Ogden-After a small hiatus, Good Company Theatre in Ogden, Utah comes back this Thursday evening with the play God Kinda Looks Like Tupac. I had the opportunity to sit down online with author Emilio Rodriguez to find out more about this play and what Utah audiences have in store for us with this upcoming production.

Rodriguez started his college education as a music major at UC Irvine. He explained that after he got “kicked out” of the music department he moved on to theatre where he found his place and his purpose. After discussing a lot about his past and his purpose, I learned a lot about what that is and how that brought him to having his show, God Kinda Looks Like Tupac, have its second fully staged production here in Ogden, Utah.

Facing the challenges of not fitting the traditional expectations of casting, Rodriquez shared seeing John Leguizamo’s one man show and realizing that is exactly what he wanted to do. Rodriquez describes himself as someone who wants to help tell the stories of people who may not always have their stories told.  He told me about one of his first works, Swimming While Drowning, which takes place at a LGBT homeless shelter, an issue that is something we are very aware of in our area. He has another play Mamacita, that incorporates stories from his mother and his father.

This play he says was written 10 years ago, but was first slated to be produced in 2020. However, we all know what happened in 2020. In 2022 it finally made its way to the stage in Michigan. Now in 2024, Rodriguez says he has been thrilled to see what the cast and company at Good Company Theatre have been doing to breathe new life into his script about Art and High School and the experience there. When I asked him why audiences should give this new show a chance, when many audiences are more comfortable spending their time and money on something familiar. He said whenever we hear about a new TV show or book, we are excited. It should be the same about theatre or any art form. Additionally, all of us have experienced education in some way. There is some universality in his message that he is hoping will resonate with Utah audiences. Rodriguez also said that while there are themes about racism, it will be important to pay attention to the undertones that we all face like generation gap challenges, challenges in parenting, challenges with differences between genders, and much more. He wanted to make sure that he provided nuances in the story, helping the audience to see all sides, not just the black and white.

I asked Rodriguez for some advice for people aspiring to have careers in the arts, either on stage or behind the scenes in writing, design, or otherwise. I was intrigued by his own perseverance from having been told to leave the music department at his school and yet not quitting altogether. He gave credit to his father for teaching him not to quit, and talked about having been raised as a “military brat”, a term those of us near the Air Force Base in northern Utah are very familiar with. He stated that he appreciated that discipline and the fact that both of his parents taught him the importance of working with a team and seeing how his choices affect others. He also said that it is essential to look around for opportunities, do not wait for them to find you. He is excited to be working with Alicia and Camille Washington of Good Company Theatre, and is hoping that their pioneering work as BIPOC theatre creators in Utah is just the start. He also shared that his mother is a writer, but did not have the advantages of self-publishing and internet resources that he has now. He is actively helping her out, and advocates that we all work together to help each other where we can. It is exciting to be a part of the theatre world here in Utah where we can support new works, not just the tried and true shows that are commonplace.

God Kinda Looks Like Tupac plays Sept 12-29, one Thursday, Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays at 8pm, Saturday Matinee at 4pm, and Sundays at 4pm. Tickets are $25-30, with student tickets available for $15 with student ID. For more information see https://goodcotheatre.com/.