Playwright-director John Rosenberg and his theater company Hella Fresh Theater debut his latest work, Queen of All Weapons, this Saturday July 9 at 2pm for an eight-show run (weekends only) at the Papermill Theater, a performance space he created on the first floor of an old paper mill in Kensington. The show concerns a German terrorist who joins the fading Black Panther movement in 1970s San Francisco. The production features actors James Tolbert, Sebastian Cummings, and Anna Watson–Anna will appear in Lady M at the Live Arts Festival this September.

We caught up with John to ask him a few questions.

Can you give us a brief run-down of the QOAW story?

Queen of All Weapons is the story of a West German terrorist who invades San Francisco in 1976 to re-ignite the world revolution against capitalism, imperialism and anything else standing in her way. Her first stop is the Macy’s department store in downtown San Francisco, where she lights a fire in the true spirit of the Red Army faction.

How did the creation of this play come about?

I met Anna Watson, who is German, and thought she is an incredible actor. I asked her if she wanted to be in a play. Had no idea what it was about. She said yes. That was in January. We met up for a few months and now we are about to open. Hope it doesn’t fucking suck.

Who’s in the cast, and what have they brought to the creation of this work?

Anna Watson, who really was the inspiration for the play. James Tolbert and Sebastian Cummings are the two other actors in the show. All three of them are fantastic and bring their own ideas and thoughts to rehearsal everyday. It is wonderful to work with them. We started with a play I wrote and then developed it into a hard-charging, wild ride in mid-70s San Francisco. They are as responsible for the beautiful shit in the play as I am.

It’s been almost a year since you’ve been producing work in the Papermill Theatre, what have you learned most during that time? Have your ideas about how you want to use the space changed?

I have learned how to illegally heat a large space. Haha, I think what has happened is the identity of the theater is really taking shape. The Papermill is a theater space dedicated to creating and producing new works. I have my company putting up four shows a year and are now looking for other writers who want to produce their own work. This October we have Courtney Baia producing her own show. We are looking for others who want to do the same. And it really was born out of the spirit of the first show (Cheap Guy Hall of Fame) we did last year, the Philly Fringe one.

Thanks John, we look forward to the show!

Queen of All Weapons
Written and Directed by John Rosenberg
Featuring James Tolbert, Sebastian Cummings, and Anna Watson
Papermill Theater
2528 Ormes Street
July 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 + 31 at 2pm
$10
For tickets and more information go to www.queenofallweapons.com

–Josh McIlvain