Past Production

A Tale of Autumn

Christopher Chen Directed by Mina Morita Crowded Fire Commission and World Premiere

Sep 14–Oct 7 · The Thick House

Show Details

Christopher Chen

Set in a parallel world, A TALE OF AUTUMN is a psychological rise-to-power fable. When the popular founder of the benevolent but formidable Farm Company dies, the struggle to find her successor unfolds in an absurdist and eerily familiar landscape. With each twist and turn, Christopher Chen creates a perilous ‘House of Mirrors,’ in which intentions are blurred and convictions are shattered.

FARM COMPANY
Sustenance. Synergy. Citizenship.

Founded with the rebellious notion of ‘Ambitious Citizenship,’ Farm Company operates with an aggressive altruism in pursuit of the common good. We are united in a combined passion and purpose: all citizens will have access to food and water under our watch.
— Liv, Founder and former CEO of Farm Company

Cast

Featuring Shoresh Alaudini, Maria Candelaria◼, Skyler Cooper, Nora el Samahy◼, Michele Apriña Leavy★◼, Lawrence Radecker★, Mia Tagano◼, and Christopher W. White.

Assistant Director: May Liang★
Development Dramaturg: Laura Brueckner★
Production Dramaturg: Sarah Rose Leonard
Scenic Design: Adeline Smith★
Lighting Design: Ray Oppenheimer
Costume Design: Miriam R. Lewis
Sound/Video Design: Theodore J.H. Hulsker
Props Design: Devon LaBelle★
Fight Director: Carla Pantoja
Stage Manager: M. Sohaa Smith★
Assistant Stage Manager: Benjamin Shiu★

★ Crowded Fire Resident Artist
◼ Member of Actors’ Equity Association

Reviews

Cunning Sociopolitical Tale Premieres at Crowded Fire by Jean Schiffman/SF Arts

2016 Election Changed Playwright’s Direction on ‘A Tale of Autumn’ by Brandon Yu/SF Chronicle

‘Game of Thrones’ Meets Shakespeare for the Google Age by Cy Musiker/KQED’s The Do List

Photos

San (Nora el Samahy) and Xavier (Christopher W. White) have a long history and common enemies.

An intensity underlies Dave (Lawrence Radecker, left) and Gil’s (Shoresh Alaudini, right) relationship and their definition of success.

Rena (Maria Candelaria, right) is enamored with the life Gesalm (Michele Apriña Leavy, left) has built outside of Farm Company.

Yul (Skyler Cooper) and Rena (Maria Candelaria) grow closer contemplating life outside of Farm Company’s rules and regulations.

When Dave (Lawrence Radecker) confronts Xavier (Christopher W. White) old grievances mingle with new.

There is a haze around what motivates San’s (Nora el Samahy) ambition as she vies for CEO of Farm Company.

Funders

Production Sponsors:
Luis Tamayo & David Thompson
Susan, Tom, & Chelsea Looy

Production Support:
The Kenneth Rainin Foundation “NEW Program”
The National Endowment for the Arts (ArtsWorks)
The San Francisco Arts Commission (OPG)
The Tournesol Foundation
The Venturous Theater Fund of the Tides Foundation

2017 Season Sponsor:
Dugan Moore
Karena Fiorenza Ingersoll & Emrys Ingersoll
G Tiphane

2017 General Operating Support:
The Kenneth Rainin Foundation
Grants for the Arts