Mary Jane Kelly ~ Victim of Jack the Ripper Speaks

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Virtual Theatre Performance from The Belles of Whitechapel ~ The Victims of Jack the Ripper Speak, written by Wayne Miller / Directed by Nina Soden

Actress/Director Nina Soden

I am excited to be bringing Mary Jane Kelly back to life, even if just for a few minutes, to tell her story. I am truly thankful to Wayne Miller, playwriter and co-owner of Evil Cheez Productions, for the beautiful words and the gracious permission to produce and direct this wonderful show. I am proud to have been able to work with such a wonderful cast and excited to be able to still bring theatre to an audience, even when so many theatres across the globe are still shut down due to COVID-19. Art is essential and will find ways, such as virtual theatre, to survive. Thank you, to all of you, for taking the time to watch this show.

When asked her thoughts on Mary Jane Kelly’s monologue, Nina had this to say: Her words, the way Wayne wrote her, is devastating. She had such hope in life. She had love, loss, joy, pain, determination, and below it all a deep sadness. I had the honor of playing her during the premier performance of The Belles of Whitechapel at The Lowery House many years ago when Wayne Miller directed it. Reconnecting with her has been like putting on a warm coat or slipping into my favorite pajamas; it is easy to slip into her skin and feel all of her emotions. Maybe its because of how well she is written, or maybe it is because on some level I think every woman can relate to her.

When asked about the process of performing virtual theatre, she said: Of course live theatre is always best with an audience. However, in this crazy pandemic life we are living in right now, I believe it is still important to be creating art in any way we can. Besides, as an actress, film has always been my passion, so being in front of a camera is completely natural for me. I love it! Being able to share Mary Jane Kelly with a broader audience is the icing on the cake. When it comes to stage vs. camera, I prepare for a role the same way. Memorization is memorization, and the lines come easy to me – they always have. I enjoy the character development process, I think that is why it is so easy to slip into a role and learn the lines. As a director, this process was a little harder. We conducted ZOOM rehearsals to ensure proper social distancing and did all of our communicating through Facebook. It wasn’t as easy as meeting face to face, but it worked. With just 2 short weeks to complete the project, I think everyone did a wonderful job.

A Note from the Director

As a writer, I can appreciate every word Wayne put into this script. His research and dedication to his writing did these women proud. As an actress, I hope to one day play all the roles so I can truly connect with each of them on an emotional level. As a director, I am both honored and humbled that Wayne would trust me with this production. I have loved working with each of these actresses and believe that in the short time we had together (2 weeks start to finish) each and every one of them have given a beautiful performance. ~ Nina Soden

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS and is the Grand High Poobah of CHEEZISM, the movement he founded (it isn’t organized enough to be called a religion, besides which it isn’t religious) dedicated to providing audiences with the finest in entertainment options on the page and for the stage. (On the big screen, too, if Spielberg ever returns any of his phone calls.) Wayne has been writing stories literally since before he learned his alphabet—he drew pictures. After languishing in the nether-regions of the publishing industry for years, working as an acquisitions editor for a literary agency, he chose, as an experiment, to combine his passion for writing with his hobby of Theatre, and in the process, by accident and Providence, discovered his life’s purpose: to be a showman.

Describing himself as a cross between Edgar Allan Poe and P.T. Barnum, Miller is a devotee of Ed Wood, the “worst director of all time!” who inspires Wayne due to his unflappable dedication to his muse and unrestrainable creative drive.

When not involved in Cheez business, Wayne Miller is a reporter for the websites werewolves.com, vampires.com, and darkness.com. He has previously written content for zombies.org, topcomics.com, thenerdrecites.com, and Legless Corpse Films.

SPECIAL THANKS:

Wayne Miller and Tanya Miller of Evil Cheez Productions for allowing me the honor of producing and directing this amazing play. Through his script, Wayne has done a wonderful job of bringing these women back to life, even if just for a few minutes, to tell their story. Make sure you check out Evil Cheez online and learn about their upcoming productions.

Theatre Huntsville for letting us use The Studio Theatre space at Lowe Mill and for providing the professional lighting design. You can find them, and their upcoming productions, online by clicking HERE or on Facebook.

Please like, share, subscribe, and comment so more people can share in this virtual theatre experience.  

To read the actresses comments about their characters, click on the links below and you’ll be taken to the individual posts!

Annie Millwood
Martha Tabram
Polly Nichols
“Dark Annie” Chapman
Elizabeth “Long Liz” Stride and Kate Eddowes
Sarah Lewis
Mary Jane Kelly

Sarah Lewis ~ Victim of Jack the Ripper Speaks

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Virtual Theatre Performance from The Belles of Whitechapel ~ The Victims of Jack the Ripper Speak, written by Wayne Miller / Directed by Nina Soden

Actress Haley Loveday

Haley Loveday has been in love with acting since 2010 when she auditioned for her very first play, Noises Off. Since then, she has had the honor of bringing roles such as Blanche DuBois in Streetcar Named Desire, Pickles in The Great American Trailerpark Musical, Evelyn Thompson in The Shape of Things, and most recently, Meg MaGrath in Crimes of the Heart, to life. She has also done some work in film and television. Haley lives in Huntsville with her wife and daughter and their 3 dogs, Bubsy, Pip, and Lucy. She loves to write, travel, and drink wine. She would like to thank Nina Soden for trusting her with this role and Wayne Miller for breathing life into The Belles of Whitechapel. 

