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Downtown High School: Breathing the Soil

MAY 15-16, 2026

THE RUEFF at A.C.T.'S STRAND THEATER, 1127 MARKET STREET, SF

Downtown High School: Breathing the Soil

MAY 15-16, 2026

Friday May 15, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
and
Saturday May 16, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.

A.C.T.’s Education and Community Programs Department and Downtown High School’s Acting for Critical Transformations Project present an original piece of theater written and performed by the students. This performance brings students’ learning, research, personal journeys, and perspectives to life at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater.

American Conservatory Theater and Downtown High School present: Breathing the Soil

How can we stand in solidarity with migrant farm workers, or in the words of activist Roberto Valdez, with "the hands that feed the country"? This semester, students in the Acting for Critical Transformations (ACT) Project at Downtown High School investigated the impact of migrant farm work on workers' lives. Our show, "Breathing the Soil," is inspired by the hope, struggle, and resilience in farm workers' testimonials, and by current issues that still need to be addressed in order for farm workers to have safe, equitable, and sustainable working conditions while performing essential labor that benefits everyone. Come join the resistance, and learn how we as citizens and consumers can support farm workers in their continual fight for their rights.

Limited audience capacity. RSVP now to reserve your seats!

Written and performed by students in Downtown High School's Acting for Critical Transformations Project

Directors: Robert Coverdell, Sierra Gonzalez and Maurisa Thompson
Video Director: Robert Coverdell
Co-Producers: Rebecca Ennals and Natalie Greene
Production Manager: Mike Anderburg
Stage Managers: Anthony Lopez and Paige Weissenburger
Choreographer: Antwan Davis
Lighting Design: Mitchell Jakubka
Sound Design: Dan Holland
Costume Design: Anelisa Armijo Montoya
Additional support: Andre Douglass, Amanda Boesen, Lucy Gosline-Ratliff, Sendy Santamaria, 826 Valencia tutors and volunteers, Adam Mendez Jr., Viera Whye, and A.C.T. Costume Director Jessie Amoroso.

826 Valencia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students from under-resourced communities in San Francisco with their creative and expository writing skills. Learn more about 826 Valencia at 826valencia.org.

Support for A.C.T.'s Education & Community Programs is provided by a community of very generous foundation, corporate, government, and individual donors and partners, including: the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth & Their Families, Martin Tannenbaum and the Estate of Gerald B. Rosenstein, the Laird Norton Family Foundation, The Kimball Foundation, US Bank, Bank of America, the Sato Foundation, the San Francisco Foundation, Jeri Lynn & Jeffrey W. Johnson, and Matt and Lisa Sonsini. Foundational general operating support for all of A.C.T.'s programs is provided by San Francisco Grants for the Arts and the Shubert Foundation.