Get to Know the Cast and Director of BRAINPEOPLE

Here is a rainbow of answers to five questions for the cast of BRAINPEOPLE. Get your butts to the theatre tonight after you Get to Know, Director and Company Member Catherine Tripp, and cast members Regina Aquino, Amanda Thickpenny, and Monalisa Arias.

1. Would you decribe yourself as a Brainperson?

Catherine: Uhm no I am the essence of me
Regina: Totally and completely, in every way you can interpret that word.
Amanda: If by Brainperson you mean Nerd, definitely. I have an encylopedic and completely useless knowledge of geography and art history, and I think the brain is the sexiest part of the body.
Monalisa: So totally yes.

2. What makes Brainpeople a good fit for Rorschach?

Catherine: The magic realism and the dark humor
Regina: It’s a story about the inherent human need for connection and communication while it completely dissects the psyche of each character in the play. Total emotional, spiritual and psychological examination - so of course its a good fit for a company named after an actual psychological exam.
Amanda: It's magically realistic and realistically magical - and totally theatrical! And this is my second Rorschach show involving girl-on-girl action. Stay tuned.
Monalisa: It's edgy, sexy, and hopeful. Like all you Rorschachers!

3. Multiple personalities play a big part in this show? Do you have any alternate personas and if so can we meet him/her?

Catherine: I ain't telling.
Regina: No, there's just me. I'm plenty of crazy awesomeness in one personality. Though I am constantly talking to myself. And I mean constantly - people look at me funny.
Amanda: Gemini...
Monalisa: I have hundreds of people in my brain. You can meet 14 of them when you see the show.

4. Small cast shows are a rarity among Rorschach productions? What is it like not to have to keep track of 15 to 20 people during the rehearsal process?

Catherine: It has made process a lot tighter. And I think that the sense of team is a lots stronger. We are definitly in thidefinitelyr. You can't stand in the back of rehearsal and not pay attention. We are all there all the time.
Regina: I LOVE small casts. The shows I'm most proud of had small casts. The intimacy of a three person cast, combined with the fact that everyone in the room on a daily basis is a woman makes for an intensely personal, highly empowering experience. We all spend so much time supporting each other and allowing each other to just be free in the moment that our relationships on stage and off are completely open, honest and trusting. Not only do I totally respect these women professionally, I have made some deep friendships that are truly rare to come across in life. This is one of those shows that has changed me and how I perceive the creation of art, which is a precious thing.
Amanda: It's lovely and exhausting. We're a really tight cast. We support and nurture each other. But we have to give 100% the whole time. In a cast of three people, if you're screwing around upstage, everyone notices.
Monalisa: First time with y'all, so it's awesome for me.

5. What is the most awkward dinner party you have ever attended? And what did you have to eat?

Catherine: I did have to go to a dinner party where we ate beef heart. (It was my parents party and I was a teenager- which is pretty much the longest awkward dinner party any of us go to)
Regina: I've been to so many awkward dinner parties I don't know where to begin. As far as food goes, I've been served a noodle dish with chicken and bits of liver that looked like chicken and no one told me about the liver so when I voraciously ate it, I was stunned by the texture and froze in place, trying to think of a non-rude way to extract the bits of liver from my mouth. I honestly felt violated and duped.
Amanda: My parents had several awkward dinner parties. They weren't really into entertaining, and whenever they did invite someone over, it was usually out of pity: my father's single and lonely clarinet teacher, my mother's nebishy Rabbit Rescue friends, anyone who had recently been through a really bad divorce, home forclosure or natural disaster. So to this day, I feel like something is missing if, at a dinner party, someone isn't regaling everyone with their tale of woe.
Monalisa: Most awkward dinner party...thanksgiving with friends of mine, made awkward because my significant other at the time didn't want to be there. Tons of turkey, mashed potatoes, and most importantly, STUFFING!!!

Get to Know Lee from the Cast of 1001

In our continuing and popular series of probing exposes I present Mr. Lee Liebeskind. He is the one on the right with the nasty looking pig-sticker!

This isn't Lee's first go-around with the Rorschach rodeo, having previously been in Dream Sailors and Rough Magic. This time he appears as the One-Eyed Man, Sinbad the Sailor and various other characters in 1001.

1. Who are you, and what are you doing in or on or around 1001?

Hello I am Lee and I will be your character of B today. Please remember that the exits are located at the front and back of the plane and that in case of a water landing your seat can be used as a flotation device.

2. So. No pressure, but you're sort of kicking off Season 9 for us. You'll be basically setting the tone for the whole summer. What are you and this show bringing to the table?

I plan on bringing an ambrosia salad...that does sound tasty...mmmm marshmallows

3. Jason Grote's plays sort of pulse with a punch-drunk intelligence, and this one sort of stews with lots of odd pop-cultural and historical references. Are there any in particular that jumped out at you as you read the script?

Jumping out? Like a Lemur on crack? Nothing like that but the scene where Sinbad meets Borges really was a great juxtaposition.

4. 1001 has got a strong romantic side to it as well. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being "no chance" and 10 being "as certain as a sunrise," how would you assess the chances of an audience member getting some lovin' if they brought someone special to see the play?

Lets put it this way...Scott McCormick will personally guarantee that you will get laid after seeing this play or he promises to get one of the Rorschach tribe to make mad passionate love to you. (only while supplies last) (Editor: Lee's right act quickly, supplies are going fast. I am getting worn out and that was before the glowing review in The Post!)

5. Do you own your own scimitar? If no why not?

If you are referring to my pants...then yes. If not I don't know why you are asking?

