I have been battling allergies / sinus infection. And I’m finaly starting to feel like my old self again — with the exception of the occasional cough.

It’s been a long ten days. Let’s hope one more night’s sleep will put an end to this respiratory annoyance!

No, I did not shave my head, and no I am not wearing a curly red wig — which means that I am not one of the stars of the show. I’m part of the ensemble. And I’m having a great time. It’s fun to play the lead — or to at least have a whole lot of lines like I did when I played Mercurtio. But it’s also fun (and quite stress-free) to be part of a chorus in a musical. I’m proud that my voice has improved enough over the years so that I can carry a tune and sound half-way decent. I know it sounds humble — but singing has never been one of my strong points, and I’ve always been envious of those who have a talent for it. Of course, thanks to these allergies — my voice is out of whack, so my range is very limited.

But Annie is not the only theater project I have been working on… As a board member of the Canyon Theatre Guild, I volunteered my services and I am directing/chairing the Junior Cabaret event. I’ve written some sketches, cast the show, and we are already about a month into the rehearsal process. It’s called RAINBOW CONNECTION — and as you can guess by the title, there’s a Jim Henson theme to the show. It is a ONE NIGHT ONLY event so save the date: AUGUST 13th starting at 6pm. (I should say, food and mingling starts at 6pm, and the show starts at 7pm).

If you live in the Southern California area, I hope you can come and see either show. Call the Canyon Theatre Box Office for more information: (661) 799-2702

Send me an email at profwade@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

You can pre-order online at Amazon.com or RandomHouse.com.

This humorous picture book will be available in bookstores by February 22nd, 2011. (Only seven months until the eternal questions — Why Do I Have to Make My Bed? — is finally answered!)

You can check out the last five minutes. (By the way, I’m impressed with this guy’s Scottish accent!)

Rough Draft of the Show…

ACT ONE:

#1) Sunshine
(YELLOW GROUP) Little kids with sun-flower headpieces sing “You are my Sunshine” in a very cute, children’s theater sort-of-way. Then the ENTIRE CAST busts into “Walking on Sunshine.”

#2) Storyline Moment: Two kids are fishing. A lost little frog is looking for his mother. The two kids decide to help the frog find his way home.

#3) “Journey to the Past” (SOLO) – During this solo, the kids travel on their journey, looking for the frog’s mother. (Optional – this song could be a TRIO.)

#4) Sketch with Old Man character.

#5) (RED GROUP) Still thinking about this. I’d like them to do something with make-shift drums that leads into the next number:

#6) (ORANGE GROUP) “Upside Down” (by Jack Johnson) – The Orange Group are monkey-like characters.

#7) Storyline moment? Frog and Two Kids pantomime hopping in the pond and swimming.

#8) (GREEN GROUP) “Octopuses Garden” – This can involve some cool puppet creations. The people in tables can be given bubbles to blow to create the underwater illusion, and add to the fun.

#9) (BLUE & PURPLE GROUP) – Undecided Song – I want to do something involving umbrellas. “Singing in the Rain”? Or maybe forget the umbrellas and go for “Moving Right Along” from The Muppet Movie.

#10) DANCE NUMBER – Many cast members, but maybe not all. Song: “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder.

#11) Closing Act One: Glee style “Don’t Stop Believing”? (ENTIRE CAST – SOLO/DUET MOMENTS)

ACT TWO:

#1) (ENTIRE CAST) “Day Dream Believer”? “Over the Rainbow”? Both? (Give Solo Moments to certain performers.)

#2) (YELLOW GROUP) “Keep on the Sunny Side.” (I have a funny bit to go along with this number… But right now it’s a secret.)

#3) Old Man Character (And Maybe Old Woman Character) “When I’m 64”

#4) Undecided Song – (BLUE and PURPLE GROUP)

#5) Storyline Moment / Something involving Frog, Kids and RED GROUP – Song?

#6) (ORANGE GROUP) “Walk Like You” – The monkey characters harass the kids and the frog.

#7) Storyline Moment: The frog find his mother. This leads into “Rainbow Connection” (ENTIRE CAST – BEGINS AS SOLO)

#8) DANCE – ENTIRE CAST. “I Wish” by Stevie Wonder.

