Sleeping Beauty and the Beast

We were trying to decide what to do for the Yorba Linda Civic Light Opera's spring musical. OUr producer, Virginia DeLand said she wanted us to write an adaptation of a classic children's show. She said, let's do either Sleep Beauty or the Beast -- sort of by accident. And I thought the title sounded so funny, I decided to merge the two fairy tale stories, thus creating a wonderfully goofy script that became: "Sleeping Beauty and the Beast." It was written around 1995, if memory serves. Like Sahara NIghts, the show was originally a musical, but when it was finally published by Heuer Plays, they went with a non-musical version. But for the most part, the script is pretty much the same. Back in 2007, Tevas Drama Department posted this YouTube video, a collage of images from their rehearsals and performances. Looks like they had fun!

"The Actor Games" by Wade Bradford

This is my latest one-act comedy, available at Eldridge Plays. 

In this dystopian/Hunger Games parody everyone is starving...for attention! Society's obsession with all things drama has become so distracting, the Capitol has outlawed all auditions and has divided the population into ten districts: Greek Tragedy, Shakespeare Drama, Commedia Dell'Arte, and others.
During the annual Actor Games, a tribute from each district competes to become a star. The losers must suffer the fate of the Fallback Wheel. This year, Meryl hopes to become the first ever winner from High School Drama. Unfortunately, the odds are never in her favor. The Actor Games is a fast-paced one-act play that provides lots of comedy opportunities for each cast member, as well as a humorous overview of modern and historic acting methods. 

It's dedicated to drama teachers around the world.  (But I guess since I spoofed the HUnger Games, I should have added a special thanks to Suzanne Collins!) 

What Are You Working On?

This is the question I love to ask other writers.  And, to be honest, I love being asked this question because it gives me the opportunity to talk about my work. I think about my work all of the time.  But I don't always verbally express my ideas.  Keeping my stories locked up in the attic of my brain isn't always a good thing.

When I hear my burgeoning ideas discussed out loud, out in the light of day, I sometimes realize "This is a brilliant story" or "I really need to rethink this plot -- it kinda sucks."

But I'm not talking right now... I'm blogging... So, what am I working on?

I have four different projects going all at once!  And that's probably not a very good writing strategy, but I can't help it.  Also, some of these projects involve different genres than I normally write, so I will be creating a pseudonym.  Which means that I'm working on top secret projects!

But I'll share a few details with you... I'd rather be talking about this, by the way, but typing out my ideas is therapeutic too.

Secret Project #1: An Awesome Picture Book... 
This project really isn't that secret.  Everyone who knows me knows that I love writing picture books.  Two and a half years ago my first picture book debuted: "Why Do I Have to Make My Bed?"  But here's the problem... I have not been able to sell a second picture book.  These are difficult little textual beasts to capture.  I have written about twenty picture books since my first sale.  Some were lousy.  Some were wonderful -- but for a variety of reasons they did not win over the hearts and minds of the editors.  So, in regards to the picture book I am working on now, I am praying that the Gods of Children's Literature have favored me with a brilliant idea.

Secret Project #2: An Awesome Early Middle Grade Novel...
I've been developing this for a while now.  It's a fun combination of silliness and Shakespearean epicness.  It's also one of those books that could shine brightly if the text is combined with some illustrations every few pages.

Word Count Goal: +25,000

Progress: 16% Complete


Secret Project #3: An Awesome Paranormal Teen Novel... 
I wrote the first five chapters over the summer and I am waiting to find out what happens next.  It is written from the POV of a teen girl, so I will be attempting to publish this one under a pen name.  (It's also very different than anything else I've ever written.)

Word Count Goal: +35,000

Progress: 14% Complete


Secret Project #4: An Awesome Fantasy/Adventure Middle Grade...
This is still in the brainstorming stage... but I think I am finally ready to begin working on the first draft.  Of course, maybe I should finish these other projects before I dive in... Ya think???

Word Count Goal: +70,000

Progress: 0% Complete


Secret Project #5: An Awesomely Weird Novel That Combines the Mythical and the Mundane...
I have been writing nothing but children's literature since 2002.  So it's been refreshing and kinda scary to write something for grown-ups.  Actually, I'm not writing this book for grown-ups or kids.  I'm writing it for me.  And I haven't typed anything into the computer yet.  It's all hand written, and there's a nice chunk of it done so far, but this is going to happen over the course of an entire year.

Word Count Goal: +80,000

Progress: 12% Complete


Not-So-Secret Projects: 

I'm sure the above projects make me look kinda lazy, since there's not one of them that is over twenty percent complete.  But I finish drafts!  I do, really!

