Whidbey Playhouse organizers pitch July 18 10-minute play festival to Oak Harbor commissioners

During public comment at the April 9 meeting, Sarah Galala, a local business owner and Oak Harbor resident, and Tom Lucido of Outcast Theater described a privately hosted 10-minute play festival planned for July 18 that will limit attendance to about 250 people because of parking constraints.

"We're gonna have 6 10-minute plays with musical interludes between each of the plays," said Tom Lucido, who described partnering with Whidbey Playhouse and other local theaters and volunteers. He said the festival will provide performance opportunities for new playwrights, actors and musicians, and that vendors will not be charged fees to attend.

Galala said she is serving as a local organizer for the north side of the island while Lucido will help coordinate the south side. Commissioners suggested ways to locate talent, noted local resources such as the former poet laureate and the Windjammer events, and encouraged promoters to submit a formal project proposal so staff and commissioners can review the festival against art-plan criteria.

Liz Lang, the city recreation manager, said staff would accept the event as a project submission through the new portal and add it to the tracking folder for commissioner review. The commission did not take any funding action at the meeting; Lang reminded applicants that staff evaluates proposals for permitting, insurance and any county permit needs for events held outside city limits.

Organizers said the festival will include readings, performers, door-prize giveaways and low-cost or free participation options. They said they plan to continue outreach to local poets, playwrights and performing artists to fill the program.