"Poof," a new original play, has been created especially for this festival produced and organized by local members of the SGI-USA, a lay Buddhist organization. This theatre production has been created as a means of articulating the festival themes of global peace, victory over all forms of violence, and the power of dialogue as a means to personal and cultural transformation. The play originated from a series of discussions among SGI-USA members that were facilitated by Michael Downey, a theatre arts instructor at Santa Barbara City College.

Members explored a range of issues and themes that they felt excited about, and Michael subsequently took participants through a series of theatre games that were based around those ideas. This activity evoked a storyline that Downey structured into a script. He has also been directing the show, which is now well into rehearsal.

"Poof" is a playful excursion into the realm of daydream as well as an indirect look at the aftereffects of family discord. With a light touch it also reinforces the importance of friendship as a supportive influence in an individual's progression from dependency to empowerment and personhood. An 18 member cast includes a contingent of middle school, high school, and college students as well as adults in various professions, all from the tri-counties area.