Northwest Florida Theatre Festival

Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC) launches the second annual Northwest Florida Theatre Festival, May 16-28, 2018. When ECTC producing artistic director Nathanael Fisher concepted the Northwest Florida Theatre Festival last year, it was to provide a “stage” - literally and figuratively - for local artists in the community. The Festival will be produced in concert with the Cultural Arts Alliance’s Art Week South Walton. Northwest Florida Theatre Festival is a stage for all.

“I believe that art breeds art. Our mission is to unify the theater and performing arts groups of Northwest Florida and showcase the talent, work, and productions of numerous organizations and people,” said Fisher.

The unjuried theater festival will feature 14 unique pieces of theater including one act plays, cabaret, magic, dance, comedy and more. Producing groups come from Pensacola to Panama City. Most pieces will be staged twice for a total of 23 performances.

The Northwest Florida Theatre Festival is open to the public and will be held at ECTC’s performance space located at 560 Grand Boulevard, Upstairs, in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin in Miramar Beach, Florida.

The Festival schedule follows:

Wednesday, May 16
“Jessie’s Messy Mind” 7pm
Messy Mind Productions
Jessie goes inside the mind of mental illness with humor, honesty, and melody. She asks about what makes us human and often finds answers in the original music she plays.

“Poems for People Who Hate Poetry” 8:30pm
The Live Bard | Is modern poetry too maudlin? Too obscure? Too self-centered? Well sit down and buckle up because these tales, will recall classic poems which explore human foibles or celebrate bawdy revelry.

Thursday, May 17
“An Iliad” 7pm
9 Muses Theatre | An Iliad is a one man's retelling of the Trojan war and the clashing of its two greatest warriors, Achilles and Hector. Come see as one man relives that conflict over and over and illuminates the innate rage of mankind that drives him toward war.

“The Agreement” 8:30pm
Treehouse Productions | Sal, a writer, and Jenny, an aspiring actress, dream and work for the day when their talents will be recognized and rewarded. Sharing a cold water flat, they have devised an agreement by which their love and their careers remain separate. But then, one day, Jenny comes home during Sal’s writing time, and he senses that a change has come over her … she is pregnant.

Friday, May 18
“Brandon Styles — Celebrity Singing Impressions & Magic Show” 6pm
Gulf Shores Entertainment Agency | Enjoy nearly 60 different celebrity singing and speaking impressions, comedy, dance, magic, ventriloquism and plenty of audience participation all performed by one man, Brandon Styles. This classy 60-minute show is family-friendly.

“Gardyloo” 7pm
The Tiny Warriors | After two successful performances of “Half Full” at last year’s festival, The Tiny Warriors are proud to present ‘Gardyloo.’ Justin Duncan and Cana Strong return to the ECTC stage in this new, original work.

“Winston Churchill: Through the Storm” 8pm
House of Monkeys | Prime Minister Winston Churchill reminisces about his life. Moving back and forth from past to present, Churchill recalls his worst and finest hours.

Saturday, May 19
“Favorite Fables” 9pm
ECTC Homeschool Creative Dramatics | Join ECTC’s Home School Creative Dramatics class as we celebrate the classic tales and humorous characters that reveal the clever truths of Aesop Fables.

“The 10 Best/Worst Things About Middle School” 10am
ECTC Jr. Thespian Troupe | Join a group of real life middle school students as they uncover the wonders/perils of numerous fond/traumatizing aspects of life as a middle school student.

“A Tale Dark and Grimm: The Whole story of Hansel and Gretel” 11am
ECTC Creative Dramatics | Join ECTC’s Creative Dramatics class on an adventure through the land of Grimm as they present Hansel & Gretel — including all the scary and bloody parts! (but not too scary.)

“Aerialists in Wonderland” 12pm
Aerial Teen Performance Company from Aerial Dance Panama City | A young girl who falls asleep in a meadow and dreams that she follows a White Rabbit down a rabbit hole. She has many wondrous, often bizarre adventures with thoroughly illogical and very strange creatures.

“Teenaging is Hard” 1pm
Those Meddling Kids… This is a quick skit comedy that deals with figuring out who you really are, meeting your girlfriend's parents and attempting your first kiss. Life can be tricky (and hilarious) when you are a teenager …

“Poems for People Who Hate Poetry” 2pm
The Live Bard | Is modern poetry too maudlin? Too obscure? Too self-centered? Well sit down and buckle up because these tales, will recall classic poems which explore human foibles or celebrate bawdy revelry.

