“Beggar” gets a nod

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I’m thrilled to report that my Biblical tragedy “The Beggar of Bethesda” has been given 8th place in the script category in the 90th Annual Writer’s Digest Competition!

“The Beggar of Bethesda” is a quirky re-telling of the story of the lame beggar at the Pool of Bethesda during the time of Jesus (found in John 5:1-15) and the events surrounding his healing.

The Annual Writer’s Digest Competition is the oldest and most well-known competition sponsored by Writer’s Digest, which has been recognizing writing excellence on a global scale for nearly 90 years.

The “script” category under which my play has been recognized includes all sorts of scripts – including playscripts, screenplays, and television scripts – so the category itself is very broad.

The Annual Writer’s Digest Competition is one of the most popular writing contests in the United States – often receiving more than 1,000 entries across a wide range of categories – so to receive an acknowledgement that puts my play among the top named scripts is very humbling.

Be on the lookout – my name and play will be mentioned in the Nov/Dec edition of Writer’s Digest later this year.

Previously, my play “Whit(e)man” received an honorable mention in the 2017 competition.

Many thanks to Writer’s Digest for this great honor!

Introducing “We’re Going To Have A Feast”

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The great Norman Berman and I have released another new song from our epic musical “The Burning of the White House” – the true story of the 1814 invasion of Washington DC by the British, as seen through the eyes of a young slave to President and Dolley Madison.

In this song, Dolley Madison, the flamboyant wife of President James Madison, is trying to liven the spirits of her husband, who is about to go off to war and fight the British in Maryland.

The situation appears dire, but Dolley refuses to think negatively and insists on planning a magnificent feast for her husband when he returns from what she believes will be a decisive victory.

…but then, Dolley may not be quite as sure of this victory as it seems.

Introducing “It Starts With A Broom”

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I’m thrilled to say that composer Norman Berman and I have released a new song from our epic musical “The Burning of the White House”!

“The Burning of the White House” is the true story of Paul Jennings, a young slave to President and Mrs. Madison, and his growth from boy to man while living through the British invasion of the nation’s capital and the subsequent burning of the White House in the War of 1812 – a seminal even in the nation’s history (and now quite topical).

In this song (the final musical number), young Paul, James and Dolley Madison, and various other servants and politicians have returned to the smoking hull of the White House after the British leave the city and now face the enormous task of rebuilding the structure that served for so many people as a symbol of the nation.

The song traces the emotional highs and lows of all present as they cope with the enormity of the task before them – first with pessimism, then with hope, then with humble reality.

“I Look Behind Me” (again!)

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I am happy to release a new recording of the song “I Look Behind Me” from the musical “The Burning of the White House”, which I am almost finished writing (after four years) with the great composer Norman Berman.

Set against the backdrop of the War of 1812 and the British invasion of Washington DC, the play charts the young slave Paul Jennings and his growth from boy to man during the trauma of the nation’s invasion and the burning of the White House by the British.

The song “I Look Behind Me” is sung by President Madison (pictured above) after he lost the Battle of Bladensburg in Maryland, which enabled the British to lay waste to the capital, prompting the deeply shamed Madison to reflect on his responsibility for the tragedy.

Some more exciting song releases are on their way!

New version of “Here I Is”

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My good friend and composer Norman Berman has released a new version of the song “Here Is I” from our upcoming musical “The Burning of the White House”.

Briefly, “The Burning of the White House” is about Paul Jennings, the 15-year-old house slave to President and Mrs. Madison, who discovers his true heroism, strength, and purpose, living through one of the most momentous event in the nation’s history – the burning of the White House by the British in 1814.

The song “Here I Is” is an ironic duet sung by the young slave (and a 50-year-old version of himself) to Dolley Madison, as the younger Paul becomes evermore conscious of his desire for freedom, while also trying to balance the mother-son relationship he has with Dolley with the painful reality of his enslavement.

You can visit this website for more details about the show!

“Margo Asher” a semifinalist

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My contemporary drama “Margo Asher Died Here” was chosen as a semifinalist for the New American Voices Festival sponsored by The Landing Theatre Company of Houston.

The Landing sets as its goal to explore the diversity of American playwriting and invention, facilitate the development of new American works, and develop a highly respected season of new, contemporary and classic American plays – all while enriching the local artistic community.

I have admired Landing from afar for some time and am grateful that my play made the penultimate round.

Best of luck to them on the upcoming festival!

“Harriman-Baines” recognized

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I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Scranton Shakespeare Festival for recognizing my tragedy “Harriman-Baines”, which was one of their finalists for consideration in their annual Scranton Scratch Night series of new play premieres!

