Quick Take
The 418 Project in Santa Cruz is embarking on a series of public events to build bridges between its audience and many in the trans/LGBTQ community. The first of those "ally events" takes place Friday when The 418 is transformed into Oz at The Emerald Ball.
Trans and gender-noncomforming people have never not faced widespread public suspicion, discrimination and bigotry in the U.S. But the level of official and overt hostility aimed at that community from the highest perch of government has never been more aggressive than it is today.
At least that’s the view at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, a dance and arts center that has embraced its status as a safe space and a community center for all people marginalized on the basis of race, gender or sexual identity. In that spirit, The 418 is launching a series of what it calls “ally events,” opportunities for locals to meet, interact and get to know those who feel especially threatened by the Trump administration’s attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
The first of those events happens Friday, at The 418’s downtown space. It’s called The Emerald Ball, and it’s a big, splashy party specifically themed on the “Wizard of Oz” universe.
Laura Bishop, The 418’s executive director, said the idea is to build bridges between people who respect each other: “We look at, like, c’mon in, bring yourself, no matter who you are, and meet a drag queen, or maybe put on a green hat and be in a place where you can feel safe and then leave feeling more empowered. That’s kinda how the world changes.”
The Emerald Ball is designed to celebrate all things “Wizard of Oz” (or, depending on your generational orientation, “The Wiz” or “Wicked”). The Friday night gathering kicks off with live music from composer and performer Keeva Ivester. At 8 p.m., Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley will be on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony — presumably for the newly imagined Kingdom of Oz created in The 418’s theater. Eventually, the dancing and merriment will give way to an “Oz” costume contest, judged by Keeley and Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s Rachel Rogers. The night will end with a big karaoke sing-along of “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked.”
The Emerald Ball was the brainchild of Dual Demons, a duo of trans/queer performers, who wanted to establish a fund to help trans people who could be losing their jobs or health care because of the current political climate. Bishop invites anyone who wants to be an ally to come, in costume or not. Admission will be on a donation basis.
“We’re going to attempt to raise more than $12,000,” said Bishop, “but every single dollar we do raise will go directly to local Santa Cruz folks who are experiencing difficulties, based on the political conditions and the times.”
The Emerald Ball: A “Wicked” Evening in Oz takes place Friday, April 25, at The 418 Project, 155 S. River St., Santa Cruz. Doors open at 7 p.m. Opening ceremony is at 8 p.m. Costume contest at 9 p.m.