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
Theatre
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
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
Beware the Ides of March
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 I have never seen answered. Roman historian Suetonius … Continue reading Beware the Ides of March
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
In Memoriam: Norman Nadel
Norman Nadel passed away on October 25, 2010 - you read that correctly, a decade ago. But ten years ago I didn't have a blog so I wanted to take this opportunity to memorialize a great guy ten years out. I started work at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts (since renamed Artis-Naples) in 1989, … Continue reading In Memoriam: Norman Nadel
When will theater return?
When New York and the the world went into shutdown in mid-March, it seemed impossible that live theater could resume anytime soon. Broadway will certainly not be back very soon as 2021 is the earliest projected date and many shows are setting March and April openings, though these are still subject to change. There is … Continue reading When will theater return?
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”
National Drive-In Movie Theater Day
On this day in 1933 the very first drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey. In the early 1950's there were more than 4,000 across America. That has steadily decreased since then until they are an oddity today. But they are enjoying a bit of a resurgence in interest as COVID-19 has closed indoor … Continue reading National Drive-In Movie Theater Day
Ramble on New York Theatre in the time of COVID
You may have heard that Broadway has just confirmed that The Great White Way will be closed at least until Labor Day and perhaps longer. While disappointing, it is entirely understandable at this point. Until we get this plague under control few people are clamoring to crowd shoulder to shoulder into a building with strangers. … Continue reading Ramble on New York Theatre in the time of COVID
An audio version of one of my plays online
During our city wide stay at home order the theatrical studio co-op I am a member of is posting virtual performances on their Facebook page. I contributed a radio version of one of my most popular short plays "Happy Birthday, Leonard." It was chosen to be broadcast by a Spokane, Washington station several years ago. … Continue reading An audio version of one of my plays online
Walter Thinnes 
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