVE (November 2019)
20/20: a play speculating about the re-election of the President where the audience chooses from eight scenarios to complete the action with 4 performances (with a Sold-Out Opening Night award) at the San Francisco Fringe Festival (September 2019)
Animal Factory Farm and Ecopocalypse: plays addressing climate change in 4 performances as part of the global Rise for Climate in San Francisco (September 2018)
Regular Playwrights Circle meetings where playwrights share new work and receive constructive criticism (SF Bay Area)
Theatre Makers Mixers where everyone who co-creates theatre is welcome to come socialize (SF Bay Area)
Orchestra of the Moon and Rag on a Stick Puppet Theatre performances (Portland, OR)
Ritual Art Troupe has beautiful plans for the upcoming year:
Where We Love play chronicling the stories of LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers in English and also as Donde Amamos in Spanish (recipient of a CA$H Performs grant with performances slated for Queer Freedom month in June 2020 and community partners Rainbow Street, Russian LGBT Network, and AsylumConnect)
“SPEEC Play Reading Series” for casual readings of historic plays with social, political, economic, and environmental change (SPEEC) themes (SF Bay Area throughout 2020)
Regular Playwrights Circle meetings and Theatre Makers Mixers (SF Bay Area throughout 2020)
Other projects — including an opera! — TBA
The Theatre Makers Project provides common ground for diverse communities to collaborate on, incubate, and stage both newly created and historically relevant audience-participatory plays based on social, political, economic, and environmental change (SPEEC) themes. Theatre Makers is a project of the nonprofit Ritual Art Troupe, fostering and developing inclusive, participatory, and community-based arts.
