THE HOUSE OF SPIRITS (COMING SOON):
A New Play by Lisa Balderston – The House of Spirits is a play about three estranged sisters who meet at their late father’s bar to decide what to do with the failing business and who will care for their ailing mother. The play explores the challenges of family commitments and reconciling who we are with where we came from. With love, laughter, and a touch of magic, this play offers a poignant reminder that no matter how far we stray from home, family can always bring us back.
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The PlayGround Experiment: Semi-Finalists (Lisa Balderston)
New York City based company, The PlayGround Experiment, just notified the Semi-Finalists who submitted to their recent competition and my monologue, “Can I Buy You a Drink?” made the list.
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WINNER OF THE LAMPLIGHTERS THEATRE NEW PLAY FESTIVAL:
QUEEN OF LUCIA by LISA BALDERSTON
Synopsis: In Queen of Lucia, Jack and Elena, a married couple seeking respite from the
overwhelming demands of Elena’s Bipolar Disorder, retreat to a secluded cottage deep in the countryside. Jack hopes the peaceful surroundings will help Elena find balance, but her erratic behavior soon disrupt any chance of serenity. As Elena’s mental health deteriorates, her emotional abuse toward Jack intensifies, pushing him to the brink of collapse. Torn between his vows and the toll of being her caregiver, Jack must decide whether to stay in a toxic cycle or break free to save his own sanity. In this raw exploration of love, duty, and mental illness, both must confront the truth about their relationship. Can they find a way to navigate the storm of mental illness together, or will the isolation reveal irreparable fractures in their marriage?
VIDEO CLIP: Lamplighters Theatre New Play Festival – Video clip of Queen of Lucia (June 14, 2025)
LINK: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1966Lv-MmPAxOMkVWcJCcQeKTjMUX4hSa/view?usp=sharing
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THE SCRIPTEASERS READING of LET’S CHAT by LISA BALDERSTON
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PLAYWRIGHT GOES IN A NEW DIRECTION: LISA BALDERSTON DIRECTS
WOMEN IN JEOPARDY AS A DEBUT PRODUCTION
In an edition of The San Diego Union Tribune – “PowPAC Theatre presents comedic play Women in Jeopardy!” (Lifestyle Section) “Women in Jeopardy!” can be seen from May 30 to June 22, 2025.
Tickets are $26 for general admission; $24 for seniors, students and active duty military; and $22 for groups of 10 or more. Buy at powpac.org, call 858-679-8085 or email boxoffice@powpac.org.
DEBUT DIRECTOR: Having a great time directing for the 1st time! Thrilled to work with this AMAZING cast!
Thelma and Louise meets The First Wives Club in this fun and flirtatious comedy. Divorcées Mary and Jo are suspicious of their friend Liz’s new dentist boyfriend. He’s not just a weirdo; he may be a serial killer! After all, his hygienist just disappeared. Trading their wine glasses for spy glasses, imaginations run wild as the ladies try to discover the truth and save their friend in a hilarious off-road adventure.
PHOTOS FROM WOMEN IN JEOPARDY:
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The Trinity Theatre Company’s New Works Festival: The Trinity Theatre Company’s New Works Festival received 534 submissions this year! My play, The Art of Tolerance and Forgiveness, was selected as one of the Top 10 plays to receive a Stage Reading – April 25-27, 2025. The New Works Festival is a 3-day event of readings, discussions, and social events. Please support local theatre by joining us for a weekend of new and exciting voices in storytelling! (Details: TBA)
Synopsis: In The Art of Tolerance and Forgiveness, two loving Mexican families gather for a joyous dinner to celebrate the upcoming wedding of their gay sons. Their happiness is shattered when the young men are tragically killed. In the aftermath, the families struggle to rise above their profound grief. One mother buries herself in her floral business, refusing to confront the loss, while the other channels her pain into activism, fighting against hate crimes and advocating for stricter gun laws. Alongside them, a sister navigates her own path through the heartbreak. This poignant play explores themes of love, prejudice, grief, gay marriage, and resilience, shedding light on the challenges of being Mexican in a world where hatred and violence persist.
Meet the Cast of The Art of Tolerance and Forgiveness:
The cast during their Read-Through of The Art of Tolerance and Forgiveness:
Director – Carlos Silva (left) & Playwright – Lisa Balderston (right)
The cast before going on stage to perform The Art of Tolerance and Forgiveness during the Trinity Theatre Company New Works Play Festival on April 27, 2025 at 6:30 pm
On stage and performing to a Sold Out show!!
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A NEW PLAY: Join us on Friday, June 13, 2025 @ 7:30 pm -10:00 pm for a The Scripteasers – Stage Reading of LET’S CHAT by Lisa Balderston.
