On Theater: New Play Festival set for Laguna on 2 weekends

Got $10 and want to see six new plays that were virtually born in your back yard?

That can happen Nov. 7 and 14 at the second annual Laguna Beach New Play Festival, launched by the Art Colony’s Gallimaufry Performing Arts in cooperation with the Orange County Playwrights Alliance.

A half-dozen original plays — written by Orange County playwrights — will be offered in staged readings in the Forum Theater on the Festival of Arts grounds.

A $10 “festival pass” admits the playgoer to as many of the new projects as he or she wishes.

The first three productions, scheduled for Nov. 7 are:

 Noon — “Murielle’s Big Date” by Kenneth La Salle of Anaheim. It’s her third date with Mark, and Murielle’s friends Sam and Angela are there to help out — if they don’t scare him away first. The playwright directs.

 2 p.m. — “Freed” by Erica Bennett of Fullerton. A near-death experience forces Sally to revisit her past relationships with men, and a psychiatrist challenges her to confront her demons. Tam Warner is directing.

 4 p.m. — “A High Concept Killing” by Donna Bader of Laguna Beach. A struggling screenwriter and a felonious creative scripter combine in this comedy-drama with adult themes. The director is yet to be announced.

The Nov. 14 program includes:

 Noon — “Inside My Father’s Apple Tree” by Mark Piatelli of Santa Ana. A gay man’s return to Boston after his father’s death is the theme of this drama with strong sexual situations and adult language. Director to be announced.

 2 p.m. — “Hard” by Eric Eberwein of Huntington Beach. An Orange County college professor recruits two of his former students to make a sexploitation film in the Mojave Desert, altering the lives of all involved. Directed by Tamiko Washington.

 4 p.m. — “The Troubles on 42nd Street” by Jordan R. Young of Orange. The 1950s monumental Broadway fiasco “Nora and the Bogman” is the focus of this new play, defusing the bomb from backstage. The director has not been announced.

While these will be staged readings, with scripts in hand, Gallimaufry Executive Director Steve Josephson promises that they’ll have “the power of a production.”

More information on the new play festival is available from Gallimaufry at (714) 902-5716.

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Coastline Pilot.