In preparation for the November 12th reading of my farce “Philosophus,” I answered a few questions from Best Medicine Repertory Theater about the play.
Take a gander below – and enjoy!
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Coming soon…!!!
The staged reading of my play “Philosophus” is coming down the pike!
Love the artwork on the website for Best Medicine Repertory Theater!
I had the pleasure of speaking recently with John Morogiello, Artistic Director of Best Medicine Rep, about “Philosophus” this past week. I will be doing a short video for the theater, wherein I will answer a few questions about the play. The director of the reading will be Stan Levin. Levin was previously “a documentary film maker for the US Department of Agriculture, field producer for A&E’s Biography of Larry King, and has written and produced radio and TV commercials and government public service announcements.”
The cast is as follows:
- VOLTAIRE: Terence Aselford*
- COLLINI/DORN: Terry Heffernan
- FREYTAG: John Morogiello
- FRAU SCHMIDT: Rebecca A. Herron
- MADEMOISELLE DENIS: Deborah Lubega
* – Membership in Actors Equity
Looking forward to the show and to the talkback afterwards!!
Back to the Firehouse!
I learned today that my classical tragedy “Fifteen Men in a Smoke-Filled Room” has won the Pestoluzzi Prize (for a full-length play) from the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport, MA.
This is a special award for me because my tragicomedy “Encore, Encore” won the same award for the 2015 contest (click here to take a little stroll down Memory Lane with me!!!).
This is the first time I’ve won an award twice for the same contest… not too shabby!
“Firehouse” did a magnificent job performing “Encore, Encore” back in 2015 – wonderful actors, wonderful director (Anne Easter Smith) – so I’m looking forward to their newest incarnation of “Fifteen Men.” It is truly a wonderful theater, carved out of an old firehouse – hence, the name – an incredibly professional organization. Everyone was very pleasant to me when I attended their new play festival last time.
The festival itself – entitled “The Long and the Short of It” – showcases one full-length play, one one-act play, and a number of shorter plays. It takes place over two weekends in January, 2018. This is the thirteenth year of the festival, which, in its history, has premiered over 160 plays. Last year, the festival featured 43 actors, 17 directors, and 16 playwrights – a wonderful testament to Firehouse’s commitment to new works!
As winner of the Pestoluzzi Prize, “Fifteen Men” will be performed on the opening night of the festival – Friday, January 19, 2018… so mark your calendars!
“Fifteen Men” recognized
I am extremely pleased to report that my classical tragedy “Fifteen Men in a Smoke-Filled Room” has been announced as winning second place in an inaugural new play competition sponsored by Floyd Community Theatre Guild of Floyd, Virginia.
Floyd Community Theatre “aims to engage, inspire and entertain audiences with theatrical productions that challenge the thinking or open minds of those involved.” They also “provide educational programs in theatrical arts that promote learning to a diverse community while encouraging through the entire process” – a very important contribution. They have a wonderful and extremely active Facebook page.
playwriting competition was their first-ever contest. My play was in the top 10% of scripts and one of five finalists. I am very grateful to Floyd Community Theatre for their consideration and wish them the best of luck. Community theaters are the future of American theater and they are making an important contribution. It’s especially rare for a community theatre to sponsor a new play contest – so kudos to them!
Thank you, Floyd Community Theatre Guild!
“Philosophus” on November 12
Best Medicine Repertory Theater has announced the date for the staged reading of my historical farce “Philosophus.”
The reading will be held at 3pm on Sunday, November 12 in the community room at the Lake Forest Mall in Gaithersburg, MD.
I will be attending the reading and will also participate in a talkback following the end of play.
You can go here for more information.
Here is the full line-up of plays in the series:
Very much looking forward to the reading!!
Writer’s Digest – Honorable Mention
I learned today that my social satire “Whit(e)man” has been given an “Honorable Mention” in the extremely prestigious Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition.
The Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition is an international contest in its 86th year and sets itself the goal of “shining a spotlight on up and coming writers in all genres.”
