douglas brent smith

  Stage Setting: En Garde. sketch by douglas brent smith

  Stage Crew - sketch by douglas brent smith, 1980 From journal #16, on the cutting edge, 1980. This appears to be a set design, possibly for The Great Brain Robbery, but I'm not certain since at the time I had been in rehearsal for and developing "en grade" at the Playwright's Center on Kinzie Street in Chicago. It did not get any farther than a staged reading, which was impacted by a massive snow storm so our audience was only four or five people.  This could also be just a random drawing. It is smeared from water damage caused by the fire on Elm Street at Dorinda's rented home in Lewisville, CO in 2008. 

 sketch from journal #12, never doubt, 1978. This is a drawing of Peter Hoff (now known as Zeke Peterhoff, and me, wearing our Mustard Seed Theatre Company T-shirts and apparently juggling with our minds. Good times.

  Study for the set design for "The Mysteries of Love" by douglas brent smith So far, this play has not been written. 

 "Is that what I think it is?" (she slams the oven door and grabs the bottle rocket out of the boys hand. She throws it toward the window but it bounces off the screen and lands amid the other fireworks.) "Is that cherry pie?" (she opens the oven and grabs the pie. It's hot and she nearly drops it but manages to set it on the floor.) "Yes. That was a close one." (a chain reaction of fire work sparklers light up the kitchen. Small popping sounds and Gilles. She grabs the boys hand and leads him in a gallop out of the kitchen. They both narrowly miss stepping in the pie on the way out. As soon as they are gone the whole kitchen explodes.) "Shhhhh." (She returns with a fire extinguisher and gets the exploding fireworks out. It's a mess. She picks up the miraculously in tact pie and carries it out. Wisps of smoke float gently around the kitchen. Pause.) "Delicious." -- douglas brent smith - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Context: ...

  As an occasional actor I've been known to buy my own props. Sometimes it's part of my process (of becoming the role) and sometimes it's because the theatre I'm working with has a small budget.  This picture (above) is no doubt the result of a stalking retail site (you know who) sorting thru my purchases (and views) and deciding that yes, Doug you need this: this marvelous pair of glasses. I don't. Not at the moment. But I'll keep it in mind if a role requiring that lands in my lap. It reminds me of other funny props that I've worked with: mouse ears, beaver ears, a bell, a wine bottle, real food (beef stew from a can, yum), and that's not even mentioning the many props I've used with children's theater when I toured with Child's Play.  What were your most unusual tools of the trade? Did you master them? Did they bring you fully into your role and make you seem more alive? Funny props are more than funny. They facilitate fun. -- doug smith

A person starts surrounded by and covered with boxes of all sizes. These are boxes that must be unpacked for that person to be free. The boxes contain limiting thoughts, assumptions, cultural restrictions, religious constraints, bigotry, fears - lots of fears, illness, affliction, authority, rules, regulations, anarchy, chaos, regional assumptions, ethnic blurring, ethnic purity, ethnic ethos, ethics, non-ethics, commandments, sermons, skewed exegesis, historical oppression, satire, sarcasm, judgment, broken relationships, damaged relationships, power, powerlessness, pain, lost love, stolen love, broken love, broken promises, broken dreams, forgotten dreams, forgotten lessons learned, forgotten family, estranged family, substance abuse, sugar stars and swings, animal distancing and objectivizing, sexism, racism, greed, slander, lust, deference, danger, risk, confusion, misunderstanding, brokenness, separation, turning away, turning against, ignorance, stagnation, sloth, sorrow, and may...

 

 I had the delight of participating in this Zoom production of Treasure Island. Here is Episode 1 of 3:

it's my friday is a play by douglas brent smith.  this is part of a series of plays i'm writing with the theme of dreams and dreaming. please feel free to use this play as audition material or performance. small theaters are invited to produce this with my blessing and permission. i would like to be acknowledged as the playwright, of course. and if you charge admission, it would be sporting of you to share in the revenue, wouldn't it? Here's a pdf copy if you'd rather work with that: It's My Friday ------------------------------------------------------------- (Lights come up on the deli counter of a natural grocery store in Boulder, Colorado. Two deli clerks staff the line – Jodie and Dan. There are two more people in the kitchen upstage – Jesus and Juanita. The supervisor, Angela, is off stage. Two customers wait for service.) Jodie (to Dan) I thought you were going to be off today. Dan I was, but Alex called off sick. Jodie W...