When overworked Professor Gracie uses AI to generate a quiz but fails to fact-check it, her sharp-eyed student, McKenzie, spots the errors and seizes an opportunity. Confronting the professor, McKenzie demands a grade boost in exchange for her silence, sparking a tense and hilarious battle of wits over accountability, academic integrity, and the growing role of AI in education. As accusations fly and ethical lines blur, the play forces the audience to consider who is truly at fault—an overburdened educator, a savvy student, or the very technology they both choose to use? Let’s Chat is a timely and unsettlingly relevant exploration of AI’s impact on learning, the fine line between innovation and deception, and what it means to create in an age of automation.
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NEW YEAR, NEW DRAFT: Lisa Balderston selected as a Finalist in the Loud Fridge Theatre Group’s New Play Development Program 7:30pm February 12th, 2025 at The City Heights Performance Annex
Come celebrate the inaugural event of Loud Fridge’s new play development program, New Year, New Draft. Playwrights have been submitting their unfinished plays, and now we want to hear what you think. For our kick off, you’ll hear scenes from our ten finalists, and then you’ll get to vote on which play you want to see more of. The winning playwright will receive financial and professional support to develop their work, culminating in a reading of the completed play in the fall. Come support your local playwrights, and let us know what you want to see on San Diego’s stage!
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A NEW PLAY: QUEEN OF LUCIA by Lisa Balderston
Synopsis: In Queen of Lucia, Jack and Elena, a married couple seeking respite from the
overwhelming demands of Elena’s Bipolar Disorder, retreat to a secluded cottage deep in the countryside. Jack hopes the peaceful surroundings will help Elena find balance, but her erratic mood swings soon disrupt any chance of serenity. As Elena’s mental health deteriorates, her emotional abuse toward Jack intensifies, pushing him to the brink of collapse. Torn between his vows and the toll of being her caregiver, Jack must decide whether to stay in a toxic cycle or break free to save his own sanity. In this raw exploration of love, duty, and mental illness, both must confront the truth about their relationship. Can they find a way to navigate the storm of mental illness together, or will the isolation reveal irreparable fractures in their marriage?
The SCRIPTEASERS Reading of QUEEN OF LUCIA – September 13, 2024
AUDIENCE & READER RESPONSES:
“Art is meant to move us and you definitely did that. The fact that it brings people to important conversations about things that aren’t even directly part of the focus of the work is also commendable. Art can inform as well and start conversations and your play does both.” (Marc Biagi)
“Thank you all for a super fun experience. Lisa, I loved being a part of this thought-provoking new play. And the discussion afterwards was so engaging. (Samantha Goldstein – Reader)
“Congratulations on the reading of your play. It was a really good Reading and the crowd was certainly very enthusiastic” (Michael Adler)
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THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE: The Best Things to do This Weekend: June 7-9 (Life by Numbers written by Lisa Balderston) https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/guides/story/2024-06-05/the-best-things-to-do-this-weekend-in-san-diego-june-7-9
SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE: Art & Culture
Lamplighters Community Theatre Presents Life by Numbers by Local Playwright Lisa Balderston
Saturday, June 1st, 2024 @ 8:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, 2:00 PM on Sundays
Life By Numbers – Written by Lisa Balderston, Directed by Julia Smith
It’s been two years since Ellie’s father passed away, and she’s nervous about her Mom’s recent interest in dating, which prompts her to move back home. She finds there are more changes in her Mom’s world than she anticipated. https://sandiegomagazine.com/community-event/lamplighters-theatre-presents-life-by-numbers-by-local-playwright-lisa-balderston/
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LIFE BY NUMBERS – Top Row: Natalie Geib (Stage Manager), Lisa Balderston (Playwright), Julia Miller (Director) Bottom Row: Joanne Branch, Lucinda Moaney, Ell Miller, Lesa Sailors & Steven Ronggur Silalahi.
CELEBRATE PRIDE with “LIFE by NUMBERS” – A Coming Out Journey!
Meet the AMAZING cast in Life by Numbers (written by Lisa Balderston) Featuring: Laura Ganz-Holtan, Ell Miller, Lucinda Moaney, Steven Ronggur Silalahi, Lesa Sailors. (Photos by Ken Jacques) https://adobe.ly/4aQCRaO)
OPENING NIGHT is this Friday! Get your tickets to this heart-felt dramedy!! (June 7th through June 16th) Lamplighters Theatre – 5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa, CA 91942.
STORY: It’s been two years since Ellie’s father passed away, and she’s nervous about her Mom’s recent interest in dating, which prompts her to move back home. She finds there are more changes in her Mom’s world than she anticipated.
