TCMedia Announces Cast, Writers for Original Television Programming

Local television viewers and independent creative artists benefit from Thurston Community Media’s programming

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Submitted by Thurston Community Media

Thurston Community Media (TCMedia) is happy to announce the cast of the 2023 “Live at 5” TV sketch program, a collaborative community variety show in partnership with Olympia Film Collective (OlyFilm). This news comes on the heels of the Hollywood writers’ strike and gives a chance for local independent creative artists to share their talents.

The cast are a mix of diverse community members participating in creating sketches, performances, and digital shorts to celebrate Thurston County by highlighting local cultural heritage and current events.

“This show is for the community, by the community! We have gathered a wide range of cast and crew members, from 8 years old to 80. This is an excellent opportunity for us to have some family-friendly fun, learn about community media, and celebrate our unique writers and theater community,” says Producer Robert Kam.

Nearly a dozen local and regional writers with varying levels of experience have come together to write multiple live skits and digital shorts for the Live at Five variety show. Two shorts written by Olympia residents Nicolas and Bethany Canchola, Robert Kam, Dinea Norrell and Sarah Callinan feature Mermaids and Sasquatch at Arts Walk. Seattle resident and Olympia native, Sara Jo Geiger, has brought her comedy troupe, “Good Crash”, into the writer’s room to write a “Weekend Update” style skit called “The BOLT News”, a nod to Thurston County’s online news agency, “The JOLT News.”

“‘Live at Five’s’ writers room pioneers a sans-internet pathway for local humorists to premiere their work for a hometown audience. We cherish our community, our sentimental send-up of our hometown is a love letter, and the room where it happens is a small-scale reflection of that pride,” says writer, Sara Jo Geiger.

Full Writers List

Corey Lopardi, Jim Charleston, Danny Denniston, Sarah Callinan, Isabel Nixon Klein, Sara Jo Geiger, Dinea Norrell, Robert Kam, Nicolas Canchola, Bethany Canchola, Katie Gibbons.

Full Cast List

Sara Jo Geiger, James Clark, Charles McDonald, Michael Christopher, Melissa Ashleigh, Heather Christopher, Isa Shulman, Shaina Spencer, Jason Whited, Katie Gibbons, Dottie LaRonge, Sara Thiessen, Kendal Meister, Juan Aleman, Cody Lemmon-Grey, Bethany Canchola, Isla Morgan, Scarlet Nixon Klein, Henry Wenener, Nick Strauss, Jayln Green, Karen Longo, Rob Duran, Arne Morgan, Mary Jo Strain, Ziggy Norberg, Alexandra Bugatti

With original songs by: Dublin Abbey, Ryan Adcox, and Josh DiStefano

Live Show

Tune in to TCTV Channel 77 on Comcast Cable or Channel 23 on Consolidated Cable in Yelm, Saturday, June 3rd at 5pm to see the show. Tickets to be in the studio audience will be available at tcmedia.org starting May 15th. Support for Live at Five is generously provided by TwinStar Credit Union.

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