March 27 is World Theatre Day and as a playwright I have two events in 2024 I am looking forward to. I've featured them on this blog and my playwright website, so a quick reminder. I have written a new short play under the guidance of The Pulp Stage in Portland, Oregon. Written in the … Continue reading Upcoming World Theatre Day Highlights
Author: walterthinnes
A.I. Mashup of three cute National Days
I just can't quit. So, today is National Puppy Day, National Chips and Dip Day, and National Quilting Day. What would happen if I asked Gemini (nee Bard, from Google) to create an image of these three days? Voila... Yeah, I know, cute. But I have news for Google. I'm not sure one of those … Continue reading A.I. Mashup of three cute National Days
An Interesting Playwriting Exercise
Recently I was contacted by The Pulp Stage, (www.pulpstage.org) a theatre company based in Portland, Oregon. They had read one of my short plays on The New Play Exchange and wanted to offer me an agreement to write a new short play with them. The pay was only a small royalty, but they would work … Continue reading An Interesting Playwriting Exercise
…The end of your rainbow
Happy St. Patrick's Day. May you find all you wish at the end of your rainbow.
AI Mashup on the start of March Madness
Here I go again. I just can't seem to stop myself. So, Today is the first Saturday of the hoops mania that is March Madness. That means it also National Corndog Day. And this year they both fall on National Panda Day. So here goes the Gemini Mash Up free image of the whole shebang. … Continue reading AI Mashup on the start of March Madness
the Ides of March are back again
A slightly reworded post of several years ago... The story of the assassination of Julius Caesar is familiar worldwide as it has been featured in art and plays and popular culture in the ensuing two millennia since it happened. It is part of the collective history most of us know. But I have a question … Continue reading the Ides of March are back again
Spring Breakout – Another Gimmick from MLB
Sports leagues have to keep finding hooks and gimmicks to get our attention as if the games itself were not enough. This year MLB is staging a number of "Spring Breakout" events that pit one team's rookie prospects against another. Luckily my Cincinnati Reds have plenty 'o prospects and are featured in two such events. … Continue reading Spring Breakout – Another Gimmick from MLB
Quick Ramble on Joey and Noelvi
Cincinnati Reds Spring Training rumbles on with two notable exceptions. Lifelong Reds Joey Votto's option was not picked up for the season and he has been forlornly missing Spring Training in a classic series of posts on social media. When it became clear he would not be invited by our management as a player this … Continue reading Quick Ramble on Joey and Noelvi
My script will get a reading in North Carolina in September!
The Parkway Playhouse of Burnsville, North Carolina has selected my script BLOODLETTING IN THESE HILLS to be part of their 2024 Appalachian Playwriting Festival in September. Three scripts will get a staged reading open to the public and one of those will be given a fully staged production in a following season. The Parkway Playhouse … Continue reading My script will get a reading in North Carolina in September!
An Artificial Intelligence Still Life
I know that I've gone a little overboard by assembling AI mash ups of National Days where I start with an animal and team it up with a couple of food National Days for a silly visual. It has been fun and a diversion but I tried something different lately. I realized that today was … Continue reading An Artificial Intelligence Still Life
National Dress in Blue Day and a minor mash up
The first Friday in March is National Dress in Blue Day which raises awareness about the causes and treatments for colon cancer. An important and serious day but not one I can't corrupt with an artificial intelligence mash up of other concurrent National Days. As it happens March first is also National Pig Day and … Continue reading National Dress in Blue Day and a minor mash up
Artificial Intelligence mangles three more National Days for our new series
In keeping with my new diversion I have found three unrelated National Days and asked Google Gemini (formerly Bard) to mash up an image of the three into one silly visual. Today is National Polar Bear Day, National Kahlua Day and National Strawberry Day. Shake them all together and you get... Yep, pretty silly, but … Continue reading Artificial Intelligence mangles three more National Days for our new series
Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Games start this afternoon
Fly the flag high and start the games. Spring Training games commence today as the Reds take on the Cleveland Guardians. Still a long while to season opening. But this is a necessary first step. Go Reds! Elly and company will be there. Joey Votto will not but it is my strong wish that he … Continue reading Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Games start this afternoon
