Tommy has received over a three hundred productions and twelve hundred performances worldwide, and his children's shows, The Big Bad Bullysaurus, Princess Pigface, Choose Your Own Oz, and Alice the Brave & Other Tales from Wonderland have been performed all over the world. His one-act campy comedy, Rags to B*tches, won Best Short Play at the 14th annual Downtown Urban Arts Festival (NYC) and starred RuPaul's Drag Race alums Alexis Michelle and Brita Filter. His play love/fantasy was named Best New Play at the Playwright's Forum Festival. His play Eternal Flamer! The Ballad of Jessie Blade received its world-premiere at the Arthur Seelen Theatre in NY, NY and featured Black Panther and Us star Winston Duke (in drag!).
Career highlights include the Fresh Fruit Festival, William Patterson University (finalist, 2012), MTC Manhattan Theatre Club (finalist, 2015), and Rave Theatre Festival (finalist, 2020).
Tommy has studied under Pulitzer Prize and Tony winner Marsha Norman, holds a BS in Theatre from Indiana State University, and an MFA in Playwriting from the University of New Orleans. His works can be licensed through YouthPLAYS, Next Stage Press, Smith & Kraus, Big Dog Plays, and Heartland Plays. In 2022, the historic Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in Hammond, Louisiana named him as their first resident playwright. He lives in West Orange, NJ with his husband Mark and their dog Darby. Tommy is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild.
Plays
You’re cordially invited to a party to die for. Adapted from the Vincent Prince classic, The House on Haunted Hill tells the twisted tale of millionaire Frederick Lauren, his fourth wife Annabelle, and five, money-hungry guests who will each received fifty thousand dollars if they stay in a supposedly haunted house until sunrise. Filled with double crosses, jilted lovers, a wicked sense of humor, and a restless spirt or two, Haunted Hill proves to be a night you’ll never forget.
When a vengeful sorceress places a curse on Hercules and threatens to plunge humanity into eternal darkness, the only thing standing in her way is the demigod’s shy but sharp-witted daughter, Calliope. Armed with a magical sword, an ancient map and a wisecracking sidekick—Narcissus—Calliope must summon her courage, race against time and battle an island's worth of ferocious monsters if she wants to rescue her father and save the world in this sassy girl power comedy of Olympic proportions!
Adapted from a series of interviews conducted during the fall of 2006, Love/Fantasy presents its audience with four harrowing accounts of sexual assault and survival. Told through the perspectives of Cory and Anna, two friends attempting to write a play touching on the current #MeToo movement, Love/Fantasy blurs the lines of fact and fiction, and presents an unflinching look at one of society’s most controversial and all-to-frequent violations.
Audience members are encouraged to ham it up with the narrator in this hysterical, hog-tacular adaptation of “The Three Little Pigs.” Mamma and Papa’s three piglets are eating them out of house, out of home, and out of their favorite ice cream, Hog-en-Daz! Before kicking the piglets out of the house, Mamma and Papa warn them to stay away from the ferocious Big Bad Wolf, who will make a quick snack of them, and from swindlers who will try to cheat them out of their gold coins. As the piglets venture into the woods, they meet Someone and his accomplices, Sometwo and Somethree, who humorously swindle the swine out of their gold coins in exchange for some sticks and straw. Only Bo, the runt of the family, sees through their scam and works slowly and surely to build a brick house. After the Big Bad Wolf blows down the straw and stick houses, Bo thinks his brick house is secure, but the Big Bad Wolf brings along his biggest fan! There are plenty of puns, one-liners, and opportunities for physical humor. Perfect for touring.
