Dead Tuesday: Meet the Boudreauxs!

The opening moments of DEAD TUESDAY (formerly known as THE PERILS OF FRANCOIS), an interactive murder mystery script written by Scott Cherney that was commissioned ten years ago by producer Melanie Roady for her Melo O' Drama Theater in Nashville, TN.

Set in New Orleans, DEAD TUESDAY tells the tale of international playboy Francois Fibian as he attempts to solve a murder at a Mardis Gras celebration in the French Quarter. Unfortunately, he has his own problems. He's been placed under a voodoo curse that is turning him into a frog. Yes, really.

(Bob Boudreaux enters to a fanfare of “When the Saints Go Marching In” wearing a tuxedo and a Mardi Gras eye mask. He pulls it off and gregariously greets his guests.) 

Bob:  Greetings and salutations, you lovely, lovely people! Welcome to the Big Easy at the best time you’ll ever have into your entire life-Mardi Gras time! It is an honor and pleasure to receive you here in my home-not only New Orleans but in my ever-so-humble abode. I am speaking about palatial Boudreaux Manor, the crownin’ jewel in the tiara known as Vieux Caree-or as you might call it, the French Quarter. Allow me to introduce myself to those of you out of the loop for one reason or another and for those of you that are just plain loopy-slow down on them Sazeracs now, especially the distinguished members of the press that we have here tonight. I know how you newspaper people are. It’s early yet. My name is Bob Boudreaux and this is indeed my family estate. Pretty, ain’t it? You make yourselves to home now, y’hear? 

Bunny: (off) Bobby Lee? Bobby Lee! 

Bob: Relax, folks. That’s not the smoke alarm.

Bunny: (off) You gonna introduce me or what?

Bob: I was fixin’ to. 

Bunny: (off) Well, get to it then!

Bob: Those liltin’ tones belong to my co-host for this evening and in life itself, put your hands together won’t you please for my darlin’ wife, Mrs. Bunny Boudreaux!

(Bunny Boudreaux enters, also resplendent with a colorful Mardi Gas eye mask on a stick.)

Bunny: Hey, y’all! How you doin’? Thanks for comin’ out tonight. (to Bob-sotto) About damn time. I was growin’ moss back there.

Bob: Green’s a good color for you, cherie.

Bunny: Black’s gonna be a good color for your right eye if’n you mess with me tonight, Bobby Lee.

Bob: Ain’t she sweet? That’s why I call her my lil’ Bunny Beignet. Sugar, why don’t you tell the nice folks about our benefit this evening?

Bunny: I’d be happy to, honey, if you’d jus’ give me some room. (hip bumps him) See if you can rustle me up a beverage, would you now? As the chairman of the Bunny Boudreaux Foundation, it is my duty to pick a specific charity to honor at each year’s Mardi Gras Ball here at Boudreaux Manor.  The proceeds for this year’s charity event go to the Save the Louisiana Nutria Fund. I don’t how many of you realize how many of these furry critters are hunted for their pelts and many consider them to be pests. Why, it’s said that they are destroying the wetlands by gnawing their way from one end of the Mississippi River to the other. Why, I think that’s a crime. Feast your eyes on this here cute lil’ fella. (holds up poster board of an orange-toothed nutria) Look at that lil’ sweetie! I call this one Mr. Chompers. Yes, his pelt would make a warm pair of fuzzy slippers. But honestly, is this not the face of an angel? So tonight, dig down deep and help this poor defenseless critter before he ends up on somebody’s feet.

Bob: Thank you, that was inspirin’. (to Bunny) Put that ugly rat down. Folks are goin’ to eat soon. (to crowd) Ladies and gentleman, what say we get this party started? As y’all know, it’s Mardi Gras and now’s the time to kick up your heels higher than they’ve ever been kicked before! So as we say In the Big Easy: Laissez les bons temps rouler! In other words, let the good times roll! 

Bunny:  Oh, my land! All this excitement has left me positively parched.  Fetch me a drink like I asked you to, Bobby Lee.

Bob: I think maybe you should pace yourself tonight, darlin’.

Bunny:  Why, Bobby Lee, how you do go on. I haven’t had a drop this entire evening.

