Final Draft New Play Festival

10 MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL

Written by Russel Chow, Hannah Milon, Jen Olivares,
Milena (Sellers) Phillips, Tori Rice, Jacob Surovsky

Directed by Claire Simba

New Village Arts | 2787 State Street

Join us for a night of exciting works by local playwrights and theatre makers 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 herimmature 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!

AN IMPORTANT UPDATE

“We would like to note that another brilliant play in our 10-minute play festival called Birthday Brunch, by Jen Olivares, was supposed to be in our lineup this year.

This show centers around three generations of indigenous women, and unfortunately, we were unable to find the right artists to help us tell this story in time for the opening of this festival. This was an incredibly difficult decision for us to make, but to produce this piece without indigenous actors to share their own stories would be irresponsible and disrespectful to the indigenous community and their experiences.

We at New Village Arts want to recognize the immense gap in resources and support for artists of color, and in particular, the gap in support for indigenous communities. We are committed to producing Birthday Brunch ethically and responsibly, and will be looking for artists to help us tell this story with the respect and support it deserves. We hope that you will join us for Birthday Brunch in the near future, and thank you for your understanding.” – Farah Dinga, Final Draft New Play Festival Producer

OPENING NIGHT PARTY

8:30PM ON FRI, APR 1

To follow 10 Minute Play Festival, join us across the street from New Village Arts at Pure Project Brewing to celebrate!

FREE EVENT

4:00PM ON SAT, APRIL 2

WEIRDO, OR (MAKE NICE)

BUY TICKETS

Written by Simon Martin

Directed by Hunter Brown

New Village Arts | 2787 State Street

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.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PANEL

PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN AT THE DOOR

Suggested donation $10

Moderator: Farah Dinga

New Village Arts | 2787 State Street

Panelists: Kim Heil, Jacole Kitchen, Alyssa Salter, Joy Yvonne Jones

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.

7:30PM ON SAT, APR 2

WE ARE THE FORGOTTEN BEASTS

BUY TICKETS

Written by Christian St. Croix

Directed by Obinne Onyeador

New Village Arts | 2787 State Street

On a scorching summer night at a Riverside, California motel, Archie, a queer Black man reaching 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 the heat rises and painful memories of their shared past begin to surface, the brothers recall an imaginary world they’d created together as children, and meet other motel residents with troubled pasts and imaginary worlds of their own. Drama and comedy blend with pirate tales, alien adventures and fantasy creatures in “We Are the Forgotten Beasts”, a fantastical tale about fathers and brothers, trauma, childhood and the imagination.

ALL NEWS RADIO

BUY TICKETS

Written by “Emmalias” | Emma Caroline Lias

Directed by Jaeonnie Davis-Crawford

New Village Arts | 2787 State Street

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.

3:30PM ON SUN, APR 3

MONOLOGUE WRITING AND PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP

PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN AT THE DOOR

Suggested donation $10

Moderator: Gill Sotu

New Village Arts | 2787 State Street

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 a monologue inspired by events from their own life, in this exciting workshop.

THE SOMALIS & THE SEMPER FI

BUY TICKETS

Written by Morgan Kinally

Directed by Milena (Sellers) Phillips

New Village Arts | 2787 State Street

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?