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Notable Quote from Bumbling Bea

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bb-chapter-2

 

“Yeah, a lot of life isn’t fair,” my dippy brother mimicked.” I didn’t get too upset when Bernie got run over by that car on the same day my camping game website crashed. Remember?”

Edmund had built a camping game website and was so obsessed with it that he didn’t notice “Bernie’s Prison Break” as we now called it.

I corrected him, “Well, life’s fair for you, bro’. Mom got you a new Bernie.  Besides, it’s your fault Bernie #1 escaped  from his cage.”

….Then I chewed and chewed the spongey tofu in the casserole. Horrible.

Purchase Bumbling Bea at:  https://www.amazon.com/Bumbling-Bea-Deborah-Baldwin/dp/1500390356/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473287714&sr=8-1&keywords=Bumbling+Bea

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com  or Bumblingbea.com

 

Notable Quote From Bumbling Bea

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bb-chapter-8

I never know what to do when I am waiting for a friend using the bathroom, do you? Do you wait outside the bathroom or stand inside by the sinks and observe the cleaning procedures of other people washing their hands?  You feel like the Hand Washing Police. Ugh.

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or Bumblingbea.com

Purchase my award winning book,  Bumbling Bea at:  https://www.amazon.com/Bumbling-Bea-Deborah-Baldwin/dp/1500390356/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473287714&sr=8-1&keywords=Bumbling+Bea

 

Notable Quote from Bumbling Bea

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BB Chapter 1
Chapter One: The Present

“Yes, you read that right:  It was the box containing my new bikini swimming suit, matching flip flops and the new panties. Everyone in choir class saw them.

NEW PANTIES!! NEW PANTIES!!”

Read more of chapter one here:https://wordpress.com/post/dramamommaspeaks.wordpress.com/497

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com  or DeborahBaldwin.net

I’d love to hear from you. 🙂

Purchase a copy of my book, Bumbling Bea at https://www.amazon.com/Bumbling-Bea-Deborah-Baldwin/dp/1500390356

 

 

Readers’ Favorite Book Review of Bumbling Bea

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This is huge, folks! I am very flattered.

Reader’s Favorite Review

Bumbling Bea book

Reviewed by Sarah Stuart for Readers’ Favorite

“Bumbling Bea is a story that will echo the experiences of many youngsters. Beatrice regrets that her parents live apart and she often blames her father. However, Beatrice attributes disasters, resulting mostly from activities aimed at being popular at school, to Bumbling Bea, her alter ego. Bumbling Bea ignores Beatrice’s own opinion that she has no talent for acting and goes ahead to audition for the leading role in the annual play. She reckons without Michiko, a Japanese girl new to the school, but Bumbling Bea conceives a diabolical plan to defeat the stranger. When Beatrice’s alter ego takes over, any skulduggery goes.”

Bumbling Bea Cannot Fail to Become a Favorite
“Bumbling Bea by Deborah Baldwin cannot fail to become a favorite with pre-teen readers, and very likely teenagers too, because the mixture of pathos and humor is so realistic. Ms Baldwin establishes Beatrice’s character before the subject of playing Pocahontas arises. When it does, Beatrice finds that the play is a modern rewrite of the one she had used to rehearse, immersing herself in the part of Pocahontas. How can she do a good audition? Alter ego Bumbling Bea’s muddles and misguided remarks already had me laughing aloud; I couldn’t wait to find out how far she would go to stop her new Japanese classmate, Michiko, from stealing the limelight. There is a subtle message behind the fun and the brilliant descriptions of amateurs staging a performance of a well-known musical film. Bumbling Bea is a story about friendship, and why it matters more than popularity “bought” by attempting to be the best at everything.”

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com  or Bumblingbea.com

 

Teacher Testimonial on My Book Talk–Terrific! 

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“My middle school Novel Writing Workshop enjoyed a presentation by Deborah Baldwin, author of Bumbling Bea. The students had read the book and had many questions for the author. One boy asked, “How did you know how to write such ‘with it’ dialogue?” Baldwin’s answer delighted the students! “Since I am a teacher, I just listen to you guys and then I know how a middle schooler talks!” The students were interested in how long it took her to write the book, how she decided on the title, the conflicts, and how she got it published. Baldwin’s lively presentation, her ability to connect with middle schoolers, and her invaluable tips for the class of would-be authors made for an unforgettable visit with a REAL author!”

