2019-20 Season — The Rhino in The Castro!!!
Upcoming Productions
Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Directed by John Fisher
Postponed due to COVID-19
We hope to present Macbeth late summer or early fall. However, dates and times of rescheduled performances have not yet been determined.
@ Yerba Buena Gardens on Mission between Third and Fourth Streets
A Co-Production with Yerba Buena Arts and Events
The latest in The Rhino’s outdoor Shakespeare productions, our Macbeth will be the Bard’s masterful adventure as an al fresco epic with The Rhino twist. In the footsteps of John Fisher’s Titus!, Timon! and King Lear, the Scottish Play roars into the gardens with passionate ferocity.
Part of Our Queer Classics Series
It is with deep regret that we announce the cancellation of our final play in the season Laurinda D. Brown’s WALK LIKE A MAN II.
Please look for a future play by Laurinda D. Brown from The Rhino.
Walk Like a Man II
By Laurinda D. Brown
Directed by Sarah Young
June 18 – July 5, 2020
Cancelled due to COVID-19
These lesbians are butch, femme, undecided, uncommitted, non-binary and certainly non-conformist. They’re also looking for sex, love, wives, excitement and respect. Brown, the sine qua non scribe of African-American lesbian urban fiction, brings you eight more riotous stories about love on the brink. World Premiere
GLAAD Media Award Winner
Tickets for Individual Performances were available approximately 4 weeks before each production
Venues:
Spark Arts 4229 18th St. (at Collingwood)
Gateway Theatre 215 Jackson St. (at Battery)
Yerba Buena Gardens Mission Street between Third and Fourth Streets
Earlier in the Season
Man Boobs
Free Event! Staged Reading!!
By J. Julian Christopher
Directed by Stuart Bousel
Tuesday, August 6 at 7 pm
Spark Arts Gallery
4229 18th Street, San Francisco
(Between Diamond and Collingwood Streets)
Map It
Paul Hogarth as Spence
Kovac Williamson as Marty
Porn Yesterday
Free Event!
Staged Reading!!
by Andrew Black and Patricia Milton
Directed by Alan Quismorio
Tuesday, September 3 at 7 pm
Spark Arts Gallery
4229 18th Street, San Francisco
(Between Diamond and Collingwood Streets)
Map It
Jason Wayne Wong, Nick Trengove, and Joe Tally
Food Chain
Free Event!
Staged Reading!!
by Nicky Silver
Directed by Fernando Gambaroni
Tuesday, October 1st at 7 pm
Spark Arts
4229 18th Street Map It
Hi. My name is Serge. I’m a super model. You might look at me and think my life is perfect. But, I want my man back. I don’t care if he is married now. I’m getting him back! Theatre Rhinoceros presents a staged reading of Nicky Silver’s THE FOOD CHAIN October 1 at Spark Arts.
Oscar and Walt
Free Event!
Staged Reading!!
By Donald Olson
Directed by Joseph Ayers
Tuesday, November 5 at 7 pm
42nd Street Moon Admin Offices
250 Van Ness Avenue Map It
Before they were larger-than-life gay icons, they were poets. On his 1882 tour of America, young Oscar Wilde made it a point to visit the elderly Walt Whitman, who he considered a great and prophetic voice.
Playwright Donald Olson imagines what the two men might have discussed.
Driven
By Boni Alvarez
Directed by Ely Orquiza
October 31 – November 17, 2019
Thursdays-Saturdays @ 8 pm — No show Thursday, November 7
Sundays @ 3 pm
Spark Arts
4229 18th Street Map It
A father and son confront each other over the past and present and discover that judgments do not prevent love. The son wants dad to drink and gamble less, while dad thinks the son needs to return to LA, find a boyfriend, and get on with his acting career.
But love wins out in this heart-warming comedy of Filipino-Americans in the Bay Area from local playwright Alvarez.
World Premiere
Critical Acclaim!
… fills [Spark Arts] with intensity, action, and movement, drawing us artfully into a father-son dilemma.
A powerful play, DRIVEN delights in the Castro!
Production Photos
Earl Paus (as Danny) in DRIVEN, by Boni Alvarez. A production by Theatre Rhinoceros at Spark Arts, running through November 17.
