Sally Spectre the Musical, A Children's Horror Story for Adults

GRAND PRIZE WINNER - 2008 Hurricane Season Playwriting Contest
HONORABLE MENTION - 2008 Ellen Idelson Awards

Sally Spectre is the ghastly tale of a 5-year old girl that had - shall we say - a brutal run-in with a twisted murderer. Poor Sally didn't fare too well against her assailant and finds that her world has quite suddenly become very - restrictive. As an innocent soul, Sally doesn't know what to do to climb out of the tangled bounds of her new found Purgatory... but, being the sweet and innocent girl she is, Sally does find a way to bring about some comfort in her new situation. What she doesn't realize is that - dead or otherwise - she's still on borrowed time. 

That's a lot for five-year old mind... and you 'd be right if you're betting that it has some interesting effects on her behavior as she learns to navigate her new world.

Will she manage to solve the mystery that leads her to the world she's dreamt of? Or will she be overtaken by the odd souls and creatures that find their way into her company... A scary and powerful tale of acceptance, truth and confronting one's fears. There's a little Sally in us all...

Book, Music and Lyrics by David P. Johnson

www.sallyspectre.com

Will-O-the-Wisp the Musical, A Children's Horror Story for Adults

The darker companion piece to the award-winning Sally Spectre the Musical, A Children's Horror Story for Adults.

The lost soul of a little boy named Will was killed by a crocodile that lives in the swamps of Louisiana. But... was it an ordinary crocodile? He is Sobek-Ra, the ancient Egyptian crocodile god of the Nile. Sobek-Ra lost most of his power when the Egyptian dynasty lost its influence. He tells a compelling story about how this happens... complaining that when people stopped believing in him, he faded from existence. His true goals remain somewhat unsavory though, as he tries to lure Louella, Will's would be savior, to a similar fate.

Sobek-Ra takes the souls of his victims and keeps them in separate Coptic jars in his lair. There are other reasons why he does this. He has plans to rise to power again, and knows that the souls of the lives that he takes will go to an afterworld where they will tell their story to the powers there... and essentially - doing so would blow his cover by waking the current gods to his presence.

Yet, no matter how hard he tries - Sobek-Ra can only manage to keep the souls of his victims, he cannot contain their spirit which manifests itself in the form of tiny shining lights that playfully bounce about the Cajun swamp in search of their matching souls. Although confused - these "parts" of each victim somehow know that they must locate their souls in order to move on... otherwise they'll remain in this purgatory for eternity... or at least until Sobek-Ra releases them.

Book, Music and Lyrics by David P. Johnson

web site coming soon

NEW WORKS FESTIVAL at Theatre West - January 20, 2011

Meet Joanie: a waitress with wanderlust that only ever made one journey in her life. Sadly... it landed her in this dirty little diner with a tray in one hand and her other one full with a flamboyantly antagonistic Bus Boy to deal with.  Or wait, is that her?  Not important...  The deli is invaded by Emily, an odd customer with some specific neuroses and some even better stories to tell.  Will she take Joanie with her on a voyage across the world or perhaps, more importantly, within herself?  Ask the Bus Boy.

All these moments lead to those profound questions that one must ask him or herself every day... does an education at Vassar, a toupee and a "Tarzan from another country" affect Joanie's ultimate decisions?

It might.

By David P. Johnson

What's greater than the 3 greatest sci-fi camp flicks of all time: Ed Wood's disasterpiece, the film that could make Jane Fonda an icon, and the movie that proved that women (not just lizards and bugs) can be larger than life?  What could be better??  

Roll 'em all up into one show!  What you want MORE?  Fine!  Make it a Musical!  Behold Plan 9.5: Attack of the 50 Foot Barbarella - the Musical!

Pure deliciously evil camp - that goes up to eleven.

Book, Music and Lyrics by David P. Johnson

...Seth Hoffman*   
A very shy Samuel decides it's time to do something about his physical abnormalities, and with a little prodding from his mother, makes an appointment with a cosmetic surgeon to discuss both the issue and his concerns. He finds Becca at the reception desk, or does she find him? Either way, after a failed robbery attempt, a brief discussion on Waiting for Godot and some good old-fashioned trickery, the audience is left with a funny tongue in cheek one-act play about vanity and it's relevance in today's world.

By David P. Johnson

*Seth Hoffman is a graduate of Darmouth College where he studied playwriting under Peter Parnell("Romance Language" at the Taper, "The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket" w/Tom Hulce on PBS, episodes of the "West Wing" on NBC). Seth's original pilot, "Virginia 12," was optioned by 20th Century Fox in2008. Seth also created, co-wrote, and co-produced a 6-episodeweb series for 60 Frames entitled "Den of Thieves." He is currently Co-Producer on the new critically-acclaimed ABC drama "Flash Forward" and has written several episodes of the show. Prior to that, Seth spent three years writing for Fox's series "Prison Break." 

By David P. Johnson

OFFICIAL AWARD-WINNING FINALIST - 2010 Oregon Film Awards

A retired dog fighter is sought out by his former commanding officer for a very specific task in a post apocalyptic world. Earth is a fading memory, gifted children are being abducted, and the military, a branch of the United Caucus of Habitable Environments, has discovered a powerful weapon that holds the power to destroy the entire solar system where humans have relocated. Ganymede will need to confront his own lack of faith and trust in order to recover what could be the most powerful weapon in history.

By David P. Johnson

Conversations with Tube and Wheel is about a couple of guys that just can’t figure out what makes the world go around… and as a result, the forward thinking futuristic society of 3010 has made the choice to kick them off the very world that they’re from. This gives them all of eternity to flounder about and discuss the circumstances that have landed them on the Moon… or as it is known in 3010, Lunar Australia. Their conversations and actions focus on doing what they can do to figure out women, how to get back to Earth, how to hold a job, and even what do to with a good pint of ale. The ever-opinionated Tube espouses without end while the more introspective Wheel listens and occasionally chimes in with a question or two throughout this funny romp of Adult-Swim themed humor. I hope you enjoy Conversations with Tube and Wheel!

By David P. Johnson