Grave Undertakings presented an evening in the cemetry with four "comedy/horror" plays that we dug up just for the occasion.
On tap were
Halloween Haul, by John Cruncleton. John's known in Tulsa for writing some really weird stuff. In this short piece the bullies stealing candy from the trick-or-treater wind up with a really... bad.... bag...
Cast:
Trick or Treaters: Keith Clawson, Jona Xiao
Bullies: Jesse Jackson, Jerry Rabushka
Creepy Guy: Stephen J. Heffernan,
Police: Mike White, Karen Clark
*****
Charming, by Matt Burlingame. Written just for this production. The young ladies from Charmed meet in the cemetery to try the most dangerous spell of all... resurrecting Shannon Dougherty's career. Are they successful? Worse yet... why? You'll be horrified!
Cast:
Phoebe: Erin Marie Hogan
Piper: Laura Kirk
Paige: Jona Xiao
Shannen Doherty's Career: Jerry Rabushka
*****
Kiss of Death, by Jerry Rabushka. Carson and Lisa are on a date in the graveyard when they inadvertnatly awaken Lisa's entire family of dead relatives, all of whom are hooked on Starbucks and one who still takes great pleasure in decapitating people, living or dead.
Cast
Lisa: Erin Marie Hogan
Carson: Keith Clawson
Grandma: Laura Kirk
Grandpa: Mike White,
Aunt Carmellate: Jona Xiao
Aunt Mochalatte: Catherine Lipinski
Cousin Cocoa: Jenise Hornung
Uncle Cappuccino: Jesse Jackson
Uncle Henry: Stephen J. Heffernan
Great Great Great Great Great Great etc. Grandma: Karen Clark
Aunt Marilyn: Ashley Saphian
*****
A Ghost, a Zombie, and a Vampire, by Steve Caverno. Finding love after death isn't so easy. The ghost? You can see right through her! The Zombie? It takes guts? The Vampire? I'll drink to that! This play was the winner of Ragged Blade's Halloween playwriting contest.
Cast
Vampire: Stephen J. Heffernan
Zombie: Keith Clawson
Ghost: Catherine Lipinski
Anna: Jenise Hornung
A Ghost, A Zombie & A Vampire photo gallery
STAFF:
Producer, Set Design, Tech Director, Logo Design, Costumes: Skip Hardesty
Director: Jerry Rabushka
Assistant Director: Keith Clawson
Makeup Design: Erin Marie Hogan and Karen Wood
House staff/additional assistance: Mark Drake, John Zakibe, Zach Jett, Rob Shipman, Fred Makler
*****
Recommended for mature audiences, immature audiences, and all audiences in between.
MEET THE PLAYWRIGHTS!
John Cruncleton is a founding member of the Midwestern Theater Troupe and the Nightingale Theater in Tulsa, OK. He has written and produced about 15 original plays in 12 years with this company, plus allows his venue to serve as a place for alternative artists both in Tulsa and from around the country. John's troupe and his accomplishments are a continuing source of pride for the Tulsa theater community.
Matt Burlingame (right) is a playwright based in Sacramento, CA. Several of his plays have been produced by the Lambda Players, and his most recent Written On The Hill was nominated for an "Elly" award in Sacto for "best script." Matt is also editor at MGW (Mom Guess What?) News, a GLBT glossy.
Steve Caverno (below) is very excited that his play was chosen to be a part of “Grave Undertakings.” He is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a BA in Theatre and a minor in English. Several of his plays have been staged in Mississippi through the University and local theatres. Most of his childhood was spent in Springfield, Missouri where he initially developed an interest in theatre and film, taking drama classes in school and making homemade movies with friends. He is currently pursuing acting and writing in Wilmington, North Carolina.