Get to Know Rex Daugherty

Get to Know is one of my favorite features here on the blog, because I don't write most of it and with Jason Linkins writing the questions I have even less to do than usual. So first on the block is our leading man Rex. You may remember Rex from last summer's Dream Sailors, where he was bitten, shot and got the girl. He is the one with the beard to your right. He's a good good man! Enjoy!

Here's my curse-free questionnaire...you fickin butch!
-Rex

1. Who are you, and what are you doing in or on or around 1001?

Who, me? Well, stranger, I'm so glad you asked. I'm the heavy. Randy brought me in to really lay down the law. And let me tell you something - all 155 pounds of my Irish white self can do it. I've made grown women cry. Also, my name is Rex. But my cast mates call me Shahriyar, or Your majesty, or King...or Alan. Because I make them. Alan is an awesome name.

2. So. No pressure, but you're sort of kicking off Season 9 for us. You'll be basically setting the tone for the whole summer. What are you and this show bringing to the table?

Well, uh... that's a great thing to...s ee what we're doing is all about... hm. Yes. I think we'll start off with a fang.
No.
A bang.
(he shakes it off)
I think this show is a perfect piece for Rorschach. The driving pulse of 1001 is the root of all theatre - story telling. And because of the vastness of myth, legend and accumulated tales that 1001 (both Jason's play and the traditional folklore) contain, it's a great launching point for a season of magical, larger than life stories. Also, if we started with Living Dead in Denmark, everyone would be killed by zombies and there'd be no other shows this summer.

3. Jason Grote's plays sort of pulse with a punch-drunk intelligence, and this one sort of stews with lots of odd pop-cultural and historical references. Are there any in particular that jumped out at you as you read the script?

Osama bin Ladin is in this play. That jumped out as I read the script. But I also am really intrigued by the fairy tale version of New York that we see in this play. Jason compares Man Hat's (Manhattan) sky scrappers with the Tower of Babel. And the tale that follows is all about a labyrinth of subway tunnels, leading to another world...like Babel led to so much diversity of language and scattering of people...or maybe I'm trying too hard to connect the plots. No, I mean. Dots.

4. 1001 has got a strong romantic side to it as well. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being "no chance" and 10 being "as certain as a sunrise," how would you assess the chances of an audience member getting some lovin' if they brought someone special to see the play?

This one goes to 11. Uh, ya...bring someone special...but be warned that I might end up kissing them. That tends to happen in this play.

5. Do you own your own scimitar? If no why not?

No. I'm a nunchuck man.

Get to Know Sarah Taurchini

With the summer running down let's see who we still need to get to know. Here is Sarah from Dream Sailors. She is one of the fantastic folks who have arrived in our world from the Georgetown U Community. Get to Know Sarah please!

1. What is your name, role/job and on which show are you working?

I am playing Beth, among others, in "Dream Sailors".

2. Is this your first time at Rorschach? If no, what have you done with those crazy kids before?

This is my first time with these crazy kids (I've been with other crazy kids, but none this crazy- and I love me some crazy). Actually, it's my first gig out of school, so that's exciting, too. I'm one of the luckiest people on earth!

3. Besides your show which of the Exile shows are you most interested in?

Skin of Our Teeth- I've heard some vague remarks from AD Seamus Sullivan and actor Matt MacNelly, and from what I conjecture, it's going to be awesome. I love the play anyway, so I can't wait to see what Rorschach does with it in the Gonda.

4. Tell us what has been your favorite part about working in the comfort of Georgetown University?

Heh... *looks around sheepishly* ... I just graduated from there, so I know the Georgetown theater spaces like the back of my hand. It's good to be at home, while simultaneously breaking away from Georgetown theater... if that makes any sense.

5. What has been the biggest challenge you have faced either designing, directing, managing or acting in this particular show?

I'm surrounded by incredibly talented, smart, and funny people- it gets intimidating. I'm the baby of the group... I have so much to learn from them all.

6. Who is your favorite character historical or fictional who was placed in Exile?

Sabina. I love Sabina. Some day, I will play Sabina.

7. In a fight which cast would win?

I've heard good things about this silver-skinned lady, but the Dream Sailors cast is experienced: multiple fights in various episodes with more weapons than you can imagine. I won't say more, but we can handle adrenalin.

8. Why should people come and see your show?

If a play is the film equivalent of a movie, Dream Sailors is the equivalent of TV. You know you're addicted to certain TV shows. This is better than reality TV, too. This is LIVE TV. In your face.

Get to Know Yasmin Tuazon

This Storm played to splendid crowds this weekend, including a sell out plus 1 for Saturday night. You can still see Storm for the next two weeks. But now the next punch in our reservoir of shows in exile coming out to knock you in the gut. The Skin of Our Teeth starts PWYC Previews this Thursday. With shows Friday and Saturday as well. All shows start at 7:30pm so get there on time.

If you see see anyone who is a theater critic for The City Paper this week ask them when they he might be getting down to Georgetown. If you get a chance read read their timely review of The Lion King. I know the Kennedy Center could use the help a great mention in the City Paper can bring.

While you are here why don't you get to know Yasmin. She's kind of cool and she is in our next show.

1. What is your name, role/job and on which show are you working?

Yasmin Tuazon
Baby Dinosaur, Broadcast Official, Ivy, Carol Burnett
The Skin of Our Teeth

I've also been working behind the scenes on Storm - every day, I replace one of their fake blood Tupperwares with real blood.