Bob: That’s because you emptied the entire contents of the liquor cabinet this afternoon.

Bunny: That’s not true. I didn’t touch the vermouth. I’m thirsty, Bobby Lee!

Bob: It’s like I’m married to a camel.

Bunny:  Don’t speak to me that way, not now, not here, not ever. I don’t have to remind you of who’s in charge here, do I? This may be Boudreaux Manor, but don’t forget who’s paying for all of this. I am. You’re so broke that it no joke. 

Bob: Bunny, there is a time and a place for everything. This is neither one. If you’re thirsty, then go suck on an ice cube. (wind howls off) Whoa! Where’d that wind come from? Listen to that outside. Weather report didn’t mention any storm a’comin’. 

Bunny: There’s more where that came from.

Bob: What’s that supposed to mean? You think you’re Mother Nature or do you think you can buy the weather too?

Bunny: Would you like to find out? Like I said, I require a beverage, Bobby Lee.

Bob: I wish you’d stop calling me Bobby Lee.

Bunny: Why? Cuz that’s what your mama called you before she tanned your hide?

Bob: My mama never tanned my hide. She got the nanny to do it.

Bunny: How embarrassing for you.

Bob: Until I got older, then I grew accustomed to her spanks.

Bunny: Do you expect me to listen to your disgusting stories without a drink in my hand?

Bob: (sighs) Will you promise to sip it slowly like a lady?

Bunny: I’ll even extend a pinky finger.

Bob: Someone please fetch Mrs. Boudreaux a cocktail so I may continue. Ladies and gentleman, I would like to bring to your attention that tonight we will be graced by a very special guest of honor.  My very good friend, media mogul and philanthropist, Mr. Francois Andre Midas Fibian the Fifth should be joining us momentarily.

Bunny: Where is your boy anyway?

Bob: He’ll be here.

Bunny: We’re all waitin’ with bated breath.

Bob: What kind of bait…night crawlers? No wonder you drown them with alcohol. (wind howls again)

Bunny: I’m warnin’ you…

Bob: You are positively delusional, cher. (to audience) Don’t you fret about that wind, ladies and gentlemen. It’s too early in the year for hurricane season here. Even if we were, we’d just hunker down inside here and have ourselves a good old fashioned hurricane party.

Bunny: If not, maybe we’ll just drink a bunch of hurricanes anyway.

Bob: As if you need an excuse.

Bunny: Bobby Lee…

Bob: Bunny Boo Boo…

Bunny: (taken aback suddenly) You haven’t called me that in a month of Sundays. You used to whisper it in my ear.

Bob: Cher, with all your quirks, annoyances and foibles, you must know how I really feel about you. Why do you think I stick around?

Bunny: You mean it’s not just my money?

Bob: Well, not just the money. It’s also the honey, Bunny. 

Bunny: Robert E. Lee Boudreaux, you are still one sweet talkin’ devil.

Bob: Deep down you know there’s nothing that can ever come between you and me…

(Enter Dee Dee Demure, borderline trashy with several strands of Mardi Gras beads around her neck and mask.)

Dee Dee: Yoo-hoo! Mr. Boudreaux! Here I am!

Bunny: (breaking away from Bob) What is that two dollar tramp doing at MY Mardi Gras Ball?

Bob: Dee Dee? She’s my personal secretary.

Bunny: How…personal…is…she? (Bob clears throat uncomfortably)

Dee Dee: (to audience) Hi! Good to see you. Oh, what a bunch of colorful people! Y’all look like a big bowl of Froot Loops. (to Bunny)Evening, Miz Boudreaux. Can you guess who I am?

Bunny: One of them Kardashian girls?

Dee Dee: Land sakes! (pulls off mask) No, it’s me, Dee Dee Demure.

Bunny: I was close.

Dee Dee: Mr. Boudreaux, I am so sorry I’m late. I’ll be glad to work overtime whenever you want.

Bunny: (to Bob) How can you pass up an offer like that?

Dee Dee: I had some trouble getting here. The weather outside is positively frightful. There are trees blown over everywhere and a power line is down on my street. That wind is so strong, I could barely walk the streets.

Bunny: (after a beat) This is what y’all call low hangin’ fruit.

