A rare opportunity to participate in the birth of a mountain festival that promises to grow into a notable international event is yours this weekend. Opening ceremonies for the second Center of the World Festival begin at the base of Mount Pinos in the beautiful Pine Mountain Village gazebo on Friday, Aug. 20.
COWFEST SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday August 20, 6-9 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies
What is Eco-Drama?
Native American Storytelling
The Amazing Vohkinne—Magic Act
COWFest Puppeteers
Ileana & the Star Fairies—A Mountain Fairy Tale
Introduction of Competing Playwrights
Saturday August 21
Playwright Competition
2–4 p.m. Round One
7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Round Two
Audience Members will vote for Winning Play.
To be eligible to cast a vote, you must stay for an entire round. You may attend both Rounds and vote two times. A separate donation to the Red Cross is requested for each Round.
Sunday August 22, 1-3 p.m.
Closing Ceremonies
Short Plays with Local Performers
Introduction of Playwrights, Actor/Readers, Directors
Presentation of Awards—First Place $500
COWFest’s opening ceremonies on August 20 feature Chumash Elder Alan ‘Spirit Hawk’ Salazar and his friends, offering Native American storytelling and the Amazing Vohkinne Magic Act.
A panel led by local biologist Lynn Stafford will share secrets about the forest habitats that surround us.
COWFest puppeteers (who delighted Lilac Festival attendees and won the Founders Trophy) will engage children of all ages with more stories of Bear, Coyote, Condor, Snake and Raccoon. The final act is “Ileana & the Star Fairies,” a play written by a local mother and her child—a mountain fairy tale.
On Saturday, Aug. 21 the playwright’s competition begins. “What’s the Buzz?” asks the question “What will happen to humans if honey bees become extinct?” Author George Johnson is a teacher of English literature at a university in Canada. He is also chair of the Global and Community Action group of his church in British Columbia. He works with a group that distributes beehive boxes to preserve the diminishing bee colonies in Canada.
Louis Medina’s new play is “Good Night Friend, Goodbye Friend.” It is about euthanizing homeless dogs and cats. Animal rights advocates are invited to come to support Medina’s play. Last year, he won third place with a play about racial prejudice.
All plays are performed in reader’s theater style at a matinee and an evening performance. Audience members vote for their favorite play after the performances. On Sunday, Aug. 22 the $500 grand prize will be given to the winning playwright during the festival’s closing ceremonies.
The suggested donation is $10. Proceeds go to the Kern County chapter of the American Red Cross. A challenge grant to a Chumash interpretive center is being made by a donor who will match Friday’s proceeds, up to $500. See www.cowfestival. org for more details about the event.
This is part of the August 20, 2010 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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