Like so many gathering places for people, OutCast Productions has had to discontinue its live performances from their theater at the Fairgrounds. But Artistic Director, Ned Farley knows that theater is a major form of entertainment on Whidbey. He came up with a plan for keeping OutCast Productions (OCP) alive in peoples’ minds by offering a streaming season. Ned says, “This will be streaming digital recordings of past plays with playwright permission.”
When it first became clear that OutCast would not be able to do performances in its theater Ned confesses, “I felt sorry for myself and the theater.” Then his creative juices began operating and he started talking about possibilities with people who had been associated with OCP in its 10 years on Whidbey.
His discussions with playwrights and actors also include new ways to present theater virtually, which led him to research how to use digital media such as YouTube and Zoom to create and stream new work that can be produced for our patrons while we can’t have them sit in the theater.
The most important element says Ned is “Maintaining contact with our audiences. We want to keep in touch.”
Beginning the end of September, digital productions will be presented every six weeks. The season includes:
- September 25 & 26 - Ghostdrivers, the Musical - Book by Tom Bourne, Music & Lyrics by Steve Pena & Tom Bourne. Directed by Ned Farley (2017)
- November 6 & 7 - The Hotel Belleclaire - Book & Lyrics by June Rachelson Ospa, Music by Kezia Hirsey. Directed by Ned Farley (2018)
- December 18 & 19 - Over My Dead Body – by Suzanne Kelman. Directed by Gabe Harshman (2019).
To obtain a link to see our upcoming September performances, go either to the website for OutCast Productions (https://www.OutCastproductions.net/), or our Facebook page (OutCast Productions) click on the yellow “donate” button attached to the Ghostdrivers announcement and it will redirect you to PayPal where you will be asked to make a minimum donation of $10 (of course, you can always donate more).
Please make sure to include your email address so we can email you and confirm which night you prefer, Friday, September 25, or Saturday, September 26, once we receive your choice of performance OCP will email you the OCP YouTube Channel link for that performance.
On the night of the show check-in anytime between 7:00-7:30 pm and chat with other OCP patrons, the show will begin promptly at 7:30 pm.
For future performances, make sure to check our website or Facebook page – better yet, consider subscribing to our email list (the “join us” button on our website) and get the announcements for upcoming OutCast events.
