Rob Urbinati – författare

Drama / 6 f At first, Hazelwood Jr. High is like any other middle school - cliques and crushes, dances and detention. But when a new girl unwittingly steps into a "love triangle," a revenge plot is hatched, and events spin out of control, escalating into a shocking and unimaginable climax. Based on a true story. "Mr. Urbinati's script is based on court testimony and psychological and police reports. Even in the era of Jeffrey Dahlmer and Susan Smith, the story holds its own grotesquerie; you can see why Mr. Urbinati was hooked by it. It takes the absolutely ordinary subject of teenage rivalry and revenge pranks, gives it an exotic lesbian twist and then pushes it to the outer limits of sociopathic behavior. Mr. Elliott, Mr. Urbinati and the cast do nicely in conveying the solemn earnestness of young love and social warfare." - Ben Brantley, The New York Times

What happens when you mix the brilliant wit of Noel Coward with the intricate plotting of Agatha Christie? Set during a weekend in an English country manor in 1932, Death by Design is a delightful and mysterious "mash-up" of two of the greatest English writers of all time. Edward Bennett, a playwright, and his wife Sorel Bennett, an actress, flee London and head to Cookham after a disastrous opening night. But various guests arrive unexpectedly - a conservative politician, a fiery socialist, a nearsighted ingenue, a zany modern dancer - each with a long-held secret. When one of the guests is murdered, it's left to Bridgit, the feisty Irish maid with a macabre interest in homicide, to solve the crime. Death by Design is more than homage - it's a new classic.

What happens when you mix the brilliant wit of Noel Coward with the intricate plotting of Agatha Christie? Set during a weekend in an English country manor in 1932 Death by Design is a delightful and mysterious "mash-up" of two of the greatest English writers of all time. Edward Bennett a playwright and his wife Sorel Bennett an actress flee London and head to Cookham after a disastrous opening night. But various guests arrive unexpectedly - a conservative politician a fiery sociali

Lady Susan a young widow flees London and arrives at the country home of her obliging brother-in-law and his suspicious wife. Soon to come - uninvited - are an eligible suitor her willful daughter her chatty confidante and a dimwitted bachelor. Lady Susan schemes but all does not go according to plan as she and her daughter become rivals for the same man."Rob Urbinati's Lady Susan captures the essence of Jane Austen's story as well as her humor. Today's women can easily understand that Lady Susan 'seduces and schemes' because she has no options - she cannot get a job or own property. The plight of a penniless widow trying to make a life for herself and her daughter is effectively conveyed with sympathy and biting wit. I enjoyed Jane Austen's Lady Susan very much!" - Carolyn Jack The Jane Austen Society of North America

Play Readings: A Complete Guide for Theatre Practitioners demystifies the standards and protocols of a play reading, demonstrating how to create effective and evocative readings for those new to or inexperienced with the genre. It examines all of the essential considerations involved in readings, including the use of the venue, pre-reading preparations, playwright/director communication, editing/adapting stage directions, casting, using the limited rehearsal time effectively, simple "staging" suggestions, working with actors, handling complex stage directions, talkbacks, and limiting the use of props, costumes, and music. A variety of readings are covered, including readings of musicals, operas, and period plays, for comprehensive coverage of this increasingly prevalent production form.