Redefining LGBTQ+ storytelling through bold, cinematic narratives where love, power, and fate collide in a neo-noir landscape.
"More Going Down" – Awarded Stage 32 Double Recommend (Top 1%)
Dennis Manning crafts bold, cinematic noir where love is dangerous, power is seductive, and fate is inescapable. His work blends the grit of crime thrillers with the haunting depth of doomed romance, redefining LGBTQ+ storytelling for the modern era
Specialization in neo-noir crime thrillers with complex LGBTQ+ characters.
We are pleased to announce that on this round of Festigious, you won Screenplay of the Month, Best Thriller Screenplay and Best LGBTQ Screenplay for More Going Down. Congratulations on your continued success, and we hope to see it produced soon.
Hometown" is a heartfelt musical drama set in a small Pennsylvania town, following lifelong friends Tom and Celia as they navigate love, missed opportunities, and the emotional weight of their past. When Tom’s sudden death shocks their tight-knit community, the story reflects on regret, love, and the fleeting nature of life. Combining the nostalgia of Our Town with the emotional depth of Manchester by the Sea, Hometown explores how relationships shape us in ways we never fully realize until it’s too late.
Hometown the Musical
When a man dies unexpectedly, his friends and loved ones in his small hometown come together to mourn his passing and reflect on the dreams, regrets, and chances taken and missed over their lifelong relationships.
The Story
The musical follows Tom, a lifelong resident of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and his tight-knit group of childhood friends, including his unrequited love Celia. Over the years, Tom and Celia have had an on-again, off-again romance but have never made it work. When Tom finally proposes to Celia on the anniversary of their first meeting, she turns him down, feeling their chance at love has passed. Heartbroken, Tom accidentally falls to his death from a bridge that night. The story explores themes of missed opportunities, enduring friendships, and bittersweet nostalgia for the simplicity of small-town life.
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