The Scranton Shakespeare Festival is a theater group organized back in 2011 by Michael Bradshw Flynn to provide free professional theater to the public in Northeast Pennsylavania and, sinc ethen, works to develop new work through hosts numerous new play premieres.

Their “Scranton Scratch Night” is an annual event for developing new works for the theater and I’m thrilled that “Harriman-Baines” was one of only 20 finalists out of 317 scripts, which puts the play in the top 6.3% of total submissions.

Briefly, “Harriman-Baines” is a full-length, two-act drama about a reclusive and brilliant composer – Carter Harriman – who is haunted by his eerie relationship with the mysterious poet Melody Baines. The play takes place over a single night, during which the lies and truths surrounding Melody Baines and her meek, psychic sister, Minnie, are exposed with brutal and unbearable honesty by an information-hungry journalist.

Above all, I am grateful to SSF for their very kind words about the play – which I shall quote here:

“It’s a pleasure to read a piece that embraces originality. Your ideas definitely feel fresh and unique… The reading team finds (also) your style to be wonderfully crafted. Our panel is very impressed by your use of character. They feel distinct and lively. You should be proud of your dialogue. It is well crafted to your characters and makes for very engaging storytelling. Our panel was impressed by how you created a distinct voice in your dialogue.”

~Scranton Shakespeare Festival

Many thanks to SSF for the consideration, and I wish them well in their final festival!

“Philosophus,” anyone?

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As we exit 2020 (and hopefully enter a year where theater lives again, post-COVID!), I wanted to thank play publisher Eldridge Plays and Musicals for promoting my historical farce “Philosophus” among some top plays to be performed by theaters in 2021.

Let’s face it – 2020 was a pretty gloomy time in a lot of different ways, so there’s nothing better to melt all the gloominess than for a theater to perform a fun, completely bonkers, Monty Python- and Carry-On-esque comedy to warm the human heart.

What do the critics say??

“A delightful romp”

Peter Hall of BuffaloRising

“A thinking-person’s farce, Philosophus is a perfect fit for the area and a fun way to start the year… a farce to remedy our times… an up and coming work.”

Debbie Minter Jackson of DC Theatre Scene

“Mr. Crowley’s script is chock-a-block with witty dialogue, broad comedy, and is very, very funny. He expertly melds what appears to be complex thought with farce… Philosophus is great fun. I enjoyed it thoroughly.”

Ann Marie Cusella of BuffaloVibe

“A rib-tickling farce… For those familiar with British comedy, it resembles Benny Hill meets the Enlightenment, or Carry On Philosopher… a very entertaining evening of theater.”

Jennifer Georgia of DC Metro Theater Arts

“The script is a cross between Mel Brooks (“Young Frankenstein”) and the Marx Brothers (“Duck’s Soup”).  If you love the ridiculous and lots of double entendres, you will have a good time at this production.”

Susan Brall, MD Theatre Guide

“An all-around funny show and fun time at the theatre… great wit and humor.”

Colin Fleming-Stumpf of BuffaloTheatreGuide.com

“Ripping a page out of “The Book of Mormon” school of comedy… Alleyway’s commitment to presenting new plays and musicals pays off with “Philosophus.””

Melinda Miller of Buffalo News

You can read more about “Philosophus” here!

“Merry COVID Christmas”

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I’m very happy to announce the release of a Christmas single by Brotsh actor, singer, and composer Luke Simnett, with whom I wrote a super fun Christmas jingle for a most unusual holiday season.

Entitled “Merry Covid Christmas,” the song pokes fun at how the current pandemic intersects with the (normally joyous) holidays, but ultimately concludes that the holiday will still be as merry as ever.

It’s all good fun… check out the song below!

MERRY COVID CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR.
KEEP THE FAMILY CLOSE, BUT NOT NEAR.
THERE’S STILL A TREE
AND THANKFULLY
THERE’S HOLLY STILL TO DECK
AND IN-BETWEEN
THINGS EVERGREEN
SOME TEMP’RATURES WE’LL CHECK…

Many thanks to Luke for a great collaboration!

“I and the Emperor” a semifinalist

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I’m very proud to say that my historical drama “I and the Emperor” is a semifinalist in an annual new play festival sponsored by the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT)!

“I and the Emperor” is a recent play of mine from earlier this year concerning Napoleon Bonaparte and his unlikely relationship with a young girl while on exile in the South Atlantic at the end of his life.

This is the third time a play of mine has been recognized by AACT as they’ve navigated through a mountain of (hundreds of) new scripts every year. (My other plays “Fifteen Men in a Smoke-Filled Room” and “The Footsteps of God” were also given a nice nod by the group in 2013 and 2018, respectively – with “Fifteen Men” being recognized within the top 20 scripts.)

Many thanks to AACT again for their kind consideration!