When asked her thoughts on Sarah Lewis’s monologue, Haley had this to say: Sarah Lewis is very different from my own character in that I found her to be very judgemental of the “unfortunates” and almost victim shaming when it came to their circumstances. I think she has layers of sympathy and humility, but it is often times over-shadowed by her piety. She is terrified when she realizes that she could have been just like the women that she looks down upon, no matter that she is an honest woman herself. I believe that she might have a history of prostitution or degeneracy, which was probably brought on by poverty in the past, but now that she is married and out of “the life” the idea that she could have potentially been mistaken for one of “those women” again might be worse to her than the fact that she met Jack the Ripper.

When asked about the process of performing virtual theatre, she said: The process of learning a monologue as long and as layered as this one in only 2 weeks, with a 1 year old running around, was really survival of the fittest. My wife was a big help in giving me an hour or two here and there to really dive in and razor focus. I would have liked more time to work through the piece, but having such a short time to learn it forced me to challenge myself and pushed me to jump in with both feet right away.

I enjoy monologues because they give you the opportunity to find levels in your work. There is a real peace in knowing that you have ultimate control over what you bring to the script and how it is presented. I also like the pressure of only having myself to rely on on stage or in this case, on film. I do prefer scene work and being on stage with a live audience over monologues and film, simply because having the response of the audience adds to the over all experience and energy of the experience each night. There is nothing quite like treading the boards under bright stage lights. 

A Note from the Director

As a writer, I can appreciate every word Wayne put into this script. His research and dedication to his writing did these women proud. As an actress, I hope to one day play all the roles so I can truly connect with each of them on an emotional level. As a director, I am both honored and humbled that Wayne would trust me with this production. I have loved working with each of these actresses and believe that in the short time we had together (2 weeks start to finish) each and every one of them have given a beautiful performance. ~ Nina Soden

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS and is the Grand High Poobah of CHEEZISM, the movement he founded (it isn’t organized enough to be called a religion, besides which it isn’t religious) dedicated to providing audiences with the finest in entertainment options on the page and for the stage. (On the big screen, too, if Spielberg ever returns any of his phone calls.) Wayne has been writing stories literally since before he learned his alphabet—he drew pictures. After languishing in the nether-regions of the publishing industry for years, working as an acquisitions editor for a literary agency, he chose, as an experiment, to combine his passion for writing with his hobby of Theatre, and in the process, by accident and Providence, discovered his life’s purpose: to be a showman.

Describing himself as a cross between Edgar Allan Poe and P.T. Barnum, Miller is a devotee of Ed Wood, the “worst director of all time!” who inspires Wayne due to his unflappable dedication to his muse and unrestrainable creative drive.

When not involved in Cheez business, Wayne Miller is a reporter for the websites werewolves.com, vampires.com, and darkness.com. He has previously written content for zombies.org, topcomics.com, thenerdrecites.com, and Legless Corpse Films.

SPECIAL THANKS:

Wayne Miller and Tanya Miller of Evil Cheez Productions for allowing me the honor of producing and directing this amazing play. Through his script, Wayne has done a wonderful job of bringing these women back to life, even if just for a few minutes, to tell their story. Make sure you check out Evil Cheez online and learn about their upcoming productions.

Theatre Huntsville for letting us use The Studio Theatre space at Lowe Mill and for providing the professional lighting design. You can find them, and their upcoming productions, online by clicking HERE or on Facebook.

Please like, share, subscribe, and comment so more people can share in this virtual theatre experience.

To read the actresses comments about their characters, click on the links below and you’ll be taken to the individual posts!

Annie Millwood
Martha Tabram
Polly Nichols
“Dark Annie” Chapman
Elizabeth “Long Liz” Stride and Kate Eddowes
Sarah Lewis
Mary Jane Kelly

Sound… Writing Wednesday

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Did you participate in last week’s #WritingWednesday post? It was all about going back in time. If you haven’t posted your response, click HERE so you can do that now. Then, make sure you check in here ~ every Wednesday ~ for the latest #WritingWednesday writing prompt! Now, back to today’s regularly scheduled post…

Remember, #WritingWednesday is an EASY, STRESS-FREE, weekly writing challenge.

  • Read the writing prompt below,
  • Spend 5 minutes writing (in your own voice or the voice of a character you’re writing) whatever comes to mind,
  • DON’T EDIT what you write! IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT!

The goal is 5 minutes of creativity.

Today, I’m writing in the voice of Tanja, a character in my current WIP.

Today’s writing prompt:

Describe the most beautiful sound you have ever heard

When a loved one dies, you don’t expect to hear there voice again. Sure, you might have recordings, home movies, or saved voicemails, but those aren’t the same. Over time, the recordings become distorted and grainy. Nothing can replace the sound of their voice as they sit across the table from you, sipping on tea and telling you about their life or even just their day.

