Enter our new website!

I’m proud to announce the launch of a website for a new musical I’m working on – “Paul Jennings and The Burning of the White House!”

Paul Jennings Website

“Paul Jennings, the 15-year-old  house slave to President and Mrs. Madison, discovers his true heroism, strength and purpose, living through one of the most momentous event in the nation’s history –  the burning of the White House.”

Paul jennings Website Music Demos Paul Jennings Website Bio

I’m writing “Paul Jennings” with the wonderfully talented and accomplished composer Norman L. Berman.

You can check out some samples of the music from the show HERE!

“The House We Build Here”

I’m excited to be able to share a demo of another song from my musical with composer Norman L. Berman – “Paul Jennings and The Burning of the White House.”

As I’ve previously mentioned, this musical is based on the early life of Paul Jennings, 15-year-old house slave to President and Dolley Madison, who witnessed and survived the 1814 British invasion and burning of Washington, DC during the War of 1812. The musical traces Paul’s journey of growth and self-discovery from boy to man and his growing awareness of his status as a slave in American society. It also charts his perilous navigation of the dramas surrounding the British conquest of the capital.

This song – “The House We Build Here” – is a choral number sung towards the end of the play after the British army has burned Washington and Paul, President Madison, Dolley Madison, and some other slaves have returned to the burnt-out shell of the White House. Together, the assembled crowd dreams of what the new White House will look like. The young Paul – watched by his older self, who narrates the musical – envisions something different, more practical the others.

Charred White House

Ensemble:  Alvin Chea, Shabnam Kalbasi, Olly Sholotan, Lisa Vroman

You can listen to the song below.

 

“Fifteen Men” in LA!

I’m thrilled to announce that my historical drama “Fifteen Men in a Smoke-Filled Room” is being produced by Theatre40 of Beverly Hills as part of their 54th season!

Theatre40 LogoTheatre40 Website Advertisement

Theatre40  is a respected, award-winning professional theater in Beverly Hills. It is “currently comprised of approximately 150 professional actors, actresses and directors” in the Los Angeles area. The name comes from the street number of their original location at 40 Haldeman Road in Santa Monica Canyon, where they started in 1964 as local actors and actresses gathering to read Shakespeare.

Since its founding, Theatre40 has grown into an established theater with six main stage productions a year, as well as readings, seminars, and adult education classes. They currently occupy theater space at Beverly Hills High school (Reuben Cordova Memorial Theatre) designed by acclaimed Broadway designer Ming Cho Lee. They are helmed by Artistic Director David Hunt Stafford.

As Theatre40 explains on their website:

“In the 50 odd years since (its) first readings, Theatre 40 has many achievements for which we can be proud. We are the recipient of the Margaret Harford Small Theatre Award given by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle for continuing excellence in theatre, awarded in 1995. Originally we produced only Shakespeare and the Classics, but have broadened our horizons to include American classics, World and Los Angeles premieres and plays by our own members.”

Theatre40 Brochure Page

I’m very proud for “Fifteen Men” to be listed in their distinguished line-up of premieres this upcoming season!

You can pick up a copy of their exciting 2019-2020 season brochure here!

Enter “Dear Mr. Whitefield”

I am pleased to announce that I have completed a new historical drama – “Dear Mr. Whitefield.” (It’s pronounced “Whit-field.”)

Briefly, “Dear Mr. Whitefield” is a two-act play about the cantankerous, troubled preacher George Whitefield, who swept the Anglican establishment by storm in the 1740’s, preaching the dignity of man in a very status-conscious society, and his personal and professional resurrection at the hands of the patrician, determined Countess of Huntingdon. The play follows the Countess’s quest – sometimes touching, sometimes troubled, but always inspiring – to defy the prejudices of her day and lead a religious revolution… that is, if she can only stop Whitefield from running away from his past, from his demons, but most ultimately from himself.

