Archive for the Current Events Category

On the Passing of Whitney Houston

Monday, February 13th, 2012 | Permalink

The cause of death is still undetermined, but the passing of Whitney Houston saddens me greatly. She was about my age (just 2 years younger). I grew up hearing her voice on the radio and wanting to have just a taste of that passion in my own singing.

Sometimes, all the beauty in the world isn’t enough and the sadness comes on velvet feet to steal our joy. Here in the Savage Garden, those shadows that follow us can overpower us and still the echo of God’s voice in our ears.

I wish only the best for her family and friends.

Tags: current events, singers, singing
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World AIDS Day–December 01, 2011

Thursday, December 1st, 2011 | Permalink

Our hearts go out to all who suffer and are not comforted.

May our prayers touch you, even on death’s door, and

May you find the peace that surpasses all understanding.

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Musical Theater Musician Jokes

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011 | Permalink

When it’s true, it’s true!

How do you get a guitar player to turn down the volume? Put sheet music in front of him.
How does a guitar player make a million dollars? He starts out with seven million.
What do you call a musician without a girlfriend? Homeless.
A seven-year-old boy tells his dad, “When I grow up, I want to be a musician.” Dad says, “I’m sorry, son. You can’t have it both ways.”
What’s the difference between a puppy and a singer-songwriter? Eventually the puppy stops whining.

For more jokes, check out “A Prairie Home Companion–Pretty Good Joke Book.”

Tags: jokes, musicians, songwriters
Posted in Current Events, Songwriting | No Comments »

Rodney’s Rule #17

Friday, August 12th, 2011 | Permalink

Here is one of my favorite rules on theater publicity:

Never tell anyone your plans.
Never fear telling anyone your accomplishments.

Tags: Publicity, Robbins, Rodney, rules, theater
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Good Writing Makes TV Affordable

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 | Permalink

Here is an el cheepo Coke versus Coke Zero TV ad. All you need to shoot a commercial like this is a couple of good actors (I know you know some of them), a $150 video camera (you, or someone you know, probably already has a good enough camera to shoot this commercial) and a clever script. I can help you with the script, and as a playwright, I give producers pretty wide leeway in creating TV spots. So, turn on your speakers and see what a little creativity can do to promote your next play, or mine.

Posted in Current Events, Media Hooks, Videos | No Comments »

Rodney’s Fun Christmas Poem

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010 | Permalink

Turn on your speakers and check out this animated version of my poem “The Laughing Buddha’s Christmas Wish.”

Tags: Christmas Wish, Fun, Funny Poem, Humor, Laughing Buddha, Robbins, Rodney, Silly Poem
Posted in Current Events, Rodney Robbins, Videos | No Comments »

How To Find Your Story

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010 | Permalink

This morning, I was trying to get ready for work, keep an eye on the news, eat breakfast and brush my teeth all at the same time. Of course that never works well, and when I went to turn off the TV and head out the door, the remotes were nowhere in sight. Not on the nightstand. Not in the bathroom or tucked in with the bath towels. Not on the kitchen table. Those pesky remotes weren’t even hiding under the bedspread, my pillow, the dirty clothes or the cat.

Loosing the TV remote is a lot like losing your way while you are writing: pretty soon, you’re standing there in your underwear, dizzy, confused, with a dumb expression on your face mumbling, “Duh, where it go? I had story. Where story now?” So, what’s the solution?

Well, this morning, I finally gave up looking and turned off the stupid TV and cable box by hand. Then I quick got dressed, grabbed my backpack and headed for the door. But wait! What’s this? Underneath my backpack (I had put it on the bed earlier), I found the remotes. I couldn’t find the remotes till I gave up and moved on. What does that say about finding Your story?

If your favorite opening scene isn’t working, sometimes you have to give it up and write something else.
No one said you had to write your story In Order.
If you want to delete a scene you think you might want back later, cut the scene and paste it at the end of your document. Keep it there till you’re Sure you don’t want it any more.
If you are stuck on your opening, but know what happens when the lovers get to the motel, write that!
As they say in the film community, “We’ll fix that in post.”
It’s okay to write four different openings for your novel and three different endings. Let them simmer for awhile and you’ll know which ones to pick.
It’s okay to sit at your computer for five minutes and do nothing but imagine what might happen.
First you dream it up, then you write it down.Give yourself room to dream.

Tomorrow, I’ll tell you what happened when I trashed the opening of my new mystery novel.