There’s a witch, a spell, and lots of radishes in this wildly wacky adaptation of “Rapunzel.” Locked in a tower by a witch, Rapunzel’s boring life comes to an end when she meets a prince who wants to rescue her from the tower and marry her even if he has to have a witch for a mother-in-law. When the Witch discovers that the Prince has been secretly visiting Rapunzel, she punishes Rapunzel by cutting her long lovely locks and giving her the dreaded, abysmally appalling hairdo…“The Mullet of Doom”! Will Rapunzel’s mullet doom her to a lonely life inside the tower, or will the Prince promise to love her from hair to eternity? This hair-raising, unbeweaveable comedy has a minimum set and is perfect for touring groups
At 3:15 AM on November 13th, 1974, Ronald “Butch” Defeo took a .35 caliber Marlin Rifle and murdered his entire family in cold blood. Adapted from a series of interviews conducted over the span of four decades, this dramatic thriller explores the chilling events that occurred at the infamous Dutch Colonial on 112 Ocean Avenue, known throughout the globe as the Amityville Murder House.
The classic story of Mowgli the Man-Cub springs to life in this lively and spirited adaptation of “The Jungle Book.” Raised by wolves and protected by a wise panther and semi-narcoleptic bear, Mowgli’s adventures take him from a crumbling ancient city to a run in with a massive python, to a climactic showdown with the ferocious tiger, Shere Khan. Filled with action, heart, and all your favorite characters from the Rudyard Kipling classic, this retelling puts a fresh spin on the story we all know and love, while weaving a lesson about finding one’s place in this vast and wild world.
In this neon-coated, campy tribute to the 80s, pretty-boy Jessie Blade leaves his small Minnesota home for the bright lights of the city that never sleeps (…with the same person twice) only to get mixed-up in a labyrinth of plot twists, drag queens, sex, drugs, and open dance calls!
The world's most beloved puppet comes to life in this humorous and heartfelt adaption of the Carlo Collodi classic. Geppetto, a lonely toymaker, longs to have a child to call his own; but he soon gets more than he bargained for when Pinocchio—a marionette carved from an enchanted log—springs to life before his eyes! Fast-paced, and filled with humorous characters and audience participation, Once Upon A Pine: The Adventures of Pinocchio reminds audiences of the importance of love, friendship, and honesty. And that's no lie.
The Wizard of Oz meets Choose Your Own Adventure in this fresh and fast-paced retelling of the L. Frank Baum classic in which the audience plays playwright and gets the chance to change everything from Dorothy's footwear (silver slippers or ruby red...clown shoes?) to Toto's species (lion, tiger or octopus?—oh my!) to the Witch's flying footmen. A delight for children of all ages, Choose Your Own Oz reminds us all that at the end of the day, there really is no place like home.
When Paleontologist Mark learns that his niece, Natalie, is being harassed by a local bully, he tells her the story of Ryan Rex Jr., a little dinosaur with a big bully problem of his own. With the help of his closest companions, Terry Pterodactyl and Bronnie Brontosaurus, Ryan and Natalie both learn a lesson about friendship and the importance of forgiveness. Filled with heart and humor, The Big Bad Bullysaurus entertains its audience while touching on this very timely issue.
When Alice doesn't receive the doll she desperately wants for Christmas, she wishes herself to the one place she believes will be filled with holiday cheer: Wonderland...only to discover her favorite holiday has been banned by the Queen of Hearts. It's up to Alice to save the day once more and teach her fantastical companions a thing or two about the joy of giving to others—but she'll first have to grow up a little along the way. Featuring all your favorite characters from Lewis Carroll's masterwork, this funny, fast-paced and festive adaptation puts a fresh spin on the tale we all know and love.
Successes
FULL LENGTHS
Choose Your Own Oz
- Youth Artist Guild, Lubbock, TX, February 2023 (Nicole Caddel, Dir.)
- Mount Vernon High School, Springfield, VA, January 2023 (Jessica Shaw, Dir.)
- Midway HS Theatre, Waco, TX, December 2022 (Jill Wilkinson, Dir.)
- Theatre O, Ossining, NY, December 2022 (Jessica Irons, Dir.)
- Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, December 2022 (Kelly Frewin, Dir.)
- Horn High School, Mesquite, TX, September 2022 (Sheri Tuggle, Dir.)
- Playmakers, Inc. Hammond, LA, July 2022 (Anysia Genre, Dir.)
- Yocum Institute for Arts Education, West Lawn, PA May 2022 (Beverly Houck, Dir.)
