Today, Texas Nonprofit Theatres announced that my play “Philosophus” is one of three plays chosen to be produced as part of the 2018 6th Biennial TNT POP New Play Project!
Not only that, but I got myself a nifty little mention:
Many thanks to Texas Nonprofit Theatres for this great honor!
I am extremely honored to report that my historical farce, “Philosophus,” is a winner in the 2018 6th Biennial TNT POPS New Play Project!
Texas Nonprofit Theatres (ie: “TNT”) “was formed in 1971 to encourage programmatic and managerial excellence in the nonprofit community and professional theatres of Texas.”
Its purpose is to:
Every two yeas, for the past 12 years, Texas Nonprofit Theatres has sponsored a biennial new play festival. They accept 100 scripts from writers throughout the United States and conduct three stages of readings by a number of theatre professionals. In fact, two of my plays – the historical drama “Shadows of Men” (2016) and the tragicomedy “Encore, Encore” (2014) – were prior finalists in this contest.
Thank you so much to Texas Nonprofit Theaters for their (years) of trust and especially to Executive Director Dennis Yslas! I look forward to working with the chosen member theater and attending the opening night of “Philosophus!”
I have learned with tremendous pleasure that my farce, “Philosophus,” which just received a staged reading in Gaithersburg from Best Medicine Repertory Theatre, is being produced by Alleyway Theatre of Buffalo, New York as part of their 2018-2019 season!
Alleyway Theatre – “western New York’s theatre with a pulse”- is a well-respected theater in downtown Buffalo founded in 1980 by playwright, director, lyricist, and composer Neal Radice. Alleyway has resided since 1983 in “a portion of a former bus terminal building shared by the Buffalo Police Department in the heart of Buffalo’s Theatre District.” It is well-known for proactively seeking and producing new work – at least two full-length world premieres a year – along with a wide array of short plays.
“Philosophus” was the winner for best full-length play of the Maxim Mazumdar Competition. The competition was founded by Alleyway Theatre in memory of actor/playwright Maxim Mazumdar (1953-1988) whose “many contributions to the early growth of the Alleyway were artistically invaluable.” My quirky tragedy “The Beggar of Bethesda” was one of two finalists for the full-length play award in 2016, and it is an honor to be recognized doubly so by Alleyway this time around!
Many thanks to Alleyway Theatre and Neal Radice for this wonderful opportunity!
More news to come soon!
Yesterday, I trotted on down to Gaithersburg, Maryland to see Best Medicine Rep do a staged reading of my farce “Philosophus” in the Community Room at Lakeforest Mall. The staged reading was directed by veteran director (and rabbi!) Stan Levin and starred Terence Aselford, Terence Heffernan, Deborah Lubega, Rebecca A. Herron, and John Morogiello.
I was extremely impressed with the excellent work from the actors and director, who only rehearsed for the show starting the morning of the reading. It was easily one of the best staged readings of my work that I have ever witnessed. The actors were all wonderfully comedic in their roles and the director made good use of semi-staging to communicate theatricality and farce to the audience.
From left: Evan Morogiello, Terence Aselford, Stan Levin, Rebecca A. Herron, Terence Heffernan, Deborah Lubega, John Morogiello, Colin Speer Crowley
Also, “Philosophus” received two mentions in the local press:
Many thanks again to Best Medicine Rep and John Morogiello!
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!
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:
* – Membership in Actors Equity
Looking forward to the show and to the talkback afterwards!!
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!!
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!
I learned today that my historical farce “Philosophus” is one of three plays to be considered for the next theatrical production of Exit Theatre Company in London… what a great honor!
Exit Theatre Company is a wonderful local theater group in the UK which (rather uniquely) focuses on developing the work of emerging writers, which is a truly special (and needed) thing.
A representative of the theater reported that he “thoroughly enjoyed” my play and called it “incredibly witty and well-crafted,” to which I say… “thank you!” I’m very proud of “Philosophus” and look forward to seeing it grace some lucky stage in the near future!
Many thanks to Exit Theatre for their consideration!