My grandmother’s voice had been lost to me for over three years. Lost forever, as far as I knew. Only by a miracle was I able to speak to her again.

The miracle of my bloodline.

Some call it voodoo, others witchcraft, and still others call it the black arts or devil worship. It isn’t devil worship or the black arts. It isn’t voodoo, nor do we do anything to harm others. Maybe it is witchcraft, I’m not really sure. All I know is that it is a gift. Its a gift to me and to those I can help bring closure.

There is nothing like the sound of relief… joy… and comfort you hear from someone who is finally able to say goodbye to a loved one who was lost to soon.

© 2020 Nina Soden

Alright, now it’s your turn. I’d love to see what today’s writing prompt [If you could go back in time exactly 10 years and give yourself some advice, what would you tell yourself?] inspires in you. So, if you are willing, go to the comment section below and start typing. Take 5 minutes and let’s see what you come up with! 

Looking for daily writing inspiration? Check out my latest publication: #WRITINGPROMPTS

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What books have you added to your May 2020 reading list? Comment below and let me know!

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CLICK HERE to check out the May 2020 New York Times TOP 10 Best Sellers – Young Adult

Elizabeth “Long Liz” Stride and Kate Eddowes ~ Victims of Jack the Ripper Speak

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Virtual Theatre Performance from The Belles of Whitechapel ~ The Victims of Jack the Ripper Speak, written by Wayne Miller / Directed by Nina Soden

Actress Leslie Gates

LESLIE GATES is very excited to be part of this project. She has been seen on stage in Huntsville in The Importance of Being Earnest, The Diviners, Blithe Spirit, and Nunsense. Leslie is also the Executive Director of Theatre Huntsville. Thank you to Nina for such a fun opportunity and to Wayne for a great script. 

When asked her thoughts on Elizabeth “Long Liz” Stride’s role, Leslie had this to say: Liz was a very interesting person. She was born in Sweden, and came to London for a better life. That didn’t seem to work out for her as she ended up on the streets, depending on charity and selling her wares to make ends meet. However, she did seem to have somewhat of an optimistic outlook. Liz seemed like she never gave up and never lost her sense of humor. 

When asked about the process of performing virtual theatre, she said: Film is so different from the stage. It was a little intimidating to have the camera there – I really wasn’t used to that. And having the shorter time period was really different – especially the older I get. I tend to attach words to movement, so that was different as well.  And I must admit I did miss the audience. But Nina was so supportive and patient that it was not as scary as I thought it would be. 

Actress Gena Rawdon

Gena has been active in community theatre for 20+ years and is honored to be appearing in The Belles of Whitechapel for a third time.  She would love to tell every belle’s story if she has the chance!

After working in the Shoals theater scene for seven years, her first show in Huntsville was Theatre Huntsville’s Sabrina Fair in 2000. She has consistently worked with community theatre companies in Huntsville, Florence and Guntersville throughout her career.  

Her first opportunity for a movie role came in 2018, when she played “Maw” in “The Quiet”, a movie filmed in the Shoals.  

Gena wants to thank Nina Soden and all the Belles for bringing these beautiful women and their haunting stories to light.  

When asked her thoughts on Kate Eddowes’s role, Gena had this to say: Oh, Kate.  I loved Kate for her brutal honesty and her vulnerability.  To think about a woman who was brutally murdered telling people about how she ended up dying at the hands of a serial killer…..it’s so powerful.  To portray a woman who struggled with poverty, classism and addiction during a time when women had no viable options is a humbling experience.  Kate had a man she loved and I get the feeling they felt it was them against the world.  She made some poor choices, sure.  I have too, we all have.  They didn’t cost me my life, though.  Kate was a survivor.  She had love in her life.  She deserved a fighting chance, but Jack the Ripper’s success as a serial killer depended upon a society who didn’t give women and poor people a fighting chance.  The deck was stacked against Kate, but she never gave up.  I love her for that.  

When asked about the process of performing virtual theatre, she said: I haven’t done much screen work, but I love the option of being able to do a retake if I flub a scene or want to record a better version.  The quick turnaround was a little nerve-wracking, but I would do it again in a heartbeat to be able to tell this story!  

I really miss not being able to collaborate with my fellow artists.  I’m glad Leslie and I had a chance to play off each other.  I look forward to the day that we can all be collaborating in person again!  

A Note from the Director

As a writer, I can appreciate every word Wayne put into this script. His research and dedication to his writing did these women proud. As an actress, I hope to one day play all the roles so I can truly connect with each of them on an emotional level. As a director, I am both honored and humbled that Wayne would trust me with this production. I have loved working with each of these actresses and believe that in the short time we had together (2 weeks start to finish) each and every one of them have given a beautiful performance. ~ Nina Soden

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS and is the Grand High Poobah of CHEEZISM, the movement he founded (it isn’t organized enough to be called a religion, besides which it isn’t religious) dedicated to providing audiences with the finest in entertainment options on the page and for the stage. (On the big screen, too, if Spielberg ever returns any of his phone calls.) Wayne has been writing stories literally since before he learned his alphabet—he drew pictures. After languishing in the nether-regions of the publishing industry for years, working as an acquisitions editor for a literary agency, he chose, as an experiment, to combine his passion for writing with his hobby of Theatre, and in the process, by accident and Providence, discovered his life’s purpose: to be a showman.

