“Klaus” to have staged reading December 16 in Roanoke
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on September 17, 2012
I was thrilled earlier this year when Studio Roanoke announced it was going to produce my show about the origin of Santa Claus as its Christmas show.
Then, I was heartbroken when the black-box theatre in Roanoke closed, leaving “Klaus” (and other plays by fellow playwrights) out in the cold.
Now, I’m thrilled once again to announce that “Klaus” has a new home — as a staged reading as part of the new Discovery Staged Reading Series that the Hollins Playwright’s Lab is starting.
The first reading in the series was Sept. 16; Todd Ristau will be announcing the schedule for the rest of the readings shortly — but I can go ahead and confirm that “Klaus” will be the December offering.
Specifically, Sunday, December 16 at Community High School in the June M. McBroom Theatre (which is a fantastic space in its own right.)
But wait, it gets better. Cheryl Snodgrass is coming in from Chicago to direct the reading. I’ve known Cheryl for a long time, but have never had a chance to work with her. Others in theatre world, though, know her as someone who has directed a lot of other new works, including some by Jeff Goode. Most recently, she directed Jeff’s “The Emancipation of Alabaster McGill” and Samantha Macher’s “The New Girl” at Studio Roanoke.
The full cast isn’t put together yet, but I can further report that Brian O’Sullivan — who most recently directed my show “57 Hours in the House of Culture” at Studio Roanoke — will have the role of Klaus.
Other actors confirmed so far are Martha Boswell, Will Coleman, Drew Dowdy and Blair Peyton — all prominent names in the Roanoke Valley theatre community. More to come.
“Klaus” is a dark comedy that attempts to explain where the Jolly Old Elf actually came from. All I’ll say here is the story begins in the 1700s and involves science fiction, treason against the king, a love story, and some cooking.
Cast: Seven – six male, one female.
Hope to see you there.
“The Fruitcake” to be produced in Nebraska in November
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on September 17, 2012
My most-produced work in a Christmas one-act, “The Fruitcake.”
I recently got word from the publisher (Brooklyn Publishers) that it will be produced at Cedar Rapids Public School in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska on November 19, 2012.
That will be the 34th production of the script — and I have yet to see a single one!
This is the second full production I have scheduled this fall (that I know about). The other is “Macbeth Goes Hollywood,” at a school in Steger, Illinois. (I say “that I know about” because sometimes I don’t hear from publishers until after a show has gone up.)
Here’s a synopsis of “The Fruitcake” and a complete list of the productions:
An extended and quite dysfunction family gathers for a Christmas season tradition — Aunt Hazel’s historically inedible fruitcake. But before she can bring it out, some of the relatives steal the thing and make a bet on whether they can destroy it. Chaos ensues. Characters include a goth-punk teen, a science nerd, a tough-talking ex-Peace Corps worker, a nearsighted aunt, and so forth. Cast: Nine — 2 male, 4 female, 3 non-gender.
√ Hoover Middle School, Indiatlantic, Fla. 2006.
√ Deer Mount Judea, Deer, Arizona, 2006-2007.
√ Parker School, Parker, South Dakota, 2006-2007.
√ Hysham Public Schools, Hysham, Montana, 2006-2007.
√ Reno High School, Reno, Nevada, Feb. 27, 2007.
√ Leonardtown High School, Leonardtown, Maryland, March 1-3, 2007.
√ Sahuaro High School, Tucson, Arizona, April 17, 2007.
√ Admiral Thomas H. Moorer Middle School, Efaula, Alabama, 2007-2008.
√ Pickett County High School, Byrdstown, Tenn., 2007-2008.
√ Clearwater Public School, Clearwater, Nebraska, 2007-2008.
√ Garrison High School, Garrison, North Dakota, 2007-2008.
√ Westside Middle School, Omaha, Nebraska, Dec. 13, 2007.
√ St. Joseph High School, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, April 29, 2008.
√ Cedar Park Christian School, Everett, Washington, June 12, 2008.
√ Salem Academy, Winston-Salem, N.C., Dec. 3, 2008.
√ “Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming, Dec. 4, 2008.
√ New Berlin High School, New Berlin, Illinois, Oct. 9, 2009.
√ Captain Shreve High School, Shreveport, Louisiana, Nov. 19, 2009.
√ St. Clair County High School, Odenville, Alabama, Dec. 3, 2009.
√ Ogemaw Heights High School, West Branch, Michigan, Dec. 21, 2009.
√ Lincoln-Way North High School, Frankfort, Ill., March 20, 2010
√ Metter High School, Metter, Georgia, Dec. 2, 2010.
√ Immaculate Heart High School, Tucson, Arizona, Dec. 15, 2010.
√Wahkiakum High School, Cathlamet, Washington, Dec. 29, 2010.
√ Whitehouse High School, Whitehouse, Texas, Dec. 30, 2010.
√ Scotlandville Magnet High School, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dec. 21, 2010.
√ Chambers Public School, Chambers, Nebraska, Dec. 18, 2010.
√ Dogwood Senior Drama, Coquitlam, British Columbia, Nov. 27, 2011.
√ Churchland High School, Portsmouth, Va., Dec. 1, 2011.
√ MN Players, MN Players, Havertown, Pa., Dec. 2, 2011.
√ McEwen High School, McEwen, Tenn., Dec. 19, 2011.
√ ABO School, Onida, South Dakota, January 2012.
* Scheduled to be produced by Cedar Rapids Public School, Cedar Rapids, Nebraska, Nov. 19, 2012.
