Sneak Peek #1

Alright, so to help get people interested in my play, I have decided to post scenes every once in awhile from my play. This first scene is from the second scene of the first act and is between Fred and Kristy (it's only PART of the second scene.) Enjoy!

Scene ii

(Curtain opens on a messy house. There are papers everywhere, and it is almost impossible to move around without stepping on them. There is a window on a wall UPSTAGE and a door UPSTAGE RIGHT. A desk is sitting stage LEFT with a pile of papers, and an open notebook. A telephone sits on the desk as well. There is a couch CENTER and a “hallway” stage RIGHT and stage LEFT. The “hallway” on stage LEFT leads to the front door of the house. A trashcan is overflowing stage RIGHT, and the telephone is ringing as the curtain opens. ENTER KRISTY LEFT. She is carrying a folder and, upon hearing the phone, rushes to it to answer.)

KRISTY:
DuWright’s playwright service, this is Kristy Lambent speaking how may I help you? (Beat.) Oh! Mr. Callaway, how nice to hear from— (Beat.) Yes, I understand, but you have to realize that— (Beat.) Mr. Callaway not everything can be done on time. (Beat.) No I am not suggesting that you are not worth— (Beat.) How much longer? Let me see real quick for you. (She rummages through the papers on the desk until she comes upon a thick packet of paper. She rifles through it quickly and flips to the end.) Well he’s almost done; I’d say another three days or so? (Beat.) Uh-huh. Well, if you’d like, I can guarantee you for up to four days. (Beat.) Yes, I understand. (Beat.) That’s right, one hundred percent free. (Beat.) Mmm-hmm, no problem Mr. Callaway. We’ll expect to hear from you then. (Beat.) You too. Have a nice day. (She hangs up the phone.)

(KRISTY looks around the room and rolls her eyes as she puts down her notebook and begins to pick up the mess of papers. She begins to get irritated when she finds clumps of gum sticking many of them together. Just when she is about to get everything in order, the phone rings again. She sighs heavily and picks it up.)

KRISTY:
DuWright’s playwright service, this is Kristy Lambent speaking how may I help you? (Beat.) Mr. Tistal, what a nice surprise! How did that play turn out for you? I heard that it— (Beat.) Oh, it did? Well I’m terribly sorry that I— (Beat.) What do mean ‘I should be’? (Beat.) Oh, really? And what did the reviews say? (Beat.) And how is that our fault, Mr. Tistal? You were the one who casted them, not us! (Beat.) Well if that’s how you feel Mr. Tistal, then maybe you should find someone else who’ll put up with your bloated head and arrogant attitude! (Beat. She gasps.) Well, you too! Except I hope you enjoy it! (She hangs up the phone.)

(KRISTY leans on the desk, exasperated. The phone rings again. Almost without thinking she picks it up and then quickly hangs up. She gets back to picking up the papers in front of the couch when FRED ENTERS from the door UPSTAGE RIGHT. He rushes in the room in a hurry carrying a black portfolio and, without even noticing KRISTY, rushes to the desk where he begins searching through the drawers for something. After a couple of seconds he stops and scratches his head as he looks at the desk.)

FRED:
Huh! Where’d all my papers go?

(Kristy clears her throat.)

FRED:
Oh! Kristy! (He rushes over and pecks her on the head.) Do you know where all my papers— (He notices the pile in her hand and the neat stack on the floor.) Aw, Kristy! I had everything all neat and organized!

KRISTY:
Are you kidding me?!

FRED:
No...

KRISTY:
This place was a complete mess! Nothing was where it was supposed to be! I couldn’t even walk without stepping on a piece of paper! And the papers that were together were gross. (She holds up a clump that is stuck together.) Look: gum.

FRED:
Heh. I knew I left that somewhere.

KRISTY:
Ugh! Fred, when are you going to learn to keep everything orderly?

