Archive for category News
Two one-acts to be produced in Missouri and North Dakota
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on October 1, 2014
The fall high school theatre season is soon upon us, and that means I have two new productions to announce:
* HIT THE BOOKS, by Lafayette County High School, Higginsville, Missouri on November 9. This script is published by Eldridge Plays and Musicals; this is the 16th production of this script.
* JENNA AND HER PRIZE-WINNING PIG CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY, by the Lewis and Clark School District, Minot, North Dakota on November 12. This script is published through Playscripts; this is the third production of this script.
I’ve got one-acts published through five different publishers (the list is in the right-hand column). Some report productions as they get booked; some not until after the fact, so it’s possible I have others out there and just don’t know about it yet.
Here are synopses of these two scripts:
HIT THE BOOKS
A slapstick farce set in a college dorm. A student studying for exams becomes so frustrated she hits herself in the head with her art history textbook. Suddenly, she thinks she’s the Mona Lisa. Her roommate becomes frantic. A suitemate arrives who thinks the logical thing to do is to hit the woman on the head with another book. Throughout, each time someone gets hit in the head with a book, they instantly acquire command of the subject matter. The scene becomes increasingly more chaotic as the students search for a solution. You’ll need some soft books, because everyone gets hit on the head at least once, and usually more. Cast: Five — four female, one male. Running time: Twenty five minutes.
JENNA AND HER PRIZE-WINNING PIG CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY
A bored teen-ager with a vivid imagination creates havoc at the county fair, involving a TV crew and two glad-handing politicians, when she gets them arguing over a non-existent bill before Congress. Cast: Ten — three female, three male and four of either gender. Set requirements: Minimal, although it would help to have a television camera and microphone.
So, here’s the latest list of my upcoming productions:
* November 7, 8, 14, 15, 22, and 23: DEMOTING PLUTO, one-act, Short Science Play Showcase at the Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
* November 9: HIT THE BOOKS, Lafayette County High School, Higginsville, Missouri.
* November 12: JENNA AND HER PRIZE-WINNING PIG CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY, Lewis and Clark School District, Minot, North Dakota.
* December 6-7: THE BEAUTIFUL OGRE AND OTHER FAIRY TALES, CAN I?, CHEF PIERRE DOES NOT DO SIMPLE, and GOD AND THE DEVIL MEET FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH, by the Jeonju Players, Joenju, South Korea.
* December 19-20: LET THERE BE LIGHTS! by Mockingbird Players, Columbia City, Indiana.
And here’s a partial list of productions this year:
Four short scripts to be produced in South Korea in December
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on September 29, 2014
I’ve just scored my first production in South Korea.
The Jeonju Players, an English-language company in Joenju, are producing two nights worth of short comic pieces on December 6 and 7.
Among the 14 pieces are four of mine, all of which have been previously produced:
CAN I?
A lesson in both grammar and assertiveness. A restaurant customer asks: “can I have the daily special?” A bossy waiter or waitress says “no.” Cast: Two, non-gender. Running time: Five minutes.
* Produced by Flush Ink Productions in Asphalt Jungle Shorts Festival in Kitchener, Ontario, September 2014. (Photos from that production here.)
GOD AND THE DEVIL MEET FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH
God and the devil meet in an out-of-the-way lunch spot to discuss a
business proposition: The devil thinks the Almighty should reimburse him for
punishing the wicked. Comes in two versions, one 5 minutes, one 10
minutes. Cast: Three — 2 males, 1 female. Running time: Five
minutes or ten minutes.
* Five-minute version performed at No Shame Theatre, Roanoke, Va., August 2004 and October 2004 as part of The Best of No Shame.
* Produced by Homespun Productions, broadcast on Channel 18, Sacramento, California, October 2005. Here’s video of.
* Classroom presentation, Averett College, Danville, Va., Dec. 3, 2007.
* Radio play by Falcon Radio Theatre, Seattle, 2013. Here’s audio.
* Staged reading by Lake Players, Smith Mountain Lake, Va., April 2014. (Photos from that reading here.)
THE BEAUTIFUL OGRE AND OTHER FAIRY TALES
A father reads his daughter a fairy tale as a bedtime story — which the characters begin to act out. The girl doesn’t like how the story is going — no strong female role models, for instance — so she changes it all around. This is the result. Cast: Five — three males, two females. Running time: Eight minutes.
• Produced by the Paw Paw Village Players, Paw Paw, Michigan, Feb. 15-16, 22-23, 2008.
• Produced by Youth Education on Stage Summer Shorts, Williston, North Dakota, June 24-26, 2008.
• Produced by Subversive Theatre, Buffalo, N.Y., various nights between May 2-17, 2009.
• Produced by Play’n’Well Players, Plainview, Michigan, last weekend of May 2009.