At its heart, “Dear Mr. Whitefield” is a poetic drama about faith and courage – faith in God, but also faith in each other, no matter the price, and the courage of a man and a woman who, scarred as they might be, bravely and stoically confront the norms of their time. The play is witty, yet also poignant and touching, requiring only a simple, black box set and 8 actors (6 men, 2 women), with two wonderful, rich leading roles in the form of Whitefield and the Countess.

George Whitefield

George Whitefield

Selina Hastings

Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon

In terms of inspiration, I was inspired to write “Dear Mr. Whitefield” because of my love of history and my own spirituality. I wanted to use the play to explore Christian teachings on faith and forgiveness and God’s relentless faith in us, despite our inadequacies, which are analogized in the relationship between the Countess and Whitefield himself, with the former acting in the role of a Christ and the latter acting in the role of mankind. While using “Dear Mr. Whitefield” as a microcosm for teaching Christian philosophy, I also wanted the play to be relevant to a diverse audience, regardless of religious affiliation, and have tried to achieve that by creating relatable characters whose challenges and goals touch on very modern themes – namely, the dignity of working people and the empowerment of women.

I’m looking forward to where this play may go from here… time to start submitting!

“Harriman-Baines” a finalist

I’m very proud to say that my edgy drama “Harriman-Baines” was a finalist in the 2019 Garry Marshall Theatre New Play Contest!

The Garry Marshall New Play Contest is sponsored by Garry Marshall Theatre of Burbank, California, formerly Falcon Theatre, which was founded by famed actor, director, and screenwriter Garry Marshall.

Garry Marshall Theatre

My Biblical tragedy “The Beggar of Bethesda” was also a finalist for this same contest last year in the inaugural year of the contest.

Many thanks to Garry Marshall Theatre for the second-year nod -= and bets of luck to them on the festival in July!

Congrats to Christopher Standart!

Congratulations to Christopher Standart, whose performance as Frau Schmidt in the 2018 Alleyway Theatre world premiere production of my historical farce “Philosophus” has earned him a nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in the 2019 Artie Awards!

“The Artie Awards began in 1991 and are held each year to celebrate Western New York’s Theatre Community… The event is an opportunity to recognize Western New York’s theater arts, as well as, raise funds for the HIV/AIDS & Immunodeficiency Clinic at ECMC.”

Chris did a GREAT job portraying the heavily German-accented battle axe, whose never-ending lust for money and tormenting of the French philosopher Voltaire delighted audiences.

Christopher Standart

Artie Awards Nominations

Congratulations again!

Demo recording – “I Look Behind Me”

I’m happy to present another wonderful demo recording of one of the songs from the new musical I’m writing with co-librettist and composer Norman L. Berman.

Portrait of James Madison

The project – entitled “Paul Jennings & The Burning of the White House” – follows Paul Jennings, the 15-year-old house slave to President and Mrs. Madison, as he navigates the horrors of war and slavery, while treasuring deep, conflicting relationships with the first couple of the land.

The demo recorded below is from the beginning of Act Two; the British have captured Washington, DC and a distraught, defeated James Madison (above), having fled the field of battle and witnessed the destruction of a country he helped build, ponders his role in the nation’s catastrophe.

The song uses the wonderful vocal talent of Luc Kleiner.

Many thanks again to my collaborator, Norman, for arranging and coordinating this effort!

Demo: “I LOOK BEHIND ME”

 

“Philosophus” at Plaza

Check out these great pictures of my play “Philosophus,” which closes today at Plaza Theatre of Wharton, TX!

I am honored that my play has been given a special one-weekend run by Plaza Theatre as part of a new play competition sponsored by Texas Nonproft Theatres.

This is the first instance where Plaza Theatre has been involved in producing such a new work and they have done a wonderful job with the material – set, costumes, and acting combined.

