Archive for category News
Video of “The Recruiter” in Houston
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized, Video on January 17, 2017
My five-minute piece THE RECRUITER was produced in Houston Nov. 9-19, 2016 as part of the 2016 Five Minute Mile Play Festival by Cone Man Running Productions at the Obsidian Theatre. Here’s the video. Earlier I posted some rehearsal photos.
THE RECRUITER
A scene about gender discrimination in college sports. A college recruiter shows up at a rural school asking about a particular football player; oblivious to the softball player banging home runs in batting practice. Cast: Two adult males, one teenage girl.
This is a stand-alone piece, but it’s also part of a collection of short pieces about baseball that make up my full-length play PLAY BALL! Some other individual pieces of that have been produced, as well — “Sunset in North Dakota” and “Deep Into October.”
Video: “Catch of the Day” at Michigan State
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Video on January 13, 2017
Here’s video of my one-act CATCH OF THE DAY at Michigan State University in November 2016.
Earlier I posted photos from the production. Also rehearsal photos and a promo video.
Photos from “Joy To Other Worlds” in Utah
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on December 23, 2016
EskDale High School in Millard County, Utah produced by one-act JOY TO OTHER WORLDS in early December 2016. Director Lois Farber shares these amazing photos. You can find them all here.
Man tries to create the biggest display of Christmas lights in the neighborhood. It’s, um, very bright.
How bright? Well, the aliens out in deep space take notice of the unusual light coming from an otherwise obscure planet. Naturally, they decide to investigate.
By investigate, we mean land on planet Earth. Is that not the most awesome alien landing ship ever?
By investigate, we mean the aliens come armed.
Naturally, things go very wrong. She mistakes this alien for a contest judge and offers some fruitcake. You know all about fruitcake.
The aliens try to figure out what fruitcake is and how dangerous it might be.
Curtain call.
Photo from “Svetlana’s First Christmas Away From Home”
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on December 7, 2016
The cast of SVETLANA’S FIRST CHRISTMAS AWAY FROM HOME.
Back in the summer, I was corresponding with a direction at Victorian Players in Youngstown, Ohio. He was looking for a Christmas script, with some very specific needs. He needed a cast of about 20, with mostly kids. I didn’t have anything like that, so I told him if he gave me a few weeks, I’d write one. So I did. The result was SVETLANA’S FIRST CHRISTMAS AWAY FROM HOME. Here’s a photo from its premiere.
It looks like it’s going to be popular because it’s already been booked at a theatre in Texas for next Christmas.
SVETLANA’S FIRST CHRISTMAS AWAY FROM HOME
A last-minute substitute attempts to preside over a Christmas pageant, which has devolved into chaos – unruly kids, a pushy parent, a church busybody, a kitchen on fire. And then there’s the foreign exchange student, who’s supposed to be the angel, who is in the restroom in tears because it’s her first Christmas away from home. Then something unexpected happens. Cast: 21 – 6 adults (four female, one male, one non-gender), 7 teenagers (five female, two male), 8 early teens or pre-teens (one female, seven non-gender.)
* Produced by Victorian Players, Youngstown, Ohio, December 2016.
* Scheduled to be produced by Red River Revue, Clarksville, Texas, December 2017.
What people say about my work
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Reviews, Uncategorized on December 7, 2016
Here’s an updated list of some of the critical feedback I’ve gotten about my work — from critics, directors, and audience members on three different continents.
“I laughed so much I was sore the next day.” That’s what one patron in New Jersey had to say.
“One of the most hilarious shows we’ve done.” That’s from the director at a theatre in Ohio that produced one of my scripts.
“All-around brilliance . . . Dwayne Yancey wrote a genuinely witty and sharp script.” That’s what a theatre critic in Great Britain had to say about one of my shows.
“Blood-curdlingly amazing.” That’s what one critic in Australia had to say of a show I had there.
“Beautifully structured, fascinating, and vaguely dangerous.” That’s how one New York actor described my work.
“To be honest, each time I’d open up a play and see your name attached to it, I’d get excited. You are quite a talent.” That’s what the director of a play festival in Michigan had to say.
“Zombie Christmas was an audience favorite! Your sense of humor is deadly (if I may), and people were laughing out loud at all the right spots.” That’s what the director of a play festival in Illinois had to say about my short Christmas play “A Zombie Christmas.”
“It was heartbreaking . . . I was crying through most of the show. It absolutely is a compliment that I found it heartbreaking . . . People must be carefully guided to open their hearts to new ideas. And I think your scripts do that.” That’s what an audience member in Ohio had to say about one of my dramas.
