SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 3:00 PM
THREE THEATRE PIECES (THEATRE)

Sora Baek, I Am From North Korea is inspired by the true stories of North Korean defectors and their journeys risking everything to find freedom in South Korea. The piece was created in hopes of being the voice of the people of North Korea: raising awareness about the hardships they face in their home country and helping to bring support to defectors. Sora Baek is a Korean born performer and playwright. She is grateful for her ability to speak both Korean and English as it enables her to share the powerful yet hidden stories of North Korean defectors with the world. She has an MFA in acting from Academy of Art University in SF and is an associate member of Blessed Unrest.

Mark Lanham, Anything Helps The play starts with one man’s decision to reject passivity about the 70,000 homeless people in New York City. A simple choice—buying a big pump-top thermos and serving coffee one-on-one to Union Square’s homeless--puts him on a path that explores the true nature of charity—why we give, and why we often hold back. This transforming experience shows the power kindled when you say “yes” to the call of service, and a surprising paradox of the rich experience that results from eye-level contact with the poor. Mark Lanham is a New York-based actor and writer who performs and creates original content. As an actor, he has performed in regional theatre, and New York City theaters including The Pearl (NYMF), Signature Theatre and The Delacorte Theatre’s Shakespeare in Central Park. He has appeared on the TV series Difficult People and in It’s A Lie, a music video for the British band Fiction Plane. Directed by Chris Clavelli.

Tom Block, Let’s Pretend The play concerns two children playing with modeling clay, building a world. It begins with a Japanese toilet and ends with a bullet-proof backpack and a belt-fed rifle, the SFS BFR. One of the little modeling-clay creations is an adopted Chinese Jewish baby with brittle bone disease. Tom Block is the Founding Producer of the International Human Rights Art Festival. He is also a playwright, author of five books and 25+ years exhibiting visual artist. tomblock.com