Dear Bindlestiff family, friends, and supporters, 

As the Bay Area hunkers down for four more weeks to combat the spread of COVID-19, please know that our hearts are with you, especially those in mourning, those on the front lines, those struggling to make ends meet, those in precarious living situations, those struggling in isolation, and those vulnerable to the ravages of this disease.

In these difficult times, we hope to find comfort and solace through creativity and connection. Whether by simply reaching out to check on someone, or creating content to share with others, or teaching/taking a workshop, or by donating food, time, or money, we can stay connected to one another while maintaining a safe distance. 

Millions across the nation face financial hardships, including artists in our community. Many have been furloughed, laid-off, or can no longer earn money from performing. In response, Bindlestiff will devote 100%* of the registration fees and donations raised through our online workshops to the facilitators and other artists in our community. Sign up now for our latest ones: 

Acting Workshop with Jed Parsario

Jed has graced the stage of prestigious venues locally and has trained at companies renowned internationally. And now here's your chance to develop your acting chops with him digitally. Only a few slots are left, so register now at bindlestiffstudio.org/acting-workshop

Stage Combat Workshop with Raisa Donato

Awaken Your Inner Warrior!

As Bindlestiff's go-to fight choreographer, Raisa draws upon her foundation of martial arts and theater to create moments of grace and power. In this unique Zoom experience, she'll teach you how to live in those moments onstage and off. It might be "stage combat", but she ain't messing around.

Sign up now at https://www.bindlestiffstudio.org/stagecombat-workshop

Philippine Language Volunteers Needed to Reach Out to Seniors

Over the past three years, Bindlestiff has been honored to work with seniors in our community  through our Restorative Theater Arts for Seniors Program (ReTAS). It has been one of our most fulfilling programs we've ever launched as we've become incredibly close and invested in the lives of these amazing, inspiring elders.

Shelter-in-place has hit seniors particularly hard since many are too fearful to leave their dwellings, yet lack the technological resources to engage online. Though ReTAS' Lead Facilitator, Aureen Almario, and Community Liaison, Lolita Kintanar, remain in contact with our participants, the loneliness and isolation have overwhelmed many of them. 

We'd like to recruit a cadre of Philippine-language speakers (Tagalog, Ilokano, Visayan, Cebuano, etc.) to reach out to roughly 15-20 seniors in our program to help alleviate their loneliness, track their ongoing needs, and offer words of encouragement. 

If you'd like to participate in making phone calls to seniors in our community, please contact Aureen Almario - aureen@bindlestiffstudio.org - for more details.

ReTAS participants. Photo by Paciano Triunfo.

Listen to "Charlie, Don't Die" - Available now!

Rise Above It Productions
in association with Bindlestiff Studio

Present Ed Mabasa's "Charlie, Don't Die".

(Originally performed for our Stories High 18 stage production in September 2018.)

Private investigators utilize the supernatural gifts of a junkie in SF's Tenderloin to help solve a string of gruesome murders in this atmospheric noir-horror radio adaptation.

Voice Talent: Jamie Nallas, Jack Patena, Giancarlo Cariola

Directed and edited by Raisa Donato

Artwork by Neil Que