The Car Plays took Orange County by storm at the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center’s Off-Center Festival, featuring nine days of adventurous theatre, music and dance.

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STREET

PCH by Trey Nichols | Directed by Kim Glann
A husband and wife (Michael Shutt and Sara Wagner) become disoriented on their way to finalize divorce papers. Was a wrong turn taken? Or is something murkier going on…?

Flooding by Jami Brandli | Directed by Michael Shutt
Brenda and Charlie (Rebecca Davis Robertson and Magee Kundrat) try to take a simple drive to a coffee shop but there’s a problem. Brenda has a phobia of cars and Charlie has a phobia of small spaces.

Choke Chain by Jennifer Maisel | Directed by Sara Wagner
A daily drive takes an unusual turn. A dream derailed. How long do you have to be your sister’s keeper? With Carolyn Almos and T. Lynn Mikeska.

Five and a Half Weeks by Leslye Headland | Directed by Larry Biederman
A brief encounter between two co-workers (Stoney Westmoreland and Jennifer Sorenson) leads to sexual and moral frustration.

Two Fellas, One Fella by Paul Stein | Directed by Michael David
Two men (Jon Amirkhan and Gary Marschall) for hire attempt to score a package, waiting for them in an unknown vehicle. The pickup and expectant delivery does not go as planned.

AVENUE

Custody* (Jan 14 & 15) by Morgan Krantz | Directed by Steve Lozier
An eleven-year-old boy (Sean Eaton), while spending time with his father (Tony DeCarlo), is forced to decide which parent will win his custody.

How Gravity Works* (Jan 20 & 21) by Terence Anthony | Directed by Ronnie Clark
A displaced mother and daughter (Diarra Kilpatrick and Wynter Daggs) struggle to overcome a broken promise.

Prom: Time Out by Meghan Gambling | Directed by Jenifer Yeuroukis
A clandestine tutorial outside senior prom tests the boundaries of Lydia (Sarah Greyson) and Katie’s (Katie Malia) friendship.

The Audience by Kiff Scholl | Directed by Matt Bretz
What is supposed to be a compelling night of site-specific theater, comically devolves, as the play never starts and the audience is forced to fend for themselves. With David Youse and Ron Morehouse.

Am I Losin’ by Ron Klier | Directed by Ross Kramer
Pat (Derrick LeMont) visits the old neighborhood and runs into Karl (Andrew Miller), who resents his successes. Proof that, for Pat, you really can never go home again.

Foolish Heart by Steve Yockey | Directed by Ron Klier
Keith (Johnny Clark) would do anything to help his wife Mindy (Jennifer Christopher) cope with her manic grief. Almost anything. This time she might have gone too far.

* Due to the performers’ young age, these two plays are sharing a time slot.

ROAD

Easy Listening by Craig Wright | Directed by Paul Stein
A suicidal man (double cast: Jeffrey Johnson and Tony Maggio) can’t decide on the right song to kill himself to — until a call from his wife (Jenny Gillett) helps him see the obvious answer.

Bohemian. Like You. by EM Lewis | Directed by Darin Anthony
Richie (Peter James Smith) has known Melody (Daria Balling) and Don (Warren Davis) forever. But he didn’t know they did this…

Waiting for the Tow by Herman Poppe | Directed by Kimberley Browning
A couple (Lauren Letherer and Vince Parenti) in their 40s, wait for a tow truck, only to discover the car might not be their only problem.

Warriors by Will Hackner | Directed by Vesna Hocevar | Assistant Director Lemuel Thornton III
Two wounded veterans (Luke Baybak and Brent Popolizio) come to grips with their own mortality and friendship when faced with their impending deaths.

The Love of Make-Believe by JJ Strong | Directed by Kiff Scholl
A maid-of-honor and a best man (McCready Baker and David Bertolami) indulge in a post-reception tryst that leaves them both hopelessly caught between their pasts and futures.

In collaboration with Mosaicwonderland and artist/owner Kimberly Jordan, Moving Arts presents a collection of original scenes and monologues inspired by the mosaics and paintings in Ms. Jordan’s current exhibition.

