Category Archives: News

The Porch Room is excited to announce it will produce its first ever audiobook: In It Together by JoEllen Notte, out in March from Thornapple Press. The audiobook will be recorded by J. Michael DeAngelis and read by its author. From the publisher: Millions of people worldwide are coping with depression. Whether it’s you, a family member, a friend or Continue Reading...

Austin, TX – The Porch Room, aka Pete Barry, J. Michael DeAngelis, and John P. Dowgin will be featured panelists at the upcoming Austin Film Festival Writer’s Conference. Joining them for the panel will be Mission: Rejected staff writer Paige Klaniecki. HOW TO MAKE A FICTION PODCAST Join the creative team behind the Mission: Rejected podcast for a discussion on Continue Reading...

AUSTIN, TX – It was announced today that Mission: Rejected writer and Porch Room associate Paige Klaniecki has once again advanced to the second round in the Austin Film Festival’s screenplay competition. Paige’s script, Flanagan, is an original “dark, steampunk sci-fi noir pilot”. The finalists and winners will be announced at the Austin Film Festival Writer’s Conference in October. The Continue Reading...

Porch Room co-founder John Dowgin’s new short film, Prey, has been nominated for Outstanding Thriller and Best Director in a Thriller at the 2022 NJ WebFest. The winners will be announced on September 25 at the festival’s closing gala. Now in its fourth year, NJ WebFest ranked one of FilmFreeway’s Best-Reviewed Festivals and is open to short films, web series, Continue Reading...

Mission: Rejected stars Nazli Sarpkaya (Mackenzie McGrath) and Kirk White (Special Agent Chet Phillips) are starring in new projects this summer! First up, catch Kirk in the original Hulu comedy Not Okay. It stars Zoey Deutch as a young woman who desperately wants to be famous and beloved on the Internet, only for her efforts to lead to her mistakenly Continue Reading...

Pete Barry’s one act comedy “Sex with a Mathematician” is set to play the Ellersile Festival of One Act Plays in Auckland, New Zealand from August 25 – September 3, 2022. Originally produced as part of X/Y, the short comedy shows what happens when a computer dating site matches two seemingly polar opposite souls – a free spirited young woman Continue Reading...

Porch Room associate member and Mission: Rejected writer Paige Klaniecki has two scripts advancing to the second round of the Austin Film Festival screenplay competition! Her first script, Space Between, is an original science fiction drama pilot. The second is a spec script for Apple TV’s Ted Lasso entitled “Yes, And…” about the team’s attempt to do team building through Continue Reading...

The Porch Room’s hit audio comedy, Mission Rejected, is an official Gold Selection of the Hear Now audio festival’s Podcast Palooza! Podcast Palooza is the Hear Now Festival’s juried competition for recorded sound works. Podcasts, audio fiction, audio theatre, and even sound art all are evaluated by our judges, and qualifying entries are awarded Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze recognition. Continue Reading...

The Porch Room’s original audio comedy, Mission: Rejected nabbed twenty nominations in the Audioverse Awards! The nominations span the back half of the first season and the first half of season two. The Porch Room and its members are finalists in the following categories: Best Vocal Direction of an Audio Play Production J. Michael DeAngelis & Pete Barry Best Vocal Continue Reading...

Having debuted in the audio fiction scene this past March, The Porch Room’s original audio comedy, Mission: Rejected nabbed fifteen nominations in the Audioverse Awards! Best Performance in a Leading Role in a New Audio Play Production Chris Klaniecki as Skip GrangerNazli Sarpkaya as Mackenzie McGrathDave Stanger as Bowden Montcrief Best Performance by a Supporting Role in a New Audio Continue Reading...

This week, Apple Podcasts introduced a new category for podcasts: Comedy Fiction, which includes The Porch Room’s Mission: Rejected. We were overwhelmed and overjoyed to learn that Mission: Rejected has debuted on this new chart at #14! Thank you to all our listeners – those who have been here since the beginning and those who are just joining us! New Continue Reading...

