The annual 10-minute play festival is one of the most anticipated and popular events of the theatre season in Santa Cruz. 

The Best of the Rest

Staged readings of the 8 runners up from each year's 8 Tens @ 8 Festival

Plays are performed script in hand by an ensemble cast, co-directed by 8 Tens directors.

Schedule:

Part 1

THE NEAREST FAR AWAY PLACE by Aleks Merilo | Directed by Cathy D. Warner

SPEED DATING by by Curt Strickland | Directed by Kathie Kratochvil

THE BARGAIN by Terry Amara Boero | Directed by Kathryn Adkins

GIVER OF BEAUTY by Randy Warren | Directed by Karin Babbitt

FIRE ESCAPE by Sache (Steven) J. Satta | Directed by Brian Spencer

CLOSING TIME by Ellen Abrams |  Directed by Marcus Cato

BALLOON RELEASE by Keith Whalen | Directed by Simon Hayward

GROUCHY by Matthew Moore | Directed by Jim Schultz

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Part 2

AILEEN by Barbara Anderson | Directed by Brad Roades

DUELS AND DETENTES by Marguerite Arbogast | Directed by Scott Kravitz

THE USE OF CHILDREN by Jeffrey Davis | Directed by Steven Capasso

THE WAKERS by Guy R. Newsham | Directed by Christopher Peak

THE SCORPION DANCE by Jon Haller | Directed by Andrew Davids

EXIT STRATEGY by Jim Larson | Directed by Sally Bookman

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY by Rich Rubin | Directed by Evan Hunt

FACING THE DEMON by Jennifer Alexander | Directed by Miguel Reyna

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Part 3 - The Best of the Rest Staged Readings (Feb 28 - March 9, 2025)

Directed by Rebecca Haley Clark and Cathy D. Warner

STOCKED by Serena Norr 

PT by Marc Littman

WHY WOMEN LIVE LONGER THAN MEN by Marjorie Williamson

THE TAROT READER by Jenny Boyle Penney

DARK MATTER by Donald Loftus

TELL ME by Gwen Mansfield

IT'S JUST A PAPERWEIGHT by Jerry Metzker

VASHTI: FALLEN QUEEN by Sydney Green

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Tickets:

Prices: $35 General | $32 Senior/Student

Parts 1 & 2 Package: $65 General | $60 Senior/Student

Parts 1, 2 & 3 Package: $75 General | $70 Senior/Student

Get 2 for 1 tickets on Thursday nights [Code = 2for1 (no spaces)]

Buy Tickets for Parts 1, 2 & 3

Date: January 17 - February 16, 2025

Time: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays - 8 pm. 

Saturdays & Sundays - 2 pm

Location: Santa Cruz County Actors' Theatre

1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

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