FRED:
I do! I knew where everything was. It was organized in...my own way. So really if you think about it, you messed— (She looks hard at him.) You made it even better! I like better. Better is good. (Beat.) But can “better” help me find my notepad? I came up with this new idea, and I could’ve sworn that I wrote it down on my notepad.

KRISTY:
(Ignoring him and continuing to stack the papers.) Jonathan Callaway called.

FRED:
That’s nice. Notepad?

KRISTY:
He says he’s feeling that you’re not taking your job seriously.

FRED:
Mmm-hmm. It’s a pad, with notes in it.

KRISTY:
(She begins filing the papers in the desk drawers.) He’s giving you four days to finish his play before he cuts the deal.

FRED:
(Following KRISTY.) Right, four days. Got it. (Hand outstretched.) Note...pad. (Pause. He sits there with his hand outstretched and stare at KRISTY until he comes to realization.) Wait! Four days?!

(KRISTY picks up her folder from off of the desk and walks back to the couch, where she sits down and begins reading its contents. The CALLAWAY play is still in her hand as well.)

KRISTY:
(She is toying with him now, enjoying his predicament.) That’s right, four days. It’s a shame too, I heard writing plays for a living is so time consuming. To bad you don’t have six months. (Beat.) Oh! Wait! You did, didn’t you? But that can’t be right! If you had six months to write a play then you’d be busy doing that before anything else, wouldn’t you?

(FRED pulls his hand through his hair and drops onto the couch.)

FRED:
Four days? Four days? Four days!

KRISTY:
Yes Fredrick; four days.

FRED:
Uh. I am almost done. So it shouldn’t take me too long to finish it. I could just pull one of my ending ideas and wrap it up by tomorrow...

KRISTY:
(Smiling and looking up at him lovingly.) You have no idea what to do, do you?

FRED:
(Smiling.) Nope, nothing. And you?

KRISTY:
Are you asking me for help?

FRED:
Yes’m.

KRISTY:
I don’t know how much I’d be able to help you. I’m not that great at writing. That’s why you do it, not me.

FRED:
Oh, come on Kristy! You always help me when I need you. I don’t something like this is too difficult. Besides, you’ve helped me out of much worse situations. Right? (He kisses her forehead.)

KRISTY:
(Sighs and closes her folder.) Fine. What’s happening in the play?

FRED:
(Getting over-excited.) Well, the hero is pushed to his limits and wants to do what’s right. But there’s a catch. The hero has to either kill himself, or let the villain kill his best friend. What does he do?

KRISTY:
(Playfully and jokingly.) Well...I think that the hero’s girlfriend should come in and stop the villain to save the day! Just a thought.

FRED:
(Also playful.) Right...the girlfriend that’s not just a girlfriend? The one who’s helped the hero through thick and thin? (Beat.) That’s actually a great idea! Thanks! (He grabs the CALLAWAY play from her and EXITS hurriedly through the door UPSTAGE RIGHT.)

Keep checking back for more! Thanks!

Attention Hamilton High School

For those of you from Hamilton Theatre, please review the character biographies, track list, and "wish" cast list carefully. I am open to feedback, and am willing to change my "wish" cast list based on others opinions (the current one was devised by Peter and myself). PLEASE leave comments (by clicking on the "comments" button on the bottom of each post), it will greatly help my efforts. If you have a Hotmail, or Google account you can sign in with your name to leave comments, and if you do not you can sign in as "anonymous". Even if the comments are simple, please leave some so that I can know how everyone feels. Also, note that this project WILL NOT be excruciatingly long, and that the Musical is only two acts. Thanks for your guys' support, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Wish Cast

Here are the people that I HOPE will be willing to play the roles in the film. I will be contacting each one of them shortly to see if they will be up for the challenge, and to see if they are good for the role I want them to be. If it reads "unknown", then I will be having open auditions for that role. The charcters that have two names underneath means that I want one of two people to play that role (the first person mentioned being my first choice). Also note that I WAS NOT the one who suggested that I play Fred. I DID want to, but I asked a couple of people who they thought should play him, and they said me. So that is why I am listed. And sorry Savannah that I don't know your last name!

