20/20 Library Tour Actor & Crew Bios

ActorsCrew / Personnel
Chris SchachernKari Barclay
Elyssia TingleyStardust Doherty
Olga MolinaPaul Seliga
Saourubh VermaAdam Lopez
Tajianna OkechukwuPeter Menchini (Videography)
Winnie Yeung

Actors

Chris Schachern headshot

Chris Schachern (President, ENSEMBLE)

Chris (he, his, him) is a Bay Area Native who graduated with a BFA in Acting from The Academy of Art University in San Francisco. His theater credits include “The Taming of The Shrew” (2013), “Guys and Dolls” (2013), “The Laramie Project” (2013), “Avenue Q” (2014), “You Can’t Take It With You” (2014), “The Time Of Your Life” (2015), “Black Comedy” (2016), and “Six Degrees Of Separation” (2017). Chris was most recently seen as an extra on “13 Reasons Why” (2019). Known for his imposing presence, charming personality, and accent work, Chris a versatile actor with incredible range and comic timing. The “20/20 Free Library Tour” (2020) is Chris’s debut with Theatre Makers.



Elyssia Tingley headshot

Elyssia Tingley (Ensemble)

Elyssia (she, her, her) is a theatre major from Foothill College, and San Jose State University. She has recently worked with Great America, Windy City Productions, and Lyric Theatre. She spends her free time with her sister and friends, or playing the Chinese harp. The “20/20 Free Library Tour” (2020) is Elyssia’s debut with Theatre Makers.

Olga Molina headshot

Olga Molina (Octavia, ENSEMBLE)

Olga (she, her, her) is an actress, improviser, voice-over artist and producer from Barcelona. Before moving to the US, she studied theatre drama in the Barcelona Theatre School, formed the improv company “Improtopia” and worked in 100+ voice & theatre gigs. She’s now continuing her acting career in the Bay Area with different film and theatre projects. The “20/20 Free Library Tour” (2020) is Olga’s debut with Theatre Makers.



Saourubh Verma headshot

Saourubh Verma (Soshe)

Saourubh (he, his, him) is an up-and-coming actor based in San Francisco. After being bitten by the acting bug in the summer of 2019, he decided to hone in on his craft through various types of training in scene study and improv as well as practical experience. The “20/20 Free Library Tour” (2020) is Saourubh’s debut with Theatre Makers and his first lead role.



Tajianna Okechukwu headshot

Tajianna Okechukwu (Anna)

Tajianna (she, her, her) is a recent college graduate holding a double degree — a BFA in Acting for the Stage and Screen and BA in Cinematic Arts with a concentration in Film & TV Studies. Her work in front and behind the camera often centers on stories that explore Blackness, social justice, and other socially relevant topics. She is a freelance videographer working on promo videos for places in her community. She also has performed in a number of plays, short films, and commercials. Tajianna strives to tell stories via film that will shift paradigms and shake culture to achieve racial reconciliation in our society. The “20/20 Free Library Tour” (2020) is Tajianna’s debut with Theatre Makers.



Winnie Yeung headshot

Winnie Yeung (Ellis, Ensemble)

Winnie (she, her, her) is a San Francisco-based actor who is excited to be making her debut with Theatre Makers in the “20/20 Free Library Tour” (2020).



Crew / Personnel

Kari Barclay headshot

Kari Barclay (CO-WRITER)

Kari (he, his, him) is a director, playwright, and researcher completing his PhD in Theater and Performance Studies at Stanford University. Originally from Washington, DC, he has made work regionally and in New York at venues including the San Francisco Mime Troupe Studio, Round House Theater, and Manbites Dog. His original play, “Can I Hold You?”, was one of the first plays about asexuality performed in the U.S. and enjoyed runs in San Francisco and Brooklyn. Kari is a co-writer of the Theatre Makers play “20/20” (San Francisco Fringe Festival 2019, San Francisco Public Libraries 2020). More at kari-barclay.com



Stardust Doherty headshot

Stardust Doherty (DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER)

Stardust (ze/per/herm) is a playwright, composer, musician (oboe and English horn), and English teacher. Stardust is focused long-term on the True of Voice musical dance theatre production and is a co-organizer of the Theatre Makers Meetup, as well as other playwrighting and composing projects. Stardust serves on the Board of Ritual Art Troupe, as well as two other non-profit organizations, the Online Policy Group and the San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra. Stardust formerly worked at the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Verified Voting Foundation, and at various high-tech companies during a prior career. Stardust began directing plays with per Shakespeare adaptation “A Midwinter Afternoon’s Nightmare” and the original “Bush Faeries: The Musical” (2018) staged at Breitenbush Community Hot Springs winter radical faerie gatherings. Along the way, there was an agit prop production of “Occupy San Francisco Employee Retirement System” (2013) in response to the bankster housing crisis. Stardust is a co-writer with Iryna Lymar and director of the Theatre Makers plays “Animal Factory Farm” (2018) and “Ecopocalypse” (2018) and co-writer with Iryna Lymar of “You Too” (2019) and the director of and a co-writer with Kari Barclay of “20/20” (San Francisco Fringe Festival 2019, San Francisco Public Libraries 2020).



