The Playwrights Database
THOMAS M KELLY
(1940 - )Nationality: USA
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Literary Agent: n/a
THOMAS M. KELLY EDUCATION: Mr. Kelly was born (05 Jan 1940) and raised in Iowa, and is a former member of the United States Marine Corps. He is a graduate of Orange County Community College, Middletown, NY, he attended two years at the University of California, Davis and is a graduate of Lincoln Law School, Sacramento, California. PUBLISHED: a monologue, "Sara", from his play "smile, and smile, and be a villain.", is included in Young Women's Monologs From Contemporary Plays: Professional auditions For aspiring actresses, edited by Gerald Lee Ratliff, State University New York, Potsdam and published in 2004 by Meriwether Publishing, Ltd. JAC Publishing, Burlington, Ma, has published four of his plays: "the Butterfly Within" (a heartwarming story of culture clash as an old Jewish gentleman and a young Korean girl discover the meaning of rest of their lives atop a Lower east Side tenement), the political cartoon play "Ba-Bang!" (an analytic, serio-comedic caricature of "Dubya"), "Fana!", (the ordeal of three trapped survivors of suicide bomb blasts spend what could be their last hours justifying their lives and religions: two very honestly, the third very deceitfully. In a mental duel the three argue the rationale of murder/suicide bombings using the Qur'an, Hindu philosophy and the Torah as authority.) and "smile, and smile, and be a villain." (a frightening glimpse at the life of a victim of Borderline Personality Disorder). Long Island City Arts Project, in New York, a non-professional production, produced his play, "Too Late to Waken", now on cd. HONORS: "the Butterfly Within" is included in the Eileen Heckart Senior Drama archives in the Lawrence and Lee Theatre Research Institute at Ohio State University. LOCAL AWARDS: Several elly Nominations and two elly awards: Best Overall Production, for "a Shayna Madel", and Best Set, for "Nighthawks and Night Cafe" based on the painting "Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper. Mr. Kelly's "Wake up, Jay! It's Christmas!", winner of four elly awards for Young Peoples Theatre (2006) including Best Overall Production. OtheR WORKS: He is the founder of the Thistle Dew Playwright's Workshop. "Ole' Gimlet eye" is a biographical play about Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, USMC. (a man who defied the powers that were, to wage a war against war in the days before World War II: "War is a racket! I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism." In the 1930's he revealed to the then ill President Roosevelt a scheme to replace him with a "Presidential assistant" by a conglomerate of financiers, bankers, and industrialists, and he, Butler, would be appointed as the new "Dictator".) "Zen and the art of Making Par", "the Stones", "the Toy Maker", "How To Improve Your Life in Four easy Moves" and "the Timekeeper" are more recent full-length and one act plays. He has written and produced many children's plays, including his: "This is not our backyard, Charlie!", "You're in trouble now, Charlie!" "Stop snoring, Jay! I'm dreaming of Christmas." and "Wake up, Jay! It's Christmas!". they feature Charlie (Prince Charlemagne de Coquille), a French Briard puppy, and Jay (Jaida de les etoiles), a Persian Red Point feline. the Thistle Dew first produced "the Butterfly Within" and his musical comedy, "Frankie and Johnny Were Schweethawts". CONTACTING the PLAYWRIGHT: Thomas M. Kelly, 1901 P Street, Sacramento, Ca 95814 email: tddtheatre@aol.com, 916-457-6286
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below is a list of Thomas M Kelly's plays - click on a Play Title for more information
Butterfly Within, The Fana! Intruder in the Hayloft This is not our backyard, Charlie! Wake up, Jay! It's Christmas!Butterfly Within, The
Synopsis:
after the death of his beloved wife, Zelda, Fyvush, returned to the playground of his youth: the rooftop of his once rundown tenement. there he finds, among the many changes in his old neighborhood, Mitzi, an eighteen-year-old Korean college student with red hair, sunglasses, hooked up to a cd player, painting sunsets, and demanding that he leave her 'playground'. they eventually grow to tolerate and enjoy each other's company and Fyvush shares stories of his rooftop experiences. they soon discover that they have a great deal in common: each has something to hide. Fyvush despondent over his wife's suicide, also contemplates suicide and Mitzi's apparent rejection of all things Korean, but finds inner peace secretly dancing traditional Korean mask dances. While on the streets below, she struggles to find her place in American society.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Thistle Dew theatre 2006
Organisations:
Thistle Dew Productions
1st Published:
JAC Publishing, 2005 -
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
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Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
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Top of PageFana!
