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
Theatre
Tonight is Opening Night
For those in Central Florida, hope you will come to see the play. For those farther away, please say a quick and quiet prayer that it goes all right. Been a long time since I was in quite this type of situation. Tonight is opening night at the Living Drama Theatre in Eustis, Florida for … Continue reading Tonight is Opening Night
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
Some Local Theatre News on World Theatre Day
Sorry I haven't posted of late, been very busy and not looking to let up soon, but will try to post more often. However, I always try to post on World Theatre Day and I have a couple of bits of news on this very special day. My play "Celebrity Divorce" received its world premiere … Continue reading Some Local Theatre News on World Theatre Day
Throwback Thursday – A high school age confession
I have a confession to make. I am, and I do not take this lightly ... my name is Walter and I am a Thespian. Have been for most of my life. While I was interested in theatre from the time of high school I didn't know much about it. I was working on a … Continue reading Throwback Thursday – A high school age confession
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!
Part 3 of an extended Throwback Thursday – Theatrical Network before the internet!
My final installment of a celebration of the anniversary of the opening of the Philharmonic Center for the Arts. The beautiful theater (see my Wednesday post for a photo) could be configured for our exceptional Naples Philharmonic, but also for touring performances of other musicians and Broadway touring productions. From my early days of leading … Continue reading Part 3 of an extended Throwback Thursday – Theatrical Network before the internet!
Throwback Thursday – Part 2 – the opening staff of The Philharmonic Center for the Arts
Following up on the celebration of the anniversary of The Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples, Florida. The building is amazing and the community is great. But the best part of my years at The Phil was my colleagues there. The staff was talented, inventive and fun. I kept a copy of the opening … Continue reading Throwback Thursday – Part 2 – the opening staff of The Philharmonic Center for the Arts
A Triple Throwback Thursday salute to the Philharmonic Center for the Arts
Yes, I know it is Wednesday, give me a minute to explain One of my favorite performing venues in the world is the Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples, Florida. I was part of a terrific team of people who opened the theater thirty two years ago today (November 3, 1989). To celebrate that … Continue reading A Triple Throwback Thursday salute to the Philharmonic Center for the Arts
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
Throwback Thursday and a peculiar game
I worked at Bailey Concert Hall in Fort Lauderdale for a number of years before moving to Naples, Florida to be part of the team that opened the Philharmonic Center for the Arts. My staff threw a best wishes picnic send off on the occasion. Here is a picture from that gathering. You can identify … Continue reading Throwback Thursday and a peculiar game
Happy International Day of Older Persons
Since I have moved back to Florida I am becoming more familiar with the whole concept of older persons and luckily it seems there are plenty of older persons than myself. In celebration I have a story that relates to this international day. Back in 1989 I was part of the team that opened the … Continue reading Happy International Day of Older Persons
Broadway takes a big step forward to returning
The pandemic shutdown of theater in New York was very hard to take for those of us who love the art form. While performers took to streaming, I never warmed to the platform. For some odd reason I enjoy sitting shoulder to shoulder with strangers to watch live performers. Not the best pastime during a … Continue reading Broadway takes a big step forward to returning
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!
A Ramble on Actors Equity Open Access plan
Recently the union of actors and stage managers announced a change in how new members can join Actors Equity. For the next couple of years (and possibly beyond) one must only prove that you were paid in any previous production to get an Equity card. You must still pay initiation fees and dues but the … Continue reading A Ramble on Actors Equity Open Access plan
Throwback Thursday – Who is the mystery celebrity?
Last Thursday I noted I had insisted having my picture taken with one and only one celebrity I have come in contact with in my long career. It is likely few of you guessed correctly. Back in 1986, this gentleman did a show at Bailey Concert Hall when I was the Master Carpenter there... That … Continue reading Throwback Thursday – Who is the mystery celebrity?
Throwback Thursday – the backstage crew at Bailey Concert Hall in 1987
As noted earlier, I finally came a cross a treasure trove of old stuff, so you can be bored by my memories. Watch out, Thursdays will never be the same. On October 12, 1987 I was the Technical Director of Bailey Concert Hall, a road house on the campus of Broward Community College in Fort … Continue reading Throwback Thursday – the backstage crew at Bailey Concert Hall in 1987
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!
Review – Springsteen on Broadway
After a forced shutdown of fourteen months, Broadway is slowly re-awakening and the first eyelid to flicker open is that of a certain Bruce Springsteen. The Boss reanimates his blowout hit of a few years ago, now at the St. James Theatre - "Springsteen on Broadway." This is no arena sing-along event with his fabulous … Continue reading Review – Springsteen on Broadway
Tipping Back to Normal?
During the pandemic lockdown Times Square and the theater district here in New York were a ghost town. Unimaginable before we experienced it. But there are several signs things are getting back to normal. More than half of the Broadway Theaters have announced performance dates starting on September 14 and stretching through the end of … Continue reading Tipping Back to Normal?
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
Walter Thinnes 
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