Photo by Anthony Bongco
(L to R) Alan S. Quismorio (as Arnel) and Earl Paus (Danny) in DRIVEN, by Boni Alvarez. A production by Theatre Rhinoceros at Spark Arts, running through November 17.
Photo by Anthony Bongco
(L to R) Earl Paus (as Danny)and Héctor Ramón Zavala (Qulie) in DRIVEN, by Boni Alvarez. A production by Theatre Rhinoceros at Spark Arts, running through November 17.
Photo by Anthony Bongco
(L to R) Alan S. Quismorio (as Arnel) and Earl Paus (Danny) in DRIVEN, by Boni Alvarez. A production by Theatre Rhinoceros at Spark Arts, running through November 17.
Photo by Anthony Bongco
(L to R) Alan S. Quismorio (as Arnel), Héctor Ramón Zavala (Qulie), and Earl Paus (Danny) in DRIVEN, by Boni Alvarez. A production by Theatre Rhinoceros at Spark Arts, running through November 17
Photo by Anthony Bongco
(L to R) Héctor Ramón Zavala (as Qulie), and Earl Paus (Danny) in DRIVEN, by Boni Alvarez. A production by Theatre Rhinoceros at Spark Arts, running through November 17.
Photo by Anthony Bongco
Publicity Photos
Héctor Ramón Zavala (Qulie) in DRIVEN, by Boni Alvarez, directed by Ely Sonny Orquiza. A Theatre Rhinoceros production at Spark Arts.
Photo credit: Vince Thomas.
Earl Alfred Pays plays Danny in DRIVEN, by Boni Alvarez, directed by Ely Sonny Orquiza. A Theatre Rhinoceros production at Spark Arts.
Photo credit: Vince Thomas.
Alan Quismorio plays Arnel in DRIVEN, by Boni Alvarez, directed by Ely Sonny Orquiza. A Theatre Rhinoceros production at Spark Arts.
Photo credit: Vince Thomas.
L-R, Alan Quismorio (Arnel), Hector Zavala (Qulie), and Earl Alfred Paus (Danny) in DRIVEN, by Boni Alvarez, directed by Ely Sonny Orquiza. A Theatre Rhinoceros production at Spark Arts.
Photo credit: Vince Thomas.
L-R, Earl Alfred Paus (Danny) and Alan Quismorio (Arnel) in DRIVEN, by Boni Alvarez, directed by Ely Sonny Orquiza. A Theatre Rhinoceros production at Spark Arts.
Photo credit: Vince Thomas.
Rotterdam
By Jon Brittain
Directed by Lisa McHenry.
Tuesday, December 3 at 7 pm
Spark Arts
4229 18th Street Map It
It’s New Year in Rotterdam, and Alice has finally plucked up the courage to email her parents and tell them she’s gay.
But before she can hit SEND, her girlfriend reveals that they have always identified as a man and now wants to start living as one.
Now Alice must face a question she never thought she’d ask . . . does this mean she’s straight? A bittersweet comedy about gender, sexuality and being a long way from home.
The 2019 Rhino Holiday Extravaganza!
Celebrate the Holidays with the Rhino!
All-Star Performances
Saturday, December 28 @ 8 pm
Gateway Theatre
215 Jackson St Map It
– Deborah Russo
– Drunk Drag Broadway
– Jenn Ekman
– Justin Lucas
– Jesús U. BettaWork
— Lisa McHenry
– Trudy Giuliani-Poeschel
– Steven Satyricon
– Andy Arcade
– Suzy Jane Edwards
– Kim Larsen
– Rudy Guerrero
– Blisx
– AeJay Mitchell
– Cameron Zener (Just Added!)
Publicity Photos
Free Event! Staged Reading!!
The Taint of Equality
By Duncan Pflaster
Directed by Devin Goodman
Tuesday, January 7 at 7 pm
Spark Arts Gallery
4229 18th Street, San Francisco
(Between Diamond and Collingwood Streets) Map It
Another play from Duncan Pflaster, writer of The Underpants Godot!
Adrian and Javier are a gay couple who don’t believe in marriage — but everyone assumes they’re married. When they realize they’ve never actually opened up their “open relationship”, they decide to each go out and get laid, with hilarious and sexy results.