2. Is this your first time at Rorschach? If no, what have you done with those crazy kids before?

Well, it's my first time legally.
My previous misdemeanors include God of Vengeance, The Illusion, J.B., Fair Ladies at a Game of Poem Cards, Jesus Christ Superstar (Editor: She's Fibbing), and References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot.

3. Besides your show which of the Exile shows are you most interested in?

Sock Puppet King Lear.

4. Tell us what has been your favorite part about working in the comfort of Georgetown University?

Air conditioning, air conditioning, cleanliness, air conditioning, endless supplies of toilet paper, air conditioning, a vermin-free environment, reliable plumbing, the fridge, the rehearsal blocks, proximity to designers, and air conditioning.

5. What has been the biggest challenge you have faced either designing, directing, managing or acting in this particular show?

Walking the fine line between dinosaur and chicken. Not to mention saving my knees.

6. Who is your favorite character historical or fictional who was placed in Exile?

Benjamin Linus. Or Napoleon. I'd actually like to see both of them exiled to the same island, to see what would happen. Who would take out the other? Or would they end up in a blissful domestic partnership like the Skipper & Gilligan?

7. In a fight, which cast would win?

Depends on the type of fight
Light saber - Skin.
Dodgeball - Dream Sailors. I think they have it in dexterity and sheer numbers.
Philosophical debate - Storm (though it would probably be settled by 2am sudden-death arm-wrestling between Karl & Grady).
Tickle fight - oh, that's anyone's. But I'd like to see it happen.
Karaoke - again, I'd give that one to Dream Sailors.
MC battle - Storm
Pudding wrestling, aka The Butterscotch Smackdown - Skin, all the way. You heard me, Colin Hovde. We will take you DOWN. Dave Ghatan has been ready to build a ring for five years. I'm just saying.

8. Why should people come and see your show?

Come for the side-splitting and heart-wrenching carnival that is the persistence of human spirit; stay for the pie.

Get to Know Storm's Sara Barker

There are a lot of folks working on these three shows. Some of them old like me and some of them new to our little corner of this business called show. Like our first participant in this summer edition of Get to Know, Sara Barker.

Sara has been impressing critics and audiences alike, as they say in those movie commercials, with her role in This Storm is What We Call Progress. What makes this young lady tick? I don't know and these questions probably do very little to make that clear, but it does give you a scratch at the scratch-and-sniff that is her soul. Enjoy!

1. What is your name, role/job and on which show are you working?

Sara Barker, I play Lily in This Storm is What We Call Progress

2. Is this your first time at Rorschach? If no, what have you done with those crazy kids before?

This is my first time with the crazy kids. Wooohooo!

3. Besides your show which of the Exile shows are you most interested in?

Dream Sailors . . . wondering if it will include pointers on lucid dreaming . . .

4. Tell us what has been your favorite part about working in the comfort of Georgetown University?

Refrigeration - it makes it fun to go outside and thaw . . . and our fantastic ASM Alex Aki, who is a Georgetown student. It's also clean. Stuff works. Bathrooms have toilet paper . . . there are just so many nice things about it.

5. What has been the biggest challenge you have faced either designing, directing, managing or acting in this particular show?

Finding my shoes during the blackout after scene 11 . . .

6. Who is your favorite character historical or fictional who was placed in Exile?

Prince Myshkin from The Idiot - not sure he counts since the novel begins with his return to Russia and his exile was not entirely forced upon him . . . he's pretty much my favorite character of all time though so I'd like to bend the rules to include him.

7. In a fight which cast would win?

That's easy, we've got the Lady with the Silver Skin, who'd of course use her mega magical powers to do to everyone what she does to Adam in the show.

8. Why should people come and see your show?

Blind knife fighting.

Get to Know Heather, Emily and Cynthia

A three-fer on this the final Friday before Kit Marlowe closes. Remember there are shows at 8pm tonight and tomorrow and 3pm shows on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. And then it is over. And since this is our last show at Casa, this is everyone's chance to say goodbye. See you there!

I am still not quite clear what it is Heather Gaither was doing at Kit Marlowe rehearsals, there is every possibility she wasn't supposed to be there at all, or in fact she may have been the props designer. That's her with the puppy. UPDATE: While, our illustrious blogger was busy doing the acting thing across town, the rest of us up at Rorschach know that Heather was in rehearsals b/c she was our outstanding props designer, who managed to conjure up puke buckets, quil pens that wrote in blood, more raw potatos than you can shake a dagger at, and all the other gorey goodness that made the show so cool.

It is a little clearer what Emily Dere was doing there. She was our costume designer and she did a fine job of it. Don't have a picture of Emily but you can use your imaginations.

I also do not have a picture of our intern Cynthia Caul. You may remember Cythia sent us a report on the rehearsal process last month. All three are fantastic ladies from what I have been told and I hate to jam them all into one post but time is running short and I run what I get.

Heathers answers are in yellow, Emily's are in blue and Cynthia's are in orange. Enjoy

1. What is your position, role or roles in Kit Marlowe?

Finding little things for actors to busy themselves with.

Costume designer

Assistant Dramaturg/Intern

2. Is this your first go around at the Rorschach rodeo? If not what have you done for us before? If yes, what has surprised you the most about working for us?

I was a very bad nun in the 365 project and a distressed bride in the Myth Appropriations.

yup, first go round. well, this survey for one is a first.

Yep. No surprises, but good surprises.

3. If this play were a Beatle which one would it be and why?

I couldn't choose between the actual Beatles so...A green beetle because. That's right, just because.

I'll have to go with John - for the intense, and outspoken nature of Kit. Being a huge Beatles fan, I will have to stop with the simple answer before I overanalyze the question. No qualms about nudity may have been a factor in that choice as well.

