Archive for category News
Review for “The Math Lesson’
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Reviews, Uncategorized on October 24, 2019
My 10-minute play THE MATH LESSON got a nice review from New York playwright Scott Sickles on the New Play Exchange:
“An elegant and concise sci-fi drama illustrating what’s at the root of everything wrong in the world, namely institutionalized ignorance. Yancey shows us a savvily-defiant teacher called to task over a subversive math problem. The power struggle is palpable and infuriating. Meanwhile, two normal girls simply observe the changes in the world around them, unaware that their planet is in a show but certain freefall. The play infuses doom with hope, and pays tribute to the beauty of their world and ours. Much like the math teacher, THE MATH LESSON is a sublime protest. A genuinely important short play!”
— Scott Sickles
Here are photos from a 2017 production in Chicago.
Photos from ‘Chef Pierre Does Not Do Simple’ in Italy
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on October 24, 2019
In late September and early October, I had my first production in Italy — which became the 15th country on my list. The U.S. Army — which has an entertainment division for its troops — produced my 10-minute piece CHEF PIERRE DOES NOT DO SIMPLE at the Soldiers Theatre in Vincenza, Italy.
Here are some photos from the show, which took place Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6.
More Chef Pierre.
And more.
More photos here.
Photos from my work in Kitchener, Ontario
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on October 4, 2019
Once again, one of my short pieces was performed in the annual Asphalt Jungle Shorts festival in Kitchener, Ontario. This is a walking tour festival where the audience is led around downtown and short pieces of live theatre break out at various points. This year my piece was THE GOVERNMENT’S SECRET TIME TRAVEL PROJECT EXPOSED. It was directed by festival founder Paddy Gillard-Bentley and performed by Mason Miceveski.
First we see a man clad in black running down the street.
‘Extracted’ to have staged reading in New York
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on September 8, 2019
Logo by Julia Allan
My political allegory EXTRACTED will have a staged reading in New York on Sat., Nov. 16 through Equity Library Theater of New York. The reading will be at noon at NYPL-Belafonte, 203 W. 115th Street. The reading will be directed by Alexandra Scordato. Free admission, groups welcome, seating is limited, more info at 631 898 4205.
The official teaser:
A truck driver sleeping in his cab in southern California is awoken by someone banging on his door. He opens it to find two teen-age girls who say they desperately need a ride back to New York — Sam says she’s rescued her sister Libby from drug gangs in Los Angeles and needs to get her home to her family. Thus begins a strange, cross-country journey full of mysterious characters — and a dark allegorical tale.
More on EXTRACTED:
* Review by Royal Shiree on New Play Exchange
* ‘Extracted’ named semi-finalist in Austin competition
* ‘Extracted’ praised for ‘precise comic sensibility’
Rehearsal begins for ‘Exchange of Gifts’ tour
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on September 8, 2019
From left: Director Kerry Plank, stage manager Kelly Hoagland, actresses Kaiya Hoagland, Lyndsey Hanks, Olivia Hunter.
On Labor Day weekend, most people were probably thinking about the end of summer, or the beginning of fall, but my thoughts were on Christmas. We held the first rehearsal for my touring Christmas show, EXCHANGE OF GIFTS. Here are some photos.
By the way, our only Roanoke show is now SOLD OUT — three months before the event.
From the other side.
MORE ON EXCHANGE OF GIFTS:
* Full tour schedule and ticket info.
* Behind the scenes of the publicity photos.
Review for ‘Extracted’
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Reviews, Uncategorized on August 31, 2019
The Virginia playwright Royal Shiree — a graduate of the celebrated MFA program at Hollins University — has posted this review of my play EXTRACTED on the New Play Exchange:
“ To say “Extracted” is an allegory is an understatement. The symbolism represented in forms of colors, characters, poems, and even location touches upon the current state of confusion and conflict. The use of a truck profoundly suggests how fast and far-reaching ideologies fester; sports is a common theme and implies much more than a game with a flavor of masculinity. To quote and reference history is disturbing to our present and forces us to look inward and recognize ourselves. This would be interesting to see the director’s perspective on staging this. ”
— Royal Shiree
New York audiences will get a chance on Nov. 16, when there’s a staged reading of the script through the auspices of Equity Library Theater at NYPL-Belafonte, 203 West 115th St.
Previously, EXTRACTED was a semi-finalist in the Southwest Theatre Productions competition in Austin, Texas.
‘Troubleshooting’ wins award in Australia
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on August 27, 2019
Michelle Drinnan with the prize I won but couldn’t accept.
