A brief and chaotic exploration of the first ever “Yas! And..” fest

1. A Decision

   1. Yas! And… was born of Impride, a collaboration with my improv soulmate and Best Man, Jesse Suphan who over mimosas and light up flamingos we made the decision that this festival was best to run alone. “Take flight” he said as I practiced my headstand in a Palm Springs pool, “and do like David Sedaris (Saturday at 2pm) says: Be Brave”*

   2. Yas! And… became a motto and a call and a refrain for the queer community. If you haven’t heard my story a thousand times before, I was a proud ally–bi–queer–lesbian pipeline heavily influenced by quarantine gay tiktok, T.a.T.u, the “San Junipero” episode of Black Mirror and about 1000 other things. 

      My gay journey was played out in the actually true but also a metaphor way that I would host a queer workshop, attend a queer event, fall in love with women, but my rainbow bag would get packed back up and I would resume life questioning and wrestling with a truth too powerful to hold back until I got hit by a car on my bike and it all came tumbling out. This festival and this theatre is a light to that person– whether you come with your own Rainbow bag, question your presence, or are a proud example of what out and proud can look like, this space was built to be the home I know I need(ed).

2. A really sexy spreadsheet

   • Did you know that throwing a festival, is like, hard? I wanted so badly for everything to feel magical and put together and surprising. I wanted price points to match the current need + support the talent we wanted to bring in. I wanted audiences to feel welcomed and to be excited to support art like this! For months, my google drive was “you visit this spreadsheet often.” 

3. A Cameo from Mo Collins

   • Sometimes you just need a little connection. Are Cameos cool? I think they are. Especially if you have been doing your best impersonation of Lorraine, Stewart’s Mom, and parodying any song you can based on the occasion. Mo Collins actually took the time to talk about the festival, say its name, give it life! I cried through all 5 minutes of it. And although I may have missed the heyday of sketch TV on Fox (can you even imagine what it would be now?) I hope that this sacred passing down of support can be felt from what we created. I watched empowered, beautiful, weird, and wild queer people show UP and show out. If that light ignites with the youth (there were gen Zalphas there!) then we know our mission will never end.

4. A dedicated staff of people

   • You never stop feeling like a 10 year old who is throwing a birthday party and just hope that everyone shows up. Given the amazing people that volunteered to dress up and show off for Provocation Theatre, I thought that even if we only performed for each other it would still be a hell of a weekend. Thank you truly to everyone that supported the life and enjoyment of the festival by giving the most precious gift of all– their time.

   • For the VIP Volunteers – David who personally invited and brought the Spats community ignited to be a part of this event and was THE bartender of the year, to Marketing Commissioner (formally Intern) Nat who made all the graphics and helped keep the lid on things as we ramped up, to the sweet sidekick/Tech Director in Kasey, you three were a light that made this event truly feel supported in every way. There would be no Yas! And… without you.

     
     

5. An amazing talent of players– drag, improv, stand up, burlesque, clown.

   • This festival had EVERYTHING! (Well, we may still have a few surprises next year) (I have my Accordian Guy on speed dial). When putting together the event, I was so hopeful we could come together across disciplines and showcase a niche of our own community. Being on stage, being vulnerable to be witnessed is such a sacred gift, and being able to watch over 50 people do their thang was a miracle.

     
     

6. A queer ensemble + workshop

   • The delight of the unknowing– at the heart of improv, but even more magnified when players come together to perform with only (1) rehearsal between them, and students come together under the rainbow of queer joy. Fontana is a goddamn badass legend and the fact she led our community was such a treat (I will never look at a motorcycle the same again).

     
     

7. Self reflection

   • “Only 15 months out as a lesbian, I never knew that I would become the face of Oakland queer comedy….a face for you to sit on.” – Opening Night Remarks (as ghost written by Dr. Jenna Tamimi)

     
     

8. Pots of Gold

   • Singing “somewhere over the rainbow” with the crowd as we vamped for ticket sales.

   • My best friend surprising me at my door asking “know of any good improv tonight?”

   • Scissoring birds.

   • The community connections of “hey, how do you two already know each other?” when making introductions.

   • 311…. Do do do do do do da da do do.

   • My pants not ripping on night 2.

   
   

*David Sedaris has probably said this sometime to someone.