“So many of the things in this are really wonderful . . . and the audience is laughing . . . This afternoon is our last performance but I just wanted to let you know that I am so happy you wrote such a fun, relatable piece to perform.” That’s what an actress in New Jersey had to say about “Catch of the Day.”
“Loved ‘The Recruiter.’ It was a very thoughtful piece and I’m glad we were able to include it.” That’s what a producer in Houston had to say about one of my short pieces.
“It’s a brilliant script.” That’s what a director in the United Kingdom had to say.
“Your play was my favorite.” That’s what an audience member who saw my work in a 10-minute play festival posted.
“Your piece is stunning.” — producer of “The Cellphones of the Dead” In Washington
“I had multiple people approach me after and say how moved they were by your play.” — producer of “The Cellphones of the Dead” In Washington
“It’s one of the more moving pieces for me”— actor in producer of “The Cellphones of the Dead” In Washington
“The script is funny and endearing and the kids loved it.” — Lauren Hous, director of world premiere of RHONDA’S HIGH-CLASS ROADKILL CHILI in Illinois.
“I heard so many compliments on “Let there be Lights” The audience ate it up! One more weekend of shows to go. Friday and Saturday this week we still have seats but Sunday is filling up again and will most likely sell out again! Thank you for writing such an amazing piece! It has been a blast to direct!” — Director Jeannie Lorimor, Mills Masquers Theatre in Glenwood, Iowa
Audience comments on “Jose and Maria” in Ohio
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Reviews, Uncategorized on December 7, 2016
I had an unexpected treat recently: An audience member who had seen my Christmas play JOSE AND MARIA in Youngstown, Ohio and shared some of her happy feedback.
“It was heartbreaking,” she told me. She later said she meant that in a good way. “Well, the whole immigrant scenario was heartbreaking. Their fear, their youth. Their poverty and especially their vulnerability . . . I was crying through most of the show.”
And also:
“It absolutely is a compliment that I found it heartbreaking. I have 25+ years in social services as a clinical counselor incl time at a children’s psych hospital and supervising programs for foster children. So, I am somewhat jaded. However, this gripped me . . . The ending, telling us to concentrate on our community and doing what is right and good in an individual way was sooo good. I have heard it before, but really needed to hear it at the end of the play. . . People must be carefully guided to open their hearts to new ideas. And I think your scripts do that.”
Photos and feedback from “A Zombie Christmas”
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Reviews, Uncategorized on December 7, 2016
The cast from all the readings.
My Christmas one-act A ZOMBIE CHRISTMAS had a mid-summer staged reading in June 2016 at Princeton Theatre in Princeton, Illinois as part of a short play festival.
The festival coordinator sent me these photos and feedback:
Zombie Christmas was an audience favorite! Your sense of humor is deadly (if I may), and people were laughing out loud at all the right spots. I’m sorry you couldn’t be there—I’d have loved to meet you!—but we all thank you for sharing your play with us. It was a big contributor to the success of the festival.
I should have mentioned, too, that during the talkback people were enthusiastic. It was a mixed-generation crowd, and they definitely appreciated the conflict, from their own perspectives.
The audience.
Photos from “Jill And The Beanstalk”
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on December 7, 2016
Curtain call.
Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, Virginia produced my one-act JILL AND THE BEANSTALK on Dec. 3 at the college’s Stuart campus and again on Dec. 7 at Fieldale-Collinsville Middle School. You can find more photos here.
JILL AND THE BEANSTALK
Jill’s science project results in a beanstalk through the school’s ceiling. Comedy and chaos ensue, along with a goose that lays golden eggs, a harp that plays itself and, perhaps, even a rumor of a giant. Cast: Seven — 3 male, 3 female, 1 non-gender. Running time: Twenty minutes.
* Staged reading by Mitchell Community Public Library, Mitchell, Indiana, February 2016.
* Produced by Patrick Henry Community College, Martinsville, Virginia, December 2016.
The starring props.
Photos from “The Money House” in Los Angeles
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on November 17, 2016
The Money House.
Readers Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles held a staged reading of my one-act THE MONEY HOUSE in October.
Gloria Maxwell played Ginger, Jim Jones played Jeremy, and Jane Jones played Samantha. Directed by Jean Alden.
List of 2017 productions
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on November 16, 2016
Here’s a list of my scheduled productions (and staged readings) in 2017:
* January 14: Staged reading of THE CACTUS RUSTLERS (full-length script), Showtimers, Roanoke, Virginia.
* January 20-21: CATCH OF THE DAY (one-act), Old Library Theatre, Fair Lawn, New Jersey.
* January 25: Staged reading of THE PICTURE WINDOW (ten-minute play), Readers Theatre Repertory at San Pedro, Los Angeles.