Bob: Well, we’re so glad you made it safe and sound, Miss Demure.

Bunny:  And look all the lovely beads you have.

Dee Dee: I got all these from some nice boys on Bourbon Street. All I had to do was…

Bob: Yes, we know how you got them. 

Bunny: And so many too. No wonder you’re late. 

Dee Dee:  Miz Bunny, may I say what an honor it is to be here tonight for such a worthy cause. Eating right is so important these days.

Bunny:  Say what?

Dee Dee:  Your charity. (Bob and Bunny look confused) I’m a firm believer in good nutrition. 

Bob: No, Miss Demure. This is about saving the endangered nutria.

The illustrious Mr. Chompers

Dee Dee: What’s a nutria?

Bunny: (holding up poster) This is a nutria.

Dee Dee: (shrieks) Eek! That looks like a vampire beaver!

Bunny: That’s Mr. Chompers!

Dee Dee: Oh, I’m sorry, Miz Bunny. Is he kin?

Bunny: (about to smack Dee Dee with poster) Why you…

Bob: Bunny! Calm down, darlin’. She’s jus’ confused is all.

Dee Dee: I apologize, Miz Bunny. My nerves are a lil’ on edge after walkin’ through the French Quarter at night all by myself.

Bunny:  May I ask why didn’t you bring an escort?

Dee Dee: That’s what else happened. He bailed on me at the last second.

Bunny: I’m sorry, what? He posted bail for you?

Dee Dee: No, he ditched me. Can you believe it? Honestly, the nerve of some people. But there was no way I was going to miss this party so I decided to show up stag.

Bunny: I’m sure it’s not the first stag party you’ve been to.

Dee Dee: Oh, Miz Boudreaux! (laughs, then suddenly) I don’t get it.

Bunny: No, but I’m sure you will. (turns on her heels, glares at Bob as the wind howls) You hear that, Bobby Lee? I am only going to say this once. You best be on your best behavior…or else. (walks out amongst the audience) Enjoy the festivities, y’all! Where is that man with my cold drink?

Copyright 2013 by Scott Cherney 

Based on characters created by Jann Harrison

Performing rights for DEAD TUESDAY are available for amateur and professional theater groups.

For more information and to obtain a full perusal script please contact: writtenbysc@gmail.com

Where No Murder Has Gone Before

Each performance SOLD OUT!

The Star Truck Innerthighs flies again!

This past week I discovered that my interactive murder mystery comedy MURDER-THE FINAL FRONTIER had been produced in April of this year by CAST Plays of Douglasville, Georgia. Naturally, any theater group doing my show is a cause for celebration. However, since I am used to marketing my work all by lonesome self, I usually get the heads up before it goes on the boards. Since this particular play, as well as two others-ROXANNE OF THE ISLANDS and LEGEND OF THE ROGUE, have been published as well handling the licensing of said scripts by Off the Wall Plays, I don't get to learn of their productions until after the fact.

Das Boot

Not that I'm complaining, mind you. It just sets me a little off-balance since there is a tradition that I'd still like to maintain after starting it 9 years ago. It began when my step-daughter Tracey attended a performance my show SONG OF THE CANYON KID at the Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville Theatre in Oceano, California. She bought me a souvenir glass mug in the shape of a boot to commemorate the event. Since then, I fill that same glass boot with a frothy beverage of my choice (take a wild guess what kind) on the opening night of one of my plays and toast whichever theater company has staged that particular show. 

CAST Cast of Murder-The Final Frontier

Well, this past Saturday night, I broke out the boot again and hoisted it in the air once again to salute CAST Plays, albeit posthumously. Three months later, in fact, but la-de-dah. Another successful mission for the crew of the Star Truck Innerthighs!

Capt. Imaginacon to the rescue!

The posts on CAST Plays Facebook page were filled with lotsa production pics which are scattered about here as well as some really sweet comments about my show, calling it "perhaps the most absurdly funny show I've been involved with in my decades with CAST." Not only that, but apparently each and every performance was sold out. Yowza!

Once again, I am sending my thanks all the way to Douglasville, Georgia and the cast and crew of MURDER-THE FINAL FRONTIER. That's another notch on my phaser.