Six Palestinian murder/suicide bombers have targeted a Tel-aviv Culture Center. In the four-story complex each bomber is assigned a floor to detonate himself, with the exception of the theater, which has two assigned bombers. they are to explode in rapid succession for maximum effect: to bring the building down on the hundreds of gallery visitors, planetarium viewers, and the theater audience. the explosions take place as planned except for one. In the lower level, ten meters below street level only one of the bombers exploded as planned. the sixth bomber fails to explode. the bomber is instead trapped beneath the rubble and bodies of the victims. another survivor, a guard, (a member of the Israel Defense Force), who, as a civilian is a Tel-aviv University professor (of the Diaspora: the flight of the Jews and the Palestinians), finds the surviving bomber (unknown to him as a bomber). the guards Father is Jewish. His mother is Muslim. a third survivor is a playwright from India. She is Hindu. the three survivors in the lower level, the theater, spend their waiting hours justifying their lives and religions: one very honestly, the other deceitfully. In a mental duel the three argue the rationale of murder/suicide bombings using the Quran and the Torah as authority. the guard reveals that he is a refusnik (a member of the IDF who has refused to participate in the defense of Israel, arguing that he cannot in good conscience, humiliate, harass and violate the dignity of the Palestinians). For his conscientious position he is jailed, then placed on guard duty at the Center. the story fades to an interview at the newly decorated and furnished home of the suicide bomber, where his mother has revealed to the public that she has condoned and encouraged her sons martyrdom. Videotape made by a clandestine television station based in Lebanon reveals the preparations of her sons martyrdom. (a public relations piece for the cause of allah.) Two diverse, but surprisingly similar, religions are placed in a situation that has an ending that foretells the outcome of the centuries of wars caused by men trying to prove that their god is the right god. Did anyone ever ask god? the story ends with the martyr revealing his identity, the final collapse of the building, causing the subsequent remaining explosion, and fade to the Independent News Corporation (a IBC type news organization) broadcast viewed in the home of the mother.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
JAC Publishing -
Music:
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To Buy This Play:
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Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 8 Female: 4 Other: -
Further Reference:
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Top of PageIntruder in the Hayloft
Synopsis:
While their parents are in town shopping, Anabelle and Michael, the 12 year old twin (not compulsory) offspring of Lone Tree, Iowa farmers, search the house for the Christmas presents their parents hide from them every year. Finding nothing in the attic or the basement of the house they move to the barn. Before they enter the barn they hear noises. Cautiously they search the empty stalls, the grain bins and after Michael tosses corn cobs up into the loft, they discover a fat old man hiding, resting, sleeping.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Thistle Dew Theatre Dec 2014
Organisations:
Thistle Dew Productions
1st Published:
Thistle Dew Publishing, 2014 978-1502963185
Music:
-
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If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
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Genre:
Family Christmas
Parts:
Male: 3-6 Female: 3-6 Other: -
Further Reference:
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Top of PageThis is not our backyard, Charlie!
Synopsis:
Charlie and Jay are your typical house pets. Or are they? They can and do get into the same adventures and misadventures as the children in their audiences. Charlie, short for Prince Charlemagne de Coquille, a French Briard puppy, and Jay, short for Jaida de les Etoiles (Pronounced: Aye-twa-lay), which is French for Jaida of the Stars, is a Persian Red Point cat. Master and Mistress take a trip to the forest with Charlie and Jay. Upon arrival Charlie jumps out of the car with Jay close behind. They are lost in the forest and they eventually become very hungry and tired. It is late in the afternoon when they meet their animal colleagues, the occupants of the forest backyard. Their newly found friends try uproariously to find them food and shelter. We meet Stunk the Skunk, Tree the Redwood, Bush the Manzanita, Who the Owl, Priscilla the Eagle, Schquire the Squirrel, Snavely the Snake, Brandy the Bear and her cubs. They all voice their concerns for their "backyard" and are quite protective of it. We learn the dangers as well as the pleasures of the forest backyard from the antics and interaction of the characters.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Thistle Dew Theatre 2001
Organisations:
Thistle Dew Productions
1st Published:
Thistle Dew Publishing, 2011 978-1503016019
Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
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Genre:
Children's Play
Parts:
Male: 2-7 Female: 2-7 Other: -
Further Reference:
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Top of PageWake up, Jay! It's Christmas!
Synopsis:
A moment in the Life Adventures of Charlie and Jay: Reining Cat and Dog. Christmas With Charlie and Jay or "Wake up, Jay! Its Christmas", a joyous sing along as a child is born into the family. Charlie and Jay are your typical house pets. Or are they? They can and do get into the same adventures and misadventures as the children in their audiences. Charlie, short for Prince Charlemagne de Coquille, a French Briard puppy, and Jay, short for Jaida de les Etoiles (Pronounced: Aye-twaa-lay), which is French for Jaida of the Stars, is a Persian Red Point cat. Charlie and Jay wake on the eve of Christmas. They become deeply embroiled in their breeding credentials as Jay teaches Charlie the art of singing Christmas carols. They continue singing, which disturbs and wakens Master and Mistress. Unknown to them Mistress is pregnant with their first child, and it is due momentarily. The play takes place in the living room of a middle-income family home in Yourtown, USA. Jay has been the queen of the house for seven years. Charlie is a newly acquired puppy. They have the run of the house.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Thistle Dew Theatre 2004
Organisations:
Thistle Dew Productions
1st Published:
Thistle Dew Publishing 978-1502997807
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Children's Play
Parts:
Male: 2-5 Female: ,2-5 Other: -
Further Reference:
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