Playwrights
The Lambda Players has been proud to support the efforts of the following Sacramento playwrights by producing their work:
MATTHEW BURLINGAME
Matthew is an award-winning journalist and playwright with an extensive list of credits both journalistic and theatrically. He has worked for six different publications including two-years as a theatre reviewer for the News & Review (Sacramento's largest entertainment newspaper) and two long-running opinion columns which earned him a reputation for being one of Sacramento's most controversial young writers. He currently holds positions on the boards of both Sacramento City Theater and the Lambda Players and has worked on over 40 theatrical productions in various capacities over the past three years.
Matthew's talent for finding himself in the center of controversy reached a new pinnacle as he produced and directed his first play, Nine-Eleven. While the critical reviews were mixed, audiences loved the show, many seeing it multiple times. With his second play, Paperclip Messiah--a psychologically disturbing play about a priest with a hidden past and his relationship with a newly hired church employee--it is easy to see why Matthew is considered one of the country's hottest new playwrights.
Presented in Reader's Theater format in the Lambda Players 2001-2002 season and being presented as a full production in the 2002-2003 season. In Paperclip Messiah a handsome priest battles with the hidden demons of his past in a modern-day parish. The battles become harder to fight as he hires a young man named Joel to work and live on the grounds. Unable to resist their mutual attraction, Father Patrick and Joel soon find themselves in the heart of scandal as they try to keep their passionate affair hidden from the others in the parish. As their relationship deepens, the doors to Father Patrick’s dark past begin to unlock, leading them both into a world of sex, secrets and sin. Two acts, three locations (compatible with limited stage space). 11 Male roles: 17-60, 3 Female roles: 30-50 (Can be done with seven actors playing multiple parts.)
Presented by Paperclip Productions and the Lambda Players in the 2002-2003 season. A theme-based comedy-drama set in the lobby of a community college theater. Seven diverse-minded students and their ultraconservative theater instructor face life before and after the Sept. 11 tragedy. One of the first theatrical productions to deal openly and realistically with this difficult topic. Strong gay/lesbian characters. First run: April 12-May 4, 2002, in Sacramento, Calif. Two acts; one two-part set, 4 Male roles: 19 - 22, 35, 4 Female roles: 18 - 21
To inquire about rights to producing these plays, please contact Matt Burlingame
For more information on plays by Matt Burlingame, visit Matthew's Website
MICHAEL JACKSON
Michael Jackson served as the Artistic Director for the Lambda Players for many years. A graduate of Sacramento State University, Michael was known in Sacramento as a director and revivals of the little known play The Captive and the musical Dumbo. Michael has since moved to New York where he is directing plays.
The Lambda Players presented Coffeehouse to sold out crowds in the 1999-2000 season.
With chain coffee shops opening all around her, Margie has been struggling to keep her gay friendly coffeehouse open. Margie's most loyal customers help her devise a new promotional scheme to draw new customers and keep the coffee house from going under. Through it all we get to know a collection of familiar people: There is Minga, a drag queen who runs a Karoake service; Jeremy, the 19 year old employee in search of love on the internet; Sal, a hard-core motorcyclist with a heart of gold; Harry, the voice of wisdom who made it through Stonewall; Fran, the bisexual artist hunting for romance in the personal ads; Tim, who is leaving his girlfriend for more exciting adventures; Lip, who is outed at work and loses her job; and Margie herself, who has spent a year getting over the loss of her life partner and is ready to move on to better times.
Coffeehouse is a warm and funny new play that celebrates our history, unique differences and commonality as a community bursting out into a new century.
If you are interested in reading "Coffeehouse" or are interested in possibly mounting a production, contact Michael Jackson .
TOM SWANNER
