NAKED & UNAFRAID
A Special Halloween Reading
a co-production with Palace of Trash
made possible with generous support from the Civic Space Foundation & Castro Merchants Association
Oct 28, 6 PM
Doors open at 5:30 PM
Theatre Rhinoceros • 4229 18th Street, San Francisco • In the Castro
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NAKED & UNAFRAID is a 90-minute cabaret-style presentation creatively produced in conjunction with Palace of Trash, a performance art group and a spiritual continuation of the now-defunct Grand Guignol theatre group, Thrillpeddlers. Horror drag numbers and interludes will be interspersed between scantily-clad dramatic readings of horror literature, featuring short stories and excerpts from Shelley to Machado to Reddit’s r/NoSleep. Have you ever experienced a performer stripping to a reading of Bram Stoker’s Dracula? Well, now you can!
Free to attend ($10 suggested donation)
Standing room - ADA seating available"
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GUMIHO
June 13, 7 PM
by Nina Ki
Directed by Ely Sonny Orquiza
Asst. directed by Crystal Liu
Asst. producer & facilitator, Tanika Baptiste
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Kam, queer Korean adoptee and former reality TV star, has just been broken up with by her longtime girlfriend. She quickly re-immerses herself in the alcohol- and lust-fueled world of the Los Angeles queer scene, where she uses and is used by women. Through a series of hookups, Kam is forced to face some monstrous realizations about herself, her past, and the deep-seated fears that keep her from connection and happiness.
This event is free to attend.
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Theatre Rhinoceros | 4229 18th Street, SF
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CAST
Sarah Catherine Chan ("Janette") a Bay Area native, loved music, singing, track and field, friends and giving speeches in class where she felt her heart lived somewhere in the presentation growing up. She attended UC Davis, where she majored in Economics, minored in Psychology, majored in becoming an All-American Triple Jumper, and minored in learning that mistakes are OK. Sarah is looking forward to playing Mary in The Language Archive at Masquers Playhouse, as well as Huck in The Fantasticks at the Chanticleers Theatre in the Fall.
Zolboo Namkhaidorj ("Bonnie/Nancy/Victoria") is a queer Mongolian-American performance artist who is passionate about acting, singing and environmental justice. She also loves loud music, the quiet and most things outdoors.
Raye Narra ("Tay/Nameless Woman") is a nonbinary acearo Korean-American born and raised in San Francisco. Raye's favorite Korean legendary spirit creature is the dokkebi, and Raye's favorite folktale is the story of Hungboo and Nolboo. Once upon a time, Raye performed in Korean traditional folk dance/theater and is overjoyed to be part of this reading of Nina Ki's contemporary Queerean-American vision of the legendary nine-tailed fox.
Helene Park ("Kam Grey") is a Korean-American performing artist who graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Practice of Art in 2005. She started taking acting and clown classes in 2020 from a variety of institutions such as A.C.T., The Elysian Theater, and The Clown School of SF and has since performed at the APAture Festival, The Circus Center and Awesome Theatre. Additionally, Helene has performed in variety shows and alternative comedy venues around the Bay Area and Los Angeles. She enjoys dance, art, and the occasional commercial acting gig.
Dom Refuerzo ("Hyun-Joo") (they/he/she) is a forever work-in-progress and loose adaptation of the word "artist." They have premiered their music compositions in Austria and across the so-called United States. He has also sung with New Voices Bay Area TIGQ Chorus, and most recently, he was at the Pear Theatre in their staged reading of ARISTOS: the Musical. They are elated to make their debut at The Rhino and continue being queer off and on the stage. She is grateful to their family, friends, and partner for supporting her artistic journey in all of its chaos.
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Amethyst Zhang ("Mona/Robin") is a Chinese American actress always on the lookout for different roles to challenge herself. She also loves to sing and dance, and loves to try different types of arts and food.
STICKY RICE
March 14, 7 PM
A new play by Boni B. Alvarez
Directed by Ely Sonny Orquiza
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"No fats, no femmes, no Asians." A group of San Francisco gaysian friends splinters apart when one of them brings his new boyfriend into the fold.
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Theatre Rhinoceros | 4229 18th Street, SF (Formerly Spark Arts) in The Castro
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CAST
Joseph Alvarado ("Wayland Lew"), a San Francisco native, has performed on stages throughout the Bay Area. He most recently played Jack in Aunt Jack with New Conservatory Theatre Center. He also just completed work on his first feature film, Sweet Nothing (IG: @SweetNothingFeature). He is honored to be working for the first time with Theatre Rhinoceros, among a dedicated and nurturing production team and an incredibly talented ensemble of actors on Sticky Rice.