* February 2-3: FOLLOW THE MONEY and CINDY RELLA (both one-acts), South Walton High School, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
* February 2-4: THE PICTURE WINDOW (ten-minute play), New Voices Play Festival, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Lewisburg, West Virginia.
* February 7: HAMLET GOES HOLLYWOOD (one-act), Sabes Jewish Community Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
* February 10-12: THREE TREES TALKING and THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IN NATURE (one-minute plays), Fast & Furious Festival, Stage Left Theater, Spokane, Washington.
* February 17: THE FRUITCAKE (one-act), Gaylord High School, Gaylord, Michigan.
* March 4: Staged reading of VIRGINIA’S REAL (full-length), Attic Productions, Fincastle, Virginia.
* March 4: THE TIN WOMAN (five-minute play), Fincastle United Methodist Church talent show, Fincastle, Virginia.
* March 4-5: Staged reading of THE PICTURE WINDOW (ten-minute play), Storefront Theatre, Waxhaw, North Carolina.
* March 10: NURSERY CRIMES (one-act), Esk-Dale High School, Millard County, Utah.
* March 25: COYOTE (five-minute play), Riverview Arts Space, Lynchburg, Virginia.
* March 29: CAT AND DOG (five-minute play), Play With Your Food, Mankato, Minnesota.
* April 1: CHEF PIERRE DOES NOT DO SIMPLE (ten-minute play), Smith Mountain Lake Players, Scruggs, Virginia.
* April 7-9: THE DETACHABLE SQUID, NOTHING MORE AMERICAN, THREE TREES TALKING (one-minute plays), Lake-Sumter State College, Leesburg, Florida.
* April 23: Staged reading of VERONICA’S DOLLS (one-act), Echo Theatre Company, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
* May 5-6: CURIOSITY KILLED THE ACT (one-act), by Red River Revue, Clarksville, Texas.
* May 12: THE SANDSTORM (ten-minute play), Rockwall Heath High School, Heath, Texas.
* May 11-13: THE OTHER SIDE OF OZ (full-length script), Lake Fenton High School, Lake Fenton, Michigan.
* May 13: NOBODY EVER ASKS ME, THE SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT and TWO SQUIRRELS ON A POWERLINE (one-minute plays), GI60 Gone in 60 Seconds Festival, Leeds, United Kingdom.
* May 18: CHEF PIERRE DOES NOT DO SIMPLE (ten-minut), PUTTING THE FAIR IN TOOTH FAIRY, MY BROTHER’S STUPID HAMSTER, BARBARO IS GOING DOWN, CAN I?, THE BREAK-IN (short play), Radcliffe Creek School, Chestertown, Maryland.
* May 24: THE BEAUTIFUL OGRE AND OTHER FAIRY TALES (ten-minute), Play With Your Food, Mankato, Minnesota.
* June 1-4: IT’S REAL TO ME (one-act), Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, New Jersey.
* June 2-3: HAMLET ON SPRING BREAK (one-act), Lake Washington Girls Middle School, Seattle, Washington.
* June 15-17, 22-24: A SMALL PROBLEM DOWN THE STREET (short play), Asphalt Jungle Shorts festival, Kitchener, Ontario.
* June 23-25, June 30-July 2, July 7-9: SOMEWHERE TONIGHT, THE WASHINGTON SENATORS’ LAST GAME PLAYS ON (ten-minute) and SOME PEOPLE JUST LIKE TO LOOK (one-minute play), Short Attention Span Festival, Garfield Center, Chestertown, Maryland.
* June 27-July 1: GROWN ATTACHED (short play), KDC Theatre, at Lion and Unicorn Theatre, Kentish Town, London, UK.
* June 29-30: THE FERRYMAN’S APPRENCTICE (ten-minute), BLACK MARKET BOMBS (ten-minute), COPIER DEMON (five minute), G.D. Birla Memorial School, Ranikhet, Amora, Uttarkhand, India.
* July 7-9: THE RULES ARE THE RULES ARE THE RULES (one-act), Pop Culture Theatre, Melbourne, Australia, performed at The Mountview Theatre, Macedon, Victoria. (This will be entered in several festivals as part of the Victorian Drama League.)
* July 8: THEY ALWAYS BLAME THE SNAKE (ten-minute play), Overnight Sensations, 24-hour play project by Hollins University and Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke, Virginia.
* July 21-23: THE RULES ARE THE RULES ARE THE RULES (one-act), Pop Culture Theatre, Melbourne, Australia, performed at GemCo, Emerald, Victoria. (This will be entered in several festivals as part of the Victorian Drama League.)
