TV and Film Writing |
Luke's latest screenplay, THE LAST LIFEBOAT is the winner of the Scriptvamp Attention Grabber Screenplay contest. It is the untold story of J. Bruce Ismay, the chairman of the White Star Line at the time of the sinking of the Titanic, whose decision to get into the last lifeboat and save himself made him thje scapegoat for one of the greatest disasters of all time. Withe the 100th anniversary of the sinking of The Titanic approaching on A[ril 15, 2012, this script is generating considerable interest. To read an online interview with Luke about THE LAST LIFEBOAT, click here. Luke has also completed a film version of THE JESUS HICKEY as well as a TV movie adaptation of A PLACE AT FOREST LAWN, entitled THE THINGS I NEVER SAID. He has also written several hour-long television spec scripts, including BROTHERS & SISTERS and PUSHING DAISIES, as well as THE STAR MAKER, a pilot for an original series. THE STAR MAKER, an hour long drama about the dark underbelly of Hollywood in the late 1950's, was a finalist in the NexTV pilot competition and was one of eight scripts chosen out of over 700 entries. TO READ A SYNOPSIS OF "THE STAR MAKER", CLICK HERE (.pdf file)
TO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF LUKE'S WRITING RESUME, CLICK HERE (.pdf file)
MAJOR TELEVISION WRITER/PRODUCERS PRAISE LUKE'S TELEVISION WRITING. TO READ THE QUOTES, CLICK HERE (.pdf file)
For inquiries regarding Luke Yankee and to obtain other film and televsion screenplays, please contact luke@lukeyankee.net
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Playwrighting |
WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION STARRING HARRY HAMLIN SKYLIGHT THEATRE LOS ANGELES JUNE/JULY 2010 Luke's latest play, THE JESUS HICKEY, is a modern day fable about the seduction of celebrity funneled through the window of religious fanaticism. Funny, bawdy, outrageous, and touching, it tells the story of an impoverished familyw whose lives are rrevocably changed when their only daughter goes "down to the embankment" with a young man. Though she's been warned repeatedly by her father and grandmother about what happens to girls who do, no one could have foretold what could happen when the love bite on her neck appears in the image of Christ. The world premiere production opened at the Skylight Theatre in Los Angeles in June 2010, starring Harry Hamlin, star of TV's LA LAW and such films as MAKING LOVE and CLASH OF THE TITANS. THE JESUS HICKEY is the winner of the TRU Voices Award as well as the first annual Joel and Phyllis Ehrlich Award. given "for a socailly relevant new work of theater." It received staged readings at the Phoenix Theatre, The Long Beach Playhouse in New York at the Players Theatre starring Tony Award nominees Matthew Arkin and Merle Louise. Luke has recently completed a film adaptation. HERE'S WHAT CRITCS ARE SAYING ABOUT "THE JESUS HICKEY" (.pdf file) READ A SYNOPSIS OF "THE JESUS HICKEY" (.pdf file)
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A PLACE AT FOREST LAWN, based on the award-winning one-act play by Lorees Yerby. Winner of the New Noises Festival Playwriting Award for 2003, it was also a finalist in the Palm Springs International Playwrights competition in 2004. In addition, Luke has directed numerous staged readings of the play on both coasts with all-star casts. The Off-Broadway cast included Frances Sternhagen, Marian Seldes, George Grizzard and Tony Goldwyn. The Los Angeles cast included Betty White, Marian Ross, John Glover, Marcia Cross and Steven Culp. It recently received a full production at The Arvada Center for the Performing Arts, a 500-seat Equity theatre outsdie of Denver. It is published by Dramatists Play Service.
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PURCHASE A SCRIPT FROM DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, CLICK HERE READ THE REVIEW OF 'FOREST LAWN" IN WEEKLY VARIETY
"A PLACE AT FOREST LAWN" SYNOPSIS (.pdf file)
Luke Yankee is a member of The Dramatists Guild and the Los Angeles Writers Collective.
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Luke has co-written (with James Bontempo) 