What a wonderful review from San Diego Jewish World:
| A New Play by Lisa Balderston |
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| AUDITION NOTICE Lamplighters Theatre is holding auditions for Life By Numbers By Lisa Balderston DIRECTED BY: Julia Smith PRODUCED BY:: Pamela Stompoly AUDITION DATES: Monday, April 15 and Wednesday, April 17, 2024 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM |
| RSVP at SIGN-UP GENIUS link for available times: **AUDITIONS WILL BE HELD IN THE THEATRE LOBBY** 5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa, CA 91942 SHOW RUN: June 7 through June 16, 2024 PERFORMANCES: Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 2:00 pm. AUDITION INFORMATION:The audition will consist of cold reads from the script with a reader. Please arrive 15 minutes early for schedule comparison and paperwork. No performance conflicts permitted. Please use Sign Up Genius link above to secure an audition spot. Please bring your most current headshot and resume. All roles are open for inclusivity and diversity. Lamplighters is an all-volunteer organization. SYNOPSIS It’s been two years since Ellie’s father passed away, and she’s nervous about her Mom’s recent interest in dating, which prompts her to move back home. She finds there are more changes in her Mom’s world than she anticipated. |
By Wendy MacLeod
Directed by: Lisa Balderston
Thelma and Louise meets The First Wives Club in this fun and flirtatious comedy. Divorcées Mary and Jo are suspicious of their friend Liz’s new dentist boyfriend. He’s not just a weirdo; he may be a serial killer! After all, his hygienist just disappeared. Trading their wine glasses for spy glasses, imaginations run wild as the ladies try to discover the truth and save their friend in a hilarious off-road adventure.
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The Butler Did It – Assistant Director: Lisa Balderston
By arrangement with Dramatist Play Service Inc.
Director: Dennis I. Floyd & Assistant Director: Lisa Balderston
| About the Assistant Director: Lisa Balderston is an adjunct professor at Point Loma Nazarene University, teaching Dramatic Writing. As a playwright, she had her 1st play, Transported, produced by PowPAC Theatre in 2022. Her next play, Life by Numbers, will be produced at Lamplighters Theatre in June. She is excited about having the opportunity to work with director, Dennis Floyd, to expand her scope of theatre knowledge by serving as AD for this laugh-out-loud play, The Butler Did It. When she’s not writing or teaching, she enjoys spending time with the very supportive men in her life – her husband Matt and two sons Eric and Alex. |
(Union-Tribune Article on Transported)
PowPAC Premieres ‘Transported,’ a Look at How Violence Affects Families
PowPAC’s “Transported” cast includes Suzanne Whitman as Sara, Laura Gracie as Mari, Tim Benson as Enrique, Kanaan Hesseling as Javier and Rayne Gonzalez as Gabi.
Play Deals With Healing After Hate Crime Killings
JAN. 19, 2022 11:48 AM PT
The world premiere of a play that explores the varied ways two families — united in tragedy due to gun violence and a hate crime — respond to their heartbreak opens at PowPAC on Jan. 28.
“Transported” by San Diego playwright Lisa Balderston can be seen on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 20 at PowPAC, Poway’s Community Theatre. Director Gil Savage, who is also PowPAC artistic director, said the play was chosen because of its message.
“The show addresses the horrors that automatic weapons do every year,” Savage said. “The primary message is about the horror of this mass murder caused by a hate crime … and how it destroys society.”
“When I read it I said we got to do this play because it has an important message,” he said. The play revolves around two Latino families. In Act I, the families come together to celebrate the marriage of their sons. But later that night, the young men — off stage — go to a gay nightclub to continue celebrating with friends and are victims of a hate-based mass shooting.
Act II is set a few years later, when the two grieving mothers — who were close friends before the tragedy — and the sister of one of the men meet by chance on a train. Since the murders, one mother has become a gun control advocate, whose mission has become preventing another tragedy like the one that caused the death of her son. The other mother has withdrawn, concluding nothing will ever change society, Savage said.
“So it is about learning to live together,’ Savage said. “Those who commit hate crimes affect and destroy families, not just the individual. Families have to pull together. It is about their faith and strength.”
“(The characters) have to keep their heart open and remember … faith in family gets you through (anything). … It is through support and relying on faith that they get great strength,” he said. Balderston wrote “Transported” as a one-act play and there were performed readings in 2019 at Scripps Ranch Theatre and OnStage Playhouse in Chula Vista, Savage said. Since then, she expanded it into a two-act play and this is the first time it is being staged.
“It has been in development for more than a year,” Savage said, adding Balderston is “super talented and has a future in the theater world.” Balderston, a San Diego native, earned a bachelor’s in English from San Diego State University and a master’s in creative writing and literature for educators from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is an adjunct professor at Point Loma Nazarene University. Working with a playwright is something Savage has done before. The Scripps Ranch resident began his theater career as a 15-year-old with The Old Globe back in the mid-1960s.
