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Beneath fluttering red lanterns on Chinatown’s Waverly Place, you’ll find one of San Francisco’s best-kept secrets: the Clarion Performing Arts Center. Founded by Executive Director Clara Hsu and her father, James Ma, in 1982, the Clarion began as a business that sold instruments and offered music lessons, and became a familiar name on the local music scene.
In 2019, Hsu transformed it into a nonprofit to make the performing arts accessible to all. Drop by most weekends, and you can catch jazz concerts, film screenings, poetry readings, or open mic events in the Clarion’s small theater. Most events are free, although donations are always appreciated. The Clarion’s also home to the Magic Showgirl Museum, a treasure trove of costumes and mementos from Chinatown’s vibrant nightclub scene of the 40s-70s. Cynthia Yee, founder of the Grant Avenue Follies, a cabaret troupe comprised of feisty Asian American grandmothers—Hsu’s a member—created the museum.
Hsu wears many other hats: actor, poet, playwright and rapper, to name a few. In 2021, she penned, directed and produced the “Gai Mou Sou Rap” in response to anti-Asian hate crimes. The Follies’ video of the rap went viral and earned them local and national media coverage.
Hsu’s latest endeavor is DragonBeard, a play she wrote and is producing. Directed by Wynne Chan and performed in Cantonese (with English subtitles), DragonBeard explores the challenges immigrants face when navigating life in a strange new country. Writing a Cantonese play was important to Hsu because it’s her native dialect. And the dialect spoken by most Chinatown residents. Yet primary and secondary schools teach only Mandarin. DragonBeard is the first commercially produced Cantonese play in San Francisco.
“This play is written for the (Chinese American) community,” Hsu explains. “It’s for people who would not have a reason to go to a play that’s written in English, either because they’re intimidated by the language or feel out of place in the setting.”
Joann Wu, one of the play’s leads, has appeared in many English productions. But because her parents don’t understand the language, they’ve never seen her on stage. With DragonBeard, they’ll finally get their chance.
According to Hsu, all of the cast members relate to the struggles of the play’s Chinese immigrants. Most of them are also novice actors.
“Some of them have never even seen a play before,” notes Hsu. “They’re real troopers. We’ve had all these amazing people come out of the woodwork to help put this on— it’s so exciting.”
DragonBeard debuts on August 9. For tickets, more show dates and info about the Clarion, go here.
CLARION PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 2 Waverly Place, SF. More info here.