- Apache Junior High School, Apache Junction, AZ, May 2022 (Paul Lanphear, Dir.)
- Dibble High School, Norman, OK, May 2022 (Brenda Severson, Dir.)
- Rushing Middle School, Savannah, TX, March 2022 (Kendall Snyder, Dir.)
- Greenbelt Middle School, Greenbelt, MA, Jan 2022 (Janai Hall, Dir.)
- Youth Inspirations Theatre, Noblesville, IN, June 2021 (Julie Nottingham, Dir.)
- SWC, Edgerton, MN, May 2021 (Rachel Prins, Dir.)
- Gunnison High School, Gunnison, CO, January 2021 (Jeanene Nelson, Dir.)
- Wisdom Builders, Whitestown, IN, May 2020 (Becky Emerick. Dir.)
- Captain Samuel Douglas Academy Elementary School, Brookline, NH, April 2020 (Laurie Toupin, Dir.)
- Cooper Canyon High School, Glendale, AZ, April 2020 (Vincent Herrea, Dir.)
- St. Patrick School, Simpsonville, KY, March 2020 (Karen Sirianno, Dir.)
- Pratt High School, Pratt, KS, January 2020 (Rose Beilman, Dir.)
- New London Community School, New London, IA, November 2019 (Tara Schulte, Dir.)
- Thunder Mountain HS Drama, Juneau, AK, November 2019 (Alex Klimkewicz, Dir.)
- Grace United Methodist Church, Des Moines, IA, March 2019 (Patty Link, Dir.)
- Cresset Christian Academy, Durham, NC, November 2018 (Stephanie Smith, Dir.)
- Pearland Jr High West, Pearland, TX, November 2017 (Jamie Dies, Dir.)
- Theatre Bugs, Norwood, Australia, July 2017 (Joni Combe, Dir.)
- Theatre Works, Peoria, AZ, July 2017 (Chris Hamby, Dir.)
- Terrell High School Theatre, Terrell, TX, May 2017 (Sheri Tuggle, Dir.)
- Wayland Union High Schools, Wayland, MI, March 2017 (Becky Black, Dir.)
- Rehoboth Road Middle School, Griffin, GA, December 2016 (Blair Thompson, Dir.)
- Meskwaki Settlement School, Tama, IA, November 2016 (Mary Fitzgerald, Dir.)
- St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Oakland, CA, May 2016 (Marianne Miller, Dir.)
- Southwest High School, Jacksonville, NC, May 2016 (Jessica Distin, Dir.)
- Fernley High School, Fernley, NV, May 2015 (Tara Ferguson, Dir.)
- Chi-Hi Thespians, Chippewa Falls, WI, April 2015 (Michele Nuttelman, Dir.)
- Conner High School, Hebron, KY, March 2015 (Holly Hamilton, Dir.)
- Published through YouthPLAYS, December 2014
- Impact Church, Denham Springs, LA, June 2014 (James Winter, Dir.)
- Wholly Ground, Walker, LA, June 2014 (James Winter, Dir.)
- Reimers Auditorium, Hammond, LA, May 2014 (James Winter, Dir)
- Cassidy Park Theatre Premiere Production, Bogalusa, LA, May 2014 (James Winter, Dir.)
Once Upon a Pine: The Adventures of Pinocchio
- River City Community Players, Leavenworth, KS, June 2023 (Ronald Mazzia, Dir.)
- Barbers Mill Middle School North, Mont Belvieu, TX February 2023 (Jessica Vass, Dir.)
- Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School, Fayetteville, GA, October 2022 (Rebecca Miller, Dir.)
- Flint School of the Performing Arts, Flint, MI, April 2022 (Samuel Richardson, Dir.)
- Topeka Public Schools, Topeka, KA, April 2022 (Carmen Burton, Dir.)
- Burlington Area School District, Burlington, WI, November 2021 (Paula Lorvine, Dir.)
- The Uvalde Grand Opera House, Uvalde, TX July 2021 (Camille Jefcoat, Dir.)
- Community Players, Inc., Beatrice, NE, April 2021 (Tyler Rinne, Dir.)
