WELCOME
The notion of home
is at the heart of Eisa Davis’ Bulrusher. Who gets to claim a place as home? Where are we welcomed? Where do we make our lives and define ourselves, in relationship (and opposition) to those who surround us? It feels particularly important and poignant to share this gorgeous play here in Eisa’s hometown of Berkeley. While Eisa is no stranger to Berkeley Rep, having appeared in Passing Strange and written so lovingly of this city in our pandemic project Place/Settings, I am especially proud to have her writing present on our mainstage. I have always found Eisa to be a person of profound intellectual appetite, so it’s no surprise that the community of Boonville intrigued her — a place both permanent and liminal, with longstanding traditions (even a language!), but just 100 miles away from home. A place made of water that carries truths, if you hold the gift of sight. The isolated Boonville of Bulrusher is a place where evolution happens at a different pace — a complacency which is ruptured when Vera arrives from Alabama, bringing Jet Magazine and its history-making images of Emmett Till. Eisa is a playwright, a poet, a singer-songwriter, a film and television writer, and an actor. Her multifaceted artistic identity has shaped the specific complexity of Bulrusher. How wonderful to now see Eisa’s imagination brought to life by the talented Nicole A. Watson and the designers and actors with whom she has collaborated to bring the rivers and redwoods of Boonville into the Peet’s Theatre. Vera’s time in Boonville changes everyone she meets, in ways large and small. I hope that the artists and stories you encounter this season will leave their fingerprints on you in some way. Perhaps a line of text will linger in your head and make you take in the light off the water with fresh eyes. Give you a renewed appetite for a conversation with a stranger, or a new perspective on a relationship you have wrestled with. One of the greatest pleasures in coming together in the theatre is the way in which this shared experience may change how we impact each other. Welcome home to Berkeley Rep. I am so grateful to begin another season alongside you.
Regional theatres
like Berkeley Rep both introduce local audiences to prominent stories and artists on the national stage and uplift and share local stories and artists with the world. Berkeleynative Eisa Davis’ Bulrusher is the first of three California stories this season. Nestled within the redwoods and waterways of the small Mendocino County town of Boonville, Bulrusher delves into the complexities of identity, belonging, and a community on the cusp of change. Later this season, we also explore the legacy of San Francisco Bay’s Angel Island in The Far Country and California’s Central Valley in Mother Road. Berkeley Rep has long partnered with other organizations to magnify our work and support the work of others, and I want to highlight two of our collaborators on Bulrusher. The creation of this production of Bulrusher was shared with New Jersey’s McCarter Theatre Center. One of the ways theatres are navigating the pandemic recovery is through co-producing, which allows us to more efficiently utilize resources and share costs. Locally, we are also thrilled to be in dialogue with West Edge Opera (westedgeopera.org), which has commissioned an opera adaptation of Bulrusher set to premiere in 2024. You can learn more about their work and that of other local organizations and artists in our free, pre-show Community Salons on select Friday evenings in Michael’s Second Act bar. As we dive into the world of Bulrusher, we encourage you to consider the exciting experiences that await you throughout our upcoming season. Subscription packages are still available, if you don’t already have your tickets. Whether you’re a theatre aficionado, a weekend explorer, or someone looking to enrich your life with creative exploration and meaningful connections, choose from our numerous package options designed to suit your preferences and budget. Our lineup promises a diverse range of stories to entertain, challenge, and inspire you. Theatre also makes a wonderful gift, and we offer great options this time of year from gift certificates to specially priced ticket packages. Enjoy the show,
Warmly, Tom Parrish Managing Director
Johanna Pfaelzer Artistic Director 2023/24 | ISSUE 2 | 5
