always...a work in progress...
BE LIKE WATER
a new work by Kat Evasco with Gayle Romasanta and Joan Osato
Produced by Brava for Women in the Arts
This new experimental play by playwright Kat Evasco deeply examines the mental health impacts of unprecedented anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies on undocumented immigrant families. The design of this play integrates sensory technology that collects electroencephalography data to create a visual representation of the character’s various emotive states, including fear, sadness, anger and joy. In collaboration with award-winning visual artist and projection designer Joan Osato, the play will capture real time emotions of the characters during the play to create dynamic imagery projected on stage
This project is generously funded by the Kenneth Rainin New Project award.
Premiere TBD
a new work by Kat Evasco with Gayle Romasanta and Joan Osato
Produced by Brava for Women in the Arts
This new experimental play by playwright Kat Evasco deeply examines the mental health impacts of unprecedented anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies on undocumented immigrant families. The design of this play integrates sensory technology that collects electroencephalography data to create a visual representation of the character’s various emotive states, including fear, sadness, anger and joy. In collaboration with award-winning visual artist and projection designer Joan Osato, the play will capture real time emotions of the characters during the play to create dynamic imagery projected on stage
This project is generously funded by the Kenneth Rainin New Project award.
Premiere TBD
PRIETO
a new work by Yosimar Reyes, Directed by Kat Evasco
Produced by The Living Word Project in association with Brava for Women in the Arts
Prieto, an autobiographical one-man show written by nationally acclaimed poet, Yosimar Reyes. Known for his frequent exploration into themes of migration and sexuality, Reyes takes his audience on a journey into his experience growing up queer in the ‘hood of East San Jose.
Through the playful, lovably naive lense of an 8-year-old Reyes, Prieto tells the story of an overprotective grandmother who recycles bottles to support her family while her grandson wonders why they can’t have money like his friends. The unique magic behind Prieto is the authenticity of Reyes’ voice — the complex intersection of young Reyes’ coming-of-age and coming-into-understanding of his queerness and his identity as an undocumented American. Reyes masterfully navigates topics that are often grave and entrenched in struggle, and he instead offers levity and celebration of becoming his full self against the backdrop of poverty, politics, and an unshakable spirit. Prieto remains unabashed and unapologetic in its critique of oppressive laws and traditions while offering truth, clarity, and above all joy.
The World Premiere Production of Prieto is supported by the Wallace Alexander Gerbode 2019 Theater Production Award, The Living Word Project, Brava for Women in the Arts, Define American, The Center for Cultural Power and Paseo Artistico a project of Accion Latina.
Premiere October 2023, Currently on Tour. For Booking please contact me.
a new work by Yosimar Reyes, Directed by Kat Evasco
Produced by The Living Word Project in association with Brava for Women in the Arts
Prieto, an autobiographical one-man show written by nationally acclaimed poet, Yosimar Reyes. Known for his frequent exploration into themes of migration and sexuality, Reyes takes his audience on a journey into his experience growing up queer in the ‘hood of East San Jose.
Through the playful, lovably naive lense of an 8-year-old Reyes, Prieto tells the story of an overprotective grandmother who recycles bottles to support her family while her grandson wonders why they can’t have money like his friends. The unique magic behind Prieto is the authenticity of Reyes’ voice — the complex intersection of young Reyes’ coming-of-age and coming-into-understanding of his queerness and his identity as an undocumented American. Reyes masterfully navigates topics that are often grave and entrenched in struggle, and he instead offers levity and celebration of becoming his full self against the backdrop of poverty, politics, and an unshakable spirit. Prieto remains unabashed and unapologetic in its critique of oppressive laws and traditions while offering truth, clarity, and above all joy.
The World Premiere Production of Prieto is supported by the Wallace Alexander Gerbode 2019 Theater Production Award, The Living Word Project, Brava for Women in the Arts, Define American, The Center for Cultural Power and Paseo Artistico a project of Accion Latina.