Describing himself as a cross between Edgar Allan Poe and P.T. Barnum, Miller is a devotee of Ed Wood, the “worst director of all time!” who inspires Wayne due to his unflappable dedication to his muse and unrestrainable creative drive.

When not involved in Cheez business, Wayne Miller is a reporter for the websites werewolves.com, vampires.com, and darkness.com. He has previously written content for zombies.org, topcomics.com, thenerdrecites.com, and Legless Corpse Films.

SPECIAL THANKS:

Wayne Miller and Tanya Miller of Evil Cheez Productions for allowing me the honor of producing and directing this amazing play. Through his script, Wayne has done a wonderful job of bringing these women back to life, even if just for a few minutes, to tell their story. Make sure you check out Evil Cheez online and learn about their upcoming productions.

Theatre Huntsville for letting us use The Studio Theatre space at Lowe Mill and for providing the professional lighting design. You can find them, and their upcoming productions, online by clicking HERE or on Facebook.

Please like, share, subscribe, and comment so more people can share in this virtual theatre experience.

To read the actresses comments about their characters, click on the links below and you’ll be taken to the individual posts!

Annie Millwood
Martha Tabram
Polly Nichols
“Dark Annie” Chapman
Elizabeth “Long Liz” Stride and Kate Eddowes
Sarah Lewis
Mary Jane Kelly

UNIQUE ~ Book Tour and Giveaway

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Ordinary (Ordinary Series Book 1) by Starr Z. Davies
Genre: YA Sci-Fi Dystopian

Fans of Powerless, The Testing, Hunger Games and the Maze Runner will crave this world of iniquitous secrets, intrigue, and desire to find a place in society.

Divinic. Somatic. Psionic. Naturalist. Who will you be?

Having a superpower is ordinary. Your Power determines your job, social class, and future success.

But Ugene doesn’t have a Power. The only thing special about him is that he isn’t special at all. Ugene is Powerless.

So when the most prominent biomedical research company in the city offers Ugene a solution, he jumps at the possibility to be ordinary. All he has to do is agree to allow them to use him in their research. But the longer he stays at the research facility, the more he realizes something isn’t right.

Friendships are forged. Trust is broken built and broken. And everything Ugene thought he understood and believed is called into question.

Who can Ugene trust in his search for answers? What is he willing to sacrifice for Powers?

Goodreads * Amazon  

Unique (Ordinary Series Book 2) by Starr Z. Davies
Genre: YA Sci-Fi Dystopian

He lost everything. His dad, his best friend, and the woman he loves.

Ugene and the other test subjects escaped Paragon. They thought they were finally safe. But the battle for freedom is far from over.

When a rouge group calling themselves the Protectorate offers to help Ugene, he worries that his friends are falling into another dangerous trap. The struggle for freedom becomes a desperate fight for survival. Ugene is determined to stand up for what’s right and save the oppressed citizens of Elpis from persecution by Paragon and the Directorate.

The deeper Ugene digs, the more he uncovers about the Directorate’s sinister secrets, the Protectorate’s true goals . . . and the dangerous game he is about to play.

It’s time for the  deception  to end. It’s time for the truth to finally come to the surface. And it’s time for everyone to finally learn that being Powerless isn’t weakness.

Goodreads * Amazon

Would you like a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

STARR Z. DAVIES is a Midwesterner at heart, and lives in Wisconsin with her husband and kids. From a young age, Starr has been obsessed with superheroes like Batman and Captain America, which inspired her novel, ORDINARY. If Starr had a superpower, she would be an Empath, because she is an emotional sponge and easily relates to how others feel.

 While pursuing a degree in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin, Starr gained a reputation as the “Character Assassin” because she has a habit of utterly destroying her characters both emotionally and physically.

In her free time, Starr loves watching Doctor Who or anything with superheroes, reading books (duh!), writing about her favorite fantasy stories (Song of Ice and Fire, Mistborn, The Wheel of Time), and staring out the window as she dreams up more stories. Oh, and sometimes she steps out the door.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads  

5  F U N  F A C T S  A B O U T  S T A R R Z . D A V I E S

1. Starr is short for Starrburst, her given Native American name.

2. Starr is a big fan of cheesy puns and 5th grade humor and will often laugh at her own jokes before anyone else. Ex: What’s ET short for? Cuz he’s got small legs!

3. Starr’s favorite quote is from Batman Begins (of course, a superhero!): “It’s not who you are, but what you do that defines you.” She tries to live by this ideology.

4. Starr loves to fantasize about who would star in a film as her characters. In fact, she sometimes “casts” actors on her social media feeds by posting pictures. After seeing Detective Pikachu, no one else but Justice Smith would satisfy her as Ugene.

5. If she were to choose a superhero whose personality is most like her own, Starr would be Spiderman—nerdy, awkward, and witty, but always eager to do the right thing to help others.