Ringo Starr. I have no real explanation for this. I like this play, and I like Ringo. That's all I got...

4. What feature of Marlowe's London should Rorschach duplicate to really enhance the audience's experience?

The drinking!

I'm going to have to agree with Ronnie and say the smell would be a bonus. Wandering livestock might not be a bad way to get that if you are looking for workable suggestions. I think I may have a goat connection I could call. If not, I'm sure Bill knows people

I would really like to see Rorschach duplicate the aroma of the Elizabethan theatre. Perhaps, they can pack the theatre, prohibit deodorant, and place heat fans under the seats for good measure. Theatres these days just aren't appealing to olfaction the way that they used too.

5. What was your best/worst haircut or body modification for a part in a play? For the designers what is the weirdest thing a director ever asked you to include in your design?

A crazy punk haircut that I would have never been brave enough to do without it being required.

Though it wasn't MY design, I had to make a fabulous hat for Revels last year which required screwing a set of 18" steer horns into either side of a bicycle helmet. It was then covered with lots of animal fur, ending in a racoon tail at the back and strips of colorful fabric glued all round the edges. And while I never had to dance while wearing this 4' wide contraption (poor Ernie), it did accompany me on the metro to the curiousity of the other riders that day.

Mullet. Except, it wasn't for a play, and it wasn't the 80's. It pains me to talk about it...

6. If you could go out for a wild night on the town with Kit Marlowe, where would you go and what would you do?

Take him to the pirate bar in Silver Spring and make him drink the grog - mainly to see if even people from other time periods think it tastes awful

I don't think I'm Kit's type. No fun. I know.

Hmm...

7. Can you think of worse way of being killed than being stabbed in the eye? If so how?

Slowly eaten

I would think being stabbed in the eye might be a relatively quick (though by no means painless) way to die. Not that I've tried it out or anything. But I'm not sure I wouldn't prefer it to going up in flames, being buried alive, drowning, being eaten alive by wild animals, starving to death, or simply wasting away from some disease. See, this is why I need to stop watching TV. Every evening, a new and more painful way to go is explored on CSI or Law and Order. And I haven't even seen the Saw movies. But I'm sure they, too, could help with this question. And now you have a second insight into question number 6 - not only female, but a dependancy on television. Kit would hate that.

Yes, I can think of a few, in fact...suffication, particularly of the being- buried-alive variety, drowning, burning alive...I suppose these aren't the most ideal methods for those looking to commit homicide. It seems they would require a lot more prep time, but as the question stands I do believe these would be worse ways to be killed.

Get to Know Rachel Miller 2 (or is it 3)

Three time dramaturg and Rorschach post card model Rachel Miller and her answers to the 7 questions of Get to Know Me. I have lots of news this week due to this being the final weekend for Kit Marlowe, so look here in the mornings and the afternoons for Get to Know Me's and other Kit Marlowe and Rorschach news.

1. What is your position, role or roles in Kit Marlowe?

I am the L1 of “Team Dramaturgy”(The Dramaturg)

2. Is this your first go around at the Rorschach rodeo? If no what have you done for us before? If yes, what has surprised you the most about working for us?

No way is this my first time with Rorschach! I have previously contributed dramaturgically to fan-tabulously fun projects as The Arabian Night and Rough Magic.

3. If this play were a Beatle which one would it be and why?

This play is the Beatles– entertaining, captivating,with very moving and poetic depths.

4. What feature of Marlowe's London should Rorschach duplicate to really enhance the audience'sexperience?

I think we should have a real bear.

5. What was your best/worst haircut or body modification for a part in a play? For the designers what is the weirdest thing a director ever asked you to include in your design?

When I was in high school I got to play Jo in Little Women and I gladly cut my hair to a very nasty-short bob to play the part. I can’t say the modification itself looked really bad– but the pain that my scalp went through in order to attach the hair-piece I had to wear for the first half of the show (seriously, I had enough bobby pins in my hair to set off a whole team of metal detectors) was the type of torturous pain that only a truly devoted actor would subject herself to for the sake of a community theatre production.

6. If you could go out for a wild night on the town with Kit Marlowe, where would you go and what would you do?

Eh... Laughing Lizard Lounge in Alexandria for some $2.50 PBR's. I think he would feel quite at home there.

7. Can you think of worse way of being killed thanbeing stabbed in the eye? If so how?

I dread the thought of being stabbed in the neck with a spoon. Anyone who’s seen Murder in the First will totally know what I’m talking about.

Get to Know Lee Ordeman

Well we have met two of our three Marlowe murderers, why not the third and final men who ended our young playwrights life. Lee Ordeman plays Mr. Poley and he is another of the shady characters that peoples our Elizabethan world. See what Lee has to say about working at Rorschach and the Patron Saint of Bad Taste and Balitmore in this another edition of Get to Know.

1. What is your position, role or roles in Kit Marlowe?

I play Robert Poley, a bet taker and an actor.

2. Is this your first go around at the Rorschach rodeo? If no what have you done for us before? If yes, what has surprised you the most about working for us?

This is my first go-round with Rorschach. I am most impressed by the low-key professionalism that gets things done, keeps the objective in sight, while not squelching the opportunity to have a laugh and keep it light. When things do go a bit haywire, as they do in live theatre (thank God, actually), these little challenges are greeted with equanimity and handled with calm, grace and a laugh.

3. If this play were a Beatle which one would it be and why?

Maybe John Lennon. At least, I suppose Marlowe was a bit like Lennon -- brash, talented, iconoclastic with a sense of the zeitgeist and his place in history.

