Wade Bradford’s Blog

Do you ever get the feeling that things are going too well? That you are just too happy for your own good? That’s the way I was feeling all last week.

Why?

Because my children’s book, Why Do I Have to Make My Bed has been finalized. The editing and the proofing is complete. Now it’s off to the printers. And in about six weeks, I will be getting an unbound copy. So, basically, I’ve been feeling ecstatic about that.

And there’s more good news — or perhaps I should say encouraging news. I’ve been talking with another editor about some of my other picture books. We talked for over 45 minutes, going over the different projects I’ve worked on, and he basically gave me a list of things he wanted me to submit. So that’s great news too.

Finally, I got an interview lined up for a full-time position at Moorpark College. I’m sure the competition is going to be tough. But I’m just pleased to have gotten an interview.

Anyway, so that’s what’s been going on with me lately. Usually, when this many things go on, I become worried that life will come crashing down on me. I’m sorta superstitious that way. But last night I had a nightmare that Cheri (my wife) was injured. I woke up startled. And very thankful. As long as I have my family to love and support, I don’t really care how successful I am. I will always be happy because they are in my life.

I can tell by this YouTube video that these kids had a blast. And I can also tell that they have an awesome director. It makes me miss they days when I directed Children’s Theater back at the Yorba Linda Civic Light Opera. Ah, memories!

Sleeping Beauty and the Beast

Thanks, KidsPlay, for putting your heart and soul into theater!

Check out how cool this sounds on paper:

My most recent comedy, “Promedy” premiered in Chicago last month. In June, it makes its New York City debut. And now I have learned that this July, “Promedy” will be headed overseas to England!

Of course, that makes it seem like Promedy is on some sort of world tour. In truth, the show was performed by a Middle School in West Chicago, it is soon to be performed by a high school in Queens, and then a Youth Theater outside of London will be using the play as their summer workshop.

But I’m still incredibly excited! I know that I wrote this show, so I shouldn’t brag about it, but I love the characters in these plays. Beatrix and Dante (yes, I stole their names from the Divine Comedy / Inferno) are scorched in my brain. Even though I finished writing the play months ago, I still think of some of their manic monologues. Here’s a recent one from my YouTube friends:

I do far too much waiting as a writer. I’ve noticed when I send out a manuscript, I then shut down into waiting mode. I know I should be writing other stuff — but instead I just focus on grading papers. So that’s what I’m doing today, grading papers while I wait to hear back about my latest picture book manuscripts.

Every time I grade a batch of papers I think about all of the creative projects I could be working on… And then the grading process takes even longer.

A student in my Moorpark class is an up-and-coming rap artist. So, since we have been discussing poetry, I encouraged him to rap for us — and I decided to write a rap of my own as well. We were both randomly given the same theme: Mousetrap. Here’s my rap…

Since the day I was born in this ratty old nest
I learned very quick that life is one big test
Crawlin’ through a maze a mouse can go crazy
I’d rather chill with the gerbils, get all fat and lazy.
Loungin’ in their cage, crusin in their hampster ball
Not me, I live behind that nasty brown wall.
Livin’ by myself, you know there woulda been others
But my mama was hungry and devoured my brothers.
Ain’t got no water bottle or any other perk
If I want some cheese than I gotta get to work.

So I wake up in the morning and I sniff into the air,
The only thing to smell is the crumbs beneath a chair.
Then I sense an intensely delicious scented breeze
There’s a fragrance in the air and it smells a lot like cheese.

Oh snap! It might be a trap –
But the pleasure of that treasure, well, it hits me like a slap.
Oh crap, it IS a mousetrap.
It’s right there placed with care at the bottom of the stairs.

I tell myself “NO”, I just gotta go,
But the cheese sees through me like a glass window.
It smells like cheddar, man, what could be better?
No, it smells like swiss – Kraft Macaroni and Bliss.
Oh man I gotta stop this.
It smells like Velveeta, I just gotta eatta!
It smells like provolone, now leave me alone.
That trap’s gotta clap that’ll snap ev’ry bone,
But I’m a gredy little, cheesy little Al Capone.

I bet if I’m slick, if I’ma double fast quick,
I could trigger the trap with a Mickey Mouse trick.
I’ma trigger the trap and grapple the cheese,
Then I’ll nibble away the day with ease.
I’m gonna do it on the count of three,
But first you better all clap along with me.

Oh snap, can you hear me rap?
Oh snap, we’ll I’m gonna trick the trap.
One – Two – Three
Ouch.
Epic fail. I Lost my tail.

Darn… I lost my third Oscar Pool in a row.

Two years ago, my wife won our Oscar pool. That wasn’t so bad because I gave her a few tips. But last year, I lost again — this time to a friend. And this year I lost yet again. I guess I’m losing my touch. I used to win the Oscar Pool at least once every two years.

Maybe I need to stop wasting time working and raising a family and more time watching countless movies. Oh, no wait. I’m actually making a good, responsible decision. Oh well, I guess I’ll stick to being a good Dad and Husband… even if it means I don’t win by gambling on the Academy Awards.

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!

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!