ANDREW BISS

‘The Craft’ has been selected for production by the Parish Players of Thetford Hill, Vermont, for their 11th Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival this February. Based at the Eclipse Grange Theatre , the Parish Players have been bringing the classics, musical comedy, contemporary drama, and original works to their community for over 50 years. Produced by Leah Romano & Duncan Nichols, this year’s festival will take place at the following dates and times: Thursday, February 9, 16 at 7:30pm | Friday - Saturday, February 10-11, 17-18 at 7:30pm | Sunday Matinées February 12, 19 at 3:00pm The Parish Players is an incorporated not-for-profit organization staffed and run entirely by group of admirable volunteers.

Monologues from ‘The Craft’ to be Published in New Anthology Two monologues from ‘The Craft’ are to be included in a new anthology from theatrical trade publisher Smith & Kraus, Inc. , entitled ‘222 More Comedy Monologues, 2 Minutes And Under,’ edited by John Capecci and Irene Ziegler. Publication expected early 2017. It’s been an astonishing 12 years since I had monologues from ‘Cuthbert's Last Stand’ and ‘Kitchen Sink Drama’ published in this forthcoming book’s predecessor, ‘ 222 Comedy Monologues 2 Minutes and Under, Volume 4 ,’ so I find it somewhat remarkable that after all these years we’re both still going strong. One of the things I like most about these collections is that they’re specifically focused on comedy monologues. Comedic writing is all too often made to take a backseat to its dramatic counterpart, and that’s both unfair and unfounded. It’s as if, in the process of making someone laugh, a work of comedy becomes viewed as something frivolous and triflin...

‘The Craft’ will be making its Philadelphia premiere next month when the University of Pennsylvania’s Theatre Arts Council will be producing the play as part of its annual One Acts Festival. A total of four plays will be staged during the event, which takes place on February 3rd and 4th, 2017. More details will be available on the Theatre Arts Council’s website in the coming days. While ‘The Craft’ has been produced in several different countries and many states across the U.S., this latest production will mark the play’s official hometown debut.

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.