Now Published: SELFIE

Earlier this year, The Oxford Dictionary named "selfie" as Word of the Year.

selfie

Pronunciation: /ˈsɛlfi 

(also selfy)

noun (plural selfies)

• informal A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website: occasional selfies are acceptable, but posting a new picture of yourself every day isn’t necessary

Spending so much time working on plays with teenagers, I could not help but notice how they would whip out their cameras and phones whenever they had the opportunity to snap a picture to document their day. This inspired me to write the play Selfie, which is now published by Playscripts, Inc.

Synopsis: It's senior year and problems are mounting for a group of high school students as they prepare for the future. Facing bullies, parents, pressure, sickness, and their own self-judgment, the characters search for ways to stand out. As they document their year, one click at a time, they come to realize life is not about what other people see -- it's about the pictures they have of themselves.

Cast: 3 females, 1 males, 4 either. Easily expandable.

Set: Bare stage, with a large screen, upon which photographs are projected.

Running Time: 30 – 35 minutes. 

I could not have written this play without the support, inspiration, and encouragement of the students and teachers from Gordon F. Kells High School in Carlyle, Saskatchewan. Directors Darcy Howe and Kevin Dyck have produced 7 of my plays in as many years and they always add to my work far more than I ever could have accomplished without them. The same is true of Selfie and I am so proud, not to mention honored, to have developed such a strong partnership over the years. It is truly a match made in heaven -- they take my words and elevate them, every time -- and one that I hope continues for a long time to come. Their talent and creativity means more to me than they know.

World Premiere Cast of "Selfie" / Gordon F. Kells High School

To read a free preview of the play, or to request a complete script, click HERE.

Published: Selfie

Great news! I'm proud to report that my one-act dramedy Selfie has been accepted for publication by Playscripts, Inc. This play is particularly close to my heart and I'm thrilled to partner with Playscripts to bring it to the world. Scripts and production rights should be available for purchase shortly. Check back here for updates about its release!

New Play: SELFIE

I am proud to announce the arrival of a brand new play! Selfie tells the story of 8 teenagers who are all searching for ways to be noticed in a world that has grown increasingly self obsessed. As one of the characters says: "The word selfie is only two letters away from selfish." Told in a series of selfies that are projected onstage, the characters' stories weave together in a way that I hope is funny, startling, and ultimately, powerful.


As I wrote Selfie, I found myself becoming so close to each of the characters that I wanted to protect them from the challenges of the outside world. As a dramatist, however, I know that shielding characters from danger is not very interesting for an audience, so I clenched my teeth as I plunged them each into situations way over their heads. But then, then I was able to cheer for each and every one of them as they bravely, and sometimes not so bravely, faced those struggles head-on. All of their experiences are close to my heart for a variety of different personal reasons, but now those stories no longer belong to me. It is my honor to share these characters with the world and allow them to tell their stories.

SELFIE

A dramedy in one act

by

Bradley Hayward

Synopsis: It's senior year and problems are mounting for a group of high school students as they prepare for the future. Facing bullies, parents, pressure, sickness, and their own self-judgment, the characters search for ways to stand out. As they document their year, one click at a time, they come to realize life is not about what other people see -- it's about the pictures they have of themselves.

Cast: 3 females, 1 males, 4 either. Easily expandable.

Set: Bare stage, with a large screen, upon which photographs are projected.

Running Time: 30 – 35 minutes.

To read a free preview of the play, or to request a complete script, click HERE.

2013 Emmy Award Predictions

It's time for the Emmy Awards! I've stopped watching all of the other award shows (yes, including the Oscars), but I will always keep my eye on the Emmys because not only do I get to see most of the nominees from the comfort of my own living room, but I always dreamed of picking up one of the golden statuettes when I was kid and I'm still holding out for one. So here are my predictions for 2013...

