David Houston, His Site
Welcome!
Here you'll
find details of current Literary Entertainments written and produced for theaters, libraries
and schools. Or, by perusing resumes, review
David's past
projects and credentials (author of 14 published books,
fiction and non,
several plays and screenplays; technical writer and magazine editor; and an actor/director
with numerous credits). Scroll down. Feel free to roam.
click on
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to go to
synopses, bios, photos, reviews, performance
dates, technical
requirements, fees, contact information, study guides, etc.
Like Cats and Dogs !
A Riotous Reading in the Style of Radio Drama with David Houston and either Debbie Starker or Diana Heinlein (alternating); with melodies from movies and Archie and Mehitabel, anecdotes from James Thurber, and tid-bits from such recently published masterworks as "Cat-Echisms," "How to Raise a Jewish Dog," and "'I Could Pee on This' And Other Poems by Cats." Background melodies: "The Waltzing Cat" and other pop-classics by Leroy Anderson.
Musical comedy entertainment for the nostalgic at heart, great for the winter holidays
A RODGERS AND HART AUDITION
It's 1940, and the world-famous song-writing team prepares a benefit for our besieged friends across the Atlantic. Unlikely celebrities audition and sing such Rodgers and Hart classics as "I Could Write a Bookl," "Johnny One-Note," "Manhattan," "Isn't It Romantic," "Where Or When" and lots more. David Houston is Richard Rodgers, Rick Heuthe is Lorenz Hart, and Melanie Lipton, Steve Corbellini, and Diana Heinlein take turns in costume as famous personalities of the day.
Celebrate one of the greatest writers of the English-speaking world
The Dickens!
David Houston as Charles Dickens on his American Tour of 1867. Three different hour-long programs: (1) The Chimes (a ghost story about New Year's Eve); (2) the classic A Christmas Carol with Scrooge, the Ghosts, Cratchit and all the rest, in Dickens' own words; or (3) Three Short Pieces: "Sikes and Nancy" (the chilling murder from Oliver Twist), a charming winter short story "Boots at the Holly Tree Inn," and the humorous and sentimental novelette "Doctor Marigold."
The Lost Wife
Gail Merzer Behrens and David Houston in an acclaimed performance reading in the style of radio drama (with music and sound effects) from Long Islander Alyson Richman's gripping new novel of love and war and human resilience, spanning the time and distance from World War II Prague and the Holocaust to 21st Century New York.
Great for Halloween, Women's History, mystery clubs, etc.
ON THE CASE: CHRISTIE MYSTERIES
In
a 65-minute show, three actors perform
David Houston’s radio play (with music accompaniment and sound
effects) from classic short stories by the all-time mistress of suspense
and surprise—including a fanciful scene in which Miss Marple
(played by Diana Heinlein, left) and Hercule
Poirot (Rick Heuthe) discuss “Getting Away with Murder,” drawn from various
Agatha Christie sources.
For patriotic or historic celebrations, a light look at a great American in this election year
A Ben Franklin for All Seasons
In his day, Ben Franklin was the most famous of all Americans—here and abroad. Now, with David Houston in the role, Ben—perhaps the most versatile creator since da Vinci—quotes and amuses himself. He has been asked to prepare a speech explaining his popularity and power, and he finds it difficult to keep a straight face, with the humorous essays and sayings of his alter-ego Poor Richard springing to mind.
Always timely, especially now with the recent hit movie, Gatsby had a bumpy start
Great Scott, and Zelda
A moody Scott explains that his editor finds "High-Bouncing Lover" boring (it's soon to be re-titled The Great Gatsby). "So fix it!” Zelda demands. As they open the manuscript for surgery, art imitates the Fitzgeralds as they add people and events from their own lives. In this hour with the Fitzgeralds, set in the spring of 1924, the histories they confront are factual, with dialog suggested by their love letters and literary correspondence. With Melanie Lipton as Zelda and Steve Corbellini as Scott.
Abe Lincoln in the 21st Century
David Houston as Honest Abe presents a surprising portrait of our most literary president—taken from Lincoln's writings, letters, poetry and speeches. This is a witty and wise statesman who speaks to us as if he lives today and understands our most pressing, confusing and amusing concerns. Underscored with music of American composers, including "The Union," which was premiered for Lincoln at the White House.
