I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Scranton Shakespeare Festival for recognizing my tragedy “Harriman-Baines”, which was one of their finalists for consideration in their annual Scranton Scratch Night series of new play premieres!

The Scranton Shakespeare Festival is a theater group organized back in 2011 by Michael Bradshw Flynn to provide free professional theater to the public in Northeast Pennsylavania and, sinc ethen, works to develop new work through hosts numerous new play premieres.

Their “Scranton Scratch Night” is an annual event for developing new works for the theater and I’m thrilled that “Harriman-Baines” was one of only 20 finalists out of 317 scripts, which puts the play in the top 6.3% of total submissions.

Briefly, “Harriman-Baines” is a full-length, two-act drama about a reclusive and brilliant composer – Carter Harriman – who is haunted by his eerie relationship with the mysterious poet Melody Baines. The play takes place over a single night, during which the lies and truths surrounding Melody Baines and her meek, psychic sister, Minnie, are exposed with brutal and unbearable honesty by an information-hungry journalist.

Above all, I am grateful to SSF for their very kind words about the play – which I shall quote here:

“It’s a pleasure to read a piece that embraces originality. Your ideas definitely feel fresh and unique… The reading team finds (also) your style to be wonderfully crafted. Our panel is very impressed by your use of character. They feel distinct and lively. You should be proud of your dialogue. It is well crafted to your characters and makes for very engaging storytelling. Our panel was impressed by how you created a distinct voice in your dialogue.”

~Scranton Shakespeare Festival

Many thanks to SSF for the consideration, and I wish them well in their final festival!