FINDING THEIR VOICE

A thoughtful coming-of-age story
that avoids the usual clichés

Gianna DiGregorio Rivera (Clementine), Yeena Sung (Rile), and Hillary Fisher (Fax)

American Conservatory Theater’s Strand Theater on Market Street tends to showcase new playwrights and emerging voices, in contrast to its mainstage on Geary Street, which features more traditional fare. Currently on offer is Girls: Chance: Music: by Eisa Davis, a world premiere co-production with Vineyard Theatre Company, inspired by the playwright’s experience attending a seven-week young musicians summer program.

The story follows four adolescent girls preparing for an end-of-summer recital, each bringing her own personality, talent, and insecurities to the group. Fax (Hillary Fisher) serves as the emotional center—a confident, vocally trained singer eager to make the most of the opportunity, though her assertiveness can intimidate the others. Rile (Yeena Sung), a gifted pianist, is the most immature of the group, prone to pouting and stirring up drama when she feels excluded. Margo (Naomi Latta), a drummer, keeps to herself, guarded and reluctant to form connections, while Clementine (Gianna DiGregorio Rivera), a multi-instrumentalist, focuses more on the program than on forging friendships.

Naomi Latta (Margot) and Gianna DiGregorio Rivera (Clementine)

As a coming-of-age piece, the play explores the challenges of collaboration among young artists who are used to working independently and protecting their individual voices. Each girl must learn to let her guard down as they prepare for the final performance, discovering both the rewards and difficulties of working as an ensemble.

Davis’s script avoids the predictable tropes often found in stories about teenage girls bonding. There are no neatly choreographed pop numbers or overly sentimental resolutions. Instead, she presents four distinct young women on the brink of adulthood, each grappling with personal fears and uncertainties despite their evident talent.

Hillary Fisher (Fax) and Naomi Latta (Margot)

The performances are uniformly strong. Each actress creates a believable and nuanced character, and director Pam MacKinnon ensures that all four have moments to shine—both musically and emotionally. The production highlights not only their artistic abilities but also their vulnerabilities, particularly the self-doubt that often accompanies years of disciplined training.

Design elements support the story effectively. Nina Ball’s scenic design captures the atmosphere of a working music studio, while Mel Ng’s costumes give each character a distinct sense of identity.

At just one act, the well-paced play manages to cover a considerable amount of emotional ground without overstaying its welcome. By the end, the audience feels invested in the girls’ journeys and hopeful for what lies ahead.

Yeena Sung (Rile), Gianna DiGregorio Rivera (Clementine), and Naomi Latta (Margot)

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photos by Kevin Berne

||: Girls :||: Chance :||: Music :||
American Conservatory Theater
co-production with Vineyard Theatre
Strand Theater, 1127 Market St., San Francisco
ends on April 19, 2026
for tickets, visit A.C.T.
opens Off-Broadway at Vineyard Theatre on May 12, 2026

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