Developmental
by Tommy Heleringer
Tommy Heleringer
Follow
Developmental
by Tommy Heleringer
Tommy Heleringer
Follow
Demons, Drag Queens, and Dongs! Oh my! The gayest underdog story never told, DEVELOPMENTAL follows hapless queer actor Tee as he creates a show from his own life and explores what it really means to "make it." It's gay. It's gluten-free. It's DEVELOPMENTAL.
Demons, Drag Queens, and Dongs! Oh my! The gayest underdog story never told, DEVELOPMENTAL follows hapless queer actor Tee as he creates a show from his own life and explores what it really means to "make it." It's gay. It's gluten-free. It's DEVELOPMENTAL.
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Story
Inclusion Statement
DEVELOPMENTAL is the story of a queer man's journey from pathos to power. Produced and directed by women, the series' diverse supporting characters equally command center frame and are portrayed by actors from communities too often cast aside, including POC, and people from the trans community.About The Project
Eggplant! Unicorn! Menorah! It's...
DEVELOPMENTAL: The Severely Limited Series is a madcap comedy about a queer man's coming-of-agency. Enter Tee Burrows (from the bathroom) - a never-made-it actor in New York who struggles with the part of his own life - whether it's pain, diarrhea, or an inner demon with a dildo addiction. Set in a world helplessly akimbo, DEVELOPMENTAL follows Tee and his misfit pals as he creates a show from his woe. Before the final frame, Tee faces his demon, finds his agency, and takes his first step into power. I mean, what more could you want? A lot? Well, that's you, not us, and maybe stop putting unreasonable expectations on people.
We're raising funds to go toward our pilot episode. Slip under the rainbow for a synopsis!
THE PILOT, or I'M HAPPY I'M HAPPY I'M HAPPY
Well, it's a goddamn beautiful day and our hapless gay hero Tee Burrows has a meeting with a talent agent. How does it go, you ask invasively? We don't have the strength to tell you. But you'll learn all about it when Tee meets up in Prospect Park with his Instagram model friend Nicole.
After a scary incident in the park, Tee flees to an audition he found on Craigslist (yes, Craigslist) and there runs into his gay bestie and fellow nominee Phillip who's auditioning for the same thing. What are the odds?
Later, Tee hauls ass to his soul-killing day job only to find out his merlot-drinking boss needs him to work all weekend. After work, Tee kikis with his best gal pal and movie star-in-the-making Rose Rubles when she gets the call every actor dreams about. SHE GOT IT! She landed the lead on the hottest show from Etsy's new streaming service, "Hey, Etsy!" SHE'S FAMOUS!
Yes, it's all so hallelujah and Tee is totally happy for her but also like, could this day get any worse? Funny you should ask. Tee races home to numb out with a dong when don't look now but something wicked this way comes...
So Where'd You Get This Hogwash?
I had just been rejected by yet another agency for being "too developmental" and was home masturbating with a yellow squash. I thought that was a curious way to deal with pain so I started writing about it and out, along with the squash, popped DEVELOPMENTAL. Towards the end I realized that writing down the hurt not only created a way through but also uncovered my voice as a queer man. So I decided to make that part of the story too. Writing DEVELOPMENTAL opened the door and, like Tee Burrows, enabled me to find some agency and to slip on a little power. I am tickled (and terrified) to now be sharing that story.
-TH
Why This Story Now?
The time was last Tuesday for all marginalized identities to be in charge of their own narrative. DEVELOPMENTAL breaks through the LGBTQ "sub genre" box by never getting into it. It's not concerned with the familiar coming out trope but with the getting it out. For beyond the rainbow of self-acceptance lies the very real and scary world of self-actualization. Where you find there's no place for you at the table, you must venture off and make your own. When you're told you're "too developmental," you take two Alka-Seltzers and make DEVELOPMENTAL.
It's time for gluten-free gay heroes.It's time for DEVELOPMENTAL.
THE JOURNEY FROM
PATHOS TO POWER
IN 3 EASY STEPS!
by Tee Benedictine Burrows
***PUT ON A PANTY LINER! DEVELOPMENTAL was just selected as a FINALIST for the 2019 Catalyst Content Festival (formerly the Independent Television Festival) for BEST COMEDY SCRIPT. If we win, we get our picture taken. Wish us luck!