“Winston Churchill: Through the Storm” 3pm
House of Monkeys | Prime Minister Winston Churchill reminisces about his life. Moving back and forth from past to present, Churchill recalls his worst and finest hours.

“Jessie’s Messy Mind” 4:30pm
Messy Mind Productions | Jessie goes inside the mind of mental illness with humor, honesty, and melody! She asks about what makes us human and often finds answers in the original music she plays.

“Mirrors” 6:15pm
View from The Stage Inc. of Crestview | A man spends an evening with his ordinary family. Yet, is it ordinary? It’s ideal… but is it real? How far can a man’s mind bend to shield himself from the present, the past… or perhaps, the truth of himself?

“Gardyloo” 7:15pm
The Tiny Warriors | After two successful performances of “Half Full” at last year’s festival, The Tiny Warriors are proud to present ‘Gardyloo.’ Justin Duncan and Cana Strong return to the ECTC stage in this new, original work.

“Musical Theatre Mad Libs” 8:30pm
Gulf Coast State College | Mad Libs meets Musical Theatre. Singers perform popular musical theatre songs with substituted lyrics provided by the audience. Come laugh with us!

Sunday, May 20
“Teenaging is Hard” 1pm
Those Meddling Kids... This quick skit comedy that deals with figuring out who you really are, meeting your girlfriend's parents and attempting your first kiss. Life can be tricky (and hilarious) when you are a teenager…

“An Iliad” 2pm
9 Muses Theatre | An Iliad is a one man's retelling of the Trojan war and the clashing of its two greatest warriors, Achilles and Hector. Come see as one man relives that conflict over and over and illuminates the innate rage of mankind that drives him toward war.

“Jessie’s Messy Mind” 3:45pm
Messy Mind Productions | Jessie goes inside the mind of mental illness with humor, honesty, and melody. She asks about what makes us human and often finds answers in the original music she plays.

“Mirrors” 5:30pm
View from The Stage Inc. of Crestview | A man spends an evening with his ordinary family. Yet, is it ordinary? It’s ideal… but is it real? How far can a man’s mind bend to shield himself from the present, the past… or perhaps, the truth of himself?

“Musical Theatre Mad Libs” 6:30pm
Gulf Coast State College | Mad Libs meets Musical Theatre. Singers perform popular musical theatre songs with substituted lyrics provided by the audience. Come laugh with us!

“The Heir Apparot” 7:45pm
PB&J | Brenda, the owner of a precocious parrot, has passed and left the bird to a skeptical new owner. This whimsical story follows the unlikely pair as they navigate life without Brenda.

GET TIX!
Single tickets range $15 to $25 per show. All access passes are $100 online at www.NWFTheatreFestival.com. For more details on each performance and to purchase tickets and passes to Northwest Florida Theatre Festival online at www.NWFTheatreFestival.com.

Volunteer for the Northwest Florida Theatre Festival hosted by Emerald Coast Theatre Company and be a part of this celebration of artistry!
www.NWFTheatreFestival.com

To follow the conversation on social media, use hashtag #AStageForAll. To make a tax-deductible donation, volunteer or learn more about Emerald Coast Theatre Company, find them on Facebook, call (850) 684-0323 and visit www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org.

Emerald Coast Theatre Company is registered with the State of Florida as a non profit. ECTC’s mission is to enrich and entertain the Emerald Coast community through professional and educational theater. ECTC operates year-round with a two-fold mission to provide both educational and professional offerings to the Northwest Florida community. Educational outreach includes after school and home-school programs, touring and staged productions, summer camps, workshops and classes. The professional theater efforts are focused on thought provoking productions, festivals and collaborations as well as acting and improv workshops and classes for adults.

Grand Boulevard’s Coastal Culture program presents an exciting variety of entertainment and events this season. Live performances by Northwest Florida Ballet and Emerald Coast Theatre Company highlight the Town Center offerings for fall. The Grand Boulevard Farmers Market takes place in Grand Park on Saturdays year round (9am-1pm). 

Many of South Walton's beloved cultural events are taking place at Grand Boulevard: 30A Songwriters Festival, ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival, Best of the Emerald Coast, Northwest Florida Ballet, Festival of Trees, and Emerald Coast Theater Company performances. These events are presented as part of the Coastal Culture Series made possible by the Grand Boulevard Arts & Entertainment Program.  

Grand Boulevard is located near the entrance to Sandestin. The lifestyle center features exclusive shops, fine dining, lush green space, and contemporary accommodations. For a list of shops, restaurants, movie show times and events, please visit www.grandboulevard.com. Stay up to date on the latest on Facebook.