News and Updates

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.

Wow. I am thrilled to announce that LOSING SLEEP has won the 2008 Helford Prize from Jacksonville University . This prestigious award carries with it the possibility of production at JU, as well a $10,000 cash prize. Following up the New York reading, LOSING SLEEP continues to get great responses, and I'm always pleased with how well the piece is received. Hopefully this new award will underscore the power of this story to reach all types of audiences. UPDATE : Since this prize was announced, a few press outlets have picked up the story: North Florida Daily News The State Newspaper The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

So I have a reading of a full length play LOSING SLEEP coming up on Monday, November 9, 2008. This reading is being held by a group called Ten Grand Productions known for their independent and imaginative reworkings of big stories (like the Titanic.) While SLEEP isn't necessarily a Titanic event, it does have a lot of room in it for interpretation. I'm excited to see where they take it. The reading is open to the public, but I'd contact them first to check on tickets and availability.

Just in case you didn't know that time sneeks away from us like a cow-tipping thirteen-year-old after midnight, yes, this month Cait and I are headed to our 10th college reunion. We both graduated from the inimitable Wheaton College (IL), and we're excited about going back and seeing some "old" friends. I have to admit that I have been thankful many times for my "Wheaton education" (eh, Auggie?) Our theatre group, called Workout, made it clear to me that art is a spirtitual journey. Of course, when I'm rich and famous, I'm still gonna build them a new theatre. With a big bust of your truly out front.

I figured I should report on grad school here at Carnegie Mellon . It's great. It's tough. But it's great. I'm taking a full course load, which doesn't leave as much time for writing as one might desire (actually, it's the "free" time that gets used up.) But my classmates are phenomenal, always challenging me to do better, and our professor, Milan Stitt, is a wealth of wisdom. The best in the business. Without getting too sappy about it, I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to be here, and I look forward to seeing how I turn out.

My 10-minute play, JOY OF COOKING, has been selected for the Actors Theatre of Santa Cruz "Best of the Rest" short play competition. It will receive a reading in spring 2009, along with a few other coice morsels. JOY OF COOKING is the hilarious story of a woman who must learn to cook in one night, or risk losing her marriage and maybe her sanity.

First off, let me say that I dig Pittsburgh. It's great. It's a well kept secret of urban hipness and theatrical creativity. We've already enjoyed a few productions, and I'm getting to know the community a little. And I had a chance to schmooze with the vibrant local chapter of the Dramatists Guild. (And lest you think that this is all I do, we also took in a Steelers pre-season game, got the cable installed, and have mostly unpacked.) If you're not familiar with the numerous professional theatre companies, check out the following: Pittsburgh Public Pittsburgh Playwrights City Theatre Quantum Bricolage Irish and Classical Open Stage Etc., etc. It's not a huge community, but there's enough going on to keep people busy. And I'm glad to be a part of it.