“The Kissing Consultant” produced in South Africa
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on September 14, 2012
I often don’t find out about productions of my published plays until long after the fact (when royalty statements come). So what I’m about to report is up to a year old, but still true and fun:
* My one-act “The Kissing Consultant” got produced at a school in Johannesburg, South Africa! Specifically, Athlone Girls High School (not to be confused with Athlone Boys High School, I’ve learned.) So I can add a new country to my list. I’ve now had productions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, The Philippines, Australia, Turkey and now South Africa.
In addition:
* My one-act “The Weird Sisters on Holiday” had its premiere at a high school in Kansas — Anderson County High School, on January, 14, 2011.
* And add on 3 more productions of “Santa Claustrophobia” and 5 more of “The Fruitcake,” both Christmas one-acts. Some of those in Canada!
“The Kissing Consultant,” “The Weird Sisters on Holiday” and “The Fruitcake” are all published by Brooklyn Publishers. “Santa Claustrophobia” is published by Big Dog Plays.
Alas, I’ve never had a chance to see any of these produced.
Video: “The Uniform” at Gone in 60 Seconds Festival, New York
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in Productions, Uncategorized, Video on September 11, 2012
I had two pieces about baseball performed at the Gone in 60 Seconds Festival of one-minute plays in New York City in June 2012.
Here’s “The Uniform.”
The other one was “Sunset in North Dakota.”
You can find still photos from both productions in this previous post.
Video: “Sunset in North Dakota” at Gone in 60 Seconds Festival, New York
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in Productions, Uncategorized, Video on September 11, 2012
I had two pieces about baseball featured in this year’s New York edition of “Gone in 60 Seconds,” a one-minute play festival that took place at Brooklyn College in June 2012.
Here’s “Sunset in North Dakota,” a condensed version of a longer script first performed at No Shame Theatre in Roanoke, Va.
You can find still photos from both “Sunset in North Dakota” and “The Uniform” in this previous post.
“Macbeth Goes Hollywood” to be produced on Halloween in Chicago ‘burbs
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on September 8, 2012
A school in Steger, Illinois (southern Chicago suburbs) will produce my one-hour one-act “Macbeth Goes Hollywood” on Halloween (October 31, 2012). It will be the 24th production of that script, which is published by Eldridge Plays & Musicals.
I’m not quite sure which school; the info from the publisher simply says “School District 194” so I’ll have to investigate.
“Yvonne” gets their attention in Portland, Oregon
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Reviews, Uncategorized on August 6, 2012
Post 5 Theatre in Portland, Oregon recently produced two of my short pieces as part of their show called “Death/Sex: Portland,” in which every pieces was about one or the other.
One of my entries dealt with both: “Yvonne’s Worst Fears,” in which a woman is tied up during kinky sex — only to have her partner suffer a heart attack. The other piece was called “Another Reason Why Yvonne Doesn’t Get Asked Out Very Much,” which dealt with a similar theme, just from a different point of view.
The theatre didn’t have any photos to share, but did pass on this account of the show:
“Know that YVONNE’S WORST FEARS opened the show (our lovely Yvonne was tied to a headboard below a podium as the audience filed in, smiling and trying to wave as I did the curtain speech) and kicked off the production beautifully. ANOTHER REASON appeared early in the second act, with the girls drinking cocktails and poor Dave (myself, I couldn’t help it) yelling the same “safe word” from backstage. As soon as the audience saw Yvonne on stage again, I could tell (even from backstage, with my hand in my mouth) that the audience perked up. Thank you for helping to make my first advance into producing such a success.”
Backstage graffiti from my show at Studio Roanoke
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on August 6, 2012
A close-up of the graffiti in the dressing room at Studio Roanoke.
At Studio Roanoke, the black box theatre in Roanoke, Va. which recently closed, the tradition was for actors and actresses to sign the wall in the dressing room — along with a key quote from the show.
Here’s the part of the wall dedicated to my show “57 Hours in the House of Culture,” which turned out to be the next-to-play show there. (The show was about the Moscow theatre siege of 2002.)
Kind of reminds me of the cover for The Rolling Stones’ originally wanted for their album “Beggars Banquet.”
MORE ON “57 HOURS IN THE HOUSE OF CULTURE”:
* Photos from the show
* Audience reaction to the show
* Review: “It ain’t ‘Oklahoma!'”
* Congressman Goodlatte attends the show
* Review: “Most interactive show I’ve seen”
* Media interviews about the show
* The set takes shape
* Rehearsal photos
* Rehearsal begins
* The poster for the show
The title song to my play “Unemployed Gods”
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in Other, Uncategorized on July 31, 2012
I’ve never written a musical (yet) but I have written a full-length show that includes a song. The show — and the song — is “Unemployed Gods.” It’s about a dark look at a company town after the company has closed down. In this case, the company is Mount Olympus and the gods are out of work.
I wrote the lyrics and hummed a tune for the multi-talented Roanoke musician and actor Chris Shepard, who wrote the music — and performs it here.
Video and photos: “The Mermaid’s Tattoo” at The Garfield Center for the Arts in Maryland
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in Photos, Productions, Uncategorized, Video on July 19, 2012
The Garfield Center for the Arts in Chestertown, Maryland produced my 10-minute script “The Mermaid’s Tattoo” as part of the theatre’s Short Attention Span festival of 10-minute plays.
The festival ran June 22-July 1.
The script is related to “My Summer as a Mermaid,” which has been produced in Massachusetts (see those photos here) and Chicago, along with a staged reading in Roanoke, Virginia.
Here’s a promotional video that has part of the show, plus some still photos.
A scene from “The Mermaid’s Tattoo”
Sarah Walker as Samantha, Anna Black as Kitty the Waitress and Pete Fortenbaugh as Waiter
dwayneyancey 
