Monique Crawford is our next guest on The Yay. Monique is an actress who has worked with Crowded Fire, ACT, Sacramento Theatre Company and Central Works - She talks about her upbringing, her work in bay area theatre and where she sees herself in the future.
Monique is traveling to England to continue her MFA theatre studies – and she has a GoFundMe page, where all of us can support her. Please make a donation by using this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-monique-study-acting-in-england?_gl=1*1qxgx50*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gbraid=0AAAAADj5gICJ_iPNpUBqZxhW-vwodwXSo
Monique can be reached directly via Instagram: @monique.c.rawford
Jameelah Rose has her own business selling healthy drinks - MelanA☥D is a black owned business that specializes in alkaline elixirs used to heal the mind and body. It's currently being sold at the Mandela Shopping Mart and you can find more info on MelanA☥D on this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/melanaid
We also want to thank Charles Blades Barbershop for sponsoring The Yay! Charles Blades Barbershop is located at 180 Second Street in downtown Oakland. It’s a very cool, relaxing place where you can get your cuts and they’ll even serve you a complimentary drink.
Book an appointment online here: https://www.charlesblades.com
Kehinde Koyejo (Episodes 214 and 262) has been a friend of mine since 2005, when I stage managed her for the Ray of Light musical, Bat Boy. She’s an amazing actress, model and creative artist. She’s also an incredible entrepreneur – and I want to introduce you to her business, Kalm Korner. Kalm Korner is an online boutique that specializes in aromatherapy gifts – love rubs, moisturizers, sprays, tea blends and candles. Kalm Korner also sells Choc’late Mama cookies – she brought some over the last time we interviewed her and it was fantastic. Let’s support a black female-owned business, a local business and make your first order by going to this website: https://kalmkorner.com/
SHOWS:
Queer as Fuck VII: Resistance and Rebellion (Bindlestiff Studios)
August 8 - 16
Jessica Fong (Episode 289) is one of the directors of the show
https://www.bindlestiffstudio.org/qaf7resistandrebel
Two Trains Running (Lower Bottom Playaz)
Aug 8 – 31
Reg Wilkins (Episode 276) is in the show
Dr. Ayodele Nzinga (Episode 257) is the director
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/the-lower-bottom-playaz/67be8abea24e940f61dd4990
Mac Both (Eclectic Box SF)
Aug 14 – 16
Alan Coyne (Episodes 29 & 233) is in the show
https://www.eclecticboxsf.com/event-calendar
The Return (Golden Thread)
August 7 – 24
Wynne Chan (Episode 327) is a part of the production company
https://goldenthread.org/productions/the-return/
Man of Tomorrow (part of Free Play Festival)
August 15 (6pm), August 17 (8pm)
Zoe Chien (Episode 285), Jake & Jessica Fong (Episode 289), Tom Reilly (Episode 40), Tony Daniel (Episode 240), Sylvia Kratins (Episode 141) are in the show
Reg Clay wrote and directed the show; Neil Harkins (Episode 222) is the assistant director
https://playground-sf.org/freeplay/
The Day The Sky Turned Orange (SF BATCO)
Sept 5 – Oct 5
Julius Rea is a part of the writing team
https://www.sfbatco.org/orange?_gl=1*hw20cb*_gcl_au*MTM3MjExODcyMi4xNzQ2ODkxNzQ0*_ga*MTQ1MDQyNzIxNS4xNzQ2ODkxNzQ0*_ga_J4D8M8TLG0*czE3NDY4OTE3NDQkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDY4OTE3NDQkajYwJGwwJGgw
Dracula: a Comedy of Terror (City Lights Theatre)
Sept 25 – Oct 19
Nick Mandracchia (Episode 43) is in the show
https://cltc.org/event/dracula/
The Wisdom of Eve (Altarena Playhouse)
Oct 24 – Nov 23
Kimberly Ridgeway (Episodes 155 and 251) directs the play
https://www.altarena.org/2025-season-announcement/the-wisdom-of-eve-2025/
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