WACO Theater Center Announces Still Here Live Experience In Los Angeles Supported By Gilead Sciences, Inc.
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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8, 2025 ~ Los Angeles, CA - WACO Theater Center has announced the upcoming launch of their latest project, STILL HERE LIVE EXPERIENCE, set to run from September 25th to September 28th, 2025. This unique and thought-provoking event is made possible by grant funding from Gilead Sciences, Inc. and aims to shed light on the complex experiences of Black women living with HIV/AIDS.

The STILL HERE LIVE EXPERIENCE is an extension of WACO's mission to use the arts as a tool for empowerment and inspiration within communities across the diaspora. Through this event, they hope to spark meaningful dialogue around critical issues that impact everyday lives.

Shay Wafer, Executive Director of WACO Theater Center, explains the importance of storytelling in their work. "We understand its power to connect and inspire people to make social impact, and this live experience was designed to do exactly that," she says. "STILL HERE LIVE EXPERIENCE is a unique approach to shedding light on the real stories of Black women impacted by HIV."

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The project was conceived, developed, and produced by Creative Directors williambryantmiles (Assistant Professor of Black Performance at Purchase College) and Nickolas Vaughan (producer of We're Here). It reimagines the hair salon as both a gallery and theater space, honoring its tradition as a place for dialogue and community among Black women.

The event will unfold in two parts: the Installation and the Performance. The Installation invites audiences to engage with exhibits set within hair dryers and shampoo bowls featuring newly commissioned works by Emmy Award-winning producer Ashlei Dabney-Griffin, visual artist YoYo Lander, and Tony Award-winning wig designer Nikiya Mathis.

The Performance Experience will be brought to life by a dynamic company of five performers: Marinda Anderson (Yellow Face on Broadway), Neverending Nina, Milan Reneau, Jude Tibeau (Drama Desk Award Nominee), and Akilah A. Walker (Bel-Air). Roxi Victorian (Dance Program Chair at Southern University) serves as Movement Director, with costumes by veteran designer Ceci (Living Single, A Different World, The Wonder Years) and technical design by Luna Lux.

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The STILL HERE LIVE EXPERIENCE aims to challenge individual and collective assumptions about one another while elevating the voices of those directly impacted by HIV. According to the CDC, Black women continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for 50% of diagnoses in 2023 despite only making up 13% of the female population.

Tina Knowles, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of WACO Theater Center, shares her personal connection to the cause. "My nephew Johnny - my favorite person in the world - passed away from this disease," she says. "Through this Live Experience, I hope we illuminate truths that are too often left in the shadows, especially when it comes to HIV."

The goal of STILL HERE LIVE EXPERIENCE is to encourage reflection and deeper understanding among all attendees. The event will take place at DreamGirls Salon located at 5441 Sepulveda Blvd in Culver City, CA.

The Installation Experience will be free and open to the public on Thursday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Friday through Sunday from 10 AM to 12 PM. The Performance Experience will be ticketed with shows running approximately one hour on Thursday at 5 PM and 8 PM and Friday through Sunday at 1 PM, 4 PM, and 8 PM. Tickets are available for $15 on wacotheatercenter.com/stillhere.

Don't miss this powerful event that aims to challenge perceptions and elevate important voices within the community.
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