A Thesaurus is a valuable tool for a writer. But look up the word Thesaurus in a Thesaurus and it is difficult to describe briefly. Yes it is an assembly of synonyms and antonyms but there is no other good single other word for the book. They toss around terms like "treasury of words" and … Continue reading National Thesaurus Day
Playwriting
“Happy Birthday, Leonard” to be mounted in Sarasota
My short play "Happy Birthday, Leonard" will be part of the Theatre Odyssey Seventeenth Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival in Sarasota, Florida. There will be three evening shows from Thursday, June 9 - Friday, June 11 at 7:30 PM. There will also be a matinee at 2 PM, Sunday, June 12. I will be at that … Continue reading “Happy Birthday, Leonard” to be mounted in Sarasota
My play in a classroom
Recently I had a request from an undergraduate student at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. She had found one of my plays on the website http://www.newplayexchange.org. I have only a few of my play scripts up there and need to find time to post more. It is my first experience in a stranger … Continue reading My play in a classroom
A pleasant surprise production…
Waaaay back in July (that seems a long time ago) I posted about a coming performance of one of my short plays scheduled in August in Fredericksburg VA. That was a busy time as we moved to Florida in August and so I could not schedule myself in to see the event. When I checked … Continue reading A pleasant surprise production…
In Memoriam – Stephen Sondheim
The news of the passing of Stephen Sondheim filled me with joy. Not because he died, I'm sorry the world is without him. But because the great joy he gave me as the greatest composer and lyricist of the American stage. He constantly expanded and challenged the music theater art form and we are forever … Continue reading In Memoriam – Stephen Sondheim
CELEBRITY DIVORCE is shortlisted in Dubai!
My recent ten-minute play CELEBRITY DIVORCE has been shortlisted for the Short+Sweet Festival in Dubai, United Arab Emirates! This means that the script is a finalist and that participating directors will select plays from the group to present in the festival that will be presented between January and March in 2022. Of course the same … Continue reading CELEBRITY DIVORCE is shortlisted in Dubai!
Three Reviews I Won’t Be Writing
When I lived in New York City I reviewed every play I saw, and that was quite a lot. I was lucky to be able to acquire inexpensive tickets (sometimes reviewer freebies) to a large number of events. Because theater in New York is big business and theater talent is concentrated there, I had high … Continue reading Three Reviews I Won’t Be Writing
Dual Citizenship, here I come Florida, ready or not
You may or may not have heard but I am pulling up roots and moving to the state of Florida. I have lived in New York City for more than 23 glorious years and first fell in love with it when I visited when I was just 17 years old. As I was originally born … Continue reading Dual Citizenship, here I come Florida, ready or not
Orlando’s Playwrights Round Table will present one on my scripts in January!
I am thrilled to announce that the Playwrights Round Table in Orlando, Florida will present my short play CELEBRITY DIVORCE in their LAUNCH Festival in January 2022. I'll be sharing more details as they become available and can't wait to see it performed! Watch this space for more news. As always you can find more … Continue reading Orlando’s Playwrights Round Table will present one on my scripts in January!
Stagedoor Productions will feature one of my plays!
Stagedoor Productions in Fredericksburg, Virginia will feature my short play "2020 - A Perfect Year for Magical Thinking in their 14th Annual One-Act Play Festival. Performances will be August 12 and 13 at 7 PM and August 14 and 15 at 2 PM and 7 PM. They did another of my plays "Muse" a number … Continue reading Stagedoor Productions will feature one of my plays!
The Reluctant Prophet is a semi-finalist!
My recently completed full length script "The Reluctant Prophet" has received its first recognition - it is a semi-finalist in the New Works Festival at the Garry Marshall Theatre in Burbank, California. I'm very excited about this award and hope it moves further in the process. Five scripts will be selected as finalists in August … Continue reading The Reluctant Prophet is a semi-finalist!
Shortlist for Short Plays Down Under
Short+Sweet Play Festival is a franchise of sorts that started in Sydney, Australia. There are Short+Sweet Festivals in Hollywood, Dubai, Singapore and a number of other cities. A judging committee selects a "shortlist" of short plays and distributed them to a group of directors who choose one or several, cast them, rehearse them, and present … Continue reading Shortlist for Short Plays Down Under
World Theatre Day 2021
Happy World Theatre Day after a full year with no theatre. I can't tell you how much I have missed it. I've tried several screening options but it never filled the void. It was fine but so are movies and television. What I love is to sit shoulder to shoulder with total strangers to absorb … Continue reading World Theatre Day 2021
Final Weekend to catch my online plays in the safety and comfort of your home
I am very fortunate to have two my short plays streaming online this weekend that you can get tickets to. My popular HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEONARD is part of the Barrington Stage Company's 10th Annual 10x10 New Play Festival and you can get tickets at: https://barringtonstageco.org/10x10-new-play-festival-2021/ And my very recent short play 2020 - A PERFECT … Continue reading Final Weekend to catch my online plays in the safety and comfort of your home
My Recent Short Play is now available OnDemand for a limited time!
