👋 Hi, I'm Nicholas Roberts. I create and perform music and write this daily blog about creativity, culture, and my life.

I live in Los Angeles with my wife and golden retriever.

Email me: hello@nicholasroberts.io

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Cafe Plays is a bi-annual play festival at Stuart Rogers Studios, an acting school in North Hollywood, CA. The event is hosted by Curtiss Johns and Aubree Bowen.

The concept is simple;Stuart Rogers’ acting students volunteer to put on a short play festival. Then, they’re assigned acting, directing, and production roles.

They have approximately three weeks to write, direct, and put up a 10-page theatrical play to be ready in time for a two-weekend play festival.

Usually, there’s a simple prompt that kicks off the ideas for the plays.

Students get involved with every aspect from designing sets to writing, directing, acting, stage-managing, and sound design.

I recently attended the third edition of Cafe Plays, where seven ten-minute plays were workshopped in front of sold-out crowds at Stuart Rogers' theaters.

Throughout the festival, students share their knowledge and experiences with each other. They learn how to commit to ideas, produce and organize a theater show, and work with actors to achieve a creative vision.

I'm inspired by people who put in the work to build a community. Everyone is capable of writing and sharing new work with the world.