Guerrilla Rep's MOMMY QUEEREST Opens Tonight at EXIT Theatre

DIVAfest and Guerrilla Rep present Mommy Queerest, a comedic, autobiographical, one-woman show, premieres at EXIT Studio, 156 Eddy Street in downtown San Francisco. Fridays & Saturdays, tonight, Feb 28-Mar 29 at 8:00 p.m.

Written by Kat Evasco and John Caldon, and performed by Kat Evasco, Mommy Queerest chronicles the coming out process of a lesbian daughter and a closeted lesbian mother, illustrating how the reclaiming of their sexuality challenges and strengthens their relationship.

Mommy Queerest begins with young teenaged Kat having her earth shattered when she

realizes that she and her mother are both lesbian. Too bad her mom hasn't figured it out yet-despite the fact she's been living with her partner since Kat was six years old! After a spectacularly failed attempt to share this epiphany with her mom, Kat lurches through her own teenage sexploration with guys and girls, trying to figure out how she fits in with her family, community and self. After a decade of attempting to educate this wayward parent about what it means to be lesbian, she discovers there is still a thing or two she can learn from her mom.

Drawing on her experience as a stand-up comic and comedic actress, Kat narrates this unconventional coming-out tale with sharp wit and unflinchingly honest self-revelation. With an in-­your-­face approach, Kat cuts through any pretense and dives into the core of these matters by placing her and her mother's personal experiences of struggle and triumph center stage. Kat Evasco tackles conflict with humorous insight, while illustrating the experience of being a Filipina lesbian, gay Christian, survivor of sexual abuse and young American just trying to get some.

Mommy Queerest contributes a voice that actively imparts the message of empowerment and inspires an intergenerational discourse among diverse communities. Evasco's use of comedy invites the audience to laugh at the darkest human conditions, while providing a critical lens through which to analyze the detrimental effects of homophobia in our society. The play stems from the belief that silence enables homophobia and perpetuates cycles of abuse.

Kat Evasco, John Caldon, and Collaborators are Guerrilla Rep: Kat Evasco and John Caldon have produced over a dozen new works between them. John serves as co-writer and director of Mommy Queerest. With his experience producing autobiographical and documentary theatre works, John has approached Mommy Queerest methodically, expanding Kat's repertoire to include full length solo performance, while playing on her brilliant use of comedy as an instrument of storytelling. Guerrilla Rep prides itself in being an artist-focused and collaboratively driven theater company. Evasco and Caldon have collaborated with lighting designer, Julien Elstob who has designed lights for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Aurora Theatre Company. Alejandro Acosta is a San Francisco based theater sound designer who works extensively with Campo Santo and Intersection for the Arts. Ryan Marchand is the Movement Director, bringing his experience as a founding member of physical theatre troupe, The 11th Hour Ensemble, and his work with Theatre of Yugen and Handful Players.

GUERRILLA REP and DIVAfest: DIVAfest, most famous for its annual festival in support of women artists each year in May, has for the past several years focused on developing and supporting women artists year round. This Guerrilla Rep and DIVAfest collaboration marks one of the first projects supported by DIVAfest's commitment to year- long programming for the organization.

Mommy Queerest. EXIT Studio, 156 Eddy Street, downtown San Francisco. Fridays & Saturdays, Feb 28-Mar 29 at 8:00 p.m. March 15 is sold out. Tickets $15-25 at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/547871. Info at www.divafest.info.

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