Frederick DuWright:
Adam Gonzales/ Unknown

Jason Malcolm:
Unknown/ Adam Gonzales

Kristy Lambent:
Kaitlin Booth/ Emma Mohney

Blue Canary:
Michael Falcon

Bill:
Peter Smyer

Megan Cliffe:
Savannah/ Kaitlin Booth

Ewan O'Conor:
Thomas Falcon

Samson DeFraude:
Corey Ginsberg

Timothy Tribble:
Unknown

Matthew "Dr. Worm" Apaton:
Unknown

Seth Oglen:
Ryan Toro

Harold Richen:
Casey Reed

That's what I have for right now. It is STILL up in the open. I will try to get these people together, and I will be begin to shoot as soon as possible (shooting only one scene at a time). Thanks, and keep checking by!

Songs Featured In The Musical

Here are the songs (in order) as they appear in the Musical, as well as the roles who sing in the songs. Enjoy!

HOPELESS BLEAK DESPAIR-
Fredrick DuWright, Blue Canary, Bill

EXPERIMENTAL FILM-
Fredrick DuWright, All Cast

THE MESOPOTAMIANS-
Jason Malcolm, The Mesopotamians

DR. WORM-
Matthew Apaton, The Mesopotamians

DON'T LET'S START-
Fredrick DuWright, Kristy Lambent

ABSOLUTELY BILL'S MOOD-
Bill, Ensemble

BIRDHOUSE IN YOUR SOUL-
Blue Canary, Ensemble

ANOTHER FIRST KISS-
Fredrick DuWright, Kristy Lambent

WORKING UNDERCOVER FOR THE MAN-
Jason Malcolm

WHICH DESCRIBES HOW YOU'RE FEELING-
Kristy Lambent, Megan Cliffe

STALK OF WHEAT-
Fredrick DuWright, Blue Canary, Bill

I SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO THINK-
Fredrick DuWright, Jason Malcolm

THUNDERBIRD-
Fredrick DuWright

IT'S KICKIN' IN-
Jason Malcolm, Ewan O'Conor, The Mesopotamians

IF I WASN'T SHY-
Megan Cliffe

KISS ME, SON OF GOD-
Samson DeFraude

MEMO TO HUMAN RESOURCES-
Fredrick DuWright, Blue Canary

EXPERIMENTAL FILM (REPRISE)-
Fredrick DuWright, All Cast

I CAN'T HIDE FROM MY MIND-
Fredrick DuWright

MUSEUM OF IDIOTS-
Jason Malcolm, Megan Cliffe

THE END OF THE TOUR-
Kristy Lambent

HOPELESS BLEAK DESPAIR (REPRISE)-
Fredrick DuWright, Blue Canary, Bill

Supporting Character Bios

And here are the character descriptions for the supporting roles. Enjoy!

Ewan O'Conor:
Ewan works as the bass guitar player for The Mesopotamians, and switches his art to radio surveillance and technical support during the band's midnight raids. Ewan has a playful and cheerful demeanor that can quickly change to sarcasm when he wants it to. Ewan is faithful to Jason, his team leader, and tries to help him uncover the corruption behind the government program that they work for. Ewan's flippant attitude often gets him to bash heads with Matthew, the band's drummer. (NOTE: Ewan is Irish and should be casted accordingly).

Samson DeFraude:
Samson is the director of the government agency that Jason and The Mesopotamians work for. He is self-absorbed and intimidating, and demands to be respected by his inferiors. Samson has been setting up a government conspiracy which involves the drug Thunderbird. Samson does not care about who he hurts in order to gain a comfortable financial standpoint. Lately, Samson has been noticed to be making shady clients and colleagues. His only fear is Jason Malcolm who, it is rumored, will soon be replace him and have his job. (NOTE: Samson should be intimidating, but average in size).