Set:

IDEA #1: a simple backdrop that could pass for Kermit’s swamp, or a lush green forest of willow trees.

IDEA #2: Blank stage, fabric hanging down, each piece is the color of the rainbow.

Costumes:

There will be six different groups of performers:

Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple

Each group will have a T-shirt of their groups color. (I think we will need to find a particular place for parents to order these shirts, so they are all the same style/color.)

The rest of the attire is very kid friendly: jeans and tennis shoes (preferably Converse-style, but it doesn’t matter too much.)

There may be a few performers during a sketch or specific number that may wear something different. For example, an old-man costume or a sun-flower hats for the Yellow Group girls.

I will be organizing and directing the Canyon Theatre Guild’s “Junior Cabaret.” I have very big shoes to fill, since Leslie Berra (the genius behind some of CTG’s best shows) has put on the Junior Cabarets of the past.

Interested in auditioning? Here’s the info:

AUDITIONS FOR

Canyon Theatre Guild’s

Annual Junior Cabaret
· “Rainbow Connection”

Seeking singers, actors, dancers, and puppeteers!
(Ages 4 – 17)

Auditions: June 21st and June 22nd (5:00 – 7:30 PM)
Canyon Theatre Guild — “Rehearsal Building”
24242 Main Street in Newhall, CA

Help us create this unique theatrical fund-raising event filled
with music, dance, and imagination.

Performance: August 13th, 2010.
For information: profwade@hotmail.com

If you are wondering why, it’s not because I’m shy. And it’s not because I think my life is boring. I think my life is endlessly fascinating, although I’m guessing a lot of people would find it boring.

The thing is: I write in a good, old fashioned journal. In ink, by hand, with lots of doodles scattered on the page. And that’s where I “talk” about my personal life. To myself, I guess. Someday, when they open up the Wade Bradford museum, these journals will be on display — and the scholars can study them carefully, retracing my every step like a historical detective. But for now, most of my daily life isn’t recorded on this blog.

But I will share you my thoughts on yesterday’s big event. For the first time ever, I threw my wife a surprise party. I had been planning it for over eight months, and I was impressed with the fact that I actually kept it secret. I have a tendency to blab to my wife — she’s my best friend, and it’s very hard for me to keep things from her. But it was worth it to see the expression on her face when all of her friends popped out and surprised her. I rented a nice little courtyard area next to the Canyon Theatre Guild. There were about 30 guests, so it wasn’t too big — just the right size.

Now, I could share all of the descriptive details about the event, and yet, something is pulling me back to my old fashioned journal. So, I think I’ll go talk to that page for now.

Considering I haven’t spent a dime on advertising, sales have been doing pretty well. So far, I have sold 140 copies. I know what you’re thinking — that’s not very much! A best-seller should sell millions of copies. yes, that’s true (you big meanie!). However, “Tomorrow’s Wish” is a play, and a play for younger audiences, no less, so it’s kind of a small market.

But I am thankful for everyone who has purchased the play. And just in case you are interested, dear reader, you can order Tomorrow’s Wish in print for $10 — or if you’re cheap like me — you can download your own copy for less than three bucks!

Hey, if you’ve read the play, why not visit Amazon.com and write a review for me!

Case in point, I just recently learned that there was some controversy surrounding the middle school premiere of my play Promedy. Opening night was supposed to take place on May 5th — but at the last minute the play was canceled by the superintendent as some form of punishment.

You can read the article at the Daily Herald to get more of the dirt.

Apparently, the students were so upset that they went to school the next day in their costumes. They sat on the steps in protest. And apparently enough people complained, and the demands of the young thespians were met. The play was rescheduled. And I believe fun was had by all.

This young man posted a couple YouTube videos which detail the dramatic events as each day unfolded:

And here’s his Vlog about the play’s first performance:

Congratulations, West Chicago Middle School — thanks for launching Promedy!

Well, I’ve made another installment. The Narrator returns to teach us all a lesson about Genre. He begins with just a regular retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but the story soon gets meshed with drama, tragedy, slap-stick comedy, western, sci-fi, and just about any other Genre you can think of.

Look for it this Fall! It will be available at:

www.hitplays.com