Carlsbad, CA: (March, 2022) —New Village Arts (NVA), North County’s cultural hub,is launching the Final Draft New Play Festival on April 1-3, 2022. Performances include 10 never before seen plays written by talented local playwrights, as well as delicious craft beers.
“This type of festival is rare in San Diego, and it’s an exciting opportunity to uplift local emerging playwrights and their stories,” said Festival Producer Farah Dinga. “Representing our community responsibly and accurately was really important to me, so we sought a diverse play selection committee of incredible artists who value and understand the importance of recognizing diversity in our community. These values were ever-present in the selection of our line-up this year, and we are honored to help fill some of the gaps in representation and narrative in the San Diego theatre scene.”
The festival launches April 1 at 6:30 p.m. with the Ten-Minute Play Festival at New Village Arts in Carlsbad. Saturday features a one-act and full length play, and the festival concludes Sunday with another one-act and full-length play. Festival passes are available for $30.
“New Village Arts has long been committed to nurturing our local playwrights with the Final Draft New Play Festival,” says Executive Artistic Director Kristianne Kurner. “Our recent run of Desert Rock Garden precipitated from last year’s Final Draft Play Festival, and we are looking forward to discovering more talent this year.”
Final Draft New Play Festival Schedule
FRIDAY, APRIL 1 – 10 MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
6:30 p.m. | $15 (part of the Festival Pass) Playwrights: Russel Chow, Hannah Milon, Jen Olivares, Milena (Sellers) Phillips, Tori Rice, Jacob Surovsky- Directed by:Claire Simba
Run time: 70-90 minutes | 10 Minute Play Festival
Join us for a night of exciting works by local playwrights and theatremakers from all across San Diego County! A freelance jingle maker stuck in a creative rut is visited by his childhood imaginary friend: a giant barn owl. Mio must figure out what she’s going to do with her immature boyfriend after he calls her up to the roof for an “alien emergency.” An indigenous woman estranged from her community reconnects with loved ones during a socially distant Rain ceremony. All of this and more in a festival of brilliant works you won’t want to miss!
SATURDAY, APRIL 2– WEIRDO, OR (MAKE NICE)
2 p.m. | $15 (part of Festival Pass) Written by Simon Martin, Directed by Hunter Brown
Run time: 30-45 minutes, no intermission | Weirdo
No one at school likes Zealand. He laughs too loud. He stinks. He’s just… weird. Everyone at school loves Abby! She’s going to be class president! Her dad has a mansion in France! She’s just… perfect! But, when Abby is caught doing something she shouldn’t be doing, she is forced to spend recess with the pariah of the playground and his wild imagination. When a game of House turns caustic, Abby must confront her assumptions about Zealand and the hurt she has caused him, while Zealand must do everything he can to get what he truly wants and needs: a friend.
SATURDAY, APRIL 2 – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Where do we go from here?
3:30 p.m. | Free, but reservations required
The last few years have brought a lot of change, and a lot of conversations, but there is still more work to be done. Join local leaders and artists, in a conversation about how we can continue pushing the needle forward, what changes they’d like to see in the San Diego arts scene, and how you can support their vision with tangible change in the community.
THE FORGOTTEN BEASTS
7:30 p.m. |$15 (part of the Festival Pass) Written by Christian St. Croix, Directed by Obinne Onyeador
Run time: 100-120 minutes, with a 10-minute intermission | The Forgotten Beasts
On a scorching night in a Riverside motel, Archie, a queer Black man at the ends of several ropes, upends his life yet again to save his half-brother Nick from the rock bottom of a cross-county bender. As painful memories of their upbringing under their father’s rules threaten to bubble over, they recall the imaginary world they created as children to help them make it through the days. They meet other motel residents along the way who are coping with their own painful pasts, just the same. A fantastical play with pirates, aliens, and a winged puppy named Hannah, about overcoming the pains of life and ending the cycle of running from your past.
SUNDAY, APRIL 3 – ALL NEWS RADIO
2 p.m. | $15 (part of Festival Pass) Written by Emma Caroline Lias, Directed byJaeonnie Davis-Crawford
Run time: 30-45 minutes, no intermission | All News Radio
Oliver Olsen, a late-night radio “personality,” finds himself isolated in his booth at K.I.L. News. It’s an ideal job: private, impactful, low profile, and he spends his nights preaching to an audience he never has to hear back from. Everything is going swimmingly, until he is tasked with reporting on the assault and murder of a local teen, Addison Wells Buxton. However, Oliver Olsen knows far too much about Ms. Buxton’s violent end, and she’s back to make sure he doesn’t forget it.
Sunday, April 3 –Monologue Writing and Performance Workshop
3:30 p.m. | $10, limited seating Hosted by Gill Sotu
So you love watching theatre, but have you ever tried your hand at making it?! Come join celebrated teaching artist and playwright, Gill Sotu, as they share the basics of a good written and performed monologue. Guests will be invited to write and share their monologues in this exciting workshop.
THE SOMALIS AND THE SEMPER FI
5:30 p.m. |$15 (part of Festival Pass) Written by Morgan Kinnally, Directed byMilena (Sellers) Phillips
Run time: 100-120 minutes, with a 10-minute intermission | The Somalis and The Semper Fi
Mahdi, a Somali Bantu refugee and a leader of his community is proud of the advancements they’ve made since their first arrival to Southern California. However, it seems more and more problems arise in his community: arrests, threats, and hate crimes. When violence is brought to the community and against his own family, Mahdi is forced to question his choices. Has he been the force for good as he has claimed to be? Has he made any difference? Has he helped his people navigate this new life in the United States? And where can they go from here?
Sponsors
- Festival Producer: Farah Dinga
- Festival Sponsors: Don & Becky Sciglimpaglia
- Sponsors for The Forgotten Beasts and Weird(o): Bill & Judy Garrett
- Beer Sponsor: Pure Project
- Location Sponsors: Bliss Tea and Treats, and The Jazzy Wishbone
New Village Arts 20th Anniversary Season 2021–22
DESERT ROCK GARDEN –WORLD PREMIERE PLAY
February 11-March 13, 2022 New Village Arts, 2787 State Street, Carlsbad Village
Written by Roy Sekigahama, Directed by Albert Park
INTO THE WOODS
STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S TWISTED FAIRY TALES
Co-production with Oceanside Theatre Company, March 26–May 1, 2022 – Previews March 18 – 25
Oceanside Theatre Company at the Sunshine Brooks Theatre, 217 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside
Written by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine; Directed by Kristianne Kurner
Performance Days and Times
- New this season! Select Wednesday matinees at 2:00 p.m.
- Thursdays : 7:30 p.m. (Not available for INTO THE WOODS)
- Fridays: 8:00 p.m.
- Saturdays: 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Sundays: 2:00 p.m. and select Sundays at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets and Subscriptions
Single tickets for the 2021–22 season are $30–$59, or $27 for previews. Season Passes for all four shows are $175. Discounts are available for seniors, military, and students, and for groups of ten or more.
COVID Safety Protocols
Audience safety is our primary concern. All NVA staff, performers, ushers, crew, and volunteers are fully vaccinated. New Village Arts will comply with all state and local guidance for COVID-19 regulations. Please check out our website for updated information.
Throughout this season, all guests need to have a photo ID and either their physical CDC vaccination card, a picture of their vaccination card, or a digital vaccination record, until further notice. There must be at least 14 days elapsed from the date of the second dose for Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
Any unvaccinated person must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken within 72 hours of the performance date. Masks are required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, for all indoor performances, events and activities.
For more information on the festival and other productions, visit www.newvillagearts.org.
New Village Arts, Inc. | 2787 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008