Oh my god, Becky, you've totally hit bottom.
Like, thanks for scrolling all the way through, you know?
We dedicate this project to the inner Grand High in you.
Love, the Developmental Team (+Sheila Bogdonovan)
Incentives
$15
Hey Bitch!
Like, thank you so much! Get a special shout out from the team on social media! And maybe a hug if we see you in person? No? Okay, we respect your boundaries.
$25
Fancy, You Didn't Let Us Down!
Gurl, that's enough for two iced coffees and a gluten-free bagel! You're too much! Okay, now it's a shout out AND a digital postcard from Sheila! And now you're definitely getting a hug. Boundaries be damned.
$50
You Wicked Ass Witch
Talk about gay heroes. You know who you are and if people don't like it, well, they can throw water and kill you. But before then you go right on and ride high. Thanks for making our gay dreams come true! You got yourself a personalized coconut oil label designed by Tee Burrows!
$100
Look Who's Turnin' Heads
Show off. No, now come on, we know that one hurt gurl, and WE SEE YOUR PAIN. Everything above PLUS a private link to the finished episode before anyone else! I mean, it's just so exclusive.
$250
Wait, Is That Phthalo Blue or Van Dyke Brown?
You're a know-it-when-you-see-it kinda babe. So we're returning the favor with an official "extra-special thanks" in the credits. That's right! It's your name up there in white text over a black screen! PLUS (there's more?) YES, a behind-the-scenes digital copy of our concept art and look-book for the pilot episode of Developmental. (Please note: this one aint for the faint of heart. So consider this your official TRIGGER WARNING.)
$500
A Bonafide Exorcist or Maybe Some Kind of Bird
What a bright light shining thru a window you are! What did we ever do to deserve you? And you brought your holy water for Tee's inner demon? Okay, pack your bags, parakeet, you just landed an invitation to set! (FYI: we're shooting in NYC circa this winter, so if you're from out of town just be sure you're okay to get here and put yourself up, you know?)
$1,000
New Friend of Sheila
We don't know what to say. Yes, we do. Welcome to the club, seraphim! You are now OFFICIALLY a friend of Sheila. Oh, do you not know Sheila? Well, put on a panty liner because you're on your way to meet her! Everything above PLUS a ticket to the NYC Premiere.* [Elbow nudge] Oh right, and a shiny producer cred!
*We'll premiere our pilot in 2020 so just be sure you're comfortable getting here and putting yourself up. Rest assured there'll be a special seat at the venue with your name on it. I mean, not the seat itself but like a piece of paper with your name printed on it and then fastened to the seat with a piece of tape. Yay!$2,500
Ol' Friend of Dorothy
Wow, you walked right past Sheila and went straight to Dorothy. Okay, a little shady but you clearly aren't playing around. And we're simply over-the-rainbow to have you. Everything above PLUS join us out on the lanai: you're officially an Executive Producer. Also like, what's your phone number? The creator would like to take you to Chipotle. His treat.
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$15
Hey Bitch!
Like, thank you so much! Get a special shout out from the team on social media! And maybe a hug if we see you in person? No? Okay, we respect your boundaries.
$25
Fancy, You Didn't Let Us Down!
Gurl, that's enough for two iced coffees and a gluten-free bagel! You're too much! Okay, now it's a shout out AND a digital postcard from Sheila! And now you're definitely getting a hug. Boundaries be damned.
$50
You Wicked Ass Witch
Talk about gay heroes. You know who you are and if people don't like it, well, they can throw water and kill you. But before then you go right on and ride high. Thanks for making our gay dreams come true! You got yourself a personalized coconut oil label designed by Tee Burrows!
$100
Look Who's Turnin' Heads
Show off. No, now come on, we know that one hurt gurl, and WE SEE YOUR PAIN. Everything above PLUS a private link to the finished episode before anyone else! I mean, it's just so exclusive.
$250
Wait, Is That Phthalo Blue or Van Dyke Brown?
You're a know-it-when-you-see-it kinda babe. So we're returning the favor with an official "extra-special thanks" in the credits. That's right! It's your name up there in white text over a black screen! PLUS (there's more?) YES, a behind-the-scenes digital copy of our concept art and look-book for the pilot episode of Developmental. (Please note: this one aint for the faint of heart. So consider this your official TRIGGER WARNING.)
