Posts Tagged royalty-free Christmas scripts
Video reading of ‘A Dickens of a Christmas’
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Uncategorized, Video on September 27, 2020
Here’s a video reading of my new Christmas play, A DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS, performed by an international cast with an international audience.
Rose: Kira Simmons (Chantilly, Virginia)
Lily: Irene Kenney (Memphis, Tennessee, but logging in from Nashville)
Colonel Brampton: Charlie Boswell (Roanoke, Virginia)
Toby: Stephen Baltz (Christiansburg, Virginia)
Percy: Mason Micevski (Hamilton, Ontario)
Lady Crumblebum: Martha Boswell (Roanoke, Virginia)
Stage directions: Emily Bolyea-Kyere (Hamilton, Ontario)
Our audience included former Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Roanoke (and his wife, Maryellen, both fans of live theatre) and from Auckland, New Zealand, playwright Rex McGregor. Theatre is a small world: Rex and I both had pieces in a monologue festival out of New York earlier this summer. Irene was one of the actresses we saw in that festival — and since then we’ve both recruited her for projects.
A DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS
Two orphan girls in Victorian London desperately want a proper Christmas dinner. At first, they conspire to sneak into a private club and pass themselves off as men. Their plans are frustrated by a retired military man, and two fellow orphans. That’s when they devise another plan that involves the mean old rich woman at the end of the street. Cast: Six – three male, three female.
Photos from “Death by Poinsettia” in Roanoke
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on December 21, 2017
Not only did my Christmas one-act DEATH BY POINSETTIA get produced in Hollywood this Christmas season, it also had a staged reading Roanoke at Mill Mountain Theatre, through the Hollins Playwright’s Lab. Sadly, I missed the show because I was in Orlando for the staged reading of MISS MITCHELL’S COMET. Michael and Amanda Mansfield were the actors; Lauren Brooke Ellis directed.
Photo by Hank Ebert.
Photo by Carole Tarrant
Photo by Carole Tarrant
Photo by Carole Tarrant
MORE ABOUT DEATH BY POINSETTIA:
* Photos from Actors Workout Studio in Hollywood, 2017.
* Show poster in Hollywood, 2017
* Show poster for staged reading in Roanoke
* “Death By Poinsettia” wins awards in Maryland
* Photos from “Death by Poinsettia” in Maryland
* Photos from “Death by Poinsettia” at Studio C in Hollywood, 2015.
* After-party photos from Hollywood, 2015.
* Rehearsal photos from Hollywood, 2015.
Photos from “Death by Poinsettia” in Hollywood
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on December 21, 2017
This is also a big year for my Christmas one-act DEATH BY POINSETTIA, which was one of three shows of mine that were at the Actors Workout Studio in Hollywood in early December 2017. Kara Duffus shares these photos.
The theatre.
The audience gets ready.
I both opened and closed the show!
MORE ABOUT DEATH BY POINSETTIA:
* Show poster in Hollywood, 2017
* Show poster for staged reading in Roanoke
* “Death By Poinsettia” wins awards in Maryland
* Photos from “Death by Poinsettia” in Maryland
* Photos from “Death by Poinsettia” at Studio C in Hollywood, 2015.
* After-party photos from Hollywood, 2015.
* Rehearsal photos from Hollywood, 2015.
Meet the cast of “On The Thirteenth Day of Christmas”
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on November 18, 2015
First Avenue Playhouse in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey is producing my full-length Christmas comedy ON THE THIREENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS. The show runs Dec. 4-19; specific dates and times here. At last, I have a photo of the whole cast — well, almost.
Back row, from left: Joey Mendoza (Cameraman Mike), Kevin Gabel (Newscaster Ashley; Dec. 10,11 & 12), David Conover (Mr. Rudolph), Vince Fay (Marvin the Maintenance Worker), John Stillings (Police Officer) Rahsaan Fenn (Newscaster Ashley) Jack Russell (Cameraman Andy) Ankit Sharma (Newscaster Nicky). Front row: Patty Champon (Maid-A-Milking), Grace Emley (Dee Dee), Ronnie Marvald (Cee Cee), Bethany Miranda (Veronica), Ruth Rocky (Bridgette) and Leslie Hochman (Mrs. Henderson). Missing: Chris Berry, who plays Newscaster Nicky on Dec. 18 and 19.
Front row, but possibly not in order:
More rehearsal photos here and here.
ON THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS
A wild, action-packed Christmas farce. A young woman suddenly finds herself receiving the gifts from the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” apparently from an unknown suitor. The play begins on the thirteenth day as she copes with the chaos outside her apartment, as neighbors demand she do something about the noisy birds and pipers and drummers. The woman hatches a plan to shoot the birds and organize the people into an impromptu Christmas parade. Chaos ensues. Cast: 13 — 7f, 3m, 3 non-gender.
This will be the script’s second production; the first was in Oregon in 2013.
So far in 2015: Read the rest of this entry »
Rehearsal photos from “On the Thirteenth Day of Christmas”
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions, Uncategorized on October 26, 2015
First Avenue Playhouse in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey is producing my full-length script ON THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS in December. Here are photos from the table read — plus the poster.
The show runs December 4-19; specific dates and times here.
This is the second production of the script; the first was in Oregon in 2013. Here’s a photo from that production, which the director called “a true gem.”
