Due to increasing popularity and rising success, Malibu’s Third International Festival of One Act Plays promises to be the best yet, and boasts a plethora of high-profile producers, directors and actors.
By Christian Port/Special to The Malibu Times
“See your work alive and on its feet!” These were the hopeful words that St. Aidan’s Church Better Entertainment League (SABEL) advertised when searching for original, spiritually and morally themed one acts by ambitious playwrights to produce for a small festival. Little did they know at the time that the International Festival of One Acts would be a widespread success and that it would become an annual community event in Malibu.
SABEL formed from after-Sunday-service coffee meetings of a group of entertainment industry parishioners. Original one-act plays began arriving at the church office from all over the U.S. and Canada. Required of the plays was that they provide two hours of morally, uplifting entertainment.
Malibu resident Paul Almond, called SABEL’s “driving force” by associates, is the producer of the festival. Almond, a director, has won numerous awards in Canada and the U.S. He was named Officer of The Order of Canada in 1992 by the Governor General of Canada and the same year he was awarded Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee Medal.
With the success of last year’s sold out festival in mind, SABEL has sought to expand upon its original goals and appeal to new audiences with its third festival of one acts.
“We guaranteed to tickle your funny bone, as well as massage your heart,” is this year’s theme, said director Michael Preece, who has a 50-year career as a director in television and film. (Some of Preece’s credits include television’s “Dallas” MacGyver” and “Walker Texas Ranger,” and the film “The Prize Fighter,” starring Tim Conway and Don Knotts.)
As a result, this year’s festival will culminate the fusion of morality and entertainment, celebrating elevated themes while still allowing room for fun. These ideals are clearly achieved and supported by the fact that more than seven of the 12 plays to be performed are comedies.
In addition to the conception of the unique theme this year, the festival has accumulated a company of talented actors with experience in television, film and theater. Among the many well-known names are Jonathan Goldsmith (“The Shootist,” “Murder She Wrote”), Janet Carroll (“Risky Business,” “Forces of Nature”), Aloma Wright (“Scrubs”), Malibu local David Hayward (“Beverly Hills 90210”) and Olymic Gold medalist swimmer Greg Louganis, a 20-year Malibu resident.
Also, Malibu High School students Derrius Visher and Casson Kauffman, as well as Samantha Posey and Ramses Visher of the school’s production of “Les Miserables” will debut in the festival.
Among returning directors, including Almond and Preece, are writer, director and producer Gy Waldron, and director Billy Graham. Waldron directed and toured the rock opera “Tommy” and wrote and directed the feature film “Moonrunners.” He has also co-produced numerous documentaries and has written extensively for network television. Graham, who started directing in 1954 on live television with the Kraft Theater in New York, switched to episodic television in 1962 on “Naked City” and “Route 66.” After coming to L.A., he directed series such as “X Files.”
Joining the veterans is Andrew Chiaramonte, writer and director of the feature film “Twogether.” Chiaramonte is directing several of the one acts to be performed in the festival.
Steven Kinigstein is the composer in residence. He composed music during the 1970s for the Jewish Repertory Theater of New York City and was a member of the orchestra for the Broadway productions of “Grease” and “They’re’ Playing Our Song.” He moved to Malibu in 1993, and wrote scores for movies such as “Star Trek” and for interactive video and commercials. He has composed distinct themes for each of the festivals.
The event will still take place in its home, the Malibu Stage Company, 29243 Pacific Coast Highway. The plays will be presented over two, weeklong periods. Week 1, Feb. 5-8, will feature the work of Graham, Preece and Waldron. Week 2, Feb. 12 -15, will include acts directed by Chiaramonte and Almond. For ticket purchasing information, contact the Festival Ticket Center at 310.589.9151.