PlayRISE Festival of New Works

Join the Rising Circle Theatre Collective at the Play Rise Festival of new works.

All events are free, but due to limited seating, your reservation is highly recommended. Click here for more information and RSVP’s.

Below are a list of events:

Thursday, May 18 @ 7:30PM The American Tradition Written by Ray Yamanouchi Directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene

In Antebellum America, Eleanor—cross-dressing as a white planter—and her husband, Bill—pretending to be her loyal servant—attempt to escape to the free state of Pennsylvania. Their operation is running smoothly until they meet Walsh, a drunk planter and member of the Not All Slavers organization, who steals Bill at a rest stop. Armed with a Glock-19 and her fair skin, Eleanor sets out to rescue him by any means necessary.

Friday, May 19 @ 7:30PM That Rhythm in the Blood Written by Andrew Rincón Directed by Lou Moreno

Miggy, a young man experiencing heartbreak in his life, battles and rages with the ghost of his grandmother who experienced similar heartbreak over 40 years before. Melding and moving through time , That Rhythm in the Blood explores loss, loneliness, and the pain that travels down familial blood.

Saturday, May 20 @ 7:30PM Time is a Lonely Hunter Written by Cherry Lou Sy Directed by Nelson Eusebio

A retired nursing aide Bong-Bong Chan stays with his ex-wife, Glena Rodriguez, and their adult children Jennifer, Melanie and Michael Jay-R with the hopes that he would win the lottery. As he struggles with his identity as the estranged family patriarch, the rest of the family live life they have come to know – a life without Bong-Bong. As they each find their ways, time passes and the distance between them increases. What happens when the heart is lonely and life seems empty?

Sunday, May 21 @ 7:30PM Fireflies Written by Donja R. Love Directed by Saheem Ali

Somewhere in the Jim Crow South, the sky is on fire. It lights the way for a pregnant Olivia, who’s struggling with her sexuality. She finds comfort in her fiery speech writing which becomes the sole force behind her charismatic husband, Charles, and his successful Movement, to galvanize people to march towards freedom. When hate attempts to extinguish their blaze after four little girls are bombed in a church, the smoke that sits atop Olivia and Charles’ marriage thickens - as this tragedy and years of civil unrest leave Olivia believing that “this world ain’t no place to raise a colored child.”

All plays were developed during INKtank, a 12-week playwright residency for writers of color, under the guidance of co-facilitators Raquel Almazan and Monet Hurst-Mendoza.