Timothy Tribble:
Old-man Timothy is the owner of the small convenience store two blocks away from Fred's house. He has a drinking problem that was sparked by the guilt he felt for selling Fred the materials to create Thunderbird five years ago. Timothy was unable to refuse him the medicines, due to their legality, but watched as Fred slowly destroyed himself. It was Timothy who originally let Kristy know about Fred's problem. Timothy is sixty-five years old, and has tried to act as a father-figure for Fred after his family found out about his drug problem and abandoned him.

Matthew "Dr. Worm" Apaton:
Matthew is the drummer for The Mesopotamians. He is strong, quiet, and seemingly apathetic about all that goes on around him. Although he sees his job as only a job, he still does not seem to tolerate frivolity which causes him to bash heads with Ewan quite often. Because of the way he is able to squirm The Mesopotamians out of messy situations with professional precision, the band gave him the stage name "Dr. Worm". Matthew helps Jason in performing the drug raids, and enjoys scaring the living daylights out of the dealers and buyers that they arrest. (NOTE: Matthew is black, and should be casted accordingly).

Seth Oglen:
Seth plays background guitar for The Mesopotamians. Seth has an unnerving habit of staring at people for long periods of time. Working as technical support and lookout for the raid parties, Seth is usually the one who finds the drug dealers and buyers in the first place and sets up most of the raids. After the uprising of Thunderbird, Seth notes the sudden excitement that Samson shows in their work.

Harold Richen:
Harold is the movie producer who comes to seek help from Fred at the beginning of the play. He has heard of Fred's outstanding talent, and wishes to have him write a movie for him. He is strict in what he wants (a tragic-comedy), and shows no concern for anything other than his own success.

(And numerous other Argonauts, Canaries, and Ensemble roles).

Lead Character Bios

Here are the lead character bios! Enjoy!

Fredrick DuWright:
Fredrick, known more commonly as Fred, is a genius playwright for hire. Producers looking for extreme profit in the theatre industry often seek him out and pay him to write the next big hit play. Fred is always happy to comply, but rarely finishes on time. He is a recovered addict from a drug called Thunderbird-a drug made from an over the counter pain killer and injected sleeping medication. Fred spent five years in recovery, and could not have made it through without the help of his closest and dearest friend Kristy Lambent. Kristy and Fred have been together for as long as they can remember, but it wasn't until recently that they began dating. Fred is eccentric and intelligent, yet calm and lazy at the same time. If it wasn't for Kristy, Fred would never get his plays finished and published. Fred loves Kristy to death but because of his stubborn personality, refuses to propose to her. Fred tries to do everything he can to keep Kristy happy, but feels that he isn't worthy of her and often drops the ball. (NOTE: Referred to as FRED in stage directions).

Jason Malcolm:
Jason is Fred's best friend. Jason and Fred met shortly after Fred's recovery, and although Jason knew that Fred had suffered from drug problems, he was never told the exact name of the drug that he used. Jason is an attractive and lively person, and he has fun in helping his friends get through tough times. An excellent liar, Jason works undercover for a secret government service that is trying to eliminate a rising drug epidemic in the California Anaheim area. Jason and the government team that he leads play together in a band known as The Mesopotamians. After their gigs and performances, Jason and The Mesopotamians attend parties where they learn of drug dealers and buyers. Later during the night, Jason and his teams conduct midnight raids where they bust buyers and dealers. Lately, there has been a rise in a new drug known as Thunderbird. The drug was known before, but was quickly forgotten due to the price increase of over the counter medicines. Jason and his team have been expected to wipe out the rise of Thunderbird. (NOTE: Jason is a British-American, but does not have an accent).

