Queer As Fuck and Bindlestiff Studio presents

Queer As Fuck VI : Escape to Queertopia

The Program

Featured Short Plays

Oil on Canvas

A painter and her muse navigate the complexities of lesbian identity and history, as a portrait of love and erasure unfolds in the intimacy of their relationship.

Somewhere Out There

A sci-fi inspired journey that follows two estranged characters as they navigate their way through the complexities of relationships in a world where love seems elusive.

The Love Interview

A gay couple faces a grilling by a USCIS officer, who is determined to find holes in their relationship and stop their marriage, but their love may prove stronger than any interrogation.

Binaries

Two trans friends, Ash and Zoe, reconnect over a Zoom call while playing video games. As they chat, Ash begins to question whether their friendship can survive the changes in their lives.

The Adventures of Bisexual Sperm

A wild and quirky exploration of polyamory, self-discovery, and the journey of a bisexual sperm as it navigates its way through various relationships and existential dilemmas.

Bitopia

A local mystic is questioned by two detectives about a series of breakups she may have influenced with her powers. But the deeper the interrogation goes, the more the detectives realize they may be cursed too.

Cast

Bitopia

Writer: Sophie Ruf
Director: Tessa Corrie
Featuring: Zolboo Namkhaidorj, Rae Yuen, Kaz Valtchev, Isabel To

Allen Byron Ocampo He/Him/Sya (Actor - President in POTUS, Coach Spermy in Adventures in Bisexual Sperm)

Allen Byron Ocampo is a critical entertainer, ethnic studies educator, and cultural food historian. He has performed with Bindlestiff Studio, SFBATCO, More Mas Marami Arts, and Tri-Valley Theatre Company. With over a decade of experience educing counter-narratives within classrooms and higher education administrations throughout the Bay Area, he is determined to translate that same passion for humanizing the stories and narratives of our Asian and Asian American communities through the performing arts.

Ben Yuen He/Him (Actor - Sam in POTUS, Dante in Somewhere Out There)

Ben discovered his passion for acting in high school and has been performing every since! He'll let you guess exactly how long that's been haha! You may have seen him with the San Leandro Players in roles including Sargent Trotter (Mousetrap), Winston Smith (1984), Jekyll/Hyde (Chemical Imbalance), and Juror #8 (12 Angry Jurors). Or earlier this year as DHH (Yellow Face) at Douglass Morrison Theater. He's also been a member of GLBTQ+ Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA) Theater as an actor and writer, most recently participating in Echoes in the Diaspora for QTAPI Pride this past June. And now he's here! Once Ben had a taste of Bindlestiff in GAPA Theater's 2019 show, Finding Your Voice, he's been looking for a chance to return! He's ecstatic to be part of QAF 2024 and can't wait for you to experience POTUS, Somewhere Out There, and each and every one of these amazing pieces! Ben is exceedingly grateful to his loved ones for their love and support, especially his bf Jay!

Dom Refuerzo They/He (Actor - Ash in Binaries)

Dom Refuerzo (they/he) is a Filipinx-American, queer artist and transplant from the Pacific Northwest. Most recently, they made their playwriting and directing debuts with Stories High 2024 here at Bindlestiff. Other theater credits include Wildfire (Z Space), Duck Soup (Bindlestiff), Variety Pack (Cutting Ball Theater), Tiny Fires (Custom Made Theatre Co), and Lizard Women (Awesome Theatre). He has also premiered his music compositions in Austria and across the so-called United States, and sung with New Voices TIGQ Chorus and AfterGlow Chorus here in the Bay. They are elated to finally be involved in a QAF show! After this, you can catch him at a local boba shop preparing to bring more new work to life. Much love and thanks to their family and friends for supporting their artistic journey with all of its chaos. IG: @mirasoulx

Ely Sonny Orquiza He/Him (Director - The Love Interview)

A 2023 YBCA 100 Honoree, Ely Sonny Orquiza (he | him) is renowned for his unwavering belief in the remarkable power of equity and representation in storytelling to bridge the divide and differences amongst us. As a multidisciplinary Queer Filipino artistic director, stage director, dramaturg, and arts educator and advocate based in the unceded territory of the Ramaytush Ohlone People, colonially known as San Francisco Bay Area, Orquiza utilizes theater and the performing arts to deeply explore the role of the Asian diaspora, Asian American experience, ancestral ghosts, and the complex politics of Queer/ness for the American stage. He passionately champions new works by Black, Indigenous, and Artists of Color, delves into previously untold folklore, and ardently advocates for undiscovered works that prominently feature the narratives of People from the Global Majority.

Emmanuel Romero He/Him/His (Director- POTUS)

Emmanuel Romero cut his teeth as a writer at Bindlestiff Studio by taking workshops on standup comedy, as well as dramatic writing and directing. He contributed scripts to many Bindlestiff anthology series, including Queer as Fuck, Stories High, and The Love Edition. His script for "Viewer Discretion Advised (Tape 96)" was adapted into an award-winning short film produced by Scary Cow Productions, and is currently available for viewing on the Frameline Films YouTube channel. As a director at Bindlestiff Studio, Emmanuel brought to life Nic Feliciano's 2019 Stories High script for "The Cleaner," starring the late, great Rachael Hadassah. His work on "POTUS" marks his first creative endeavor at Bindlestiff post-COVID. "To me, 'POTUS' represents the hopeful manifestation of a future that, recently in my own lifetime, was considered inconceivable. Stan Stone's script does a tremendous job of showing us what is possible not just for the future, but our present day, encompassing both radical acceptance and universal human foibles." By day, Emmanuel works as a clinical microbiologist. He would like to thank Urian Brown for making him laugh.

