A new play in in Berkeley is trying to capture and preserve the diverse character of the city through the stories of its people. Playwright Dan Wolf interviewed hundreds of people from all around Berkeley and asked them these three questions: when did you come to Berkeley, why do you stay in Berkeley and what’s magical about Berkeley?
The answers to those questions inspired Wolf’s play called Daylighting: the Berkeley Stories Project. His play includes a cast of characters from a retired UC Professor, to a homeless person living under a bridge, to a woman in a wheelchair. There is a man who has called Berkeley home since the 60s and a new family that just moved in. There is music throughout and it’s all seen through the eyes of the young protagonist, Bea. Wolf spoke with KALW's Hana Baba about what motivated him to write the play.
Click the audio player above to listen to the interview.
Playwright Dan Wolf’s new play is Daylighting: The Berkeley Stories Project, showing at Shotgun Players Ashby Theatre through June 22. If you go, you can record your Berkeley story in their booth.