I’m excited to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about Ordinary by Starr Z. Davies

“Dark Annie” Chapman ~ Victim of Jack the Ripper Speaks

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Virtual Theatre Performance from The Belles of Whitechapel ~ The Victims of Jack the Ripper Speak, written by Wayne Miller / Directed by Nina Soden

Actress Sherri Ryan

Sherri Ryan has been fortunate to have been acting and directing for over 50 years… “Wow, sounds old when I say it that way,” she stated! As a theatre teacher, she says she was blessed to work with amazing Sparkman High School students until she retired in 2015. Her favorite rolls include, Mame in ‘Mame’, Anita in ‘West Side Story’, Doris in ‘Same Time Next Year’, Ouisa in ‘Six Degrees of Separation’, Clairee in ‘Steele Magnolias’, and playing Annie Chapman!!! After 10 years of NOT acting, she says a 15-minute monologue can really rattle you, but that she is thankful for this opportunity.

When asked her thoughts on “Dark Annie’ Chapman’s monologue, Sherri had this to say: When Nina first asked me to take on the role of Annie Chapman, I was thrilled that at 67, I was going to do “theatre” again.  (It has been 10 years since I was last on stage).   THEN I saw the script.  WOW.  15 minutes of a monologue AND with an accent.  It was such a challenge but I finally did it and so appreciated the opportunity.  I have always enjoyed doing film work as well as performing on stage.  This was quite fun though with only 2 weeks of studying, filming for 30 minutes, and you are finished with the project. 

But now I miss Annie!  What a character I was fortunate enough to bring back to life, or death!!  She had spunk, edgy charm, and her own unique take on life.  Learning her dialogue and putting it into perspective in order to capture her was like peeling an onion, lots of layers.  I appreciate the writing of Wayne Miller so much, the direction of Nina Soden, and the opportunity to get to know “Dark Annie Chapman”.

A Note from the Director

As a writer, I can appreciate every word Wayne put into this script. His research and dedication to his writing did these women proud. As an actress, I hope to one day play all the roles so I can truly connect with each of them on an emotional level. As a director, I am both honored and humbled that Wayne would trust me with this production. I have loved working with each of these actresses and believe that in the short time we had together (2 weeks start to finish) each and every one of them have given a beautiful performance. ~ Nina Soden

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS and is the Grand High Poobah of CHEEZISM, the movement he founded (it isn’t organized enough to be called a religion, besides which it isn’t religious) dedicated to providing audiences with the finest in entertainment options on the page and for the stage. (On the big screen, too, if Spielberg ever returns any of his phone calls.) Wayne has been writing stories literally since before he learned his alphabet—he drew pictures. After languishing in the nether-regions of the publishing industry for years, working as an acquisitions editor for a literary agency, he chose, as an experiment, to combine his passion for writing with his hobby of Theatre, and in the process, by accident and Providence, discovered his life’s purpose: to be a showman.

Describing himself as a cross between Edgar Allan Poe and P.T. Barnum, Miller is a devotee of Ed Wood, the “worst director of all time!” who inspires Wayne due to his unflappable dedication to his muse and unrestrainable creative drive.

When not involved in Cheez business, Wayne Miller is a reporter for the websites werewolves.com, vampires.com, and darkness.com. He has previously written content for zombies.org, topcomics.com, thenerdrecites.com, and Legless Corpse Films.

SPECIAL THANKS:

Wayne Miller and Tanya Miller of Evil Cheez Productions for allowing me the honor of producing and directing this amazing play. Through his script, Wayne has done a wonderful job of bringing these women back to life, even if just for a few minutes, to tell their story. Make sure you check out Evil Cheez online and learn about their upcoming productions.

Theatre Huntsville for letting us use The Studio Theatre space at Lowe Mill and for providing the professional lighting design. You can find them, and their upcoming productions, online by clicking HERE or on Facebook.

Please like, share, subscribe, and comment so more people can share in this virtual theatre experience.  

To watch all seven scenes, follow the link below to the YouTube playlist.

To read the actresses comments about their characters, click on the links below and you’ll be taken to the individual posts!

Annie Millwood
Martha Tabram
Polly Nichols
“Dark Annie” Chapman
Elizabeth “Long Liz” Stride and Kate Eddowes
Sarah Lewis
Mary Jane Kelly

Polly Nichols ~ Victim of Jack the Ripper Speaks

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Virtual Theatre Performance from The Belles of Whitechapel ~ The Victims of Jack the Ripper Speak, written by Wayne Miller / Directed by Nina Soden

Actress Tanja Lewis Miller

Tanja Lewis Miller is honored at the opportunity to reprise the role of Polly Nichols and to, once again, give her a voice. Involved in theatre since childhood, she has acted in and/or directed and/or produced countless productions in North Alabama. Like, literally, she can’t remember how many. She is the co-owner of Evil Cheez Productions, along with her highly creative hubby Wayne, and it’s a safe bet you’ve seen her on the stage somewhere. Much love to Nina and the rest of the amazingly talented cast for allowing her to share the airwaves with them. And a huge thank you to YOU, the audience, for helping to keep theatre alive.

