Profiles
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This 18-year-old thought she’d take a gap year. Instead, she joined the S.F. Symphony
Being a musical prodigy barely scratches the surface of Starla Breshears’ story. Through lengthy conversations with the young cellist and her loved ones, I learned about the sacrifices she and her family had taken. “I think that anybody could do what we did, but they probably don’t want to do it,” her father Dustin Breshears said. This piece earned more than 25,000 page views and remained in the Chronicle’s top five stories for several days.
Yalonda M. James/S.F. Chronicle
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Why massive works of art keep appearing on this Bay Area beach
I made the hourlong commute to Point Richmond before sunrise to spend the morning with Brighton Denevan, a viral sand artist and self-described “hype man for humanity.” Among the neighbors who stopped to chat on the windy beach included Aisling Carroll, who brought a homemade loaf of Irish brown bread, and Richard Katz, whose black top hat had become a staple of Denevan’s wardrobe.
Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle
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Zendaya isn’t the only Oakland native in ‘The Odyssey.’ Here’s how to spot these other Bay Area actors
My favorite tidbit from this story: Ian Casselberry, who played one of Odysseus’ crew members, Googled how to pose on a red carpet ahead of the film’s New York premiere. Xavier Brown, who portrayed a Trojan civilian in his first feature film, said it best: “No role, in any production, is too small.”
Florence Shen/S.F. Chronicle
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Why Oakland’s Lake Merritt Puppet Society is ‘taking fun way more seriously’
I spent an afternoon walking in a grassroots puppet collective’s first parade. With perspectives from group founders, beginning puppeteers and intrigued passersby, I explored the society’s threefold social media growth and why public art still has an audience.
Jessica Christian/S.F. Chronicle
NU alum Britt Lower juggles talents en route to ‘Severance’
Thorough internet sleuthing helped me secure a 40-minute conversation with Lower, during which I learned a significant rejection in college cemented the Emmy winner’s decision to pursue acting professionally.
Illustration by Siri Reddy/The Daily Northwestern
From TikTok to Birdland, NU alum Stella Cole swings into spotlight with timeless tunes
After speaking with Cole over the phone, I saw her in person at her hometown concert. Watching the singer and her fans in action was crucial to color in the profile. The concert was also the perfect setting for a portrait.