Dennis Spielman

Stalkers

On October 23, 2026

Waiting for someone? Me, too…

STALKERS, written by Sarah Fenner King

STALKERS, written by Sarah Fenner King, had its one-night-only premiere at Oklahoma StoryWorks’ Annual 24 Hour Plays in July of 2026. “Stalkers is the first in what will be a long line of short plays that make their way from our fund raising event to our regular season,” Sheryl Martin. ”It is always wonderful working with Sarah. She was a founder of Namron Players Theatre, which became Oklahoma StoryWorks. She truly understands the importance of producing original works.”

Stalkers is about, well, stalkers. Cyrus and Martina vie for the position of Best Stalker and Number One Fan of the “unforgettable, supreme unicorn angel” that is Desiree.

Sheryl Martin directs this short play that “offers a darkly humorous look at a serious subject. Sarah takes it in a surprisingly hopeful direction, though.”

The cast is Terry Veal as Cyrus, Moira Mosely as Martina, and Sarah Fenner King as Desiree.

A Good Man is Hard to Find

By Dennis

On October 23, 2026

In Real

A family trip from Georgia to Florida…what could go wrong?

Find out in A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND, a Reader’s Theatre Performance, adapted by Betsy Ballard from the short story by Flannery O’Connor.

In A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND, a family from Atlanta—father, mother, infant, two children, and the father’s mother— set out on a vacation to Florida, but Grandmother reroutes them so she can see relatives in Tennessee instead. The family is aware that a convict called The Misfit has escaped from prison and is headed toward Florida. Thanks to the Grandmother’s interference, the family does indeed meet up with the convict and his sketchy companions, and lives are irretrievably altered. O’Connor’s macabre classic challenges our notions of goodness and grace, hypocrisy and delusion, and the possibility of redemption.

The three Narrators of the story also read multiple characters: Jane Gibbons is also Bailey’s Wife/The Children’s Mother, and Mrs. Red Sammy Butts; Terry Veal voices 8-year-old John Wesley, Bailey the Father, Red Sammy Butts, and ne’er-do-wells Hiram and Bobby Lee; Sheryl Martin is also 7-year-old June Star. Betsy Ballard voices the Grandmother, and Mark Loftis is The Misfit.

Betsy Ballard directs A Good Man is Hard to Find. This is Ballard’s third reader’s theatre script to be produced by Oklahoma StoryWorks. “Betsy also gave us adaptations of Poe’s The Premature Burial, and her own novel, Madsy Dugan Her Book,” said Sheryl Martin, Executive and Artistic Director of Oklahoma StoryWorks.

The Shadows & You: A Guide To Workplace Harmony

By Dennis

On September 24, 2026

In Imaginary

Welcome to your first day at The Firm! You don’t remember applying for the job? You shouldn’t worry. Memory loss is normal. Here. Watch this training video, and welcome to the team!

Guest Star: Vicki Langford

Soonercon, Roughtail and Haunted Shuffle

By Dennis

On July 2, 2026

In Real

Hello, everyone!

had a great time at Soonercon in Norman, Oklahoma, this year, and I want to start this post with a recap of my experience.

Photo of Dennis with panelists at Soonercon. For the first panel about urban legends, moderated by Jeff Provine with Trina Jacobs, I knew in advance I would be late due to a gig with the OKCMOA, so Jeff said I should make a dramatic entrance. When I arrived, I burst in as Mr. Menace the Sixth, proclaiming I had a message from beyond the grave. Since Jeff was in on the plan, he introduced me to the audience, so they would know we were doing a bit. I went on to share the story of the EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) I captured at Flower Bluff Manor, in which a man said, “I’m here.” You can listen to that full story on my Tales Unveiled podcast episode, I’m Here at Flower Bluff Manor. After my entrance, I took my TV head and proceeded with the rest of the panel as myself.

The title screen for the Haunted Shuffle horror trivia game night.

Following this panel, I hosted my horror trivia game. When I did the trivia session last year, I filled up the room (and I did again this year). From what I learned in the previous session, I created a slide deck this year to display the questions and answers on the big-screen TV. I included a diverse assortment of trivia questions from TV, movies, anime, podcasts, art, and even real-life horrors. Out of 24 questions, the winner got about 17 correct, with the audience average being 10. I also had a couple who came last year come back because they had so much fun; however, they arrived after I finished, but I had time, so I did a private game session, which they enjoyed.

Play testing Haunted Shuffle On Saturday, I got to do a one-on-one play test for my Haunted Shuffle card game. A play-test with strangers has been on my to-do list for a long time. I got some great feedback. Next, I need to run a large-group playtest, since up to 8 people can play. Then I’ll need to print a new version and test it before I get to the launch phase.

A selfie taken by Dennis Spielman with other panelists. For Sunday, I was on a panel about being creative in Oklahoma, moderated by Elizabeth Campbell with J.D. Woods, Karen Thrower, and Matthew Price. I enjoy chatting with other professional creatives because I always learn something new or get inspired.

I also filmed a cosplay interview with Mr. Ray, asking them about their fears and how to hide a body. This was a test for a new Spooky Talk segment, which you can watch here.

Photo of the Doorventure.art box and pull tabs.

I ended Soonercon by setting up in the Creator Spotlight for an hour, talking to folks about Doorventure.art. I had a wonderful time meeting with everyone, and I know some of you are here now because of that encounter, so thank you again!

As for what’s next, I’ll be at Roughtail Brewing Co. in Oklahoma City on Friday, July 10th, at 5 pm, as part of their horror short-film festival. Several of my Haunted Shuffle skits will be scattered throughout the programming block to break up the pacing with the longer shorts. I also plan to be there, all dressed up as Mr. Menace.

That’s all for this blog post! Thank you for following me!

Your Emotional Forecast: 100% Chance of Doomscrolling ⛈️📱

By Dennis

On June 16, 2026

In Real

https://youtube.com/shorts/7uSz4JwBGuo?feature=share

The emotional forecast is in, and there’s a heavy fog of doomscrolling approaching! You may start out reading about a simple sourdough recipe, but before you know it, you’ve completely spiraled into a two-hour deep dive on the inevitable heat death of the universe. Mr. Menace can’t put the phone down because he needs to know if the sourdough survives, and honestly, we’ve all been there. Just remember to stay informed until you are completely paralyzed by fear.