Six Joan Crawfords - A Three Act Play by Mike Broemmel:

DENVER - May 22, 2015 - PRLog -- Six Joan Crawfords is a new comedy written by playwright Mike Broemmel. Six Joan Crawfords premieres at the West End Theatre & Arts Center, located in the Denver-metro area. The satirical comedy represents the fourth full length play by Broemmel to be produced in the past three years. Six Joan Crawfords joins The Row, The Baptism and Goddess People in the Broemmel catalog of full length, three-act plays.

I interviewed Broemmel at a popular Denver restaurant called Racines. Broemmel ran late, arriving a half hour past our appointment start time.

My first question after we settled into our lunch was whether Six Joan Crawfords was based on any real life experiences. Without hesitation, Broemmel replied in the affirmative.

“A couple of years ago I was involved in producing Steel Magnolias at a theater in Denver. Truly, one of the worst experiences of my time in theater. In a nutshell, the play ran horribly over budget. In the end, a couple of co-producers of the play, including me, agreed to pay actors the balance due on their stipends from our own pockets. We actually started doing that. But, before we could proceed very far in the process, I was subjected to the most unprofessional barrage of dreck from these actors. One called me a flesh eating something or another. Another sent bizarre and scathing emails. Another sent me dozens of harassing emails. The production team ultimately decided we would pay the balance due these actors when another production had excess funds available. We concluded we weren’t going to be attacked and insulted by these actors in the most unprofessional manner imaginable and then hand over our personal money to them,” Broemmel said.

Broemmel went on to note that the arrogance of some of these actors was at the heart of his creation of Six Joan Crawfords. “Some of these actors didn’t turn in particularly strong performances. In fact, a couple of them – particularly one in the Dolly Parton role of Truvy – were horrible. But, the weaker the actor, the greater the diva-ness in that production,” Broemmel said.

I asked for names. Broemmel made the point that none of the actors in the referenced production of Steel Magnolias were notable and names would be meaningless. “I honestly don’t remember their names. I will mention one name however, a name I do remember because she has been harassing me steadily for months. Her most recent claim to fame is some project in which she makes fun of mentally ill, homeless women. Her name is Lynne Jordan and she was the marginal actor in the Truvy role in Steel Magnolias. Making fun of homeless, mentally women is just beyond acceptable and underscores her level of unprofessionalism,” Broemmel said. “She literally makes my skin crawl.”

In addition to writing, Broemmel speaks at conferences and conventions on a number of topics, including the ups and downs of his own life. “I also speak on mental health issues, including reform of the mental health treatment system. I have zero tolerance for anybody like Lynne Jordan who thinks making fun of a mentally ill or homeless person is appropriate,” Broemmel said.

Over our lunch, Broemmel made mention that he wanted to make something productive out of the experience of working with a number of unprofessional entertainers. “I finally decided writing a comedy was the answer. In fairness, I also skewered the playwright in Six Joan Crawfords,” Broemmel added.

In addition to writing the script for Six Joan Crawfords, Broemmel is also directing the play. “This marks the first time I have directed my own work. I was hesitant to direct. But, I am finding it to be a truly enjoyable experience. The reality is that the cast of Six Joan Crawfords is both very talented and very professional,” Broemmel remarked.

During our interview, Broemmel almost seemed more eager to discuss his latest novel, entitled The Shadow Cast: 10^th Anniversary Edition. “The original Shadow Cast was published in 2004, 2005,” Broemmel said. “In many ways, The Shadow Cast has been and remains my favorite project.”

When it comes to writing short fiction, Broemmel has been described by critics as “the 21^st century’s answer to John Steinbeck at his most nitty-gritty.”

“That statement has always been the one I find most flattering,” Broemmel said. “I’m really pleased that this book is being released 10 years after it first hit the shelves.”

The play, the book are not the only things on Broemmel’s desk at this juncture in time. He is one of two principals involved in the opening of the new West End Theatre & Arts Center in the Denver metro area. He has four new plays in development, one of which will be produced later in 2015 and the remainder that will hit stages in 2016 and 2017: The Hours of Anne, Miss Trent, Cells, Dinner Party and Hitler’s Popcorn. The four plays by Broemmel that have already had premiere productions are now being staged in different locations across the United States and United Kingdom. He is also spearheading a new reader’s theater program for economically disadvantaged children in several different cities.

Broemmel has a trio of novels on the block for publication during the remainder of 2015 and into 2016: Vine Dancing, In the House of Stolen Light and Lauderdale Tales. A set of non-fiction books on marketing and media relations are also in the hopper for publication. Perhaps most significantly, Broemmel’s memoirs – a project that has been almost 15 years in the making – is slated for publication internationally in 2016.

“I guess I am kind of looking forward to the release of the memoirs because it is my chance to really lay out my life story in my own terms,” Broemmel said. “Plus, I think a book about the ups and downs of my own life will be helpful to other people.”

Following our interview, Broemmel was going to a theater in the Cherry Creek North District of Denver for festival of Tennessee Williams plays. “I actually am playing Tennessee Williams. I was invited to be a part of the festival as an actor, and am very flattered to be part of the productions,” Broemmel said. He went on to explain that his role of Tennessee Williams marks the first time he has been on stage as an actor since 1981.

He joked that he thinks he was type-casted for the role of Tennessee Williams. “I’ve watched several television interviews of Tennessee Williams and I have to say I sound kind of like him,” Broemmel noted.

At the end of our lunch interview, Broemmel said he was very proud of Six Joan Crawfords. “Now that I have seen actors perform the script, I am very pleased with the final product. I can honestly say it has turned out to be a very funny play. I’d never written a comedy before and I was very apprehensive about the process and the final product,” Broemmel said.