Wilson Chadwick AKA Captain Kork

MURDER-THE FINAL FRONTIER is available from OFF THE WALL PLAYS. Please visit them for a free script preview as well as information of production rights. 

 

Also available form OFF THE WALL:

ROXANNE OF THE ISLANDS or THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SARONG 

and LEGEND OF THE ROGUE or MASK ME NO QUESTIONS

A Frog Blog

Way back in the last decade (seems like yesterday, eh?), I started sending out my melodrama scripts once again in hopes of someone, ANYONE, wanting to produce either SONG OF THE CANYON KID or LA RUE'S RETURN on their stage. Sho' nuff, luck smiled down upon me and a couple of theaters took the bait. I felt like I was on a roll and dove headlong into my role as Independent Playwright, a title I gave myself since I couldn't get my work published. Well, fooey to youey, play publishers. I'll do it myself so NYAH! (so bleedin' mature, ain't I?)

One establishment I contacted was actually named Mel O'Drama Theater located in Nashville and son of a gun if I didn't get a bite. Melanie Roady, the owner/operator/namesake of M O'D had particular interest in LA RUE, but after reading it decided it didn't fit her particular format. You see, her group specializes in interactive murder mysteries, something I would have known if I had only read the website instead of taking the name at face value. What do you want from me? If I go to Barney's Beanery, I expect to see beans on the menu, not cupcakes.

However, Mel had a proposition for me. Would I like to try my hand at one of her shows based on her outline? Oh and by the way, the main character is a frog who solves the crime.

"Why sure," I agreed. "Wait a hippity-hoppity second here...a frog? A frog frog? Is this a Muppet murder mystery? Oh, a frog man. Like a scuba diver. Nooo...a man with frog-like characteristics. Okayyyyy...."

Francois is a character created in a series of paintings by artist Jann Harrison who also resides in Nashville. Jann has conceived a whole mythology that go along with each piece she's painted. So Francois is a suave, debonair bon vivant who is, to use her words, "a man in transition".
 http://www.jannharrison.com/

I agreed to pen a script but I was under a very tight deadline and the challenge itself proving rather daunting. Murder mysteries are not my first love and red herrings do not sit well in my tummy tum tum. Then to transform this man-frog, frog-man, lily pad lover to the stage and make him palatable as a main character was just icing on the fish cake.

What prompted me to continue was that the story was set in New Orleans, the same setting for LA RUE.which is what interested the producer in the first place. I'm crazy in love with the culture an lore of  N'Awlins, so I added Mardi Gras to the storyline as well as a touch of voodoo here and some Cajun spice there.

After two and a half weeks of banging my head against the wall trying to figure out the intricacies of who killed who and with what and how , I turned in a script with two possible endings (different killers for different nights). Challenge accepted, challenge met. 

This gig led me to a follow-up the next year with Mel O'Drama, STAR TRUCK: THE WRATH OF COMIC-CON (now retitled MURDER-THE FINAL FRONTIER) Both shows have been produced by several other theater groups across the country and their subsequent successes I owe totally to Mel Roady, the one and only, a true Theater Angel.

Such is the power of networking. 

And I'm hungry for more

UPDATE: THE PERILS OF FRANCOIS has been re-named DEAD TUESDAY,  thanks to Jerri Wiseman of the StageCoach Theatre Company

DEAD TUESDAY is available at SCOTT CHERNEY'S STORE or to read a free excerpt go to my website WRITTEN BY SCOTT CHERNEY

Performance rights are available. For info, write to me : writtenbysc@gmail.com

Tell 'em Francois sent ya.

Take a Bow!

 

I've been involved with the thea-teh most of my life, both on and off the stage, the latter of which some might see as a blessing. ("Yeah, he belongs on the stage alright...the first one leaving town!")

The thing is I believe it is a viable art form, one that can be embraced on every level of society, hence, its longevity in an era when virtual is beginning to take hold. Post-Covid, if there will ever be such a thing, theater was clinging on by its very fingernails, on the very brink of becoming totally extinct in this lifetime. When the tentative "All clear" sounded, there was a resurgence and once again, the hills are alive with the sound of applause when the curtain blissfully rose again. 