The play is an entertaining send-up of modern Gay life and relationships that tackles drug use, Dan Savage, racism, showtunes, porn, Grindr, public sex, and much much more…
Paul: “There’s this sex club, Chaps & Spurs, that we go to all the time. On Fridays, they have this divine Blackout Flashlight Party. Everyone naked in the dark, except for a flashlight hanging form their neck; sex if you want it, it’s a total hoot.”
Free! No Tickets Needed!
Radical
Written and directed by John Fisher
February 13 – March 1 at Spark Arts
March 12 – April 4 at the Marsh
Online through August 31, 2020
Running time is 80 minutes with no intermission
Jack thinks you should stop paying to ride MUNI, pick up trash off the street and pee wherever and whenever you need to – that’s why he’s running for Supervisor.
Diana and Plant are trying to get him elected even as they are falling in love.
But does Jack even stand a chance? And can Diana even trust him?!
The Critics Vote for Radical
… all three performers are appealingly playful and Fisher has no shortage of entertaining observations and witty bon mots about our city to share.
“RADICAL” Awes with Political Delight & Comedy
Jacob Soss deserves special mention for his ability to zoom from a nervous lover to monstrous levels of anger as the confused and conflicted Plant.
A terrific show!
Production Photos
Pictured left to right: John Fisher* as Jack and Jacob Soss as Plant in RADICAL, written and directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at Spark Arts. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member, Actors’ Equity Association
Pictured left to right: Polly Levi as Diana and John Fisher* as Jack in RADICAL, written and directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at Spark Arts. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member, Actors’ Equity Association
Pictured left to right: Polly Levi as Diana and Jacob Soss as Plant in RADICAL, written and directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at Spark Arts. Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured left to right: Jacob Soss as Plant and John Fisher* as Jack in RADICAL, written and directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at Spark Arts. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member, Actors’ Equity Association
Pictured left to right: Polly Levi as Diana and Jacob Soss as Plant in RADICAL, written and directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at Spark Arts. Photo by David Wilson.
John Fisher* as Jack in RADICAL, written and directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at Spark Arts. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member, Actors’ Equity Association
Pictured left to right: Polly Levi as Diana and John Fisher* as Jack in RADICAL, written and directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at Spark Arts. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member, Actors’ Equity Association
Social Media Clips
Jack rides into your heart!
SHE should stop running, but YOU should run out and get your tickets for Radical!
An update from John Fisher from the 5th week of rehearsal.
Find out more from John!
John Fisher braves superstition and talks about “Radical”.
Romantic, dark, satire, a love story to the City…
Find out more from John!
RADICAL is in rehearsal! Here are some moments from the hard work. (Okay, sometimes we have fun.)
Publicity Photos
Pictured left to right: Jacob Soss as Plant, John Fisher* as Jack, and Polly Levi as Diana in RADICAL, written and directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at Spark Arts. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member, Actors’ Equity Association
Pictured left to right: John Fisher* as Jack, Polly Levi as Diana, and Jacob Soss as Plant in RADICAL, written and directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at Spark Arts. Photo by David Wilson.
*Member, Actors’ Equity Association
Pictured left to right: Jacob Soss as Plant and Polly Levi as Diana in RADICAL, written and directed by John Fisher.
A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at Spark Arts. Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured: Jacob Soss as Plant in RADICAL, written and directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at Spark Arts.
Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured: Polly Levi as Diana in RADICAL, written and directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at Spark Arts.
Photo by David Wilson.
Pictured: John Fisher* as Jack in RADICAL, written and directed by John Fisher. A Theatre Rhinoceros Production at Spark Arts.
Photo by David Wilson.
Free Event! Staged Reading!!
The Gulf
By Audrey Cefaly
Directed by Phaedra Tillery
Tuesday, February 4 at 7 pm
Sparks Art Gallery
4229 18th Street, San Francisco
(Between Diamond and Collingwood Streets) Map It
On a quiet summer evening, somewhere down in the Alabama Delta, Kendra and Betty troll the flats looking for redfish.
