S.M. Stevens's Blog, page 32

Emptiness

An empty school? Cause for celebration. Seniors are out soon if not already. Underclassmen have to get through a few more weeks in most parts of the country and then the halls will be making that beautiful, echo-y sound for a few months.

An empty school auditorium though? Simply sad, no matter what the time of year. No more shows for most middle and high schools at this point in time. Just remember, there’s always next year…

mylittlebookblog Reviews Bit Players 1

Lizzy Baldwin writes mylittlebookblog, a tremendous blog on books, including reviews, news and musings. And I’m not just saying that because of the glowing review she posted today of Bit Players, Has-Been Actors and Other Posers! I’ve been enjoying Lizzy’s blog for a while now, and you should seriously check it out. However, the topic of this post is her review, so here it is:

“Theatre lovers brace yourselves; if you love theatre, drama, young adult fiction, or just enjoy a sing or a dance, this is the book for you. Goodness! It’s all got a bit theatrical here at mylittlebookblog. The first thing to say is thank you to the author for sending the trilogy of books to me. I am currently sinking my teeth into the second and already absolutely love it! (So expect a review soon!)….Anyway, right, I won’t waste any more time, the stage is set, the actors are ready, the curtain is about to rise, get ready for the show!!….What a story! This book definitely has the reader racing to find out what will happen to this loveable cast of characters. On the front of the book it reads, ‘A must have read for fans of Glee, High School Musical and Twilight.’ I completely agree with this, it has a Glee-like-feel that really sings throughout the entirety of the book. When I first read the premise of this book, I wondered how well theatre could be made into a fiction narrative and was interested to see how well it works; well let me tell you, it works incredibly well here!

“What I loved most about this book is the strong characterisation. Sadie, the main character, has such a strong build up of features that you cannot help but feel drawn to her. I was rooting for her the whole way through, lacking in confidence, but incredibly talented you cannot help but will her to succeed. When the characters are built up so extensively, the plot hangs together so much better and this is definitely proven in this book!

“The supporting characters are just as well described, I loved Foster and imagined him as this incredibly dramatic and theatrical actor, with a passion for playing the lead role, and Nigel, a British exchange student with a rough outside core but a soft centre who, much like Sadie, is addicted to theatre and British old-school punk. I could quite honestly go through and create character profiles for each character as they are so well described and created that they all stand very easily on their own which is a great credit to the author.

“The book also deals with a number of struggles that teens go through and mixed this in with the relief they feel when performing. This allowed the reader to gain a more thorough understanding of the characters, and also added sub-plots that relieved the reader at times from the use of theatre. This allowed time to step away and discover more about the characters, and then apply this back to the drama club. It is a brilliant way of writing the book as it allows for the weaving of different characters and emotions whilst also further exploring the character profiles!

“In terms of the plot I loved the way that the songs for the play, ‘Twilight the Musical’ were modern songs adapted to the drama that was unfolding on the stage. By imbedding the songs into the book as images, it meant that you could not only read them but also you could easily look the song up and sing the songs along with the altered lyrics, (which I did for all of them!) It makes the book more interactive and allowed me to really understand the play that the students are putting together.

“The writing is also incredibly fluid and at no point does it become stilted but instead it moves with pace pulling the reader along. I also loved the way that author used Sadie’s playwright mindset, to script parts of the book as you would for a theatre production. It added another texture and form to the book ands helped to embed the theatre links with even more gusto. I thought it was a brilliantly clever addition to the book! The book also has a pretty explosive ending, which I had not envisaged at all; this was well written and well thought out as to not become over-the-top, or absurd, but was managed extremely well, whilst still packing a big punch.

