Scripps Ranch Theatre to Host 5th Annual Out on a Limb in July

Scripps Ranch Theatre, located on the campus of Alliant International University, presents their 5th Annual Out on a Limb - New Plays from America's Finest City. Scripps Ranch Theatre is a leader in the Southern California Arts Community in developing and producing new plays. These Festival pieces are all new, world-premiere plays written by area playwrights, and have a common theme of having something to do with San Diego. This year, the festival will run for two weekends; July 14-17 & July 21-24, each with a different schedule. Additionally, two of the new scripts are full-length plays - developed from one act productions from earlier Out On A Limb Festivals.

Founder and Director of the Festival, Robert May shared "We are excited to be gearing up for our 5th Annual Out On A Limb. At Scripps Ranch Theatre - we continue to look for ways to encourage development of new works from our diverse community that reflect the San Diego experience. This year, three of the four winning scripts are written (and directed by) women. Historically - women playwrights are under-represented and produced. The abundance of female talent in this festival is incredible and reflects a shift in that paradigm. We are also excited to watch the growth of two of our Festival pieces - September and her Sisters and On Air from their original One-Act productions in earlier Out on a Limb festivals - to full length productions in 2016."

First weekend July 14 - 17: Thursday & Friday at 8pm, Sat @ 2pm & 8pm, Sun @ 2pm

Leaving Shadows by Steven Oberman (Ten minute play)

This is a play that shows it's never too late to connect and forge new bonds with those we have loved. An estranged son and father are brought together in a way that leads to confessions and emotional freedom.

September and her Sisters by Jennifer Lane (full-length play) **Adult Language

September is a spoken word poet, and when she refuses to talk about the circumstances of her life, her sisters are left to try to extract meaning from her poetry. September & Her Sisters is a story about language and communication, sisterhood and motherhood, and whether or not the bonds of family will stretch across the length of a country. The one-act version of September and her Sisters premiered in the festival last year.

Second weekend, July 21 - 24: Thursday & Friday at 8pm, Sat @ 2pm & 8pm, Sun @ 2pm

Birth Right by Kim Yaged (Ten minute play)

In the summer of 2014, the government's decision to bus undocumented immigrants to Murrieta, CA, sparked a series of protests and counter demonstrations that added fire to an already heated immigration debate that's still simmering. Birth Right challenges us to examine our own biases, assumptions and demons. Whose side are you on-really?

On Air by Lisa Kirazian (full-length play)

A young professor at a San Diego community college navigates his family obligations and professional ambitions against the backdrop of a campus in crisis from the Vietnam War. The one-act version of On Air premiered in the inaugural year of SRT's Out on a Limb New Play Festival in 2012.

CREATIVE TEAM BIOS:

ROBERT MAY: (Founder and Artistic Director: Out on a Limb) Robert began working with new plays as an undergrad actor, as a director with the Fritz Blitz, and continues his passion for new work with New Works Studio and Out on a Limb - both at Scripps Ranch Theatre. He is an actor and sound designer, and an award-winning director.

Leaving Shadows

STEVEN OBERMAN: (Playwright: Leaving Shadows) has had plays produced in California, Texas, and Ohio. His play Vanished was seen at San Diego International Fringe Festival, and The Man Who Was Thursday received a workshop production at Broadway Theatre in Vista. He won First Place in Scripteasers' Short Play competition for his one-act, Forgive Me Not. Other produced plays include A Slip From Reality, recently part of Scripps Ranch Theatre's educational outreach program, Mozu, and Claire Voyant.

ERIC POPPICK (Director: Leaving Shadows) moved to San Diego in 2006 after spending thirty years in Los Angeles. Since his arrival, he directed the world premiere of Ripples from Walden Pond at Cygnet Theatre and the world premiere of W.C. Fields by Himself! at North Coast Repertory Theatre. He has also directed five productions for Scripps Ranch Theatre: Play it Again, Sam, Over the River and Through the Woods, a feminine ending, Sunset Park and Skin Deep.

September and her Sisters

JENNIFER LANE: (Playwright: September and her Sisters) is a Michigan-born playwright, novelist, and teaching artist. Her work has been presented by or developed at The Gulfshore Playhouse, 3LD, The Actors Theatre of Charlotte, The Culture Project, and the Kennedy Center, among others. She is a co-founding member of the Scripps Ranch Theatre's New Works Studio, and an alum of the Fusion Artist in Residency Program in Turin, Italy. BA: Sarah Lawrence College. MFA: Columbia University. For more information: http://jennifer-lane.net.

JACOLE KITCHEN (Director: September and her Sisters) is thrilled to be bringing September and Her Sisters back to OoaL at Scripps Ranch Theatre. In February she will be directing Lisa Peterson's An Iliad at New Village Arts Theatre. Jacole served as assistant director on several productions at San Diego REP including The Oldest Boy and HONKY, and at La Jolla Playhouse, Guards at the Taj. Jacole teaches acting at UCSD Extension, and is the casting director for San Diego REP.

Second weekend: July 21-24

Birth Right

KIM YAGED (Playwright: Birth Right) has been published by Random House, Applause, and Ballantine Books, among others. Her hilarious one-woman tour de force, Hypocrites & Strippers, was nominated for a Best Actress Artsie. An excerpt's included in "The Best Women's Monologues for the 21st Century". Kim's animated shorts inspired by Hypocrites & Strippers are traveling the globe, including stops in Rio, Melbourne, London, New York, Chicago, Austin, and Spike & Mike's Festival of Animation. For more info visit www.kimyaged.com.

HANNAH LOGAN (Director: Birth Right) is a director, actor and playwright. She recently directed at Moxie Theatre in their #tenminuteplays festival. Her plays have been produced in Los Angeles, New York, and San Diego, and her play Trailerville received "Editor's Pick" in NYC's GO Magazine. She received "Critic's Pick" from UT San Diego for her solo show Work: In Progress in the 2013 San Diego Fringe Festival. She continues to be impressed with SRT's commitment to original work.

On Air

LISA KIRAZIAN (Playwright: On Air) is a playwright, author and director. Her plays include On Air, The Blackstone Sessions, Switch,The Visitor, Soul Fire, Six Views and Armenian Voices, with productions in Los Angeles, San Diego and New York, and several publications. Lisa is a San Diego native and Stanford graduate. She thanks her parents for their inspiration, her sisters and brothers for their encouragement, and her husband Steve and daughters Ani and Mari for their support. www.lisakirazian.com.

LIZ SHIPMAN (Director: On Air) is a nationally recognized director, choreographer, acting teacher and Co-Artistic Director of MCIT Studio in North Park. She's directed and/or choreographed for Kings County Shakespeare Company, Webster Conservatory, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, New Avenue Theatre Project, Utah Shakespearean Festival, USD's Graduate & Undergraduate Programs, the Old Globe, New Village Arts and Playwrights Project. Favorite projects: As You Like It, Love's Labour's Lost, On The Verge, Blood Wedding, O Jerusalem, and Smoking Lessons.

Out on a Limb - New Plays from America's Finest City runs July 14th - 24th. Thurs & Fri @ 8pm, Sat @ 2pm & 8pm, Sun @ 2pm.Thurs performances: $16 - Fri/Sat/Sun performances: $20

(If you purchase a ticket to the first week-end - you can purchase a ticket to the second weekend for $10)

For more information call 858-578-7728. www.Scrippsranchtheatre.org.