$500
A Bonafide Exorcist or Maybe Some Kind of Bird
What a bright light shining thru a window you are! What did we ever do to deserve you? And you brought your holy water for Tee's inner demon? Okay, pack your bags, parakeet, you just landed an invitation to set! (FYI: we're shooting in NYC circa this winter, so if you're from out of town just be sure you're okay to get here and put yourself up, you know?)
$1,000
New Friend of Sheila
We don't know what to say. Yes, we do. Welcome to the club, seraphim! You are now OFFICIALLY a friend of Sheila. Oh, do you not know Sheila? Well, put on a panty liner because you're on your way to meet her! Everything above PLUS a ticket to the NYC Premiere.* [Elbow nudge] Oh right, and a shiny producer cred!
*We'll premiere our pilot in 2020 so just be sure you're comfortable getting here and putting yourself up. Rest assured there'll be a special seat at the venue with your name on it. I mean, not the seat itself but like a piece of paper with your name printed on it and then fastened to the seat with a piece of tape. Yay!$2,500
Ol' Friend of Dorothy
Wow, you walked right past Sheila and went straight to Dorothy. Okay, a little shady but you clearly aren't playing around. And we're simply over-the-rainbow to have you. Everything above PLUS join us out on the lanai: you're officially an Executive Producer. Also like, what's your phone number? The creator would like to take you to Chipotle. His treat.
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
in partnership with
present
TOMMY HELERINGER, Writer | Producer | Actor
Tommy is a writer/actor/producer originally from Kentucky. He had a pretty unhappy childhood which explains some of his life choices. As an actor, Tommy has worked at, among others, the Williamstown Theatre Festival and Actors Theatre of Louisville as well as with companies like The Lark, Fresh Ground Pepper, The Amoralists, Ma-Yi, Are Nova, and The Culture Project. Mostly notably, Tommy can be seen on the hit web shows THE OUTS (http://www.theouts.com/) and WHATEVER THIS IS. (http://whateverthisis.com/) and in the films GAYBY and the 2019 release TU ME MANQUES. For two years, Tommy appeared almost monthly at The PIT in BLOGOLOGUES, a comedy show created by Allison Goldberg and Jen Jamula. He now lives in Brooklyn with mice. (https://www.tommyheleringer.com/)
MORGAN GOULD, Director
Morgan Gould is a writer/director and a current Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellow at Juilliard. Her play I WANNA FUCKING TEAR YOU APART, is a Beatrice Terry/ Drama League Award Winner, and had its world premiere at Studio Theatre in Washington, DC in February 2017 (with Morgan directing). It was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Play, and DC Metro Arts said that Morgan's work "shows every bit as much promise as Edward Albee’s early work, arguably more" and received a 2018 Dramatist Guild Writers Alliance Award. It is now being developed into an original series with Amazon and Field Trip productions. Morgan is also the Artistic Director of Morgan Gould & Friends – her production company with 11 actors, 3 designers, and a filmmaker and a film producer (www.morgangouldandfriends.com). MG&F's work has been featured in and at the New Ohio/ Ice Factory Festival, Dixon Place, The Brooklyn Lyceum, HERE Arts Center, Ars Nova, CAP21, BAX, New Georges, and The Culture Project and their web series THE LAST GREAT AMERICAN WEB SERIES, will be released for streaming on Revry, an LGBTQ streaming service in 2019. Morgan is repped by Tim Phillips at UTA and Corinne Hayoun at Manage-Ment.
SATOMI BLAIR, Producer
Satomi is an actor, producer and founder of 4Hawk Productions (http://www.4hawkproductions.com/), managing all projects under the 4Hawk wing. Bringing years of work and study in theater, dance, film and experiential production to 4Hawk to explore stories and voices that explore themes of diversity, curiosity and exploration. Fiction and Non-Fiction work under Satomi's creative leadership has been a part of the Tribeca Film Festival, DOC NYC, Catalina Film Festival, Anchorage International Film Festival (Jury Award Winner), Miami Short Film Festival (Winner- Best Documentary Film), DocuWest, Chagrin Documentary Film Festival, NY Indie Theatre Film Festival, Newburyport Documentary Film Festival, Oak Cliff Film Festival, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, Miami International Science Film Festival and New York Fringe Festival, Former Production Director at Garwood Events and Event Producer for WPP Experiential Marketing agency Geometry Global. Alumni of The Women's Media Center; Progressive Women's Voices & Company member of Morgan Gould & Friends. A graduate of Fordham University at Lincoln Center with a BA in Communications and Theater.