“I could not help but sing my praises for this book; it screams drama, theatre, and show business and is definitely worth a read if that’s your kind of thing. I thought it was a lovely book with a real understanding of the genre that it is describing. A light-hearted read with some brilliant writing and an exceptional understanding of drama! *Rippling of Applause can be heard*”

 

Steam Heat

I’ve been away from my blog for a while, but for good reason: a show, of course. Helping out with the local high school production of “The Pajama Game”. For those who don’t know it, it’s set in a 1950s pajama factory, where labor issues are brewing. And of course there’s love, because it’s a musical. The script is mildly sexist, very off-color, and completely inappropriate. The songs are good to awesome, especially this one, Steam Heat. You feel like you’ve seen it before, but it never gets old. Watch more Pajama Game videos on my Pinterest board or YouTube channel.

Goodreads Contest Winners Announced

Congrats to the 10 winners of the goodreads book giveaway. Melissa of NC, Nicole and Bernadette of NJ, Cathy of TN, Terry of IN, Dianne and Niki of KY, Katie of SD, Casey of NY, and Catherine of FL are all being sent a free copy of Bit Players, Bird Girls and Fake Break-Ups. They say music is the universal language, but look how a book can unite people from all over. Welcome to the Bit Players world, winners – I hope you enjoy it!

It’s Curtain Time

7:50 PM on a Saturday night. For many people in many theatres along the eastern seaboard, it’s almost curtain time. The cast are backstage, fully costumed and made up, chatting aimlessly amongst themselves, or maybe off in a corner for a few minutes of centering time. The pit orchestra is warming up, making that odd cacophony of warring sounds that sends a chill through theatre-lovers because they know what’s coming next. In the audience, people of all ages and backgrounds wait, some patiently, talking to their friends, others impatiently, waiting to see a friend perform onstage, or to witness the show they’ve dreamed about seeing for months, maybe years.

The anticipation is a sweet, sweet part of the experience. If the show lives up to expectations, though, that anticipation is just the warm-up. Whether the show makes you think new thoughts, feel new feelings, or just laugh, it’s magic.

To all the casts out there preparing to perform, break a leg. To all the theatre-goers waiting in the stalls and balconies, enjoy your Saturday night magic.

A Script for Life

Ever wish you could script your own life, or at least turn tense and awkward moments into scripted scenes that you control? That’s what Sadie Perkins, narrator of the Bit Players book series, does whenever her stress level skids into overdrive. Okay, maybe thinking in script doesn’t actually give Sadie control, but it does help her make sense of the situation as she isolates the dialogue and intersperses stage direction only when really necessary. Is it only theatre addicts who think this way?

Win a Free Copy of the New Bit Players Book

I’m giving away 10 copies of Bit Players, Bird Girls and Fake Break-Ups on goodreads.com. Click here to enter to win. Not using goodreads yet? If you love to read, it’s a great site. You might want to check it out. And who doesn’t love free?

Goodreads Book Giveaway


Bit Players, Bird Girls and Fake Break-Ups
by S.M. Stevens

Giveaway ends March 30, 2014.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

Amazon Specials on the New Bit Players Book

In honor of the launch of Bit Players, Bird Girls and Fake Break-Ups, Amazon.com is offering two specials on my new novel. The paperback is being offered at a sale price, and the e-book is available for free “borrowing” through the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, if you’re an Amazon Prime member. Not sure if Bit Players is for you? On Amazon’s paperback page, you can click “Look Inside” to get a closer look and read an excerpt. If you love Seussical and musical theatre, please check them out, and spread the word.

Seussical Fans Unite: “Bit Players, Bird Girls and Fake Break-Ups” is Here!

As if a novel set in a high school theatre program isn’t reason enough to pick up a book, now the latest installment in the Bit Players series has a Seussical theme, so all you Seuss-lovers out there, take note!

Sadie Perkins and the Crudup Drama Club put on Seussical for the school play, and they spoof the beloved musical with Whossical, their one-act Senior Class Play that transplants the Seussical story to real life in modern times.

Read more about the plot here.

Bit Players has 250 Pinterest Followers!

We did it!!! Bit Players now has 250 Pinterest followers. Thanks to all who have re-pinned and commented on my pins, followed my boards, and posted to my boards. If you need ideas for your next production — costumes, make-up, sets, props — please check it out! http://www.pinterest.com/bitplayers/