GRANTS PASS, OREGON (August 2, 2024) – Aggregate Collective, a newly established theater company, is set to debut its first-ever Loop Festival this August. The festival aims to spotlight new plays tailored specifically for young adults, created by professional playwrights from across the country. This innovative initiative highlights Aggregate Collective’s commitment to radical hospitality and shared learning, which guides its programming and operations.
The Loop Festival will be held on Thursday, August 15, 2024, and will feature staged readings of three distinct plays in the genre of Young Adult Theatre. This genre focuses on narratives relevant to young adults, performed by young adult actors. Following each play’s presentation, audience members will engage in facilitated discussions, providing valuable feedback that could influence the playwrights’ future revisions.
Twenty-five young adult actors from Southern Oregon have been selected to participate in a three-day development process leading up to the festival. During this period, these actors will collaborate closely with the playwrights, offering cultural insights and feedback to ensure authenticity in the plays. The rehearsals and the festival itself will be held at The Hivve, a multimedia performance venue located in downtown Grants Pass.
Featured Plays and Directors:
- “Dolcevita or The Clown Chorus of the Carnival del Dolcevita Proudly Presents the Sad Tale of the Turbinado Triplets”
- Playwright: Briandaniel Oglesby
- Director: Estrella Cervantes
- Summary: This play follows the lives of the Turbinado triplets, who were orphaned by a zeppelin accident and reunite annually at a carnival. The narrative, infused with humor and pathos, explores themes of family, identity, and resilience.
- “Mixed Media”
- Playwright: James Mainard O’Connell
- Director: Heather Lundy Kahl
- Summary: The story spans 13 years in the life of Nik, a genderfluid nonbinary youth, using their artwork to explore self-discovery, identity, and personal loss. The audience witnesses key moments that inspire Nik’s art, culminating in a compelling college admissions presentation.
- “Yes, And…”
- Playwright: Erin Dealey
- Director: Amy Lizardo
- Summary: Set against the backdrop of a Twelfth Night celebration, this play delves into the unpredictable twists of life, love, and friendship through the experiences of high school senior Zoey and college freshman Beatrice at an improv party.
Aggregate Collective’s co-founders, Julia Cuppy and Jaese Lecuyer, bring extensive experience in theater education and production to this endeavor. Their vision for the Loop Festival is to create a platform that not only showcases young adult theater but also fosters collaboration and learning among artists, actors, and the community.
The festival’s collaborative spirit is further emphasized by its partnership with Uproar Theatrics, a new theatrical licensing company dedicated to providing quality plays and musicals for all levels of producing organizations. This partnership has been instrumental in selecting the plays featured in the festival.
For more information about showtimes, tickets, and the featured plays and directors, visit www.aggregatecollective.com.
