NVA Announces Summer Comedy Festival, Begins 7/30

New Village Arts (NVA) is pleased to announce the newest summer tradition for North County - the New Village Arts Summer Comedy Festival! The festival begins on July 30 and consists of one mainstage production, two off-night one-acts and an unforgettable evening of music. Featuring the work of David Ives, local San Diegan Emily Reit and the musical stylings of Billy Watson, this festival is full of events to make you think, smile and laugh out loud. NVA Associate Artistic Director Joshua Everett Johnson directs the mainstage show, David Ives' Time Flies and Ruff Yeager and Kristianne Kurner helm the off-night one acts, Emily Reit's Prom Night and David Ives' Sure Thing.

Prom Night was originally produced as a winner of the California Young Playwrights Contest with Playwrights Project. New Village Arts' Summer Comedy Festival runs July 30 through August 16 at the New Village Arts Theatre, located at 2787 State Street in Carlsbad Village. Tickets range from $10 - $20 and are available by calling the box office at 760-433-3245 or by visiting www.NewVillageArts.org.

In TIME FLIES, David Ives sets out to explore the transitory nature of life through a series of hilarious short plays. From a couple of young mayflies on their first (and only) date, to a woman who lives in a washing machine, TIME FLIES is sure to make you question who we are, how we got to be here and where we are going. Featuring five of NVA's Ensemble members, this will be a fun, thought provoking way to spend an evening. And at only $20 per ticket, the price is right for everyone.

PROM NIGHT introduces us to a pair of absurdly over-protective parents who go to drastic measures to thwart their daughter's plans for her prom night. Executive Artistic Director Kristianne Kurner first saw PROM NIGHT at Cygnet's Theatre in Old Town as part of the Plays by Young Writers festival and immediately wanted to share the story with North County audiences. "I was so impressed with the professionalism of this show, and found it to be so smartly funny, that I wanted to be sure that even more audiences were able to share in the delightful evening. I am also very proud to be able to support a young female playwright with such a distinctive voice," says Kurner. Paired to run with PROM NIGHT is another David Ives one-act, SURE THING, which tracks a young couple on their first date trying desperately to get everything right. Tickets for these productions are only $15.

On Monday, August 10th at 7:30 PM, NVA welcomes BILLY WATSON AND THE SILVER STRING SUBMARINE BAND. Billy Watson performs a Madcap Blues harmonica show that has become his major focus and behavioral outlet. Upon receiving a Bachelor's of FineArts in Graphic Design from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, Watson decided to travel West to experience the lifestyle of Southern California. Finding random work painting surfboards, fabricating signs, and life guarding, Watson eventually got the Blues. Now driven by this internal Ghost, Watson fronts his own show, with the International Silver String Submarine Band. It is a harmonica Blues show that focuses on creating a humorous and entertaining experience for the live viewer while also paying tribute to the legends that created the music. Together with the efforts of an ever-changing, all-star musical cast, Watson has produced five CD's that have been sold internationally and are available at Lou's Records in Leucadia, CA, Mitch's Surf Shop in Solana Beach, CA, and on his very own web site - billywatson.com. Billy Watson can be seen performing music at most of the major venues around town. Tickets for this special one-night only event are $10 and can be purchased by calling NVA's box office at 760-433-3245 or visiting www.NewVillageArts.org .

Five members of NVA's award-winning acting Ensemble will be coming together to create TIME FLIES. Leading the ensemble as director and actor is NVA's Associate Artistic Director Joshua Everett Johnson (FOUR DOGS AND A BONE, FOOL FOR LOVE). Other Ensemble members are Adam Brick (COMPLETE WORKS, ABRIDGED), Tim Parker (BULRUSHER, COMPLETE WORKS), Rachael VanWormer (BE AGGRESSIVE) and Wendy Waddell (OFF THE GROUND). Rounding out the cast are Rachel Robinson (BE AGGRESSIVE), Sam Floto and Michael Philip Thomas.

The production of PROM NIGHT will reunite most of the members of the original cast from the Playwright's Project production. Leading the cast as director and actor will be San Diego favorite Ruff Yeager (NVA debut). Joining him will be Karson St John (NVA debut), Kristie Kahlweiss (NVA debut) and Tanner Weston (JULIUS CAESAR). Ms. Kahlweiss and Mr. Weston will create the roles in SURE THING.

All performances of the SUMMER COMEDY FESTIVAL will be held at the New Village Arts Theatre. TIME FLIES will run Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM; Saturdays at 3 PM & 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. PROM NIGHT and SURE THING will run Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 PM and BILLY WATSON AND THE SILVER STRING SUBMARINE BAND will be appearing on Monday, August 10 at 7:30 PM. Tickets range from $10 to $20 and are available by calling the box office at 760-433-3245 or logging on to www.NewVillageArts.org.