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DETAILS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL PLAYS
(Listed by Program)

PROGRAM 1 - Sundays & Tuesdays

Seven Jewish Children by Caryl Chuchhill • Directed by Federico Moramarco

Cast: Amanda Austin, Brian Burke, Allison MacDonald, June Gottlieb, Selina Turnbull Wood, Tracey McNeil, Charles Peters, George Weinberg-Harter
    Children suffer in war. They suffer through fear, pain, uncertainty, and death. They do not know when the next blast will hit, where it will land, where they can hide. Children only want to play, to be free from worry, to be safe. Adults worry and pray, but nothing can guarantee that children in a warzone will survive. A dialogue and chorus of voices honoring the Jewish children in Israel that must live under the shadow of hate and war.

Violets Bloom at Sunset by Paola Hornbuckle • Directed by Kevin Six
Cast: Charles Peters, Jorge Rodriguez , Brian Burke, Paola Hornbuckle
   It is 1950s Spain and a fascist regime has passed the Law Against Vagrants and Evildoers condemning homosexuality. Andres, a young closeted homosexual from a conservative family must suffer the consequences. Along with his friend Jose, he confronts the sadistic local priest, Father Navarro, who runs the reformation home for homosexuals. What no one knows is that Father Navarro is hiding and repressing many things, even from himself. Andres turns to the writings of Federico Garcia Lorca, the great homosexual playwright murdered at the hands of the government to survive.

Welcome to Ramallah by Sonja Linden & Adah Kay • Directed by Charlie Riendau    See Poster

Cast: Allison McDonald, Saiid Zamingir, Haig Koshkarian, Sherri Allen  Co-Directed by Paola Hornbuckle
   In Ramallah, a city in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, two Jewish American sisters, Nat and Mara, are spending a pleasant evening with their Palestinian friends, Salim and his nephew, Daoud. The sisters' father used to bring them to a Kibbutz when they were small and they have pleasant memories of their childhood. But Salim only remembers that his land was taken away and he can no longer visit his home. Soon their discussion leads to more revelations that touches all of them. A microcosm of the Jewish-Palestinian Conflict played out with great humanity within four human souls. Written by Jewish playwrights inspired and transformed by the experience of living in Ramallah.

PROGRAM 2 - Mondays & Wednesday

An American Sunset by Jack Shea •  Directed by Nick Reeves • (show staff)
Cast: Rebecca Lundy,  Rob Conway, Sam Teres, Chris Megginson, Zeek Serrano
    The American Civil War tore the country apart, sometimes pitting brother against brother, father against son, friend against friend. Through the violence of political ideology, common ground can be found, sometimes in something as basic as the civilizing power of music. When a Yankee captain discovers his son has been fighting for the Rebel forces, he must choose a way to accept the unacceptable and honor him even though he is the enemy.

Blondes by Frank Higgins • Directed by Kevin Six

Cast: Calandra Crane,  Wendy Savage,  Sacha Allen
  In war many compromises and sacrifices must be made. One does not always follow the rules. The main rule is survival. In a village in Tikrit, Irak, Private Joy Harmon is asked to do something quite unconventional, but that might save lives. And all she has to do is be blonde. How does being a blonde female soldier bring benefits in Irak? This is a secret Private Harmon is going to try to keep.

Cottonmouth Jubilee by K. Biadaszkiewicz • Directed by David Paye

Cast: Julie Raelyn, Christe Miller, Laura Beth Hague
   Based on actual historical accounts, three young Southern women sip lemonade on the porch waiting for floodwaters of the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 to subside. On a muddy levy across the flooded fields, black workers and their families huddle in makeshift tents, guarded by armed plantation owners to be sure the work continues as soon as possible. What happens when a ship docks, and opens its doors to the black families, offering food and shelter? 

Stations by Michael Hemmingson • Directed by David Meredith • Asst.Dir. Bailey Rose Neill
Cast: Bailey Rose Neil, Cody Menasche, Reina Menasche, Alisha Perry, Charles Peters  
  Sandy Fletcher is a very young woman hiding a very dark secret. Rape. A secret that derailed her life, her self-esteem, and broke her heart. It is at a train station where she stands ready to go and face her past that she meets her future: a little boy, Chris, as lost as she. He is alone, son of a drifter, street wise and lost. Together, two broken souls form a union that sustains, nourishes, and eventually redeems.

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Staff - AN AMERICAN SUNSET

Nicol Reeves (Assistant Director) is pursuing a degree in Musical Theatre at UCSD, and recently assistant directed The Wizard of Oz at the Coronado Playhouse. When she was 13, Nicol transferred to a local private school where she soon found herself in supporting and leading roles in plays such as Hello Dolly, Our Town, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Nicol’s strengths include vocal training, acting, and movement. She has used these skills as assistant director at the Centers of Learning by the Sea Extended Program and Imagination Express…All-Aboard. Nicol is determined to live her life revealing the unlimited potential of those around her. She has seen first-hand the value of arts in education. Her goal is to open a theatre that gives children the opportunity to express themselves in an environment of trust and support.  

Judah Buxton (Assistant Director) has been acting and performing for over fifteen years, with nearly ten years of experience in the art of mime. Together with Rosemarie Ballard, he develops productions for a local mime company, Imagination Express…All-Aboard.  Judah has been acting and directing since 1992 and has a B.A. in Theatre from San Diego State University. He has taught theatre and mime for Centers of Learning by the Sea Extended Program, Christian Youth Theatre, Images Theatre Company, and the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. He recently assistant directed The Wizard of Oz at the Coronado Playhouse. Judah loves children and will teach and entertain for as long as he can. A child’s innocence, honesty, and spirit of discovery are always an inspiration. 

David M. Modzak (Technical Advisor) was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He is a Navy veteran and Project Manager for SPAWAR, who is also a part time voice actor with Voiceacting.com. He has greatly enjoyed his experience working with the Resilience of the Spirit Festival on the plays Stations and An American Sunset. David is a Martial Arts practitioner/instructor and military advisor for the US Navy Special Forces and United States Marine Corps.

Erich Einfalt (Original Music/Sound Effects) experimented with the piano, trumpet and many other instruments, but found his voice in the guitar under the tutelage of one of Ohio’s finest jazz guitarists, John Justus. Later, he studied composition with Eastman School of Music alumna Dr. Mary-Jean Van Appledorn and devoured a brief stint of one-on-one time with avant-garde composer George Crumb. Erich has composed television documentary scores that have garnered over 20 American Advertising Federation Awards (Addy’s) in as many years, as well as underscores for non-musical theatrical productions. He is currently working on an orchestral work, “The Toy Box”, that reflects the unlimited scope and instant inventiveness of the imagination of children at play. He recently provided the arrangement and orchestrations for a seven piece orchestra for The Wizard of Oz at the Coronado Playhouse.