My short play TROUBLESHOOTING was named “best original script” in the annual Foster One Act Play Festival in Foster, Australia — but I couldn’t accept the prize because it’s reserved for an Australian writer. Still, the honor! As Gemco posted on their Facebook page: “We are so proud that Dwayne Yancey was awarded best original script for troubleshooting! We have chosen not to accept as this award is for an Australian writer, however we are chuffed nonetheless!”
“Chuffed,” by the way, is Australian slang for “pleased.” I’m chuffed, too!
Gemco Community Players Theatre performed TROUBLESHOOTING and several other scripts (that weren’t mine) at the festival Aug. 24 in Foster in the State of Victoria. Michelle Drinnan was nominated for Best Female Actor for her work in TROUBLESHOOTING. She also won Best Supporting Female Actor for her work on another show. Meanwhile the judges gave special prizes to Michael Young, who appeared in two of the other shows. That’s relevant because he appeared last year in my play THIS ROSE HAS THORNS, produced by the student theatre company at Deakin University in Melbourne.
Michael Young, John Smith and Michelle Drinnan with their various prizes.
The whole Gemco troupe.
Close-up of the prize envelope.
Another review for ‘The Debate At Bosworth Field’
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Reviews on August 24, 2019
My 10-minute play THE DEBATE AT BOSWORTH FIELD just got a very nice review on the New Play Exchange:
“I had the pleasure of seeing this play performed three times at a recent festival in Manchester England where my play was also being produced. This hilarious, absurdist play had the English audience laughing non-stop. I love these kind of plays that take literary characters out of context. We see Richard the III with new eyes while enjoying the familiarity of his history. Mr. Yancey skillfully builds the comedy to the perfect final line.”
— Arianna Rose
‘Waiting on the 10:15’ in Lansing, Michigan
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on August 20, 2019
Quinn Thomas Kelly and Ny’kieria Blocker. Not sure which one is Melissa and which one is Paige. All photos courtesy of Jeff Croff.
The undertaker arrives to supervise.
Eight times in the past 12 years, I’ve been a writer in the Overnight Sensations 24-hour play festival in Roanoke that Hollins University and Mill Mountain Theatre produce each summer. A few weeks ago, I saw where Ixion Ensemble in Lansing, Michigan was holding a 24-hour play festival and were looking for writers. I emailed to apply, citing my Overnight Sensations experience. They said thanks, but we’re already full. OK, no problem, moving on. Then last week they emailed me to say, oh, someone got sick and had to drop out, still available? I was. So over the weekend I took part in my first 24-hour play festival remotely.
About 10:30 Friday night I was emailed the prompts:
-Genre: Western
-Use at least one of these names: Chad, Melissa or Paige
-Words to use: Art, cheesemaking, urban and beat
Dialogue: “You can’t make me…” Or “It is if the cheese is talking”
Only real guidelines: ten minutes and you only have three actors.
By Saturday morning I had written and emailed in WAITING ON THE 10:15. I was under the impression all the teams were two women and one man, so I wrote it with two female gunfighters. Turns out my cast — randomly assigned — was two men and one woman so I’m guessing one of the guys played “Melissa.”
WAITING ON THE 10:15
Two female gunfighters appear to be ready to square off against one another in the streets of an old western town. They’re waiting on the undertaker to pronounce when it’s high noon – timed to the arrival of the 10:15 train, which is always late. We eventually learn, though, they were not gunfighters at all, but makers of cheese. Their batch of Swiss cheese hasn’t come out well, so they’re about to shoot holes in it. Cast: Three – two women, one man.
* Produced by Ixion Ensemble, Lansing, Michigan, Aug. 18, 2019, as part of a 24-hour play festival.
‘The Debate at Bosworth Field’ in Manchester, Great Britain
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on August 20, 2019
Courtesy of Andy Pilkington
My 10-minute play THE DEBATE AT BOSWORTH FIELD was included in the Fight Like a Girl! festival in Manchester, Great Britain — a fund-raiser to fight cancer. Don’t have any photos from my piece but here’s the curtain call with all the casts. Pretty sure that’s producer Andy Pilkington in the yellow.
THE DEBATE AT BOSWORTH FIELD
Imagine if Richard III and Henry Tudor had met in a campaign-style debate instead. This time, Richard wins. Cast: 8 – 5 male, 2 female, 1 non-gender.
*Produced by Fight Like A Girl Festival, Manchester, Great Britain, Aug. 15-17, 2019.
Courtesy of Andy Pilkington
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