PLAY PRODUCTION COUNT

12 I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake

 9 Finger Food

 3 Native Speaker

 2 Gifted

 1 Curried Condo

 1 Kangaroo Court

 1 Faith in the Super Bowl

29 TOTAL

APRIL 2010

For the month of April, I will be participating in Script Frenzy.  If you'd like to sponsor me and help out some young writers in the process, please click on the banner above.  All donations are tax deductible. 

It's been a while since I've updated my website so I guess I have some catching up to do.  Since my last update, a number of my plays have been performed around the world.  In December, "Curried Condo" premiered as part of NYU Tisch Asia's "I Was Told There'd Be Wine" along with a number of other short pieces that were developed through the the Dramatic Writing program's drama lab.  "I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake" made its way to Chicago for Mind the Gap Production's 1st Annual Ten-Minute Festapalooza.  I'd like to say thanks to Dusty Wilson for organizing the event.  The play was also featured at Fire Rose Production's 7th Annual International 10-minute play festival in January.  "Finger Food" was featured as part of The Renaissance Guild's  ActOne Series and also played for a whopping six-weeks as part of Little Fish Theatre's Pick of the Vine 8 play festival.  I felt honored when I heard it was one of only 9 plays chosen out of 900 submissions.  Additionally, "Native Speaker" made its debut south of the equator as part of the inaugural Short+Sweet Auckland Festival.  This was the first time one of my plays has been performed in New Zealand.  In March, Jeane Peake directed a production of "Gifted" at Cornerstone University featuring Karissa Bedford as Dr. Lee and Emily Rorrer as Mrs. Lim.  In the next few days I'll be adding some new plays as well as some recent production photos.

AUGUST 2009

Good news and some upcoming productions on the horizon!  I was recently notified that "Faith in the Super Bowl" has been selected for Future Tenant's, Future Ten 6 Festival in Pittsburgh, PA.  It's nice to be returning to the festival as they were the first US theatre to produce "I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake" last November.  The play will premeire Nov 5th and run through the 14th. 

FUTURE TENANT FESTIVAL

Additionally, "I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake" will be a part of Short+Sweet Brisbane.  It was one of two of my plays shortlisted for the inaugural Short+Sweet in Brisbane.  This will mark the 4th Short+Sweet Festival the play has been a part of.  Please click below for more info.

SHORT+SWEET BRISBANE

The other play to make the shortlist in Brisbane was "Gifted" which will be included in the Singapore Writers Festival this year on November 1st.  The play will be presented as a reading along with several other pieces from my friends at Magdalena (Singapore). Please click below for more info.

SINGAPORE WRITERS FESTIVAL

This past weekend the curtain came down on Summer Shorts 2009 in Orlando, FL.  Presented by Playwrights Round Table, the festival featured several short plays including my "Finger Food".  In the lead up to the festival, the play was performed on the radio for promotional purposes.  The reviewer was very kind to me and my good buddy Alex Broun.  Click below to read the review.

ORLANDO WEEKLY   

On April 10th & 11th, two of my short plays (Finger Food and Gifted) were part of Eight-in-a-Box presented at the Drama Centre Black Box Theatre at the National Library in Singapore.

THE TEN-MINUTE PLAY WORKSHOP

I will be conducting a four session 10-Minute Play writing workshop Thursday and Friday March 19 & 20 and Tuesday and Wednesday March 24 and 25.

For more information, please click the link below.

TEN-MINUTE PLAY WORKSHOP INFO

Saturday, 14 February (Valentine's Day)

New Plays!  I have a couple of new plays I'll upload to the site shortly.  Additionally, I am in the process of re-formatting and uploading all my scripts.  Many of them have exciting new covers or production posters!  Please excuse me if some of the scripts are not available when you click on the link.  I assure you they will be up soon.  Feel free to email me if you'd like to read them in the interim.

The first weekend in Februrary, FINGER FOOD premeired as part of the innaugural AVASTAMA play festival in Valdosta, GA.  It was one of only six plays to be selected out of 165 entries, and the only one from an overseas playwright.  Read about it here: http://www.valdostadailytimes.com/theview/local_story_037182559.html

FINGER FOOD is currently rehearsing for its Singapore premiere at MAGDALENA (Singapore)'s Wine, Women & Words II at The Substation, 27 & 28 Feb, 7:30PM.  For more information: http://www.magdalenasingapore.com/

 AND, I will be conducting a 10-minute playwritiing workshop March 19th &20th and 24th & 25th in Sinagpore.  For more information, please click here:  WORKSHOP INFO

Wednesday, 21 January

I've been so busy of late, that I've hardly had time to catch my breath!  But I just wanted to keep all of my friends out there informed about all the developments and projects going on. 

