Publish Date:  Mar 17, 2016

SALINAS, Calif. – Live theatre is a transformative experience, and The Western Stage SpringFEST at Hartnell College gives everyone a way into this experience. This March and April, SpringFEST presents one-acts, new works, student matinees, and Broadway's 13 the Musical, a lively show composed entirely of teenagers—even the band. Various shows will be performed between March 5 and April 17, 2016 at the Mainstage Theater and Studio Theater, many of them free to the public.

The SpringFEST performance schedule goes as follows:

Saturday, March 5 at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 6 at 2:00 p.m.

Four (4) One-Act Plays, presented by the Legacy Players of The Western Stage

The Legacy Players of The Western Stage, a group of senior Monterey County actors, hold readings of four one-act plays by members of The Fifth Age Playwrights. The program will include: Gymnogyps by Rita Carratello; Dance by Mary Clever da Silva; Plums by Phillip Pearce; Shopping for Shoes by Harvey Landa; and Birds Can’t Fly by Terry Kingsley-Smith. Performers: Rita Caratello, Mary Clever da Silva, Pat Horsley, Susan Keenan, Terry Kingsley-Smith, Philip Pearce, Lynn Pearlman, and Michael Robbins.

Studio Theater, general seating. This event is free.

Friday, March 18 at noon and 7:00 p.m.

"In and Out of Shadows"- a special presentation

Continuing our tradition of providing daytime performances for local schools, SpringFEST will host SF Youth Theater's production of In and Out of Shadows, an original musical written by Gary Soto based upon interviews with undocumented teens in the Bay Area.

Mainstage Theater. General seating. Cost for the 7:00  p.m. show: $5 for youth ages 12-17; $10 for adults. Hartnell College students and employees free to both performances.

Saturday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 20 at 2:00 p.m.

"Singing the Body Electric"- Concept and Direction by Dr. Marnie Glazier

A new project by women of a variety of disciplines, ages, backgrounds, and perspectives who create a coming together of minds, souls, and reflections on what it means to be a woman, what it means to age "naturally" as a woman, and how we embrace, participate in, frame, and reflect upon the larger ecologies we are a part of.

Studio Theater. General seating. Donations at the door benefit Hartnell College Theatre Arts and  Cinema Club.

Saturday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 10 at 2:00 p.m.

"One More Day"

A new script by local playwright Michael Roddy about the Bracero Program and how the Braceros contributed to and changed Monterey County.

Studio Theater. General seating. Donations at door. Hartnell College students free.

Friday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 17 at 2:00 p.m.

"13 the Musical"- Music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. Book by Dan Elish & Robert Horn.

With an unforgettable rock score from Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown (Parade, The Last Five Years, Bridges Of Madison County), 13 the Musical is about fitting in—and standing out! Our production, like the Broadway production, is composed entirely of teenagers, even the band.

Mainstage Theater. General seating. Cost: $10 for general admission. Hartnell College students free.

Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 17 at 2:00 p.m.

LegacyPlayers in Performance

Western Stage’s most veteran and venerated actors present a weekend of special readings.  Past performances have included One-Acts written specifically for seniors and original scripts from the Fifth Age Playwrights.

For more information about SpringFEST, audiences can call 831-755-6987, 831-770-7088 or email Artistic Program Director Melissa Chin-Parker at mchin@hartnell.edu .  To purchase tickets, go to

westernstage.com/tickets.

PRESS: For press tickets, contact Rebecca Wallace at marketing@westernstage.com or 831-755-6984.

ABOUT THE WESTERN STAGE

Founded in 1974, The Western Stage (TWS) has evolved over the last four decades into one of the most respected community-based theaters on California’s Central Coast. Supported in part by a grant from The National Endowment for the Arts, TWS is committed to enriching the culture of its community by bringing together professional artists, theatre students, and community members to produce a dynamic season of plays that enhances the lives of both the artist and audience; developing new works that speak to the history and culture of the Salinas Valley; and providing educational opportunities to allow students of all skill levels to explore and develop their unique talents.

HARTNELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT – ESTABLISHED IN 1920

The Hartnell CCD serves over 16,000 students annually through its main campus in Salinas, the Alisal Campus in East Salinas, the King City Education Center, and various outreach learning centers throughout the Salinas Valley. Hartnell College, a Hispanic Serving Institution, provides workforce training, basic skills courses, and prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Hartnell College is recognized for its innovative public and private partnerships that support world class STEM education, career technical education, fine and performing arts, humanities, and athletics. We are proud to be the winners of the Innovation Award for CSin3 – a Computer Science degree in three years.  We are growing leaders through opportunity, engagement, and achievement. For more about Hartnell CCD, visit www.hartnell.edu.

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