- The Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI, February 2021 (Darby Lunceford, Dir.)
- Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando, FL December 2020 (Brian Diaz, Dir.)
- Our Art of Giving, Chicago, IL, June 2020 (James Rodriguez, Dir.)
- Idaho Arts Charter School, Nampa, ID, April 2020 (Jenni Lund, Dir.)
- Lincoln High School, Ypsilanti, MI, February 2020 (Martin Jacobs, Dir.)
- The Park School of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, January 2020 (Gina Braden, Dir.)
- Waukee Community School District, Waukee, IA, January 2020 (Chandra Snicker, Dir.)
- Launceston Youth Theatre Ensemble, Orford, Tasmania, Australia, December 2019 (Jane Johnson, Dir.)
- Flower Mound High School, Flower Mound, TX, October 2019 (Scott Taylor, Dir.)
- Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix, AZ, June 2019 (Christopher Scinto, Dir.)
- Marshall County Arts Commission, Benton, KY, April 2019 (Leiren Jackson, Dir.)
- Norwood School, Bethesda, MD, November 2018 (Emily Nichols, Dir.)
- The Langley School, McLean, VA, November 2018 (Joanna Edie, Dir.)
- Published through YouthPLAYS, May 2018
- Community School for The Arts, Terre Haute, IN, August 2017 (Susan Monts-Bologna, Dir.)
- Award Winner! Vonnie Award Winner for Best Show, Best Ensemble, Best Choreographer, Best Graphic Design, and Best Properties Design, May 2016
- Dance Center and School of Performing Arts, Baton Rouge, LA, May 2016 (James Winter, Dir.)
- Impact Church, Denham Springs, LA, April 2016 (James Winter, Dir.)
- Vonnie Borden Theatre, Lafayette, LA, April 2016 (James Winter, Dir.)
You Go, Goddess!
- Park City High School, Park City, UT, May 2023 (Krischelle Hansen, Dir.)
- Henniker Community School, Contoocook, NH, December 2022 (Beth Spaulding, Dir.)
- interACT Theatre Productions, Union, NJ, April 2020 (Nicholas J. Clarey, Dir.)
- Bronx Theatre High School, Bronx, NY, December 2019 (Arielle Sosland, Dir.)
- Published through YouthPLAYS, August 2019
- Friday Night Footlight Series, Dramatist’s Guild, NY, NY (Nick Clarey, Dir.)
- Southeastern Louisiana University Student Union, Hammond, LA, April 2019 (Jeff Polito, Dir.)
- Cassidy Park Theatre, Bogalusa, LA, April 2019 (Jeff Polito, Dir.)
Alice the Brave & Other Tales from Wonderland
- McAuliffe International School, Denver, CO, December 2019 (Caroline Houser, Dir.)
- Our Art of Giving, Chicago, IL, October 2019 (James Rodriguez, Dir.)
- Community School of the Arts, Terre Haute, IN, August 2018 (Courtney Dosch, Dir.)
- North Central High School. Indianapolis IN, October 2017 (Josh Julian, Dir.)
- Wagner High School, Dallas, TX, October 2016 (N/A, Dir.)
- Fairmont Junior High School, Deer Park, TX, November 2015 (Sarah Kouba, Dir.)
- On The Line Productions, Terre Haute, IN, November 2014 (Ted Compton, Dir.)
- Dance Center & School of Performing Arts, Hammond, LA, July 2014 (Katy Truluck, Dir.)
- Published through Next Stage Press, September 2013
- Vonnie Borden Theatre, Lafayette, LA, May 2013 (James Winter, Dir.)
- Cassidy Park Theatre Premiere Production, Bogalusa, LA, April 2013 (James Winter, Dir.)
- Faith Family Church, Denham Springs, LA, April 2013 (James Winter, Dir.)
Eternal Flamer! The Ballad of Jessie Blade
- Production, interACT Theatre Productions, Maplewood, NJ, June 2023 (Nicholas J. Clarey, Dir.)
- Production, Fresh Fruit Festival, New York, NY, May 2022 (Amy Marie Seidel, Dir.)