Due to the project’s success in September and October 2011, Moving Arts will be hosting a third installment of the series in spring of 2012. Please stay tuned for more details, and join us for the next chapter of this exciting event.

Producer:
Jenny Gillett

Featured Players:
Jason Duplissea
Jenny Gillett
Johanna McKay
Bobbi Lynne Scott
Sara Wagner

Written works:

Max Capacity (inspired by “Weeping Woman”)
Written by Dana Schwartz
Directed by Sara Wagner

A Message for the King (inspired by “Harlequin in Black”)
Written by Trey Nichols
Directed by Julie Briggs

Family Style (inspired by “Julia and Randolph”)
Written and directed by Jason Duplissea

…AM… (inspired by “Mona”)
Written by Steve Lozier
Directed by Jason Duplissea

and furthermore I’d like to say… (inspired by “Weeping Woman”)
Written by Dana Schwartz
Directed by Sara Wagner

Mosaic Couple With Wine (inspired by “A Conversation”)
Written by Trey Nichols
Directed by Sara Wagner

Social Grace (inspired by “A Conversation”)
Written by Meghan Gambling
Directed by Sara Wagner

“This unique melding of site-specific theater and freeway crawl should be hailed as a local treasure… the production’s voyeuristic appeal is undeniable.” —LA Weekly

The Car Plays examines what transpires in vehicles and gives the theater patrons a voyeuristic view inside many of these moments and lives.

In Los Angeles, we constantly break up in cars, make up in cars, laugh, live and die in cars.  This year’s installment of The Car Plays, conceived by former Moving Arts Artistic Director Paul Stein, will be presented at the inaugural RADAR L.A. Festival.  This collection of fifteen to thirty 10-minute pieces are all written by Moving Arts and other Angeleno playwrights.  The plays are presented INSIDE actual cars – with an audience of two to each car.  Each night features fifteen parked cars separated into three rows of five.  Carhops escort audience (individual parties of two) to the parked vehicles, wherein all of the ten-minute plays are simultaneously performed.  In the span of one hour the audience experiences five distinct stories.

View The Car Plays gallery

Read The Car Plays buzz

Get the scoop about the history of The Car Plays! Read Artistic Producer Paul Stein’s article chronicling the creation of The Car Plays at the L.A. Stage Times blog.

CAR PLAYS: L.A. STORIES PRODUCTION STAFF
Paul Stein – Creator and Artistic Producer
Steve Lozier^ – Producer
Kim Glann^ – Producer
Cece Tio^ – Producer
Lemuel H. Thornton III – Assistant Producer
Dylan Gardner – Stage Manager
Cirby Hatano – Stage Manager
Vesna Hocevar^ – Stage Manager
Bradley McCoy – Stage Manager
Jessica Smith^ – Graphic Designer

PLAY LIST WITH PLAYWRIGHTS, DIRECTORS AND CAST

*Actors Equity Member ^Moving Arts Member

Before coming to Los Angeles she co-founded and managed GUD Sibi, an award-winning theatre company. It was there that she directed her first multi media performance vPETa, which sealed her fate and transformed her into a full time artist. She never looked back, surrendering herself to devising in both theatre and film world. While not completely submerged in theatre, Vesna moonlights as a producer/Head Dreamer at a film production company Vindicated Dream.

Director: Blank (2011), A Glass of Karma (2010), She Creatures (2010), The Successor (2010) ), Singular Of Dice (2009), 2Dance (2008 stop motion animation); AD: Drive (2011), Doomsayer (2009), Butterfly Wings (2008);

Producer: Ligature, 16th OAF(2011), The Mystery of Irma Vep (2010), ASAP Fables (2010), 15^th OAF (2009), Knucklehead (2010), Sashwood (2009), Horror Tres (2010)

SM: The Car Plays, 15^th OAF (2009); 10 Years… (2009). ASM: TopDog/UnderDog (2010), The Prodigal Father (2009).

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Terence is the creator of the animated web series Orlando’s Joint, and produced an animated version of his short play Choke.

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