After Betty begins diagnosing Kendra’s dead-end life with career picks from What Color is Your Parachute, their routine fishing excursion takes a violent turn.
Free! No Tickets Needed!
It’s not The Sound of Music as you remember it!
The Radicalization of Rolfe
By by Andrew Burgh
Directed by Devin Goodman
Friday, February 7 at 7 pm
Redstone Building
2626 16th Street, San Francisco Map It
Several generations have fallen in love with the film The Sound of Music.
But while Maria is transforming the Von Trapp family into a musical sensation, Rolfe Gruber hopes to better his lot in life by courting Liesl, eldest of the Von Trapp children and clearly above Rolfe’s social standing, as well as prove his usefulness and loyalty to the Nazi party.
But, his secret lover, Johan, warns him that time is running out for men like them and urges Rolfe to escape across the border with him
Join us for an event at Rhino’s old home, the Redstone Building.
Free Reading — No Tickets Necessary
Bay Area Women’s Theatre Festival
Collective Rage:
a Play in 5 Betties
Written by Jen Silverman
Tuesday, March 3 @ 7 pm
Spark Arts Gallery
4229 18th Street, San Francisco
(Between Diamond and Collingwood Streets) Map It
Betty is rich; Betty is lonely; Betty’s busy working on her truck; Betty wants to talk about love, but Betty needs to hit something. And Betty keeps using a small hand mirror to stare into parts of herself she’s never examined. Five different women named Betty collide at the intersection of anger, sex, and the “Thea-Tah.
Cast: Helena Levin (Betty #1), Grace Liu (Betty #2), Lili Arguello (Betty #3), Dani Baldacci (Betty #4), Kat Moghanian (Betty #5), Deborah Russo (Narrator)
Free Online Reading
SCOTUS* Gay: For Reasons of Sex
Written and directed by John Fisher
Live-Remote Reading
Tuesday, April 7 at 7 pm
Running time is 45minutes with no intermission
Theatre Rhinoceros’ premiere online Production!
SCOTUS* GAY: Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, adapted from the Supreme Court transcripts and the real stories behind the case by John Fisher.
On October 8, 2019 the Supreme Court heard oral arguments about the notorious cases of men and women being fired for sexual orientation. “Will the Supreme Court decide it’s ok for workers to be fired for being gay? At issue is a single word in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination on the basis of ‘sex’.” (Forbes, 10/24/19)
Watch the Supreme Court in action and the story behind the story.
In response to the COVID-19 Crisis, the staged reading of a new play about the current Supreme Court battles over “gay firing” – will be presented as a Zoom Event. It will be live, but watched online and performed by actors all individually in their remote locations. This will be a completely free event.
See the Complete Performance!
Cast
Jeremy Cole – Howard; Justice Gorsuch
Lawrence Dillon — Justice Kavanaugh
Suzy Jane Edwards — Dennis/Denise; Justice Kagan
John Fisher — Narrator; Sky
Rudy Guerrero — Babcock; Solicitor General Francisco
Arya Kamangar — Charles; Chief Justice Roberts
Polly Levi — Ms. Karlan
Lisa McHenry — Judy; Justice Sotomayor
Dan Strauss — Justice Breyer
Mary Strauss — Justice Ginsberg
Joe Tally — Zane; Justice Alito
Screenshot from the Performance
Free Online Reading
Steam
by William Ivor Fowke
Starring Justin Lopez and Nick Trengove
Saturday, April 18, 2020 at 8 pm
Register NOW for Saturday’s free performance
Two strangers meet in the steam room of a gym in midtown Manhattan and embark on a cat-and-mouse game where they confront each other’s desires and try to expose their true identities.
Publicity Photos
A Dog Dreams
Free Live Zoom Performance
by Jeffrey Fischer-Smith
Directed by Alan Quismorio
Starring Stan Stone and Cesar Cadabes
Saturday, April 25, 2020 at 8:30 pm
Running time 15 minutes
Mark comes to visit Alan, because their dog, Lucy, has a message that needs to be passed along. A play about eternal connections.
This is Theatre Rhino’s first memorized, off-book and “staged” production.
