The 36th annual Baduwa't Festival, presented by Dell'Arte International, opens today (Thursday) in Blue Lake and runs through August, featuring a world premiere sequel, professional workshops, and a new youth academy. The centerpiece of the festival is 'Mary Jane The Musical 2: The Grandson,' written and directed by Michael Fields and Roman Sanchez, with Tony Award-nominated Cynthia Martells leading an ensemble cast that includes William English III, Laura Murillo Hart, Shawn Wagner, and Lily Linz.
The musical, a sequel to the 2011 hit 'Mary Jane: The Musical,' features original songs by local artists including Anna Hamilton, Daryll Cherney, Zera Starchild, Tim Randles, Bird McCracken, and a dozen others who wrote specifically for this production. In addition to the mainstage show, the festival offers nine intensive professional workshops taught by alumni and industry leaders, covering clown, puppetry, immersive performance, and more.
New this summer is the Dell'Arte Youth Academy: Page to Stage (July 6-17), a two-week intensive for young artists ages 13-18 that challenges participants to take on roles as playwrights, directors, performers, lighting designers, and sound technicians. For attendees, the All Access Pass provides unlimited admissions to every pass-included show, with each pass including two tickets to 'Mary Jane the Musical 2.' The pass is transferable, allowing friends and families to share.
The Ten-Show Punch Pass offers 10 admissions that can be used flexibly. Both festival passes come with a 20% discount on workshops and early-access tickets to 'Mary Jane the Musical 2,' allowing entry 30 minutes before general admission to secure a spot on the lawn.
The festival runs through August, with workshop schedules including Clown Create (June 14-19), Intro to Healthcare Clown (June 21-27), and Act Development with Daredevil Chicken (July 28-August 2). The Baduwa't Festival, named after the Yurok word for the Mad River, celebrates the intersection of art, community, and the natural environment of Humboldt County.