News Scene story about Good Kids

The News Scene students at City College made this great package about Good Kids. Check it out!

Good Kids photos!

Here are a few photos from the show, taken by the amazing Manny Rotenberg. To see more, go to http://www.rotepix.com/Theater/SAN-DIEGO-CITY-COLLEGE-Good/.

Good Kids is open!

Three performances down, three more to go.

Click on the link below to see the story the News Scene students put together for our show. And don't wait to buy your tickets! It's a small theatre, and we will most likely sell out for next weekend.

Good Kids story on NewsScene.

Good Kids: a note from the director

Rehearsals are underway. This is a very challenging play for a number of reasons (not the least of which is the ridiculously short rehearsal period!).

Trigger warning: Good Kids deals with the aftermath of a sexual assault.

Naomi Iizuka wrote the play in response to the events that took place at a high school in Stuebenville, OH in 2012. (Click here for more information about this case.) But the Steubenville case is by no means an isolated incident. Vanderbilt University, Stanford University. Maryville, Missouri. Baylor University. Sexual assaults happen every day in every corner of the world. And in many, many cases, the perpetrators walk, particularly if they enjoy privilege. Just Google "Brock Turner" if you don't believe me.

Good Kids explores many sides of this complicated issue. The characters are, quite honestly, good kids. Good kids who make a very, very bad decision. Chloe, the girl who is assaulted, is no angel. She is promiscuous and drinks to the point of inebriation. I feel like the purpose of this play is to start a conversation and hopefully to reveal some truths, even if they're ugly. We will be holding talk backs after every performance because we think our audiences are going to need to talk. The cast will need to talk.

As the director, I'm having many sleepless nights about this play, and I'm particularly worried about how the actors are handling this tough material. Four of the nicest young men I have ever met are playing characters who participate in an incredibly unsavory and sickening event. (Don't worry: the audience doesn't see the assault.) Three of the nicest young women I have met are playing characters who say lines that blame the victim, claiming she was "asking for it." A sweet, brave young woman plays Chloe, the girl who is assaulted. Every night I leave rehearsals with a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. After the first read-through, no one looked anyone else in the eye.

So why do we do this to ourselves? Why this play? Why now?

After our first table read, I was ready to bail. It was too hard, too close to home, too sickening. Maybe we ought to do some nice, safe Neil Simon. But Harmonie Rose, who plays Skyler, said emphatically, "We have to do this. Chloe deserves justice." We owe it to our fictional Chloe and ALL the Chloes out there who have gone through something like this. 

It doesn't matter how much you drink, how short your skirt is, how much you flirt. Sexual assault is wrong. The end. No one deserves it. We have to start the conversation. The more this issue is brought into the forefront, the more things will eventually change. I believe that. Monsters like Brock Turner should not be allowed to walk free, and eventually they won't.

I'm grateful to Alyssa from the City College Mental Health Center for attending rehearsals and providing the cast with useful resources. I am grateful to my assistant director Isaac, who sees things that I don't and helps to shape this piece and tell this story. I am sure that this show will provoke strong reactions and maybe even dredge up long-dormant memories for some audience members, and I'm sorry for that. But I still think it's the right show at the right time.

I am in awe of our cast members who are embracing this play. Bekah Church, Sarah David, Ariss Fitch, Harmonie Rose, Natalia Maggio, Stephanie Robles, Estefania de la Torre, Jessica Bravo, Camrie Blatnica, Bruno Balanzar, Cesar Magana, Julian Martinez, Daniel Sosa-Porter, and Andrew Pacheco are brave individuals and it's a privilege to go share this journey with them. (And shout out to our stage manager Mashan Tucker--you're a rockstar!)


So come see Good Kids. And stay for the talk back. It may piss you off. I hope it moves you to action. I hope it makes you angry, not hopeless.

September 30 - October 9. Tickets at citycollegetheatre.eventbrite.com. Thanks for reading.

First rehearsal for Good Kids

Bottom row (L-R): Bekah Church, Cesar Magana, Andrew Pacheco, Julian Martinez, Daniel Sosa-Porter, Natalia Maggio, Estfania de la Torre, Bruno Balanzar. Top row (L-R): Harmonie Rose, Isaac Fowler, Mashun Tucker, Camrie Blatnica, Ariss Fitch, Stephane Robles, Sarah David, Jessica Bravo

Let's do this!

CAST LIST FOR "To Kill a Mockingbird"

A huge thank you goes out to ALL who auditioned and shared with me their art and vulnerability. Below you will find the cast list.  IF YOU ACCEPT YOUR PART YOU NEED TO CONFIRM AND EMAIL ME AT: Kobzaar7@gmail.com ASAP! We will have our first rehearsal this Wednesday at 7:00 in the Saville Theater.  At that time you will get your scripts, add codes, rehearsal schedule, and syllabus. Don't forget, once you received your add code, you will need to enroll in DRAM 242 A-C and pay your tuition for the course.  Once again, THANK YOU!

-Ashley

SCOUT:   Catalina Zelles
ATTICUS: Steve Leffler

CALPURNIA:  Veronica McFarland/Latasheanne Cockhern (in rotation)

MISS STEPHANIE:  Tina Pakan

HECK TATE: Robert Delacy

JUDGE TAYLOR: Brett Morris

MR. CUNNINGHAM: Omar Ramos

MAYELLA EWELL: Elli Conell

BOB EWELL: Zack Andrews

MR. GILMER: Moises iavome

TOM ROBINSON: Roosevelt Green

CLERK: Olha Zimareva

BOO RADLEY: Lucas Thornton

UNDERSTUDIES: Mobin Maalirad, Estefania Mendoza

The roles of REVEREND SYKES (older black man), MISS MAUDIE (older white woman), MRS. DUBOSE (older white woman), JEM (child), DILL (child), and MEMBERS OF THE BLACK CHROUS are pending.  If you know of anyone who missed auditions, but still wants to be considered for a part and would fit into the above roles/description PLEASE LET ME KNOW and give them my email. See you all on Wednesday!

Good Kids cast list

Thank you to everyone who came out to audition. Please understand that casting is a very difficult process, and there are many, many variables.

First rehearsal for Good Kids is Tuesday, August 30 in AH 418 from 4:00 - 7:00. Please pick up a copy of the script outside of Katie's office, C 106b. If possible, please read it before rehearsal. There is a check list; please sign your initials to indicate you got your script (they're in alphabetical order by your last name).

Finally, please send an email to Katie at krodda@sdccd.edu (krodda@sdccd.edu) to accept the role or to discuss any concerns.

Male Understudy            Bruno Balanzar

Female Understudy        Camrie Blatnica

Kylie                                   Jessica Bravo

Chloe                                  Bekah Church

Daphne                              Sarah David

Brianna                              Estefania de la Torre

Dierdre                               Ariss Fitch

Connor                               Cesar Magaña

Amber                                Natalia Maggio

Ty                                        Julian Martinez

Tanner                               Andrew Pacheco

Madison                            Stephane Robles

Skyler                                 Harmonie Rose

Landon                              Daniel Sosa-Porter

THANK YOU!!