Poe: Deep Into That Darkness Peering Poe: Deep Into That Darkness Peering, a play I co-wrote with Mark Rector, is now running at Orlando Shakes. It's a streaming production, so you can watch it from anywhere in the world, and in whatever clothing you'd like. What the Heck It's About In a fury of wild panic, Edgar Allan Poe bursts into a room of trusted friends convinced enemies, who seek to destroy him, pursue him. To save his own life, [...]
I Wrote That? I've been working on a one-act version of "Around the World in 80 Days." With most theatres only streaming productions, I feel shorter plays (no intermission) are going to be more popular. And for years my friend David Emmes has been pushing me to do a one-act version. I'm changing it up a bit from the two-act version, so I went back to the book to look up a few things. I came across this passage from [...]
It's Never Too Crazy To Create Art. Even During a Pandemic. It's official, my friends Michael Fitzpatrick and his husband Greg Ivan Smith have completely lost their minds. They've decided to shoot a feature film. Now. During a pandemic. God love them. Not willing to just hide under their bed covers, Michael and Greg are using this extended period of "postponed employment" to finally shoot the feature version of their award-winning horror short, Remission. So they are driving across the country - [...]
The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge On Demand at Orlando Shakes COVID-19 be damned. My play The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge is full-steam ahead this December at Orlando Shakes in Orlando, FL. I don't need to tell you that COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on the theatre community (and every other community). But after much planning, Orlando Shakes will produce a video-on-demand production of my play. Nothing compares to actually being in a theatre, but these are crazy times and I'd love for you [...]
My Lists of Synonyms. Today It's Poop The other day. Or week. Or month. Hell, time has no meaning to me anymore. I don't leave the house. Someone told me it's August. Sure why not? Anyway, I posted my list of synonyms for vomit. I keep lists of synonyms, mostly for things like sex organs, prostitutes, the act of having sex, poop, etc. You get the idea. Sometimes saying, "I have to poop" works in a script. But I like [...]
My Lists of Synonyms. Today It's Vomit. Some people collect stamps. I collect lists of synonyms. I was working on a script and one of the characters had to say that he was going to throw up. But I thought saying, "I'm going to throw up" didn't fit the character. I needed him to say it another way. Puke, barf, and vomit immediately came to mind but none of them worked for the character. Thesaurus.com helped but I still wanted [...]
I Live For Birthday Freebies There are very few things I like more than getting free stuff. And your birthday is the best time to get a lot of free stuff. It only takes a few minutes to sign up for rewards clubs that will send you birthday freebies. Most are good for your birthday month. Some for a month after your birthday. And some, thank you Jersey Mike's, are good all year. Here's my giant list of places that [...]
Day 2 of My Coronavirus Diary March 17. I've already used 23 rolls of toilet paper. I now regret acting out scenes from The Mummy. I read that a woman bought a gun after seeing all the "chaos at her local Costco, with long lines and people stockpiling goods." Great. That's what we need. We need to be in a real life dystopian action horror film. Oh yes, please, open fire when someone takes the last roasted chicken. What is [...]
My Coronavirus Diary - Day 1 March 16. Lockdown. Everything is closed. Restaurants, stores, schools. "Keep six feet away from people" has been replaced with "don't leave your homes!" Don't go outside! The zombies will get you! Jesus, Mary, and Josephine Baker I'm stressed. I work from home. Now my wife works from home. My daughter is home, "distance learning" with her school. My dogs are unemployed and all they do is lie around all day. Lazy bastards. I'm a [...]
How To Survive Staying At Home During The Coronavirus (Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. And with all of my productions on hold because of the coronavirus, I could use the extra gravy, so thank you in advance) The world has gone crazy. Schools are closing. Sporting events and concerts are canceled. Toilet paper is [...]
