I am very proud to announce that my very first picture book (illustrated by the wonderful Johanna Van Der Sterre) is now available.
You can order online at Amazon.com or RandomHouse.com.
This humorous picture book will be available in bookstores by February 22nd, 2011. (Only seven months until the eternal questions — Why Do I Have to Make My Bed? — is finally answered!)
My ten-minute comedy, “Macbeth Mixed Up” made its international debut last month. The kids at the Garden International School Rayong Thailand did a terrific job of bringing this little Shakespeare spoof to life.
You can check out the last five minutes. (By the way, I’m impressed with this guy’s Scottish accent!)
I’ve been brainstorming about the story of our Rainbow Connection show. (And thinking of Song and Dance numbers too.) Here’s what I have so far. Keep in mind, it is very subject to change, depending on who and how many audition. (Click here for audition details.)
Rough Draft of the Show…
ACT ONE:
#1) Sunshine
(YELLOW GROUP) Little kids with sun-flower headpieces sing “You are my Sunshine” in a very cute, children’s theater sort-of-way. Then the ENTIRE CAST busts into “Walking on Sunshine.”
#2) Storyline Moment: Two kids are fishing. A lost little frog is looking for his mother. The two kids decide to help the frog find his way home.
#3) “Journey to the Past” (SOLO) – During this solo, the kids travel on their journey, looking for the frog’s mother. (Optional – this song could be a TRIO.)
#4) Sketch with Old Man character.
#5) (RED GROUP) Still thinking about this. I’d like them to do something with make-shift drums that leads into the next number:
#6) (ORANGE GROUP) “Upside Down” (by Jack Johnson) – The Orange Group are monkey-like characters.
#7) Storyline moment? Frog and Two Kids pantomime hopping in the pond and swimming.
#8) (GREEN GROUP) “Octopuses Garden” – This can involve some cool puppet creations. The people in tables can be given bubbles to blow to create the underwater illusion, and add to the fun.
#9) (BLUE & PURPLE GROUP) – Undecided Song – I want to do something involving umbrellas. “Singing in the Rain”? Or maybe forget the umbrellas and go for “Moving Right Along” from The Muppet Movie.
#10) DANCE NUMBER – Many cast members, but maybe not all. Song: “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder.
#11) Closing Act One: Glee style “Don’t Stop Believing”? (ENTIRE CAST – SOLO/DUET MOMENTS)
ACT TWO:
#1) (ENTIRE CAST) “Day Dream Believer”? “Over the Rainbow”? Both? (Give Solo Moments to certain performers.)
#2) (YELLOW GROUP) “Keep on the Sunny Side.” (I have a funny bit to go along with this number… But right now it’s a secret.)
#3) Old Man Character (And Maybe Old Woman Character) “When I’m 64”
#4) Undecided Song – (BLUE and PURPLE GROUP)
#5) Storyline Moment / Something involving Frog, Kids and RED GROUP – Song?
#6) (ORANGE GROUP) “Walk Like You” – The monkey characters harass the kids and the frog.
#7) Storyline Moment: The frog find his mother. This leads into “Rainbow Connection” (ENTIRE CAST – BEGINS AS SOLO)
#8) DANCE – ENTIRE CAST. “I Wish” by Stevie Wonder.
Set:
IDEA #1: a simple backdrop that could pass for Kermit’s swamp, or a lush green forest of willow trees.
IDEA #2: Blank stage, fabric hanging down, each piece is the color of the rainbow.
Costumes:
There will be six different groups of performers:
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple
Each group will have a T-shirt of their groups color. (I think we will need to find a particular place for parents to order these shirts, so they are all the same style/color.)
The rest of the attire is very kid friendly: jeans and tennis shoes (preferably Converse-style, but it doesn’t matter too much.)
There may be a few performers during a sketch or specific number that may wear something different. For example, an old-man costume or a sun-flower hats for the Yellow Group girls.
Well, I am very excited about my latest creative project. I’m getting back to my roots: directing children’s theater. It’s what I did way back in the early 90s. And it’s what helped me become a published author. Show’s like Aesop’s Hop and Sahara Nights began as little musicals at the Yorba Linda Civic Light Opera. Now they are published plays performed at schools all over the world.
I will be organizing and directing the Canyon Theatre Guild’s “Junior Cabaret.” I have very big shoes to fill, since Leslie Berra (the genius behind some of CTG’s best shows) has put on the Junior Cabarets of the past.
Interested in auditioning? Here’s the info:
AUDITIONS FOR
Canyon Theatre Guild’s
Annual Junior Cabaret
· “Rainbow Connection”
Seeking singers, actors, dancers, and puppeteers!
(Ages 4 – 17)
Auditions: June 21st and June 22nd (5:00 – 7:30 PM)
Canyon Theatre Guild — “Rehearsal Building”
24242 Main Street in Newhall, CA
Help us create this unique theatrical fund-raising event filled
with music, dance, and imagination.
Performance: August 13th, 2010.
For information: profwade@hotmail.com
Have you noticed I don’t write too much about my life on this blog? I mean, I tell you about my writing projects, and I probably mention of few personal details along the way, but this isn’t the sort of blog where I share my daily activities very often.
If you are wondering why, it’s not because I’m shy. And it’s not because I think my life is boring. I think my life is endlessly fascinating, although I’m guessing a lot of people would find it boring.
The thing is: I write in a good, old fashioned journal. In ink, by hand, with lots of doodles scattered on the page. And that’s where I “talk” about my personal life. To myself, I guess. Someday, when they open up the Wade Bradford museum, these journals will be on display — and the scholars can study them carefully, retracing my every step like a historical detective. But for now, most of my daily life isn’t recorded on this blog.
But I will share you my thoughts on yesterday’s big event. For the first time ever, I threw my wife a surprise party. I had been planning it for over eight months, and I was impressed with the fact that I actually kept it secret. I have a tendency to blab to my wife — she’s my best friend, and it’s very hard for me to keep things from her. But it was worth it to see the expression on her face when all of her friends popped out and surprised her. I rented a nice little courtyard area next to the Canyon Theatre Guild. There were about 30 guests, so it wasn’t too big — just the right size.
Now, I could share all of the descriptive details about the event, and yet, something is pulling me back to my old fashioned journal. So, I think I’ll go talk to that page for now.
Well, it’s been about three months since the publication of “Tomorrow’s Wish.”
Considering I haven’t spent a dime on advertising, sales have been doing pretty well. So far, I have sold 140 copies. I know what you’re thinking — that’s not very much! A best-seller should sell millions of copies. yes, that’s true (you big meanie!). However, “Tomorrow’s Wish” is a play, and a play for younger audiences, no less, so it’s kind of a small market.
But I am thankful for everyone who has purchased the play. And just in case you are interested, dear reader, you can order Tomorrow’s Wish in print for $10 — or if you’re cheap like me — you can download your own copy for less than three bucks!
Hey, if you’ve read the play, why not visit Amazon.com and write a review for me!
