By Bill Reynolds
La Conner Community News
Life imitating art isn’t so uncommon these days. But art imitating life that imitates art is another story.
And it’s one that the La Conner-based Skagit Passage nonprofit theater and storytelling troupe has brought to the Tim Bruce Performing Arts stage here this month.
Skagit Passage is presenting “Play On!”, which director Taylor Pedroza describes as a “play within a play, play,” over two successive weekends at the local campus auditorium.
The Skagit Passage production, whose cast is composed of volunteer community actors and La Conner High students and alumni, will next be presented on Oct. 9 (7 p.m.) and Oct. 10 (1 p.m., 7 p.m.).
Admission is $10 at the door with proceeds going toward further Skagit Passage performances.
“It’s a challenging play,” Pedroza says of “Play On!”, a madcap farce comedy written in 1980 by Rick Abbot, one of several pen names used by prolific playwright Jack Sharkey.
“It’s about a community theater group doing a play about community theater,” Pedroza explains. “I chose it because it’s a way to get high school students and adults on stage together. It highlights the process of putting on a play, and you can see the work that goes into it. It shows the audience everything that these actors do.”
Pedroza is quite familiar with the format. Before graduating in Theatre Arts from Gonzaga University, Pedroza was cast in “Play On!” while a student at Sedro-Woolley High.
“It was the first play I did, about 15 years ago,” Pedroza recalls. “So, that’s fun.”
At least one member of the Skagit Passage cast is likewise familiar with “Play On!” That’s Pedroza’s father, Roel Pedroza, a 1983 La Conner High grad who has championed his son’s theatrical ventures through the years.
Roel Pedroza is one of 10 Skagit Passage actors with roles in “Play On!” Taylor Pedroza’s spouse, Jessica Pedroza, of the La Conner Schools Braves Hub staff, is another of the half-dozen adults appearing on stage.
La Conner students John York, Hayden Flanagan, Casey Lamken, and Greta Oh are also prominently featured, Taylor Pedroza says.
The cast has been rehearsing up to four times each week since August, says Pedroza, who is also in the process of writing a script for a holiday season play at the Bruce auditorium.
“It’s a testament to the hard work these guys are doing,” he says of their ability to master a complex story in just a handful of weeks.
“The kids enjoy it,” Pedroza says, referring to “Play On!” “They get to do some really bad British accents, and the adults are doing their homework. So, everybody’s setting the standard.
“I’m very impressed with their work,” he adds. “They’re all doing a great job.”
Pedroza says one of the main Skagit Passage goals is to help revive the robust community theatre vibe present in La Conner a generation ago.
“We’re excited to do this,” he says. “We know that it (community theater) has been a thing here.”
Pedroza has juggled day jobs — including a current landscaping gig — to join his wife, cousin Alicia Schwind, and others in launching an after-school drama club program for La Conner students in addition to the year-round Skagit Passage initiative.
Storytelling and stagecraft have become defining elements in his life.
“Studying other people and their relationships is what I’m interested in,” he says. “Everyone’s perceptions are different, and it’s important to consider that.”
Playwrights such as Abbot have produced creative inspiration for Pedroza.
“I’m grateful to the people who have provided the things that I identify with and help shape my view of the world,” he says, “and allow me to give back to the community and help others.”
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
