San Francisco Playhouse Presents West Coast Premiere of Basketball Play “Flex”

   San Francisco Playhouse will present the West Coast Premiere of Candrice Jones’ Flex, directed by artistic director Margo Hall. This action-packed new play set in 1998 spotlights the Lady Train high school basketball team in Plainnole, Arkansas. Following the recent formation of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), the players dream of going pro. First, they must face the pressures of being young, Black, and female in the rural South as setbacks on and off the court threaten to break the team apart. Flex will perform March 26 – May 2, 2026 at San Francisco Playhouse (450 Post Street).

     Director Hall helms a talented cast for this production. Seen in Barbecue and The Story, Halili Knox returns to the Playhouse as Coach Francine Pace while Courtney Gabrielle Williams returns as Donna.

     Making their Playhouse debut are Santeon Brown as Starra, the ambitious team captain, while Paige Mayes debuts as Sidney, a recent transplant from Oakland, California and a skilled shooting guard. Emma Gardner also makes her Playhouse debut as Cherise, a strong power forward while Camille Collaço makes her Playhouse debut as April, a fearless shooting guard.

     The production team features direction by Margo Hall, assistant direction by Devin A. Cunningham, scenic design by Bill English with associate scenic designer Kiki Hood, lighting design by Ray Oppenheimer, costume design by Jasmine Milan Williams, sound design by Ray Archie, properties design by Amy Benjamin, and intimacy coordination by Jeunée Simon. Emmanuel Blackwell is basketball consultant.

     Critics have referred to “Flex” as a ‘slam dunk’ that excels in sly humor and swift-tongued rhythms of teenage and athletic talk as it offers a charming portrait of female camaraderie.

     Poignant and humorous, Flex is infused with a generous, buoyant spirit of which one can’t help being uplifted.

     For tickets ($52-$145) and more information, the public may visit sfplayhouse.org or call the box office at 415-677-9596.

*

Photo caption: Camille Collaço, Emma Gardner, Santeon Brown, Courtney Gabrielle Williams, and Paige Mayes are the Lady Train high school basketball team in San Francisco Playhouse's "Flex," currently performing through May 2. (Photo Credit: Jessica Palopoli)