Writing
Read below for descriptions of all of my written projects, or click the links above to go to specific project-type pages such as Playwriting. Interested in sample pages or production opportunities? Contact me at apollo.kent.umbra@gmail.com
Request sample pages via my contact form
The User's Guide to Chromomania
Theatrical Experience
Cast: 2F | 1M
The User's Guide to Chromomania is an interactive theatrical experience that teaches a course (to the audience) on the multitudes of aspects that are present with chromomania - an obsession with color in life. While teaching her course, Ophelia is also experiencing the downfall of her personal life in the aftermath of a tumultuous divorce. A reality coupled with the tense relationships on the set of "Color Your Life with Jessica Andrews" - the educational videos used in the course. All of these aspects compound into one theatrical experience that will leave you pondering who, what, and when should you have paid attention...
House of Hades
Animated TV Series
House of Hades is an animated TV series following the lives of the children of Hades (Zagreus, Makaria, & Melinoë) as they navigate their overworked father's realm, reunite with their mother, and grapple with their identities. As gods who are the physical embodiment of a concept or emotion, such as madness or rebirth, how does one navigate the impact on their psyche. Combine that with a potential titan uprising, metamorphic 2D animation, and a less than functional family and you might find yourself in the House of Hades.
Color Factory
Video Game Concept (Sample)
Color Factory is a puzzle, adventure, mystery game set in a world void of color where you play as Astraeus Chromak. Following the death of his parents he finds himself tasked with the recovery of his mother's research on color pigmentation. With the help of Limerick, Astraeus' brother via adoption, and Chromatesse, an AI assistant and database for the home, Astraeus must recover the lost research before it falls into the wrong hands. Explore complex puzzles from Astraeus' father built to hide the research and protect the world from the disastrous costs of bringing color back to life in this vivid adventure.
Kaleidoscope
Stage Play
Cast: 2M | 7M/F/NB
Kaleidoscope is an experimental play drawing from research in emotional compartmentalization as a form of coping and color-emotional association. The production follows Iris, a deeply flawed individual struggling to come to terms with their own mind and emotions. Throughout the first act of the play, we randomly experience seven figures who represent Iris' emotional extremes as they live trapped in orderly delusion. In the second act, we see the dismantling of this organizational system Iris has inflicted upon himself as emotions are allowed to spread beyond the confines of their “proper” place within the mind. The ideal set of this piece uses the community to construct a “mind” in the time before the show as a representation of the untamed nature of the human mind.
Thanostos
Tabletop Role-Playing Game
Thanostos is a tabletop role-playing game based in the underworld of Greek mythology, also known as Hades. The game is compatible with the Mörk Borg ruleset and follows a group of players in their attempt to escape the underworld. As they play through the game they are imbued with the aid of one of twelve Greek gods and discover the rich demon hierarchy that exists in this realm. In time they may discover the true nature of their aid, as sly interventions into a betting pool arranged by the very gods supporting them. Will they escape bringing prosperity to a new life and glory to their patron god? Or will they fail and face the obliteration of their very souls? Only time will tell in this quirky and heart-pounding adventure!
Meet Melinoë
Stage Play
Cast: 2F
Meet Melinoë is a new myth depicting the events immediately following the creation of Melinoë, the Greek goddess of spirits, nightmares, and madness. Melinoë is shown the way of the world and her function through interactions with her sister Makaria, the goddess of blessed death. The piece balances lighthearted sibling bonding and exploration of the influence of a god on human emotion. Ultimately, audiences find themselves experiencing the expansion of Greek myth, the discovery of identity, and the exploration of a curious new world all through the eyes of Melinoë .
Comic Book
All Gays Go to Hell is a short illustrated comic exploring the comical reality of religion relating to LGBTQ+ individuals. Taking inspiration from both Christian and Ancient Greek religion the story explores the parallel absurdity of religion and LGBTQ+ stereotypes. It originates from my upbringing in a largely religious community as a gay boy. The story follows perky protagonist Milo Grays and his rag-tag group of gays, the comic takes readers on a bright and bubbling adventure to Hell. With Lady Gaga, conventionally hot demons, the infamous Pride Parade, phallic buildings, Satan, and more Lady Gaga, this comic embodies the queer (specifically queer male) experience.
Angèle
Animated Screen Play
Angèle is an animated short script that follows the life of an up-and-coming fashion designer. The story weaves across time and space through an exploration of visual storytelling. After being dumped in a small restaurant nestled within the enclaves of the city of Paris, protagonist Angèle takes flight into the night. Rising from the ashes we see Angèle flow through her life, taking back her independence and making a name for herself. The story shines light on the issues within the fashion industry while highlighting the uniqueness of human relationships and their fluctuation with time.
Character Development
Stage Play
Cast: 3M | 3F | 1M/F/NB
Character Development is an experimental play that follows a small-town high-school production of Our Town by Thornton Wilder. The story follows a group of friends and their Theatre teacher as they race to perfect their production while balancing the struggles of everyday people in rural America. The structure weaves through alternate sequences with distinct scenes depending on the audience’s choices. Depending on their selections there is further development of select characters and unknown information about others. This structure parallels our own decisions in the real world and highlights the unknown struggles those around us live with every day.
Cyclones
Stage Play
Cast: 4M | 3-19M/F/NB
Cyclones is a modern myth of the four wind gods of ancient Greek mythology. After escaping from their perpetual prison, the very presence of these powerful beings begins to tear apart the surface of the Gaia. Following an Olympian intervention, the four brothers fall to the whims of Dionysus, the god tasked with deciding who shall retain control over the winds of the world. As Dionysus’ tactics prove to be less than traditional, the brothers learn about their strengths, weaknesses, and performative capabilities in this colorful new history of a forgotten family.
Souvenir
Stage Play
This play is a work in progress therefore cast breakdown is not yet finalized.
Souvenir is a silhouette play of the memories that shaped my life. An exploration of the mind through key moments of the past, present, and future, Souvenir is a living chronicle of the people I call my family. Through banquet-style seating surrounding artifacts of the past, the story of a young boy in a unique situation begins to unfold. Exploring the meaning of family, love, and relinquishment this piece allows audiences to live my story while experiencing the catharsis of their own.