The following theater groups have been very, very good to me in the past few years I've enjoyed as a produced and now published playwright. I want to return the favor to these good people by showcasing them here with links to their websites or Facebook pages. Give them a click, check them out, show your support. If they're in your area, so much the better. Stand behind them. They're good for the community. They're also good for business.

These are the the theater groups that are, as of this writing, still in operation. Click 'em, give 'em a look, support 'em if you can.

GRAHAM REGIONAL THEATRE  GRAHAM, TEXAS

THE GREAT AMERICAN MELODRAMA THEATRE  OCEANO, CA

MANTORVILLE THEATRE COMPANY MANTORVILLE, MINNESOTA

STATE COLLEGE COMMUNITY THEATRE STATE COLLEGE, PA

SANZMAN PRODUCTIONS  LOS ANGELES, CA

RIO LINDA/ELVERTA COMMUNITY THEATER  RIO LINDA, CA

THEATRE SUBURBIA  HOUSTON, TEXAS

GOLDEN CHAIN THEATRE  OAKHURST, CA

DELTON ACT DELTON, MICHIGAN

STAGECOACH THEATRE  LOUDON COUNTY, VIRGINIA

SAN LUIS VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY   FORT GARLAND, COLORADO

MT. VERNON COMMUNITY THEATRE  MT. VERNON, MISSOURI 

ACTORS STUDIO INC. BAKER CITY, OREGON (re-located to Hemphill, TX)

BRICKSTREET COMMUNITY PLAYERS  CLOVIS, NEW MEXICO

BRAZOS THEATRE OF WACO  WACO, TEXAS

AVENUE THEATER  WEST PLAINS, MISSOURI

SUGAR HIGH THEATRICALS  GALESBURG, ILLINOIS

ROGUE THEATER  STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN 

CHEYENNE LITTLE THEATER PLAYERS  CHEYENNE, WYOMING

BLACK BART PLAYERS (now MURPHYS CREEK PLAYHOUSE) MURPHYS, CA

TAKE A BOW, PEOPLE!

Those that didn't make the list are no longer in operation, such as the late, great Palace Showboat Theater at Pollardville in Stockton, CA where it all began for me, Mel O' Drama Theater in Nashville where the angel who walks on Earth, Mel Roady convinced me to write a couple of goofy-ass murder mysteries, the Foothill Theater Company in Jamestown, CA and the Gaslight Theatre in Campbell, CA.

Also a big shout to another of my own stomping grounds, STOCKTON CIVIC THEATRE in Stockton, CA where a lot of my friends and former colleagues are still hoping to trod the boards once again.

These are but a few. There are more out there than you can imagine. Try this link for more info about community theaters across the country.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY THEATRE

To all of you out there-actors, singers, dancers, musicians, writers, directors, producers, stage hands
 and all theater personnel in one form or another...

BREAK A LEG!

We're going to need it.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL THEATERS!

The Wrath of Comic-Con

The following revolves around the creation of an interactive murder mystery that has since been re-named MURDER: THE FINAL FRONTIER.

                Space...the very last place...these are the voyages of the Star Truck...Innerthighs...

So begins the latest interactive murder mystery comedy written by someone who needs no introduction, but is near and dear to all of your hearts...and if he isn't, he soon will be because...that's the kind of guy he is.

It's me, damn your eyes! Yes, I'm at it again or at least I was a few months ago when I first wrote this here piece o' work that is debuting this month for Mel O'Drama Theatre in the one and only Nashville, TN. (Even though this is my second time in Music City, it's so mind-blowing that something I wrote is playing in that iconic city)

The show in question is indeed STAR TRUCK; THE WRATH OF COMIC-CON. Set at a sci-fi convention called Imaginacon, a tribute to the classic TV show STAR TRUCK is underway with members of the cast including Leon Portnoy, the actor who is forever known as First Officer Mr. Spark, Jean Roddenreel, widow of the show's creator Dean Roddenreel and of course Captain James Tyrannosaurus Kork himself, the inimitable Wilson Chadwick. Also appearing at the convention is the star of STAR BOARS, Carrie Fishwich and someone who may or may not be an alien.