RYAN SEELIG
Ryan Seelig is a lighting and production designer, production manager, technical director, and theater artist based in NYC. Ryan has traveled around the USA and internationally (including tours in Australia, England, Belgium, Singapore, and Japan) as a lighting designer, lighting supervisor, production manager, and technical director. Ryan’s experience working on live performances in theater, dance, and music has more recently translated to working as a director of photgraphy and production designer for film. Ryan is an experienced Vectorworks draftsman, electrician and light board programmer. Ryan has worked with renowned theater companies The Wooster Group, Young Jean Lee’s Theater Company, Elevator Repair Service, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Abrons Arts Center, Ma-Yi Theater, and frequently collaborates with auteurs, Michelle Ellsworth, Becca Blackwell, Morgan Gould, and more. He values long relationships with artists and designers because he is at his best when he’s problem solving, collaborating and thinking of innovative, efficient ways to make things work no matter the constraints. Upcoming projects for Ryan include lighting design for the world premiere of Kaki King’s “Data Not Found”, James Sprang’s “Turning Towards a Radical Listening”, and an immersive/site specific performance titled “Field and Forest” in collaboration with designer Deb O. (http://www.ryanseelig.com/)
THE CAST (or, the ones who returned our emails)
TOMMY HELERINGER (https://www.tommyheleringer.com/) You already read his bio. What, you want it again? Unbelievable.
NICOLE SPIEZIO (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4552514/) is an actor and comedian who has recently performed onstage at Dixon Place (Toe Pick), Studio Theatre in DC (I Wanna Fucking Tear You Apart), The Gym at Judson, and Perry-Mansfield with Primary Stages. Her play The Witchelor, which she co-authored with John Early, has had performances at Ars Nova’s ANT Fest and Atlantic Stage 2. As a comedian and storyteller she’s performed at UCB, Joe’s Pub, Union Hall, The Moth, The PIT, Littlefield, The Cake Shop, and has hosted SHOWGASM. at Ars Nova. Recent on screen credits include The Characters (Netflix), Friends From College (Netflix) Bessie (HBO), 555 (Vimeo), and Bev (NoBudge). Her video Housewife Sonata has been featured on Anderson Cooper Live and Jezebel.com. She also works as a plus-size model and has been featured on Glamour.com and Mic. Founding member of Pipeline Theatre Company and member of Morgan Gould & Friends. She holds a BFA from NYU Tisch. Thank you to all the Real Housewives. @nicolespiezio
ANNA O'DONOGHUE (http://www.morgangouldandfriends.com/anna-odonoghue) has previously appeared on Broadway in Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll (dir. Trevor Nunn) and off-Broadway in eurydice at Second Stage. Other credits include The Miracle Worker (Syracuse Stage,)Too Little Too Late (HERE,) The Piven Monologues (Joe’s Pub,) Friends in Transient Places (Ars Nova,) The Cherry Orchard (Miscreant Theater,) Theater for One (T41,) Almost Exactly Like Us (ToTE,) Iphigenia and Other Daughters (Santa Fe Theater Festival), and world premieres of Any Day Now (Manhattan Theatre Source), Poetic License (NJ Rep), Confluence (Guthrie), and Take Ten (59E59.) With Morgan Gould & Friends: DOG EAT DOG, PEE PEE POO POO PA PA FACE and NURSE NORA MENORAH SAVES CHRISTMAS. Copious readings and workshops include the Sundance Lab, Playwrights Horizons, PlayPenn, NYTW, Barrow Group, Tectonic, P73, New Dramatists, the Lark, and the Southampton Writers Conference. A sometime playwright, her work has been developed and produced in New York, New Orleans, and New Mexico. Training: Juilliard. Helen Hayes Award nomination.
SATOMI BLAIR (http://www.satomiblair.com/) Oh my god, again, you already read this person's bio! I can't with you right now.
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