Performer for Sunday, July 19th, 2026
Performer: Pearl Ong
Title: Road Trip
Synopsis: I almost moved to Taos, NM in 1975. This is a story about my first road trip as a fairly new immigrant. It is reminiscent of the zeitgeist of the times : dropping out of college, aura balancing and communes.
Bio: Pearl Ong got her start as a performer at Stage Werx in 2019. Her first full length piece 'Night Driver' had an extended premiere run at The Marsh San Francisco in 2025. 'Night Driver' won the BroadwayWorld SF 2025 Award for Best Solo Performance.
Performer: Pharaoh Brooks
Title: School
Synopsis: While being incarcerated, I am deeply considering changing my life and addressing my drug use and becoming a self-help facilitator.
Bio: Pharaoh Elisha Brooks was paroled on 11/13/2023. He is the Director of the SUD treatment program at Oakland Dream Center. He has worked with FIPPP and Marin Shakespeare since being released. He enjoys writing and performing his story as a form of therapy.
Released on August 30 2025, Thomas has become a Peer Support Specialist and is a registered SUD counselor. Today his interests are in advocacy in policy and creating a nonprofit organization that bridges the intergeneration gap between justice impacted youth and the lived experience of Seniors in a reentry setting to bring meaning and healing to communities.
Performer: Natacha Ruck
Title: Pick Up the Phone
Synopsis: It is 7:59 am, less, than two hours before class starts and Natacha has just enough time to grade her students's 15 essays. But her phone rings. She should let it go to voice mail. Keep on grading. But what if she picks up?
Bio: Natacha currently teaches storytelling at the University of San Francisco and explores the boundaries between French and English on stage in two touring solo shows: YOU’RE GOOD FOR NOTHING… I’LL MILK THE COW MYSELF, and INTERPRET THIS. She is one of the Producers of Tell It On Tuesday at the Marsh Berkeley and is currently developing FAMILY, AM I RIGHT? with David Ford.