When asked her thoughts on Polly Nichols’ monologue, Tanja had this to say: As the playwright’s wife, I was allowed to read all of the monologues before anyone else, and I fell in love with Polly from her first line, “Do you like my new bonnet?” She’s an optimist. She’s not going to let her situation drag her down. She’s strong, stubborn, and she uses her quick wit as a defense mechanism. She doesn’t defend her faults, but she doesn’t dwell either. She’s someone I can relate to. She’s someone EVERYONE can relate to.

When asked about the process of performing virtual theatre, she said: As far as the process, I’ll take a live audience any day of the week and twice on Sundays. I’m not the biggest fan of being on film. However, I’ll also take theatre any way I can get it. Call me an addict, if you will, but once the acting bug bit, I became a lifer. I will say that Nina made it as painless as possible, and it’s always a joy to work with her.

A Note from the Director

As a writer, I can appreciate every word Wayne put into this script. His research and dedication to his writing did these women proud. As an actress, I hope to one day play all the roles so I can truly connect with each of them on an emotional level. As a director, I am both honored and humbled that Wayne would trust me with this production. I have loved working with each of these actresses and believe that in the short time we had together (2 weeks start to finish) each and every one of them have given a beautiful performance. ~ Nina Soden

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS and is the Grand High Poobah of CHEEZISM, the movement he founded (it isn’t organized enough to be called a religion, besides which it isn’t religious) dedicated to providing audiences with the finest in entertainment options on the page and for the stage. (On the big screen, too, if Spielberg ever returns any of his phone calls.) Wayne has been writing stories literally since before he learned his alphabet—he drew pictures. After languishing in the nether-regions of the publishing industry for years, working as an acquisitions editor for a literary agency, he chose, as an experiment, to combine his passion for writing with his hobby of Theatre, and in the process, by accident and Providence, discovered his life’s purpose: to be a showman.

Describing himself as a cross between Edgar Allan Poe and P.T. Barnum, Miller is a devotee of Ed Wood, the “worst director of all time!” who inspires Wayne due to his unflappable dedication to his muse and unrestrainable creative drive.

When not involved in Cheez business, Wayne Miller is a reporter for the websites werewolves.com, vampires.com, and darkness.com. He has previously written content for zombies.org, topcomics.com, thenerdrecites.com, and Legless Corpse Films.

SPECIAL THANKS:

Wayne Miller and Tanya Miller of Evil Cheez Productions for allowing me the honor of producing and directing this amazing play. Through his script, Wayne has done a wonderful job of bringing these women back to life, even if just for a few minutes, to tell their story. Make sure you check out Evil Cheez online and learn about their upcoming productions.

Theatre Huntsville for letting us use The Studio Theatre space at Lowe Mill and for providing the professional lighting design. You can find them, and their upcoming productions, online by clicking HERE or on Facebook.

Please like, share, subscribe, and comment so more people can share in this virtual theatre experience.

To read the actresses comments about their characters, click on the links below and you’ll be taken to the individual posts!

Annie Millwood
Martha Tabram
Polly Nichols
“Dark Annie” Chapman
Elizabeth “Long Liz” Stride and Kate Eddowes
Sarah Lewis
Mary Jane Kelly

 

The Soul Scribe Trilogy ~ giveaway

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In addition to being a newly published indie author, Tera Lyn Cortez is a wife, mother to five and a voracious reader. She is also a lover of coffee, the ocean and all things chocolate. Her home is in the lovely Pacific Northwest with her family, although she does admit to being consumed with Wanderlust. Life as a writer allows her to indulge in traveling both our world and those that live only in our imagination when she can’t leave her office.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Would you like a chance to win a $25 amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Isolation (The Soul Scribe Trilogy Book 1) by Tera Lyn Cortez
Genre: New Adult Fantasy

What if you woke up one day and discovered all the things about yourself that you thought made you a walking disaster, actually made you very special?
Growing up on Earth left Everleigh totally in the dark about the magic that exists in the world. In fact, she was unaware that the realms beyond her own even existed. She spent her life struggling to hide her peculiarities from the world, believing she was an anomaly, a freak of nature.
Then a stranger showed up on her doorstep one day, leaving cryptic instructions that would lead her to discover just how much she didn’t know. If she follows them, she will learn that not only do the other realms exist, but that she is an integral part of their survival.
The abilities she spent years trying to bury inside are just the tip of the iceberg. She must not only embrace them, but nurture them, and master them as quickly as she can.
The world is counting on her, whether they know it or not. By the time she’s capable of making a difference, will it already be too late to save the ones she loves?

Goodreads * Amazon

Invocation (The Soul Scribe Trilogy Book 2) by Tera Lyn Cortez
Genre: New Adult Fantasy

Everleigh’s life has gone from Isolation and loneliness to being bombarded with magical beings from all sides.

When she is forced to flee the safety of the cabin and travel to the other realms, her world is turned upside down yet again. As she struggles to meet the needs of those relying on her, will she be able to balance the demands of learning her magic and preparing for war?

If she wants to survive in a magical world, she’ll have to.

