"If you have yet to experience RIPE Theatre, you are missing one of the most theatrically adventurous companies in the area." Molly Rhodes, SF Weekly
RIPE Theatre is in residence at EXIT Theatre
What's Next...
At the moment Sarah McKereghan, Amanda Ortmayer and Michelle Talgarow are in the midst of creating a new piece of theatre with help and inspiration from Peter Parish and Noah Kelly. Stay tuned for more details...
Last up...
Forum on the Strong Female Character at DIVAFest 2012
12-2PM on Saturday, May 19
EXIT Theatre, 156 Eddy St. SF RIPE Theatre's mission is to write, develop and produce daring theatre that arouses a sense of awareness and curiosity about our society. Historically, we have always felt there is a gender inequality in the institution of theater and have made it a point to develop and write plays that contain more interesting and "strong" roles for women. In order to continue and expand that work we would like to get a firmer understanding of what exactly are the characteristics that define a strong female character.
We would like to invite our wonderfully diverse community (including the men) to engage in a discussion about the strong female character, who and what that character is historically, currently, and who and what she needs to be in the future. We feel this discussion will not only benefit RIPE Theatre’s future work, but the work of all who participate in it and the future of theater itself.
EXIT Theatre, 156 Eddy St. SF RIPE Theatre's mission is to write, develop and produce daring theatre that arouses a sense of awareness and curiosity about our society. Historically, we have always felt there is a gender inequality in the institution of theater and have made it a point to develop and write plays that contain more interesting and "strong" roles for women. In order to continue and expand that work we would like to get a firmer understanding of what exactly are the characteristics that define a strong female character.
We would like to invite our wonderfully diverse community (including the men) to engage in a discussion about the strong female character, who and what that character is historically, currently, and who and what she needs to be in the future. We feel this discussion will not only benefit RIPE Theatre’s future work, but the work of all who participate in it and the future of theater itself.
Update on Forum
What an amazing discussion we had! Thank you to all that came out and participated.
The gist of what came out of it is this:
We don't necessarily want roles that are perfect, flawless, strong, super-females.
We want MORE roles that are full, well-rounded, whole, rich, deep characters that make their own choices. Those choices don't always need to be good choices, they can be foolish, too. We want to play and see women that are not just at the whim of their circumstances but for better or worse take charge of their own destiny.
We want to play REAL characters.
Not too much to ask right??
Of course, there was so much more to our conversation and there are many more conversations to have about women in theatre. Keep talking, keep acting!
The gist of what came out of it is this:
We don't necessarily want roles that are perfect, flawless, strong, super-females.
We want MORE roles that are full, well-rounded, whole, rich, deep characters that make their own choices. Those choices don't always need to be good choices, they can be foolish, too. We want to play and see women that are not just at the whim of their circumstances but for better or worse take charge of their own destiny.
We want to play REAL characters.
Not too much to ask right??
Of course, there was so much more to our conversation and there are many more conversations to have about women in theatre. Keep talking, keep acting!
The Burroughs and Kookie Show:
Late Night in the Interzone.
Written and Performed by Christopher Kuckenbaker
Featuring the writings of William S. Burroughs
Music By Louis Libert
Directed by Sarah McKereghan
Movement by Michelle Talgarow
Winner- Best Local Solo Show of the 2010 San Francisco Fringe Festival
Techie Choice Award, 2010 SF Fringe Festival
Christopher Kuckenbaker, Goldie Award for Theatre, SF Bay Guardian"Secrets weren't William S. Burroughs' stock in trade so much as nasty truths and hallucinogenic hyperbole - which can be hard to stage. Playwright-performer Christopher Kuckenbaker succeeds by letting Burroughs be Burroughs, within the alternative reality of a talk show telecast. Which makes his "The Burroughs and Kookie Show: Late Night in the Interzone" another of the gems of this year's San Francisco Fringe Festival.
Kuckenbaker ably switches between Burroughs and the acerbic, paranoid writer's hapless talk-show guest in his Ripe-Secret Theatre co-production at Exit Studio. Smartly directed by Sarah McKereghan, with deadpan musical support by Louis Libert, "Burroughs" is a blithely mind-altering visit that soars with wry wit on excerpts from its namesake's writings."
-Robert Hurwitt, SF Chronicle
"Kuckenbaker gives a simply amazing performance and he's riveting. It becomes very intimate by the end- you're brought into Burroughs' world, not simply watching it."
-John Marcher, beastinajungle.blogspot.com
Featuring the writings of William S. Burroughs
Music By Louis Libert
Directed by Sarah McKereghan
Movement by Michelle Talgarow
Winner- Best Local Solo Show of the 2010 San Francisco Fringe Festival
Techie Choice Award, 2010 SF Fringe Festival
Christopher Kuckenbaker, Goldie Award for Theatre, SF Bay Guardian"Secrets weren't William S. Burroughs' stock in trade so much as nasty truths and hallucinogenic hyperbole - which can be hard to stage. Playwright-performer Christopher Kuckenbaker succeeds by letting Burroughs be Burroughs, within the alternative reality of a talk show telecast. Which makes his "The Burroughs and Kookie Show: Late Night in the Interzone" another of the gems of this year's San Francisco Fringe Festival.
Kuckenbaker ably switches between Burroughs and the acerbic, paranoid writer's hapless talk-show guest in his Ripe-Secret Theatre co-production at Exit Studio. Smartly directed by Sarah McKereghan, with deadpan musical support by Louis Libert, "Burroughs" is a blithely mind-altering visit that soars with wry wit on excerpts from its namesake's writings."
-Robert Hurwitt, SF Chronicle
"Kuckenbaker gives a simply amazing performance and he's riveting. It becomes very intimate by the end- you're brought into Burroughs' world, not simply watching it."
-John Marcher, beastinajungle.blogspot.com
