Visions. Are. Legendary. // Circus Returns to National Queer Arts Festival

On Friday, June 20, Topsy Turvy Queer Circus returns to the Brava Theater as part of the National Queer Arts Festival. Thanks to the overwhelming demand for last year's show, another performance has been added; there are two nights now instead of one.

I'm housemates with a performer and the amount of work that is going into this thing is no joke. Rehearsals, travel to rehearsal spaces (finding rehearsal spaces!), sweat, tears, exhaustion, endless stretching, training, choreographing, costume design-- these performers are working hard.

The acts last year ranged from flat out physically incredible to poignant to playful to jaw-droppingly hawt (and often, some combination thereof). Tidbits from last year's show:

 

Tickets are available on a sliding scale basis ($15-20) here or via the links below. 

And if you, like me, made a critical online-ticket-purchase error last year, fear not-- no more drop down menus in this year's ticket buying process!

Topsy-Turvy Queer Circus: Visions. Are. Legendary.
India Davis and Indi McCasey

Brava Theater

2781 24th StreetSan Francisco, CA 94110

Friday, June 20th at 8pm: Buy TicketsSaturday Matinee, June 21 at 2pm: Buy TicketsSaturday Night, June 21 at 8pm: Buy Tickets

I just double checked my confirmation email. Yup, I bought a ticket for the right show. Phew. 

Vote for the First Female Mr. Hyphen!

Last year I had the pleasure of watching Sean win $2,000 for Tuesday Night Project. This year I hope to see Allison grace the stage as the first female Mr. Hyphen, and win $2,000 for That's What She Said!

In less than 24 hours the voting for Hyphen magazine’s Mr. Hyphen will be over. This is the last chance to get your votes in and support me into becoming one of the top 5 finalists to have a chance of winning $2,000 for Pearl Girls Productions’ That’s What She Said Webseries. Not only that but I would be creating new possibilities with being the first female Mr. Hyphen in the history of EVER!
Please vote, share the links with your networks and let me be YOUR Mr. Hyphen 2014! 

You can vote here:
http://hyphenmagazine.com/event/2014/03/mr-hyphen-video-voting-round-2-march-17-21 

And here. Just click on the link and LIKE my video to vote:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151925107737653

The Return of That's What She Said!

We've released the first episode of That's What She Said Season 2!

Over the three years since we finished Season 1, there have been so many life changes. People got degrees. Changed jobs. Moved. Nested. We've each taken turns leaving the city/state/country for brief and long excursions. We began having near-weekly Google Hangouts to coordinate amidst our busy schedules and cross-state/county locations. 

We've each had to go on various journeys in the last few years, and we are still very much figuring out how make the production process smoother, more streamlined, how to bring on additional support and involve those who are interested. It's tough coordinating an independent venture like this, but we're working to get better at it together. 

Being far away means I have to be careful about getting complacent as a producer. One goal for 2014: Be a badass co-producer/friend.

I see piles of dirty dishes and I get calm. Because I was the dishwasher at my college. I did it with my best friend—two years washing dishes together three nights a week. We talked the whole time. We made a system where we’d let everything pile up and then blast through it in a half hour. Which means we got paid to eat dinner and talk. I have never loved a job like I loved that one. 

The best memories I have in college are of the warm soapy water and great conversations in the small quiet room at the end of the conveyor belt. I didn’t learn much in college. I never took a writing class. I never figured out why people date except to get married. But I learned about work. Any job is a great job if you do it with a friend. 

I’ve had amazing jobs at high levels where I felt alone and it was not nearly as nice a memory as I have of washing dishes. I am at a stage of my life where I have to make decisions about what is most important about work for me. And it’s having friends. The experience of working with friends is so powerful that it can even calm me down in a roomful of purging ballerinas. 

- Penelope Trunk 

Speaking of Web Series... That's What She Said Season 2 Trailer!

Since before I left for Cambodia, we've been at work on Season 2 of TWSS. After that gap, things are starting to happen fast.

New cards.

New trailer. 

And a new website in the works. 

We're aiming for a winter release. You can find us on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter. Oh me oh my.

I haven't been there for a lot of production this time around and so I feel like a fangirl myself, super excited to see the new episodes. Working with friends is such a powerful experience. It is one of the best things in my life. They are some of the best people in my life.

Web Series Weekend

I have a guilty secret. I'm not an avid web series watcher. In fact, in the last 4 years since we formed Pearl Girls Productions and made Season 1 of That's What She Said, I can't recall actually watching any web series, except for the occasional episode of Awkward Black Girl.