Goodreads * Amazon

Inauguration (The Soul Scribe Trilogy Book 3) by Tera Lyn Cortez
Genre: New Adult Fantasy

What steps would you take to ensure that you came out the victor in a war that had been brewing since before you were born?

Everleigh must answer that question correctly to ensure that magic as they know it will not cease to exist. To protect the realms, and those she has come to love, she must make life-altering choices guided only by her intuition.

She has gathered warriors from every magical race available, seeking out those who are willing to help her put an end to the dark mage’s reign of terror. As they march on to the final battle between good and evil, will their forces prevail? Will everything they have done be enough? Even if it is, will the cost of victory prove to be too much for them to pay?

At the end of the battle they can only hope that what is left of their world will be worth living in.

Goodreads * Amazon

What is some advice you would give new authors?

Any advice I give is solely based on the mistakes I am already aware I made. I’m sure there are plenty that I don’t even know about yet.

First, find a professional cover designer who is proficient in the genre you are writing in. The designer I originally hired made fantastic art, but did not tell me that the covers I asked for would not sell well in the genre. An expensive mistake when you have to turn around and hire someone else to do them over again!

Second, get yourself a good developmental editor. Yes it can be expensive, but it is worth the money. My editor told me originally to cut approximately 30,000 words out of a 60k novel. Ouch! I wound up throwing the whole thing out and starting over, then copying and pasting the portions of the original manuscript that I really loved. It stung, but she was right and the story is so much better for it.

Maybe the most important thing? Keep writing. Get the words down on the page. I have a post it note above my desk that says “You can edit bad writing, but you cannot edit a blank page.” It’s not my quote, I saw it on Facebook and the author was unknown, but it serves as a daily reminder that getting the words down means I am making progress and I can always revise and edit later.

Last, but certainly not least, find your tribe. Gather people around you who believe in you and truly want you to succeed. They are priceless.

I’m excited to be one of the many tour hosts sharing information about The Soul Scrive Trilogy by Tera Lyn Cortez!!!

Martha Tabram ~ Victim of Jack the Ripper Speaks

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Virtual Theatre Performance from The Belles of Whitechapel ~ The Victims of Jack the Ripper Speak, written by Wayne Miller / Directed by Nina Soden

Actress Jacinda Rose Swinehart-Johnson

JACINDA ROSE SWINEHART is a professional actress, who has worked all over the country since the year 2000. She owns The Rocket City Sweethearts, Huntsville’s Premiere Vintage Entertainment Trio, singing the hits of the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s! JACINDA currently works for Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theatre and Academy as a Teaching Artist, and as an Actress at The Intuitive Planetarium at The US Space and Rocket Center. 

When asked her thoughts on Martha Tabram’s monologue, Valerie had this to say: Martha is heartbreaking. She is a perfect example of how life can truly get the better of you, and that your demons do not care what you want. If you don’t have control, you will be a victim to your surroundings, regardless of how many people love you. She was a true pleasure to play, down to every absolute wonderful flaw that made her human. Her life, wasn’t wasted. I was honored to tell her story.

When asked about the process of performing virtual theatre, she said: This pandemic, this new world, has had an effect on me, as an actor. I have been so focused on everything else… My family, the world, the virus, death. My ability to focus has been effected. I find that I haven’t been able to memorize as I normally do, which is disturbing. This is a new era. I am trying to settle in the fact that things will be dramatically different while also denying that things will not be different and won’t change. Our whole world, (entertainment, performance), is drastically changing… Without an answer in the immediate future. I am thankful to be able to create in this type of venue… For without it, I am not.

A Note from the Director

As a writer, I can appreciate every word Wayne put into this script. His research and dedication to his writing did these women proud. As an actress, I hope to one day play all the roles so I can truly connect with each of them on an emotional level. As a director, I am both honored and humbled that Wayne would trust me with this production. I have loved working with each of these actresses and believe that in the short time we had together (2 weeks start to finish) each and every one of them have given a beautiful performance. ~ Nina Soden

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS and is the Grand High Poobah of CHEEZISM, the movement he founded (it isn’t organized enough to be called a religion, besides which it isn’t religious) dedicated to providing audiences with the finest in entertainment options on the page and for the stage. (On the big screen, too, if Spielberg ever returns any of his phone calls.) Wayne has been writing stories literally since before he learned his alphabet—he drew pictures. After languishing in the nether-regions of the publishing industry for years, working as an acquisitions editor for a literary agency, he chose, as an experiment, to combine his passion for writing with his hobby of Theatre, and in the process, by accident and Providence, discovered his life’s purpose: to be a showman.

Describing himself as a cross between Edgar Allan Poe and P.T. Barnum, Miller is a devotee of Ed Wood, the “worst director of all time!” who inspires Wayne due to his unflappable dedication to his muse and unrestrainable creative drive.

When not involved in Cheez business, Wayne Miller is a reporter for the websites werewolves.com, vampires.com, and darkness.com. He has previously written content for zombies.org, topcomics.com, thenerdrecites.com, and Legless Corpse Films.