CHEF PIERRE DOES NOT DO SIMPLE
A television producer explains to a TV chef that he need to simplify some of his language because many younger viewers do not understand them. He reacts badly and winds up creating a mess with broken eggs and flour. Cast: Four — One male, three non-gender. Running time: Ten minutes.
• Produced by Newburgh Free Academy, Newburgh, N.Y., May 2009. (Photos here.)
So, here’s the latest list of my upcoming productions:
* November 7, 8, 14, 15, 22, and 23: DEMOTING PLUTO, one-act, Short Science Play Showcase at the Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
* December 6-7: THE BEAUTIFUL OGRE AND OTHER FAIRY TALES, CAN I?, CHEF PIERRE DOES NOT DO SIMPLE, and GOD AND THE DEVIL MEET FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH, by the Jeonju Players, Joenju, South Korea.
* December 19-20: LET THERE BE LIGHTS! by Mockingbird Players, Columbia City, Indiana.
And here’s a partial list of productions this year:
Photos from “Can I?” in Ontario festival
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on September 29, 2014
My short script CAN I? was produced recently in the Asphalt Jungle Shorts Festival in Kitchener, Ontario. This is a site-specific walking-tour festival, where patrons buy a ticket and then are escorted as a group around downtown Kitchener and, at various spots, live theatre breaks out.
CAN I? is set in a restaurant between a surly waitress and a sheepish customer. He asks “can I have . . .” a certain menu item, and the waitress lectures him on his grammar.
Arlene Thomas and John Fielding in CAN I?
Here’s the kick-butt poster for the show.
Here’s another kick-butt poster for the show.
Here’s the crowd at one point in the proceedings.
Arlene Thomas starts to let John Fielding have it.
Poor John Fielding. All his character wanted was something to eat. Instead he got a lecture on grammar.
“Let There Be Lights!” to be produced in Indiana in December
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on September 22, 2014
Joy to the world! I got word today that the Mockingbird Players in Columbia City, Indiana will produce my Christmas one-act LET THERE BE LIGHTS! on December 19 and 20, 2014.
This will be the first production of that script:
LET THERE BE LIGHTS!
Two neighbors plot to see who can put on the biggest display of Christmas lights, with comical, and catastrophic, results. Cast: Eight — two adult males, two adult females, two teen-age males, two teen-age females. Running time: 30 minutes.
Like all of my unpublished work, it is available royalty-free, for reasons I explain here. I have a list of other Christmas plays here.
And here’s a list of upcoming productions:
* September 18, 19,20, 25, 26, 27: CAN I?, five-minute script in Asphalt Jungle Shorts XI, Kitchener, Ontario.
* September 22-24: SOMETIMES ELEPHANTS DIE STANDING UP, ten-minute play, Ghost Dog Productions, The Horse and Stables, London, UK.
* November 7, 8, 14, 15, 22, and 23: DEMOTING PLUTO, one-act, Short Science Play Showcase at the Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
And here’s a partial list of productions this year:
Show poster from “The Face on Mars” in Connecticut
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on August 8, 2014
Top billing!
Here’s some of the publicity for my ten-minute script THE FACE ON MARS, which plays August 19 in Suffield, Connecticut as part of the Suffield Players’ festival of short plays.
Here’s the present line-up of productions I have for the rest of the year.
And here’s the synopsis:
THE FACE ON MARS
The supposed face on Mars? It was commissioned by a politician who knew the truth — that Mars was running out of water. But he told the public something else entirely. Cast: Two, non-gender.
Photos (and fan mail) from “The Other Side of Oz” in Montana
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Reviews, Uncategorized on August 1, 2014
The cast of THE OTHER SIDE OF OZ.
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My show THE OTHER SIDE OF OZ plays this weekend in Billings, Montana, produced by the Backyard Theatre, which, true to its name, really is in somebody’s back yard.
This is my seventh full-length script I’ve had produced. This isn’t a single story, but rather a collection of short Oz-related scenes using characters in the public domain. All that, and my list of previous full-length productions, is detailed in this previous post.
My version is probably what you’d expect of my work: We have Dorothy on the psychiatrist’s couch, we have the sheriff complaining about dogs, we have Munchkin insurance adjusters going over the damage to the house — mostly in five-minute scenes.
I have the show poster and some rehearsal photos below but first, allow me to share this — fan mail! Yes, two young members of the cast (one of them 9, not sure about the other, but about the same) took the time to send me thank-you notes:
Dear Dwayne
Thank you. The show is very fun! I get to be Munchkin One in The Wizard Arrives in Oz and The Witch of the East in Sensible Shoes, I am also the munchkin in Horse of a Different Color. I am sending you some photos my mom took, the last photo is my Young Witch of the East hair and make up. Thank you for writing such a fun and awesome play. I hope I get to work with you again.
