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Curtain Calls by Pat Launer
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SAN DIEGO THEATRE SCENE
"CURTAIN CALLS" #249
By Pat Launer
www.sdtheatrescene.com
07/04/08
Comedy, drama and invective:
A Festival with a New Perspective
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Theatre Onslaught
The first annual New Perspective Festival featured 24 plays in three days (well, actually, each play was presented twice over the course of two weekends, but I saw ‘em all over three
bleary-eyed evenings). 18 playwrights, 60 characters, 53 actors, 21 directors: a veritable plethora of performances.
In the absence of the annual Actors Festival (suspended for this year), a group of local theatermakers got together and put on their own show. A really big show, composed of really short plays -- less than 15
minutes each. The energy and muscle behind the dramatic happening were festival director and president Kelly Lapczynski, VP and technical director Sally Stockton, treasurer/PR director Kristina Meek, and secretary/box office manager Jennie
Olson, with online ‘viral marketing' (some of it very clever) by Kevin Six. Adding all the volunteers, and the help of DJ Sullivan in securing the Swedenborg Hall, there were more than 100 non-union San Diego theater artists involved. And
many more in the audience. In fact, it was a sellout, SRO crowd each night I was there. Judging from some of the responses, numbers of those audience members had never been in a theater before; from the catcalls and inappropriate callouts,
some seemed to think it was a ballgame or home movie. No matter. Many seasoned writers got to show their stuff, budding writers got to stretch their wings and actors got to direct or design or do things they hadn't done
before.
Read all of Pat's Column at www.sdtheatre.com
 Southern California Theatre / Concerts / Cabaret / Special Events
BRAVISSIMO MINI-REVIEWS & FEATURES
By Arts Columnist ROB APPEL
TOAST TO HILLCREST
T
he
Hillcrest History Guild (HHG)
is selling tickets for its second annual Toast to Hillcrest event, to be held Thursday, Aug. 14 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The event gives participants the opportunity to celebrate Hillcrest,
named one of the top 10 neighborhoods in America in 2007, while enjoying wine, spirits and appetizers at numerous restaurants and bars throughout the area. Crest Cafe, City Deli, Urban Mo's, Baja Betty's,
Number One Fifth Avenue are only a few that have already committed to serve up tastes and toasts. A red double-decker bus will also cruise the neighborhood providing transportation for participants. All proceeds from the
event benefit the HHG. Visit
www.hillcresthistory.org
for more information or to purchase tickets.
Read Rob's Entire Column
 Behind the Scenes
by Jenni Prisk
Jenni is in Iceland. Back next Week
READ ALL OF JENNI'S COLUMN
 Community Theatre Beat
by Hitch
Hitch will be back next week.
...
read all of Hitch's Column
San Diego Theatre Teen Perspective
by Alice Cash
Can you picture the celebrity you are obsessed with? How awesome would it be if that person came to your town, was on TV with you, and gave you his/her final kiss? In the current musical Bye Bye Birdie,
playing at San Diego Musical Theatre, this dream becomes a reality. Set in the 1950's this piece tells the story of a rock and roll teenage (as well as a couple mothers) heartthrob singer, who is drafted into the army and his
agent who plots one last publicity stunt.
Agent Albert Peterson was played by Paul Clausen playing opposite his secretary Rosie Alvarez played by Natalie Nucci. James Royce Edwards played the rock and roll superstar, Conrad Birdie, who
could definitely hit those notes as well as those infamous Elvis pelvic thrusts. He was always fun to watch with his gold shiny outfit standing out brightly on stage. My friend and I were especially amused by his sparkly gold
platform sneakers. Kim MacAfee, a small town girl is chosen to give Birdie "One Last Kiss," was played by Jill Townsend, who was always very sweet and kind in her role. The president of the Conrad Birdie Fan Club and a
bit insane, Ursula, was played by Stefanie Miller who with her eccentricity was always my favorite actress to watch on stage. I especially loved her ear-splitting shriek whenever Birdie's name was said. John
Martin played Kim's Father with his voice moving about all over the place and funny physicality.
The set was lighthearted and fun, taking you back to the decade of conformity designed by Chris Beyries. The costumes were gorgeous! So much beautiful clothing to make your head spin. In each
scene there were new, superb costumes to look at designed by Roslyn Lehman. Jennifer Edwards designed lighting with sound by Larry Esau.
Don Le Master
, the musical director and conductor, brought the most well known songs in musical theatre to life such as "Put on a Happy Face" and "Kids." But the most exciting part about this production was the choreography
by Dan Mojica, who also directed this show.
READ
ALL OF ALICE'S COLUMN
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