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May 2025

Man, I kill me. Last time I posted was FALL 2024 and this is what I wrote:

“I have a few other irons in the fire which I’ll talk about once Barter’s 2025 Season is rolled out. So stay tuned!”

Well, Barter’s 2025 season was rolled out in October of 2024, and I’m just now getting around to updating. Sigh. Better late than never I suppose.

A quick wrap up of 2024: Barter’s productions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL and GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN, and The Barter Player’s production of SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN, were all this playwright – or any playwright – could hope for. One more quick shoutout to the Casts/Crews/Designers/Technicians – and especially directors Sarah Van Deusen, John Hardy, and Barrett Guyton as well as Producing Artistic Director Katy Brown. So thrilling to be part of the Barter team.

Onward to 2025!

I’ve been writing like a madwoman this year and have completed 4 plays already. The big news is, my first draft of BOOK WOMAN is done! Dax is finishing up the music for Act One (what she has so far is glorious!) and we’re meeting next week to arm wrestle about the structure of Act II and its ending. Maybe we’ll get lucky and have a reading/sing through with some actors this year. Who knows? It just feels good to get the first stab at it out of the way.

Also finished my 8th draft of THE INNKEEPER’S WIFE, which will be going up at Barter’s Smith Theatre this Christmas. I think it’s done – just waiting for Katy Brown to sign off on it. I like the tagline for the show: “This ain’t no ordinary stable.” And boy-howdy, it really isn’t. Excited to see this one come to life. It runs November 22nd thru December 28th. Hope you can make it.

Also wrote two new adaptations for The Barter Players: THE JUNGLE BOOK and THE RELUCTANT DRAGON. Both are going up this summer. Excited to see the Players tackle these two stories. I’m very happy with the way they turned out.

I’m also knee-deep in a new play for VA 250 surrounding the Overmountain Men’s role in the Battle of Kings Mountain, considered the turning point in the American Revolution. As always, it’s a joy to research and investigate a part of American history with which I’m not terribly familiar. I like the way it’s going, which means the characters are dictating the story and its structure. What a ride!

And lastly, the Barter Players will be touring a musical version of my ALICE IN WONDERLAND in Feb/March of 2026. Only problem: it’s not a musical yet. Dax and I will be tacking that later this year.

Whew boy! So, a lot of writing going on. That’s good, it keeps me out of trouble.

Here’s a roundup of shows I’ve had or will have produced in 2025:

PRODUCTIONS AT BARTER IN 2025

GRANDMA GATEWOOD TOOK A WALK (remount) – Feb/March
THE JUNGLE BOOK – The Barter Players June/July
THE RELUCTANT DRAGON – The Barter Players July/August
THE CALL OF THE WILD – The Barter Players – Sept/Nov
THE INNKEEPER’S WIFE – Nov/Dec
JINGLE ALL THE WAY – The Barter Players – Nov/Dec
I WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS – Barter ENCORE Players (touring) Nov/Dec

PRODUCTIONS AT OTHER THEATRES 2025

PETER PAN – Greenville Theatre tour – Sept 2024/May 2025
THE THREE MUSKETEERS – Arts Club Theatre Company (Canada) – Jan/Feb
THE THREE MUSKETEERS – Northeast State Community College – April
WALKING ACROSS EGYPT – Pioneer Playhouse – July
FROSTY – St. Croix Festival Theatre Nov/Dec
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE – Clemson Little Theatre – Dec
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE – Nashville Repertory – Dec

I think that’s it.

But you know what I’m most excited about? THIS YEAR I’M CELEBRATING 30 YEARS AS A PLAYWRIGHT!! I almost can’t believe it. It’s been a wonderful, frustrating, sometimes-devastating, joyous ride that, fortunately, has only gotten better though the years. So I’m gonna eat some Mitchell’s Ice Cream (thank you, Kelly Strand) and celebrate!