STRUT with Rotimi Agbabiaka

Julie and Casey sit down with San Francisco actor (and Julie's fellow MFA alumni) Rotimi Agbabiaka to talk about his journey as an actor who never fit into anyone's idea of what he should be.  Along the way, they talk about visibility, claiming space, how what is "true" isn't necessarily what is "realistic" what it's like to develop the character of "God", and owning your strut.

Rotimi Agbabiaka is an actor, writer, director, and teacher who uses humor, glamor, and drama to challenge the status quo. Most recently, Rotimi originated the role of Salima in House of Joy (California Shakespeare Theatre) and the role of Cellphone in If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhfucka (Playwrights Horizons, NYC). Other acting credits includeFather Comes Home From The Wars … (Yale Rep, American Conservatory Theatre) Tom Waits’ Black Rider (Shotgun Players), Bootycandy (Brava Theater, Theatre Bay Area award), originating the role of Boy in runboyrun (Magic Theatre), and several shows with the Tony Award-winning San Francisco Mime Troupe. Rotimi's solo play, Homeless, won Best Solo Performance at the SF Fringe Festival and Type/Caste, Rotimi's next solo, premiered at the National Queer Arts Festival and received the Theatre Bay Area award for Outstanding Solo Production. Rotimi's latest solo, MANIFESTO, plays San Francisco's Brava Theater in February 2020. Rotimi also cowrote the play, Seeing Red, with Joan Holden and Ira Marlowe, receiving a TBA award nomination for Outstanding World Premiere Musical. Rotimi teaches acting, movement, and play creation to students from pre-school through college and has presented work at museums (the deYoung), in parks (with We Players), on street corners (with Jess Curtis’ GRAVITY), and on nightlife stages around the world. www.rotimionline.com