4. What feature of Marlowe's London should Rorschach duplicate to really enhance the audience's experience?

The smells perhaps. I have always admired John Waters, a fellow Baltimorean, for introducing rude smells via scratch-n-sniff in one of his films. Why not waft a little b.o., sewage and slaughterhouse aroma in the direction of the audience occasionally? Rachel our dramaturg would have her work cut out for her: just what does a bearbaiting pit smell like?



5. If you could go out for a wild night on the town with Kit Marlowe, where would you go and what would you do? Kit Marlowe living up the night life?

I guess I'd take him to New York and just stay out all night, or maybe have him over for dinner and pick his brain about life in Elizabethan England.

6. Can you think of worse way of being killed than being stabbed in the eye? If so how?

I can't, actually, or I'd rather not.

Get to Know Nick Stevens

Nick Stevens is new to our little gaggle. I have to say he does an excellent job of both being a drunk french monk and a scummy murderer. What more could you want in an actor?

He is the one in the left of the photo, with the hair on his head.

Now Get to Know Nick Stevens.

1. What is your position, role or roles in Kit Marlowe?

I'm a liar, a cheat and a thief. And I play Nick Skeres and Brother Auguste.

2. Is this your first go around at the Rorschach rodeo? If no what have you done for us before? If yes, what has surprised you the most about working for us?

This happens to be my first time round on the Rorschach Bus. I'm most surprised I haven't been chased out of the theater by an angry mob. But the production is still young...

3. If this play were a Beatle which one would it be and why?

Ringo. Not enough attention, probably a little overlooked----very lucky, and I think that something about this play screams : Octopus' Garden.

4. What feature of Marlowe's London should Rorschach duplicate to really enhance the audience's experience?

The cast hasn't acquired enough "disease" if you get my drift. God knows I've been trying, but I'm only one man. Furthermore, I'd like to see more pirates. And Midgets.

5. If you could go out for a wild night on the town with Kit Marlowe, where would you go and what would you do?

Kit Marlowe living up the night life? Staying up late reading Ovid by candlelight, eating apricots and talking, you know, the usual...That or Tijuana.

6. Can you think of worse way of being killed than being stabbed in the eye? If so how?

I tend to think that the flaming hot poker in the bowels would be pretty bad, but SOMEONE wasn't willing to experiment. Could you imagine how THAT torture scene would have looked? I mean, really? Searing everything up in there.... Wow.

Get to Know David Ghattan

This is the only known photo of Lighting designer David Ghattan. He is answering the questions 7, get to know him.

1. What is your position, role or roles in Kit Marlowe?

Lighting designer and overall director of techie stuff

2. Is this your first go around at the Rorschach rodeo? If no what have you done for us before? If yes, what has surprised you the most about working for us?

Nope- been around this block many times. I'm even a company member

3. If this play were a Beatle which one would it be and why?

Paul- but only when you play it backwards

4. What feature of Marlowe's London should Rorschach duplicate to really enhance the audience's experience?

Standing room only. Best to let the lower class stand.

5. For the designers what is the weirdest thing a director ever asked you to include in your design?

10' high by 30' long shower curtain

6. If you could go out for a wild night on the town with Kit Marlowe, where would you go and what would you do?

Kit Marlowe living up the night life? I'm not sure, but I think it would somehow end with breaking into the zoo in the middle of the night.

7. Can you think of worse way of being killed than being stabbed in the eye? If so how?

Slowly being covered by ants like that 1970's horror flick.

Get to Know Roni Lancaster II

What a week it will be! Pay-What-You-Can Previews for Kit Marlowe start on Thursday this time around, so those of you who are used to having a PWYC on Wednesday, you have the night off plan on Thursday, Friday or Saturday.

Opening Night is Sunday at 7pm.

Get it? Got it? Good.

We have a return appearance here on the Get to Know Me Show. Roni Lancaster returns for her turn upon the wheel of fate. Here are Roni's answers from her birds interview, let's see what tid-bits she shares this time. Enjoy!

1. What is your position, role or roles in Kit Marlowe?

Sound Designer

2. Is this your first go around at the Rorschach rodeo? If no what have you done for us before? If yes, what has surprised you the most about working for us?

Nope. This is my second go-round. My last time at this rodeo was as TD for birds. (And a partial time before that I lent a hand and a paint brush to Dali.)

3. If this play were a Beatle which one would it be and why?

Hmm. I'd have to say the scarab beetle. There's all that mythology about creation, and living forever, and transformation and stuff. (The golden tortoise beetle would be my next choice, because it so like a chameleon...but the scarab has a lot more interesting facets to it.)

beat . . .

Oh...wait! You were asking about The Beatles....well, in that case, I would have to say the play is more like the 5th Beatle. I forget his name...Pete, or Stuart, or George, or maybe it was Neil...

4. What feature of Marlowe's London should Rorschach duplicate to really enhance the audience's experience?

The smell. We already play around with the "look" and the "sound" of that time period. I say Rorschach should go for broke and make it as authentically smelly as possible.

5. For the designers what is the weirdest thing a director ever asked you to include in your design?

I was once asked to create the sound of "musty water." (That required a little interpretation.)

6. If you could go out for a wild night on the town with Kit Marlowe, where would you go and what would you do? Kit Marlowe living up the night life?

Nope. I don't see it happening. He strikes me as the kind of guy to sit at home in his footy pajamas, veggin' on the couch, watchin' a movie...

