OCTA

Ohio Community Theatre Association's Results from OCTAFEST 2011

INDEPENDENCE, OH

MTVarts’ production of Roy C. Berkowitz’ one-act play “Neitzsche Ate Here” captivated an audience of over 300 at the annual Ohio Community Theatre Association’s (OCTA) State Festival. With 15 play excerpts, musicals and one-acts from various production companies around the Ohio, “Nietzsche” was a crowd favorite and also caught the attention of the professional adjudicators who responded to each excerpt and awarded the different shows based on level of merit. “Neitzsche’s” cast and crew received six of the eight “Outstanding” total achievements awarded.

 Mount Vernon’s Bruce Jacklin as Paul and Columbus’ Gail Griffith as Cheryl both were recognized for their individual acting as well as the outstanding in Ensemble. Matt Starr received the Directing Award. MTVarts grabbed the outstanding in Set Design as well as Overall Production, a rare instance of recognition from the history of the OCTA State Showcase.

 “We all knew that this (Neitzsche) was a very special story,” said Starr in response to the accolades. “So many people have come to us after the show and have told us how glad they are that we told this story, which is really why we needed to do this production.”

 “Neitzsche” is the story of two dissimilar strangers trudging through their own lives when an event leads them to share an unanticipated emotional connection. The hardened street-smart CHERYL owns a diner in Manassas, VA. Through her daily grind running her diner, a well-manicured PAUL enters, and the two lives are changed forever.

 Playwright Roy C. Berkowitz and Director, Matt Starr have also agreed to produce the play as a short film. Pre-production for 'Neitzsche' Ate Here is set for October and will feature Jacklin and Griffith as principal lead roles. Filming will begin in June.

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