As you can tell unless you're not paying attention, this is all fodder for jabs at STAR TREK, STAR WARS

and basically all things in the geek universe which, in this day and age, pretty much everything. Of course. I include myself in these ranks, having been a geek since the day I first crawled the earth back...well, none of your damn business.. It is also a gold mine of comedic opportunities that I take as full advantage of as I possibly could given the parameters of the murder mystery format. There are digs are the aforementioned STAR shows as well as DOCTOR WHO, THE WALKING DEAD, LORD OF THE RINGS and so on and so forth. Plus I have concocted some of the very best (or worst) puns I have possibly ever concocted. If you think punning is lowest form of wit, well, you're half right. Which half, I don't know.

The inspiration for STAR TRUCK derives from the underrated classic GALAXY QUEST (1999), which brilliantly mined some of the same tropes, Mad Magazine's classic parody STAR BLECCH (love that title) and, of course, the SNL "Get A Life!" sketch starring William Shatner. The latter is undoubtedly the Genesis Project for the whole enterprise (wow, two references for the price of one!) Not only does it set up what I wanted to accomplish with this script, but it was also a turning point for Shatner himself. This was when he reinvented himself, understanding that he knew he was the butt of many a joke and now he was in on it too. He could make fun of himself and do it better. Oh yeah, he was Captain Kirk but now he became in full caps WILLIAM SHATNER and he never left. Therefore the victim of my murder mystery just had to be the William Shatner character. It was like MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Who killed Richard Widmark? Everybody! That's the spirit I wanted to convey. Who wants to kill Wislon Chadwick? Everybody! Hopefully, not the audience too.

The icing on this cupcake was that when I wrote in Shatner's voice, in his cadence and his goofy sensibilities, I had as much fun as I ever had creating a character. I love this guy and sure hope that it shows. I had some struggles concerning the passing of Leonard Nimoy that I wrote about earlier this year. (See blog post:  HIGHLY ILLOGICAL) Some of the other characters proved a bit more difficult to put together, but fortunately not Dewey Osgood, the host of Imaginacon who turns out to be the hero of the piece. I based Dewey on comedian Patton Oswalt, a kindred spirit and King of All Geeks. Patton's recent book SILVER SCREEN FIEND is a fantastic movie memoir, not unlike my own IN THE DARK but light years beyond in both style and substance. Carrie Fisher who has had a long gestating and ridiculous feud with William Shatner is obviously the model for Carrie Fishwich. Majel Barrett is Gene Roddenberry's widow, but I based her character on the role she played as Deanna Troi's mother on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. And I paid homage to Portland home-girl Katee Sackhoff's BATTLESTAR GALLACTICA Starbuck persona for Nirvana Nightengale.

The original cast of Mel O' Drama Theater's production of STAR TRUCK

Thanks to producer Melanie Roady of Mel O'Drama Theater for giving me another shot after last year's PERILS OF FRANCOIS. Recently Mel accepted the position of Executive Producer of the theater at Events on 3rd in Nashville. Good on her.  And a big shout-out to director Andy Johnson who played Pierre Perrier in FRANCOIS and another fellow geek, a perfect fit for this show. Finally to a cast that I'll not only never meet but never see perform my work in front of a (hopefully) live audience, I can only say in the grand tradition of theater...break a leg.

For myself, I'll hoist a toast on opening night from across the country. Here's to another original script under my belt. This is also the fourth production of one of my plays this year, one more than 2014. I would have had five, but the theater that had scheduled the show met with some very hard times, a result of the recent flooding in South Carolina. I wish them and everyone back there the very best.

It's been two years since I was first contacted by the Great American Melodrama to have one of my scripts performed which has led to this sudden resurgence as a playwright. It appears that the third act of my life I've been searching for is one that I'm writing myself. Imagine that.

So beam me up, Scotty. Oh, wait. That's me.


MURDER: THE FINAL FRONTIER IS NOW AVAILABLE AT OFF THE WALL PLAYS

Performance rights are available!

For info about my other scripts or even if you just want to send me a mash note (look it up, young 'un),
please e-mail me at: writenbysc@gmail.com

All In

Below you will find all of the interactive murder mystery and melodrama scripts we have available for both professional and amateur theater productions including community groups, dinner shows, fundraising events, high school and college drama departments. 

