Tucked among many larger theatrical groups in Monterey County, there is the tiny but growing Soapbox Stageworks. It was created by actor and playwright Karen Devaney, who moved to the Peninsula in 2021, bringing her theater project along.
A few years in, Soapbox has a board, a full 2025 season planned and an unwritten agreement with the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts in Carmel to use their black box theater. In return, the group will help with fixing and painting on site.
“There are eight of us now,” says Devaney, who is the artistic director of the group. “I’m impressed by how well we collaborate.”
For those who haven’t run across a Soapbox production just yet, the upcoming Summer Comedy Kickoff is an opportunity to explore the group’s orientation toward fresh material. The program consists of four short comedy plays by contemporary writers: Break a Leg by Max Jackson, Gentlemen’s Agreement by Rich Rubin, Elephant in the Room by Kacie Michele and Judy’s Place by Devaney herself.
The latter tells a story of a beloved bar owner, a Southern diva and “an international kinda woman,” Stella (Devaney), who becomes – along with her bar, Judy’s Place – the very heart of a local community.
“I was inspired by those small local spots where regulars come and feel at home and share stories that sometimes they would never share with their own family,” Devaney says, observing that she once met a woman like the character Stella, a Southerner with a certain charm. “She could say ‘go to hell’ and it would still sound so nice,” she adds with a drawl.
One day, Stella dies and all her friends gather at the bar, each with a story about how she transformed their lives. Realizing the bar is likely to be bulldozed, they come up with an unlikely plot to save the place. The play is directed by the group’s assistant director Michael Polyard, who also does all the tech work for the Summer Comedy Kickoff.
All this is just a beginning. More shows are planned for 2025, such as Summer Sizzlers and Playfest 2025 in the fall. “We are feeling very comfortable,” Devaney says. “People learn about us and our patrons list has doubled since we started.”
SUMMER COMEDY KICKOFF. 7pm Friday-Saturday, June 27-28; 2:30pm Sunday, June 29. Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Guadelupe and 4th, Carmel. $35. 624-7491, soapboxstageworks.org