Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

West Coast Premiere Of THE DAY YOU BEGIN to be Presented at Bay Area Children's Theatre in February

This west coast premiere musical is based on Jacqueline Woodson's most popular picture books.

West Coast Premiere Of THE DAY YOU BEGIN to be Presented at Bay Area Children's Theatre in February

It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet...but somehow you do it.

This west coast premiere musical is based on Jacqueline Woodson's most popular picture books, a #1 New York Times bestseller illustrated by Rafael López and featured in its own episode in the Netflix original show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices.

The Day You Begin is a poignant and heartening musical about finding courage to connect, even when you feel afraid. This open-ended and relatable feeling will allow young children from all different backgrounds to explore and understand a time when they have felt different, which lends a universally relatable narrative to the story.

There are four main characters whose stories are told in this book based musical, and each has a unique experience. Angelina, a black girl from Brooklyn worries she won't have anything exciting to share about her summer vacation because she had to spend it babysitting her sister. Rigoberto and his family immigrated from Venezuela, and he feels like an outsider until he discovers that others know parts of his native language of Spanish and enjoy playing games as much as he does. Min, whose family is from South Korea, initially feels embarrassed at how the other kids would react to the traditional Asian meals she brings for lunch but finds the courage to celebrate her food, and Sam, a neuro-divergent student who experiences the world through sound and light, finds it hard to join the rest of their class whenever activities get too rowdy. Each of these classmates eventually find commonality and build lasting friendship throughout their first day because they discover what makes each of them unique and special is also what connects them all together.

Meet the cast!

Un Joo Christopher is Min

Jordan Taylor is Angelina

Mundo Ballejos is Rigoberto

Lou Cooper is Sam

Elizabeth Jones is Ms. Veve

The Day You Begin is directed and choreographed by Khalia Davis, the Artistic Director of Bay Area Children's Theatre. She recently led the world premiere of A Kids Play About Racism, which brought together over 40 theatre producing partners and was viewed on Broadway on Demand nearly 80,000 times during its limited run!

"I jumped at the chance to bring this beautiful story to our young audiences because I saw each of those characters in the faces of the community that we serve. So often we forget how meaningful it truly is to see a representation of yourself fully realized sharing your lived experience. This show celebrates the power of diversity that exists in the Bay Area and teaches us all the importance of honoring who we are and from where we come," says Davis.

Runtime is 50 minutes and great for all ages (recommended 5+). The Day you Begin runs from February 4th through March 12th every Saturday and Sunday at the Bay Area Children's Theatre in Berkeley, and March 18th-19th at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. Tickets are $32-$35 and are available here.



Playful People Productions Presents THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS Photo
Playful People Productions presents Disney's The Jungle Book KIDS, featuring children ages four to 11 in this musical tale of standing by your friends. 

Opera San Jose and ArtSmart Commemorate New Partnership With Fundraising Initiative, ARTS  Photo
Opera San José and ArtSmart have announced a new partnership to support free voice lessons, musical opportunities, and mentorship for under-resourced students in San Jose.

ARE YOU GOTH ENOUGH Premieres at Bindlestiff Studios in April Photo
Awesome Theatre, in association with Bindlestiff Studios, present “Are You Goth Enough To Be Haunted, Fall In Love With The Wrong Guy, Get Revenge And Burn Down The Mall?, a gothic romance / meta-comedy by Claire Rice.

San Francisco Operas Bohème Out Of The Box Comes to the East Bay at Dublins Emerald Photo
San Francisco Opera's Bohème Out of the Box concludes its Bay Area travels with free performances in the East Bay at Emerald Glen Park Amphitheater in partnership with the City of Dublin on March 31 (7:30 p.m.), April 1 (7:30 p.m.) and April 2 (2 p.m.).


More Hot Stories For You


Playful People Productions Presents THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDSPlayful People Productions Presents THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS
March 31, 2023

Playful People Productions presents Disney's The Jungle Book KIDS, featuring children ages four to 11 in this musical tale of standing by your friends. 

NCTC Presents the Regional Premiere of Charles Busch's THE CONFESSION OF LILY DARENCTC Presents the Regional Premiere of Charles Busch's THE CONFESSION OF LILY DARE
March 31, 2023

In May, New Conservatory Theatre Center is overjoyed to conclude their daring 2022- 23 Season with Charles Busch's The Confession of Lily Dare. Starring Bay Area icon, J. Conrad Frank in the titular role of Lily Dare, this rags to riches to rags romp set in the hedonistic heyday of the Barbary Coast is a loving lampoon of the confession films of Hollywood's Golden Age.  

Theatre Rhinoceros Presents Shakespeare's PERICLES At Yerba Buena Gardens, May 26 & 27Theatre Rhinoceros Presents Shakespeare's PERICLES At Yerba Buena Gardens, May 26 & 27
March 29, 2023

Theatre Rhinoceros presents Shakespeare's Pericles, textually queered and performed outdoors on the beautiful grounds of Yerba Buena Gardens, per Theatre Rhinoceros tradition.

Opera San Jose and ArtSmart Commemorate New Partnership With Fundraising Initiative, ARTS FOR ALLOpera San Jose and ArtSmart Commemorate New Partnership With Fundraising Initiative, ARTS FOR ALL
March 29, 2023

Opera San José and ArtSmart have announced a new partnership to support free voice lessons, musical opportunities, and mentorship for under-resourced students in San Jose.

ARE YOU GOTH ENOUGH Premieres at Bindlestiff Studios in AprilARE YOU GOTH ENOUGH Premieres at Bindlestiff Studios in April
March 28, 2023

Awesome Theatre, in association with Bindlestiff Studios, present “Are You Goth Enough To Be Haunted, Fall In Love With The Wrong Guy, Get Revenge And Burn Down The Mall?, a gothic romance / meta-comedy by Claire Rice.