Aloha Performing Arts Company

Aloha Performing Arts Company
P.O. Box 794
Kealakekua, HI 96750
6/23/06

PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jerry Tracy or Sam Valenti, 322-9924

APAC ANNOUNCES SCRIPTS AND AUDITIONS FOR OPF XIII

Aloha Performing Arts Company recently completed the script selection process for its 13th annual Original Play Festival. Out of a field of 18 entries, 6 scripts were chosen and will be given staged readings at the Aloha Theatre in August. Over 70 roles will be cast at festival auditions July 10 and 11 at 6:30 at APAC's loft in Kainaliu.

Original Play Festival XIII will be staged Wednesday through Saturday, August 16-19 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday will feature a double bill: "The Waiting Room," written and directed by Ka'u resident Dick Hershberger, will begin the evening. The play is a series of nine sketches, takes place in various waiting rooms, and has a cast of over 20, many of whom could be either gender, and most of whom will double. After an intermission, "Subliminal Implications," a comic drama by well known Kona performer Molly McGivern, will be presented, directed by David A. Payne and Kestrel Bishop. The script, an exploration of the mind/body connection, requires 4 men and 3 women.

Thursday night, August 17, Robin O'Hara will make her directing debut with "A Fortnight at Tripler" by Honolulu playwright James Peter Stanton. The show, with a cast of 4 men and 3 women, is a hard hitting, intense story of a soldier trying to adjust to and recuperate from severe injuries received in Iraq.

Friday August 18 offers another double bill. First, "Bugged," a whimsical children's musical by Kona's Eileen Weiner will be directed by Sue Boyum. The show has a cast of 7 males, 3 females, and 5 characters that could be either gender. Most of the characters could be portrayed by either children or adults. Following intermission, Michael Simms will make his APAC directing debut with "La Cantina," a mystery by Hilo author Zena Zeller. The play, with a cast of 3 men and 4 women, takes place in a ghost town just north of the Mexican border and features the spirit of a Mexican general, who is invisible to most but not all.

Saturday August 19 offers the final show of the festival, "Madame Ruby," a romantic comedy by former Kona resident Sandra Brace, directed by Kaz Hollinger, also making her APAC directing debut. The script is reminiscent of Noel Coward and features a medium, spirits, and a seance. Ten women and six men are needed for this cast.

Each evening's performance will be followed by a discussion with the audience. Sunday, August 20 will feature a wrap up celebration of the entire festival. Actor/readers who are cast in the festival do not have to memorize lines, as scripts will be carried in all staged readings. Each show rehearses only once a week, and technical presentation will be extremely minimal. Auditions, held at APAC's loft in Kainaliu at 6:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday July 10 and 11, will consist of reading from the scripts. The six directors will all be casting simultaneously, by taking turns auditioning actor/readers. Scripts are available for onsite perusal at the APAC office Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m til 5:30 p.m. For more information, call Sam at 322-9924.