Get ready, folks! It's the 3rd annual politically satirical, feminist, comedic, musical retelling of the Book of Esther! Full of sass, rhymes, leopard print, song parodies, and political commentary, this hip, hilarious reinterpretation of the ancient story of Esther is not to be missed.

And if you were wondering, yes, you will all get kazoos and hamentashen.

For the past two years, we've completely sold out, so get your tickets early! EARLY BIRD PRICES THROUGH FEB. 20!

Costume HIGHLY encouraged, obviously.

DETAILS:

Monday, March 9th, 2020
Show @ 7 pm
B'nai Tikvah, 25 Hillcroft Way, Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Recommended age: 14+
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/live-in-contra-costa-irreverently-yours-the-shushan-queens-30-tickets-91025990187
*This show sponsored by Congregation B'nai Tikvah and the Contra Costa JCC*

Thursday, March 12th, 2020
Show @ 8 pm
Starline Social Club in upstairs ballroom
2236 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland, CA 94612
21+ (bring your ID)
DANCE PARTY TO FOLLOW SHOW
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irreverently-yours-the-shushan-queens-30-tickets-91023789605

Sunday, March 15th, 2020
Show @ 7 pm
Starline Social Club in upstairs ballroom
2236 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland, CA 94612
21+ (bring your ID)
DANCE PARTY TO FOLLOW SHOW
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irreverently-yours-the-shushan-queens-30-tickets-92814335175

STARRING:
Shana Rappaport
Evan Gelfand
Rebecca Poretsky
Danny Yadegar
Kiki LIpsett

LIVE MUSIC BY:
Aaron Glass
Graham Patzner
Emily Afton
Liliana Urbain

SOUND ENGINEERING:
Jules Indelicato

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY:
Kiki Lipsett

Presented by the JCC of the East Bay.

Thank you to Grand Bakery, our nosh sponsor!

About The Bechdel Test

Struck by how female characters often get a raw deal in stories, American cartoonist Alison Bechdel came up with her own requirement for movies she would see. Stories need

A) one scene with two women who
B) Talk to each other about
C) Something other than a man.

This criteria came to be known as The Bechdel Test, and a remarkably low percentage of films and stories pass it! The stories we consume overwhelmingly center around men, in a world peopled by men.

This improv show, borrowing its name from Alison Bechdel's famous criteria, aims to break the mold by putting complicated, multi-faceted women at the center of their own stories. Through patient, character-driven improvisation, the players will explore the idiosyncrasies, contradictions, and depths of these women that we all too often only see as accessories in the worlds of men.

Director/Creator: Lisa Rowland
Producer: Claire Slattery
Cast: Basel Al-Naffouri, Fontana Butterfield, Rebecca Poretsky, Lisa Rowland, Kyoko Sato, and Claire Slattery.

Tickets

Facebook Event

Description

Schedule: 3-day intensive: 3 hours Friday (7-10pm) and 6 hours each on Saturday and Sunday (10am-5pm, with a one-hour lunch break each day) February 7-9
Class size: 14 students maximum
Class length: 15 hours total
Prerequisite: None! All adults 18 and over are welcome!
Tuition: $299

Foundation 2 focuses on refining your improv knowledge and skill set, reinforcing the concepts you learned in Foundation 1 through games, play, and exercises.

While the emphasis is still on fun, course content also explores more conceptual and technical information and helps you build the skills you need to perform in front of an audience.

Students in Foundation 2 are recommended to read IMPRO by Keith Johnstone. Johnstone invented Theatresports, one of the core improv formats we play at BATS. The book is available from a variety of retail outlets, including Amazon.

At the conclusion, everyone "passes" and can move on to Foundation 3, but you can also take Foundation 2 as many times as you would like.

Register here: https://bats20023094.eventbrite.com/

Description

Schedule: 6 sessions; once a week for six weeks
Class Time/Dates: 7-10pm on Tuesdays January 14, 21, 28, February 4, 11, and 18
Class size: 16 students maximum
Class length: 3 hours (18 hours total)
Prerequisite: None! All adults 18 and over are welcome!
Tuition: $299

Foundation 1 is BATS’ fun introduction to the joys and thrills of improvisation and the BATS-style of improvised theatre. Students learn improv concepts and vocabulary, practice new skills, and perform in a safe, friendly atmosphere. Through games and exercises, you'll play, explore, and experiment with creating characters and scenes. Foundation 1 is all about unleashing your innate skill. Are you human? Then you have all the experience necessary to excel!

Register here: https://bats20013070.eventbrite.com/

Schedule: 6 sessions; once a week for six weeks
Class Dates: 7-10pm on Wednesdays
October 16, 23, 30, November 6, 13, and 20
Class size: 12 students maximum
Class length: 3 hours (18 hours total)
Prerequisite: Foundation 2

Foundation 3 focuses on developing skills such as performance-oriented scene work, ensemble, character, acting, and other advanced improv skills. A smaller class size means more stage time and detailed, individual feedback from your coach about your work.

Coaches will help students identify ways in which they can more fully embody the basic improv principles, as well as identifying areas for improvement.
 

Since Foundation 3’s focus is on your individual work, this is a great tune-up class for students of all levels and can be taken multiple times!

At the final session, the coach will provide specific feedback to the player and provide a recommendation for the next class. 

Register here: https://bats19103037.eventbrite.com/

Description

Schedule: 6 sessions; once a week for six weeks
Class Time/Dates: 7-10pm on Thursdays, October 10, 17, 24, 31, November 7, and 14
Class size: 16 students maximum
Class length: 3 hours (18 hours total)
Prerequisite: None! All adults 18 and over are welcome!
Tuition: $299

Foundation 1 is BATS’ fun introduction to the joys and thrills of improvisation and the BATS-style of improvised theatre. Students learn improv concepts and vocabulary, practice new skills, and perform in a safe, friendly atmosphere. Through games and exercises, you'll play, explore, and experiment with creating characters and scenes. Foundation 1 is all about unleashing your innate skill. Are you human? Then you have all the experience necessary to excel!

Register here: https://bats19103033.eventbrite.com/

Studio Scene Work is designed to help improvisers work on performance-oriented scene work. You’ll dig deeper into scenes and hone all of those skills you developed in your Foundation level classes!

The smaller class size gives students more of an opportunity to work in class and gives coaches a chance to provide more detailed evaluation and feedback.

Since there is a focus on your individual work, the Studio Class also offers a great tune-up class for students who are at the Studio level and have taken a break from studying!

This class can be taken multiple times. At the end of class, the coach and dean will help determine whether you are eligible for Performance classes.

Register here: https://bats19093023.eventbrite.com/

Studio Scene Work is designed to help improvisers work on performance-oriented scene work. You’ll dig deeper into scenes and hone all of those skills you developed in your Foundation level classes!

The smaller class size gives students more of an opportunity to work in class and gives coaches a chance to provide more detailed evaluation and feedback.

Since there is a focus on your individual work, the Studio Class also offers a great tune-up class for students who are at the Studio level and have taken a break from studying!

This class can be taken multiple times. At the end of class, the coach and dean will help determine whether you are eligible for Performance classes.

Register here: https://bats19072998.eventbrite.com/