Now that we're in the throes of producing season 2 of TWSS,  and since it turns out that there are so many web series to choose from featuring stories of queer people of color, I decided it was high time to finally sat down and watched some. We had a web series watching party last Saturday. Funny how watching media can be such a fun social affair. I should probably watch some of the episodes over again because I missed some dialogue due to our commentary and laughter.

These web series all excite me because they feature a variety of people of color, a variety of gender expressions, and high production value.

LESlieVILLE Web Series

Ah, a web series that, like Orange Is The New Black, you can binge on because they've already released their entire first season. And yes, yes we did watch all of the episodes in one sitting. This Toronto-based web series has delicious tension, fun writing, and a love triangle (which might be more of a square). Keep an eye out for their future crowdfunding campaign for a second season!



This Is Kelsey

Really enjoying this NYC-based show about hilariously awkward, newly on-the-prowl Kelsey as her friends help her negotiate dating. It's currently on episode two and I look forward to seeing where this goes. I really like their smart production- the series takes place primarily in about four locations. From my experience, affordable (or free, as in the case of TWSS) locations are tricky to come by. Also, the very handsome actor who plays Tyrone was almost on the cast of TWSS season one.



Dyke Central

Oakland-based Dyke Central released one delicious pilot episode in 2012 and is gearing up to start production on three more episodes. It's so great to see a longer format (20 minute) independent queer web series with such a broad representation of people of color and gender expression.  Support their Indie Go Go campaign (ends October 4) and/or sign up to be an extra.



And now, I twiddle my thumbs, anxiously awaiting the release of future episodes.

Topsy Turvy Queer Circus

The 8PM show was sold out, with people lined up at Brava Theater around the block. Fifteen (?) acts of queer circus amazingness with a high concentration of steaminess as well.

Don't worry most of the folks in this picture can be caught performing around the Bay Area. 

Body Waaves at Ships in the Night (Photo credit: Elisa Shea)

Rumor has it there's going to be another Topsy Turvy Queer Circus in next year's National Queer Arts Festival. Oh, yes.

Pearl Girl at OUTspoken Sessions // Allison Santos

I remember when I first heard about Equal Action and OUTspoken Sessions at Tuesday Night Cafe back in 2009. Skim (who will be at J-Town Summer Sessions) was the inaugural featured performer. I attended for the first time in November of that year, when traci was the featured performer. Until this year, the queer youth open mic was held at the Solidarity Hall on Washington Blvd. It was a cosy, intimate space.

The next OUTspoken Sessions on Friday, July 22 will be at KIWA on 8th Street and is featuring visual artist and Pearl Girls Productions That's What She Said co-conspirator Allison Santos:

She plays "Rae" on TWSS and is one of the most recognizable cast members. Maybe it's the hair. Or her boyish charm. Or her magnetic dance moves. 

For clarification: OUTspoken Sessions' intention is to provide space for queer youth age 19 and under, but older folks are encouraged to show up and support! Inter-generational solidarity, yes, please.

Tonight: OUTspoken Sessions Queer Youth Open Mic tonight!

 The Equal Action folks are an amazing group of organizers dedicated to empowering queer youth of color to fight for social justice.  I hope they don't mind my plagiarizing their post:

Equal Action proudly presents

OUTspoken Sessions

an open mic and safe space for queer and ally youth 19 and under

Friday | 03.25.11 | 6:30-9:00

with two extremely creative women 

during this Women's History Month

singer and song writer Caresse Fernandez

Caresse is 4'11 and that seems tiny,

Although this is true, her voice is kinda mighty.

Ready to go with her guitar,

Equipped with a piano, she could go far.

She likes to sing and she likes to dance,

She just loves music, so give her a chance!

End.

&

spoken word poet and hip hop artist Sumiko Braun

 

Sumiko Braun is:

a radical queer feminist. 

a single mother of color. 

a libertarian socialist. 

a spoken word poet. 

a womyn warrior.

Check out our new location!

KIWA's Cultural Education Center

3471 W. 8th Street

Los Angeles, CA 90005

street parking

near busline 66, Wilshire/Western Metro Station

for more info: info@equalaction.org

check out our facebook page

Are you a youth who wants to help organize OUTspoken Sessions? Get more info about joining theOUTspoken Youth Organizing Committee by contacting Stephanie at svan@equalaction.org.

Equal Action is honored to hold the 2011 OUTspoken Sessions season at KIWA's Cultural Education Center, home to a variety of invaluable events and programs for the community. Learn about KIWA and other events happening at their Cultural Education Center.