Welcome!
Our Inaugural PlayFest Santa Barbara was a big success! We look forward to seeing you again next year!
Our featured full-length plays were:
“If I Did This” Friday, January 18th at 8:00pm. A reading of the new Drama by award-winning playwright, E.M. Lewis about a grieving mystery writer — Hal Walker — who is hired to ghost-write the story of high-profile acquitted murderer Donnie Lawrence whom everyone believes is guilty. Friday, January 18, at 8:00pm in the Garvin Theatre, followed by a brief talkback with audience, playwright and actors.
“It Has To Be You” Saturday, January 19th at 8:00pm. It’s never too late to fall in love – at least that’s what Frank and Mindy realize when they try to convince their elderly mother it’s time for a rest home, and discover she’s fallen in love with a gregarious 48 year old! This reading of a brand new comedy by award-winning playwright, Catherine Butterfield is about finding love in all the wrong places – and one or two right ones. Saturday, January 19, at 8:ooPM in the Garvin Theatre, followed by a brief talkback with audience, playwright and actors.
We hosted 4 workshops on Saturday, January 19th:
“Playwriting Fun (and Fundamentals)” Saturday, January 19th at 4:30pm. Join award-winning playwright EM Lewis for a workshop that will help you reach inside yourself and find what you (and your characters) are most passionate about. Bring paper and pen or laptop, and be ready to write! Exercises and prompts will be provided to shake up your imagination. The perfect place for new writers, or anyone who wants to shake it up a little and find some bright, shiny new inspiration!
“A-5678!” Saturday, January 19th at 1:00pm. This Musical Revue, is a show-within-a-show or, to be more precise, a “show-before-a-show.” Taking place before opening night and unfolding in real time, a cast of actors (ages 16-26) ready themselves for the inevitable moment when the curtain will rise. This session lead by Barbara Epstein (creator/ director/ choreographer) will focus on the development process of a theatre musical. She will share the creative road taken to bring the show to its current form. At the heart of this lecture demonstration is the workshop presentation of the production combined with discussion regarding what was cut, changed, or added during the development process to bring the production to its current iteration. All ages welcome! Saturday, January 19th at 1:00 PM in the Garvin Theatre Complex.
“Commedia dell’Arte” Saturday, January 19th at 3:00pm. Master teacher, John Achorn shares a lecture demo on the history and impact of the commedia dell’Arte on Western theatre including a full demonstration of some of the techniques required and the major stock characters: Pantalone, Dottore, The Lovers, Capitano, Brighella and Arlecchino & Columbina in this workshop at 3:00PM on Saturday, January 19 in the Garvin Theatre Complex.
“Bringing Words to Life in a Body-Centered Way” Saturday, January 19th at 10:00am. Play in DramaDogs’ creative process of integrating spine, gesture, and emotion. Embody your body through Breath, Movement & Sound, letting character be revealed through body-centered Imagery and Action. Find your personal style of: expressivity, bold creative choices and releasing fear of judgment. This workshop is lead by Ken Gilbert and E. Bonnie Lewis, Co-Artistic Directors of DramaDogs on Saturday, January 19 10:00AM in the Garvin Theatre Complex.
The Garvin Theatre is located on the beautiful Santa Barbara City College Campus, overlooking the gorgeous Santa Barbara harbor.
PlayFest Santa Barbara stages professional theatre readings, workshops and promotes original new plays, musicals, new translations and adaptations of classics by emerging and established writers. We provide theatre lovers with the opportunity to attend performances, lectures, interviews, and master classes with some of the world’s leading artists. PlayFest takes place in Santa Barbara, California, the “American Riviera”.
Artistic Directors, Jeff Meek and R. Michael Gros.
Our vision is informed by our commitment to performing arts virtuosity. We aim to create a haven for diverse artists to develop and celebrate classic and new literary and musical works from conception to completion. We are committed to providing an exciting and creative environment for artists to hone their skills and promote their talent with the support and guidance of the world’s leading professional theatre artists. We believe the cultural vitality of our community is enhanced and reflected by the creative depths of our storytelling.
PlayFest Santa Barbara Board President, Jim Green and Managing Director, Amanda Kramer.
Above all, we expect to be a credit to the communities we serve, a valuable resource to our audience, and a place where dedicated artists can grow and prosper. Toward this end, we will not only listen to our audience and artists, but also embrace the idea that PlayFest Santa Barbara is at their service. If you’d like to submit a play, head over to our Playwriting Competition Page for information on awards, judging and submission procedures.
Check out our blog for updates, information and articles! playfestsantabarbara.blogspot.com
“I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics but for our contributions to the human spirit.” John F. Kennedy
