News and Updates

That time when I wrote a play on a city bus? And it got performed the next day? Well now it's published in an amazing anthology. Pittsburgh's own Bricolage is one of the most daring theatres in the country, mounting new and experimental work from emerging and established playwrights. Their annual B.U.S. event (Bricolage Urban Scrawl) brings together some of the city's hottest talent for an all-out creative frenzy. I'm so grateful to be part of this collection. “ This work echoes the true essence and heart of our theater community, and stands as our love letter to the people and place we call home. ” — Tami Dixon & Jeffrey Carpenter (Thank you!)

This evening I stopped by the annual Dramatists Guild Fellows Showcase held at Playwrights Horizons on 42nd Street. I was supporting my fellow CMU writers Edgar Mendoza and Chris Dimond and Michael Kooman , and in the process I saw about twelve other CMU alums. It was great to see the school representing so strongly, and supporting each others work. And the readings were vibrant and engaging. Notably the very funny DG Fellows Katie Baldwin-Eng and Larry Pontius. Cheers to Ms. Lepcio and the team at the Guild for putting on such a top notch event. (And thanks for the snacks afterwards.)

So this week I'm in New York for the 2010 Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama Showcase. This represents the culmination of our efforts at CMU and helps us get introduced to the professional community. We have a good schedule of meetings and events, plus a cocktail party tomorrow night. (If you think you can make it, let me know and I'll get you on the list.) Come meet the future playmakers of the American theatre. WHEN: Wednesday, May 19 from 6:00-9:00 WHERE: Midtown Loft 267 Fifth Avenue (at 29th Street) 11th Floor

I'm thrilled to announce that my new play, BELLHAMMER , will be presented in workshop production at Carnegie Mellon University directed by MFA director Katherine Brook. This play represents my MFA thesis, and should be a rocking time. BELLHAMMER is an epic tale of glory, fame, and the temptations of Television. Set in the world of Christian Professional Wrestling, we follow Sampson Bellhammer, champion wrestler and man of faith, as he does battle against the forces of darkness all around him. Will Sampson fulfill his calling from God to victory over evil, or will the entire universe slip away into utter destruction? When he is tempted by fame and fortune, will he give in, or will he fight? Yup. He's gonna fight. And it's gonna get ugly. WHEN: Wednesday, February 10 @ 8:00 PM Friday, February 12 @ 4:00 PM Saturday, February 13 @ 8:00 PM WHERE: The John Wells Studio Theatre Purnell Center for the Arts CMU School of Drama 4908 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA...

I'm excited to announce a reading of my new full length play, PARADISE KEY, coming up in exactly two weeks. It will be at the CMU School of Drama , on the third floor in the Brown Studio, on Wednesday, April 29th at 6:30 PM. No tickets are required, but you can contact me to learn more.

I'm looking forward to a reading of a new play I'm working on coming up in the next few weeks. The play is tentatively called DEVIL'S KEY, and it will be read at Carnegie Mellon University on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 8:00 PM, somewhere in Purnell Hall. This piece has deviated sharply from its original trajectory, so I'm excited to hear how it sounds. The play takes place in 1951, in the sweaty back room of a U.S. Army safe house on one of the Florida keys. It only has two actors, a younger American investigator, and an older Doctor, who must both solve the mysteries of their pasts, in order to leave the room alive.