OJAI PLAYWRIGHTS CONFERENCE Opens With Intersections 8/9

THE OJAI PLAYWRIGHTS CONFERENCE (OPC) is kicking off its 14th annual Summer New Works Festival of playwrights, readings and special performances with two special performance events called "Intersections"-- the first will feature a special theatrical presentation by Gangland priest Greg Boyle of his national best-selling book of urban parables, Tattoos On The Heart on Tuesday, August 9 at 7:30 pm; the second will feature a reading of a new musical - Black Sun, a collaboration between Stephen Belber and the Counting Crows front-man Adam Duritz - on Thursday, August 11 at 7:30 pm. Both will be held at Matilija Auditorium in Ojai. Tickets available online at www.ojaiplays.org.

INTERSECTION #1 - TATTOOS ON THE HEART by GREG BOYLE
Tattoos On the Heart is a series of dramatic, breathtaking parables distilled from Father Greg Boyle's twenty years of working in a Los Angeles neighborhood with an extremely high concentration of murderous gang activity. Filled with sparkling humor and glowing generosity, this presentation will offer a stirring look at the power of loving joyfully and unconditionally.

An ordained Jesuit priest since 1982, Father Greg Boyle has been the pastor of Dolores Mission in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. The church sits between two large public housing projects, Pico Gardens and Aliso Village, known for decades as the gang capital of the world. Affectionately known as G-dog, Father Greg founded Homeboy Industries nearly twenty years ago. It has served members of more than half the gangs in Los Angeles. In Homeboy Industries' various businesses - baking, silk-screening, landscaping - gang affiliations are left outside as young people work together, side by side, learning mutual respect.

INTERSECTION #2 - A NEW MUSICAL!
BLACK SUN by Stephen Belber and Adam Duritz
Eight New Yorkers - some new, some old, some just returning after having given up - confront perplexing questions and surprising answers in the wake of a world where the sun has disappeared. At first the Black Sun lasts only 23 seconds, creating havoc and moments of solace. But this upside down world eventually becomes permanent. Everything turns into something totally strange and revelatory. Adam Duritz, Counting Crows lead singer, turns his inimitable and searing songwriting skills to theater for the first time in a collaboration with acclaimed playwright and OPC alum, Stephen Belber. Together they will create music and words that cut to the heart of what it means to live life anew.

Stephen Belber has been produced on Broadway and in over 25 countries. His plays include Match (Tony nomination for Frank Langella); Dusk Rings a Bell, (Atlantic Theater Company); Tape (Naked Angels NY/LA/London); McReele (Roundabout Theater); A Small, Melodramatic Story (LAByrinth Theater Company); Geometry of Fire (Rattlestick); Fault Lines (Cherry Lane); One Million Butterflies (Primary Stages); and Carol Mulroney (Huntington Theater Company). He was an Associate Writer on The Laramie Project (Drama Desk/Lortel nominations), and co-writer on the recent Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. Movies include Tape, directed by Richard Linklater; The Laramie Project (Associate Writer/Emmy Nomination for screenwriting); Drifting Elegant, and Management, which he also directed, starring Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn.

Adam Duritz is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film producer. Best known for his role as principal composer, front-man and vocalist for the rock band Counting Crows, Duritz has recorded solo material of his own, and collaborated with other musical acts, leading him to branch out as the owner of at least two record labels.

THE OJAI PLAYWRIGHTS CONFERENCE SUMMER NEW WORKS FESTIVAL is an annual event fully centered on playwrights and the development of their new plays. OPC was founded on the belief that gathering a community of world-class theatre artists together in a place of extraordinary beauty and creative focus can lead to a collaborative process that enables
artists to qualitatively rework and refine their dramatic vision. Under the direction of OPC

Artistic Director/Producer Robert Egan, carefully selected playwrights from diverse backgrounds join together for an intensive two-week, in-residence workshop. This process culminates in OPC's popular public performance series -known as the OPC Summer New Works Festival.

OPC 2011 - SUMMER NEW WORKS FESTIVAL - SCHEDULE & PRICES

Tuesday, August 9
7:30 PM, Matilija Auditorium, 703 El Paseo Rd., Downtown Ojai
Intersections #1: Special Performance Event
TATTOOS ON THE HEART by Greg Boyle
Tickets: $20

Thursday, August 11
7:30 PM, Matilija Auditorium, 703 El Paseo Rd., Downtown Ojai
Intersections #2: Special Performance Event
BLACK SUN by Stephen Belber and Adam Duritz
Tickets: $20

Friday, August 12
7:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
New Play Workshop #1: THE ZIMBABWE PROJECT by Danai Gurira
Tickets: $25

9:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
New Play Workshop #2: RED FLAMBOYANT by Don Nguyen
Tickets: $25

Saturday, August 13
10:00 AM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
FAMILY DAY EVENT: Smoke and Mirrors and Magic
With Albie Selznick, Handsome Jack and Rob Zabreck
Tickets: $20 Adults; $10 Youth 17 & under

1:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
OPC YOUTH WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE
Tickets: $20 Adults; $10 Youth 17 & under

4:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
New Play Workshop #3: FALLOW by Ken Lin
Tickets: $25

8:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
New Play Workshop #6: 30.3. thirty. three. a play for three actors in their 30's by Bill Cain
Tickets: $25

Sunday, August 14
1:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
New Play Workshop #5: WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND UNAFRAID by Sarah Treem
Tickets: $25

4:00 PM, Zalk Theatre at Besant Hill, 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd., Ojai
New Play Workshop #4: RICK AND DICK by Rick Cleveland
Tickets: $25

FOR TICKETS

An All Access Pass, that includes admission to all performances in the OPC Summer New Works Festival, is $190. Single tickets for "Intersections" and other programs are available online at www.ojaiplays.org.

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