HISTORY:

After working for several years, directing "appropriate" plays in the schools, I started feeling a disconnect between the students I was working with and the stories they were allowed to tell on the schools' stages. I began talking to one of the parents, Susan Gavet, about the possibility of working with some of the students on an independent production. As a producer, Susan was excited at the prospect. I met with her son, Aidan, and another student and friend, Chloe Bertles to read a popular play for young actors. When we finished the read-through, Aidan said, "We could write something better." And so we did. For a year, I met with Chloe and Aidan in his basement and listened to their stories about life in high school in Marin. Then I'd go upstairs and eat dinner with their parents who were talking about a friend they were losing to cancer. From those conversations, "best.worst.best." was born.

PRESS:

“best.worst.best., an edgy new play based on a real-life Marin family tragedy...promised to take us into the real world of the Marin teenager. And it did.” Paul Liberatore, “10 Most Memorable Moments in Marin Music and Entertainment, 2008), Marin Independent Journal, 12/25/08 (Read full article here.)  

Marin Independent Journal preview by Paul Liberatore

SYNOPSIS:

Set in the garage hang-out of a high-school student who uses his dying mother’s medical marijuana to combat his own feelings of desperation, helplessness and panic, "best.worst.best." examines one boy’s attempts to appear “normal” in his relationships with his older brother, his classmates, and his grieving father while also dealing with the intense scrutiny that comes with a family tragedy in a small community.

AWARDS AND SUPPORT:

"One of the 10 Most Memorable Moments in Marin Music and Entertainment, 2008"

PRODUCTION:
"best.worst.best." premiered at BASS Studios in San Rafael, CA, Sept. 19--Oct. 3, 2008
Directed by Andrea L. Hart

CAST:
Aidan Gavet, Chloe Bertles, Donald Antoine, Eli Fronenberger, Paige Block

Original music by Louis Bartolini
Produced by Susan Gavet
Assistant Producer: Serena Bertles