Monthly Archives: July 2024

A “Shhhh” bit of good news

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I am happy to say that one of my scripts has advanced to the semifinalist round in the 2024 national playwriting contest sponsored by the American Association for Community Theatre!

Since the script is still actively under consideration by the readers, I have been asked not to name it specifically until it has made its way through the full process, so… “shhhhh!”

Regardless, I’m thrilled by the news, as AACT is a well-regarded organization that brings together community theaters across the United States, helping community theaters to thrive “with expertise, assistance, networking, and support.”

For a trip down memory line, I myself was a theater leader at one point, founding and leading the group Speerhead Theatricals almost 10 years ago (time flies!) and leading it through two years of theatrical productions in New York and Connecticut – so I viscerally understand the challenges of the theater world and love what AACT does to support the arts in local communities.

A few other plays of mine have also been semifinalists or finalists in prior AACT contests, as well.

Throwback Thursday – “Hail and Reign”

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For this Throwback Thursday, I’m going to throw way back in time – to 2008! – back to my first produced show, as well as my first musical – the wonderful “Hail and Reign.”

For me, “Hail and Reign” was quite a labor of love – something I started writing myself around 2004, tweaked through 2005, and then found a great collaborator in composer Paul Lewis (based out of Bainbridge Island, WA) who wrote some beautiful music for the piece.

After a few years, “Hail and Reign” was given its world premiere product at Bainbridge Performing Arts on the aforementioned Bainbridge Island (which, for those who don’t know much about Washington state geography, is a quick ferry ride from Seattle).

Based on a true story from English medieval history about the battle for the throne between the well-meaning nobleman Stephen and the acerbic Matilda – a period in English history known as “The Anarchy” because of the chaos and devastation it caused – “Hail and Reign” is really a story about what we are willing to do for the people we love.

In this great end-of-Act-One song (one of my favorite songs from any of my musicals), the Chronicler (who has been narrating the storry to us) encourages Matty, the wife of Stephen, King of England, who, having snatched the throne from the rightful heir – the loud and obnoxious Matilda – has been defeated in battle and imprisoned – and while Matty sees her husband’s cause in tatters, the Chronicler, a young boy named Will (who Stephen rescued from death), and the surrounding crowd challenge the reluctant Matty to lead Stephen’s cause in his absence.

Matty being encouraged to take the lead by the Chronicler, Will, and Stephen’s supporters.

You can listen to more songs from the show here!