“Java Scripts: Short Works Festival 2019”
AUGUST 16th-18th & 23rd-25th, 2019
Sundown Collaborative Theatre’s JAVA SCRIPTS features a variety of short acts ranging from the scripted and linear to the devised and abstract. This year’s festival dives into the awkwardness of our daily existence, struggles with mental illness, the magic hidden in plain sight, and the absolute absurdity of life.
Each night of performances will feature a different line-up of acts. 6 nights, 18 works, 1 festival!
A Werewolf in My Bed
Viv and Thad are best friends that won’t let anything come between them…especially not Thad’s new, slightly hairy problem.
- WRITTEN BY D. M. Larson
- VIV: Julia Bodiford
- THAD: Ryan Davila
A Collection of Poems: Top, The Cliff in my Backyard, Things to Pack in the Morning, Heir, and Every Contact Leaves a Trace
These poems deal in the themes of boundaries stretched and broken, abuse, and fear. It was my goal when writing these to explore the juxtaposition of physical size and emotional size (the metaphoric size you may feel when you are afraid/anxious or have had your physical or emotional boundaries crossed). I also wanted to explore (through my experiences with fear and anxiety) the fear of a child vs the fear of an adult and the way, in my own experiences, the latter is a sort of funhouse mirror reflection of the former – distorted by the experiences that broke you down instead of building you up.
- WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY Francesca Cape
THE END: A COUNTERSPELL
A recipe for perseverance as told through the magic of poetry,
dance, and fire.
- CREATED AND PERFORMED BY Courtney Marie and George Ferrie
Sally and Thomas
An imagining of how the story of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson should have ended.
- SALLY: Christopher Dawson
- THOMAS: Jacob Drum
White Hippy
A comedy sketch displaying and critiquing what happens when two white people try to lead a traditionally indigenous spiritual ceremony. Inspired by actual events.
- CREATED AND PERFORMED BY Sarah Friday and KT Burgess
The Scottish Tease
A burlesque retelling of the tragic story of Lady Macbeth.
- CREATED AND PERFORMED BY Birdie Holly
The New Year’s Skit
Susan tries out a new exercise class for her New Year’s resolution. She soon discovers this is no ordinary exercise class.
- WRITTEN BY Audrey DaLane
- DIRECTED BY Lillith Grey
- SUSAN: Alison Van Zandt
- INSTRUCTOR: Kurt Danger Van Zandt
- TAD: Brandy Townsend
- YOGA CLASSMATES: Brandon Mullins and Jenna Howard
Mirrors and Coins
This is a piece about powerlessness and survival. Combining the personal and the political, the author flips the telescope through which he views and analyzes the world, and uses it on himself within his environment. His newest work examines the intersection of capitalist exploitation and domination, and the exploitative power dynamics therein. All of which come at a human cost.
- WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY Matthew Soloman
Urban Legend
Otis has grown weary of life with his robot companion. He makes a decision to end it all on Halloween but his plans are complicated by the arrival of clueless trick or treaters.
- WRITTEN BY Anthoney Spurgin
- DIRECTED BY Melanie Barth
- OTIS: Jason Lee
- PENELOPE: Lindsey Hall
- MARTIN: Ryan Davila
- SAVANNAH: Jenna Howard
Him
Toby tells Amber of the dark figure he has repeatedly encountered since the death of his previous girlfriend. Amber offers a logical explanation, but Toby knows what he saw. And what he saw, moments ago, was the mysterious figure lurking outside Amber’s window.
- WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY David Douglas
- TOBY: Kurt Van Zandt
- AMBER: Julia Bodiford
- HIM: Brandy Townsend
Meet Cute
Mary and Teryn meet at a bar to discuss Mary’s upcoming wedding. The perpetually unlucky Teryn is convinced that she will never have a “meet-cute” and fall in love the way Mary and her other friends have. Mary explains that everyone’s relationships may not be as cute as they appear to others.
- WRITTEN BY Haley Nelson
- DIRECTED BY Christopher Dawson
- MARY: Jenna Howard
- TERYN: Lindsey Hall
- WAITER/FANTASY GUY: Ryan Davila
- HOT TERYN/SWEATPANTS MARY: Naomi Kliewer
Everything’s Coming Up Sundown Improv Troupe
- FEATURING Jo Hargis, Madeline Kenning, Kurt Van Zandt, Julia Bodiford, and Jenna Howard, and led by Ryan Davila
Cold Comforts: A Love Story
Nathaniel finally works up the courage to ask Jules to accompany him to his family’s ski cabin. The budding romance is threatened by Jules’ unusual affliction. Her sexual desire manifests in the form of Mrs. Claus.
- WRITTEN BY Collin Miller
- DIRECTED BY Melanie Barth
- NATHANIAL: Robert Linder
- JULES: Rachel Cupina
- MRS. CLAUS: Brandon Mullins
