The John Lion New Plays Festival is named for the former Producing Director of the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival in acknowledgment of Lion’s achievements in theatre and education. Lion founded the award-winning Magic Theatre in San Francisco, which has helped develop many of America’s contemporary playwrights, including Pulitzer Prize-winning, playwright Sam Shepard. Every other year we host a series of readings of new plays, written by Cal State LA student playwrights. The following year, we give one or more of those plays a full production.
For this year’s reading series, a company of actors, along with the playwrights, dramaturgs, and directors met together weekly in a workshop course – TA 4890 Advanced Creative Workshop, Mon/Wed 6-7:40pm, taught by Festival Director/Dramaturg Dr. Carolyn Dunn – to work on the four original, student-written scripts that were chosen. They are thrilled to be presenting these four new works in this Spring's festival reading series.
MAY 4TH READINGS:
WE ARE LINKED BY BLOOD AND NOTHING ELSE
Written by Skye Connors
Directed by Christopher Robin
CAST
Lily: Katherine Ozawa
William: Cliff Connors
Stage Directions: Henry Meza
FAST FOOD: THE MUSICAL
Written by Veronica Driscoll
Directed by Christopher Cid
CAST
Customer: Cesar Lopez-Belmudez
Charlie: Delilah Valerie
Lou: Benjamin Leon
Gary: Dylan Crawford
Fran: Audrey Marie
Manager: Ty Lackey
Newbie: Coko Kirton
Drew: Dominique Turner
Sandy: Adriana Davila
Elegance Theatre Dude: Maissel Vizcarra
F. Freedman: Jessica Kilgore
Catelyn: Amy Luna-Beltrán
Barista 1: Jessica Kilgore
Barista 2: Benjamin Leon
Barista 3: Audrey Marie
Barista 4: Dylan Crawford
Mobile Order: Cesar Lopez -Belmudez
Bulk Brewed: Jessica Kilgore
Stage Directions: Katherine Ozawa
MAY 5TH READINGS:
THE NIGHT SHIFT
Written by Kaitlyn Avila
Directed by Dr. Carolyn Dunn
CAST
Heliodoro: Henry Meza
Berenice: Maissel Vizcarra
Chaz: Dylan Crawford
Krystal: Adriana Davila
Ronnie: Jessica Kilgore
Radio AD: Delilah Valerie
Warehouse Worker 1: Adriana Davila
Warehouse Worker 2: Ty Lackey
Warehouse Owner: Jessica Kilgore
Riley/Ghost: Delilah Valerie
Ghosts: Ty Lackey
Stage Directions: Dominique Turner
LA REINA ES EL REY
Written by Frank Ramirez
Directed by Jason Grasl
CAST
Luz: Amy Luna-Beltrán
Juan: Cesar Lopez-Belmudez
Don Candido: Roberto Alcaraz Jr. “Profe”
Doña Margarita (also La Bruja): Dr. Carolyn Dunn
Ceci: Dominique Turner
Margarita: Maissel Vizcarra
The Taxman: Dylan Crawford
Patron Chorus: Benjamin Leon, Henry Meza, and Audrey Marie
Stage Directions: Ty Lackey