Andy Alabran ("Heath Fowler") received his B.A. in Theater from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his M.F.A. in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater. He is a teacher, director, and performer. He has taught at the American Conservatory Theater Young Conservatory and Studio, California Shakespeare Theater, Oakland School for the Arts, 826 Valencia (Tenderloin), Voice One, Mission High, Burton High School, and Hayward High School. He has performed with Theatre First, the Shotgun Players, and Killing My Lobster. A current company member of the Shotgun Players since 2000, his acting credits include Woyzeck, The Death of Meyerhold, A Seagull in the Hamptons, Truffaldino Says No (world premiere), and Mother Courage. He served as Creative Director with San Francisco’s premier sketch comedy group Killing My Lobster. With KML, he also performed, wrote, directed, taught, and produced where credits included The Shakespeare Bug (world premiere), The Whole Megillah, KML Plays with Beckett (at A.C.T.), and Patronizes the Arts.
Raphael Buenaventura ("Ricky Nguyen") is thrilled to debut his first collaborative theatre performance in the Bay Area since relocating from Los Angeles in August '22. His most recent stage works include playing multiple roles in Ben & George, a new play that won the Hollywood Encore Producers' Award in 2022 during the year's Hollywood Fringe Festival, La Cage Aux Folles, and a studio-collaborative work (Plays in a Day Theater) at the Long Beach Playhouse. Raphael is also featured in an upcoming indie short film titled FilAm, which tells a story of a young Filipino-American discovering and connecting with his Filipino culture. Raphael extends his gratitude to Theatre Rhinoceros and their team for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful collaboration of creating art and keeping the theatre community alive and thriving.
Christopher Juan ("Carlo Villanueva") has enjoyed his involvement in the Bay Area theatre community and is excited to collaborate on Sticky Rice after seeing many fabulous Theatre Rhino works performed in this intimate Castro space. Credits include: Chess in Concert (42nd Street Moon), Allegiance (CCCT); The Hunchback of Notre Dame and La Cage aux Folles (Bay Area Musicals); The Song of the Nightingale (Town Hall Theatre, Altarena Playhouse). Chris is a member of the Rice Rockettes, San Francisco’s premier Asian drag troupe, and GAPA Theatre, a queer AAPI storytelling and performance collective.
Nick Trengove ("Mason Fielding") is a Bay Area-based actor, director, and writer. He has also worked in Chicago's storefront theater scene and holds an MFA in Acting from The Theater School at DePaul University. Recent acting credits include Billy in A Small Fire at Shotgun Players and Norman in Aunt Jack at NCTC.
Edric Young (“Louie Lin”) is absolutely chuffed to be working with Theatre Rhino alongside these stunning actors and storytellers. He is originally from Indiana and most recently played Jack in the coming-of-age short film The Ocean, Hundreds of Birds, and Grandpa’s Suona (Yumo Zhang); other theater work includes Jimmy in Durango (Stanford AATP) and Bing/Judge Xi Geming in Chinglish (u/s, SF Playhouse, upcoming). Edric is a graduate of Stanford University and is on IG @edricyz. “Special thank you to Bright, for all the ways you model—to me and others—growing collectively, affirming radically, loving boldly."
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Jordan Ong ("Sampson Lumaban") is very excited to be a part of another Theater Rhino production. Trained at the Beverly Hills Playhouse under the direction of Rob Zimmerman, Jordan has played a number of theatrical roles with Theater Rhino, SF Olympians, Queer as Fuck, Pianofight, as well as roles in independent film and commercials. When he’s not performing, Jordan enjoys meditation and hydroponic gardening. Jordan would like to thank his fiancée Milo, his family, friends, and his yorkie, MinnieMinaj, for their support.
APOLOGIES TO LORRAINE HANSBERRY (YOU TOO AUGUST WILSON)
February 7, 7 PM
By Rachel Lynett
Directed by Kimberly Ridgeway
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Set in the fictional world of a post-second Civil War, Bronx Bay, an all-black state (and neighborhood) is established in order to protect "blackness." It's a utopia but enforcing utopia proves to be tricky when it comes to defining who is Black and who isn't.
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Theatre Rhinoceros | 4229 18th Street, SF (Formerly Spark Arts) in The Castro
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CAST
Janel Chanté ("Alice") was born and raised in California. She found her passion for the arts in her adolescence prompting her performances in music, theater, and film. Janel attended Academy of Art University, graduating with a BFA in Acting. Additionally, she is a teaching artist and private coach based in the Bay Area.