7. Can you think of worse way of being killed than being stabbed in the eye? If so how?

Well, honestly, I can't say that I think being killed in any fashion would be very pleasant. I'm kind of attached to living. Tho I do suppose anything slow and painfully drawn out would be worse than in the eye. Drowning in one's own blood comes to mind. Or memories of that scene in Braveheart where he is eviscerated slowly.

Get to Know William Aitken

1. What is your position, role or roles in Kit Marlowe?

Top... oh you meant role. Walter Raleigh.

2. Is this your first go around at the Rorschach rodeo? If no what have you done for us before? If yes, what has surprised you the most about working for us?

This is my first time with Rorschach. I am surprised by how much damn fun I am having. It should be illegal

3. If this play were a Beatle which one would it be and why?

Ringo. Because like Ringo its a hell of a lot fun. From an audiences perspective I would say John Lennon because of the mix of wit and seriousness.

4. What feature of Marlowe's London should Rorschach duplicate to really enhance the audience's experience?

Body odor.

5. What was your best/worst haircut or body modification for a part in a play?

The worst thing was having to wear hair extensions for a show and having to walk around with them in looking like some aging balding biker. The best was ...well there never has been a best. I usually get asked to become shaggy and dark.

6. If you could go out for a wild night on the town with Kit Marlowe, where would you go and what would you do?

A dive bar called Peso Jimmy's in Olongapo Philippines. The coldest beer in the South Pacific and the best Lumpia in the Philippines. Its also a Marine bar. I think Marlowe would love a bar full of drunken rowdy Marines. I would take him there and get him drunk on Ice cold San Miguels and see what trouble we could get into.

7. Can you think of worse way of being killed than being stabbed in the eye? If so how?

Yes, burning to death like the actor Jack Cassidy.

Get to Know David Grimm

I love the fact that we have gained the participation of living playwrights on this blog. Of the last three shows we have done we have gotten repsonses and contributions from all three of them. Well let's put a fourth on the board, because we get to hear from Kit Marlowe playwright and the star of my favorite broadcast of Studio 360 ever, Mr. David Grimm.

While answering the Get to Know questions David makes reference to the previous production of Kit Marlowe in DC. We all know it existed and many of us know folks who were in the thing. I will not discuss it here, because it has nothing to do with the show and production that we are presenting, but David brought it up. For what I think is a very fair statement of the events that surrounded the last DC production, I direct you to this episode of NPR' Studio 360, Editing, Glenn Gould and Kit Marlowe. Click on the Kit Marlowe link when you get to the page. While there is no comment by the theater involved in the situation, the reporter does a fair job of presenting the facts of the situation and David is fascinating to listen to as he discusses his play. The program lasts about 7 minutes and now Get to Know David Grimm.

Thanks for sending this!!!
here ya go...

1. What is your position, role or roles in Kit Marlowe?

Playwright.

2. Is this your first go around at the Rorschach rodeo? If no what have you done for us before? If yes, what has surprised you the most about working for us?

This is the first time Rorschach has done a play of mine. I'm very much hoping to be able to come down and see the production, as the last time it was done in DC wasn't exactly.... well, let's just not go there.

3. If this play were a Beatle which one would it be and why?

John Lennon

4. What feature of Marlowe's London should Rorschach duplicate to really enhance the audience's experience?

The smell.

5. What was your best/worst haircut or body modification for a part in a play? For the designers what is the weirdest thing a director ever asked you to include in your design?

The last time "Kit Marlowe" was done in DC...by a certain theatre which shall remain nameless.

6. If you could go out for a wild night on the town with Kit Marlowe, where would you go and what would you do?

Dinner and drinks at a tavern, a walk along the embankment, then home to Norton Folgate for some really dirty sex.

7. Can you think of worse way of being killed than being stabbed in the eye? If so how?

The last time "Kit Marlowe" was done in DC.... by THAT theatre.

David also wrote a response to the quote I use in my email signature:

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." - Kurt Vonnegut

"Appearances are everything. The rest is merely fact." - David Grimm

Get to Know John Brennan

The Get to Know the Cast and Crew just keeps chugging along.

We did Kit and now we do the dreaded Sir Walsingham. The charcter of Francis Walsingham has a proud tradition here at Rorschach, it was previously been portrayed by the legendary Austin Bragg in The Beard of Avon. Austin's performance can only be called unique, you don't often see Sir Francis popping out of a costume trunk and turning all gooey over The Regina Dentata herself Elizabeth One. It does however beg the question. Does appearing in two Rorschach shows qualify a charcter to be a tradition?

Now the devil, he keeps popping up every season. I think we are up to like 67 devils at this point. To be honest it is getting kind of rediculous. Can't throw a decapitated paper mache head around this place without hitting someone who has played the devil. What the hell is going on at this theater?

Anyway here is Mr. Brennan and his thoughts on working on Kit Marlowe.

Hi Scott,

This is John Brennan.

Here are my replies to the various questions.

1. What is your position, role or roles in Kit Marlowe?

I am playing Sir Francis Walsingham, spymaster for Queen Elizabeth.

2. Is this your first go around at the Rorschach rodeo? If no what have you done for us before? If yes, what has surprised you the most about working for us?

This is my first Rorschach production. Can't say anything has really surprised me yet, I will say that it's a pleasure to be working on a play with such talented people who are also very nice.

3. If this play were a Beatle which one would it be and why?

If this play were a Beatle it would be John Lennon: bright, spirited, cheeky, full of punny humor, but with a very dark streak that becomes apparent once you really get to know it.