- Production, Funky Little Theatre Company, Colorado Springs, CO April 2018
- Staged Reading, Funky Little Theatre Company, Colorado Springs CO, November 2017
- Award Winner! Second Place Winner, Best Play at the Downtown Urban Theatre Festival, June 2017
- Downtown Urban Arts Festival, New York, NY, May 2017 (Alex Acevedo, Dir.)
- Closed Door Industry Reading, Studios 353, New York City, NY, May 2016
- Corner Office Theatre, New York City, NY, March 2016 (Alex Acevedo, Dir.)
- Finalist at the Hit & Run VII New Play Festival, July 2013
- The Fresh Produce’d Players at the Arthur Seelen Theatre, New York City, NY, June 2013 (S/R, Kyle Metzger, Dir.)
- FLOG Online Viral Workshop, February – May 2013 (Jen Whiting, Dir.)
- Finalist at the HotCity Theatre Greenhouse New Play Festival, January 2013
- Finalist at the 10th Annual NJ William Paterson University Playwright’s Competition, August 2012
ONE ACTS
The Big Bad Bullysaurus
- Mountain Ridge High School, Glendale, AZ, May 2022 (Laura Nardone, Dir.)
- Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL, February 2022 (Randal Blades, Dir.)
- Mountain Ridge High School, Glendale, AZ, May 2021 (Laura Nardone, Dir.)
- The Kinkaid School, Houston, TX, April 2021 (Frances Limoncelli, Dir.)
- St. Olaf Catholic School, Bountiful, UT December 2020
- Gallo Center for the Arts, Modesto 20+ Stop Tour, October 2019 – May 2020
- Walnut Street Theatre Productions, 70+ Stop Tour, August 2018 – May 2019 (Will Harrell, Dir.)
- A Company of Friends Productions, 10 + Stop Tour, April 2017 – September 2018 (Tammy Barton, Dir.)
- Clarkson High School Drama Club, Clarkson, MI, March 2018 (Scott Banks, Dir.)
- Glendale High School, Glendale, AZ, October 2017 (Vanessa Bernal, Dir.)
- Mountain Ridge High School, Glendale, AZ, June 2017 (Laura Nardone, Dir.)
- Crossroads Repertory Theatre Company, Terre Haute, IN, July 2016 (Lew Hackleman, Dir.)
- Glendale High School, Glendale, AZ, October 2014 (Vanessa Bernal, Dir.)
- Indiana State University Theatre Productions, Terre Haute, IN, April 2014 (Sherry McFadden, Dir.)
- Clarkson High School Drama Club, Clarkston, MI, December 2013, (Jeffrey Tice, Dir.)
- Walnut Street Theatre Productions, 70 + Stop Tour, August 2013-May 2014 (Will Harrell, Dir.)
- Second Place Winner at the National Association of Dramatic & Speech Arts Festival in Baltimore, MD, May 2013
- Bowie State University, Bowie, MD, March 2013 (Bob Bartlett, Dir.)
- Sunshine Players at Kutztown University, Maxatawny, PA, November – December 2012 (Karen Rice, Dir.)
- Published through YouthPLAYS, March 2012
Princess Pigface
- Surry Arts Council, Mount Airy, NC, June 2021 (Shelby Coleman, Dir.)
- Community School of the Arts, Terre Haute, IN, July 2020 (Cynthia Sabla, Dir.)
- Hutchinson High School, Hutchinson, KS, April 2020 (Tobie Henline, Dir.)
- North Drama, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, March 2020 (Sean Kifer, Dir.)
- Oak Hills Junior High School, Montgomery, TX, May 2018 (Heather Ling, Dir.)
- Lake-Sumter State College, Leesburg, FL, December 2016 (Peter Napoles, Dir.)
- FPO, AP, USA, May 2015 (Mary O’Connell, Dir.)
- Loyola Catholic School, Mankato, MN, January 2013 (Bradley Ganes, Dir.)
- Lyford Cay International School, Nassau, Bahamas, November 2012 (Emily Swim, Dir.)
