Northwest Florida Theatre Festival

Emerald Coast Theatre Company is launching the first ever Northwest Florida Theatre Festival, May 12-21, 2017.  The theater festival will be staged over two weekends and feature 20 unique pieces of theater including one act plays, cabaret, magic, dance, comedy and storytelling. Producing groups come from Pensacola to Panama City. Most pieces will be staged twice for a total of 35 performances. Tickets available online or at the door.

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.

ECTC producing artistic director Nathanael Fisher designed the Northwest Florida Theatre Festival as an inclusive and creative celebration of a community of artists. The Festival will be produced in concert with the Cultural Arts Alliance’s Art Week South Walton.

Fisher said of producing the first ever Northwest Florida Theatre Festival, “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.”

The Festival schedule follows:

Friday, May 12
5:30 p.m. “Narrative Verse with an Attitude”
The Live Bard
Is modern poetry too maudlin? Too obscure?  Well, sit down and strap in because these tales in meter and rhyme, recited by the author, bluntly explore human foibles and celebrate bawdy revelry.

7:30 p.m.“Sit a Spell with Sean of the South” 
Sean of the South
Sean of the South, Sean Dietrich, shares heartfelt sentiments on life, loss, and the Great American South.

9 p.m. “Melissa and Michelle Make Music”
West 171 Productions
Broadway’s Michelle Dowdy and Off-Off Broadway’s Melissa Oropesa are two New York City broads who deliver a night of sassy, funny, and soulful standards in cabaret commemorating their lifelong friendship.

11 p.m. “Awkward”
Choose Your Own Adventure Productions
The story of friends, love, rivalry and rolling for attacks.

Saturday, May 13
9 a.m. “Revenge of the Pigs”
30A Learning Academy Theatre Troupe
“Revenge of the Pigs” is a comedic spin on the classic tale of the three little pigs. 

11 a.m. “The Fisherman and His Wife and other Stories”
St. John Catholic School Theatre Artists
Relax and enjoy a comedic retelling of the classic folk tale, “The Magic Fish.” What would you ask for if you knew your wish would be granted?  The fisherman and his wife find out, and they don’t agree on what is important. 

1 p.m. “Made in the USA: A Celebration of American Music”
ECTC Jr. Thespian Troupe
Experience the greatest songs that were Made in the USA. Join ECTC's Jr. Thespian Troupe as we celebrate this remarkable musical asset of ours by honoring our very own music: Dixieland Jazz, Rock 'n' Roll, Country and Broadway.

2:30 p.m. “My Barista! A Musical Starring Redd”
Written by Anne Hunter
Starring Helen Redd the singing bartender from Redds Fueling Station, “My Barista!” is a sketch comedy and variety show.

4 p.m. Youth Village Improv Show
Produced by Youth Village
This show is like no other because this fun-filled comedy improv show will star kids performing skits based on your suggestions. They also will play different improv games that are fun and silly.

5:30 p.m. “Curse of the Pearl”
Aerial Teen Performance Company
An inspired artistic musical representation of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.

7 p.m. “An Iliad”
9 Muses Theatre
One man's retelling of the Trojan war and the clashing of its two greatest warriors, Achilles and Hector. See as one man relives that conflict over and over and illuminates the innate rage of mankind that drives him toward war.

9 p.m. “Does Linguist Rhyme with English?”
Harrison Baxley
While Cathy and Rachel become experts in the art of language, they struggle with its most basic form: communicating with another human.

10:30 p.m. “Melissa and Michelle Make Music”
West 171 Productions
Broadway’s Michelle Dowdy and Off-Off Broadway’s Melissa Oropesa are two New York City broads who deliver a night of sassy, funny and soulful standards in cabaret commemorating their lifelong friendship.

Sunday, May 14
2 p.m.“My Barista! A Musical Starring Redd”
Written by Anne Hunter
Starring Helen Redd the singing bartender from Redds Fueling Station, “My Barista!” is a sketch comedy and variety show.

3:30 p.m. “Roadkill, New Mexico”
Liz Cain
Kooky cantina capers and maybe an alien or zombie thrown in there to spice up the roadkill...  roadkill?  Is it the furry kind or does it walk on two feet?

5:30 p.m. “Pandora’s Revenge (Pat Cook)”
Wilboski Productions
The story goes, according to legend, that when Pandora's box was opened all sorts of pleasures and evils escaped.

6:30 p.m. “An Evening of Magic with Matthew Holtzclaw”
Gulf Coast State College Theatre (GCSC)
GCSC Theatre presents alumnus, Matthew Holtzclaw, one of NYC’s most in-demand entertainers and magic consultants in an evening of original magic and comedy.

8 p.m. “Half Full”
Presented by Tiny Warriors written by Cana Sylvester and Justin Duncan
On their last night living together, roommates Morty and Lisa air their dirty laundry.

