Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Once more unto the breach: The Mighty San Miguel Playwrights Winter Showcase 2017


My stepmother was a high school English teacher; and it’s probably the single biggest reason why I became a writer.  Not because she necessarily encouraged me to do so, to this day I still have serious problems with grammar and spelling, it was that from time-to-time she found what I wrote to be extremely interesting.

So, though mechanics are important, good writing needs a soul.  Mark Twain said, “I don’t give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way,” and when Shakespeare boxed himself into a writer’s dilemma he simply made words up, over 1700 in fact.  Ordinarily, writing is a chore but inspired writing is a gift; and starting on Friday January 13 at 7pm through Sunday January 15, 2017, the mighty San Miguel Playwrights offer their gifts in the form of nine original plays on the stage of the San Miguel Playhouse.

Limbo Land  by Chris Kapilla 
Since moving to San Miguel Chris has deeply enjoyed exploring improvisation (with The Improv People), studying Shakespeare, learning to be an actor, and now playwriting.  Limbo Land is his first effort to be staged.

8th Floor by Lauren Osornio
Lauren has long acted and directed in community theaters in Florida and Massachusetts.  Always wanting to try something new, she has recently given her hand to writing plays.

California Girls by Bill Gallacher
Bill has acted in local productions of Pinter’s “Betrayal” and had the lead role in Shakespeare’s “Richard III”.  His playwriting CV also includes adapting (and directing) David Mamet’s “Glen Garry Glen Ross” for an all-female cast.

My Bench by Lia Gladstone

Lia, a prolific playwright, has penned more than 20 pieces.  Prior to this effort, her most recent theater outing was a staged reading in November 2016 of Mrs. Cheney Goes to Pretoria at the Mendocino Theater Company in Mendocino, California. 

The Doll by Tasha Paley

Spending her time between San Miguel and Brooklyn, New York, Tasha has passionately pursued her theatrical participation as an actor, writer, storyteller, improviser, and teacher of Playback Theater.  A painter and a poet, she has also worked as a creative arts therapist and has authored and illustrated children’s books.

Remember Me by Kathy Simandl

Kathy is a published fiction writer and award-winning photographer.  Now, focusing her artistic talents on playwriting, she’s produced her first effort for stage.

Dead Weight by David Temple

David has been a member of the Playwrights Unit at HB Studios in New York since 1999.  His play from last year's San Miguel Playwrights Winter Showcase, Trade Secrets, has been chosen for a full production in the 2017 Diez Minutos Festival in March.

Customer Service by Dennis Lanson

Dennis has spent most of his working life combining personal documentary filmmaking with teaching film at the college level.  He has directed and produced one Indie feature, Pitstop.  Additionally, he’s worked commercially in the film industry as a documentary editor and producer/writer of film trailers.

Doggone by Marilyn Bullivant

Perhaps better known for the satirical skits she writes for the Literary Cabaret, Marilyn has also had two full length plays produced in San Miguel and in Canada.



Wednesday, October 5, 2016

We have choices!

The problem with Donald Trump is that he sucks up all the attention in this race.   Granted, Orange Julius is a lot of fun but there are hundreds of other presidential candidates.  

So, in the interest of fairness and the American way, Politics1.com (http://www.politics1.com/p2016.htm) lists everyone seeking the house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  Below is just a sample of what America has to offer, literally something for everyone.

First, there’s Ricky Joe “Average Joe” Story, an Independent from Florida.
He’s a little too heavy on the Christianity angle, which will probably make it tough to pick-up the non-Christian vote (as well as the vote from most rational people).  http://www.theaveragejoeforpresident.com/

And thank you California, Zoltan Istvan the Trans-humanist candidate has thrown his hat in the ring.  Among other amazing things, his platform calls for the US to sponsor the first Trans-humanist Olympics.  I hate to break the news but you’re late on that one, Michael Phelps has been competing for years.  And one more thing Zoltan, is that your name, really?  http://zoltanistvan.com/

Then, faster than a speeding bullet, comes Paul “Superman” Falkenberg, the  Independent from Wisconsin.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a website but does he really need one? After all, he’s Superman - damn it.

Saving us from our sins is Jim Hedges representing the Prohibition Party from Pennsylvania.  Prohibition, yeah, let’s vote for something that we know doesn’t work – just like we’ve done so many times before.  http://www.hedgesandbayes2016.org/

Next up is Temperance Lance-Council representing the Anti-Hypocrisy party from California.  It appears she is all about promoting herself on twitter.  Hmm, sounds like someone else I know.  https://twitter.com/LanceCouncil



Thomas Keister from Indiana, is running for president on the US Marijuana Party platform.  Surprisingly, his “weed for the people” website actually makes some good arguments.  http://www.usmjparty.com/

Joe Exotic
Oklahoma sends its favorite son, the Independent Joseph “Joe Exotic” Maldonado.  He has unusual hair and a platform with a “thing” about animal rights people; hence the nickname, I guess.  http://www.joeexotic2016.com/

And rounding out this sample is Princess Kadijah Jocob Fambro representing the Revolutionary Party of California.  John Adams would be happy; finally, some royalty in the White House.  http://www.slaveryends2016.com/



   Can't wait until November.