The Project
Studio Creatch proudly announces a new theatrical commission inspired by the life of Basil Campbell, a 19th-century pioneer who rose from enslavement to become the wealthiest Black landowner in Superior California. Written by acclaimed Sacramento-based director-playwright Anthony D’Juan, Superior California is a work of historical fiction inspired by the life of Mr. Campbell, bringing to light a powerful, lesser-known chapter of regional history.
October 2026 Staged Reading
Dates:
October 10th & 11th at 7pm
Admission:
Admission is free to the public. Limited seating is available so early arrival is encouraged.
Location:
Repower Yolo, 909 5th Street, Davis, CA, 95616
Parking & Instructions:
There is limited general and accessible parking available directly next to the venue.
Parking is widely available in a structure on an adjacent block:
Davis 4th and G Street Garage, 835 4th Street Davis, CA 95616
If parking in the garage on 4th and G, you will need to exit the garage, walk to 5th street, then cross the street and the railroad crossing. There is currently construction going on at 5th and G streets blocking the sidewalk on one side of the street, so we suggest you walk down 5th street to I street, cross there, and then make your way back to the venue. The walk is about 3-4 blocks in length.
Repower Yolo is located inside a small gallery attached to Indigo Architecture.
About the Playwright
Anthony D’Juan is a Sacramento based director-playwright who has been active in the local theatre community since 1996. He was assistant and protégé to Ed Claudio, and is currently an Adjunct Professor for the Los Rios Community College District. His playwriting credits include: MEN IN RIFFS, THEORY OF THE DREAM, THE PURVEYORS, SAFE AT HOME: THE JACKIE ROBINSON STORY, 3:BLACK GIRL BLUES, THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED, DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE, BIRDMOCKING, ANY/PERSON, US & THE REST OF ‘EM, EXIT, THEATER OF LIGHTS, and SUPERIOR CALIFORNIA. His stage directing credits include: SUBURBIA, ENDGAME (best drama 2004), A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (THE MUSICAL), TOPDOG/UNDERDOG (2007), THE MOUNTAINTOP, BOOTYCANDY (nominated best director), SKELTON CREW, PASS OVER, THE ROYALE, DIRECT FROM DEATH ROW: THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, FATSO (with Logan Heller – 2023 revival), PAPI ME AND CESAR CHAVEZ, CLYDE’S, ROBIN HOOD (world premier), THE GOAT OR WHO IS SYLVIA? (nominated best director), FAIRVIEW (nominated best director), PROOF, FENCES, WATER BY THE SPOONFUL, TWELFTH NIGHT, OUR TOWN (2026), FAT HAM and GLORIA.
Project Origins
While conducting research for a project amidst his MFA at the University of California, Davis, Studio Creatch Co-founder, J.R. Wolfe, happened upon mentions of a Mr. Basil Campbell in several local news articles. Intrigued, he decided to dig further and came across more information related to Mr. Campbell in local public records and the Yolo County archives. He knew there was a story worth telling there, and some time later he met the right voice to tell it in local playwright Anthony D’Juan. Studio Creatch decided to pursue grant funding to support Mr. D’Juan’s generation of the piece via the City of Davis Arts and Cultural Affairs Fund and is thrilled to have succeeded. This project has been one that Studio Creatch has been looking forward to getting out into the world for some time now, and we are thrilled to have Mr. D’Juan on board to help bring this piece of early Yolo County history into the light.
Mr. Campbell
Above is the only known image of Mr. Campbell to exist, an illustration of his estate, and a photograph of his resting place in Woodland, California.
Support
Funding for this project was generously provided by the City of Davis Arts and Cultural Affairs Fund. We thank them for their continued support of locally based original theater and for their commitment to championing diverse voices in our community.
We thank Repower Yolo for their ongoing support and allowing us to present in their beautiful space in Downtown Davis.
Start on Your Next Project
We work with a variety of companies to tell stories through our work.
If you have a project in mind, reach out to us! We are a group of creative and innovative professionals who turn ideas into reality. Our clients have brought many projects to us, and they are now masterpieces in their training libraries.