HANDBAGS IN HOLLYWOOD

Back in December I got an email from the Actor's Workout Studio in North Hollywood.  They were organizing an evening of short plays as a benefit for Toys For Tots and asked if they could produce "I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake."  I was delighted that they asked and doubly delighted that I was able to attend a performance on the 21st of December while I was in California for the holidays.  The show was so popular that they had to add an additional performance.  I surprised the director and cast of the play after the show and snapped a few pics at the stage door.  The directing was innovative and the ladies were fabulous!  They told me that the play was the talk of the festival. 

From left: Marina Palmier (Adelina), Dean Lundquist (Playwright), Samantha Gudstadt (Karina), Maria Paris (Jasmina), Michael Pierce (Director).

Hungry for FINGER FOOD

In December, I got an email from Magdalena (Singapore) http://www.magdalenasingapore.com/ who were organizing a fund-raising event in February entitled "Wine, Women and Words II" and they wanted to know if they could include "Finger Food" as part of the evening's line-up of entertainment.  Since I am a fan of all three (wine, women and words--but not necessarily in that order) I agreed.  I was a bit taken aback as I knew they were a women's creative arts group, so I felt doubly honored to be the only testosterone producer asked to participate.  The event will take place the 27th & 28th at the Substation in Singapore.

This past week, I also received news that "Finger Food" was selected for the innagural Avastama Play Festival http://www.avastama.com/ in Valdosta, Georgia and it was a semi-finalist in the Lakeshore Players 10-minute Play Competition.  Needless to say, 2009 is already shaping up well.  I'll have 2 plays in 3 productions in February: "Handbag" in Sydney, "Finger Food" in Georgia and Singapore!  I guess my birthday presents are arriving a little early this year.

JENNIFERS update

I met with Desmond Sim and a few other playwrights over at ACTION! Theatre just before I left in December.  Desmond and I met again last week and will meet again today!  The play is shaping up well but I have been uber busy since the new year and haven't been able to spend as much time on re-writes as I would've liked.   

COMIC BOOKS

Since I was a kid I have secretly liked comic books.  Recently, as part of my English Drama History class over at NAFA, I have challenged my students to come up with some creative concepts for re-imagining classic plays so that they communicate to a modern audience.  As an example, I created a few pages for a graphic novel/comic book adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus.  As I read the play, I thought of who I would cast in the role of Faustus.  After reading the opening sililoquy, I thought Hugh Laurie, TV's Gregory House on HOUSE, M.D. would be the perfect choice.  I took it a step further and decided to use the whole cast in the comic book and it soon became "Doctor HOUSTUS".  If you're a fan of the show, you will get all the inside jokes, but if not, hopefully the plot still comes through.  Additionally, I've started writing a new play about superheroes...more to come soon.

DOWNLOAD

Tuesday, 9 December

A group of kind and talented theatre folk convened this evening at LASALLE College of the Arts to read my new play, "JENNIFERS."  The reading went very well and I'd like to publicly acknowledge all who attended for their contribution: Bill Kovacsik (NYU-Tisch Asia), Loretta Chen (Zebra Crossing), Richard Chua (Little Red Shop), Ng Yi-Sheng (playwirght), Itay Avtalyon (actor), Zac Tyler, Tim Garner, Kluane Saunders, Karina Sindicich, Carla Dunareanu and Erwin Shah (Lasalle College of the Arts, Musical Theatre and Acting programmes).  You all were wonderful!  I owe you all a debt of gratitude.  Much love to you all.

Monday, 8 December

It certainly looks like Christmas is coming a bit early for me this year!This last week was quite eventful!  I found out that three of my plays (I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake, Native Speaker, and Good Morning Teacher) all were shortlisted for the 2009 Short+Sweet Sydney Festival. 

Also, I received news from The Actors Workout Theatre in North Hollywood that they have included "I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake" in their "Let it HO HO HO!" an evening of short plays to benefit Toys for Tots.  The play will perform on December 14th and 21st at 7pm.

In other great news, JENNIFERS, which finished first in the November 2008 National Playwriting Month Competition has been selected for development by ACTION! Theatre in Singapore.  It, along with 3 other plays will compete in 2009 as part of the Theatre Idols Competition.  If it wins, it will then go on to receive a full production. 

I am hosting an open reading of JENNIFERS on Tuesday, 9 December at 7pm at the Lasalle College of the Arts.

Saturday 1 Nov 

One of my fellow playwright's Binge group members referred me to the National Playwriting Month competition.  I registered and entered into it.  The competition is a friendly one where participants are challenged to write a full-length play in the month of November.  I thought this was the perfect time and impetus for me to write one.  It's been nearly 10 years or so since I wrote (or attempted to write) a full-length play.  It's entitled "Jennifers" and revovles around a man who has three successive relationships with women who all happened to be named Jennifer.  The participants are a friendly group.  I've blogged a fair bit on their site as well.  The playwrights have been sharing tips and giving out free advice.  If you'd like to read my contributions to the site, please click on the Rhino above.

