TheatreFIRST’s WAAFRIKA 123
TheatreFIRST presents
WAAFRIKA 123
Berkeley, CA, March 21, 2018 — TheatreFIRST concludes its 2017-18 season with the world premiere of WAAFRIKA 123 by Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko, directed by Lisa Evans. WAAFRIKA 123 explores the expansiveness of gender, complexity of sexuality, pervasiveness of colonialism, and the impact of traditional rituals in a fictional rural village located some 250 kilometers northwest of the Kenyan capital Nairobi. There, trans boi Awino, the first born to the village Chief who reads Awino as his “daughter” now falling in love with Bobby, an American queer-lesbian formerly with the Peace Corps. Living on the outskirts, the interracial queer couple is blamed for the current famine. Clinging to traditional rituals of sacrifice, the community insists that circumcising gender non-conforming Awino is the only cure. At a time when Awino is looking to collapse if not rescript every conceivable boundary, is looking to live openly with Bobby as queer lovers, is looking to reinsert queerness to ritual and tradition thereby awakening the Ancestors, will Awino be consumed by a false sense of safety and security through age-old familiarity, or is there such a place as Queer Africa where the fullest Self comes alive?
Dr. Dagmar Schultz, producer and director of Audre Lorde – The Berlin Years 1984 -1992, called WAAFRIKA 123, “skillfully crafted and chillingly paced, may be the first play addressing FGM together with issues related to transgender and lesbian love. It amplifies our understanding and opens our hearts.”
TheatreFIRST is excited to partner with multi-faceted Mwaluko and director, Lisa Evans with a cast that includes Troy Rockett, Dameion Brown, Jeunée Simon, and Awele Makeba.
WAAFRIKA 123 runs May 3rd – June 2, 2018. Opening Night is May 6th at 7:00pm. Tickets are $15-$35 and available at www.theatrefirst.com
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TheatreFIRST seeks to revolutionize the intersection of audience, artist and activism. Now an all in-house development company, our staff, board, and creative teams are built to explore how best to lift and amplify marginalized stories. Making theatre a place where social justice happens means breaking down perceived barriers so that we might all explore an equitable world.
TheatreFIRST presents
WAAFRIKA 123
by Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko
Directed by Lisa Evans
Live Oak Theater
1301 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley CA 94709
Previews: Thurs May 3rd & Sat May 5th 8pm
Opening/Press Night: Sun May 6th 7pm
Closing: Sat June 2nd 8pm
Runs Thurs thru Sat, 8pm and Sun 2pm
Tickets:
Previews: $15
Opening Night: $35 general, $30 student/senior
Run: $25 general, $20 student/senior
Tickets and further info available through website: www.theatrefirst.com and at the door.
Please contact boxoffice@theatrefirst.com for all accessibility needs.
Press Inquiries, including opening night tickets, script request, interviews with creative team and any other questions, please contact: Christina Chan: christinachan@theatrefirst.com
Live Oak Theater 1301 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley CA 94709
Tickets at theatrefirst.com/tickets
TheatreFIRST presents
WAAFRIKA 123
Berkeley, CA, March 21, 2018 — TheatreFIRST concludes its 2017-18 season with the world premiere of WAAFRIKA 123 by Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko, directed by Lisa Evans. WAAFRIKA 123 explores the expansiveness of gender, complexity of sexuality, pervasiveness of colonialism, and the impact of traditional rituals in a fictional rural village located some 250 kilometers northwest of the Kenyan capital Nairobi. There, trans boi Awino, the first born to the village Chief who reads Awino as his “daughter” now falling in love with Bobby, an American queer-lesbian formerly with the Peace Corps. Living on the outskirts, the interracial queer couple is blamed for the current famine. Clinging to traditional rituals of sacrifice, the community insists that circumcising gender non-conforming Awino is the only cure. At a time when Awino is looking to collapse if not rescript every conceivable boundary, is looking to live openly with Bobby as queer lovers, is looking to reinsert queerness to ritual and tradition thereby awakening the Ancestors, will Awino be consumed by a false sense of safety and security through age-old familiarity, or is there such a place as Queer Africa where the fullest Self comes alive?
Dr. Dagmar Schultz, producer and director of Audre Lorde – The Berlin Years 1984 -1992, called WAAFRIKA 123, “skillfully crafted and chillingly paced, may be the first play addressing FGM together with issues related to transgender and lesbian love. It amplifies our understanding and opens our hearts.”
TheatreFIRST is excited to partner with multi-faceted Mwaluko and director, Lisa Evans with a cast that includes Troy Rockett, Dameion Brown, Jeunee Simon, and Awele Makeba.
WAAFRIKA 123 runs May 3rd – June 2, 2018. Opening Night is May 6th at 7:00pm. Tickets are $15-$35 and available at www.theatrefirst.com
TheatreFIRST presents
WAAFRIKA 123
by Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko
Directed by Lisa Evans
Live Oak Theater
1301 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley CA 94709
Previews: Thurs May 3rd & Sat May 5th 8pm
Opening/Press Night: Sun May 6th 7pm
Closing: Sat June 2nd 8pm
Runs Thurs thru Sat, 8pm and Sun 2pm
Tickets:
Previews: $15
Opening Night: $35 general, $30 student/senior
Run: $25 general, $20 student/senior
Tickets and further info available through website: www.theatrefirst.com and at the door.
Please contact boxoffice@theatrefirst.com for all accessibility needs.
Press Inquiries, including opening night tickets, script request, interviews with creative team and any other questions, please contact: Christina Chan: christinachan@theatrefirst.com
Live Oak Theater 1301 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley CA 94709
Tickets at theatrefirst.com/tickets