Reflecting on my favorite Spring Training Kitty Cat
With the most hopeful Spring Training of recent Cincinnati Reds history I am reminded of their most illustrious feline fan. Yes, my favorite cat of all time, Macaroon. Celebrating him today on his birthday (litter day?) hmmm... Quick reminder of his back story. When my then wife's friend's cat had a litter we stopped by … Continue reading Reflecting on my favorite Spring Training Kitty Cat
I finally caught it…
By "it" I mean COVID -19 though I have lost count of all the variations. I had avoided it all this time, but must admit I have not gotten the latest booster which was not quite available when I got my flu shot. I should have. Can't be sure but the last mass gathering I … Continue reading I finally caught it…
Spring Training Gets Underway
Today is the date pitchers and catchers must report to the Cincinnati Reds Spring Training site in Arizona. The first workouts will commence tomorrow. Position players report next week and the first Spring Training game happens later this month. Thank goodness baseball season is here. The Reds acquired some good players this offseason and carry over one of the … Continue reading Spring Training Gets Underway
National Football Hangover Day
Well, the most recent Super Bowl is over. Today's National Day is partly based on the fact that an estimated 14 million Americans will call in sick on today, the Monday morning after the big game. Sounds a little suspicious but what ya gonna do? Another theory for the day is that the professional football season is over … Continue reading National Football Hangover Day
Happy Chinese (Lunar) New Year
The traditional Chinese New Year happens later than usual this year because it is based on a lunar calendar so I wondered if the timing had any insight into the winner of tomorrow's Super Bowl. Hmmmm, would a Dragon prefer a win by the 49's or the Chiefs? Not sure there is angle here. Okay, time for a … Continue reading Happy Chinese (Lunar) New Year
Yet Another A.I. National Day Mash-up
Just a quickie of me combining odd National Days and asking Google's Bard program to mash them together in an image. Today is National Frozen Yogurt Day, a product first introduced in 1970. Today is also National Chopsticks Day, a product first introduced in 1200 BCE. Not much in common here, but let's mash up the images. Your … Continue reading Yet Another A.I. National Day Mash-up
A “Happy Birthday, Leonard” Update
As I told you recently, my short play "Happy Birthday, Leonard" will receive a performance in central Connecticut on February 17. Just got some updated information and wanted to pass it along. Crappy Valentine's Day After the annual commercial push to buy chocolate and flowers in the name of a long-dead saint, join Theater Makers Lab … Continue reading A “Happy Birthday, Leonard” Update
An A.I. Visualization of several National Days
It's Groundhog Day. Again. I've done Groundhog Day posts on this blog twice before, in 2023 and in 2018. I even did a review of the Broadway musical "Groundhog Day" in 2017. You can find them if you are really interested by using the Search field on this page. I have nothing new to add this year. So what to do … Continue reading An A.I. Visualization of several National Days
How am I doing on my New Year’s Resolution?
A month into 2024 I took a look at my New Year Resolution to double down on my writing. I was unintentionally clever to make my promise on efforts and not results. Yes, I have doubled down on my writing. While I have increased my recent blog posts, they don't come everyday. I have such a back history of … Continue reading How am I doing on my New Year’s Resolution?
In Memoriam – Chita Rivera
The Broadway stage lost one of its greatest stars when Chita Rivera passed away at the age of 91. I was very fortunate to see her in a number of classic Broadway productions. The very first Broadway show I ever saw was the original production of the musical "Chicago" back in 1976 which featured Chita Rivera, Gwen … Continue reading In Memoriam – Chita Rivera
A Production of “Happy Birthday, Leonard” in Connecticut
I'm thrilled to announce that a production of my short play "Happy Birthday, Leonard" has been scheduled for a theatre in Middletown, Connecticut. On Saturday, February 17 the Theater Makers Lab will present an evening of short plays under the title of Crappy Valentine Festival. They are still putting together the production team and marketing for the … Continue reading A Production of “Happy Birthday, Leonard” in Connecticut
On this date – the Longest Shootout in FBI History…
On the shore of Lake Weir, in the small town of Oklawaha in Central Florida, near where I currently reside, is a most amazing house. This simple wood frame home was the site of the longest gun battle in FBI history on this date, January 16, 1935. It is remarkable because it is in much the same … Continue reading On this date – the Longest Shootout in FBI History…
Walter Thinnes 
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