"Planet Eden" - A Musical Comedy, Portland OR

UFO Shuts Down China's Xiaoshan Airport in Hangzhou this Summer

noreply@blogger.com (NessNixAnthony) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:25:00 +0000

Next Planet Eden Staged Reading: Tues. Oct. 12 7:30 pm Broadway Rose Theatre

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:39:00 +0000

Join us for our next staged reading on Tuesday, October 12th from 7:30-10pm at the Broadway Rose Theatre's "New Stage" in Tigard at 12850 Grant Avenue, Tigard, Oregon. Directions. Admission is a suggested $5 cash donation or two cans of food for the Oregon Food Bank. Directed by Dan Murphy, Broadway Rose Founding General Manager.

Planet Eden - New Workshop Coming in October!

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:31:00 +0000

The next staged reading workshop of Planet Eden takes place at the Broadway Rose Theatre in October! Stay tuned for details.

Congratulations to Planet Eden Composer Kurt Crowley for his 2010 Drammy Award!

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:44:00 +0000

Everyone here associated with Planet Eden is just out-of-this-world excited about Kurt Crowley's big win last night at the Drammy Awards! Kurt won a Drammy for his Outstanding Achievement as Musical Director of Forbidden Broadway at the Broadway Rose Theatre. Congratulations & hats off to you, Mr. Crowley. You're a rockstar!

Comments from the Planet Eden June 7, 2010 Staged Workshop Reading

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:23:00 +0000

Here is a sample of the audience comments from our Staged Workshop Reading --

In addition to offering some great feedback and lots of little details about things we might do to improve this new musical in order to heighten the enjoyment by our audiences, we also received these general feedback responses:

You have a show!
The first act is a great set up. Very compelling. It works!
The music is wonderful. The lyrics are witty when needed and melancholy when needed.
More songs!
I loved the lyrics. Very creative.
The characters were great and well developed. This has tremendous potential.
What happened to the cake?

Ahh yes... that darned cake! Well. We will have to wait and see what happens to the cake. Maybe it arrives in the sequel?

The aliens are coming back to town...

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 03:17:00 +0000

Last chance to see a free staged singing/reading of the work-in-progress of:

Monday, June 7 2010 - CoHo Theatre - NW Raleigh 7-9:30pm

2257 NW Raleigh Street, Portland OR 97210

Doors open 6:30. Show 7-9:30. A 10 minute optional audience feedback Q & A will take place immediately following.

Seating is first come first-served. Please arrive early to guarantee seating.

Planet Eden: Cover Story of Today's Oregon Music News

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Wed, 26 May 2010 14:44:00 +0000

Planet Eden is the cover story today on Oregon's leading source for music news and information. This story is an interview with Aaron Kirk Douglas about the show and his working relationship with composer Kurt Crowley.

Learn more > > >

You'll Want To See Why Our Audiences Enjoyed "Planet Eden's" First Staged Reading...

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:46:00 +0000

Here's what the audience members wrote on their evaluations at our first staged reading & workshop!

"Enjoyed the holy s**t out of the music!"
"Can't wait to see it when it's done!"
"Loved the humor"
"I love that this show is not for the lyrically impaired"
"Bravo to the two writers. Very clever, witty, interesting and heartfelt."

"The world doesn't have to end in order for you to find your heart's desire -- you just have to think it is."

"All the songs were really top-notch and funny. They drove the story and were never extraneous. Great job! I think this will really be a successful production for you!"

Listen to our 3-minute music sampler, as performed by Kurt Crowley on YouTube !

RSVP today on Facebook for our June 7th reading/sing-thru -- or e-mail akdouglas@msn.com

Directed by Bruce A. Hostetler, the cast includes
Robert Winstead
James Richard Morgan
Carrie Rambo
Michael Nicholas
Brandee Palmblad
Wes Harris
Nick Caceres
Richard J. Warren
Kathleen Cafiero
Kira Krueger
Rick Emerson (Yes, the real Rick Emerson)

Hope to see you there!