The Porch Room is pleased to announce the debut of its latest project, MISSION: REJECTED, a new full-cast comedy adventure being released each month as a podcast. It’s the story of what happens when the world’s greatest spy decides to reject his top secret mission and there’s no choice but to send in “The B Team.” Created and written by Continue Reading...

Porch Room co-founder John Dowgin was honored at the 2017 Austin Film Festival.  His spec script, “Mile 42” was finalist in their screenplay competition, in the Enderby Entertainment Award category for feature scripts in all genres with an original concept and distinctive voice that can be produced for under $10 million. John’s script was one of 56 finalists out of Continue Reading...

The Porch Room congratulates co-founder Pete Barry on the sale of his spec script “Marian” to Margot Robbie’s Lucky Chap productions and Sony Pictures. Robbie will star as Marian of Robin Hood fame in this unique take on the legend.  When Robin Hood is killed in battle, Marian must take up his mantle and lead the Merry Men against Prince Continue Reading...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – The Porch Room Independent Film & Theater Company today announced that it has signed a development agreement with New York performer Nazli Sarpkaya that encompasses at least three new productions between the 2016-2017 and 2018-2019 seasons. Ms. Sarpkaya starred in the New York production of The Porch Room’s Antony & Cleopatra: Infinite Lives and Continue Reading...

Attention LA Porch Room fans! John P. Dowgin’s one-act Zebulon Calling has been selected for performance as part of the third annual “Sci-Fest LA” Science Fiction One-Act Play Festival. The festival offers two rotating evenings of professionally produced 15-minute sci-fi plays by up-and-coming writers, as well as world premiere stage adaptations based on the works of such authors as Neil Continue Reading...

December 1st, 2015 saw the publication of Plays for Three a new anthology of short plays for three actors from Vintage Press.  The Porch Room was honored to be included via Sex with a Mathematician  by Pete Barry. Sex with a Mathematician originally premiered at the Pittsburgh Fringe Festival.  The version in print comes from The Porch Room’s production in Continue Reading...

“Sex with a Mathematician,” Pete Barry’s one act comedy, is to be published in Plays for Three from Vintage Press.  This is the Porch Room’s third imprint with Vintage Press after Shorter, Faster, Funnier and Plays For Two. “Sex” originally debuted at the Pittsburgh Fringe Festival.  The incarnation that will be printed is a revised version from The Porch Room’s Continue Reading...

The Porch Room’s J. Michael DeAngelis and John P. Dowgin will be participating in “Rights Week” July 14-17th, 2014, hosted by Samuel French, Inc. and HowlRound.com. The Porch Room authors will be speaking on the July 15th panel, “Sharing Your Work.”  The boys will be talking about self-licensing unpublished or self-published works and how to get your work produced independently Continue Reading...

The Fruppum, Alabama Chamber of Commerce by John Dowgin is having a revival at the 2014 Jersey Voices festival, celebrating their 20th anniversary with their “greatest hits”. Performances will be July 25th & August 1st. Fruppum tells the story of two enterprising gentlemen running rival gas stations on a country road in Fruppum, Alabama.  In a place that time seems Continue Reading...

Pete Barry’s ode to Fred Rogers, Ghost of Make-Believe, will have it’s debut as part of “Hell With The Lid Taken Off” at the Pittsburgh Fringe Festival on May 10th & 11th, 2014. The short play is part of an evening of original works about the city of Pittsburgh.  The Porch Room’s contribution takes a look at the legacy of Continue Reading...

Please join The Porch Room and Vintage Press to celebrate the launch of the new anthology Plays For Two.   The Porch Room is represented for the second time in a Vintage Press collection with “Hearing Aid” by Pete Barry. The book launch is being hosted by The Drama Bookshop – 250 W. 40th St. in New York City. The event Continue Reading...

The Porch Room is proud to be a part of the 2014 Pittsburgh Fringe Festival, as “Ghost of Make-Believe” by Pete Barry is presented as part of an evening of shorts about Pittsburgh, collectively performed under the title Hell With The Lid Taken Off. “Ghost of Make-Believe” focuses on that most famous of Pittsburgh icons – Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.  A Continue Reading...