SPECIAL THANKS:

Wayne Miller and Tanya Miller of Evil Cheez Productions for allowing me the honor of producing and directing this amazing play. Through his script, Wayne has done a wonderful job of bringing these women back to life, even if just for a few minutes, to tell their story. Make sure you check out Evil Cheez online and learn about their upcoming productions.

Theatre Huntsville for letting us use The Studio Theatre space at Lowe Mill and for providing the professional lighting design. You can find them, and their upcoming productions, online by clicking HERE or on Facebook.

Please like, share, subscribe, and comment so more people can share in this virtual theatre experience.

To read the actresses comments about their characters, click on the links below and you’ll be taken to the individual posts!

Annie Millwood
Martha Tabram
Polly Nichols
“Dark Annie” Chapman
Elizabeth “Long Liz” Stride and Kate Eddowes
Sarah Lewis
Mary Jane Kelly

Shadow Magic ~ giveaway

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Shadow Magic (Macabre Academy Book 1) by Sherry Soule
Genre: Paranormal Mystery Romance

Ghost summoning? No biggie. Raising the dead? Bring it on. Solving my sister’s sudden disappearance? A bit more complicated…

I’m Serena LeStrange, a necromancer who prefers to hide her freakishly fabulous skills from others. Only my sister makes me feel less of a weirdo, so when she mysteriously vanishes from college, I enroll at Macabre Academy to start my own investigation.

Except this is no ordinary school for the magically inclined, it’s home to all monsters—even the most dangerous ones. And after meeting an incredibly gorgeous vampire and a sinfully hot reaper, I find myself entangled in a passionate, yet forbidden, flirtation. To complicate matters, I get stuck with a ghostly genie sidekick and suspect a sinister sorority of misdeeds.

But to solve the mystery, I’ll need all the help I can get. Someone at Macabre knows what happened to my sister, and I won’t stop until I dig up the truth.

Unfortunately, some dark secrets prefer to stay buried.

Do you enjoy not-so-cozy paranormal mysteries, slow burn romances, and unconventional heroines?

Welcome to Macabre Academy, the first spellbinding book in a paranormal mystery romance trilogy!

PG-13: *No F-bombs, sex (slow burn), or graphic violence, but there are steamy kisses.

Heroine: A quirky supernatural Nancy Drew.

Premise: An older university-age paranormal academy series with mystery and light humor.

Goodreads  * Amazon

Shadow Magic (Macabre Academy Book 1) by Sherry Soule

Would you like a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Sherry Soule is a Multi-Genre Author, who lives in Northern California with her family and two spoiled rescue cats. She likes to surround herself with positive people and reads daily.

Sherry writes exciting tales of passionate romance, epic drama, and thrilling suspense. Many of her books have been on the Amazon bestseller lists and nominated as top picks in the “Best Paranormal Romance” categories on numerous review sites.

Subscribe to Sherry’s newsletter to get a free eBook: https://bit.ly/37Jpl8T

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Shadow Magic (Macabre Academy Book 1) by Sherry Soule

Why I Love Writing Paranormal Romance

GUEST POST BY AUTHOR SHERRY SOULE

Today author, Sherry Soule has some exciting news to share with us! Her new paranormal romance mystery, SHADOW MAGIC, was published on May 1, 2020. To celebrate the release of Sherry’s new series, she has put together this fun guest post for fellow booklovers.

As a reader, I have had a long-term love affair with all things dark and romantic in fiction. Paranormal Romance is one of my favorite genres. Ever since I was a child, I have recognized that books are a way to travel to faraway places, have epic adventures, and meet dashing fictional men.

The coolest part for me as a writer is that I can do things in the paranormal genre that are not acceptable in other ones. And as a reader, you get to step out of your ordinary world, where everything is predictable, and you can jump into a realm that is mysterious, magical, and exciting.

In my current release, SHADOW MAGIC, the original draft of this novel had a witch trying to join a local coven, but my heroine kept insisting she wasn’t a witch. No, it turns out that Serena is an animal-loving necromancer, who wants to get a necromancy license to resurrect pets and familiars. Then a sexy grim reaper and a handsome vampire showed up in the story, vying for Serena’s affection, and the story took off from there…

We all have diverse tastes in literature. Most of you will have various genres that you love to read, and that’s what makes reading so fascinating. Each one of us will enjoy different types of characters, genres, and tropes. And I don’t know about you, but I need some romance in almost every book I read.

In my own novels, I love getting my heroine into sticky situations, where even I’m not sure how she’s going to get out of them. And in my stories, the hero doesn’t always show up and save her—she usually saves herself. I also love adding in the budding romance, and creating fictional worlds with vivid settings. And I like the feeling that comes from stretching my imagination. It’s that continual “what if…”

Like…what if a vampire gave you his blood?

What if an opening to Hell was directly under your house?

What if you found out you were born into a family of witches?

What if you had the power to raise the dead?

What is your favorite paranormal romance novel or series? Let me know in the comments!

It was my honor to be your guest today. Thank you so much for allowing me to chat about my new series. I sincerely hope you guys enjoyed this post. Now go feed your mind with a book. Preferably one of mine. 😀

I am excited to be one of many authors sharing information on Shadow Magic by Sherry Soule.