Marilyn McQueen, Writing Instructor

If you’d like for me to present a book talk on Bumbling Bea for you, here is what you receive:

  • an hour long presentation with a short power point
  • humorous and entertaining
  • teaching on Kabuki theatre
  • dramatic reading from my book
  • question/answer time
  • it can be tailored for your needs

Recently, I adapted Bumbling Bea into a play version for middle school students.  If you would like for me to present on play writing and how to adapt a book, this is a possibility as well.

Interested?  Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com

 

 

 

Double Casting a Show? Here’s Advice

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Double Casting a Show? Here’s Advice

Are you double casting a show?  Here’s advice. This is a subject near and dear to my heart.

Double Casting a Show? Here's Advice
Willy Wonka, Jr.

I have gobs of experience on this subject having directed mostly successful musicals and plays with adults and children for over thirty-eight years. Trust me when I say, you too can double cast a production and come out of the experience as a sane human being. I really think that double casting youth theater productions is the way to go.

Here’s some advice:

1. You should alert those auditioning that you are considering double casting. That doesn’t mean you are required to double cast, however. You are merely thinking about it. Actors don’t like to be surprised. They spend so much time thinking about the outcome of their audition, it is only polite to warn them. Some people won’t be involved in your production if they don’t know in advance that you are double casting.

2. After you have double cast the show, I strongly suggest you label the casts. This year, I am double casting three roles in Fiddler on the Roof, Jr. (Chava, Hodel and Tzeitel). In one of the schools in which I teach, we have so many talented young women, my co-teacher and I thought it was the best way to go this year.

We labeled them cast “A” and “B”–not the most creative labeling we could come up with, but you get the idea. (And as I rethink this, probably refraining from using A and B would be a good idea since in education “A” means excellent.) Frankly, I enjoy labeling the cast with some word from the title of the musical such as “Guys” and “Dolls” or “Alice” and “White Rabbit”, etc. You get the idea.

3. Double casting keeps the egos out of the way, in my opinion. If you divide the strength of the cast between both, you are more likely to have a terrific outcome. I have seen many a talented student who lacks confidence who feels bolstered by the students around him with more experience and so forth. Sometimes that’s all the one who is a little more unsure needs–the other students’ confidence rubs off on him.

4. I don’t worry whether the two actors are the same size when it comes to costuming them. I think that’s costume designer’s problem and no one should be denied a part because she isn’t the same size as another person cast in the role. Some of us just can’t help that we are short or very tall. 🙂

5. Usually, I have the double cast actors observe each other’s rehearsals. Even if I have to review blocking solely for the second cast, that’s my choice. When I stage a musical number, the actors learn the parts at the same time, side by side. The same thing goes for vocal rehearsals. If all goes well, the two actors can rehearse with each other, checking their blocking, going over lines, etc.

The Gloops from Willy Wonka, jr.

6.  Usually, we have four performances.  I give each cast one performance which will probably have a smaller audience (such as a Thursday night or Saturday afternoon).

7.  When the flu season approaches, having a double cast alleviates much of the stress of absenteeism.  You know that someone will be there to rehearse.  I also make it clear to the students I expect them to work as a team and help each other whether it means running lines with one another or getting all the director’s notes if one person is absent.  Again, this keeps the egos at bay.

Sometimes rehearsals get tricky what with two casts, two sets of notes, two sets of problem solving but I promise you it’s worth it. Several times in my career, I have been double cast myself! And look–I’m here to share my experiences with you.

Do you like free resources?  Pick up my free guide and ten page lesson here

Or maybe you are wanting to teach how to Create Your Own Musical? 

Have you double cast a production?  I’ve love to hear about your experiences.  Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

woman behind DramaMommaSpeaks

Need more advice about directing?  Check out these links:

https://dramamommaspeaks.com/2016/10/20/eighteen-ways-to-make-your-directing-experience-less-stressful-part-one/

https://dramamommaspeaks.com/2016/10/23/eighteen-ways-to-make-your-directing-experience-less-stressful-part-two/