Queer Playwrights Set the Tone for Indie Theater Productions in San Diego
PHOTO CREDIT: TFF Mag
A memorable time was had the weekend of October 18th in San Diego at The Chrysalis: Monarch Center for the Arts! Soulkiss Theater Company, owned and operated by Playwright and Hip Hop artist Miki Vale, paired with the Chrysalis to showcase the theater companies newest production 2 Rappers, 2 Plays, directed by Kimberly King.
Produced as a part of the coLAB program of The Old Globe arts engagement department, Miki Vale and fellow Hip Hop artist Queen Kandi Cole were commissioned to take on the unique task of curating two plays that told their story in one act. The outcome was an evening that brought patrons big laughs, optimism, and tears.
PHOTO CREDIT: TFF MAG
ABOUT THE PLAYS
SIDE A - AND WE DANCED
by Miki Vale
SYNOPSIS: An exploration of the life and impact of Ruth Ellis, a Black, openly queer woman and LGBTQIA activist from the 1940s who created a safe haven and sustained advocacy for the Queer Black community of Detroit.
PHOTO CREDIT: TFF MAG
And We Danced was absolutely beautiful from start to finished and did a wonderful job revisiting the life of Ruth Ellis as well as why the space she created for the LGBTQ+ community was so important. The play took viewers on an emotional rollercoaster subtly accompanied with a unique soundtrack that enhanced the visual immersion of the story.
There was also a very fun plot twist revealed in the beginning of the play that made it even more relatable to Black, LGBTQ+ people in present day.
SIDE B - GAME NIGHT
by Queen Kandi Cole
SYNOPSIS: A group of friends gather for a night of games but wind up digging into the complexities of their diverse backgrounds and belief structures post-pandemic during a chaotic and hilarious evening of libations and truth-telling.
PHOTO CREDIT: TFF MAG
Game Night, written by first time playwright Queen Kandi Cole, took on a more humorous tone using laughter and connectivity to draw attention to the underlying theme of the play which mirrored the complexities of cultural and socioeconomic differences among a diverse group of friends. The game night itself set the stage for an open ended discussion that was both controversial and enlighterning.
2 Rappers 2 plays is an absolute gem and the fact that both plays were written by QPOC is the icing on the cake. Ten starts across the board for both plays!
If you missed the show last week, you have an opportunity to catch it this weekend in San Diego at the The Chrysalis: Monarch Center for the Arts! Show up, show some love, and keep supporting queer artists!
Find out more about this week’s showtimes HERE.