9 p.m. “Deliver Us Not! (or Birth, Where Is Thy Sting?)”
Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) Players
GCSC Players presents a side splitting one-act comedy about happiness, religion, life and death; and other things fetuses probably think about before birth.

Thursday, May 18 
7:30 p.m. “An Evening of Magic with Matthew Holtzclaw”
Gulf Coast State College Theatre (GCSC)
GCSC Theatre presents alumnus, Matthew Holtzclaw, one of NYC’s most in-demand entertainers and magic consultants in an evening of original magic and comedy.

9 p.m. “Ramen Noodles and Champagne”
Franko
Laugh your night away as Franko reflects on the pressures of being a fur parent and other stuff.

Friday, May 19 
6:30 p.m. “Curse of the Pearl”
Aerial Teen Performance Company
An inspired artistic musical representation of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.

8 p.m. “Narrative Verse with an Attitude”
The Live Bard
Is modern poetry too maudlin? Too obscure?  Well, sit down and strap in because these tales in meter and rhyme, recited by the author, bluntly explore human foibles and celebrate bawdy revelry.

10 p.m. “Deliver Us Not! (or Birth, Where Is Thy Sting?)”
Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) Players
GCSC Players presents a side splitting one-act comedy about happiness, religion, life and death; and other things fetuses probably think about before birth.

Saturday, May 20
11 a.m. “The Little Mermaid”
Emerald Coast Theatre Company's TYA Program
Two actors bring to life the classic tale by Hans Christian Andersen. This Theatre for Young Audience's Show is perfectly designed for the children of our community.

1 p.m. Youth Village Improv Show
Produced by Youth Village
This show is like no other because this fun-filled comedy improv show will star kids performing skits based on your suggestions. They also will play different improv games that are fun and silly.

3 p.m. “An Iliad”
9 Muses Theatre
One man's retelling of the Trojan war and the clashing of its two greatest warriors, Achilles and Hector. See as one man relives that conflict over and over and illuminates the innate rage of mankind that drives him toward war.

5:30 p.m. “Does Linguist Rhyme with English?”
Harrison Baxley
While Cathy and Rachel become experts in the art of language, they struggle with its most basic form: communicating with another human.

7 p.m. “Sit a Spell with Sean of the South”
Sean of the South
Sean of the South, Sean Dietrich, shares heartfelt sentiments on life, loss, and the Great American South.

8:30 p.m. “Awkward”
Choose Your Own Adventure Productions
The story of friends, love, rivalry and rolling for attacks.

10 p.m. “Half Full”
Presented by Tiny Warriors written by Cana Sylvester and Justin Duncan
On their last night living together, roommates Morty and Lisa air their dirty laundry.

11 p.m. “Ramen Noodles and Champagne”
Franko
Laugh your night away as Franko reflects on the pressures of being a fur parent and other stuff.

Sunday, May 21
2 p.m.“Made in the USA: A Celebration of American Music”
ECTC Jr. Thespian Troupe
Experience the greatest songs that were Made in the USA. Join ECTC's Jr. Thespian Troupe as we celebrate this remarkable musical asset of ours by honoring our very own music: Dixieland Jazz, Rock 'n' Roll, Country and Broadway.

3:30 p.m. “Roadkill, New Mexico”
Liz Cain
Kooky cantina capers and maybe an alien or zombie thrown in there to spice up the roadkill...  roadkill?  Is it the furry kind or does it walk on two feet?

5 p.m. “Sweet Storm”
Treehouse Productions
Like the best country music, “Sweet Storm” benefits from restraint. A love story… blends a fantastical setting with a longing for spiritual rapture.

Festival buttons are $5 and are required for entry to all sessions (free button with child ticket purchase for 12 and under). Tickets are $15 per show for adults and $10 per show for children 5-12. All access passes will be available for purchase for $100. Fifty percent of the ticket price will go to the performing organization and fifty percent will go to ECTC.

For more details on each performance and to purchase tickets and passes to Northwest Florida Theatre Festival online at www.NWFTheatreFestival.com.

Follow Emerald Coast Theatre Company on Facebook for updates. #AStageForAll

To make a tax-deductible donation, volunteer or learn more about Emerald Coast Theatre Company visit www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org.

The Northwest Florida Theatre Festival is an inclusive and creative celebration of a community of artists embracing what makes us the same and what makes us unique. Hosted by Emerald Coast Theatre Company at 560 Grand Boulevard, Upstairs, Miramar Beach, Florida, May 12-21, 2017. Performances are open to the public. Tickets are $10-$20. For more information, schedule and ticket sales go towww.NWFTheatreFestival.com. #AStageForAll 

Emerald Coast Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) founded in 2012 by Nathanael Fisher, MFA, and his wife, Anna Fisher. Based in Miramar Beach, Florida, 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.

Emerald Coast Theatre Company is located in the upper level of 560 Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach.