Wade Bradford’s Blog

Yes, this week was very long. Why? Well, I’ve been teaching at Moorpark since January… but during the last couple weeks I’ve been at College of the Canyons as well. And this previous week, my semester at Pasadena City College began. Add on top of that a class which I’m subbing. I’ve been teaching four mornings/nights a week — and the days are packed. And my brain is kind of cheesecake. (See? I probably should have said swiss cheese. But I said cheese cake, that’s how loopy I am.)

But it’s been a wonderful week because some of my hard work and patience has started to pay off. I got a glimpse of a sketch dummy of my upcoming picture, “Why Do I Have To Make My Bed?” (A sketch dummy is like an illustrator’s rough draft. Johanna’s artwork looks really cool. Can’t wait to see it in full color! It’s going to be a fun book.

I also sold another play, a one-act comedy to Heuer Plays. (I’ll give you more details on that later — I might decide to change the title.)

And I’ve got another picture book that is showing promise. My editor liked the first draft, but now I’m going to alter the setting and enhance the character development.

Most weeks, I work and write and wait for something to happen. It’s always wonderful when results finally emerge.

One of my projects today: I’m searching for an online writer’s group. In particular, a writer’s group that specializes in picture books, chapter books, and middle grade.

If you know of any — or are interested yourself — let me know! Have a terrific Sunday afternoon!

My friends and editors at Eldridge Plays have been kind enough to select my new play “Promedy” as the feature-of-the-month.

In case you don’t know what Promedy is about, here’s the synopsis:

To prom or not to prom? That is the question! The student body leaders at Lowzund High bicker and argue about various prom themes. They finally decide to combine all of their ideas into one to create a medieval-futuristic-under-the-sea dance. But when self-proclaimed drama-geek, Dante Allegro, is rejected by the arrogant, text-messaging-obsessed cheerleader, he uses his persuasive abilities to cancel the whole event. Now, the noble-hearted student body president, Beatrix Holiday, must come up with a scheme to rescue what she believes is the defining moment in their young lives. To help win back the prom, she must utilize the intelligence of Chester (the school’s resident brainiac), Tanner (the charismatic captain of the football-team), and a brooding, Goth-girl named Lee (who secretly likes Tanner). Mixed-up romantic misunderstandings abound in this laugh-a-minute comedy about that wonderfully stressful event: the prom!

Visit Eldridge Plays today!

I admit it: I’m an egocentric narcissist. I love to Google myself. I also love to skulk around YouTube and see if any of my plays or monologues pop up. Here’s what I found recently:

It’s the first part of my ten minute play, “Romeo Revised.” There’s some directorial changes I might make — and its not how I envisioned the acting. But overall, I think the young performers do a great job. The audience seems to like it, at least.

Enjoy! (Oh, and if you’re interested, you can order the play at Heuer Plays)

My latest play, “CURSE of the PHARAOH’S KISS” is about to receive its second staged reading. The night of the reading is Monday, February 22nd at 7:30pm at the Village Book Shop at 123 N. Glendora Blvd. in Glendora.

The play is the brain child of myself (the humble playwright) and Christofer Sands (an incredibly talented actor who will play the leading role) who inspired me to combine 1930s film noir with some of the key elements of Charles Busch.

Anyone who wants to come and watch the reading is invited. IT’S FREE! And it’s the perfect way to bounce off those Monday blues.

I am lousy at press releases, but Chris just came up with a great blurb about the show. Here it is:

Years ago, Wade was the stage manager of a production of the Christmas musical SCROOGE in which I was playing ‘Scrooge.’ We had rarely seen each other since, but last year (in 2009), he and I were working together as performers on an industrial/computer program/training video when he came up with the concept for the play. I provided a few suggestions to him and his creative and fertile imagination took off… and he wrote one of the funniest plays ever! Knowing my history with drag-type roles and my success with the Charles Busch plays, as well as my 2002 LA Theatre Ovation award win for Lead Actor in a Musical (for playing a woman!), he took off on the idea that I would play the leading lady.

The purpose of the play reading at the book shop is to field audience reaction and to generate interest in a fully produced production…perhaps at the new theatre space proposed in Glendora (although we are in negotiations with the Knightsbridge Theatre in LA at this time).

