Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of acting in a local production of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” under the wonderful direction of local thespian and Pier One Theatre board member, Cristen San Roman. The experience was powerful for me, not only because of the themes present in the storyline and the character I was playing (that of the young, tortured artist, Konstantin Treplev), but also because it marked my return to community theatre after a six-year hiatus. As a youngster, born and raised in Homer, many afternoons and evenings were spent at rehearsals for youth productions, and, later on, every spring was highly anticipated as musical theater season rolled through the high school choir room. I even dabbled in the local Drama, Debate and Forensics (DDF) team, competing at statewide competitions with various acting pieces throughout my high school career.
After graduation, I began my foray into the Big Leagues: performing onstage at Pier One Theatre on the Spit. I had the opportunity to perform in two plays over the summer of 2019, solidifying my love and respect for the magic and dedication that goes into producing each piece of theatre there every summer. You won’t find kinder or more inspired intellectuals than you do backstage at Pier One.
Pier One Theatre’s 10-Minute Play Festival last weekend debuted eight plays to the community, all written by Alaskan playwrights, and all created around the central theme of being “stranded.” Each play tackles this theme in a different way, bringing wide interpretations including subjects of motherhood, immigration, mysterious sea gods, community service, therapy sessions and even murder. As the end of the season draws near and the theatre prepares to shutter itself for the winter, the festival provides an excellent last opportunity to support your local thespians, as dozens are contributing to the mass endeavor.
The play I perform in — under the direction of longtime Pier One collaborator and volunteer, Linda Ellsworth — involves a young woman named Sissi and an old man she encounters in the woods, named Ethan. After running away into the wilds in a desperate attempt to escape the politics of her time and conflict with her lover, Sissi gets injured, losing most of her supplies early on and ending up in a compromised position. Through her encounter with Ethan, she realizes that perhaps the best thing she can do for herself is return home to “push back” and make positive change happen, rather than hide from it.
The play festival is set to begin Friday, Aug. 29 and will be performed Aug. 30th and 31st and Sept. 4th, 5th and 6th. All showings begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Pier One Theatre on the Homer Spit. The plays are divided into two acts, with an intermission between. Tickets can be purchased online at pieronetheatre.org or at the box office before showtime.
“Stranded” is produced by Christine Kulcheski and Rudy Multz, with some of the plays originating from a writing workshop led this summer by local playwright Kate Rich.
The following debut plays, all written by Alaskan playwrights, will be performed during each showing:
“Mom, Look!” by Brianna Allen, directed by Deb Rowzee.
“Pushing Back” by Linda Billington, directed by Linda Ellsworth.
“No Wheels of Her Own” by Deb Rowzee, directed by Brian Duffy.
“Blanket Rules” by Mary Sheppard Fries, directed by Val Sheppard.
“Strangers on the Shore” by Curtis Jackson, directed by Curtis Jackson.
“The Most Comfortable Couch in Town” by Kate Rich, directed by Sally Oberstein.
“Regina’s Baggage” by Dawson Moore, directed by Mary Katzke.
“Not Dead” by Christine Kulcheski, directed by Ken Landfield.
A photo from July 2025 of the backstage at Pier One Theatre. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