BEST DRAMA SERIES
"Breaking Bad"
"Downton Abbey"
"Game of Thrones"
"Homeland"
"House of Cards"
"Mad Men"

Will Win: Six years into its run, Breaking Bad will win it's first drama series award. It has all the buzz right now and at this point I don't think it can possibly lose.

BEST DRAMA ACTOR
Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Damian Lewis, "Homeland"
Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"

Will Win: Bryan Cranston will definitely win Emmy #4 for Breaking Bad. Damian Lewis is lucky Cranston had last year off, which allowed him to win in 2012. The only chance I see for a spoiler is Jeff Daniels, who gets to deliver an endless number of Aaron Sorkin's "Give Me an Emmy" speeches on The Newsroom.

BEST DRAMA ACTRESS
Connie Britton, "Nashville"
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"
Vera Farmiga, "Bates Motel"
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"
Kerry Washington, "Scandal"
Robin Wright, "House of Cards"

Will Win: This is the only category I'm really going out on a limb on, and I predict Vera Farmiga will win for Bates Motel. I know, I know, that means I'm betting against Claire Danes, who seems to accumulate Emmys at the drop of a hat, but Farmiga has the most interesting role among these nominees and I think a shockeroo is in order.

BEST DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jonathan Banks, "Breaking Bad"
Bobby Cannavale, "Boardwalk Empire"
Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"
Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland"
Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"

Will Win: So long as the two guys from Breaking Bad don't split the vote, this one goes to Jonathan Banks. There's an outside chance Mandy Patinkin could win, but he wasn't even nominated last year, so I'm not counting on it.

BEST DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Morena Baccarin, "Homeland"
Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"
Emilia Clarke, "Game of Thrones"
Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad"
Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"

Will Win: Another win for Breaking Bad, this one goes to Anna Gunn.

BEST COMEDY SERIES
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Girls"
"Louis"
"Modern Family"
"30 Rock"
"Veep"

Will Win: My vote would be for Veep (the funniest show on TV!), but that's just not going to happen, so I predict Modern Family will make it four in a row. It's possible Louis could win, especially given the high number of nominations it received, but that show is just a little too weird for the Academy, which tends to vote on the safe side.

BEST COMEDY ACTOR
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"
Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Louis C.K., "Louie"
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"

Will win: Same scenario as Comedy Series, Louis C.K. could very well win, but I predict a very safe win for Alec Baldwin. Now that 30 Rock is off the air, I think it's very possible they will send him off with a farewell hug.

BEST COMEDY ACTRESS
Laura Dern, "Enlightened"
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

Will win: For years I've been wanting Amy Poehler to take this award. Her character from Parks and Recreation, Leslie Knope, is the funniest creation to hit the tube in a decade or more. However, this year I'm betting on, and cheering for, Julia Louis-Dreyfus to win for Veep. I know she won last year, but she deserves two for making me laugh harder than anyone on TV all year. Her reaction to walking through a plate glass window last season made me laugh so hard that I pulled a muscle.

BEST COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTOR
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Adam Driver, "Girls"
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"
Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live"
Tony Hale, "Veep"
Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"

Will Win: I'd love to see Tony Hale win for his off-beat performance on Veep, or Ed O'Neill for being the rock of the Modern Family ensemble, or Jesse Tyler Ferguson for being the most undervalued player of the Modern Family ensemble, but this one is going to the loveable Ty Burrell. And quite deservedly so, even if it would be nice if they spread the love around to his other cast mates.

BEST COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory"
Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"
Anna Chlumsky, "Veep"
Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock"
Jane Lynch, "Glee"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie"

Will win: In a just world, Jane Krakowski would finally get the recognition she deserves for all of her seven brilliant seasons on 30 Rock, but the problem is that her role is much smaller than her fellow nominees, so I doubt she will be able to compete with the Modern Family machine. Which means Julie Bowen will take home Emmy #3.