Remember, February 22nd at 7:30pm at the Village Book Shop at 123 N. Glendora Blvd. in Glendora — hope to see you there!

I recently some questions about Juniper’s character from my latest play, Tomorrow’s Wish. I thought I’d post my response. But first, here’s the question/comment from up-and-coming actress, Grace Painter.

I am performing Junipers wonderful monologue for my A Level drama piece, I have already downloaded the whole play and read it through but i was wondering if there are any extra notes I may have on the character of Juniper, for example where exactly she lives in America and whether or not she has shy moments etc.

This will greatly help me in performing my monologue to the best of my ability and it would be lovely to know all the minor details in order to achieve full marks for my written work as well as practical.

Thank you very much,
Grace Painter

Well, Grace, I imagine that Juniper lives somewhere in Oregon, about 50 miles from the nearest town. I have a Great-Uncle who lives in a tiny town called Monument, Oregon. There’s no cell-phone reception. The one cafe is in someone’s trailer. His ranch — with its horses, goats, barn cats and sheep– is how I picture Juniper’s home.

Megan and Gary don’t live in a thriving metropolis. They live in a typical suburban town — maybe one that has the great outdoors nearby… A place like Klamath Falls, Oregon, perhaps.

However, I don’t mention specific locations in my play because I want students and actors to choose the setting. Some students have given Juniper a southern accent — and that’s fine by me. To me, the characters seem very American — but perhaps they could be British or Irish or who knows!

As to whether Juniper is shy — she’s sometimes around people that obviously don’t understand her. She is not very out-going around Brandi or Mrs. Dunbar, for example. She senses their rudeness and tends to shy away from them.

Although Juniper’s past is gradually revealed in “Tomorrow’s Wish”, there are still many elements about her character that remain a mystery. It’s your job as an actress to develop that character yourself — but I can give you some useful questions to steer you in the right direction.

Why does Juniper believe her mother abandoned her?

How does Juniper spend a typical day on her Grandmother’s ranch?

Has her grandmother been over-protective or appropriately cautious when it comes to raising her grand-daughter?

How does Juniper feel about her special abilities?

Why is Juniper so fond of her cousin Megan? What was their relationship like when they were younger?

Hope this is helpful! Remember, even though I am the playwright, the answers to the questions are your to imagine.

Thanks Grace! Break a leg!

Greetings book lovers.

Here is the first chapters of my latest project, a middle-grade novel about a young William Shakespeare and the cats and rats that live in the theater.

Enjoy, and please tell me what you think of it so far…

Tails of the Old Crow
by Wade Bradford
(c) 2010

Chapter One:

William Shakespeare picked his nose. He did this every time he suffered from writer’s block – which was just about every time he held a quill.
He stared at his hornbook, and the parchment of rough paper that lay blank upon it. Then he let out a long, sad sigh. “Writing is hard,” he groaned. He looked around the empty stage of the Old Crow Theatre. His legs dangled off the edge of the proscenium. His quill was nearly dry, so he dabbed the feather into the inkwell. Finally, his eyes lit up. He knew what to write:

“Act the Furst.”

He was not the best speller in the world.

But William was quite pleased with his penmanship. “Now,” he thought, “what words should come next? What should the play be about?” Then, he realized he needed to begin with a title, and he had a good one. He scribbled:

“King William and the Stinky Ghost Monkeys”

He smiled at his own craftsmanship. It was going to be the best play he had ever written. In fact, it was going to be the very first play he had ever written.

“WILLY!” a gruff voice echoed through the open-aired theater. “Didst thou finish sweepin’ the floorboards?!”

“Yes, uncle,” replied young Shakespeare.

His uncle glared at the boy. He was a thick bodied man with an even thicker beard. William had never seen him without food. Today his uncle clenched a turkey leg in his fist. Well, most of it was in his fist. The rest was in his beard.

“And didst thou clean up the beastly remnants?” His uncle pointed to a pile of bear poop left on the stage.

“I shall fetch it,” he replied.

“You best do!” His uncle walked through the gates of the Old Crow theater, whistling for his hounds.

