playbill vip

The weight and wonder of The Yellow Boat make it both a joy and a responsibility to produce. 

Since it’s based on a true story, there is no secret as to how this story ends, but it’s the beauty and heartache of how we get there that puts wind into its sails. Benjamin Saar was born with congenital hemophilia and died in 1987 at the age of 8 from AIDS-related complications. In the grandest effort of parenthood, this play is a dad’s love letter to immortalize his son and, for himself and his wife, validate their story was real, stunning, and even with the weathering of time: it happened. 

But Benjamin’s life was so much more than how it ended. He loved to draw and play. He hated cake and loved pie. Full of color, pretend, magic – and dare I use the Gen Z favorite, whimsy? – The Yellow Boat captures the essence of quintessential childhood, taking us all on the imaginative journey that just so happens also to be entirely true. 

From whimsy to tragedy, from discussions of AIDS, the 1980s, and the reality of discrimination, to the simple reminder of how to play, this cast and crew have embarked on the voyage of this production with open hearts. I couldn’t be prouder of their grounded nature, ability to think beyond themselves, and their willingness to let it all go for the sake of silliness. Seeing glimpses of you all as little kids again has been nothing short of a true joy. 

RPA Theatre would like to thank the Saar family for sharing their story. Also, during the show’s run, we are grateful to be able to collect art materials for the Ronald McDonald House Charity of Bend. We would like to thank them for providing access to a home away from home for seriously ill or injured children and their families. This play is for anyone who has ever supported a sick child through medical uncertainty. Most of all, this play is for Benjamin. 

Thank you for joining us and for supporting educational theatre at RPA. 

K. Torcom

Theatre Director