Blowhole Goes West

The cast of blowhole during a sound check at The Museum of Ventura County

I am back from California, where my full-length play, blowhole, appeared in New Art City Theatre’s inaugural play festival. We rehearsed the piece in Los Angeles before taking it on the road and performing it reader’s theatre style at The Museum of Ventura County in Ventura, CA. I felt so lucky to have four full days to play, tweak, hear, adjust, and revise my play before hearing it in front of two generous, packed-out audiences! Festival tickets were free, which made it easier for audiences to take a risk on new work, and it seems like they came away from the experience with new ideas about what theatre could (and should) be. I’ve been home for less than a week and I already have a revised draft up on NPX for perusal. I’m so hopeful that this silly passion project will find the right theatrical home and move on to a full production.

The company founders, Bev and Kirby Ward, and two other festival playwrights - Nicole Burton and Dan Noonan (and me!)

blowhole was produced by New Art City Theatre, with direction by Clarinda Ross and stage management by Sati Thyme.

The cast was as follows:

Cecily Dowd as Elizabeth

Mario Silva* as Sidney

Aviva Pressman* as Lilly

Abigail Sharp * as Caroline

Will Block* as Bill

Samantha Seiff as Marina

Adam Hagenbuch as Otto

Tom Mueller as Eugene

Alina Cenal* as Flossie
*denotes AEA affiliation

Me with my spectacular director, Clarinda Ross

After an experience like this, people are quick to ask, “What’s next?” This is where I humbly remind you that it’s up to you! Read and recommend the play on NPX, express interest to an artistic or literary director, or consider it for your festival, season, or development opportunity! It takes a village to produce a play, and I’m so grateful that my new friends at New Art City are now part of mine!