BEST TV MOVIE/MINISERIES
"American Horror Story: Asylum"
"Behind the Candelabra"
"The Bible"
"Phil Spector"
"Political Animals"
"Top of the Lake"

Will Win: Expect that whatever category Behind the Candelabra is nominated in, it will win.

BEST TV MOVIE/MINISERIES ACTOR
Benedict Cumberbatch, "Parade's End"
Matt Damon, "Behind the Candelabra"
Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra"
Toby Jones, "The Girl"
Al Pacino, "Phil Spector"

Will Win: Michael Douglas will for sure win, and he was very good indeed, but I think the best performance in that movie was Matt Damon's.

BEST TV MOVIE/MINISERIES ACTRESS
Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Laura Linney, "The Big C: Hereafter"
Helen Mirren, "Phil Spector"
Elisabeth Moss, "Top of the Lake"
Sigourney Weaver, "Political Animals"

Will Win: I'd love to see the brilliant Elisabeth Moss finally win an Emmy for something, but Jessica Lange is another one of those actresses who wins awards that she's not even nominated for, so when she's nominated, don't even cross your fingers for anyone else.

BEST TV MOVIE/MINISERIES SUPPORTING ACTOR
Scott Bakula, "Behind the Candelabra"
James Cromwell, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
John Benjamin Hickey, "The Big C: Hereafter"
Peter Mullan, "Top of the Lake"
Zachary Quinto, "American Horror Story: Asylum"

Will Win: Peter Mullan will very likely be the only representative from Top of the Lake to win tonight.

BEST TV MOVIE/MINISERIES SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Ellen Burstyn, "Political Animals"
Sarah Paulson, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Charlotte Rampling, "Restless"
Imelda Staunton, "The Girl"
Alfre Woodard, "Steel Magnolias"

Will Win: Normally I'd always bet the farm of Alfre Woodard, another oft-awarded actress, but Steel Magnolias is pretty lightweight stuff, so Sarah Paulson will win for American Horror Story.

BEST REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
"The Amazing Race"
"Dancing with the Stars"
"Project Runway"
"So You Think You Can Dance"
"Top Chef"
"The Voice"

Will Win: The Amazing Race. Like, duh.

BEST VARIETY SERIES
"The Colbert Report"
"The Daily Show"
"Jimmy Kimmel Live"
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon"
"Real Time with Bill Maher"
"Saturday Night Live"

Will Win: The Daily Show wins every year, it always wins, it always has won, hell will have frozen over if it doesn't win. But call me crazy, I think this is the year hell will turn to ice, and I'm thinking Jimmy Kimmel Live is capable of an upset. I'll be the first to laugh at myself if/when this does not happen.

Pay Phone Video

Of all the plays I've written, I receive more emails about Pay Phone than any other. What begins as an absurd comedy about the effect divorce has on teenagers slowly unravels into a tragedy, and it has really struck a nerve with students and parents alike. Here is a terrific production of the play by Unity Composite High School in Saskatchewan. The young man playing James really gets to the heart of the scene and the results are at once hilarious and gut-wrenching.



To order a complete copy of the script, or to apply for production rights, please visit Theatrefolk.

Now Available: Troubleshooting

My latest one-act comedy is now available from Brooklyn Publishers!

TROUBLESHOOTING

Genre: Comedy

Cast: Gender flexible cast of 6-20
Running Time: 25-35 minutes
Setting: Area staging

Synopsis: What's the best way to get out of trouble? Motivational speakers Ken and Barbie have just the answer in their latest lecture series, "Troubleshooting for Teens." What starts out as a few harmless tips for teenagers in trouble, including tap dancing as a way to avoid detention, quickly turns dangerous when Ken's advice grows increasingly delusional as the evening wears on. Barbie's own troubleshooting skills are put to the test when Ken loses his mind and starts encouraging the audience to take the law into their own hands. Barbie soon discovers that trying to get out of trouble might be more trouble than it's worth!

To read a free preview and order scripts, please visit Brooklyn Publishers!