During the past 18 months I finished two novels... I'm still working on the revision process.

Middle Grade Fantasy: Journey to the Midnight Realm

Word Count Achieved: 75,000

Revision Process: 60% Complete


Middle Grade Adventure: Camp Omigosh

Word Count Achieved: 82,000

Revision Process: 30% Complete

So that's what I am working on.  That is to say, those are the creative projects I am working on when I am not busy teaching, grading papers, attending meetings, playing with my kids, hanging out with my wife, walking the dogs, cleaning the house, and -- and did I mention? -- fighting off the demons of procrastination.

So, what are you working on?

"Tomorrow's Wish" Available at the Kindle Store

Tomorrow's Wish has been available in print, and as an ipad e-book for about three years now.  But, I've finally gotten around to formatting it into a Kindle Book, since that seems to be one of the more popular devices.

"Tomorrow's Wish" is a three-act play by Wade Bradford. It is a comedy-drama with a bit of fantasy thrown into the mix. 

During the most boring summer of her life, 16 year old Megan Pomerville must now deal with her strange, friendly yet embarrassing cousin: Juniper, a home-schooled teen who's been living a sheltered and secluded country life. 

Megan's cynical attitude soon changes when she discovers Juniper's secret - a secret so remarkable it will change their lives forever. 

Follow this link to order you Kindle Edition of "Tomorrow's Wish," only $2.99.


Looking for more plays?  Visit: www.wadebradford.com

"Banana Nut Split" - Wade's First One-Act Comedy (Circa 1987)

Way back in high school, 10th grade to be specific, we had this glorious thing called Mini-Term.  Our second semester ended in early May.  Then, students would experience Mini-term, a collection of fun elective classes allowed students to explore their specific interests.  (You could also make-up a class.)
Anyway, during Mini-term the drama club put on a series of One Acts.  (My favorite show by the way was I.T. -- Improvisational Theater, by fellow drama buddies Ryan, Joelle, and other talented thespians.)  I decided that I wanted to write and direct my own show.  So I wrote: BananaNutSplit -- all one word to be cool.  It's a pretty silly show with a rather sitcomish premise:

A young man is meeting his girlfriend at a fancy restaurant. He is going to propose to her.  The problem? He secretly has split personalities, and whenever he gets nervous, those multi-personalities burst out of him.  Wackiness ensues.

Yes, quite silly.  But I had a great deal of fun directing the show.  The drama students voted it Best Play -- so that was an ego boost.  And something else happened with it.  Around 1988 when I was working at the Grand Cinemas, a smart, sexy manager named Cheri wanted to do a comedy for her college class.  I suggested Banana Nut Split, she directed the play, and I got to watch adult actors perform the work.

Now here's where I turn into Paul Harvey:

That sexy smart manager named Cheri, the woman who directed my first-ever play, married me in 1995 -- and we've been living happily ever after ever since.

A few years ago, I found an old copy of the play.  I dusted it off -- updated some of the jokes -- tightened things up... and then sent it to Big Dog Plays.  And now, Banana Nut Split is a published one act play.

You can read this article about a senior getting to direct her first theater one-act... and she chose Banana Nut Split.  (I hope she didn't regret her choice!)




<h3><a href="http://www.wadebradford.com/plays.html">Learn more about Wade's plays.</a></h3>
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About Wade

Wade Bradford grew up in rainy Washington state.  In 1991, at the age of 19, he moved down to California.  Ever since then he has been complaining about how he “misses the seasons.” He has a beautiful wife and two adorable children.  He also has a dog, a fish, a cat and a bird. (2013 Update: The goldfish finally died.  So did the dog, the cat, and the bird.... But we have two new dogs he adopted!)

 

Okay, I'll stop talking about myself in third person.

 

I have loved writing since I was a little kid.  My specialties are: plays, young adult novels, middle-grade fiction, and picture books.

 

My first picture book, "Why Do I Have To Make My Bed?" was published by Random House / Tricycle Press. 

 

In 2000, my first play was published by Eldridge Plays.  Since that time, the following plays have been published by Eldridge, Heuer, and Big Dog Plays.  <a href="http://www.wadebradford.com/plays.html">You can find a complete list of the plays here.</a>

 

Here's some of my ongoing internet projects:

 

WadeBradford.com -- The Official Gateway to Wade World

 

Plays / Drama for About.com -- Your guide on all things theater, since 2007!

 

Strange and Funny Thoughts on Tumblr

 

Wade's Twitter Account

 

Wade Bradford's Facebook Page

 

Wade's Google+ Page -- Ugh, isn't that enough social media???