The Marsh Presents "Radical"

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (4 March 2020) –John Fisher’s new satirical drama about San Francisco politics, Radical, transfers to The Marsh San Francisco for a limited engagement following its successful run at Theatre Rhinoceros. This high-octane work follows Jack who is running for District Supervisor, exposing the serious issues of San Francisco and proposing policies that range from picking up trash to suggesting MUNI should be free to the public. As two local reporters cover Jack and try to get him elected, a love triangle begins to form, and Jack’s political – and romantic – futures become precarious. Radical, featuring John Fisher, Polly Levi, and Jake Soss, will be presented March 12 – April 4, 2020 (opening: March 14) with performances at 8:00pm Thursdays & Fridays and 8:30pm Saturdays at The Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia St., San Francisco. For tickets ($20-$35 sliding scale; $55 and $100 reserved) or more information, the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call The Marsh Box office at 415-282-3055 (open Monday through Friday, 1:00pm-4:00pm).

John Fisher channeled his frustrations with San Francisco’s garbage problems, lack of public restrooms, and dangerous public transportation issues into this fast-paced satire. In February 2020, the show made its world premiere at Theatre Rhinoceros, where it was greeted with critical acclaim. The Bay Area Reporter called it “appealingly playful” with “no shortage of entertaining observations,” while the San Francisco Bay Times described it as “a terrific show.” Theatrius applauded its “three stellar actors, innovative staging, and the audience as part of the crowd.”

Since 2003, John Fisher (Writer/Performer/Director) has been the Executive/Artistic Director of the GLAAD Media Award Winning Theatre Rhinoceros. He recently completed a six-month run of his show, A History of World War II, at The Marsh. Prior to its successful Bay Area run, A History of World War II was performed at the Pangea in New York City, one of the premiere venues for solo performances in Manhattan. Fisher was also named Best Actor at New York’s United Solo Festival in 2017 for his performance of this show. His playwriting credits include Shakespeare Goes to War (nominated for six 2016 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards) and To Sleep and Dream (2014 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award Winner for Best Script). Fisher is a two-time winner of the Will Glickman Playwright Award, and a recipient of a GLAAD Media Award for Best L.A. Theatre, two L.A. Weekly Awards, a Garland Award, two Cable Car Awards, a San Francisco Bay Guardian Goldie Award, and five Bay Area Theatre Critics’ Circle Awards.

Polly Levi (Actor) recently made her debut at Theatre Rhinoceros as Diana in John Fisher’s Radical. She has also appeared as Mrs. Schwartz in Berkeley Playhouse’s production of A Christmas Story and as Priscilla in Contra Costa Musical Theatre’s Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Jake Soss’s (Actor) appearance in Radical marked his third play with Theatre Rhinoceros. Last season, Soss was seen at the company as Clifford Anderson in Deathtrap and Cranston in Action Hero.

Founded in 1977, Theatre Rhinoceros is the longest running LGBT theatre in the nation known for developing and producing works of theatre that enlighten, enrich, and explore both the ordinary and extraordinary aspects of the queer community. Over the years, Theatre Rhinoceros has received many awards of recognition including: Theatre Rhinoceros Day in the City Proclamation from Mayor Gavin Newsom, State Assembly Certificate of Recognition from Senator Mark Leno, recognitions from Congressperson Nancy Pelosi and Assembly Persons Tom Ammiano and Carole Midgen, the GLAAD Media Award for Best LGBT Theatre, and numerous Cable Car, BATCC, and TBA Awards and Nominations.

The Marsh is known as “a breeding ground for new performance.” It was launched in 1989 by Founder and Artistic Director Stephanie Weisman, and now annually hosts more than 600 performances of 175 shows across the company’s two venues in San Francisco and Berkeley. A leading outlet for solo performers, The Marsh’s specialty has been hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as “solo performances that celebrate the power of storytelling at its simplest and purest.” The East Bay Times named The Marsh one of Bay Area’s best intimate theaters, calling it “one of the most thriving solo theaters in the nation. The live theatrical energy is simply irresistible.”