THE OJAI PLAYWRIGHTS CONFERENCE (OPC) is thrilled to announce its 2010 Season – 13th Annual program of playwrights, readings and special performances featuring some of the most talented, established and up-and-coming playwrights writing today. This year’s Conference includes new works by Jon Robin Baitz, Kate Fodor, Mona Mansour, Len Jenkin, Trieu Tran, Bess Wohl, Thomas Higgins, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, and Ben Rosenthal. There are two special performance events called “Intersections”– the first will feature a brand new work by “Brothers & Sisters” creator Jon Robin Baitz called Other Desert Cities; the second will feature some of the best solo performers ever assembled for a one-of-a-kind evening in Ojai. OPC is also planning its second annual “Family Theatre Day,” a full day of activities devoted to families and younger audiences with two special events especially designed for them. The Conference will begin on Tuesday, August 3 and run through Sunday, August 15 at various venues in Ojai. The public presentations – the OPC “Summer New Works Festival” – will take place August 10 through August 15.
THE OJAI PLAYWRIGHTS CONFERENCE is an annual event fully centered around playwrights and the development of their new plays. The OPC was founded on the belief that gathering a community of world-class theatre artists together in a place of extraordinary beauty can lead to a collaborative process that enables these artists to qualitatively rework and refine their dramatic vision.
Every summer, theatre professionals and enthusiastic audiences from Southern California converge in the magical Ojai Valley to participate in the development of new plays for the American theatre. Under the direction of Artistic Director/Producer Robert Egan, carefully selected playwrights from all over the world join together for an intensive two-week, in-residence workshop that enriches the cultural life of Southern California and beyond. This process culminates in OPC’s popular public performance series – now known as the OPC Summer New Works Festival.
In addition to the presentation of new play workshops, prominent artists from the theatre community appear in engaging public performances for an exchange of ideas on a range of cultural and artistic subjects in the “Intersection Series.” The Ojai Playwrights Conference is also committed to nurturing the writing talents of Southern California youth. Through its Youth Workshop, junior high and high school students participate in a mentoring program with visiting theatre professionals and create their own dramatic works, which are performed during the Festival.
Many plays developed at OPC have gone on to prominent productions at theatres throughout the United States and the world, from the Mark Taper Forum, Goodman Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Broadway, London’s West End and theaters in Asia and Africa.
Playwrights developed at OPC include: Luis Alfaro, Jon Robin Baitz, Doris Baizley, Neena Beber, Stephen Belber, Lee Blessing, Keith Bunin, Bill Cain, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Julia Cho, Rick Cleveland, Steve Connell, Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, Heather Dundas, Christopher Durang, Jessica Goldberg, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Danai Gurira, Cody Henderson, Danny Hoch, Linda Hunt, David Ives, Elroyce Jones, Julia Jordan, Arthur Kopit, Sherry Kramer, Mary Lathrop, Deborah Zoe Laufer, John Rafter Lee, David Lindsay-Abaire, John Quincy Long, Lisa Loomer, Joe Loya, Lynn Manning, Rogelio Martinez, Susan Miller, T.D. Mitchell, Peter Morris, Kira Obolensky, Peter Parnell, Adam Rapp, Ben Rosenthal, Ari Roth, Nikkole Salter, Sekuo (tha Misfit), Bernardo Solano, Kelly Stuart, Lloyd Suh, Annie Weisman, David Wiener, and Charlayne Woodard.
OPC 2010: SUMMER NEW WORKS FESTIVAL – SCHEDULE & PRICES
Tuesday, August 10
7:30 PM, Matilija Auditorium, 703 El Paseo Rd., Downtown Ojai
Intersections #1: Special Performance Event
OTHER DESERT CITIES by Jon Robin Baitz
Premiere reading of this exciting new play by one of America’s greatest living playwrights — with special guest artists to be announced!
Ticket Price: $20
Thursday, August 12
7:30 PM, Matilija Auditorium, 703 El Paseo Rd., Downtown Ojai
Intersections #2: Special Performance Event
AN ALL-STAR EVENING OF SOLO PERFORMANCE
An ensemble of the top solo performers in the country will perform their best dramatic and comedic scenes. Meet the artists in a post-show discussion about theatrical creation and performance.
Tickets: $20
Friday, August 13
7:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
New Play Workshop #1: PSALM 151: HEAVEN HAVE MERCY by Len Jenkin
Tickets: $25
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9:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
New Play Workshop #2: UNCLE HO AND UNCLE SAM by Trieu Tran
Tickets: $25
Saturday, August 14
10:00 AM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
WAKE UP YOUR WIERD by Leslie Carrara-Rudolph – FAMILY DAY EVENT
Tickets: $20 Adults; $5 Children 17 & under
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1:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
OPC YOUTH WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE – FAMILY DAY EVENT
Tickets: $20 Adults; $5 Children 17 & under
Saturday, August 14 – continued
4:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
New Play Workshop #3: BARCELONA by Bess Wohl
Ticket Price: $25
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8:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
New Play Workshop #4: URGE FOR GOING by Mona Mansour
Ticket Price: $25
Reception immediately following the evening performance.
Sunday, August 15
1:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
New Play Workshop #5 – Rx by Kate Fodor
Ticket Price: $25
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4:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
New Play Workshop #6: WILD ANIMALS YOU SHOULD KNOW by Thomas Higgins
Ticket Price: $25
FOR TICKETS
An All Access Pass, that includes admission to all performances in the OPC Summer New Works Festival, is $190. Tickets are available by calling 805.640.0400 or visit www.ojaiplays.org.