* August 4-5: MORAL COMPASS and A CHICKEN WALKED INTO A BAR (short pieces), West Grandview Fringe Festival, Columbus, Ohio.
* August 11-13: THE RULES ARE THE RULES ARE THE RULES (one-act), Pop Culture Theatre, Melbourne, Australia, performed at Mansfield Performing Arts Centre, Mansfield, Victoria. (This will be entered in several festivals as part of the Victorian Drama League.)
* August 17: THE BEAUTIFUL OGRE AND OTHER FAIRY TALES (ten-minute), staged reading by Chincoteague Island Theatre Company, Chincoteague, Virginia.
* August 17-20: DEATH BY POINSETTIA (one-act), Silver Spring Stage, Silver Spring, Maryland.
* August 19-20: THE RULES ARE THE RULES ARE THE RULES (one-act), Pop Culture Theatre, Melbourne, Australia, performed at Foster War Memorial Arts Centre, Foster, Victoria. (This will be entered in several festivals as part of the Victorian Drama League.)
* September 1-3: THE RULES ARE THE RULES ARE THE RULES (one-act), Pop Culture Theatre, Melbourne, Australia, performed at Kyneton Bluestone Theatre, Kyneton, Victoria. (This will be entered in several festivals as part of the Victorian Drama League.)
* September 23: Private staged reading of SPIRITS FROM THE VASTY DEEP (full-length), held at Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke, Virginia, for an invitation-only audience.
* September 29: THE RULES ARE THE RULES ARE THE RULES (one-act), Pop Culture Theatre, Melbourne, Australia, performed at Knox Community Theatre, Bayswater, Victoria. (This will be entered in several festivals as part of the Victorian Drama League.)
* October 4: Staged reading of LARRY’S LATEST PLAN TO GET OUT OF YARDWORK (short play), by Readers Theatre Repertory at San Pedro, Los Angeles.
* October 26-29: FAMOUS PEOPLE KILLED BY ANIMALS (one-act), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
* November 1: DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS (short play), Play With Your Food, Mankato, Minnesota.
* November 1: HAMLET GOES HOLLYWOOOD (one-act), Channahon Junior High School, Channahon, Illinois.
* November 2-18: PUTTING THE FAIR IN TOOTH FAIRY (short play), Cone Man Running, Houston, Texas.
* November 4: THE FRUITCAKE(one-act), Humphrey Public School, Humphrey, Nebraska.
* November 8: THE FRUITCAKE(one-act), Alexander Public School, Alexander, North Dakota.
* November 11-12: THE MATH LESSON (short play) and JOY TO OTHER WORLDS (one-act), Otherworld Theatre, at Public House Theatre, Chicago, Illinois.
* November 18: Staged reading of EXCHANGE OF GIFTS (full-length), by Attic Productions, Fincastle, Virginia.
* December 1: CHRISTMAS SPIDERS (one-act) and LET THERE BE LIGHTS! (one-act), by Liberty High School, Liberty, Texas.
* December 1: THE FRUITCAKE (one-act), Freedom Middle School, Orlando, Florida.
* December 1-3: THE ANGEL TREE (one-act) and FATHER CHRISTMAS (ten-minute script), by Richmond Beach Congregational United Church of Christ, Shoreline, Washington.
* December 2-3: SVETLANA’S FIRST CHRISTMAS AWAY FROM HOME (one-act), by Lewis County Community Theatre, Weston, West Virginia.
* December 2: THE FRUITCAKE (one-act), St. Brieux Drama Club, St. Brieux, Saskatchewan
* December 6: THE SKY IS FALLING (ten-minute play), Play With Your Food, Mankato, Minnesota.
* December 1-16: THE ANGEL TREE, THE CHRISTMAS GOAT and DEATH BY POINSETTIA (one-acts), by Actors Workout Studio, Hollywood, California.
* December 8-9: SVETLANA’S FIRST CHRISTMAS AWAY FROM HOME (one-act), by Red River Revue, Clarksville, Texas.
* December 13: Staged reading of MISS MITCHELL’S COMET (full-length), by Playwright’s Round Table, Orlando, Florida.
* December 13: Staged reading of DEATH BY POINSETTIA (one-act), by Hollins University and Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke, Virginia.
* December 14: THE CHRISTMAS SPIDER (one-act), Holy Trinity High School, Simcoe, Ontario.
* December 24: JOY TO OTHER WORLDS (one-act), by Cotton Hill Methodist Church, Springfield, Illinois.
* December 24: KLAUS (full-length), broadcast as radio play by Genesis Theatrical Productions on WCGO-AM, Chicago, and rebroadcast twice on Christmas Day.
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dwayneyancey 