Thanks
hello my name is ****** I just wanted to thank you for the script for the other side of oz I played the young witch of the west and a munchkin I really enjoyed it its an awesome script you did a great job writing it!
once again thank you
sincerely,
I’ve never gotten fan mail from cast members before!
Lots of photos below:
The show poster.
Glinda and Dorothy.
A Munchkin insurance adjuster.
You know who this is! The tin man!
I do believe that’s Toto in this scene!
The huckster professor and future wizard.
William Shields, Seja Foster, Micah Hornsby and Ryland Nelson go over a map of Kansas with the professor (Trevor Bionich).
Glinda.
Oh, now we have a bad witch, too! And Dorothy.
Dorothy and crew go to the horse racing track.
The complete set of photos is here. And here’s what the Billings Gazette said.
Photos from the cast party here.
Short script “Can I?” to be produced in Ontario in September
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on August 1, 2014
Just got word that my short script “Can I?” will be produced in September as part of Asphalt Jungle Shorts XI, an annual walking-tour theatre festival in Kitchener, Ontario.
Performances dates are Sept. 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27th.
This is a site-specific festival, where patrons sign up for a walking tour and encounter theatres at various stops. “Can I?” is set in a restaurant.
CAN I?
A lesson in both grammar and assertiveness. A restaurant customer asks: “can I have the daily special?” A bossy waiter or waitress says “no.” Cast: Two, non-gender. Running time: Five minutes.
I’ve had pieces in this festival before. Here are some photos and video from previous ones:
* Photos from “Requiem for a Buzzard” in June 2013 and again in September 2013.
* Here’s video of “A Nice, Relaxing Cup of Tea” in 2009.
It joins this list of upcoming productions:
* August 1-3: THE OTHER SIDE OF OZ, full-length script, Backyard Theatre, Billings, Montana.
* August 16: THE FACE ON MARS, ten-minute play, Suffield Players, Suffield, Connecticut
* September 6: THE SKY IS FALLING, ten-minute play, Piano Fight Productions, Lagunitas (Marin County), California.
* September 18, 19,20, 25, 26, 27: CAN I?, five-minute script in Asphalt Jungle Shorts XI, Kitchener, Ontario.
* September 22-24: SOMETIMES ELEPHANTS DIE STANDING UP, ten-minute play, Ghost Dog Productions, The Horse and Stables, London, UK.
* November 7, 8, 14, 15, 22, and 23: A MARTIAN WESTERN and DEMOTING PLUTO, one-acts, Short Science Play Showcase at the Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
And here’s a partial list of productions this year:
“The Sky is Falling” to be produced in California in September
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on July 30, 2014
Here’s the show poster.
My ten-minute script THE SKY IS FALLING will be produced September 6 in Lagunitas, California (Marin County, just north of San Francisco) by a troupe with the wonderful name Piano Fight Productions.
It’s part of an outdoors show called “Roughin’ It,” although it can’t be too rough because it’s at the Paradise Healing Center, which is said to be “overlooking golden hills and nestled in the forest of West Marin.” Sounds pretty tranquil to me!
Here’s the synopsis. Note that it includes a rap song!
THE SKY IS FALLING
Two squirrels conduct an experiment, dropping things off a powerline. The result: Chicken Little gets hit on the head and thinks the sky is falling. Comedy — and a rap song — ensue. Cast: Five – 1 male, 1 female, 3 non-gender. Running time: Ten minutes.
It joins this list of upcoming productions:
* August 1-3: THE OTHER SIDE OF OZ, full-length script, Backyard Theatre, Billings, Montana.
* August 16: THE FACE ON MARS, ten-minute play, Suffield Players, Suffield, Connecticut
* September 6: THE SKY IS FALLING, ten-minute play, Piano Fight Productions, Lagunitas (Marin County), California.
* September 22-24, SOMETIMES ELEPHANTS DIE STANDING UP, ten-minute play, Ghost Dog Productions, The Horse and Stables, London, UK.
* November 7, 8, 14, 15, 22, and 23: A MARTIAN WESTERN and DEMOTING PLUTO, one-acts, Short Science Play Showcase at the Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
And here’s a partial list of productions this year:
British critic calls my work “absolutely fantastic” and “all-around brilliance”
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Reviews, Uncategorized, Video on July 24, 2014
The Congleton Players in Congleton, England produced my short one-act REVENGE IS SWEET WITH A SLIGHT AFTERTASTE OF IRONY on July 18. It was one of five scripts out of 211 submitted to make the cut for the group’s annual festival.
If that’s not honor enough, theatre critic D.C. Wood had exceptionally kind words to say about my work. You can hear them for yourself in this video — they start at the 6:47 mark. You can also see photos from my show, and others.
