Our second half of our double Yay features artistic director and co-founder of Kunoichi Productions, Nick Ishimaru. We talk about Nick’s upbringing, his studies at Colorado State University, his first stint in the bay area working with Theatre Yugen, and where he sees himself in the future. Jameelah Rose has her own business selling healthy drinks - MelanA☥D is a black owned business that specializes in alkaline elixirs used to heal the mind and body. It's currently being sold at the Mandela Shopping Mart and you can find more info on MelanA☥D on this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/melanaid We also want to thank Charles Blades Barbershop for sponsoring The Yay! Charles Blades Barbershop is located at 180 Second Street in downtown Oakland. It’s a very cool, relaxing place where you can get your cuts and they’ll even serve you a complimentary drink. Book an appointment online here: https://www.charlesblades.com Kehinde Koyejo (Episodes 214 and 262) has been a friend of mine since 2005, when I stage managed her for the Ray of Light musical, Bat Boy. She’s an amazing actress, model and creative artist. She’s also an incredible entrepreneur – and I want to introduce you to her business, Kalm Korner. Kalm Korner is an online boutique that specializes in aromatherapy gifts – love rubs, moisturizers, sprays, tea blends and candles. Kalm Korner also sells Choc’late Mama cookies – she brought some over the last time we interviewed her and it was fantastic. Let’s support a black female-owned business, a local business and make your first order by going to this website: https://kalmkorner.com/ SHOWS: Sweat (Palo Alto Players) Closing Weekend – June 28-29 ShawnJ West (Episode 146) directed the show Kimberly Ridgeway (Episodes 155 & 251) is in the show https://paplayers.org/ Doodler (The Marsh) May 31 – July 6 A One Man show by John Fisher (Episode 30) https://themarsh.org/shows_and_events/marshstream/john-fisher-doodler/ Buried Child (The Magic Theatre) June 30 – a reading Khary Moye (Episode 45) is in show Chuck Lacson (Episode 184) is in the show Andrea Gordon (Episode 255) is directing the show https://magictheatre.org/calendar/magic-classics Disruption: A Musical Farce (San Francisco Mime Troupe) July 4 – August 3 Jed Parsario (Episodes 63 & 186) is in the show https://www.sfmt.org/ The Last Goat (Central Works) June 28 – July 27 Gary Graves (Episodes 24 & 227) wrote and directed the play Jan Zvaifler (Episode 170) is in the show https://centralworks.org/the-last-goat/ True West (Town Hall Theatre) June 7 – 28 Linda Amayo Hassan (Episode 83) is in the show Katja Rivera (Episode 168) is directing the show David Maier (Episode 301) is the fight choreographer https://www.townhalltheatre.com/true-west Sweet Charity (San Jose Stage) June 4 – 29 Terrance Smith (Episode 102) and Nick Mandracchia (Episode 43) is in the show https://www.thestage.org/sweet-charity A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Marin Shakespeare Company) June 13 – July 13 Adrian Deane (Episodes 82 & 266) is in the show https://www.marinshakespeare.org/midsummer/ Seeds of Time Festival (Marin Shakes) July 15 – August 3 Ae’Jay Antonis Marquis (Episode 165) is the festival curator Torange Yeghiazarian has written “Leili and Magnun” to be performed July 26 & 27 Julius Rea (Episodes 227 & 319) has written “Othello.exe” to be performed Aug 2 & 3 https://www.marinshakespeare.org/seeds/ The Day The Sky Turned Orange (SF BATCO) Sept 5 – Oct 5 Julius Rea is a part of the writing team https://www.sfbatco.org/orange?_gl=1*hw20cb*_gcl_au*MTM3MjExODcyMi4xNzQ2ODkxNzQ0*_ga*MTQ1MDQyNzIxNS4xNzQ2ODkxNzQ0*_ga_J4D8M8TLG0*czE3NDY4OTE3NDQkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDY4OTE3NDQkajYwJGwwJGgw Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky (TheYayPodcast)