Kristy Lambent:
Kristy acts as Fred's unofficial secretary, making sure that his work gets done and that-when it doesn't-his clients don't get angry. Kristy is extremely stubborn but extremely supportive. Her quirky and sparkling personality often brings out the best in Fred. Irritated that Fred hasn't yet proposed to her, Kristy finds herself frequently talking with Megan Cliffe, The Mesopotamians' sound manager. Kristy and Megan talk about both Fred and Jason, and wonder why both men are so introverted. They fear for both of them, and pray that everything will turn out fine in the end. When things begin to start getting shaky, and Fred puts work aside for other matters, Kristy begins to doubt whether or not Fred will be able to overcome his dark past. Kristy, however, has an undying faith that Fred will pull through in whatever he does no matter the odds. Kristy loves him to no end; she refuses to give up on him. She even goes so far as to put his needs before her own. "After all," she states, "isn't that what love is?"

Blue Canary:
Blue Canary is one of the two conflicting forces that live within Fred's mind. Similar to a shoulder angel, Blue wants Fred to do only what is right, even at the expense of not being able to do what he wants. Blue is an odd individual who appears to only those who need his help. His past achievements include battling off Jason and the Argonauts, and he prides himself in his victories against Bill, his opposing force. Blue will stop at nothing to see Fred thrive, and only appears to Fred after he has a fight with Kristy. Blue quickly helps Fred correct his mistake, and tries to lead him to success in writing his new experimental film for a wealthy producer. But it is overcoming Thunderbird that proves to be the the biggest challenge for Blue. Blue will do anything to make Fred and Kristy's lives happy and successful. (NOTE: Referred to as BLUE in stage directions).

Bill:
Bill is the other force living within Fred's mind. Bill is a dark and brash personality whose past achievements include the Rise of the Argonauts. He has been battling with Blue for centuries, but does not seem to mind him. In fact, it seems that although he is indifferent to Blue entirely, he still finds it interesting that Blue gets annoyed with him so easily. Bill cannot be rightly represented as Fred's shoulder devil. He does not necessarily want him to do evil, but rather do what he desires to do the most. If Fred desires to do something right, then Bill will encourage him to do so. However, this works on the opposite end of the spectrum as well. Bill was born from the elements and thus has a harsh view of the world, and when he appears to Fred before Blue does he tells Fred that "Win or lose, I'm gonna make it all worth while."

Megan Cliffe:
Megan works as sound manager for The Mesopotamians at all of their shows. She does not know about the band's duplicity, and is upset that the band does not let her attend their late night "parties". Megan loves Jason to death, but her shy attitude leaves Jason unawares even though he has stated that Megan is beautiful and kind. Because Jason is so absorbed in his work and because Megan makes no advances, Jason leaves their relationship at mere friendship. Megan, however, is trying her best to speak up about her feelings, and finds herself speaking about Jason with Kristy quite a bit. Megan feels that something is going on with Jason, and is trying her best to help him out by being there for him when he needs her.


So there are the LEADS. I will be posting the six supporting roles and their bios shortly. Keep coming back!

Introduction To A Musical

Hopeless Bleak Despair is a Tragic-Comedy Musical that I decided to write during my writer's block of Tarterrior: The Rise of the Sixth Kingdom. The Musical is an original idea, but the music itself is music taken from the band They Might Be Giants. The story follows Fredrick DuWright, a genius playwright for hire and his friend Jason Malcolm. Fredrick is sought out by producers who are looking for extreme profit in the theatre industry, because of his uncanny ability to write hit plays. One day a large movie producer, Harold Richen, asks Fred to write him a movie screenplay. Fred agrees, although he has never written anything for the Silver Screen before. The story follows Fred and his journey as he attempts to write the screenplay, while keeping his addiction to the drug known as Thunderbird at bay. This musical will be finished soon, as my friends and I are going to be filming it into a long video that will be posted on this website after confirmation of rights from TMBG. I will be posting few updates on this blog, other than character bios and possibly scene-by-scene breakdowns. The project won't take very long, but the end result will be extremely rewarding. I WILL however be posting the cast list very soon, almost as soon as I post the character descriptions. Thanks, and keep checking for more updates!