QUEER
STORY
LAB

Where queerness takes center stage.
"Visibility which makes us most vulnerable is that which also is the source of our greatest strength."
— Audre Lorde
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"As queer people, we have always been imaginative. We’ve always had to imagine spaces where we could be safe, where we could love, where we could be ourselves."
— Ocean Vuong
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​"Every rebel is, in the end, an artist. And every artist—a rebel."
— James Baldwin
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"Being an artist means forever healing your own wounds and at the same time endlessly exposing them."
— Ai
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"We're all born naked and the rest is drag."
— RuPaul
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"Theater is a safe space to do the unsafe things that need to be done."
— John Cameron Mitchell
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"Theater is a political act. Whether you mean it to be or not, it’s political simply because it exists."
— Taylor Mac
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"Theater is the place where we can reveal ourselves in a way that is authentic, even if the world isn’t ready to hear it."
— Lisa Kron
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"As a gay man, theater gave me a place where I could belong before I even understood what belonging meant."
— Harvey Fierstein
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"Queer theater is not just about representation—it’s about reimagining what is possible in the world."
— Jeremy O. Harris
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"As a trans artist, my work is a bridge between worlds, creating spaces where others can step into their own truth."
— Laverne Cox
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"Art must be an integral part of activism. It is our responsibility to create stories that reflect our lives and experiences."
— Nikki Giovanni​​​​​
What is Queer Story Lab?
Queer Story Lab is a new studio in the works designed for LGBTQIA+ actors and writers in the Bay Area. We're launching pilot workshops in 2025, with a full rollout planned for fall 2026.
Our mission is to offer an intimate, supportive space where queer and allied storytellers can focus their creative energy on exploring authentic queer characters and narratives — including their own.
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Our workshops are designed to be intimate and tailored to age, skill level, theme, genre, gender, and sexual identity, fostering trust and encouraging deeper emotional exploration.
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Queer storytelling has never mattered more than now.
Queer Story Lab is a space that not only fosters creativity but also deeply respects our perspectives as queer storytellers.
Our intention is simple: to weave our vibrant, personal experiences into the rich tapestry of queer narratives — from plays and films to memoirs and fiction spanning the last century and a half.
Here there’s a shared language — a sensibility and an aesthetic that allows us to more fully express ourselves so that we can make art that is more vulnerable, more risky, and more true to who we are under all our masks.
In a time when it's easy to want to disassociate and hide, we strive to be a safe haven and a virtual community center for queer storytellers in the Bay Area and beyond.
We have weathered many storms to find our way over the rainbow, and with inspiration, imagination, and intention, we'll continue to do so.
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2025 Pilot Workshops
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As we curate classes for our official launch date in September 2026, Queer Story Lab will be offering pilot workshops in acting and writing. Our calendar will consist of 10-week courses that meet once a week. In 2025, there will be three sessions:
SPRING (April 15 - June 28)
SUMMER (July 12 - Sept 20)
FALL (Oct 11 - Dec 20)
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This spring, we’re kicking off with the two pilot workshops below and will add two more each session moving forward. Check back in early May for our summer lineup!
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​​ACTING INTRO / REBOOT
Cost: $395 (NOTE: For the spring session only, since this is a pilot class, the cost will only be $295)
Number of Spots: 10
Where: Harvey Milk Rec Center, Dance Studio (in Duboce Park)
When: Saturdays 10am-1pm
This beginner-friendly class is also ideal for experienced actors seeking a fresh, honest approach. With minimal out-of-class work or memorization, the focus is on moment-to-moment work with scene partners and trusting that where you are now is enough. While some scene study is included, this course largely emphasizes presence, authenticity, and a growth mindset. You'll explore various techniques—including sense memory, substitution, Meisner Technique, and Hagen exercises—to discover what resonates when instinct isn't enough. The goal? Practice being honest, present, and playful without the inner critic interfering. Will you pretend to be an inanimate object? Not here. Perform a self-written scene as yourself? Maybe! Use a favorite song as a nonmusical monologue? You'll have to find out! Just bring sensible shoes and an open mind.
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SCENE STUDY WITH QUEER TEXTS
Cost: $395 (NOTE: For the spring session only, since this is a pilot class, the cost will only be $295)
Number of Spots: 10
Where: Harvey Milk Rec Center, Dance Studio (in Duboce Park)
When: 2-5pm
This is a traditional scene study class in the sense that we will focus on learning to break a scene into "beats" based on your character’s objectives and personalize them for a more authentic connection. But here’s the twist: you choose your scene from a selection of contemporary queer plays and films, and your character choice isn’t bound by gender. You decide what resonates with your growth and self-exploration. Building on Level 1, this class deepens moment-to-moment work with higher stakes and dialogue from the greats. We'll also supplement the work with vocal exercises, explorations of physicalization, and sensory work. You will be working on three scenes total with each ideally being more out of your comfort zone emotionally. Although the Intro/Reboot class is not a prerequisite, it's recommended if you're brand new to acting.
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If you want to register for either class, please fill out this online application and we'll get back to you soon.
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If you want to meet the instructor first, you can schedule an online chat here. ​
If you are an instructor interested in teaching in one of the planned Future Offerings below—or whatever your area of expertise—please fill out this Teacher Interest Form.
