We’re producing two performances of one-act plays. These plays are part of Shine A Light Theatre programs to foster awareness and facilitate conversations about mental health close to our hearts: suicide prevention and caretaking for a loved one with Alzheimer’s/dementia.
Both plays directed by David Schermerhorn (aka Michael David Ker)
Produced by David Schermerhorn and Sharmila Mali
PERFORMANCE DATES:
August 23rd at 7:30 PM and 24th at 2:00 PM, 2025
The Ojai Art Center
SHOWS:
The Seatbelt
Written by David Schermerhorn (a.k.a. Michael David Ker)
The play is gritty, but hopeful and contains a powerful suicide prevention theme. This is part of a larger program that will bring themes of suicide prevention to shine-a-light onto this subject in order to create awareness and foster a healthy dialog after the play.
Call My Son (1-Act)
Written by David Schermerhorn (a.k.a. Michael David Ker)
A heartwarming play about a son taking care of his mother who has Alzheimer’s.
About Shine A Light:
Director/Writer of “The Seatbelt” David Baer (aka Schermerhorn ) has won awards at Slamdance Film Festival, Portland Film Festival, LA Film Festival & had his play “Brentwood Fever” was produced by the Manhattan Repertory Theater in Manhattan. He’s sold scripts to NBC-Universal and to producers Tucker Tooley (“The Fighter”) and Vince Newman (“We’re The Millers”) As a storyteller, he also goes under Michael-David Ker and is a multiple MOTH storyslam winner, placed 2nd in the Ojai Storytelling Festival Story Slam. He produces the storytelling show Shame-On-Sunday in LA that has had guests that include Beth Lapides (of uncab LA) Moses Storm, Lexi Grace & Brent Forrester (writer “the office”).
Sharmila Mali, co-founder of Shine A Light Theater, brings a dynamic blend of performing arts, healing, and community service to the stage. She’s a dancer, lover of performing arts and a healer. Her journey in theater began in high school and continued through college, where she minored in theater. After pursuing acting in Los Angeles, she discovered a deeper calling in energy healing, which led her to become a passionate practitioner of self-love and holistic wellness for over 30 years. She is currently performs with Dance Ojai.
