Henry Feldman

Shelter In Place

Frank Bennett runs a bed and breakfast in a town in the path of hurricane Claudia. He’s preparing the place for the storm before leaving. But then his elderly father shows up to “help”. Heidi is escaping a traumatic event in her life. Frank’s son, Sam, is in love and needs a favor from his father. Lastly, Frank’s ex-wife arrives because her boyfriend has kicked her out of the house. All that is happening while the hurricane is rapidly approaching.

Frank is a platinum card member of the sandwich generation and is getting squeezed for all he’s worth. He’s spent a lifetime of suppressing his wants and needs in service to the other generations. Will this time be any different?

Watch the Play!

In October, 2024 the Pasadena Little Theatre in Pasadena, Texas produced the play over two weeks with seven performances including multiple sold out shows. My wife and I attended the first weekend and in my biased opinion, they did a fabulous job. But don't take my word for it, watch and enjoy the video yourself. Not only that, Houston Public Radio dedicated 13 minutes of their news show to profiling the show and interviewing the cast.

The October 12, 2024 performance was recorded in 4K and uploaded to YouTube. (The image looks great on a big tv.)

• If your TV has a 'YouTube' app, probably easiest to do a search for 'Shelter In Place Henry Feldman'.
• The direct link is: https://youtu.be/Cv5IzGOLrNI

The Houston Public Radio profile and cast interview

Danny Seibert, the director, approached Houston Public Radio to record the weather bulletins because he wanted that “radio announcer” type voice. They asked to see the script. He sent the PDF. Two hours later, they called Danny back and said they want to profile the production, attend a rehearsal and interview the cast.

Houston Public Radio profiles the play and interviews the actors This aired on Thursday, October 17, 2024. They packaged up the segment onto its own webpage. It’s quite nice to hear from the actors about their characters.

Sea Level Rise: A Dystopian Comedy

The year is 2048. We’re in South Florida and that means sun-baked folks addicted to cars, cruise ships, fun and guns. Ready to make its stage entrance from the east at the top of the show are those twin demons: sea level rise and salt water.

Maria Martinez, long time resident of Sweetwater, Florida, wakes to find her septic tank out of the ground, busted and useless. All Sweetwater residents will need a place to stay for two months until the tanks can be fixed. Sweetwater is one of those poorer neighborhoods a dozen miles from the beautiful people on the beach and a million miles from the moneyed people’s concerns.

Dr. Beth Thompson, chair of the climate research department at the University of Miami, having spent 30 years fighting the good fight, is a worn-down alcoholic desperately wanting to leave South Florida. These days, she needs only two words to summarize her entire “Intro to Climate Change” class: “We’re screwed.” But at least she knows the answer to: “Why did the chicken cross the road?”

Her husband, Tony Beech, runs a refugee center. He’s got an idea on how to help the thousands of Sweetwater refugees courtesy of the Russians. Tony and Maria shared a romantic past years ago; Beth doesn’t know and Tony has sort of forgotten. On the other hand, Beth knows something about Sweetwater’s future that Maria doesn’t.

“Sea Level Rise: A Dystopian Comedy” explores life in the future when what we pretended wouldn’t happen, has.

It was produced by me as part of the Broadway Bound Theater Festival in New York City in July, 2019. I recorded a performance

• Watch the 2.5 minute trailer
• Watch the performance

I was profiled in The Highlands Current The Highlands Current profiles Sea Level Rise

The Pickle Jar

In 2008, a self-proclaimed expert on dating techniques appeared on Oprah and told women they need to let their men open jars for them. She also told them there are rules for dating, including acceptable locations and discussion topics. In no way can women be themselves.

Susan and Richard met on-line. Susan is divorced and worries about getting older. Richard is separated with sole custody of two teenagers. He’s not funny but is trying desperately to break out of his shell. Tiffany, Susan’s younger and gorgeous next-door neighbor, believes in the dating rules and the power of brands. Eventually, Tiffany schemes to take Richard for herself. Paul, Susan’s ex-husband, though stuck talking business buzzwords, wants Susan back.

The Pickle Jar is a romantic comedy filled with physical comedy, stuff that will make you laugh and some fun social commentary on the roles of women, men, brands and business speak.

Global Warming: A Comedy

So a real estate agent, his client, a climate change denier and three climate researchers walk into a Miami hotel bar. (Stop me if you have heard this one before.) The client wants out of the beachfront condo purchase, the agent doesn’t want to give up the commission, the denier says “Don’t worry, be happy,” two of the researchers think they have the magic answer to global warming and the third one knows everyone is full of crap.

Global warming is the existential threat facing humanity in the 21st century. It’s a topic in desperate need of some humor. Albert Einstein said: “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”

“Global Warming: A Comedy” not only aims for laughter but a change in thinking.

In March 2019, “Global Warming: A Comedy” had a weeklong workshop in Port Townsend, Washington. And while there, we recorded the following:

Hear the opening 3 minute monologue from “Global Warming: A Comedy”! Hank, the uber real estate broker, delivers a great speech at the annual dinner.

I got interviewed for Port Townsend, Washington’s radio station KPTZ.

Chessvis

A unique puzzle visualization, opening preparation and blindfold chess training app. Written in Javascript/VUE, you can use it in a web browser or as a native app on IOS and Android.

The chessvis.com website has extensive information.

And my work on Chessvis was profiled in the local Hudson Valley, New York newspaper - The Highlands Current. 5 Questions: Henry Feldman

Verbal Chess

Verbal Chess is the only chess app in the world that can be controlled entirely by voice. Play against people around the world on lichess or against the computer. You can use it in a web browser or as a native app on IOS and Android.

The verbalchess.fun website has extensive information.