Fifth Annual First Flight Festival

Angels Theatre Company (ATC) will present its fifth annual First Flight Festival from July 17 through 28 at UNL’s Studio Theatre at the Temple Building, 12th and R streets.  The festival features over 25 short new plays presented in three “flights.”  Flight C features students from Malcolm, Nebraska.  The plays are all written by members of the Angels Playwriting Collective.

Tickets are $15 for a single flight or $30 for a festival pass.  OLLI members receive a $5 discount (only available at the door).  Tickets and more information are available at angelscompany.org and 562-686-9247.

ATC is collaborating with Ivanna Cone at 7th and P streets during the month of July as part of the ice cream store’s Community Cones fund-raising effort.  The store in the Historic Haymarket’s Creamery Building has created a special flavor called “Curtains Up” featuring red velvet cake and cream cheese. Proceeds from each sale of “Curtains Up” in July will be donated to ATC.  On Tuesday, July 30, 10 percent of all sales will go to the Angels.   Ivanna Cone will also host “Meet a Playwright” from 6 to 8 p.m. every Sunday in July.

Flight A will be presented at 7:30 p.m. July 17, 19 and 25; 2 p.m. July 21; and 4 p.m. July  27.  The Flight A productions are:

• “Cruel to be Kind” by Paula Ray, directed by Timothy Scholl
• “The Wave” by Paul Burrow, directed by Charisa Ramsey
• “Coffee with Ed” by Stephen Enersen, directed by Rachele Stoops
• “Sing Daisy for Me” by Cecilia Burkhart, directed by Scott Glen
• “In N Out  Café” by John Burkhart, directed by Mark Mesarch
• “Knock Three Times” by Andy Dillehay, directed by D Chapelle
• “Closing Time” by D Chapelle, directed by Jillian Carter
• “Shall We Dance” by Brigid Amos, directed by Deanna Walz
• “The Male Brain Deconstructed” by Paul Burrow, directed by Judy Hart
• “The Beast” by D  Chapelle, directed by Sarah Halstead
• “The Way It Is” by Charisa Ramsey, directed by Rachele Stoops

Flight B will be presented at 7:30 p.m. July 18, 20, 21 and 26; and 8 p.m. July 27.  Flight B productions are:

• “A Cool Margarita” by D Chapelle, directed by Andrew Fuller
• “Just a  Drill” by Jillian Carter, directed by Judy Hart
• “The Bereaved Widow” by Judy Rae, directed by Barb Keating
• “Blue Screen of Death” by Robin Buckallew, directed by Judy Hart
• “Make My Decision For Me” by Brian Bornstein, directed by Tony Heffner
• “Humpty Dumpty” by Stephen Enersen, directed by Judy Hart
• “A Slight Misunderstanding” by Stephen Enersen, directed by Bob Bonaventura
• “Wheelchair Karma” by Brian Bornstein, directed by Jillian Carter
• “Swipe Left” by D Chapelle, directed by Judy Hart
• “Two Pink Lines” by Jillian Carter, directed by Walter J. McDowell

Flight C plays are written for and presented by youth.  ATC collaborates with Malcolm families to offer interested students the opportunity to perform as part of the festival.  Flight C will be presented at 7:30 p.m. July 23 and 24 and 2 p.m. July 28.  Flight C productions are:

• “A Good Plan” by Robin Buckallew, directed by Walter J. McDowell
• “Playbill, Play Ball” by Linda Howard Cooke, directed by Tami Maytum
• “Blue Screen of Death” by Robin Buckallew, directed by Bob Bonaventura
• “Tax Evasion in Dogtown” by Robin Buckallew, directed by Judy Hart
• “It’s a Worry-ful Life” by Linda Howard Cooke, directed by Bob Bonaventura
• “#Studly Superhero” by  Robin Buckallew, directed by Judy Hart
• “The Male Brain Deconstructed” by Paul Burrow, directed by Michael Zavodny

Angels Theatre Company, winner of a 2017 Mayor’s Arts Award for Outstanding Arts Organization,  creates engaging theatre to promote artistic growth, foster community relationships and raise social awareness.  ATC nurtures and celebrates theatre artists while engaging our community in quality live theatre.  In addition to the First Flight Festival, the public is   also invited to the ATC’s Salon Reading Series at 2 p.m. the first Sundays of the month from October through April.   More information is available at angelscompany.org.