OC-centric: Orange County’s New Play Festival

The Plays

Beethoven and Misfortune Cookies by Joni Ravenna
Directed by Allison Bergman | Featuring Cedrick Terrell

A much-loved university music professor is abruptly fired after a white student complains about his frequent use of profanity and his decision to show a graphic image of a lynching in class. As Kabin Thomas tries to figure out “what’s next,” he also looks back at his life in the context of the blues, soul, and classical music he loves.

Magic Box, Evil Eye by Jordan R. Young
Directed by Shinshin Yuder Tsai | Featuring Deva Marie Gregory

In Monument Valley Tribal Park, a young urbanite photojournalist encounters a one-time Navajo code talker in a clash of cultures. This play questions the nature of integrity, and explores the ways we sometimes exploit each other despite our best intentions.

Still Moving by Ben Susskind
Directed by Roe Moore | Featuring Charlie Battaglia, Justin Budds and Jeff Friedman

Aiden, a shy, quadriplegic college freshman, leaves his parents for the first time in his life to attend an out-of-state school. His roommate, Landon, is tasked with caring for Aiden, feeding him, bathing him, and dressing him. The two open up to each other over the struggles of their home lives and Aiden’s desperate attempts to overcome his disabilities.

Thump in the Night by Lydia Oxenham
Directed by Katie Chidester | Featuring Vercylanne Bustos, Ryan Goldsmith, Hayley Jackson, Kim Kiedrowski, Melinda Oschmann, Grayson Richmond, Kevi Rodriguez and Paisley Vaughn

Is investigating whether your elderly upstairs neighbor died in the middle of the night the best way to meet the rest of your neighbors? In this dark comedy, it is.

OC-centric is produced by Tamiko Washington and Eric Eberwein and sponsored by the Department of Theatre and Dance at Chapman University.