The Loop Newspaper - Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide

Tehachapi Community Theatre presents its fifth Playwright's Festival, featuring eight world premiere plays competing for the coveted "Audience Favorite" award, voted on by audiences during the festival run, which begins March 7 at the BeeKay Theatre.

Forty-five plays were submitted this year from Los Angeles and Kern Counties. Although only nine originated in Kern, four of them made the finals. Plays are read "blind" by eight judges, four local and four out of town. None have access to the writer's name or locale.

Executive Producer Karl Schuck was well pleased. "This is one of the strongest groups of plays we've ever had. Lots of [plays not only had] fun stuff (many 10-minute plays had excellent jokes or tall tales) but also some good mature writing on engaging topics. Very hard to do in 10 minutes."

Schuck originated the idea for the festival and has served as Executive Producer for the past four. "Our original goal was to encourage local playwrighting, to entice new actors to appear in a safe environment and to develop new directors for TCT. It's been an astounding success in all three categories, and our biggest surprise is how popular it is with audiences. Folks seem to love seeing so many intense stories in short order, and then getting to vote for their favorites."

- Five Miles That Way by local writer Mark A Fisher, directed by Annette Kirby. The story of a youngster with fantasies of having a superpower. During an accidental meeting she learns that having such a power might not be all that good. Featuring Ali Whitlock and Phylis Belcher.

- Homecoming by southlander Nick Mata, directed by Michael Gruett. Two long estranged lovers meet up after several decades at their university Homecoming celebration. Lanie Ringle plays the student host, with Janet Lund and Brecca Loh as the alumni.

- Local Norm Haughness who competed in the very first Festival, is represented this year by Persuasion, directed by Bert Roper. Persuasion presents an unusual take on a near-future dystopia, featuring Rick Gould, Lanie Ringle, Randy Kitt, Elmer Acevedo, Stephen Ringle and Michelle Taylor.

- Another local writer who has been represented in several festival programs is Dave Shacklock, this year presenting The Drop Off directed by Nick Altieri. This gem has a little mystery of its own, which shall not be revealed here. Players are Randy Kitt and Daniella Hernandez as parents to Mia Bonham and Liberty Shaub.

- Peggy Dougherty makes her first festival appearance as the author of The Bus Stops Here, with Valerie Provines taking her third directing assignment with players Rick Gould and Heather Simmons as a couple on the verge.

- Two couples are turned in unexpected directions during pre-dinner cocktails in Tanis Galik's Surprise, directed by Jonathan Hall. Bert Roper, Sue First, Tina Fisher Cunningham, Michael Gruett are the players.

- Leslie Reynolds directs a play by her childhood pal Brandi Centeno of Los Angeles, wherein we get a glimpse of what high school counselors must go thru to reach their students. Michelle Taylor, Mia Bonham, Ricky Peregrina and Sue First fill out the cast.

- Finally Michael Halperin's Chestnut Trees is directed by Alex Zonn. A one-hundred year old Russian emigree reminisces about life in the old country, performed by Festival Executive Producer Karl Schuck.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays – March 7, 8, 14 and 15 – at 7:30 p.m, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday March 16, followed by the awards ceremony and an open reception at the Tehachapi Train Depot.

All seats are $10, tickets available online at http://www.tctonstage.com/ or Tehachapi Furniture or Johnny's Take 'n' Bake Pizza.

Festival staff includes producer Kenny Chugg, Lighting Designer Jonathan Hall, Sound Designer Mark A. Fisher.