John P. Dowgin’s dark, cut throat drama “Tricks of the Trade” will be performed at the Theatre of Arts in Hollywood, California! “Tricks of the Trade” is part of The Porch Room’s short play anthology, Accidents Happen, and is the only drama in the collection.  In the one act, Ralph and Eddie are celebrating the close of a big business Continue Reading...

Peter Barry’s short comedy “Hearing Aid” is featured in the new Vintage Press anthology Plays For Two. You can pre-order your copy now from The Porch Room Shop in paperback or as a Kindle edition!  The book will be released in March. We are anticipating another gala book launch and signing event for this collection, check back here soon for Continue Reading...

Pete Barry’s Nine Point Eight Meters Per Second Per Second, originally produced as part of Accidents Happen, is getting a brand new staging in Philadelphia from February 6-8, 2014. Presented as part of The University of Pennsylvania’s Theater Arts Council’s evening on One Act Shorts, this new production will be directed by Ahmed Mohieldin and stars Brandon Fleischer as Balthazar Continue Reading...

Porch Room co-founder John Dowgin has been nominated for FIVE Perry Awards, given out by NJACT.  The Porch Room previously was awarded the Perry Award for Outstanding Original Play in 2009 for Accidents Happen. John’s nominations are in a wide variety of categories.  He snagged two for Outstanding Sound Design (for Hamlet and The 39 Steps), Outstanding Direction of a Continue Reading...

Today, Samuel French Inc announced that Accidents Happen, our award winning collection of one act plays, is now available as an e-book on all major platforms! Previously available in print and for iBooks, Accidents Happen is now available for your Amazon Kindle or Barnes & Noble Nook! Perfect for reading or rehearsals, these electronic editions put Samuel French and The Continue Reading...

Muhlenberg College has penned a wonderful profile of The Porch Room in the latest edition of their magazine.  All four of The Porch Room’s founding members are alumni of Muhlenberg and our name comes from the late, lamented Bernheim House that used to stand on its campus. Pete Barry, Michael DeAngelis and John Dowgin were all interviewed for the article, Continue Reading...

Producer Dan Ischo, who acquired the rights to John P. Dowgin‘s short “Quincy’s Room” in April after finding it through www.moviepoet.com, has let us know that the project has completed principal photography and is being prepped for an entry in the LA Film Festival in February 2013. Watch this space for more news....

Pete Barry‘s short play Hearing Aid will be published in Eric Lane and Nina Shengold’s upcoming anthology PLAYS FOR TWO. Pete’s work previously appeared in SHORTER, FASTER, FUNNIER by the same editors.  His Nine Point Eight Meters Per Second Per Second, part of Accidents Happen, was the featured title. Hearing Aid is a short two-hander about the woes (and comedic joys) Continue Reading...

Drop, the award winning short play by Pete Barry & J. Michael DeAngelis will make its international debut when it premieres in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan October 25th-27th, 2012. The Newman Players of St. Thomas More College at the University of  Saskatchewan presents Drop along side two other short plays – The Bathroom Door and And Go To Innisfree.  The plays are Continue Reading...

Philadelphia City Paper gave a short but sweet review to our 2012 Philly Fringe production,Antony & Cleopatra: Infinite Lives.  Calling it a “neat little play” with “its heart in the right place” and noting it’s outstanding cast. You can read the full review here....

Uwishunu, the official tourism blog of Philadelphia has named The Porch Room’s Antony & Cleopatra: Infinite Lives as TOP PICK for this year’s Philly Fringe & Live Arts Festival! Check out the article on their blog and be sure to reserve your tickets today!...

As the co-author and director of Antony & Cleopatra: Infinite Lives, our own J. Michael DeAngelis gave a hilariously random interview with the Philly Fringe Blog.  Just remember…they came up with the questions! Be sure to grab your tickets to Infinite Lives today!...

The Porch Room is returning to the Philly Fringe & Live Arts Festival in 2012 with an all new production, Antony & Cleopatra: Infinite Lives! Written by J. MichaelDeAngelis & Pete Barry, drawing from the seminal work by William Shakespeare, this is The Porch Room’s first co-production with Philadelphia’s Underground Shakespeare Company! A play-within-a-play version of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. Continue Reading...