Here I am with the marvelous cast after opening night, as well as some other production stills:

Plaza Theatre Cast of PhilosophusFrom left to right: Darin Kielke as Freytag, yours truly, Juan Monroy as Collini/Dorn, Sky Fuller as Mademoiselle Denis, Allison Folmar as Frau Schmidt, and Ken Dimmick as Voltaire

Many, many thanks to

  • Trace Morris for the wonderful directing
  • Gregory Magyar and Henri-Ann Norman for the beautiful costumes
  • Dennis Yslas and Texas Nonprofit Theatres for their trust in the show
  • Alicia Lane Hutton and Rebel Belle Publishing for publishing the script

Onward and upward!

WONDERFUL show at Plaza

Yesterday evening, I had the great pleasure of attending the opening night performance of my historical farce “Philosophus” at the Plaza Theatre of Wharton, TX.

“Philosophus” was one of three winning plays in the TNT Pops! New Play Contest sponsored by Texas Nonprofit Theatres and, as such, was selected to be produced by one of their member theaters.

Plaza Theatre and Texas Nonprofit Theatres were very kind to host me so I could attend opening night of the show. I arrived in Wharton (a wonderful, quant town of Victorian houses) in the early afternoon on Friday and explored around a bit. I was then taken out to dinner by a member of the board at Plaza Theatre and subsequently attended an opening night reception at the theater itself.

Plaza Theatre in Wharton, TX

Plaza Theatre Marquee

Despite being a small town of ~6,000 people, Wharton has a wonderfully vibrant theater community. Everyone with whom I met was associated with Plaza Theatre in multiple ways – as actors, directors, stage managers, and so forth – and they all evinced a great passion for the theater. The theater itself is a gorgeous space – three stories and all – and is lit up like a multicolored lighthouse at night. The building used to be an old movie theater and now houses a 199-seat main stage space, which is put to good use doing everything from dramas to comedies to musicals.

As for the show itself, it was marvelous, with a very impressive set of actors. I was especially impressed by Juan Monroy, jumping and leaping around the stage in the role of Collini and Dorn, and Episcopal minister Kenneth Dimmic, enunciating his way to pomposity as Voltaire. I was also pleased to meet Fred White of Texas Nonprofit Theaters, who recognized me during the opening of the play and presented me with a bound copy of “Philosophus.” (As part of “Philosophus” winning the TNT Pops! New Play Contest, it has been published by Rebel Belle Publishing.)

Be sure to see the show before it closes!

“Philosophus” at Plaza Theatre

Tomorrow, my historical farce “Philosophus” opens for a weekend slate of three performances at Plaza Theatre of Wharton, TX!

“Philosophus” was one of three plays chosen as winners in the Texas Nonprofit Theatre Association’s biannual TNT POPS! New Play Contest.

This Facebook announcement from Plaza Theatre says it all…

THIS WEEKEND ONLY: The Plaza Theatre is proud to present a special production of an award-winning new play, Philosophus, this weekend, February 22-24, 2019.

The Texas Nonprofit Theaters organization conducts a playwriting competition every two years called TNT POPS. Out of 100 scripts submitted from playwrights all over the United States, three were selected as TNT POPS winners.

As a member of TNT, the Plaza Theatre was selected to perform one of the winning plays, Colin Speer Crowley’s Philosophus.

Tickets & showtimes here: http://www.whartonplazatheatre.org/…/9dff0f5345448a8ff7a86b…

The playwright will be in attendance at the opening performance on Friday, February 22, 2019 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students, seniors or groups of 10 or more. Other performances are Saturday, February 23 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, February 24 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are available online at whartonplazatheatre.org or at the door before the show.

The show is recommended for mature audiences.

Plaza Executive Director Gregory Magyar explains, “With our own connection to renowned American Dramatist Horton Foote, The Plaza Theatre hopes to carry the torch of supporting new American plays and their development, as they lay the foundation for the Theatre to continue thriving in the American Arts landscape.”

Philosophus at Plaza TheatrePhilosophus Poster at Plaza Theatre