New Roots is a 4-day arts festival that unearths artistic voices in the Bay Area celebrates the development of new work and centers BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ voices.

The 2024 festival line-up features 2 SFBATCO commissions, 1 SFBATCO co-production, 1 presentation by Z Space, and a showcase of works from our beloved Creators Lab program.

All five of these dynamic projects are in various stages of development, and the festival offerings range from staged readings to fully memorized workshop productions.

Schedule of Events:

Gravity: A New(tonian) Musical:

Created by Joel Chapman, Weston Gaylord, Matt Herrero, Jessia Hoffman, and Ken Savage

When modern-day Cambridge physicist Sophie travels back in time to 1666 England, her chance encounter with guitar-strumming, 23-year old Isaac Newton prevents him from seeing the mythic apple falling and discovering his famous Theory of Universal Gravity.

To return home, Sophie must restore history and navigate the world of 1666, where Natural Philosophers are the pop stars of their day, emerging enlightenment thinkers have one chance at fame, and radical women struggle to leave their mark.

Along the way, she encounters historical luminaries such as Isaac’s rival Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, aspiring astronomer Edmond Halley, and the fearless Duchess Margaret Cavendish, who is embroiled in her own quest for fame and scientific recognition.

Featuring Broadway star Taylor Iman Jones, Gravity is a comedic musical love letter to nerds of all ages - past and present - who are looking to make an impact on our world.

Performers: Taylor Iman Jones, Nathaniel Rothrock, Dave Abrams, Sarah Jiang, Amy Dubose, Jessica Coker Mohr, Marcus J. Paige, Nicholas Biddle

Dates and Times:

November 14, 2024: 8:00 PM
November 16, 2024: 8:00 PM

The Day the Sky Turned Orange:

Written by Julius Rea
Music by Olivia Kuper Harris & David Michael Ott

September 2020. San Francisco. An ominous sky.

High school science teacher Amari must let go of her grief while starting a new relationship; her brother, QC, grapples with the realities of long-COVID and his future as an artist; and her student, Alé, is just trying to pay for remote therapy.

Painted with the background of the ongoing pandemic, Black Lives Matters uprisings, and an upcoming election, these interconnected San Franciscans face yet another sobering moment: the day the sky turned orange.

This R&B and pop musical from Julius Rea, Olivia Kuper Harris, and David Michael Ott is a testament to living through the trials of 2020 as well as a compassionate reminder of the importance of caring for our planet, our communities, and ourselves.

Performers: May Ramos, Nina-Sophia Pacheco, Devin Cunningham, Roeen Nooran, Markaila Dyson, Lai-ling Bisset, Jeremy Brooks, Phaedra Tillery-Boughton, Vince Chan

Dates and Times:

November 15, 2024: 8:00 PM
November 16, 2024: 5:00 PM
November 17, 2024: 4:00 PM

Cuckoo Edible Magic:

Written and Directed by Reed Flores

When otaku-besties Ren and Mai step outside to discover an anime-blue sky, their first thought is, “Damn, this edible is strong.” But they quickly discover something more sinister afoot. A Sailor Moon-esque adventure through the Bay Area pits our nunchuk-armed heroes against one villain after the next - from a maniacal rice cooker to evil BART contortionists to supercharged Dim Sum cart ladies. These unlikely heroes must save the Bay Area, but they can’t do it alone: they’ll need help from Mai’s tough-love parents, Ren’s over-involved sister, and maybe even a cute corner store employee.

The two friends’ quest is as wacky as it is poignant. CHamoru playwright Reed Flores explores themes of Bay Area AAPI life, Queer love, and complex family dynamics–both “born” and “chosen.” Developed through SFBATCO’s Creators Lab, Cuckoo Edible Magic promises to evoke laughter, tears, and a craving for some ha gao.

Performers: Simon Santos, Risa Ferrer, Lisa Hu, Gwynnevere Cristobal

Dates and Times:

November 16, 2024: 2:00 PM
November 17, 2024: 8:00 PM

Library Play:

Written and Performed by Austin Dean Ashford
Presented by Z Space

Step into the mesmerizing world of 'Library Play,' an Afrofuturistic Monodrama that delves into the essence of being a guardian of stories and histories, especially those of forgotten people. Follow the journey of a new librarian who must protect the library and its untold stories from the encroaching threat of A.I. cyborgs. With the unlikely alliance of a resourceful middle schooler and a minstrel superhero, they embark on a daring quest to safeguard the rich tapestry of black oral history within the library's archives.

As the plot unfolds, a profound revelation surfaces: each of us is a custodian of our own stories, and it is our duty to preserve and honor these narratives as sacred. This innovative solo performance is a whirlwind of action, humor, and introspection, offering a message of hope and resilience that resonates deeply in today's world.

Dates and Times:

November 15, 2024: 6:30 PM
November 16, 2024: 3:30 PM
November 17, 2024: 6:00 PM

Creators Lab Showcase:

Creators Lab Cohort: Edith Castorena, Christina Li, Hasti Jafari, Maya De La Rosa-Cohen, Ashley S Raggs

SFBATCO’s 2024 cohort of creators - Maya De La Rosa-Cohen, Hasti Jafari, Christina Li, Ashley S Raggs, and Edith Castorena - present five original works developed in in SFBATCO’s incubation space for emerging creators. Excerpts from these unique pieces explore themes of family, heritage, San Francisco life, freedom, and more.

The First Three recounts a gay couple’s battle to become California’s first family to share equal parenthood. Homing Pigeons & Co follows two friends whose activism and differences become more disastrous with each passing day. In Clay Street, Chinatown, a Chinese woman learns freedom’s cost in 1850s San Francisco. Bay Dreaming tells the story of an African American girl in San Francisco losing her mother and her acting dreams. Finally, Named After My Mother explores fathers and lovers’ impact on three generations of San Francisco women linked by magic, fog, and one name.

Dates and Times:

November 14, 2024: 6:30 PM
November 16, 2024: 6:30 PM
November 17, 2024: 2:00 PM

Dates: November 11 - 14, 2024

Location:

Brava Theater Center,
2781 24th Street,
San Francisco, CA, 94110.

Buy Tickets

Click here for more information