Bradley Nies, Playwright

I was surfing the invisible web this evening, and I found a few stage/screenplay awards that cater to us lovers of horror, mystery and suspense! Check out what I found! The Atlanta Horror Film Festival (Best Screenplay) is presented annually at the Synchronicity Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.  Most Recent Winner:  "Killer Date" by Brandon Shypkowski and Joey Beni (2019) The Bloody Axe Award is presented annually to the winner of WildClaw Theatre's DEATHSCRIBE: The International Festival of Horror Radio Plays.  Most Recent Winner: "Whisper Trigger" by Dan Finnen and Sarah Gise (2018) The Bram Stoker Award (Best Screenplay) is presented by the Horror Writers Association for superior achievement in horror writing for best screenplay.  Most Recent Winner:  "Get Out" by Jordan Peele (2017) The Charles Ogle Award (Horror) is presented annually for the best in fantasy and horror audio theatre.  Most Recent Winner:  "The Floodga...

The other night, I re-watched an old made-for-television movie I saw as a kid in the 1970's.  To me, the creepiest part of When Michael Calls is when Michael, who's been dead for 15 years, calls his aunt to tell her that he finally realizes that he's dead! After watching this Telephone Horror, I decided to check out other horror movies where the same theme "rings" clear! I Saw What You Did (1965)-Two teenaged girls spend an evening making innocent prank phone calls.  But when they tell a man who just committed murder that they "saw what he did," their little joke quickly becomes quite serious. Play Misty for Me (1971)-A fling between a disc jockey and an obsessed fan takes a frightening turn with another woman enters the picture. When Michael Calls (1972)-With each ominous phone call from a woman's deceased nephew, one of her family members dies.  Will she be next? Black Christmas (1974)-While on Christmas break, a group of soro...

Well, it's that time of year again!  We're back to school, and what better way to make sure freshman sleep with the lights on than to do a run down of America's Most Haunted Colleges and Universities? Most of this information is from a list of haunted colleges in America I found on www.collegeconsensus.com.  Check them out...if you dare: Smith College, North Hampton, MA:   If you're a freshman taking classes at the largest women's college in America, don't be surprise if you are asked to find the secret staircase in Sessions House.  According to legend, a pair of star-crossed lovers, a British soldier and an American girl, would meet on these stairs, and their ghosts are said to still haunt the facility. University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN:   Known for the Fighting Irish, football legend Knute Rockne, and the original collegiate marching band, this prominent Catholic university is also known for haunted Washington Hall.  The story goes that leg...

As a fan of obscure plays, I did a little digging today and found some shows that are weird, quirky, and downright odd!  The following information comes from such incredible websites as broadwayworld.com and playbill.com.  Enjoy! The Vamp (1955) This crazy, over-the-top Hollywood satire opened at the Winter Garden Theatre and ran for 60 performances.  It starred Carol Channing as Flora Weems, a simple farmgirl who allows herself to be transformed into a silent screen star. Shinbone Alley (1957) This unconventional "back-alley" opera is about a lovelorn cockroach and his feline friend.  The show starred Eartha Kitt and ran for 49 performances.  It was abridged for a television broadcast, as well as adapted by Allied Artists into an animated film. Rockabye Hamlet (1976) Based on Shakespeare's classic play, this show utilizes rock, pop, and country music to tell the story of the besotted Danish prince.  The musical was staged as a rock concert and ...

I know it's a month away, but this year I'm gonna do it!  I'm gonna take part in the 31 Plays in 31 Days Project.  For other interested playwrights, below are the details: What?   The 31 Plays in 31 Days Project is the opportunity for playwrights to push themselves to write a new play every day for the month of August.  Each play must be at least one page in length. Why?   This project is based on the simple fact that playwrights must write in order to be better at their craft.  A project of this nature will enable me to set aside preconceived notions of what I should be writing and how I should be writing it. When?   August 1st at 12:00 AM until August 31st at 11:59 PM. Where:   Anywhere Who?  Playwrights who are crazy enough to write 31 plays in just 31 short days. Who's with me on this?

After reading Tarzan of the Apes in junior high, I was convinced that the Earl of Greystoke was 'da man!' After doing research for our upcoming production of Robin Hood , however, I realize that Robin of Locksley may have been cooler than the vine-swinging Lord of the Jungle. With this in mind, let's compare. Tarzan: *Athletic and goodlooking *Courageous and steadfast *Intelligent and loyal *Lives in the jungle *Deeply in love with Jane *As a leader, he is true to himself no matter the cost. *Behaves ethically in most situations. (Just don't get on his bad side!) Robin Hood: *An excellent archer and swordsman *Heroic and defends the underdog against oppression *Crafty and well-liked by everyone. (Except the Sheriff of Nottingham.) *Lives in the forest *Highly devoted to his Merry Men, as well as Maid Marian *As a leader, he guides his followers to accomplishing their dreams. *Doesn't win all of his fights, but he's cool with that. So, ...

I just finished a play I hope to submit to two 10-minute play festivals this summer.  It's called Collecting Strangers, and this docudrama depicts the shocking murder of film star Ramon Novarro; a murder that brutally outed a closeted Hollywood legend. Due to the censorship of homosexuality in early Hollywood, as well as his inability to reconcile his religious beliefs with his love of men, silent film star Ramon Novarro sought comfort in alcohol and male hustlers.  Sometime between the late evening/early morning hours of October 30th and October 31st of 1968, Novarro was murdered after hiring an escort who sought a large sum of money rumored to be hidden in his home. Wish me luck as I send this work to the Scriptwriters Houston's Annual 10x10 Showcase, as well as the Q Collective's Coming Out Play Festival of 2019!