Drumming with Anubis

by David Templeton

Outstanding World Premiere Play Theatre Bay Area Finalist 2019

This raucous supernatural comedy about a group of myth-obsessed, heavy metal fans on a drum circle retreat in the desert starts off with a bang (literally) and quickly segues into a brutally funny satire of toxic masculinity, obsessive fan culture and the Men's Movement.
Following the death of their founder, a legendary DethDog drummer named Joshua...

Outstanding World Premiere Play Theatre Bay Area Finalist 2019

This raucous supernatural comedy about a group of myth-obsessed, heavy metal fans on a drum circle retreat in the desert starts off with a bang (literally) and quickly segues into a brutally funny satire of toxic masculinity, obsessive fan culture and the Men's Movement.
Following the death of their founder, a legendary DethDog drummer named Joshua Tree, the members of the Friends of Anubis Neo-Heathen Male Bonding and Drumming Society gather for one last weekend of chanting, smoking, drinking and drumming, along with a few metal-inspired "rituals." When a clueless new member proves to be more than he seems, a series of life-altering surprises - including at least one other unexpected guest - begin to unfold. Before it's over, the group will face a long night of the soul (hotdogs optional). This award-winning two-act is both a skewering of toxic masculinity and false bravado, and a sneaky dissection of what makes a certain kind of man squirm, with a strong female character written to challenge the notion of a supporting performance by basically taking over the show (effectively upstaging an actual Egyptian god) half-way through.

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Drumming with Anubis

Recommended by

  • Sheri Miller: Drumming with Anubis by David Templeton
    “

    Living in the playwright's home county, I saw the response of both audiences and critics to the world premiere of Drumming With Anubis. It was received with tremendous enthusiasm. It is a huge audience pleaser, with every role one that an actor would love to play. Tightly written, generally hilarious, often heart-breaking, with lots of surprises along the way. Give it a read! You'll really enjoy it.

    Living in the playwright's home county, I saw the response of both audiences and critics to the world premiere of Drumming With Anubis. It was received with tremendous enthusiasm. It is a huge audience pleaser, with every role one that an actor would love to play. Tightly written, generally hilarious, often heart-breaking, with lots of surprises along the way. Give it a read! You'll really enjoy it.

    ”
  • Lennie Dean: Drumming with Anubis by David Templeton
    “

    Excellent!! Very fun and great ensemble creation fun and insoghtful’

    Excellent!! Very fun and great ensemble creation fun and insoghtful’

    ”
5 men, 1 woman
ADAM BERNARDO DOMINGUEZ (aka “BULL”) 40-55, Mexican-American
CHARLIE TARANTINO (aka “CHICK”) 40-55, white, straight male.
NEIL SAMUELS (aka “PROFESSOR”) 40-55, any ethnicity, gay and/or trans-man.
NEW GUY/ANUBIS, 40-55, Black, male.
NIKKI TREE, 31, female, any ethnicity (POC preferred)
RAY HOLLISTER (aka “STINGRAY”) 40-55, any ethnicity, straight male.

Development History

  • Workshop, Left Edge Theatre, 2017
  • Reading, San Francisco Olympians Festival, 2016

Production History

  • Professional, Ted Wold Productions, Zoom-based production, NYC, 2020
  • Professional, Left Edge Theatre, Santa Rosa, CA, 2019

Awards

  • Outstanding World Premiere Play
    Theatre Bay Area
    Finalist
    2019
  • Outstanding Production of a Play
    Theatre Bay Area
    Finalist
    2019
  • Performance in a Principle Role (Chris Schloemp)
    Theatre Bay Area
    Finalist
    2019
  • Outstanding Original Script
    San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics' Circle Awards
    Finalist
    2019
  • Best Lighting Design (April George)
    San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Association
    Finalist
    2019
  • Best Production North Bay
    San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Association
    Finalist
    2019
  • Best Production Bay Area
    San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Association
    Finalist
    2019
  • Best Original Script
    San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Association
    Finalist
    2019
  • Best Ensemble (Chris Schloemp, Ivy Rose Miller, Nick Sholley, Anthony Martinez, Richard Pallozial, Mark Bradbury)
    San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Association
    Winner
    2019