The Producers

The Aliens Are Landing. . .

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:15:00 +0000

And a jaw-dropping secret is revealed in this hilarious musical!

You won't want to miss this delightful night of laughter...
RSVP now before you forget!

Facebook members may RSVP at the links below
Monday, May 17, 2010 7-9:45pm CoHo Theatre (Doors open 6:30)
Monday, June 7, 2010 7-9:45pm CoHo Theatre (Doors open 6:30)

LinkedIn members may RSVP on these links
Monday, May 17, 2010 7-9:45 pm CoHo Theatre
Monday, June 7, 2010 7-9:45 pm CoHo Theatre

CoHo Theatre is located at 2257 NW Raleigh Street, Portland, Oregon
with easy access to I-405, I-5 and US 26.

FREE admission. Audience members will be asked for
their feedback and comments following the readings for final script development.

Seating is limited and is first-come first served!
Arrive early to guarantee your seat for a wild ride! Doors open at 6:30.

Aaron Kirk Douglas / Kurt Crowley
Creators of "Planet Eden: A Galactic Musical"

P.S. We guarantee you've never seen aliens like these before!

Cast of "Planet Eden" Staged Readings Announced

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:20:00 +0000

The Cast of Planet Eden's Staged Reading is as follows:
Tom Douglas: Robert Winstead*
Captain Mike Leggs: James Morgan*
Bonnie Leggs: Carrie Rambo*
Travis Zender: Michael Nicholas*
Steve Fielding: Wes Harris
Cricket Lee: G. George Malone
G. George Malone: Nick Cesares
The Aliens: Rick Warren, Kathleen Cafiero, Kira Krueger
*Members of Actors' Equity Association

Readings are directed by Bruce Hostetler. Thanks to everyone who auditioned. We look forward to working with you and our upcoming staged readings in May and June.

Wow! What a great night at callback auditions!

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:06:00 +0000

Everyone was out of this world! Thanks to all the talented people who attended callbacks last night at Classic Pianos. We will be notifying individuals we would like to cast for the staged readings by early next week, pending discussions with AEA.

Planet Eden: Callbacks are Monday March 1st!

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:17:00 +0000

Congratulations to all the great actors/actresses/singers that we are calling back for auditions for our staged readings in May at CoHo Theatre! We look forward to seeing you!

If you haven't RSVPd to attend the staged reading on May 17th, there's still time to do that. Just find Planet Eden on Facebook or send an e-mail to akdouglas@msn.com.

Now online! Sample Song Clips From Planet Eden: The Musical

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Planet Eden: The Musical
Book, Music and Lyrics (c) Aaron Douglas Enterprises LLC 2009/2010
Lyrics by Aaron Kirk Douglas and Kurt Crowley
Music by Kurt Crowley
Vocals by Kurt Crowley

[Note: images used are from the Hubbell Space Telescope and are in the public domain and taken by the Space Telescope Science Institute (STSci). Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team STScI. See and download screensavers and other image files at
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire

Help! The End of the World Is Coming and We Need a Tagline!

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:24:00 +0000

We're working on a tagline for the show. Vote for the one you like the most!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CP3CMRD

Sharp Dresser Already Coordinating Wardrobe to Await UFO

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:11:00 +0000

It appears that at least one of the members of the Eden Sanctuary is already hard at work sketching out a coordinated ensemble for his wait for the arrival of a UFO from Outer Space.

Rumor has it that this particular member has already purchased his travel tickets to the Eden Sanctuary and is hiding them under a Royal Fern on his desk at a national cable channel. He is planning his getaway and already scouring the thrift malls and specialty stores for the appropriate bling. Written under this sketch, found on his desk last week by a member of our crack team of background investigators were the words "Looking For Gray."

Planet Eden Co-Author Kurt Crowley Musical Directing at Broadway Rose Theatre #PDX #musicals

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:44:00 +0000

Planet Eden's co-author, composer & musical director Kurt Crowley is currently winding down his job as musical director/pianist for a three-week sold-out run of Winter Wonderettes at the Broadway Rose Theatre in Lake Oswego.