Isabel Anne To She/Her (Actor - Miriam in Bitopia)

Isabel Anne To (she/her) is an actor and singer based in the SF Bay Area. She is a proud company member of PlayGround (appearing on Oct. 21 in PlayGround SF’s first Monday Night PlayGround of the 2024-2025 season: “The American Experiment”, an evening of original short one-person plays exploring American Democracy and the great experiment. She is also a frequent collaborator with sketch comedy company Killing My Lobster (The Skin We’re In, Let’s Do the Sex, Freddy Krueger’s Day Off, and Model Minority Report [KML’s first all-AAPI show]). Isabel can be seen on-screen in two world-premiere plays that were filmed in front of a live audience: Gordon Dahlquist’s Tea Party, directed by Erin Merritt and produced by One Of Our Own Theater; and Allison Page’s The Jersey Devil Play, directed by Jan Gilbert and produced by Awesome Theatre. Coming soon (ish) from Élément Magique: Isabel appeared as “Angie” in the short film Soul Credit – the story of a scrappy theatre troupe in 1973 searching for the magic to stop the war. Other credits: “Christmas Eve” in Avenue Q (New Conservatory Theatre Center), “Mei Lin” in The Song of the Nightingale (Town Hall Theatre Company), “Esther Smith” in Meet Me in St. Louis (Pacifica Spindrift Players), and “Zhao” in Chinglish (Palo Alto Players). Offstage, Isabel works for a social nonprofit organization that supports early childhood educators and families with young children in San Francisco. For funsies, she enjoys cross-stitching, jigsaw puzzling, baking, and learning the ukulele. www.isabelanneto.com

Jacob Padua they/them (Actor - Mean Spermy in Adventures of Bisexual Sperm)

Jacob is a SF-born actor who has recently been welcomed home into Bindlestiff Studio. They were last seen in "Stories High XXIV", playing someone of... questionable character. This is their second production with Bindlestiff and are eager to be a part of more! Jacob would love to thank everyone that has ever involved themselves with the Bindlestiff community, as well as close family & friends that breathe life into them and their passions.

Jay Bordon They/Them (Actor - Vicki in Mix ‘N Match)

Jay is a non-binary Filipinx Aries with ADHD. You might have seen them in the Queer as Fuck 2023 @ Bindlestiff, Stare into the Void @ Potrero Stage, an award-winning indie film Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita. When not acting or lawyering, you'd most likely find them at the gym, dodgeball games, dance class, cooking, or picking up another random hobby. Jay would like to thank their loving partner - Dara; their adorable pets - Nax, Kenny, & Paris; and their late mom - Janet, whose footsteps they followed in acting.

Jud Ferrer (Co-Producer, Director - Oil on Canvas, Co-Writer and Director - Adventures of Bisexual Sperm )

Jud Ferrer is a youth developer and creative based out of the Tenderloin. Jud is a proud member of the Granny Cart Gangstas, Brownout Shadow Collective, and founder of Queer Fuckery.

King Rae She/Her (Actor - Mystic/Anya in Bitopia)

KING RAE (She/They) is an actor, vocalist, and illustrator from the Bay Area. She has performed on stages at Zellerbach Hall, ZSpace, Oakland’s Flight Deck, and of course, our beloved Bindlestiff Studio. She has recently served in two consecutive years of Stories High productions (Actor 2023, Co-Producer 2024), and she is pleased to return to Bindlestiff for her first performance with Queer as Fuck!

Sammy Tran He/Him/His (Actor - Phuc in The Love Interview)

Sammy's parents immigrated during the 80s when they were only in their 20s. Sammy was born in San Jose and raised in Fremont for most of his life. He currently teaches 7th Grade English in San Francisco. Sammy is grateful to all his friends and family who support him and all watches the show!

Sophie Ruf She/Her (Writer - Bitopia)

Sophie Ruf is an Oakland-based creative. Her writing and visual art can be found in Uncommon Core, RC Review, Knock on Sky Vol. 11, and the Sonder Zine. She works as an architect and loves local theater. She also acts and writes poetry. Her favorite playwrights are Paula Vogel and Wendy Wasserstein.

Stan Stone He/Him (Writer - POTUS)

Stan Stone is a writer for stage and film. His published book of poetry titled UNLIKELY SAVIORS, received rave reviews. Stan also has a short story in the newly published, THRIVING: AN ANTHOLOGY. Stan was thrilled to have his play, FREEDOM, chosen as a finalist for Monday Night Playground's, Best of Playground SF 2023-24.

Tessa Corrie She/Her (Director - Bitopia)

Tessa Corrie (she/her) is a Queer, Latinx, and Neurodivergent Theater Director homegrown from the Bay Area. She specializes in new play development that amplifies underrepresented narratives. She is a company member and casting director at PlayGround SF. Her credits include work at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Palo Alto Players, The Pear Theatre, Cutting Ball Theatre, The Playwrights' Center of San Francisco, Left Coast Theatre Company, More Más Marami Arts, and Poltergeist Theatre Project.

Zolboo Namkhaidorj She/They (Co-Writer and Actor - Dopey Spermy in Adventures of Bisexual Sperm, Jules in Bitopia)

Zolboo Namkhaidorj is a Bay Area based Meisner trained actor, singer, writer and teaching artist with a passion for creative acts of resistance, social justice and building more connected communities through play and storytelling. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring all that the Bay Area has to offer, dancing and trying new things.