MURDER MYSTERIES

DEAD TUESDAY by Scott Cherney

MELODRAMAS

LA RUE'S RETURN or HOW'S A BAYOU by Edward Thorpe and Scott Cherney

SONG OF THE CANYON KID or POEM ON THE RANGE by Scott Cherney

Performance rights for all titles are available. Royalty is $40 per performance. For more information and a FREE perusal script, contact: 

Scott Cherney 

writtenbysc@gmail.com

And please check out these three plays by Scott Cherney available through Off the Wall Plays

MURDER-THE FINAL FRONTIER-The intergalactic interactive murder mystery

LEGEND OF THE ROGUE or MASK ME NO QUESTIONS-A western comedy melodrama 

ROXANNE OF THE ISLANDS or THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SARONG-The tropical adventure comedy 

CLICK HERE FOR OFF THE WALL PLAYS

Murder-The Final Frontier

BOLDLY GO WHERE NO MURDER HAS GONE BEFORE! At a sci-fi convention reunion of the cult TV series STAR TRUCK, there is only one question on everyone's lips: Who killed Captain Kork? Could it be First Officer Mr. Spark? Maybe it's Carrie Fishwich, the blowsy actress from the rival franchise, STAR BOARS? And that alien over there...is that a raygun in its pocket or it just glad to see me? MURDER: THE FINAL FRONTIER is an interactive, intergalactic murder mystery comedy play with a cast of 3M/3F. Perfect for dinner or community theater audiences.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

DEWEY OSGOOD-Organizer and host of Imaginacon, geek extraordinaire and proud of it.  Finds himself in the unenviable position of solving the murder, though he discovers his inner super-hero as a result.

WILSON CHADWICK-The one and only Captain James T. Curt of the Star Freighter Innerthighs from the cult TV show STAR TRUCK. He is brash, over-bearingly charming with a voracious appetite for life and everything else for that matter. Considers himself the center of the universe with everyone else as satellites orbiting about him.

JEAN RODDENREEL-Widow of STAR TRUCK creator/producer Dean Roddenreel. Hollywood royalty in exile (and denial) with champagne tastes on a beer budget. Had an illicit love affair with Chadwick during the run of the series that produced a long-lost off-spring.

LEON PORTNOY-The inimitable Mr. Spark, forever type-cast as first officer of the Innerthighs and second banana to Wilson Chadwick which has made him bitter beyond belief. Now works as Jean Roddenreel’s man servant.

CARRIE FISHWICH-Longtime nemesis of Chadwick, co-star of rival franchise STAR BOARS. Loose cannon with a hair trigger who blames Chadwick for all her personal failures. Social media maniac.

ALIEN-Supposed STAR TRUCK fan who may or may not be of this world, until Chadwick’s murder when it is revealed this she is actually rising starlet and current geek icon (with attitude to spare) NIRVANA NIGHTENGALE, star of the hit TV series BATTLESTAR GALLIFREY

PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS:

Mel O' Drama Theater Nashville, TN

SLV Theatre Co. San Luis Valley, CO (TWICE!)

Brickstreet Players Clovis, NM

Sugar High Theatricals Galesburg, IL

Rio Linda Elverta Community Theater Rio Linda, CA

Sanzman Productions Los Angeles, CA

 

MURDER: THE FINAL FRONTIER is now available at Off the Wall Plays. Yes, performance rights are available.

CLICK HERE TO READ AN EXTENDED EXCERPT FROM MURDER-THE FINAL FRONTIER

CLICK HERE FOR PERFORMANCE RIGHTS

And to read excerpts from my other scripts and/or books (including RED ASPHALT and SONG OF THE CANYON KID), please go to my website
WRITTEN BY SCOTT CHERNEY

Dead Tuesday

International playboy Francois Fibian is the one one who can solve the murder of a prominent new Orleans socialite during a Mardi Gras costume ball, but unfortunately, he has his own problems. Someone is trying to frame him for the crime. To make matters worse, a a voodoo curse is turning into a frog.

Yes, really.

Written by Scott Cherney with characters created by Nashville artist Jann Harrison, DEAD TUESDAY is a comic, mystical interactive murder mystery play with Louisiana flair, Cajun spice and beaucoup fun

ARTIST JANN HARRISON'S WEBSITE

 

Cast of Characters

Bob Boudreaux-Oozing with Southern charm and smarm, Bob is the host of a Mardi Gras ball in his French Quarter family mansion.