Premiere October 2023, Currently on Tour. For Booking please contact me.
LAST DAYS AT PU’UNENE MILL
by Joan Osato and Tanya Orellana
Produced by Campo Santo and The Living Word Project
Last Days at Pu’unene Mill is a new exhibition/installation and community engagement project, created by Joan Osato and Tanya Orellana in collaboration with Campo Santo. Osato and Orellana have visited a number of the Mill sites in Hawai’i (supported by Maui Arts and Cultural Center), as well as the refineries of California which tie them together. The collaborators plan to interview, investigate, photograph, film and instigate a new dialogue on immigrant life, issues of native sovereignty and the impacts of sugar production on the these two communities by means of examine the unique history of the sugar industry. Through a research and development process that engages urban and rural communities, mining generational memories of populations involved in the industry; the resulting installation and a series of public events will reflect on the unique and historical relationship between Pu’unene Mill in Maui, Hawai’i and the City of Crockett California’s C&H (California & Hawaii) Sugar Company.
Funding for this project is generously provided by the Creative Work Fund. The Creative Work Fund is a program of The Walter and Elise Haas Fund that also is generously supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Premiere April 2023. Project Ongoing. To Participate please contact me.
by Joan Osato and Tanya Orellana
Produced by Campo Santo and The Living Word Project
Last Days at Pu’unene Mill is a new exhibition/installation and community engagement project, created by Joan Osato and Tanya Orellana in collaboration with Campo Santo. Osato and Orellana have visited a number of the Mill sites in Hawai’i (supported by Maui Arts and Cultural Center), as well as the refineries of California which tie them together. The collaborators plan to interview, investigate, photograph, film and instigate a new dialogue on immigrant life, issues of native sovereignty and the impacts of sugar production on the these two communities by means of examine the unique history of the sugar industry. Through a research and development process that engages urban and rural communities, mining generational memories of populations involved in the industry; the resulting installation and a series of public events will reflect on the unique and historical relationship between Pu’unene Mill in Maui, Hawai’i and the City of Crockett California’s C&H (California & Hawaii) Sugar Company.
Funding for this project is generously provided by the Creative Work Fund. The Creative Work Fund is a program of The Walter and Elise Haas Fund that also is generously supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Premiere April 2023. Project Ongoing. To Participate please contact me.
A CRACK IN EVERYTHING
by Joan Osato
A Crack in Everything is a new media and photographic project. A Crack in Everything examines life in the time of Covid-19 and in the midst of racial and political reckonings - It hopes to document both universal, and individual truths, challenges, transformation and experiences of citizens of San Francisco via photographs and media. The project focuses on black and brown people, a community of artists and culture bearers, youth activists and everyday citizens to historicize their lives in this extraordinary moment in time by way of portraiture, interviews and short films.
The title, taken from a Leonard Cohen song infers - that a crack in everything is "how the light gets in". The project is meant as a poem and a song of hardship, and silver linings, a document of despair, disparity, obstacles, sacrifice and danger - and also of the ways that black and brown denizens of this city have made their choices, and "found their light".
Premiere TBD. Project ongoing. To participate please contact me.
by Joan Osato
A Crack in Everything is a new media and photographic project. A Crack in Everything examines life in the time of Covid-19 and in the midst of racial and political reckonings - It hopes to document both universal, and individual truths, challenges, transformation and experiences of citizens of San Francisco via photographs and media. The project focuses on black and brown people, a community of artists and culture bearers, youth activists and everyday citizens to historicize their lives in this extraordinary moment in time by way of portraiture, interviews and short films.
The title, taken from a Leonard Cohen song infers - that a crack in everything is "how the light gets in". The project is meant as a poem and a song of hardship, and silver linings, a document of despair, disparity, obstacles, sacrifice and danger - and also of the ways that black and brown denizens of this city have made their choices, and "found their light".
Premiere TBD. Project ongoing. To participate please contact me.