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If you are a prospective student interested in taking one of the planned Future Offerings below—or another class you may want—please fill out this Student Interest Form.
​​CLASS WISHLIST FOR QUEER STORY LAB:​​
1. Acting & Performance Classes
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Queer Acting for Stage & Screen – Acting techniques with a focus on queer narratives and identity.
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Character Development for Queer Performers – Deep-dive into crafting authentic and nuanced characters.
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Scene Study with Queer Texts – Performing scenes from queer plays, films, and TV scripts.
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Improvisation & Queer Comedy – Improv skills with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ storytelling and humor.
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Monologue Workshop – Crafting and performing compelling monologues, with a focus on personal and queer experiences.
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Audition Prep for LGBTQ+ Actors – Training for auditions, from classical to contemporary roles.
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Movement & Embodiment for Queer Performers – Exploring physicality in performance, with an emphasis on gender expression.
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Voice & Speech for Queer Actors – Developing vocal power, articulation, and confidence, with attention to gender and identity.
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2. Writing & Storytelling Classes
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Queer Screenwriting – Writing for film and TV with a focus on authentic queer narratives.
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Playwriting for a New Queer Canon – Developing original plays with LGBTQ+ themes.
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Writing the Queer Memoir – Crafting personal essays and memoir pieces that reflect identity and experience.
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Short Fiction with a Queer Lens – Writing short stories that explore diverse queer perspectives.
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Queer Poetry – Explore poetry as self-expression and resistance, crafting work that embraces queer identity, desire, and joy.
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Live Storytelling – Crafting your best queer stories in real time for a live audience.
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Writing the Monologue – Developing compelling solo pieces for performance.
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Writing and Acting for Solo Performance – Creating dynamic, live-performed written work.
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Queer Adaptations – Reimagining classic stories, myths, and historical narratives through a queer lens.
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Worldbuilding & Speculative Queer Fiction – Crafting new worlds and alternate realities centered on LGBTQ+ experiences.
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The Queer Comedian – Figuring out what your unique brand is as a queer stand-up and sketch comedian.
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3. Production & Industry-Focused Classes
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DIY Queer Filmmaking – Writing, directing, and producing short films on a budget.
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Directing for Queer Storytellers – Fundamentals of directing stage and screen performances.
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Producing Queer Stories – Navigating the business side of creating LGBTQ+ content.
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Acting & Writing for Web Series & Digital Media – Creating content for YouTube, TikTok, and web-based platforms.
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Navigating Hollywood as a Queer Artist – Industry insights, networking, and pitching LGBTQ+ stories.
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Queer Youth Theater-Making & Devised Performance – Collaborative creation of new performance pieces for queer teens.
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The Queer Actors Reel – Creating a reel from scenes and monologues you write for yourself – and your classmates.
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Queer Story Lab Repertory Company – A new experiment in repertory writing and performance for queer artists.
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4. Special Topics & Experimental Classes
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Drag as Performance Art – Exploring the art of drag as storytelling, character creation, and political expression.
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Deconstructing Dating – Approaching the do's and don'ts of modern dating through writing, scene study, and improv.
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Queer Cabaret & Variety Show Performance – Creating and performing queer cabaret acts.
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Writing & Performing Queer Erotica – Exploring sexuality, intimacy, and desire in writing and performance.
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LGBTQ+ History Through Theater & Film – A deep dive into queer storytelling in media over time.
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The Art of Criticism – Looking at the history and value of reading and writing art criticism from a queer perspective.
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Life in Death – A multi-media queer take on grief and how to work through it artistically.
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Gender & Performance – Exploring gender fluidity, masculinity, and femininity through acting and movement.
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Queer Horror & Camp Storytelling – Writing and performing in the genres of horror, camp, and the absurd.
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Queering the Classics – Reinterpreting classical theater and literature through an LGBTQ+ perspective.
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A little about Ephi Stempler
Queer Story Lab Director
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Ephi Stempler is a multifaceted actor, filmmaker, educator, and arts program manager with a deep passion for exploring personal and community narratives. He got his start as an actor in New York City in 1997 after studying Theater at UCLA and Acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In 2003, he received a New York City Teaching Fellowship and spent five years teaching high school English and theater before taking a year to teach theater at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. Upon returning to the U.S., he worked as a teaching artist and program manager for Community Works West, an Oakland-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting families impacted by incarceration. There he founded the Community Works West Theater Ensemble, a program that empowered San Francisco youth to write and perform one-act plays based on their lived experiences with incarceration. His time working with the youth inspired him to explore his own story—first through a Modern Love essay in the New York Times, and then as a screenwriter. In 2019, he graduated from the American Film Institute (AFI), where he honed his craft as a visual storyteller. His short documentary, "The Girl That Got Away", which follows a 64-year-old HIV-positive Mexican American actor embracing her female identity, premiered at Frameline and Outfest, and won Audience Favorite for Short Documentary at SF Indie in 2023. With Queer Story Lab, Ephi continues to champion authentic and underrepresented narratives in theater and film, with a focus on queer storytellers in the Bay Area. He will also be teaching acting, screenwriting, and personal essay writing at the Lab.To schedule an online chat with Ephi, click here.
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