The big three-oh-oh-oh

Two years ago, toward the end of the COVID-19 epidemic, I'd set a bold goal for myself. I'd just reached by 2000th production. It took me 8 years to get my first 1000 productions and 4 years to get my second 1000 productions.

What was my goal? That it would take only three years to get my next 1000 productions.

Well, I guess I wasn't bold enough because it took only two years (and four months, to be exact). As a matter of fact, I reached that milestone this week as Loyalton High School in Loyalton, CA-- a small ranching community not far from Reno, NV--booked a production of An Enchanted Bookshop Christmas.

This play continues to be one of my evergreen properties, snagging a healthy number of productions year after year after year. And the audience response has been phenomenal. In fact, I just came across a Facebook post where a mom mentioned that her girls couldn't stop talking about the Book Fairy and were begging their parents to take them again.

You can't beat enthusiasm like that.

So how long until I reach 4000 productions? Well, I'm not going to be greedy and expect to get there in a year.

Eighteen months will be fine.

Sunhine State Butler earns a rave

When you write for amateur theater--that is, schools and community groups--actual published reviews are few and far between. So one comes along, it's a real treat. Especially if it's a rave.

That was the case today as online magazine Florida Theater On Stage published a review of Curtain Call Playhouse's production of my very British mystery/comedy, The Butler Did It! This ambitious theater company has making the rounds of South Florida with the production. They opened November 16-17 in Pompano Beach, moved on to Sunrise for a single performance on November 24, and are now settled in at Boca Raton for two weekends of shows.

Reviewer Britin Hailer had lots of good things to say about the play, but I especially like how she wrapped up:

"The Butler Did It! is a roller coaster of reveals to keep you guessing up until you realize the little clues planted along the way were leading to a perfect finish. If you love murder mysteries, and even if you don't, we heartily and rousingly suggest you attend Curtain Call Playhouse's current production for a rollicking good time."

A big thanks to director Gary Solomons and the rest of the cast and crew for putting your heart and soul into the production. Sounds like it paid off nicely.

Hawkeye Bookshop Christmas unites the generations

My Enchanted Bookshop plays have always brought multiple generations into the seats of theaters. But now it appears to be bringing multiple generation onto the proverbial boards as well.

At least that's the case at the Hawkeye Theatre in Fort Dodge, IA. They're performing An Enchanted Bookshop Christmas this weekend. And according to an article in the Fort Dodge Messenger, three generations of one local family have taken on some very important roles in the show.

Tim Olson plays dashing tech billionaire Philip Brantley, his daughter Kayla Harlow plays the scatterbrained bookshop owner Margie, and her son Beckham Barlow plays the pompous Nutcracker Prince.

But that's not all. The article goes on to say that there are at least two parent-child pairings as well.

Director Stephanie Cobie-Day explains that she chose An Enchanted Bookshop Christmas because it introduces today's kids to classic characters like Tom Sawyer that they may not be familiar with.

"That's one of the neat things about working with the cast and working with multi generations," Cobie-Day adds, "that you're sharing some old, old stories, bringing those to life, but also then creating a new story with the script that we're doing."

Break legs, all! With a cast like this, it can't help but be a heartwarming production.

Tulsa's Spotlight joins the club

A big shout out to Tulsa's Spotlight Children's Theatre, which became the fifth member of my Five Timer's Club by booking a production of my millionaire cat comedy The Purrfect Crime for next March.

Inspired by NBC's Saturday Night Live, the Five Timer's Club is, of course, the esteemed group of schools and community theaters which have produced my plays five times.

The first four productions that Spotlight so graciously (and tastefully) selected? They were:

• The Enchanted Bookshop, December 2022
• How I Met Your Mummy, October 2023
• An Enchanted Bookshop Christmas, December 2023
• Madhouse!, March 2024

As I've mentioned previously in this blog, I visited Tulsa several times when my older daughter Ashley lived there from 2014 and 2016. I loved the city, being impressed with how clean and modern it was, with a wealth of wonderful ethnic restaurants and surprisingly underused freeways.

Sadly, although I remember seeing My Big Fat Gay Wedding at the American Theatre Company there, I never got around to seeing The Drunkard, the longest running production in American theater history (71 years and counting), performed by the main company at Spotlight itself.

As for the children's theater, it looks like they're not quite done with me. Their 2025 season schedule shows that they've reserved a spot for The Stinky Feet Gang in August.

Hmmm. Maybe it's time for a Six Timer's Club?

For info on all these plays an more, please visit my playwright page on the Pioneer Drama website.