“I’ve always been in love with community theater and starting or originating works,” said Savage, who has been with PowPAC for 10 years. Savage said casting the show during a pandemic has been a challenge, with some actors needing to be replaced due to “problems beyond our control.” To audition, all actors had to be fully vaccinated against COVID.
“There was not the typical turnout of actors at auditions, which we totally understand,” he said. “It is rough to rehearse in masks, though they will not perform with masks.” The cast consists of Suzanne Whitman, Laura Gracie, Tim Benson, Kanaan Hesseling, Rayne Gonzalez, Kevin McGinnis and Gyanesh Billakanti.
“Transported” can be seen at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays from Jan. 28 through Feb. 20. There will also be two Saturday matinees, at 2 p.m. on Feb. 12 and 19. Tickets are $22 for general admission and $20 for students, seniors and active duty military. Purchase at powpac.org.
According to PowPAC’s website, audience members upon arrival must show photo ID and proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or negative results of a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance. They must also wear a mask over their mouth and nose at all times.
Transported – by Lisa Balderston
This heart-felt, thought-provoking play is about two women who lose their gay sons in a mass shooting. Once close friends while their sons dated, they drift apart after the funerals. Two years later, they run into each other during a late subway ride home. Initially, they exchange basic pleasantries to catch up on the latest in their lives. The conversation takes a turn when they reveal how much their lives have truly changed, filled with regrets and resentments. Will they ever come to terms with the pain of losing their sons? Will they ever find peace in their current lives?
PowPAC is at 13250 Poway Road, on the second-level of the Lively Center in Poway. Parking is free and there is an elevator in back for those who want to avoid the stairs.
Transported – Act Two
TRANSPORTED – Originally the winner of the Local Flavor Stage Reading Competition at the Scripps Ranch Theatre, will now be performed on stage at the PowPAC Theatre during the 2021-2022 season, running January 28 – February 20, 2022.
This heart-felt, thought-provoking play is about two women who lose their gay sons in a mass shooting. Once close friends while their sons dated, they drift apart after the funerals. Two years later, they run into each other during a late subway ride home. Initially, they exchange basic pleasantries to catch up on the latest in their lives. The conversation takes a turn when they reveal how much their lives have truly changed, filled with regrets and resentments. Will they ever come to terms with the pain of losing their sons? Will they ever find peace in their current lives?
Lisa Balderston Wins 2nd Place with Play, The Death of Ryan, in the “24 Experiment” Competition Presented
by the Point Loma Playhouse
https://www.sandiego24experiment.com/
“24 Experiment” – a competition that calls for teams of actors, writers and directors to write, direct and perform 6 original short plays in 24 hours!!
My team won 2nd place with a play called “The Death of Ryan.” Fellow writers, Ken, Jacob and Bridget, were excellent creative partners during this crazy, collaborative ride.
The 6 plays are performed in front of a live audience and voted for favorite play, with awards presented by the “24 Experiment” in connection to the Point Loma Playhouse.
- Writers write a new play from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am
- Directors/Actors rehearse the play they’re given from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm
- Live performance in front of an audience from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Video from 11th Annual 24 Experiment: (Scroll to “The Death of Ryan”)
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THE SUM OF SISTERHOOD: This short play gained recognition by The Scripteasers as an Honorable Mention winner during their annual Short Play Competition and was later performed by local actresses. The Sum of Sisterhood is about two sisters who desperately want the same college scholarship that covers the cost of tuition, room/board and, more importantly, a way out of their very questionable neighborhood. The banter between them can be intense, even brutal at times, but is also an interesting look at what a person is capable of doing in order to rise out of poverty when the alternative is grim.
The Sum of Sisterhood is about two sisters who desperately want the same college scholarship that covers the cost of tuition, room/board and, more importantly, a way out of their very questionable neighborhood. The banter between them can be intense, even brutal at times, but is also an interesting look at what a person is capable of doing in order to rise out of poverty when the alternative is grim.
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CELEBRATION OF LIFE: This short play gained recognition by The Scripteasers who requested that it be performed during one of their Zoom Reading sessions.
PLAY SUMMARY:
When Christina Alvarez decides to attend the Celebration of Life of her former high school English teacher, it’s not to pay her respects to the well-respected educator. Memories from Christina’s senior year still haunt her, memories of a teacher who made her life miserable. How does she confront a ghost about events that happened 25 years ago? Can she find peace in the comfort of a church, in the company of a stranger, and in front of a deceased teacher’s larger-than-life photo at the alter?
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LISA BALDERSTON 