- Camp Pondicherry, Bridgton, ME, August 2012 (Cassandra Child, Dir.)
- The Training Center CACHE, Huntsville, TX, November 2011 (Richard Fur, Dir.)
- Rickenbach Theatre, Maxatawny, PA, November 2011 (Karen Rice, Dir.)
- Rising Stars at New Dawn Theatre, Cumming, GA, June 2011 (Jenny Scher, Dir.)
- Lynn Lucas Middle School, Willis, TX, May 2011 (Karen Aldrich, Dir.)
- Most Precious Blood School, Long Island City, NY, April 2011 (Ashley Spart, Dir.)
- Plumsteadville Players, Plumsteadville Grange, PA, November 2010 (Carol Long, Dir.)
- Published through YouthPLAYS, May 2010
love/fantasy
- Published through Chalk & Fire Publishing, Particular Return Volume II: 5 Plays at the Crossroads, March 2021
- Award Winner! Winner, Audience Favorite, Downtown Urban Arts Festival, New York, NY June 2019
- Finalist, Rave Theatre Festival, New York, NY, May 2019
- Downtown Urban Arts Festival, New York, NY, May 2019 (Arielle Sosland, Dir.)
- Award Winner! Winner, Best Script, Playwright Forum, January 2014
- Horizon Theatre, Atlanta, GA, June 2008 (Reading)
- St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN, October 2006 (Arthur Feinsod, Dir.)
Charlie the No-Good, Really-Rotten Cheat-A-Saurus Rex
- Gallo Center for the Arts, Modesto, CA May 2021
- Gallo Center of the Arts, Modesto, CA October 2020
- Gordon Lee High School, Chickamauga, GA April 2017 (Nicole Walker, Dir.)
- Glendale High School, Glendale, AZ October 2016 (Vanessa Bernal, Dir.)
- Publisher through YouthPLAYS, Nov 2014
- The Edison, Cork, Ireland, July 2014 (Aisha Soto, Dir.)
From Hair to Eternity: The Unbeweaveable Adventures of Rapunzel
- New Mexico Young Actors, Albuquerque, NM, December 2017
- North Sargent School, Gwinner, ND, September 2017
- George Rodgers Clark Middle/High School, Whiting, IN, May 2016 (April Vargo, Dir.)
- McCullough Jr High School, Woodland, NH, October 2014
- River Valley School, Correctionville, IA, September 2014
- River Forest Junior Senior High School, Hobart, IN, March 2014 (Lauren Erickson, Dir.)
- Published through Big Dog Publishing, September 2013
TEN MINUTE PLAYS
Rags to Bitches: A Battle of Wits and Wigs
- Come Out with Plays Festival presented by Come Out Pride, Orlando, FL, October 2018
- Spectrum: LGBT New Play Festival, Funky Little Theatre Company, July 2017
- Finalist, Between Us Productions Take Ten Festival, December 2016
- Left Coast Theatre Co., San Francisco, CA, October – November 2016 (Chris Maltby, Dir.)
- Award Winner! Winner, Best Short Play at the Downtown Urban Theatre Festival, May 2016
- Downtown Urban Arts Festival, New York, NY, April 2016 (Kristin Dausch, Dir.)
- MTC Manhattan Theatre Club Finalist, April 2015
Hanky Panky with a Yankee
- Rover Dramawerks Semi-Finalist, Plano, TX, January 2017
- Ten Minute Play Viral Workshop, October 2012 (Jen Whiting, Dir.)
- Thespian Productions 2012 Summer Slam Showcase, Joria Theatre, New York City, NY, August 2012 (Kimberly Faith Hickman, Dir.)
- West Coast Players 2012 One Act Weekend, Tampa, FL, June 2012 (Rick Kastel, Dir.)
- Readers Theatre, Houston, TX, March 2012 (Ananka Kohnitz, Dir.)
MEMBERSHIP:
- The Dramatists Guild of America
EDUCATION:
- B.S. in Theatre, Concentration in Playwriting/Direction, Indiana State University, Spring 2008
- MFA in Playwriting, University of New Orleans, Winter 2014