Two collections of humorous and touching short stories from the American master
O. Henry's Christmas Gift and O. Henry's Hundred Years
O. Henry's final stories were published in the year of his death, 1910. David Houston and Diana Heinlein perform dramatized readings of his influential stories in (1) a year-round collection of "The Caballero's Way," "A Retrieved Reformation," and "The Last Leaf"; and (2) a show for Christmas with "The Cop and the Anthem," "Christmas by Injunction," and his sentimental world-famous "The Gift of the Magi." In the style of radio drama, with sound effects and jaunty music accompaniment of O. Henry's contemporary, Scott Joplin
This event (approximately 80 minutes) is a brilliant celebration of American poetic genius
The Belle of Amherst
Melanie Lipton as Emily Dickinson in the most celebrated of all one-actor Broadway plays; by Henry Luce, in a touring production for libraries and schools. The surprisingly witty and candid Miss Dickinson speaks to her houseguests about her life, loves and artistry while sharing passages from her immortal poetry. (Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.)
Still under attack, this brilliant work is an alarming fit for Banned Books Week, and Black History
To
Kill a Mockingbird
David Houston and Diana
Heinlein present an
hour-long performance reading from Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize
winning novel - in the style of radio drama with background music from
Elmer Bernstein's haunting film score. The program features events
surrounding the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of a crime he
clearly did not commit, seen through the eyes of Atticus
Finch, his defense attorney, and Finch's daughter Scout. A meaningful look
at the misguided American South of the 1930s, sometimes violent, sometimes
gentle and wise.
In a
Library Journal poll in 1999,
To Kill a Mockingbird was voted
"the best
novel of the 20th Century."
A chilling classic of futurist literature, ideal for Banned Books week
Fahrenheit 451
A three-actor performance reading in the style of radio drama, with music and sound effects, of Ray Bradbury's enduring story of censorship and apathy and war. Especially appropriate for Banned Book Week in September, for any focus on government oppression, and for schools and organizations that include the science-fiction masterpiece on reading lists.
A perennial favorite for seniors, families and high-schoolers
Mark Twain: Telling Tales
David Houston as Mark Twain—in a "lecture" on the fine art of comedy, from Twain's essays including "How to Tell a Humorous Story," "Encounter With an Interviewer," "The Turning Point of My Career," and with full dramatic readings of "The Golden Arm," "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" and the famous white-washing scene from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
A spell-binder for Halloween, mystery clubs and Sherlock devotees
Study in Scarlet
David Houston in a one-man dramatized reading of the delightful, frightening, controversial and surprising story that introduced Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in 1887, took the English-speaking world by storm, and became the “gold standard” for modern detective fiction. Accompanying music is from Sherlock Holmes movies and TV shows.
Links to Resumes, Photo Gallery, Previous Plays and Readings
Theatrical Resume
acting,
writing, directing, commercials, voice-overs, training,
projects in the works. Photo Gallery
Communications
Services Resume
technical writing and editing, business
language repair,
ad copy
Some of these previous shows can still be
made available.
Titles below are links to information about each show.
GOLF IN THE YEAR 2000—SUTTON—GREAT SCOTT AND ZELDA—MURDER AND MADNESS AND POE—FRED AND ADELE ASTAIRE: THE LAST DANCE—JOY COMES IN THE MORNING—THE GHOST OF DOROTHY PARKER—ALOFT—LILLY ALONE—JAZZ BABY JOAN—THREE SHORT STORIES OF ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER—HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS LOST THEIR ACCENTS—SNOW IN AUGUST—TRAVELS WITH CHARLIE—AMAGANSETT—ST. VALENTINE'S DAYS—WALT WHITMAN, TO BEGIN WITH—WE THE LIVING [MOVIE]—THE COLOR OF WATER—WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR—COMING TOGETHER COMING APART —THEODORE ROOSEVELT AND THE RIVER OF DOUBT—SAG HARBOR—LET'S DO IT!
Send an E-Mail to DH@davidhouston.net