"The Actor Games" coming to Aberdeen, South Dakota

From Aberdeen News:


“The main difference between ‘The Actor Games’ and the film that inspired it is that the districts and tributes represent different acting styles,” said director Brian T. Schultz in a news release. “The challenge has been maintaining the balance between creating an appropriate homage to the film and making sure the actors have an understanding of the physical, vocal and mental requirements of the different acting styles.”

Another difference between the play and film is the fate of the tributes that lose. Rather than dying, they suffer the fate of the Fallback Wheel.

Read the rest of the article...

Camp Omigosh: The Stage Play!

My new play is available at Eldridge Publishing!

Here is the synopsis:

Connor's summer is off to a rough start: the camp bus almost crashes, his cabin mates don't trust him, and the girls on the other side of the camp constantly outsmart him. But when he and his friends Tasha, Parker, and Kimberly investigate the mystery surrounding the "Ghost of Dead Billy," they begin a hilarious adventure that is worlds away from a typical campfire story. 

If you have been following my blog, then you already know that CAMP OMIGOSH is based upon a novel of the same name.  That novel will be coming out soon -- I'll have more details about that in April.  But if you'd like a sneak peek of the opening chapters, you can download the beginning at Amazon.com: 

Re-Inventing Neverland...

One of my most successful plays is a fantasy comedy called CSI: Neverland. 

Normally, I remember the moment when I come up with my brilliant (or often not-so-brilliant) ideas.  My memory of this one, however, is murky.  I don't recall where I was, or who was around, when I came up with the idea.  But I do know that I had recently heard about yet another successful spin off: CSI: New York.  I had thought the first incarnation was a fine show, though I didn't watch many episodes.  And then when they made CSI: Miami, I thought they were already stretching the franchise.

But when I learned of the existence of the New York show, I thought to myself, what's next... CSI: Neverland?

And I ran with it.  Of course, it's not a spin-off.  It's a parody.  Several parodies, in fact.  I am spoofing the CSI-styled shows in which forensic experts use their scientific knowledge to solve crimes, and I am also lampooning some of my favorite characters from classic children's lit.

Now something new is brewing.  I recently finished a sequel (CSI: Wonderland) and I am currently working on a novel version of the Neverland play.  Oh, and my version isn't Crime Scene Investigation...

It's Crime Scene Imagination.  Like the aforementioned television show, I think there's potential for at least three locations... and hopefully I won't spread myself too thin.

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Contest #3 - A History of Messy Rooms

This month I am celebrating the third anniversary of my picture book: "Why Do I Have to Make My Bed, or a History of Messy Rooms."

As the lengthy title suggests, it's a book that not only explores that oft asked question, but also delves into chore lore, examining the household tasks of children throughout the ages.

Here are some wonderful images by illustrator Johanna van der Sterre:

I love her work so much!  I was so thrilled my editor chose her as the book's illustrator. 

Now, let's get to the main event:  The new contest!

CONTEST RULES: 

Create your own artwork that shows a child (or children) from the past, present, or future doing a chore that you would NOT want to do.  

The art may be drawn, colored, sculpted, computer generated, photoshopped, photographed -- or anything else you can think of... 

Submit your entries to: profwade@hotmail.com

(Facebook friends and Twitter followers can post their work online with the hashtag #historyofmessy ) 

Three winners will receive an autographed copy of Why Do I Have to Make My Bed?

CONTEST ENDS: March 20th, 2014

P.S. We will share submission on this blog and other social networks -- so if you don't want to sow off your work, let us know!


Teachers and Parents: There's also a handy curriculum guide available in PDF form.

Coming Soon: "CSI: Wonderland"

I never thought that I would make a sequel to my hit play CSI: Neverland.  

But then around October 31st, my neighbors (who always throw the coolest Halloween-fest, complete with freaky costumes, set pieces, and special effects) created an experience called "Malice in Wonderland."

All of the beloved Lewis Carol creations took on very sinister forms... and that got me thinking about combining my twisted sense of humor with the world of Wonderland.  From there, it seemed only natural to include the Fairy Detectives from the first play and get them mixed up in a murder mystery in which the King of Hearts has lost his head.

Today, I am going through the script (hopefully) for the last time, tightening up a few scenes and streamlining the pace.  

On a side note, I cannot help but notice how quiet this blog is...

Hello.... (Echo: Hello... hello... hello...)

I really should work harder to become part of a community.  My wife says that I should post things that are more interactive, and not simply an advertisement for my creative projects.  If you, dear reader, have any suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment.  (Although, I must say, that it can be a pain in the butt to leave comments on Blogger.  Who wants to decode those CAPTCHA doohickeys just to leave a few words of encouragement?)

Okay -- tangent over -- now back to revising CSI: Wonderland!

Welcome to "Castle Writemore"

My latest project is a creative/educational endeavor called CASTLE WRITEMORE.

Here's a little bit about it:

Join the Quest!

"Castle Writemore" by Wade Bradford is a collection of one hundred and twenty three writing prompts. They have been designed to foster creative writing, descriptive writing, personal reflection, brainstorming techniques, annotative skills, and paragraph development.

They are also designed to make writing fun. 

"Castle Writemore" is ideal for young writers from ages six to ten; however, any age group can have a splendid time visiting this imaginary world. 

One of my goals is to create a community of writers, both young and old, that share their responses to the prompts of Castle Writemore and similar projects.  Would you like to join this creative adventure?

Visit our Facebook Page, and stay tuned for a brand new Castlemore blog!

"Macbeth Mixed Up" - Ten Minute Play by Wade Bradford

My good friends and editors at Heuer Plays just published my latest ten-minute play: Macbeth Mixed Up This is yet another comic exploitation of my idol William Shakespeare.

Ah, the poor Bard. You would think if I truly admire him, I would stop robbing his grave. But there's something about his marvelous characters that just won't allow me to cease my lampooning. I'm afraid I may always tomb raid that great Elizabethan playwright.

"It's a bit heavy on the eye of newt." If you are looking for thirty-minutes of fast-paced humor, might I recommend all three of my ten minute plays (each available at www.hitplays.com) : "Romeo Revised" "Hopeless Hamlet" and now "Macbeth Mixed Up"