Paul Seliga headshot

Paul Seliga (Stage Manager, ENSEMBLE)

Paul (he, his, him) has been involved in theatre since 2003. He has worked with Living Miracle Productions in San Francisco, including directing “A Franciscan Tapestry” in 2004 and “The Wolf of Gubbio” in 2006. He has also been stage manager for Catchy Name Theater and Pacifica Spindrift Players (“Rumors”, 2009; “Glengarry Glen Ross”, 2011), Ninjaz of Drama, Netgeex, Brisk Weather, Subterranean Shakespeare, Faultline Theater, and Theatre of Others. He directed “The Medicine Cabinet” at the 2016 SF Fringe Festival. As a founding member of the 16th Street Players, he directed their first production, “Bigger Than Life” in 2009. He is a member of the Mission Dolores Basilica Choir since 1979. Unless he’s singing, he likes to run, play softball, ski, watch TiVo, and work on theatre projects. The “20/20 Free Library Tour” (2020) is Paul’s debut with Theatre Makers.

Adam Lopez (Crew, ENSEMBLE)

Adam (he, his, him) moved from upstate New York to the San Francisco Bay Area five years ago. He has participated in a few, small, local productions, primarily with the Theater of Others. The “20/20 Free Library Tour” (2020) is Adam’s debut with Theatre Makers.

20/20: A Presidential Re-Election Play Where You Decide the Future Coming to San Francisco Public Libraries on February 29 & March 1!

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.

More Show Info and Graphics: http://ritualart.org/2020
Preview Video of Original Production: http://ritualart.org/2020/preview
Review of Original Production: https://theatrius.com/2019/09/14/20-20-envisions-post-trump-future-at-s-f-fringe-festival/
Theatre Makers: http://ritualart.org/theatremakers/
Ritual Art Troupe: http://ritualart.org/mission/
This Release: http://ritualart.org/wordpress/?p=2153 (PDF available)

For interviews, inquiries, and more info, please contact:
Stardust Doherty at theatre-makers@ritualart.org

For Calendar Editors

What20/20: 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

SF Auditions on January 13 & 15 for “20/20 Free Library Tour”

Theatre Makers is distributing this casting notice to established and aspiring actors, as well as crew.

Play: “20/20” by Kari Barclay and Stardust Doherty

Synopsis: It’s 2020. The President has been re-elected, the climate is heating up, the economy 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.

Artistic Director: Stardust Doherty
Stage Manager: Paul Seliga

Roles:

  • Anna, a young-to-middle-aged female anarchist who is in love with Soshe
  • Soshe, a young-to-middle-aged male socialist who is in love with Anna
  • Ellis, a young-to-middle-aged non-binary person who is clever and a bit mysterious
  • President, an elderly orange-haired guy, who is foolish and dangerous
  • Master of Ceremonies who introduces the play and coordinates voting on scenarios
  • Ensemble in a variety of fun roles, including TV New Hosts (speaking various languages), Republican and Democrat Representatives and Senators, Sarah Palin, Jeff Zuckergates and Assistant, Octavia, Students, Secret Service Goons, Protestors, and Soldiers!

Crew:

  • Stage Manager, Tech Director, Prop Master, Wardrobe Master, Marketing & Social Media Manager, Logistics Manager, Fundraising Manager, Sign Language Interpreters (ASL), Videographer

Union: No

Compensation: Expense reimbursement depends on fundraising ($100 minimum) (We would love to pay artists better living wages, but we are a very small nonprofit company — unless we receive grants or other contributions — all volunteers working for social justice!)

Performances: three free performances as part of the 20/20 San Francisco Public Library Tour:

  • 9:00am-6:00pm on February 29, 2020
  • 1:00pm-5:00pm on March 1, 2020

Rehearsals: to be finalized with input from cast and crew starting January 16, 2020, in San Francisco

Auditions in San Francisco:

  • Contact theatre-makers@ritualart.org with name, preferred role(s), gender identity, race/ethnicity, age, acting experience, memorization ability level, and availability for performance, rehearsal, and audition dates/times.
  • Appointment Deadline: Extended (was Wednesday, January 8)
  • Script Excerpts Distributed: Extended (was Wednesday, January 8) (by email, some memorization required)
  • Appointments Available: evenings of Monday, January 13 and Wednesday, January 15 (was Saturday, January 11 from 11:00am to 7:00pm) (half-hour appointment)
  • And possibly other times by appointment

Show Website: http://ritualart.org/2020/

Company: Theatre Makers provides a common ground for those interested in dramatic and musical theatre, professional and amateur theater, commercial and non-profit theatre, including non-traditional theatrical events (performance art, pop-up theater, home theater, street theater, 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

This group 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.

Company Website: http://ritualart.org/theatremakers/

Please share this casting notice with anyone who might be interested.

20/20 Library Tour Flyer