Reviews in the Oregonian and elsewhere have been fantastic and even added performances have quickly sold out.

Kurt's "holiday break" will include writing a song about a landing pad, but this one's for aliens -- not Santa!

Sending Planet Eden to the Academy #musicals #pdx #ufos

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:17:00 +0000

So you've heard of "Search for the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance?" But did you know there was an "Academy For New Musical Theatre"?

Well, neither did we until about two weeks ago. For a mere $100 this crew of dramaturgs and lovers of all things thespian* will read a new musical, listen to three songs, and scour over a handwritten score AND provide 3-5 pages of feedback! SCORE!

To musical theatre nerds, this is sheer nirvana! They do offer a series of other services (all amazingly reasonably priced) and an annual first prize for the best musical they select. Since our musical's not complete we can't really compete... and it will take us a year to get our book, lyrics, and the score (oy! especially the score!) into Samuel French Broadway format (Yes, you heard me correctly, the Samuel French Broadway format. All I can say is -- after reading the 9 pages of formatting requirements for music -- it's a darn good thing Kurt went to Harvard! Book and Lyrics only has 1 page of requirements! Yay for me!)

So, we are submitting our materials (2nd draft of the script, three recorded songs and a PDF of one handwritten song score) tomorrow -- at the final hour! Stay tuned.
*I confess to all beings present, human and alien, that I was the Vice President of my high school Thespian society, Thurston Senior High School, Springfield, Oregon, 1978-79.

What's Happening This Week On Planet Eden?

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:49:00 +0000

This week the Planet Eden co-authors are busy finalizing the script's second draft for submission to CoHo Productions for consideration as a co-production for the 2010 season. We're also applying to perform the show at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center.

When not performing his role as Musical Director for A Rockin' Holiday Party at the Broadway Rose Theatre in Tigard, Kurt Crowley is whipping up new melodies for five more numbers for the show.

Producer and co-author Aaron Kirk Douglas is putting the shows characters through their paces (in his mind) and trying not to giggle as he continues writing the script. He's also interviewing directors and looking forward to the PATA musical auditions in January.

Stay tuned!

Sign Up Now For Information On "Planet Eden's" Staged Readings in Spring, 2010

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:49:00 +0000

If you would like to receive information and an invitation to the spring, 2010 staged readings of "Planet Eden" Please email us to be added to our mailing list.

Readings are set for Monday evenings 6:30-9 pm on May 17 and June 7. We encourage participants to attend all three readings if possible to be a part of the musical's development and to make comments on revisions.

E-mail producer Aaron Kirk Douglas to be added to the list! You will only receive e-mails announcing the dates and times of the readings and asking for your confirmation that you would like to participate. Attend either or both readings. We will be making changes based on audience feedback before the second reading.

The excitement of discovery and a special thanks to Joe Zingo

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:28:00 +0000

Recently Kurt and I received our first round of script notes from consultant Joe Zingo of Eugene. Joe Zingo and Jim Roberts have been legends in the Eugene area theatre community for 40+ years. Their production company Actor's Cabaret has been producing 14 shows a year for 30 years. Joe is often consulted by writers and creators of new works from New York.

After we received Joe's notes, we had one of the most rewarding and energizing discussions about the script we'd ever had. Since April Kurt and I have been moving steadily forward in the process. We first worked out our characters and the overall situation. We mapped out all the songs, styles and initial placement. Later as we've worked on lyrics and music, we've begun considering the impact of integrating choreography and costumes. We've even diagrammed on paper the peaks and valleys in the conflict -- thinking about the show as if it were an amusement ride. When do you build the stress and raise the stakes? When do you give the audience a chance to laugh to relieve the tension? Where do you give the audience a chance to cry?

Soon we will have half the songs written and composed, and a second draft of the script done. Right now we're feeling very excited that we're on the right track. As Kurt and I work thorugh the script, lyrics and music into March, what will be really exciting is to get our first audience feedback in the spring, and later to have the actors, directors, set designer, costumer, and lighting folks add more life and depth to the characters and the story.