Mind That, ’tis Me Brother
An International Collaboration
by Gaye Shortland
Adapted by Johnny Hanrahan
Tuesday, May 5 at 8 pm
Tony is carried home to Cork in an urn, having died of AIDS in London. Inexplicably, he still has the gift of speech and a few of his other senses as well.
As he tries to come to terms with his predicament, his friends make fitful efforts to carry out his last wish – to scatter his ashes on the grave of Little Nellie of Holy God in the local convent.
Having been brought back to life in it’s hometown of Cork, Ireland in Summer 2019 by The Gaze Presents… they and The Rhino are bringing this OUTRAGEOUS, HILARIOUS AND HEARTFELT Irish Cult Classic to you, via Zoom.
A truly unique experience that has previously left audiences in laughing fits and hysterics.
You will receive a personal email with a link to click on to join the performance Saturday
Publicity Photos
Shane Corcoran, “Tony,” in Theatre Rhinoceros’s staged reading of Gaye Shortland’s MIND THAT, ‘TIS ME BROTHER, May 5 at 7 pm.
Seán Mac Gearailt, “Ensemble,” in Theatre Rhinoceros’s staged reading of Gaye Shortland’s MIND THAT, ‘TIS ME BROTHER, May 5 at 7 pm.
Seán Mac Gearailt, “Ensemble,” in Theatre Rhinoceros’s staged reading of Gaye Shortland’s MIND THAT, ‘TIS ME BROTHER, May 5 at 7 pm.
To Whom it May Concern
Free Streaming Live Reading
by Aurin Squire
directed by Ely Orquiza
featuring actors Mikee Loira (“Lorenzo”) and Devin Cunningham (“Maurice”)
Saturday, May 23, 2020 @ 8 pm
The lobby will open at 7:30, and the performance will begin at 8:00 sharp!
Preregister and Watch on Zoom
A staged reading of Aurin Squire’s epistolary play about a 15-year-old boy, Lorenzo, who tries to seduce a Marine, Maurice, through a series of letters. When Lorenzo pretends to be a young woman their romance takes off, until one night Maurice decides to visit his lady-in-waiting..
This free live performance will be on Zoom.
SCOTUS GAY: Lawrence v. Texas
Free Streaming Live Reading
by John Fisher
Featuring Bay Area actors John Fisher, Devin Goodman, AeJay Mitchell, Lisa McHenry, Joe Tally, and David Zubiria
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 7 pm
In 2003, the US Supreme Court finally declared the notorious sodomy laws Un-Constitutional. The landmark Supreme Court Case comes to life onstage.
This production tells the remarkable story of how two men who had never had sex became the poster couple for same sex relationships.
This free live performance will be on Zoom.
Alligator Mouth
Free Streaming Live Reading
by J. Julian Christopher
Directed by Richard Mosqueda
with Brandon Rivera (Van) and Hector G. Zavala (Hank)
Saturday, May 30 at 8 pm
A violently tender story about a troubled man in 1985 looking for answers from a fortune teller. Instead he finds a young boy, brand-spanking new to New York City with an agenda of his own.
This free live performance will be on Zoom.
Jazzbos and Jezebels
Free Streaming Live Reading
Written and Performed by SuzyJane Edwards
Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 7 pm
Go to Facebook at the Time of the Performance
The Death of Ruby Slippers
Free Streaming Live Presentation
by Stuart Bousel
Directed by Nick Trengove
Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 7 pm
Register now and See it on Zoom
Other Letters
Free Streaming Live Reading
Created by Renaud and Carin Silkaitis
to compliment A.R. Gurney’s classic Love Letters by presenting a similar production with the opportunity for queer, diverse casting.
Directed by Joe Tally
Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at 7 pm
Get a link to watch on Zoom
Charlie and Tommy begin passing notes when they are eight years old. What follows is a life told in letters, notes, and emails, with some connections and lots of near-misses.
The reading features Justin Lopez and Nick Trengove.
Publicity Photos
Nick Trengove
Click to Download
Justin Lopez
Click to Download
The Debut of Georgia
One Live Performance ONLY!
By Boni Alvarez
Directed by Ely Sonny Orquiza
Tuesday, October 13 at 7 pm
Get a link to watch on Zoom,