Posted in Current Events, Play Writing | No Comments »

Rodney Robbins Musical Passes Feminist Test

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 | Permalink

“The Bechdel Test for Women in Movies.” Ever hear of it? It is a feminist, but very reasonable, test to see how women are depicted in movies. It asks these three questions about movies (and works great on plays too):

Does it have at least two women with names?
Do they talk to each other?
Do they talk about something besides a man?

Lots and LOTS of scripts fail this test. I’m happy to say that “Big Feet, Big Love,” my sexy, musical romp about a reluctant porn star PASSES the test. One of the very first scenes has the female lead, Nevada Jones, talking to one of her pole dancers, Jade, about a new routine. Then Nevada talks to her good friend, Nidia, about her hopes and dreams for a new dance-school/tourist-trap.

On the other hand, my dramedy “House of Many Rooms” fails, or passes, the test depending on the casting. I have plenty of named female characters, but Corinthia, Cookie and Jill barely acknowledge each other. Their lack of communication is the central problem ruining the life of our hero, Jeffery, who struggles with Dissociative Identity Disorder. However, if you cast a female therapist (specifically allowed with this play), the female characters do talk about a young girl who remains unnamed until the last few seconds of the play when Corinthia reveals how to learn the name of the murdered child. It’s all very sad and funny and terrible and uplifting, but I’m not sure it passes the Bechdel Test. So, I guess I’m batting 500. How are you doing with the plays you write or produce?

Here is a funny breakdown on the test from the folks at FeministFrequency.

Posted in Current Events, Play Writing, Rodney Robbins | No Comments »

Does Writing Plays Give You Migraines?

Friday, November 5th, 2010 | Permalink

Migraine headaches. “We hates them, Precious. Yes, we hates migraines!” I’ve been having a batch of them for, well, only the last 10 years or so. They make writing and promoting plays tough–especially when you have 2-3 per week and they last 2 days each! It’s no wonder I haven’t posted in awhile.

The good news is that I’ve found a new migraine doctor–a neurologist who specializes in migraine headache patients. I saw her about a month ago, and she talked with me for about an hour. How often does THAT happen? Anyway, she put me on two new migraine preventive drugs, plus two new rescue meds. This combination has done nothing to reduce the frequency of the migraines–it’s still 2-3 per week–but the symptoms are waaaaay less severe. Finally, I’m able to finish editing “House of Many Rooms,” and start getting the website ready to do some radio publicity. Writing plays doesn’t cause migraines, but having my life back sure makes writing plays easier!

For now, remember what Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, said, “Alas, poor Yorick. He made us laugh, but his migraines did him in.”

Tags: Hamlet, Headaches, Migraine, Play writing, Playwright
Posted in Current Events, Famous Playwrights, Rodney Robbins | No Comments »

Rodney Robbins and Reader’s Theater

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 | Permalink

Should playwrights allow their plays to be produced as reader’s theater? I think this depends on the play and the playwright but for me, Rodney Robbins, I’m all for it. Why? Why, after slaving for hours over a hot keyboard, flipping through the thesaurus for just he right word, and struggling with stage directions and scene descriptions, why would a playwright agree to such a thing?

Because reader’s theater works
Because it helps a show find an audience
Because it allows beginning actors to enjoy great plays
Because it’s fun

Readers theater is way more powerful than it has any right to be. Readers theater strips a play down to the essentials and if the story and characters are there, a LOT of it comes through. Sure the costumes and sets and lights and sounds are nice, but the essential essence of a great play is right there in the dialog and descriptions. It’s often all you need.

Readers theater is cheep. You could literally stage 10 reader’s theater productions for the price of one full stage production. Sure, I want ALL my plays and musicals to come fully alive on stage. At the same time, if I could get 10 times the audience, for the same money, I’d be interested. Readers theater also allows young actors, students and busy moms and dads a chance to step out of their ordinary lives and be part of the show. Imagine–a couple of rehearsals, a few hours of script analysis and you’re done! How many more people would participate in theater if that’s all the commitment they needed to get started?

Readers theater is fun. I like doing it, and I like “watching” it. I mostly hear cold readings so for me, these are kind of like a radio play. However, add a bit of scene study, a few light cues and actors with expressive faces and you’ve got a visual performance of surprising power.

Maybe it’s a confidence thing, but I’m confident that my plays hold up structurally and artistically even when stripped to the bare bones. If you love reader’s theater and are looking for a new show, check out my new play here, or my new musical.