“What a miserable task for a marvelous mind,” grumbled William. He set down his quill and parchment and tended to the dried bear droppings. It wasn’t long before his mind wandered. Daydreams were the perfect escape from unpleasant chores. William dreamed of someday having a better job working on the stage. But for now he assisted his uncle with the bear-baiting events. He would rather work with the actors who performed exciting tragedies and merry comedies. What would that be like? To have the groundlings peer up at him and the lords and ladies in the expensive seats smile down upon him? But his uncle would never allow that. Bear-baiting made more money. Audiences wanted barking and growling – not speeches and poetry. Yet maybe if he wrote something wonderful enough. Maybe then he would—

Shakespeare stepped in bear-poop. It was a terrible way to snap out of his day dream. As he scraped off his boot at the edge of the proscenium, he felt something – a very small something –poked his leg. He looked down to discover a mouse. It was holding William’s quill. More than holding, it was poking him with the pointy end as though he was trying to get the boy’s attention –

But William assumed that the mouse was trying to attack him.

“Zounds!” gasped the boy. “A beastie!”

The brown mouse calmly set the quill at William’s feet, but since the boy thought that the rodent was going to bite, he stumbled back, knocking over the ink well. A black streak of ink crawled down the front of the stage. Now William was truly in trouble. His uncle would kill him, and then the world’s greatest eight-year-old playwright would never be discovered.

Click here to read more…

Well, it looks like the world premiere of Promedy won’t take place in Queens, New York after all. Unless another school jumps the gun and produces it first, the world premiere will take place at West Chicago Middle School.

So… Promedy will launch in Chicago and then move to New York. That sounds awesome on paper, don’t you think?

Hey everyone — I am very happy to see that a lot of readers are downloading my latest play — “Tomorrow’s Wish.” (The print version is unfortunately a bit pricey at $10 — but remember there’s a very reasonable $3 download available.)

Personally, I think “Tomorrow’s Wish” is a terrific script for teen performers. But for anyone looking for a completely free children’s play, for kids from 8 to 12, you can check out my royalty-free ten minute play: Twelve Angry Pigs. That’s right, it’s a spoof of 12 Angry Men.

I published it at my Plays & Drama GuideSite a few months ago, and I am pleased that it has already popped up on stages and in schools around the world.

Here’s what I’ve found on Google so far:

I believe a private school in Dallas, (”Life School”) was the first one to perform the play.

A middle school in El Paso also performed a “reader’s theater” version of the play. Check out there link and click on the image — I think you’ll be pleased with the students’ pig snouts.

And here’s my favorite: an American teacher in Russia presented the first international production of the play. Apparently, many of the cultural references were lost upon the young Russians. But I guess the kids loved oinking. Read the teacher’s blog here. (The 12 Angry Pigs section is towards the end.)

Hey everybody, I am happy to announce my new play!

“Tomorrow’s Wish” (written by Wade Bradford) is a full-length, three act play which features a popular monologue (”I kissed a boy once…”) by a character named Juniper.

“Tomorrow’s Wish” is was published in January 2010. It is available at:

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/tomorrows-wish/6268146

(The download is only 3 dollars and the print version is $10)

The first act of the play can be viewed at:

www.wadebradford.com/tomorrow.html

Students and actors have permission to perform any scene or monologue from the play. If a school or theater is interested in producing/performing the entire show, send an email to the author: profwade@hotmail.com

You can also check out my recent blog entry about the play. There are some YouTube examples of the monologue that might interest you:

Tomorrow’s Wish: Youtube Monologues

This gives you an idea about her character: trusting, good-natured, innocent compared to most people her age…. and she also has a very special ability. She can grant “temporary wishes.” These wishes come true — but often in unusual ways — and they only last until sunset.

In my original draft, Juniper has a mental handicap — I hadn’t decided if it was down-syndrome or something similar. But as it turned out, her mental disability just didn’t work for what I was trying to accomplish.

So now, in the most recent draft, Juniper is bright but has several learning disabilities — and she’s socially impaired because she spends nearly all of her time with her grand mother on a fair off ranch in the middle of nowhere.

Anyway, to help you with the monologue, here’s what her character goes through:

She wants to be friends with her cousin Megan — but Megan doesn’t like her at first.

When Megan learns that Juniper can grant wishes, she starts to use Juniper.

Eventually, Juniper and Megan become good friends, after Megan experiences guilt for using Juniper’s “powers.”

At the end of the play, they try to get Megan’s parents back together — it works for a while, but then falls apart. Don’t worry, though there’s a happy ending.