Among the things the critic had to say:
* “This was all-around brilliance.”
* “Absolutely fantastic.”
* “Dwayne Yancey wrote a genuinely witty and sharp script.”
He ranked my show one of his two favorites — “it was so close, it could have gone either way” — and said he loved it so much “I personally don’t have any criticism of this play.”
In the end, the audience vote for best in show went to yet a different script. (Details on that about the 15-minute mark.)
Here’s the synopsis of the script:
REVENGE IS SWEET WITH A SLIGHT AFTERTASTE OF IRONY
A famous food critic visits a restaurant. The manager wants desperately to please him; the chef wants revenge. Dark comedy and slapstick ensues. Cast: Six — four male, two female. Running time: Fifteen minutes.
Thanks, Congleton!
You can find a more or less complete list of my productions this year here.
Here are the still photos from the show:
A famous food critic shows up at a restaurant, much to the chagrin of the staff.
Comedy ensues.
The end.
Ten-minute script “The Face on Mars” to be produced in Connecticut
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on July 18, 2014
The Suffield Players in Suffield, Connecticut will produce my ten-minute script THE FACE ON MARS on August 16 as part of a program of 10-minute scripts.
Here’s the synopsis:
THE FACE ON MARS
The supposed face on Mars? It was commissioned by a politician who knew the truth — that Mars was running out of water. But he told the public something else entirely. Cast: Two, non-gender.
In case you’re keeping count (I am!), here’s a list of upcoming productions:
* July 19: REVENGE IS SWEET WITH A SLIGHT AFTERTASTE OF IRONY, one-act, Congleton Players, Congleton, U.K.
* August 1-3: THE OTHER SIDE OF OZ, full-length script, Backyard Theatre, Billings, Montana.
* August 16: THE FACE ON MARS, ten-minute play, Suffield Players, Suffield, Connecticut
* September 22-24, SOMETIMES ELEPHANTS DIE STANDING UP, ten-minute play, Ghost Dog Productions, The Horse and Stables, London, UK.
* November 7, 8, 14, 15, 22, and 23: A MARTIAN WESTERN and DEMOTING PLUTO, one-acts, Short Science Play Showcase at the Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
And here’s a partial list of productions this year. This does NOT include productions that came through most of my publishers; I’ll get reports on those later this year, so it’s likely there are additional productions out there I don’t know about.
* June 14-15: BOLIVIA!, THE CALL OF THE OPEN ROAD, JIMMY’S PLAN FOR WORLD DOMINATION, and THREE TREES TALKING, one-minute plays, as part of the Gone in 60 Seconds Festival #NextGen festival, New York, N.Y. Details here.
* June 13-15: IT’S THE COW’S FAULT, DEEP INTO OCTOBER, and THE GHOST LAMP, one-minute plays, as part of the Gone in 60 Seconds Festival, US edition, New York, N.Y. Details here with an update here.
* June 5: THE CHICKEN CROSSES MADISON AVENUE and COUNTING WOLVES, one-minute plays, as part of the Gone in 60 Seconds Festival, UK edition, Halifax, UK. Details here.
* May 30: THE RING, one-act, Haylofters Theatre, Burlington, Wisconsin. (Voted second best in show.)
* May 23: SOMETIMES ELEPHANTS DIE STANDING UP, ten-minute play, staged reading by Unproduced Moon, Glasgow-Edinburg, Scotland.
* Late May: THE RING, five-minute script, as part of Newburgh Free Academy festival of short plays, Newburgh, N.Y.
* May 16: MACBETH GOES HOLLYWOOD, one-act, by Crawford County High School, Salem, Indiana.
* May 7: THE FRUITCAKE, one-act, by Hague High School, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
* April 29: THE FRUITCAKE, one-act, by Maryvale High School, Phoenix, Arizona.
* April 25: MACBETH GOES HOLLYWOOD, one-act, by York Comprehensive High School, York, South Carolina.
* March 28: GOD AND THE DEVIL MEET FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH, ten-minute play, staged reading by Lake Players, Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. Details here.
* Spring 2014: OCCUPATIONS, one-act, by Viking Radio Theatre, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington. Audio here.
* Spring 2014: GOD AND THE DEVIL MEET FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH, ten-minute play, by Viking Radio Theatre, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington. Audio here.
* Spring 2014: SOMEWHERE TONIGHT, THE LAST WASHINGTON SENATORS’ GAME PLAYS ON, ten-minute play, by Viking Radio Theatre, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington. Audio here.
* March 1: HIT THE BOOKS, one-act, by Shead High School, Eastport, Maine.
* January 4: SOFTBALL IS LIFE, full-length, staged reading, in Roanoke, Virginia. Details here.
dwayneyancey 