Cardboard Piano

16-year old Chris just wants to find a safe place to live with the girl she loves- not an easy task in 1999 Uganda. Determined to be together, Chris, the daughter of American missionaries and Adiel, a local girl, meet in the village church to marry in secret. When the war outside the church walls breaks its way into their sanctuary in the form of a wounded child-soldier, all three lives become tied together forever. Cardboard Piano is a riveting testament to the power of the past to shape the future, and the bonds of love, family, and forgiveness.

By Hansol Jung

Directed by Tom Bruett

Produced in partnership with Museum of the African Diaspora. Save 50% on admission with your Cardboard Piano ticket purchase.

Audience Advisory: This play contains violence, gunshot sound effects, strong language, and strobe lights. Unfortunately, there is no late seating as a courtesy to our performers and audience. 

REVIEWS

"... engaging, intelligent, thought-provoking queer theater ... extraordinarily strong performances" - Stanford Daily

“Hansol Jung's engrossing, idea-dense drama ... theatrically thrilling” - Bay Area Reporter

"... moments you won’t find anywhere else ... truly moving" - Theatrius

"... strong visual appeal ... delivers a growing sense of suspense" - My Cultural Landscape 

"... necessary theatre ... powerful" - For All Events

"... riveting ... particularly stunning" - Theatre Eddys

EVENTS

Live Music Thursdays!

Join us pre-show on Thursday nights (Nov 1, 8, 15, 29) starting at 7pm for live music performed by GBADUNN Band (Rotimi Oyenekan).  Free with ticket purchase. 

GBADUNN means “enjoy” in the Nigerian language Yoruba. Featuring dynamic Bay Area artists, Gbadunn promotes African culture through diverse sounds and beats.

Post-show talkbacks

Friday night guest speaker: Melanie Nathan from The African Human Rights Coalition

Join us on Friday nights in November (Nov 2, 9, 16, 23, 30) to see guest speaker Melanie Nathan, an award-winning equality and human rights advocate who immigrated to the US from South Africa in 1985, after practicing law during the Apartheid era. She is the Executive Director of The African Human Rights Coalition, working to provide safe shelter and advocacy to LGBTI asylum seekers and refugees in and from African countries, who have been subject to increasing anti-LGBTQI persecution.  She is a country conditions expert for Ugandan, Kenyan, and Nigerian LGBTI asylum seekers, in the European, UK, Japanese, and U.S. Courts.   

Nov 11th: talkback with the cast and director

Join us for talkbacks with our Outreach Manager after ALL other performances.

Pay-what-you-wish Previews

Oct 26 - Nov 2 are preview performances and guests can purchase pay-what-you-wish tickets at the box office based on availability > learn more

Opening Night

Nov 3rd will include a post-show celebration with bubbly and bites 

Season Producers: Lowell Kimble, Ted Tucker
Executive Producers: Larry M. Vales

Graphic Design by Klinger Creative