Katherine Hamilton ("Yael") is a Bay Area director and actor who has worked for Indiana Repertory Theatre, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Playground SF, Inferno Theatre, The Pear, Hillbarn Theatre and more. She was most recently seen onstage in Metamorphoses at The Pear and The Revolutionists at Palo Alto Players. Katherine received her BA in Theatre Directing from UCSB.
Aaron Royce Jones portrays “Izaak” in Apologies to Lorraine Hansberry (You Too August Wilson): A Free Staged Reading.
Brittany Nicole Sims ("Jules") is an actress from San Leandro, CA and extremely excited to be working with Theatre Rhinoceros for the first time. Brittany received her B.A. in Theater Arts from Sacramento State University. She has won a Shellie Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2020 for her role as Mary in ReproRights. Brittany recently portrayed the role of Angie inThe Museum Annex with CentralWorks Theater. Other companies she's had the honor to work with include; All Terrain Theater, Inferno Theater, Vallejo Shakespeare in the Park, The SF Olympians Festival, Playwrights Center of SF, The Exit Theater, African American Shakespeare Company (AASC), Custom Made Theater, B8 Theater and Three Willows Theatre, The New Conservatory Theatre and Those Women Productions. Brittany would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support.
Dedrick Weathersby ("Lorenzo") is a 2022 Emmy Award Winner for Best Interview Discussion with Theatre Corner on PBS/KPBS, which is still available to watch through the PBS App. Multiple BroadwayWorld Awards-winning actor. Next up, Dedrick can be seen in Sierra Rep's West Coast Premiere of Elvis The Musical; Dedrick will play Reverend William Herbert Brewster (Composer) and Roy Brown (Blues Musician). Few favorite roles: Regional/National Tour: James Brown in Remembering James - The Life and Music of James Brown, Jimmy Early in Dreamgirls, Coalhouse Walker, Jr. in Ragtime, Terk in Tarzan, Angel in Rent, BENNY in In the Heights, Harold Hill in The Music Man, El Gallo in The Fantasticks, and Seaweed in Hairspray. A proud member of The Dramatist Guild, a union for professional playwrights and SAG-AFTRA, a union for film and television professionals. www.dedrickweathersby.com
PORCELAIN
December 13, 2022, 7 PM
By Chay Yew
Directed by Ely Sonny Orquiza
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Porcelain is an examination of a young man’s crime of passion. Triply scorned — as an Asian, a homosexual, and now a murderer — 19-year-old John Lee has confessed to shooting his lover in a public lavatory in London. The play dissects the crime through a prism of conflicting voices: newscasts, flashbacks, and John’s own recollections to a prison psychiatrist.
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Theatre Rhinoceros | 4229 18th Street, SF (Formerly Spark Arts) in The Castro
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CAST
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Mikee Loria ("John") is an empathetic storyteller / actor based in the Bay Area. Some recent highlights include The Piano Teacher / Three Tall Women with The Pear Theatre. When not acting, Mikee is a teaching artist at NCTC and volunteers with Kollaboration SF. He strives to tell stories that not only entertain, but also challenge the way we perceive the world.
Walter Zarnowitz portrays "Voice 1".
Faustino Cadiz III ("Voice 2") (he/him/his) is a Filipino-American San Francisco Bay Area Educator, Theatre Artist, and Performer. He has performed previously with 42nd Street Moon, CenterREP, Contra Costa Musical Theatre, Missouri Street Theatre, Sonoma Theatre Alliance, Solano College Theatre. Highlights: A Chorus Line (Paul San Marco), Nice Work If You Can Get It (Jimmy Winter), Assassins (Leon Czolgosz), Disney's Beauty and the Beast (LeFou), RENT (Benjamin Coffin III). Training: Solano College ATP, SFSU.
Alec Braun ("Voice 3") is a talented freelance actor who has been working in the acting trade for over 6 years. He studied at San Francisco State University, in areas of stage combat, voice, background, and Shakespeare. He performed in plays such as War of the Worlds, Feifer's People, and Hands of Earth and Wood. Just recently Alec had just completed a play presented by Inferno Theater, titled Quantum Desire, by Guilio Cesare Perrone. Alec Braun is currently studying beginner Spanish and beginner piano. He has experience in Karate, stage construction, and backstage work. He is looking forward to exploring all kinds of stories, each one with a different position in life.
Max Seijas ("Voice 4") is thrilled to be working with Theatre Rhino! Previous credits include Quantum Desire with Inferno Theatre, The Anarchy Quartet at the Exit Theatre, Mothers All with Actors Ensemble of Berkeley, TheaterWorks' Oscar tour series, New Conservatory Theatre Center's You'll Catch Flies, and Left Coast Theater Company's The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told. Massive thanks and love to his friends, family, and the Bay Area theatre community.