I hope you caught my recent short play - 2020 - A Perfect Year for Magical Thinking - when it was streamed last month as part of the Old Library Theatre's 10th Annual One-Act Play Festival. If you didn't and want to watch it (or just want to watch it again!) you're in luck! The … Continue reading My Recent Short Play is now available OnDemand for a limited time!
One of my short plays will be streamed by Barrington Stage Company
Wanted you to know that my short play “Happy Birthday, Leonard” was selected to be performed and streamed in The Barrington Stage Company’s Tenth Annual 10x10 New Play Festival. The Festival will have ten performances and be streamed March 11-14 and March 18-21 (starts on Thursday!). Barrington Stage is an award winning and important regional theater … Continue reading One of my short plays will be streamed by Barrington Stage Company
Opening Night for the Old Library Theatre 10th Annual One-Act Play Festival
It is hard to find fresh theatre events during this pandemic. As a playwright, pickings are thin but I submitted my recent short play, 2020 - A Perfect Year for Magical Thinking to the Old Library Theatre in Fairlawn, New Jersey. 107 scripts were received and 12 finalists were selected. The theatre gave those dozen … Continue reading Opening Night for the Old Library Theatre 10th Annual One-Act Play Festival
Tickets for the Old Library Theatre production of my short play…
I'm afraid I've been a baaaaad blogger. Been busy personally and also spent some time writing plays. I've not even found the time to read other blogs I enjoy, so will try to make more time for that as well. Meanwhile information has been released for for the live streaming production of my short play … Continue reading Tickets for the Old Library Theatre production of my short play…
One of my short plays is in the 10th Annual Barrington Stage 10×10 Festival
I am thrilled to announce that my short play "Happy Birthday, Leonard" will be included in the Barrington Stage Company 10x10 New Play Festival. Barrington Stage in Pittsfield, Massachusetts is a major regional theatre of great renown. I couldn't be more happy. The festival will be streamed which means even if you are not close … Continue reading One of my short plays is in the 10th Annual Barrington Stage 10×10 Festival
My newest short play will have a performance in February 2021!
A few weeks ago I noted that my new play "2020 - A Perfect Year for Magical Thinking" was a finalist for The Old Library Theatre's 10th Annual One Act Play Festival in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. My script was one of a dozen plays selected from 107 submitted. The producer made those twelve scripts … Continue reading My newest short play will have a performance in February 2021!
It is difficult to be a writer in today’s world
I'm working on several projects at the moment. But I have a nagging fear how they will be received. Let's imagine I am writing about a sitting president who sends his personal attorney to give a press conference disputing election results in Pennsylvania. And for the sake of argument, perhaps this sitting president sends a … Continue reading It is difficult to be a writer in today’s world
My newest short play is a finalist in New Jersey
I am thrilled to announce that my (very recently completed) short play 2020 - A PERFECT YEAR FOR MAGICAL THINKING has been selected as a finalist for the Old Library Theatre's 10th Annual One Act Play Festival in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. There were 107 plays submitted and 12 were selected as finalists. By late … Continue reading My newest short play is a finalist in New Jersey
National Frozen Custard Day
For those unaware, Frozen Custard is enhanced soft serve ice cream. By adding egg yolks to the recipe it becomes smoother, keeps colder, and for my money is far tastier. Today's national day comes with a dollop of an embarrassing story about me. I lived in Pittsburgh for just two years, but enjoyed it very … Continue reading National Frozen Custard Day
In Memoriam – John Lewis
It was a great loss to the world when Civil Rights Icon John Lewis passed away Friday night. He was called to the movement early in life and accomplished more than nearly any other man in that pursuit during his 80 year lifespan. He was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington and the … Continue reading In Memoriam – John Lewis
Playwright pitch for “The Rally”
I've never tried to pitch an idea for a new play on my blog. So I'm hoping that lots of my readers are theatre or film producers. You are, right? I'm guessing this would work better as a cinema release than a theater script. The setup: Imagine a time when a populist politician has won … Continue reading Playwright pitch for “The Rally”
Walter Thinnes 
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