Five directors selected casts for seven new, unproduced and unpublished plays, which will be presented as staged readings through four days during Aloha Performing Arts Company’s 21st annual Original Play Festival.
Five directors selected casts for seven new, unproduced and unpublished plays, which will be presented as staged readings through four days during Aloha Performing Arts Company’s 21st annual Original Play Festival.
“OPF XXI” is set each day for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Aug. 13-16, at the historic Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu.
The festival opens Wednesday evening with “By the Rivers of Babylon,” by Indiana playwright David Greenberg and directed by Cathy Riehle. This drama is set against the backdrop of the displacement of families by the Tennessee Valley Authority through the exercise of eminent domain. Cast members are Sam Valenti, Mark Murdock, Giuse Bullock, Vince Mott, Miguel Montez, Scott Pierce, Linda Flournoy, Jason Heady, Cathy Riehle, Denette McWilliams and Sharyn Toyama.
Thursday night features a double bill.
First up is “The Magic Uke” by Dennis McKenna, of Hawi, directed by Tiffany Kutsunai. This is a morality fable in which the instrument of the title affects the lives of members of one family in various ways. Actor/readers are Justyn Toyama, Jeannie Kutsunai, Mark Murdock, Dan Hoff, Cameron Bailey, Kristy Krauss, Jason Heady, Susan McGee and Janemarie Singer.
These same performers also make up the cast of the second half of the bill, “Home Again,” by Edward Pickard of Honolulu, directed by Kelly Ann Miles. This is a story of incest and mystery in the backwoods.
Three plays will be presented Friday evening, all under the direction of Victor Pisauro.
First is “Missiles of Truth” by South Kona playwright John Holliday. This is a two person show about the relationship of a grandmother and her grandson, played by Renee Monell and Justyn Toyama, respectively.
The middle play is also a two-hander, “What To Do About the Kids,” by Colorado playwright J. Jackson. Heady and Aaron Getzinger play two guys trying to take care of a pair of unseen kids, who are not your normal offspring.
After an intermission, “Next Wife,” by Kailua-Kona playwright Kitty Powell, will be presented. A deceased wife comes back from the beyond to help her husband, who is experiencing writer’s block. Cast members are Bob Haber, William LeBus, Kerry Matsumoto, Suzanne Murdock, Tiffany Kutsunai and Stacey Canedy.
The final play of the festival is Saturday’s “A Tiny Little Secret,” by Robert O. Davis of Delaware, and directed by Kitty Powell. Hijinks in this script involve keeping the dead body of a winning political candidate from being discovered. Mark and Suzanne Murdock lead the cast, which also includes Susan McGee, Joel Michaelson, Bert Toyama, Dan Hoff and Nora Judd.
APAC will honor all participants in “OPF XXI” with a free onstage public potluck wrap celebration at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17. Those who have witnessed all the readings may vote on the “Opie,” a people’s choice award for best script of the festival, as well as awards for best actor and best actress.
All plays are presented as staged readings, with simple technical presentation, and actors holding scripts. Each evening will be concluded with a brief talk-back discussion with the audience, the director, the cast and, in some cases, the playwright.
A festival pass is available for $15, otherwise tickets are $5 per evening, with a $1 discount when a stub from a previous night is presented at the box office.
For tickets or more information, call 322-9924.