4. What feature of Marlowe's London should Rorschach duplicate to really enhance the audience's experience?

The part of Elizabethan London that featured the theatres, taverns/bawdy houses, the animal baiting arenas, and the execution site at Tyburn. There one would see both the best and worst of what that world had to offer, with a great deal of what comes in between on display as well.

5. What was your best/worst haircut or body modification for a part in a play?

I don't believe I've ever had a bad hairstyle/body modification experience, which means I've been very lucky.

6. If you could go out for a wild night on the town with Kit Marlowe, where would you go and what would you do?

I'd love to have Marlowe as a companion at the theatre, preferably at a performance of one of his works (at a play by someone else he'd probably make nonstop catty remarks). Other than that, it would be interesting to accompany him to Sir Walter Raleigh's home. Otherwise, I think I'd avoid Marlowe's company, at this point in my life I prefer to steer clear of the sort of situations he seemed to relish.

7. Can you think of worse way of being killed than being stabbed in the eye? If so how?

I can think of a much worse way of dying than being stabbed in the eye, and Marlowe dramatized just such a death in his play Edward II. See any good history book for the horrifying details.

Get to Know Adam Segaller

1. What is your position, role or roles in Kit Marlowe?

I'm playing Kit Marlowe.

2. Is this your first go around at the Rorschach rodeo? If no what have you done for us before? If yes, what has surprised you the most about working for us?

It's my first time. I think the biggest and most pleasant surprise has been discovering so many talented young people in one place, making the kind of theater they want to see. Professional theater seems to me to be a business where everybody, but especially the young, must make their own opportunities. That's what I see happening here and it's extremely refreshing.

3. If this play were a Beatle which one would it be and why?

Funny you should ask that. In explaining to a few friends not steeped in Elizabethan drama who exactly this character is, I tried to field a few biographical questions without boring them: "So this character you're playing is a real person?" "Yeah, he was an Elizabethan playwright who died young." "So is that the same period as Shakespeare?" "Yeah, they were born the same year; he started writing a little sooner than Shakespeare did." "So was he not as good as Shakespeare?" "He initially made as big a splash as Shakespeare; that many consider Dr. Faustus to be a better play, structurally, than anything by Shakespeare; that he only wrote a handful of plays to Shakespeare's almost forty; that those plays Marlowe did write were all written before his thirtieth birthday, since he died before he could reach the mature age at which Shakespeare wrote most of his really great stuff (Lear, The Tempest, Macbeth, etc.); that in the time Shakespeare had had one career, Marlowe had had about five, including priest-in-training and agent On Her Majesty's Secret Service."

Seeing the attention wane, I boiled it down thus:"If Shakespeare were The Beatles, Marlowe would be The Rolling Stones."

4. What feature of Marlowe's London should Rorschach duplicate to really enhance the audience's experience?

The lack of sanitation is pretty key (a rich person owned more than one set of clothes and bathing was considered metrosexual); but I think that even more important than that is the sense of show. For all the filth, there was this really rather modern obsession with clothes, jewelery, getting your hair just right, even in the lowest classes. Wooden playhouses were painted to look like they were made of marble; rich people were more likely to perfume themselves to cover their stink than to actually wash the odor off. Add to that the fascinating fact of sumptuary laws— that if you were of a low class you couldn't wear certain fabrics, for example. For all the dress-up, the upperclasses were terrified of the growing threat of social mobility and, somewhat like the fascists after them, held people in place by badging them. I think this all feeds into Kit Marlowe as Grimm writes him, as well as what we see in the real man's plays— both character and playwright love dress-up as a perverse act, and there's a suggestion in this play that when a society is overly rigid, perversity becomes a response to social injustice.

5. What was your best/worst haircut or body modification for a part ina play?

As is often the case, my best is also my worst: I recently had the very strange opportunity, at the somewhat under-ripe age of 24, to play Prospero in The Tempest. The design plan was intriguing to say the least: Ariel was played by three women, all dressed more or lessas Geishas; and Caliban was covered in what I can only describe as white bruises. The idea was that Prospero's magic left white marks, so my hands were painted white. The design for my character was a mix of Maori and Samurai: I was bare-chested beneath my magic garment, and one very spare inch of skin the director himself had tattooed me in SHARPIE! A dragon tattoo ran over my shoulder and up my neck; my armsand fingers were covered in Arabic incantations, and my face was covered in tribal-looking dots and curlicues. To say nothing of the old age make-up. The effect was pretty cool in my opinion, but it was hell to remove.

6. If you could go out for a wild night on the town with Kit Marlowe, where would you go and what would you do?

We'd start by loitering at the 7-11, inventing new curse words. Then we'd shoplift doublets, get drunk on large tankards of small beer at the bowling and bear-baiting alley, make the Pope dance the Watusi, nail our Penthouse Forum submission to the church door, get Raleigh fries from Elizaburger's, and end the night at the 24-hour footlocker, picking out goggles.

7. Can you think of worse way of being killed than being stabbed inthe eye? If so how?

Hot poker suppository, a la Edward the Second. Or being stabbed in both eyes, a la Stooges the Three.

Get to Know Jesse Terrill

Ladies and Gentlemen we have content. I took the time to write up a Get to Know the Cast of Kit Marlowe questionaire and stuff poured in like stuff that pours real good.

Special thanks to Randy for distributing the questions and a big thank you to Emeley and Jillian for contributing some of the questions. Emeley, I know you left a number of other questions but I stole the best and will save the others for another time.

The answer to yesterday's Name the Show and Name the Actor was in fact Lindsay Allen in A Bright Room Called Day. So 1 point to Jillian.

