Theater athome: Local companies present new works.
San Jose’s City Lights Theater Company and Theatreworks Silicon Valley both have new works in the works for at-home audiences during the next couple months.
This year City Lights Theater Company decided to turn its “Lights Up!” Festival into a four-episode podcast series on Filament. The series features eight short plays (two per episode) covering comedy, drama and monologues.
The series began April 6 and this past Tuesday, with the remaining two episodes airing on Tuesday and April 27. Melinda Marks and Roneet Aliza Rahamim share the directing duties.
The lineup includes ““Backseat Driver” and “Window in Flight” on Tuesday; and “Gram Scams” and “Until Tomorrow” on April 27.
An ensemble of actors, most of whom play multiple roles, include Leigh Rondon-davis, David Boyll, Oluchi Nwokocha, Chiarra Sorci, Kieran Beccia and Arcadia Conrad.
The podcast will be embedded at cltc. org/filament and also available for download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast hubs.
Thanks to San Jose Water Company, which is underwriting the Filament podcasts, listeners can tune in to the festival for free. But donations are welcome via cldc.org/donate or via text to 833-9203003.
‘Tomorrow’s hits’ at Theatreworks
New Works Director Giovanna Sardelli calls Theatreworks’ New Works Festival “an advance look at tomorrow’s hits.” The festival kicks off April 23 with songs, monologues and scenes by a number of actors and performers. The online festival includes a sneak peek at the hit indie folk-rock musical “Lizard Boy,” which will launch Theatreworks’ 51st season in the fall. There will also be a digital rap piece inspired by themes from Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” as interpreted by acclaimed group, Bay Area Theatre Cypher.
The festival also features two works that examine the impact and ramifications of the Muslim travel ban. Surprisingly, one is a comedy that explores friendship in the time of war, while the other is a drama that celebrates the indomitable human spirit that remains during horrible crises that divide families, countries and even marriages.
Among the artists participating in the Kickoff Event are Min Kahng, who performed in the Theatreworks production of “The Four Immigrants,” Geetha Reddy (“Safe House”), Mansa Ra (“Too Heavy for Your Pocket”) and Lynn Rosen (“The Imperialists”).
In addition to a lineup of play readings and musicals, Sardelli says, additional on-demand events will include conversations with playwrights Karen Fahmy and Betty Shamieh, whose “A Distinct Society,” and “As Soon as Impossible,” respectively, are featured in the festival.
The New Works Festival runs through May 15. All events and plays will be livestreamed via www.theatreworks.org, where festival passes can be purchased starting at $10.