Bunny Boudreaux-Bob’s wife, rather a bully of a woman who now owns the Boudreaux name, is loud and often obnoxious. In her defense, she’s also possessed by the spirit of a long-dead voodoo priestess.

Dee Dee Demure-Bob’s personal and very private secretary. Dumber than a box of rocks or is she the most devious one in the room?

Lola Piccard-A wronged woman in love with a man who doesn’t know she exists. She gives airs of being a woman of mystery and high drama, though it’s only a ruse to cover up her broken heart.

Inspector Pierre Perrier-A French policeman with a very obviously fake accent who is actually Dee Dee’s cousin Dennis, a nitwit of the highest order.

Francois Andre Midas Fibian V-An international playboy, philanthropist and all around bon vivant who is going through a transitional phase in his life.  In short, he’s turning into a frog.

CROAK AND DAGGER-THE STORY BEHIND DEAD TUESDAY

Previous productions of DEAD TUESDAY 

Mel O' drama Theater Nashville, TN

StageCoach Theatre Company Loudon County, VA

Sugar High Theatricals  Galesburg, IL

Rogue Theatre Company Sturgeon Bay, WI

Delton ACT Delton, MI

SanZman Production Los Angeles, CA

State College Community Theater State College, PA

Performance rights for DEAD TUESDAY are available for both professional and amateur theater productions including community groups, dinner shows, fundraising events, high school and college drama departments.  

Royalties are $40 per performance. Script fees are completely waived so theater groups may copy as many as they require from a PDF after a signed contract.

For more info and to receive a FREE perusal script, contact me at writtenbysc@gmail.com

CLICK HERE TO READ AN EXTENDED EXCERPT FROM DEAD TUESDAY

 

 

Curtain Up!

Good evening (morning, afternoon, time is relative) everybody out there in virtual land and welcome to a brand new site by me, Scott Cherney, author of the long-running (yes, still) SCOTT CHERNEY'S ETC.

It's high time that I had a dedicated site for the plays I have been promoting forever and a day, those that I have written. These plays have been performed across the US of A from one coast to the other-East to West and vice versa and as far north as the Canadian border all the way down to where the stars at night are big and bright (clap clap clap clap) deep in the heart of Texas. The plays I will be referring to are of specific nature, falling into the genres of interactive murder mysteries and melodramas, all under the banner of comedy. 

I began my writing career co-authoring a melodrama with my best friend Edward Thorpe for a dinner theater in Stockton, California that produced melodrama and vaudeville shows. The Palace Showboat Dinner Theater at Pollardville was a great training ground for me, allowing me to write two other melodramas as well as a half-dozen vaudeville shows which I also directed. While my shows got a handful of productions early on, it wasn't until the Internet came along and sent me on my merry way to sort of fame and nowhere near fortune, but far more successful for which I am very grateful. As far as the murder mysteries go, I sort of fell into them face first. I was soliciting one of my melodramas to a theater group in Nashville called-ironically called Mel O'Drama Theater. Little did I know that they specialized in murder mysteries. However, the producer, Melanie Roady (she being the Mel of Mel O'Drama) asked if I would like to try my hand at penning one of her shows. Son of a gun, I done did it and thanks to Mel, I had a new avenue to pursue.

Interspersed within this here post are the various scripts in my catalog. Among them are:

My two murder mysteries DEAD TUESDAY and MURDER-THE FINAL FRONTIER as well as the melodramas LA RUES' RETURN (co-authored w/Edward Thorpe), SONG OF THE CANYON KID, LEGEND OF THE ROGUE and ROXANNE OF THE ISLANDS.

The posts that follow will focus more on the individual titles that are available. But for now, I will give you the basics. Performance rights are available for both professional and amateur theater productions including community groups, dinner shows, fundraising events, high school and college drama departments. Further information about these titles including obtaining perusal scripts may be directed to me at:

writtenbysc@gmail.com

 You can also discover more at my other website WRITTEN BY SCOTT CHERNEY

Abyssinia!