"Curtain" closes and a new "Night" begins

Thanks to the hundreds of people that made my play "Tennessee's Final Curtain" the success that it was at SCTC. You were a part of the birth of a new American play that, hopefully, will have only begun its long journey to other theatres around the country. I want to take a moment to pay you another compliment. One of the things I am proudest of at SCTC is the level of theatre savvy of our audience. You embraced this play as you have the other challenging, though provoking work we have brought to you. You take the time to listen and ponder, discuss and debate the work presented with the highest level of insight. I usually say how proud of OUR work we are [which is true] but today I want to say I proud and grateful we are to have YOU sitting in the seats of Waterfront South Theatre. With all of us pulling together this synergy will continue to bring Camden back to its full glory. As "Night" approaches I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your constant support. It is so appreciated.

Thanks Craig and cast of "Streetcar"

Thanks, Craig for last night's invitiation to talk to his cast of their upcoming "Streetcar" production about Tennessee Williams. It was fun for me to share my many years of study of the man and his work and I am so grateful the cast welcomed me with such enthusiasm. Haddonfield Plays and Players opens their productin tomorrow night and I wish them many "broken legs". Come see my own "Tennessee's Final Curtain" this weekend and then go see "Streetcar". I think you'll watch his work with a deeper understanding of the great writer and his moviations after opening his "Final Curtain" first. En avant!

"Curtain" will fall next Sunday..three shows left!

What a weekend this was. 3 more large audiences...huge ovations for an incredibly hard working cast...people leaving the theatre telling me they now NEED to read more of TW's writing and see more of his plays now that they have insight into his motivation and characters. Watching people "connect the dots" in the play they just saw as this play is something to "chew on"..a play not simplistic in is subject or story. After years and years of readings and workshops and thousands of miles up and down the NJ turnpike...TW..and the play are alive...onstage...directly in front of you at Waterfront South Theatre. It is hard to pinpoint one subject to write about with all of this happening at once. It is a true joy for me and, as TW says in my play..."a true perk of the profession".

Thank you to the hundreds who have already seen the play and I personally invite you to please join us while Tennessee is still with us onstage in Waterfront South.

Three more performances of "Tennessee's Final Curtain" this Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. Tickets have been selling briskly but there are still seats available for each show. Gett hem at www.southcamdentheatre.org. En avant!

A love note from Tennessee Williams

Frank Merlo was the love of Tennessee Williams' life. Frank and Tenn spent many years together and Frank's death in 1957 shook Tenn until the day of his own death at the Hotel Elysee in 1983. During their time together, Frank took care of everything in their home life to allow Tennessee to write...to create...to become a legend. As we move into our second weekend of "Tennessee's Final Curtain" at SCTC think about love in all forms and...the ghosts of true love that may have left us..and how it affects all of us in all it's senses. After reading my play, the great actor Jeremey Lawrence, who has played Tennessee Williams all over the world, wrote this to me.."we all need a Frank in our lives". Please join us at Waterfront South Theatre and feel the ghosts and regrets of one of our greatest writers. And..to you all...I wish you the love of a "Frank" in all of your lives.

Opening a Curtain

After over 12 years of readings, workshops and thousands of miles back and forth to NY my play "Tennessee's Final Curtain" opens tonight. To fully describe the process of birthing a new play is to list the many people and places that have aided in its development. To discuss the writing of a play is to take you into a far lonelier place...a place filled with visions and voices and inspirations that allow a playwright to bring a new play to the page. My writer friends have all shared in the solemnity of that moment. The moment you finish. Writing the words "The End" mean two much different things...the end of the solitary process of writing and the beginning of the new life a play takes and...the ultimate joy of watching your play stand on its own feet as "Curtain" will do tonight. I hope to see you over the next three weeks as Tennessee Williams grapples with his own ghost and demons, brought to you to help us all understand the loneliness of this incredible writer. After all of these years its funny to see my own ghosts interact with the ghosts of others....all happening as one of the greatest writers in the past 100 years rises again to life. I hope you'll join me on this journey. It's been quite a ride up to now.

Thank you, Brian Dennehy

Thank you to acting legend Brian Dennehy for coming to SCTC yesterday to raise money for SCTC and discuss O'Neill, Miller, his films and Lee Marvin! Thank you also to the over capacity house who got to meet this iconic actor "up close and personal" the way we do things at SCTC. Brian is off to Chicago to begin rehearsals for "The Iceman Cometh" with Nathan Lane and we are in the final stages of bringing my new play "Tennessee's Final Curtain" to you starting this Friday. An exciting February at SCTC has begun......