Thursday 9 Oct

Just returned from a week in Sydney, Australia.  Took part in the Short+Sweet Playwriting weekend with my good friends, Alex Broun & Mark Cleary.  I thoroughly enjoyed the week and meeting all the talented writers and actors.  A couple of plays came out of the week for me: SIDESHOW (part I) and WHOLE IN ONE.  Will post them soon.

Friday 19 Sep

Posted a couple of plays today: Not So Happy Birthday and GIFTED.  Not So Happy Birthday  was inspired by events surrounding the production of Esla and Frinz Go Partying by Bruce Shearer, directed by Samantha Scott-Blackhall in the 2008 Short+Sweet Festival.  The play revolves around a pair of balloons at a children's birthday party.  The script calls for "Happy Birthday To You" but as we discovered, it is a copyrighted song, and our budget only allowed us to use royalty free music. The script was what ensued.

Tuesday 16 Sep

SPEAKEASY  (inspired by the works of Bob Fosse and Kander & Ebb) premiered at LASALLE College of the Arts tonight.  Judging by audience response and nearly full houses, it's a hit!  An incredibly fun-filled and dream-like project for me (and hopefully everyone else involved).  Lots of love in this one.  For those who know me and my directing 'style' know that I am an huge Bob Fosse fan.  It was an absolute pleasure to work with the Musical Theatre students at LASALLE.  Collaborating with both  Bronwyn Gibson (Musical Director) and Fiona Baird (Choreographer) was nothing short of 'perfectly marvelous'.   Production photos posted.

Sunday 31 Aug

Received notification that I Can Tell Your Handbag Is Fake was selected for production in the Furture Ten 10-minute play festiva in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

http://www.futuretenant.org/programs_FutureTen.html

Monday 25 Aug

SHORT+SWEET Singapore Playwright's Lab.  Three plays were presented at the lab including 1 of my own Finger Food .  The other two being Really Bread? by new playwright Wu Yanping and Prisoners by Richard Lord.  Thanks to all those who attended, especially the actors: Vanessa Wong, Richard Chua, Chris Jensen and Lez Ann Chong and to our host, The Arts House.  Additionally, Finger Food was shortlisted for the Pint-Sized Play Festival in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK.

Sunday 17 Aug

SHORT+SWEET MALAYSIA GALA FINAL - I was proudly involved in two plays that made it to Malaysia's Gala Final.  The evening was uber competitive which made it an honor to be one of the award recipients.  "I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake" won 3 awards: The People's Choice Award for most audience votes, Best Director - Melissa Teoh, Best Playwright - Dean Lundquist.  The icing on the cake for me was when Alex Broun's "Somewhere Between the Sky and the Sea", starring Paul Williams, Joana Prata and Daphne Quah, directed by Dean Lundquist,  won the Short+Sweet Award for overall best production.  It's my intention to take "I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake" to Sydney for Short+Sweet in 2009!  If you know anyone who might like to be a sponsor, please let me know!!!  Much love to all those involved.  It was a beautiful evening and one that I will never forget.  Thanks to all involved for making it happen!

Wednesday 13 Aug

Short+Sweet Malaysia week 2 opening night.  World premiere of my play "I Can Tell Your Handbag is Fake" and also opening night for my production of Alex Broun's play, "Somewhere Between the Sky and the Sea"  starring Paul Williams, Joana Prata and Daphne Quah at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre.

Sunday 10 Aug

Performed Ken Kwek's "I'll Have the Special" with Paul Williams at Short+Sweet Malaysia.  Lots of fun.  Nice to see that my acting muscles haven't atrophied completely.  Photo on Production Photos page.

Saturday-Sunday 2-3 Aug

Participated in TheatreWorks 24-Hour Playwriting Competition.  I will wait for the judges to deliberate before posting my play.

Saturday 2 Aug

Added new plays: Kintaro (The Golden Boy) and Three Japanese Boys, a compilation of the three children's plays.

Thursday 31 July

Finished draft of Kintaro - The Golden Boy  the third in the Japanese Boys trilogy of children's plays.

Tuesday 29 July

Finished another draft of The Prince of Athens West--the American adaptation of Alex Broun's The Prince of Brunswick East. 

Monday 28 July

Uploaded more plays.  Check out the new additions.

Sunday 27 July

Wrote first draft of FINGER FOOD.

 Wednesday 23 July

SHORT+SWEET Singapore Playwright's Lab.  Four plays were presented at the lab including 2 of my own Not So Happy Birthday and As A Gentlemen Would Say.  The other two being Bus Stop and Routine Passage by Richard Lord.  Thanks to all those who attended, especially the actors: Chris Benjamin, Sonny Lim, Liz Leong and Wiggie and to our host, The Arts House.

Monday 21 July

Read The Prince of Athens West my American adaptation of Alex Broun's The Prince of Brunswick East at The Arts House in The Screening Room with Tim Garner and Richard Lord.  Thanks to both of you.