ANDREW BISS

Theatrical trade publisher Smith & Kraus has selected a monologue from “Carbon-Based Life Form Seeks Similar” for inclusion in its forthcoming anthology THE BEST MEN’S STAGE MONOLOGUES OF 2017, edited by Lawrence Harbison. Tentative publication date: 12/2017. In the play “Carbon-Based Life Form Seeks Similar,” Leslie’s decided to give love another try. But in a world of shameless self-promotion, prepackaged personalities, and artificial body parts, can someone still be loved simply for who they are, or do happy endings only exist in massage parlors? Smith and Kraus Publishers, founded in 1990, is the premier US publisher of contemporary trade theater books and associated digital resources. The publisher’s books enrich the theater experience for theatre students, theater professionals, and theater audiences alike.

I’m happy to report that ‘The Craft’ swept the awards at this year’s Minnesota Shorts Festival, in Mankato MN this weekend. As well as the play taking the award for ‘Best of the Fest,’ actors Travis Carpenter and Noelle Lawton were voted Best Actor and Best Actress. And in helming ‘The Craft’ to the top spot, this also marks director Maggie Maes' fourth year in a row of directing the winning play. Congratulations and thanks to all three of them for their talent and hard work in putting together a show that the audience very clearly took to their hearts (and funny bones).

I’m happy to report that a monologue from my play “ Suburban Redux ” has just been published in the new anthology “ Audition Monologues for Young Men: Selections from Contemporary Works .” The monologue is taken from the character of Tristram, a rather shy, awkward young fellow who’s struggling with feelings of self-worth. Published by Pioneer Drama Service , one of the largest play publishers in the United States, the collection is edited by Gerald Lee Ratliff and Patrick Rainville Dorn. This marks the fourth collection of Mr. Ratliff’s that I’ve had the honor of having my work included in, and my first with Pioneer Drama Service. The collection is an ideal tool for auditions, workshops, and acting classes, and includes a detailed guide on how to choose a monologue, develop the character, and audition with confidence It’s available now at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Waterstones , Pioneer Drama Service and other fine retailers.

My short story collection “Strange Tales of the Curiously Uncommon” has now been released in audio book format and is available for purchase on Amazon, iTunes and the Audible website. The book is narrated by the jaw-droppingly talented Jonathan Trueman, who has brought this collection of darkly humorous tales to life in a ways that I could never have imagined. Every quirky character is given a voice and personality all their own, creating a unique and yet still somehow very real world in which the listener can immerse themselves. Jonathan truly is an exceptional talent. Each story is so perfectly narrated and characterized, and as the author I simply could not be happier with the results. I do hope you’ll see (listen) for yourself.

In addition to its recent selection for publication by Smith & Kraus, Inc. , ‘Carbon-Based Life Form Seeks Similar’ has also been chosen for publication by ApplauseTheatre & Cinema Books for its forthcoming anthology Best 5-Minute Plays, edited by Lawrence Harbison. Tentative date of publication: January, 2017. This short comedy explores the perils of the dating scene in the new romantic era of Snapchat and Selfie Sticks.

I’m pleased to report that The Merely Players Theatre Company of Mankato, MN has selected ‘The Craft’ to be part of its upcoming production Minnesota Shorts: A Festival of Short Plays. Performances take place on September 8th and 9th 2016. More information will be available on their website closer to production.

The novella adaptation of my play “Suburban Redux” has now been released as an audio book and is available for purchase on Amazon , iTunes and the Audible website. The book is narrated by the wonderful Mill Scott, who has brought her exceptional talents to this rollicking yet poignant tale about love, truth, and acceptance. She captures the essence of each character perfectly and brings just the right amount sly wit and emotional honesty to make this romantic comedy for the modern family a joy to listen to. “Suburban Redux” is a witty satire set in the South of England and centers around a bored housewife, her presumed gay son, and supporting characters with secrets of their own! Reviews for the stage version of the book: "A witty drawing-room comedy à la Oscar Wilde...Shocking admissions, tearful recriminations and several jolly good laughs...Highly entertaining" --The Montreal Mirror "A stylish Wildean comedy...The writing is finely tuned...Consistently ...

I’m pleased to report that an abridged version of my play “Carbon-Based Life Form Seeks Similar” has been selected for publication in the forthcoming anthology “105 Five-Minute Plays for Study and Performance.” The book will be published by theatrical trade publisher Smith & Kraus, Inc. and is edited by John Capecci and Irene Ziegler. The publication date is tentatively scheduled for August, 2016. The play in its original form was first produced by The Independent Theatre Collective in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 2010. The play was subsequently produced the following year by The Curan Repertory Company at the American Theatre of Actors in New York, as part of its Notes From The Underground Festival. The popularity of the ten-minute play has risen exponentially over the past 15 years and is now the dominant format in most short play festivals, so it will be interesting to see how this further reduced configuration fares. A sketch or a skit, of course, can be as shor...

Today I received from Smith & Kraus Publishers a hot off the press copy of "The Best Ten-Minute Plays 2015," included in which is my play "The Craft." This year’s edition contains quite a number of plays that experiment with style, so "The Craft" is right at home, along with many other wonderful plays by talented playwrights, some of whom are well-known and established and others just beginning their playwriting careers. I’m very pleased and proud to have had another of my plays included in this long-running anthology series, and especially glad to see "The Craft" get some wider exposure, which I hope will lead to some additional productions. Not that the play has exactly been short of those to date – it’s close to being my most produced play (that distinction still being held by "Indigenous Peoples") – but it’s a lot of fun for both actors and audiences, so a few more would be warmly welcomed. It’s available now from the Smit...

I’m pleased to report that my play “A Rebel Among the Wretched” has been selected for publication in the forthcoming anthology “The Best Ten-Minute Plays of 2016,” published by Smith & Kraus, Inc., edited by Lawrence Harbison. The play itself was a Heideman Award finalist and is one of my personal favorites, so I’m hoping this additional exposure will lead to many more productions in the coming years. This will be the 7th edition of Smith & Kraus’ “The Best Ten-Minute Plays” anthologies I’ll have had a play of mine included in, with 5 already in print, and the 6th (“The Best Ten-Minute Plays of 2015”) - which includes “The Craft” - due to be released next month.