The competition has separate categories for:
- Inspirational Writing (Spiritual/Religious)
- Memoirs/Personal Essay
- Magazine Feature Article
- Genre Short Story (Mystery, Romance, etc.)
- Mainstream/Literary Short Story
- Rhyming Poetry
- Non-rhyming Poetry
- Script (Stage Play or Television/Movie Script)
- Children’s/Young Adult Fiction
My play received an “Honorable Mention” in the “Script” category, where it was competing with screenplays, as well as plays.
There were a total of over 5,100 entries in the competition this year alone, meaning my script was among the top 15% of entries.
Most special of all, my name will be published in the Writer’s Digest Competition Collection due for print in November, 2017.
Thanks to Writer’s Digest for this great honor!
“Philosophus” is Best Medicine
I learned today that my historical farce “Philosophus” is one of eight plays chosen for a reading by Best Medicine Repertory Theater in Gaithersburg, Maryland for their 2017-2018 season.
Best Medicine is a more recent theater group – founded in February, 2017 – which is unique not only for its focus on new work (thank you!!), but also for its sole interest in comedic theater.
As described by Artistic Director John Morogiello: “Best Medicine Rep is a professional theater company that specializes in new comedies. The name comes from an Irish proverb that says, “A good laugh and a long sleep are the best medicine for every ailment.” We promise to provide you with at least one of those two options!”
Check out this great article on the group, including an interview with Artistic Director John Morogiello.
“Philosophus” is one of eight plays chosen out of 80+ submitted to be honored in the reading series. The series itself stretches from October, 2017 though May, 2018.
More info to come!
Come check out “Whit(e)man”!
Over the next few days, my social satire “Whit(e)man” is being included in the 2017 Dionysia New Play Festival sponsored by Khaos Theatre Company in Indianapolis – the first time the work has been presented in public (though it has received recognition in many contests).
Khaos succinctly (and colorfully) describes the festival as: “A series of excerpts pf short plays ever before produced in Indiana, performed only in togas, where the audience votes on which play they would like to see performed in full in KCT’s 2018 season.”
The dates are as follows:
- May 19
- May 20
- May 26
- May 27
Performances are at 1775 N. Sherman Drive, Suite A, in Indianapolis Indiana, 46218.
Come and check it out
“Whit(e)man” yet again!
Today I learned that my absurdist social satire “Whit(e)man” is a semi-finalist in the TRU Voices Annual Play and Musical Reading Series!
Theater Resources Unlimited (or “TRU”) “was formed to promote a spirit of cooperation and support within the general theatre community by providing information and a variety of entertainment-related services and resources that strengthen the capacity of producing organizations, individuals producers, self-producing artists and other theater professionals.”
My play “Whit(e)man” was among the top ten scripts submitted to the contest. I’m very grateful to Theater Resources Unlimited for providing this great opportunity for playwrights and for shining light on new work.
Best of luck to the finalists this year!
“Whit(e)man” in Indiana
I have learned that my play “Whit(e)man” is going to be presented in the Dionysia New Play Competition sponsored by Khaos Theatre Company.
Khaos Company Theatre is “a new professional regional theatre in the Indianapolis area aimed at providing professional experience to emerging artists.”
From the Khaos Company Theatre website:
“Up to twenty different five minute excerpts of full-length plays will be chosen and performed at the Competition. In a modern recreation of the Ancient Greek Playwright Festival, blindly cast actors perform excepts of new plays clad only in togas! Audience members cast their vote in their favorite excerpts to determine the winner. The winning play is performed in full in KCT’s 2018 Season!
Every audience member will be provided one complimentary vote (Ostracon in ancient Greek) for their favorite play. Addition votes are one dollar with a limit of ten votes per night per person. The play with the most audience votes by the end of the production run will be declared the winner and will be performed in full during Khaos Company Theatre’s 2019 season.”
Thank you to Khaos Company Theatre for their inclusion of “Whit(e)man” in their new play festival!