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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Photos from “The Recruiter” in Houston
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on November 12, 2016
The recruiter talks with the football coach, oblivious to the softball phenom.
My five-minute piece THE RECRUITER is being produced in Houston Nov. 9-19 as part of the 2016 Five Minute Mile Play Festival by Cone Man Running Productions at the Obsidian Theatre. Here are some 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 also one of the short scenes in PLAY BALL!, a full-length collection of short baseball scenes. Read the rest of this entry »
More photos from “Catch of the Day” in Michigan
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on November 11, 2016
The cast of CATCH OF THE DAY.
Here are some photos from my one-act CATCH OF THE DAY, which was produced at Michigan State University Nov. 3-6.
You can see the whole photo gallery here.
Earlier the director sent me this promo video and rehearsal photos.
CATCH OF THE DAY
A nervous mother is preparing to entertain her daughter and the daughter’s new boyfriend. She’s eager for the match to succeed. She’s instructed her husband to pick up some fish on the way home for dinner; he mistakenly acquires a fugu, a type of fish prized as a delicacy in Japan — but which is also highly poisonous, if improperly prepared. Naturally, the woman succeeds in poisoning the daughter and her boyfriend — sending them into a trance. Comedy ensues, while the pair are frozen in position through part of the play. Cast: Two males, two females. Running time: 30 minutes.
* Staged reading as a radio play by Falcon Radio Theatre, Seattle, Washington, April 23, 2013.
“Jill And the Beanstalk” to be produced in Virginia
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on November 11, 2016
The beanstalk takes shape.
Yes, that’s a beanstalk, the starring prop of my one-act JILL AND THE BEANSTALK, which will be produced in December by Patrick Henry Community College in Virginia.
Shows will be Saturday, December 3 at 11 a.m. at Patrick Henry’s Stuart campus. A second show will be Wednesday, December 7 at 3:45 p.m. for after-school students at Fieldale-Collinsville Middle School.
This will be the first production of the script, which previously had a staged reading in Indiana.
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.
Here’s an updated list of 2016 productions: Read the rest of this entry »
Photo from my short play in Ireland
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on November 8, 2016
George Hynes in “A Chalkboard Scribbled in Blood.” Photo by Catriona Bonner.
George Hynes, again.
My one-minute play A CHALKBOARD SCRIBBLED IN BLOOD was performed Nov. 6-9 by Rabbit’s Riot Theatre in Ireland, with three shows in Slingo and one in Manorhamilton.
Here’s George Hynes in action in my very dark piece inspired by the Sandy Hook school shooting.
The theatre sent this word: “It went fantastic! Got amazing audience feedback! Thank you for writing such a moving piece!”
Photos (and video) from “Catch of the Day”
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized, Video on October 27, 2016
Michigan State University is producing my one-act CATCH OF THE DAY Nov. 3-6. Director Emily Clark sends this promo video and rehearsal photos.
The parents (at each end of the table) meet their daughter’s new boyfriend, Spike. But that’s not all that happens.
Ryan Carlson plays the dad; Melanie Ebeling plays the mom; Teagan Parkinson plays the daughter and Luke Ostrem plays Spike.
Directed by Emily Clark and Holly Simon.
More photos below: Read the rest of this entry »
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