UPDATED: Even more rehearsal photos here.
Happy smiling faces. Mostly. I’ll trust that’s a pose.
ON THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS
A wild, action-packed Christmas farce. A young woman suddenly finds herself receiving the gifts from the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” apparently from an unknown suitor. The play begins on the thirteenth day as she copes with the chaos outside her apartment, as neighbors demand she do something about the noisy birds and pipers and drummers. The woman hatches a plan to shoot the birds and organize the people into an impromptu Christmas parade. Chaos ensues. Cast: 13 — 7f, 3m, 3 non-gender.
More photos below: Read the rest of this entry »
Photos from “The Angel Tree” at Showtimers
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Photos, Productions on December 10, 2014
My Christmas one-act THE ANGEL TREE was produced at Showtimers in Roanoke, Virginia December 5-7 as part of their holiday show. Here are some photos.
Lindsey Talbott as a somewhat sassy angel.
The angel, played by Lindsey Talbott, appears — transformed from the angel on top the tree to an live angel. The tree suffers in the process.
More photos below: Read the rest of this entry »
Two Christmas one-acts to be performed in Colorado
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on November 11, 2014
The CW Actors Group in Collbran, Colorado will produce two of my Christmas one-acts on December 19 and 20.
They scripts are THE ANGEL TREE and A ZOMBIE CHRISTMAS. This will be the first production of the latter; there may be a prior production of THE ANGEL TREE at another theatre before then, but I’m still waiting on confirmation on that.
THE ANGEL TREE
An angel appears to a single mother at Christmas and helps her find a common bond with her surly teenage daughter. Cast: Three females. Running time: 20 minutes.
A ZOMBIE CHRISTMAS
A grandfather and grandmother dress up as a zombie and a vampire to try to connect their their teen-age granddaughter. Miscommunication ensues. Cast: Four – one senior male, one senior female, one adult female, one teen female. Running time: Fifteen minutes.
Here’s a full list of my Christmas plays.
Here are the shows I have upcoming:
* 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 12: JENNA AND HER PRIZE-WINNING PIG CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY, Lewis and Clark School District, Minot, North Dakota.
* December 2: KLAUS, staged reading in New York, as part of the Gi60 Extended Editions.
* 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 16: OLGA, staged reading at IRT Theatre, New York, N.Y.
* December 19-20: LET THERE BE LIGHTS! by Mockingbird Players, Columbia City, Indiana.
And here’s a partial list of productions this year:
“Klaus” to have staged reading in New York City in December
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on October 20, 2014
My full-length script that imagines an origin story for Santa Claus — KLAUS — will have a staged reading in New York on December 2, exact venue and such still TBA.
This is through the auspices of Gi60 — the annual “Gone in 60 Seconds” Festival of one-minute plays that takes place each summer in New York, with a counterpart in Great Britain. I’ve been fortunate to have had my short work done there for several years. Now, the Gi60 folks are using their “off-season” to feature longer scripts by some of the Gi60 writers.
KLAUS: How it all began
Where did Santa Claus come from? There is no particular origin myth, until now. This story begins in the 1740s with an eccentric German professor of what we now call physics. He invents time travel, and when he becomes the target of the wrath of a mob who wants to burn him as a witch, he uses it to escape. Involves science fiction, treason against the king, a love story, and some cooking. Cast: Seven – six male, one female.
This will be the second staged reading for KLAUS. The first was in 2012 in Roanoke, Virginia, through Hollins University.
Here’s video from that reading and also some other links:
* Background on the show
* Photos from first day of rehearsal
* Photos from second day of rehearsal
* Photos from third day of rehearsal
* Photos from the staged reading of “Klaus”
“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:
“On the Thirteenth Day of Christmas” will be produced in Oregon
Posted by Dwayne Yancey in News, Productions, Uncategorized on September 23, 2013
I got the official word today that my full-length script “On the Thirteenth Day of Christmas” will be produced for the first time in Oregon in December.
It was intended as a community theatre script, but the venue for this premiere will be Santiam High School in Mill City, Oregon.
This will be the sixth full-length script I’ve had produced, the others being:
* “An Old Story for News Times,” also a Christmas show
* “Virginia’s Real,” sort of a modern version of King Lear, this time with a farmer trying to figure out what to do with his farm when he retires, and three daughters fighting over the outcome.
* “Red Moon Rising in the East,” about the Soviet space program. (Video and photos here.)
* “57 Hours in the House of Culture,” about the Moscow theatre siege of 2002. (Video and photos here.)
* “Sweets to the Sweet,” a gender-reversed version of Hamlet.
Two other full-length scripts have had staged readings:
* “Klaus,” about the origins of Santa Claus. (Video and photos here.)
* “The Ballad of Alejandro Lopez,” a play about baseball and immigration. (Photos and more here.)
Here’s the synopsis for “On the Thirteenth Day of Christmas”:
ON THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS
A wild, action-packed Christmas farce. A young woman suddenly finds herself receiving the gifts from the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” apparently from an unknown suitor. The play begins on the thirteenth day as she copes with the chaos outside her apartment, as neighbors demand she do something about the noisy birds and pipers and drummers. The woman hatches a plan to shoot the birds and organize the people into an impromptu Christmas parade. Chaos ensues. Cast: 13 — 7f, 3m, 3 non-gender.
I have a list of other royalty-free Christmas scripts here.
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