"After Orlando" �" an international theater action in response to the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida �" had a staged reading in Oakland's City Council chambers Friday, January 13.
Forty-nine people were killed and 53 wounded when gunman Omar Mateen opened fire in the popular Orlando nightclub June 12, 2016. It is the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. His wife, Noor Zahi Salman, was arrested by federal authorities Monday in connection with the case. (See story, page 5.)
In response to the massacre, and to the profound impact it had on LGBTQ rights, gun violence, Muslims, and Latinos, artists Caridad Svich (Obie Award-winner), Zac Cline, and Blair Baker invited playwrights to participate in the action. Seventy acclaimed playwrights from the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, and Uganda responded to the call.
"This is a playwright driven effort," said Vidhu Singh, Brava Theater artist-in-residence and director for the Oakland and San Francisco productions of "After Orlando." "Over 75 international theater actions have happened since this project began."
This performance of "After Orlando" had special significance as it was performed in the chambers of Oakland City Hall. Oakland City Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan played a central role in organizing the action.
"Rebecca is awesome," said Singh. "She's really progressive and supports the arts. She offered for us to use City Hall."
"I saw the show when it was at the Brava Theater and wanted it to come to Oakland too," said Kaplan, a lesbian.
"Oakland needs to have this. It blesses this room with art and healing and survival. It honors people of all orientations," she added.
"This is a beautiful political space and we're charging it with beauty and art," said Singh.
Though in response to a massacre, these plays take a wide variety of approaches.
"The plays are not all bleak, there's humorous plays and looks at gun violence. A big variety," said Singh.
One especially poignant play, called "Before. Before. After" by award-winning playwright Lisa Schlesinger, delicately took a game of duck, duck, goose, renamed it before, before, after, and wove it into one lesbian's loss of her partner. In the dreamlike plot the women were together, and said, "We are going to be just like before, after. We are not gonna let after take before from us." But the sense of innocence and their bond had been lost in the tragedy.
Other works took a wide range of approaches: "Everybody Gets a Stick" by Deborah Zoe Laufer satirized gun culture with a hysterical tale of a school where every 5-year-old and teacher got their own stick with nails in it; and "At the Store with my Daughter" by Rohina Malik revealed the experience of Muslim women verbally attacked by a gay man blaming them for the Pulse shooting.
Jose Cuellar offered a closing ritual and community blessing to those present.
For the actors, it was a moving experience.
"This is my first time doing something political like this. It's powerful �" I think theater has the power to change society. We did a show in San Francisco too, and when we are working through how do we deal with the loss and violence, something happens," said actor Iris Stone.
"I was excited to be a part of a theater action like this," said actor Catz Forsman.
"Has there ever been a drag queen undressing in the City Council chambers before?" asked actor Rob Thoms to laughter. Kaplan agreed it was the first time.
The event was co-sponsored by Bay Area Queer Anti-Fascist Network. Anne Christine, a network organizer, said, "We must make sure we continue to talk about Orlando and support queers and people of color in Florida and other red states."
All funds raised through this donation-based event go to Somos Familia, a nonprofit supporting Latino families with LGBTQ youth.
Audience members were moved by the event.
"I am devastated by the mass shootings. I like supporting local events and small theater," said Oakland resident and ally Judith Stacey.
And for Oakland City Hall, this may be just the opening act.
"I want to keep having events in this amazing space," said Kaplan. "I'm excited that the next time I'm here for council, I was transformed here by plays put together after Orlando."