SCI-FEST L.A., the Los Angeles Science Fiction One-Act Play Festival, the first of its kind worldwide, returns for the second year to Hollywood’s Acme Theatre (135 N. LaBrea Ave) from May 7 – 31. This year’s lineup includes works by Neil Gaiman and Clive Barker. Co-founded by veteran theatre producers, Michael Blaha and Lee Costello, and actor, David Dean Bottrell (“Boston Legal”), SCI-FEST L.A.: The Los Angeles Science Fiction One-Act Play Festival debuted in May of 2014 to sold-out houses and critical acclaim with NPR describing is as “a chilling freakout,” and The Huffington Post saying “the plays unfold like exquisite, lost ‘Twilight Zone’ episodes.” Bottrell notes, “We’re very excited for Sci Fest L.A. 2015. The festival was so successful last year with sold out houses and sci fi stars from Lost, X-Files, Star Trek, Supernatural and more that we’re building on that this year. The roots of science fiction run pretty deep in L.A., which transformed the genre into a worldwide industry and a global product. Sci fi is part of L.A.’s cultural heritage.”
The organization’s mission is to produce an annual festival of new, beautifully realized, visually compelling sci-fi one-acts featuring many well-known actors from beloved sci-fi and fantasy franchises. This year’s ensemble includes Eddie McClintock (Warehouse 13), Tim Russ (Star Trek: Voyager), Dale Dickey (True Blood), Jeryl Prescott Sales (The Walking Dead), Patricia Talman (Babylon 5), Armin Shimerman (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Jasika Nicole (Fringe), Woody Shultz (Avatar), Nicki Aycox (Supernatural), Alan Polonsky (Aliens), David H. Lawrence XVII (Heroes), and Walter Koenig from the original Star Trek series.
SCI-FEST L.A. offers two rotating evenings of new, visually compelling 15 minute sci-fi plays. The 2nd Annual Los Angeles Science Fiction One-Act Play Festival proudly announces the 2015 roster:
ACCESS by Spencer Green Breaking up is hard to do. Especially in multiple dimensions. Directed by Steve Kaplan
A BILLION TUESDAY MORNINGS by Nathan Wellman A lonely autistic man is unable to convince his doubting daughter that his new invention will change everything…until it does. Directed by Jeff Liu
THE CASE OF FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS by Neil Gaiman Adapted by Michael Bernard; Directed by Annie McVey Film Noir meets Mother Goose as P.I. “L. Jack Horner” investigates the suspicious death of one “H. Dumpty” in this insane mash-up by the iconic author of “American Gods” and “Coraline.”
THE DEPARTED by Clive Barker; Adapted by Christian Francis A ghostly tale of love and obsession. Based on the acclaimed short story by one of the most influential contemporary creators of fantasy and horror. Directed by Rob Hollocks
EFFICIENCY by Perley Poore Sheehan & Robert H. Davis A ruthless dictator demands a meeting with a horrifically wounded soldier who has been transformed into an unstoppable killing machine. Directed by Jaime Robledo
HUMAN HISTORY by Joel Silberman Far in the future, in a classroom on a distant planet, racial tensions run high as Earth’s history is debated, forgotten and relearned.
THE LUNCHTIME SHOW by G. Clarence Davidson In deserted border town, visitors to a ramshackle “roadside attraction” get a little more than they bargained for. Directed by Drew Barr
MOBY ALPHA Written & performed by Chuck Armstrong & Charlie Stockman Direct from its smash run at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, a mad captain’s quest for revenge leads his crew to the brink of destruction in this hilarious two-man retelling of Moby Dick (in space).
TURNOVER by Chris Graybill Within the walls of a futuristic penal facility, a “job interview” turns into a sinister game of cat-and-mouse between a dangerous inmate and her interrogator. Directed by Jeffrey Marcus
Also, SCI-FEST LA “RADIO THEATER” Thrills and chills abound as our Star-Studded company of players perform classic Sci-Fi radio script live on stage!
SCI-FEST L.A. also promotes quality short science fiction through its two writing competitions, the Roswell Award and the Tomorrow Prize for Short Fiction, which is open exclusively to Los Angeles area high school students. SCI-FEST L.A. is now a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a nonprofit arts service organization. For festival information, please visit: www.sci-fest.com
