Monday, August 31, 2020

MEET OUR FRANCINE!

We here at OcaDecaGonaGon Theater Works are proud to announce that we have cast Nicole Thomte in the role of Francine Peters for our upcoming audio adaptation of Terry Moore’s Strangers in Paradise!

Nicole Thomte is a therapist currently serving marginalized communities as her third career path. Nicole has a long history of being a fangirl, writing, drawing, reading, presenting, and performing fan works at cons.  Performing has been a passion since high school, leading to a theatre BA from UT Austin (hook 'em, horns!), playing Magenta in the Austin Rocky Horror Picture Show where she met her husband, doing voice over work while living in Las Vegas, karaokeing as much as possible, and singing in a garage cover band with her husband as the drummer. It's been 25 years since she first encountered Terry Moore's Strangers in Paradise, and she is proud to have been a collector and supporter of his excellent work over the years.

“Having the chance to give voice to Francine--I mean, come on, aren't we all Katchoo in love with Francine to some degree anyway?--is a delightful opportunity to spread the love for Terry's wonderfully rich characters and storytelling,” said Nicole when asked about the chance to portraying one of Mr. Moore’s keystone characters.   She is looking forward to delving once again into the exquisite humanity contained in the story of Katchoo, Francine, and those in their orbit, and hopes you will enjoy listening to their journey play out.

“It was the emotionality of Nicole’s reading that jumped out at us,” Thomas Deja says about why he chose her.  “I could also hear the conflict of Francine’s conception of what is expected of her and what she desires in her life.  She also seemed to capture the butterfly wing grace of her openness that leads to her being manipulated by some....and manipulating others, as we’ll find out in Book One.”

“Although I would state that I am more Francine in love with Katchoo to some extent, Nicole!”

The OcaDecaGonaGon Theater Works is still looking for voice actors and especially musicians for this project.  For more information see the OTW’s blog.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

STRANGERS IN PARADISE--The Audio Drama! Update 8/25

Hey, there!  Hope all is well in this Time of The Plague.

The script for the first three episodes are in the can, covering the first issue of Book One, and I’m knee deep in Katchoo’s ruined garage as I write Episode Four.  We are still accepting auditions for Francine, Katchoo and Freddie, although the competition is tightening!  The one we’re having problems finding is David.  And I’m still looking for two to four voice actors to play the various incidental character (in Book One, that would include Richard The Neighbor, Freddie’s neighbors and Wayne The Guard as well as various and sundry waitresses, bystanders and the like)

We’re also interested in casting for Book One:

Casey (she’s only got a line in Book One, and only because I assigned a throwaway line to her, but if you know the series, she will more than make up for lost time in Book Two and beyond!)
Margie (Freddie’s receptionist who is fired and later collaborates with Francine for revenge)
Ginger (the drunk prostitute....one scene, but damn is it showy!)

I’m also starting to think about Book Two, I Dream of You, so I’m starting to think about the following characters.  Please contact me if you’d like to try out for:

Darcy
Digman
Tambi
Reeves

As always,feel free to contact me privately until I figure out I should set up a dedicated account to OTW!

I may be making a casting announcement or two within the next month.  Keep faith, my friends--this. is. going. DOWN!

Saturday, August 22, 2020

STRANGERS IN PARADISE--The Audio Drama!...(help needed).

Hello.  If you’re reading this, you’ve followed the link connected to the general, vague hints I’ve been dropping on social media.  This project is still in its nascent phase, so please keep this on the downlow.

With the blessing and cooperation of Terry Moore, I am adapting Strangers in Paradise into an audio drama that will be presented as podcasts via the Two True Freaks Network.

Here’s the snag, however...because of rights issue, this is a ‘fan production.’  It will be offered for free to whoever wants to download it, and everything is on a volunteer basis.  If you’re still interested, read on.

Right now, the first episode has been written and I’m working on the second.  I am adapting it fairly tightly--only collapsing some dialogue and adding to it only if I need the emphasis for physical comedy purposes (David and Katchoo's first meeting is proving to be...challenging).  I hope to make this something that will warm the hearts of fans and maybe draw in new fans.

Presently, all roles are open.  I will update you as the cast develops.

For the time being, please send any voice reels or requests for more information/questions to my email.

As of this writing, the featured characters available are:

Francine
Katchoo
Freddy Femur
David

As I move further into the series (I’m presently concentrating on the untitled Book One), I’ll be adding more featured characters.  If this goes to the end, every major character will need to be represented, so I might not need you right away...but I may need you later.

I will also need a couple of versitile voice actors to play minor roles throughout.

I’d also be interested in musicians who might be able to compose the soundtrack...and ultimately give form to the music of Griffin Silver.  I envision two versions of the theme music--a soft version to represent Francine, something that would not seem out of place on the Lifetime channel...and a rawer, darker version to represent Katchoo, something darkwavish or punkish..

Thank you in advance for your interest!  I hope to talk to you soon.