Howling: a Fairytale
part of…
the 2026 Bay Area Playwrights Festival
Streaming OnDemand
October 19-25, 2026
Diagnosed Autistic in her late-20s, Birdie grapples with the fear of sharing her disability and traumatic childhood with her new partner, Lin, who seems to be hiding something herself. With the guidance of her therapist, Sy, Birdie travels through the un/familiar forest of her subconscious mind, hounded by howling that’s growing closer as past and present reality blur with memory and dream. When she seeks the shelter of a Gingerbread House deep within the forest, Birdie must find a way to contend with the wolves at her door.
Directed by Jessica Bird Beza
Dramaturgy by Ariella Wolfe
Stage Manager: Raye Goh
Birdie: Elenor Paul
Lin: Sam Hannum
Mal: Don Wood
Mona: Jennifer McGeorge
Sy: Joe Marano
Stage Directions: Shel Saumier
learn more about BAPF47
buzz about the festival
required reading, etc.
Brecht on Theatre - collected essays
Emergent Strategy - essay by adrienne maree brown
The Wolf You Feed - play by Darcy Parker Bruce
The Method Gun - play by The Rude Mechs
“First Memory - poem by Louise Gluck
Midsommar - film by Ari Aster
“it is impossible to be too much on the side of the child.” - helen oxenbury
Don Wood, Sam Hannum, Elenor Paul, Joe Marano, Jennifer McGeorge, and Shel Saumier - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Don Wood as Mal and Sam Hannum as Lin - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Don Wood as Mal, Sam Hannum as Lin, and Elenor Paul as Birdie - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Sam Hannum and Elenor Paul - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Elenor Paul as Birdie - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Elenor Paul as Birdie - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Elenor Paul as Birdie - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Elenor Paul as Birdie and Joe Marano as Sy - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Joe Marano as Sy and Jennifer McGeorge as Mona - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Joe Marano as Sy and Jennifer McGeorge as Mona - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Jennifer McGeorge as Mona - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
I Am Not Abusing This Child! - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Joe Marano as Sy, Jennifer McGeorge as Mona, and Shel Saumier reading Stage Directions - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Shel Saumier reading Stage Directions - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Director Jessica Bird Beza working on the script during rehearsal - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography
Jessica and Jordan work on the script during rehearsal - photo credit Jim Norrena, ACT OUT Photography