Planet Eden is really a modern fable. Not only does it represent the future as it's performed before December 21, 2012, but after that day passes, it represents a piece of our collective past, and is a story that because of its larger themes we hope will stand the test of time.

Asteroids, Comets, Are Oh, So Near!

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:25:00 +0000

NASA reported today that Asteroid 2000 VA, ~7 meters in size, passed at just 14,100 km (8,761 miles) from Earth’s surface today 11/6 at approx 2:30 PM Pacific Time.

Today's (Nov 6) flyby of asteroid 2009 VA is the third closest on record! At its closest approach asteroid 2009 VA was about 8700 miles above the Earth's surface.

"While 2009 VA came close, keep in mind stony asteroids less than 25 meters diameter wouldn't be expected to cause ground damage."

Whew! That was close! The world lives another day!

Until the musical Planet Eden has its debut, here's where to get your daily UFO fix

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:52:00 +0000

Probably the most popular UFO radio show in America, "Coast to Coast" is broadcast 10pm to 5am on KEX 1190 AM in Portland and throughout the state of Oregon on these stations.

Wikipedia's entry for the show reads in part: Coast to Coast AM covers unusual topics, and is full of personal stories related by callers. While program content varies, most nights are focused toward the paranormal, and subjects such as the occult, hauntings, shadow people, psychic predictions, metaphysics, conspiracy theories, UFOs, crop circles, cryptozoology, hollow earth theory and science fiction literature, among other paranormal and unusual topics...George Noory also takes interest in the 2012 Doomsday prediction, and believes something will happen.

During hours of "open lines", calls are taken and put on air. Under George Noory, open lines have added topics for callers to share their experiences or stories about a particular issue or situation. The show has multiple call-in numbers for:

"East of the Rockies"
"West of the Rockies"
"First-time callers"
"International callers"
A "wild card" line

As of 2007, George Noory has added a "Special Line", which is a dedicated line, with varying subjects, such as the "People who are Aliens," "Time Travelers," "Area 51 personnel," etc.

They are all announced at the beginning of each broadcast by Ross Mitchell. On special occasions, Coast to Coast AM rolls out more numbers, including lines that are reserved for special "themed" callers, for example those who claim to be from other dimensions, time periods, and those possessed by spirits.

The Secret's Out! Planet Eden Website is Live!

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:41:00 +0000

In the days and weeks to come, many secrets will be revealed.

Are YOU ready for the end of the world?

Planetedenthemusical.com

It's Tough To Keep a Eden a Secret...

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:55:00 +0000

Gee news gets out fast... Planet Eden is mentioned in this week's blog post by Examiner.com blogger Gregory Kastigar!

". . .Douglas is working on the stage musical Planet Eden: The Musical with local broadcast personality Rick Emerson and Ragtime: The Musical musician Kurt Crowley. You can follow the musical’s progress on the Planet Eden blog. Douglas is also producing a short film called Salt and Silicon with director Warren Pereira, which will be out next year. You can follow Douglas and learn everything he has learned about filmmaking on his Oregon Independent Film blog where he provides links to good books and articles about filmmaking, and summarizes the talks and panels he attends." Read the full examiner.com article > > >

Director of Publicity and Logistics Vanessa Anthony Reports for Duty!

akdouglas1@gmail.com (Aaron Kirk Douglas) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:58:00 +0000

Fresh off her stint assisting at the communications console for the Portland Creative Conference, Vanessa Anthony has agreed to perform the role of Director of Publicity and Logistics for Planet Eden: The Musical.

Vanessa provides content for various newspapers, magazines, social media networks, and websites across the country. Vanessa has been a contributor to such local outlets as PDX Magazine, Examiner.com, The Oregonian, Baltimore Magazine, The Portland Sentinel, NeighborhoodNotes.com, and LivePDX.com. She also writes a resource blog for writers on Oregonlive.com called Writer’s Block. Welcome, Vanessa -- your excitement and enthusiasm are infectious!