Arts & Culture

Ojai Playwrights Conference Unveils, Encourages New Theater Talent

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The Ojai Playwrights Conference, held just north of Los Angeles, commemorates its 10th year of presenting new plays by continuing to spotlight the country’s most promising literary talents with public readings and performances. For its 10th anniversary, the Ojai Playwrights Conference will host favorite returning playwrights, as well as introduce rising new artists of American theater.

Over the years, the Ojai Playwrights Conference has featured the work of playwrights such as Lee Blessing, Stephen Belber, Jon Robin Baitz, Keith Bunin, Linda Hunt, Danai Gurira, Danny Hoch, Luis Alfaro, Nikole Salter, Julia Cho, Susan Miller, Charlayne Woodard and more, who have been drawn to the welcoming atmosphere in which they can throw themselves into intensive, in-residence work. These productions, in turn, have attracted the acting talents of Lily Tomlin, David Hyde Pierce, Matthew Perry, Minnie Driver, Michael Gross, Sanaa Lathan, Judith Light, Allison Janney, William H. Macy, Felicity Huffman, Sandra Oh, Mary McCormack, Dana Delaney, Brooke Adams, Sharon Lawrence, Tony Shalhoub, Brian Cox, and many more. This small-town community, sheltered from the hustle and bustle of the world’s entertainment capital, has proven to be an incubator for creative freedom, experimentation, and process.

In addition, prominent guest panelists will take part in public symposia addressing “topics that will enrich the cultural and artistic life” of residents of Ojai and Southern California, in general. Meanwhile, young playwrights can join the Youth Writers/Performance Lab for guiding words from adult theater professionals; Kim Maxwell will direct the Lab, joined by director/playwright/dramaturge Keith Bunin and actor/playwright/director Steve Connell. Other directors taking part in this year’s conference include Michael Garces, Lisa Petersen, Diane Rodriguez, Kent Nicholson, and Robert Egan, as well as Keith Bunin away from his Lab duties. Keith also joins Chris Breyer as a dramaturge. Nicole Arbusto and Joy Dickson are still selecting casts, and more names will be released once the rosters are complete.

The schedule includes:

Tuesday, August 7, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. Symposium A: “Love in the Time of Dystopia.” Playwrights Julia Cho, Steve Connell, and T.D. Mitchell humorously explore modern-day loving relationships. Following this collection of one-acts, scenes, monologues, and poems, the writers will hold a discussion.
Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. Symposium B: “My Pal George.” Rick Cleveland, the conference’s co-founder and a writer for the hit TV series “Six Feet Under” and “The West Wing,” puts on his one-man show detailing the relationship between President George W. Bush and himself. Rick’s previous play, “My Buddy Bill,” addressing his special ties with Bill and Hillary Clinton garnered awards at the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival. Rick will be available for discussion after the performance.
Friday, August 10 at 7 p.m.: “The Night Watchman (Through The Fire).” In her new solo play, writer-performer Charlayne Woodard present the struggles faced by young people trying to find their footing in a media-saturated environment.

Friday, August 10 at 9:00 p.m.: “The Lawn.” This Cody Henderson-penned play runs roughshod over 1950s suburban America, as we follow the character of Donald Peterson in his quest to fit in. The cast includes Patrick Adams, Blythe Auffarth,  John Cabrera, Shannon Holt, Ravi Kapoor, Jim Lashley, John Vickery and Liza Weil.

Saturday, August 11 at 1 p.m.: A performance by the Youth Writers/Performance Workshop.

Saturday, August 11 at 4 p.m.: “The Bog Lacuna.” Writer Ben Rosenthal combines humor, satire, and humanity and takes us to the heartland for a story about a cult that commits a heinous crime and the community’s responsibility for their acts. The cast comprises John Cabrera (“The Gilmore Girls”) Blythe Auffarth, Sam McMurray (“The King of Queens”), Shannon Holt, Jim Lashley, Matt Glave (“Stargate SG-1”) and Jim Anzide.

Saturday, August 11 at 8 p.m.: “Surf Report.” Meet Judith and Bruce, a storybook couple in a coastal community steeped in both capitalism and environmentalism. But these two aren’t spouses — Bruce is Judith’s longtime boss. Writer Annie Weisman, who has also authored “Be Aggressive” and the TV series “Dead Like Me” and “Heartland,” casts her comical outlook on the office marriage and its repercussions outside of the workplace. Cast will include Mary Catherine Garrison, John Vickery (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”),  Linda Gehringer (many shows at South Coast Repertory), Dwier Brown (“ER”),  Liza Weil (“The Gilmore Girls”).

Sunday, August 12 at 1 p.m.: “American Hwangap.” From the pen of Lloyd Suh (author of “The Children of Vonderly” and “Masha No Home”) comes Min Suk Chun, a 60-year-old Korean would-be cowboy returning home to West Texas for a family reunion and a major birthday ritual. The cast will include Samantha Quan of ABC Family Channel’s series “Three Moons Over Milford,” Greg Watanabe of the series “Watch Over Me,” Kim Miyori (“St. Elsewhere”), Dana Lee (“Nancy Drew”), and Ramon de Ocampo (“Medium,” “The West Wing”).

Sunday, August 12 at 4 p.m.: “Equivocation.” The author of “Stand-Up Tragedy” and a Peabody Award winner for TV’s “Nothing Sacred,” Bill Cain puts us in William Shakespeare’s shoes as he and his famous theater company wrestle with a commission to chronicle a national tragedy, only with the government’s approved facts in place. Join them as they come to terms with the story and with their own artistic integrity. Cast will include Patrick Adams (2007 L.A. Weekly Award winner) , Bess Wohl (“Shark”), Al Espinosa (recurring on “House”), James Joseph O’Neill, Kevin Daniels and Ravi Kapoor (“Crossing Jordan”).

General admission to all readings and symposia is $25, with the exception of the Youth Writers/Performance Workshop, which is $15 per ticket. An all-events pass is $140, a savings of $75.

Ojai Playwrights Conference
Zalk Theatre at the Besant Hill School (formerly known as Happy Valley School)
8585 Ojai Santa Paula Road (Highway 150)
Ojai, CA 93023
        (805) 640-0400           

About the author

Jane Emery