Brunch with Strangers

Today’s episode features two San Francisco actors, Denmo Ibrahim and Shoresh Alaudini, who I met through a production at Crowded Fire Theatre, a company that produces of contemporary, poetic, bold, and relevant live theater. After I spoke with Mina Morita, the artistic director, about how the company's goals aligned with my research project, she invited me to the first read through of their new west coast premiere of “I Call My Brothers.” As a dramaturg, I'm always interested in the development of new plays, so we not only discuss the CFT premiere, but also Denmo's one-woman-show, "Baba." Our conversation this morning in Hayes Valley District, spans an array of issues that are incredibly specific and yet surprisingly unifying, for example: the ultimate search for home, how we define "home," and how that definition changes (or doesn't) throughout our lives.  Despite meeting at the first read through, this is my first real conversation with both Denmo and Shoresh. Based on their experience in the play and in their own lives, we discuss: the american dream vs. the immigrant american dream, Islamaphobia, identity and labels, and mental health as explored in the arts.

The first time I sat in the same room with Josie Seid and Shelley B. Shelley was for a post-show talkback conversation in a theater. Josie and I had separately bought tickets to a performance that Shelley was working on, TOMMY J and SALLY, produced by Passin Art, the longest running African American theater company whose mission is to "entertain, educate, inspire artists & audiences while addressing critical community issues." Afterward, we sat in the bar across the street until 1am talking about the Portland theatre scene and the issues that affect the city.  Not long after, I sat them down to record episode two of Brunch with Strangers. In the meantime, Josie had invited me to dramaturg the first reading of her new play, PETIT DAMES, a brilliant adaptation of Little Women. Prior to this recording, I hadn't seen Shelley since I sipped on Shirley Temples at the bar.  This episode is a conversation over brunch about race relations and how Josie and Shelley experience life as artists of color in Portland, Oregon. These women are natural born storytellers. 

After seeing Ebo perform a spoken words piece at an Art Salon which featured artists' struggles with affordable art and living space in Seattle, Washington, I invited Ebo to be my first guest on "Brunch with Strangers."  EDIT: Since this recording, the artist has chosen to go by 'Ebo' and is no longer using the name 'Ela,' although their former work may be found as 'Ela Barton.' The pronouns 'they/them/their' are also preferred, so the post has been adjusted to properly represent the artist.