Welcome to “The Sights + Sounds Show with Jeneé Darden, where every week we tap into the Bay Area arts scene and bring you rich conversations with artists. On today’s show: we're having a belated celebration of our one-year anniversary! We'll hear from the co-writers of the hit musical "Co-Founders" about their big show coming up soon in Oakland. Then, we'll revisit Host Jeneé Darden's interview with Tony Award-winning actor Francis Jue. Finally, we'll look back at some of our favorite and funny moments from the past year.
Today’s theme is celebrating good memories and making new ones.
It's our anniversary month!!
Ryan Nicole Austin and Beau Lewis
Recently KALW’s Executive Director James Kass asked Host Jeneé Darden what was one of her favorite art and culture works that she covered in 2025. Without skipping a beat, she said “Co-Founders.” The original hip-hop musical was sold out during its entire run.
“Co-Founders” is about a young, tech genius from West Oakland who needs money to save her home. So she hacks into the admissions list of a prestigious accelerator program. The musical broke ground with how it used technology. Also, the soundtrack is very good. The creators of “Co-Founders” are doing something else groundbreaking. They’re going to have a show that’s part start-up pitch contest, part concert. There will be performances from the “Co-Founders” cast and aspiring tech entrepreneurs competing for $30,000. Jeneé is excited to have some of the creative time behind “Co-Founders” on her anniversary show. Joining her are two of the co-writers of “Co-Founders” Beau Lewis and Ryan Nicole Austin.
The ““All People Powered” Concert & Pitch Competition” is on Saturday April 11 at the Henry J. Kaiser Center in Oakland.
Francis Jue
Today we’re celebrating our show's one-year anniversary. Host Jeneé Darden gets to talk to great artists at different stages of their careers. Some are new. Some are history makers.
Last year, San Francisco actor Francis Jue won a Tony for his performance in the Broadway play “Yellow Face.” Francis now lives in New York City. Before Francis, the last time an Asian actor won best performance was in 1988. That winner was another San Francisco native — B.D. Wong.
“Yellow Face” is by David Henry Hwang and semi-autobiographical. It’s about how during the 1990s, David, an Asian-American playwright, spoke out against a white actor playing an Asian character in “Miss Saigon.” Later, he mistakenly casts a white actor to play an Asian character in his own production. Daniel Dae Kim plays David. Francis Jue plays David’s funny, self-absorbed, fame-hungry, banker father.
Jeneé interviewed Francis Jue in 2025, after he learned of his Tony nomination.
Watch Francis Jue in "Yellow Face" on PBS.org or the PBS app. You can stream it until March 31.
The One-Year Anniversary of "The Sights + Sounds Show with Jeneé Darden"
Over the past year, Host Jeneé Darden has interviewed more than 150 artists! She's enjoyed her conversations with every single one. She hopes you enjoyed them as well. "The Sights + Sounds Show" team wanted to play some of our favorite moments. It wasn't easy picking several out of 150 guests. This is just a snapshot of our list of our favorites: comedian Sandra Bernhard, the "Freaky Tales" red carpet interview with actor Pedro Pascal, artist Kurt Schwartzmann, Bay Area folk singer Ismay, Oakland singer B. DeVeaux, San Francisco poet Kevin Dublin, actor Rainn Wilson, animated character Tiny Chef and Oakland International Film Festival Co-Founder David Roach.
