Okay, I admit it. I’m cheap. I didn’t get you anything for the holidays. And I’m lazy. I haven’t updated my website in FOREVER. Well, I’m not updating the site yet, but I do want to give a little (emphasis on the little) holiday gift to all the DRAMA! fans out there. Here’s some fun from Show, Don’t Tell that I intend to add to the “Book Bits” page whenever I manage to get around to it…

DRAMA! Show, Don’t Tell

Book Bits

Yes, I really did name Marq’s parents Sandy and Danny (okay, Daniel). This was in honor of the high school production of Grease I was in that first truly developed my love of theatre … it was also the show where I realized that I was intended more for “behind-the-scenes” work. Although I did have a killer dance break in the middle of “Greased Lighting.” (That’s sarcasm, in case it doesn’t translate on the page.)

Embers, the club that Bryan and Marq go to in the book does not exist. The reason it does not exist and the reason it’s called “Embers” is that the actual club that I initially wanted to set the scene in closed down because of a fire as I was writing the book. I wasn’t sure at the time if or when the club would reopen, so I felt it best to make up a place … and give it a fire theme.

Chapter Title: Measure for Measure. I directed a scene from this Shakespearean play in my college Directing II class. Although I was working with some really great actors, the way I staged the scene … it was definitely not one of the highlights of my educational career.

Chapter Title: Damn Yankees! Though I only recently saw the movie of this musical for the first time, the song “Whatever Lola Wants” has always been one of my favorite songs from a musical.

Chapter Title: The Tap Dance Kid. When I worked on a book about The West Wing, I had the chance to interview Dule Hill, who played Charlie on the show and who performed in The Tap Dance Kid on Broadway. Dule’s now in the USA Network show, Psych, which I strongly recommend everyone to check out. Hilarity will ensue, I assure you.

Show, Don’t Tell was partially (minorly?) inspired by a great friend I had in college who ate, slept, and breathed the Ren Faire life. She was one of those people who would slip into character and stay in that character no matter what. Only actors and Ren Faire people can get away with that kind of thing. In the real world, I believe it’s called having a split personality.

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