First on the block today is one of the two Rorschach Alums taking the stage for the first show of Season 8. Jesse Terrill (he is the one in the center above) has been a friend of mine for a longer time now than either of us care to admit. Let's just say he had more hair back then and if I was dating a woman 9 years my junior then I would be in jail. A gifted composer, actor and inveterate trouble maker (ask him about a certain inappropriate display of affection at an Ohio Turnpike rest stop sometime) Jesse is a treasure and a joy to have in any cast.

1. What is your position, role or roles in Kit Marlowe?

I play the role of Frizer: a noble, intelligent servingman brutalized cruelly by an evil, calculating Marlowe.

2. Is this your first go around at the Rorschach rodeo? If no what have you done for us before? If yes, what has surprised you the most about working for us?

I've worked with Rorschach on several occasions, as an actor and composer. Started with acting in The Illusion. Music for Ubu Roi, Beard of Avon, J.B. Acted in Myth Appropriations and a reading of Gilgamesh.

3. If this play were a Beatle which one would it be and why?

John Lennon: Lots of controversy, moments of hallucination, an early death, and really bad choices in love.

4. What feature of Marlowe's London should Rorschach duplicate to really enhance the audience's experience?

Bear-baiting. We can have live shows before the performance and the audience can bet on whether the bear (a random Rorschach company member dressed in a bear suit) or the hounds (2 more random guest artists who have worked with the company, wearing leather and collars...mmm...possibilities...) win the wrestling match.

5. What was your best/worst haircut or body modification for a part in a play?

Hmm, that mullet I had in Myth Appropriations really brought my attractiveness to new depths.

6. If you could go out for a wild night on the town with Kit Marlowe, where would you go and what would you do?

I think Kit would enjoy the Freak Show at the Palace of Wonders on H Street, then a nice jaunt at Chaos for the boys.

7. Can you think of worse way of being killed than being stabbed in the eye? If so how?

Falling face first into a blender.

Echo, Echoo, Echooo!

The thing is I am not that creative. I pretend that I am but I am an actor and actors for the most part are too involved in themselves to ever develop ideas which benefit the group as a whole. Sure they pretend to support causes all the time: the oceans; hunger; IBS just to name a few. But when it come right down to it I steal all my best ideas from others and have people who tell me how to say my lines and how to move.

That being said I have to send out a list of questions to the cast and crew of Kit Marlowe for the latest round of Get to Know! features and I have kind of been running cold this week. Call it a writing slump or just going to a dry well too many times with a bucket full of holes, but I need your help!

Leave me a question for the cast and crew of Kit Marlowe in the comment area. I need like 7 of them and I will use the best of them. If you don't leave me any questions, I swear to God I will ask them what their favorite color is, what dead person would they want to meet and what kind of tree they would be.

Don't think I won't! I am kind of desperate at the moment. So leave you questions in the comment section and wish me good luck, I am so out of ideas right now I asked my mom what I should wear to work this morning.

TTFN.

Get to Know Wendy McClellan

Once again I use the strange shot of director Wendy McClellan from first read. I have another photo of her from the web that she doesn't care for, so I won't use it here. birds continues this week, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm.

1. What is your job in producing birds?

Director

2. When you were a child what if any stories or fairy tales effected you the most?

I was really into Greek myths, but I think Snow White and Rose Red was my favorite fairy tale.

3. Is this the first time you have worked for Rorschach? If no, when have you done for us before? If yes, why did you decide to come and play in our sandbox?

It is! Cuz Jenny and Randy are cool and willing to take a big ole risk. Plus, the theatre is where I used to come to punk concerts in the '80s. It's such a cool space-- this play is gonna look awesome in it.

4. What is one impossible thing that happens in birds?

Come see it and find out!

5. What is you favorite bird?

Starling-- they look so cool in the sunlight with their gold-tipped black feathers.

6. How do you think or hope audiences will react to birds?

I think they'll feel like they've really seen something they can only see in the theatre. And I hope they feel entertained-- laughter will be the best result.

7. If you had a theme song what would it be?

You've Really Got a Hold on Me-- Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

Get to Know Tim Getman

Tim Getman is pretty damn good at what he does. He is a man who has spilled a lot of sweat and blood for Rorschach over the years. He has built and designed sets, and he has acted his ass off. He has been on long extended journey and has always come home to us, for which I am grateful.

As a matter of fact it was on one of Tim's journeys that birds came to Rorschach. I for one am very excited to see him return to our stage. Having previously appeared in JB, Master and Margarita, and Behold! and having designed the incredible set for last season's Arabian Night.

So with out further ado, Timmy G!

1. What is your job in producing birds?

artistic partner and playing james, a high powered stock broker turned neurotic boyfriend

2. When you were a child what if any stories or fairy tales effected you the most?

the bearskinner by the brothers grimm, about a soldier who makes a deal with the devil and beats him, oh and spiderman, the xmen, and batman. love heroes that have a dark underbelly

3. Is this the first time you have worked for Rorschach? If no, when have you done for us before? If yes, why did you decide to come and play in our sandbox?

my fifth collaboration with this crazy company

4. What is one impossible thing that happens in birds?

i have to shave for every performance, and i get to "do it" with two beautiful women in an hour and a half (Editor: and by "do it" he means have sex with)

5. What is you favorite bird?

hummingbirds are pretty amazing, a feat of nature..they're the smallest i think. penguins are pretty righteous, i swam with them once. and ostriches have the most amazing eggs

6. How do you think or hope audiences will react to birds?

um....it's a lot of information and pretty dense poetic writing. i hope they take it like a beautiful, abstract painting. and maybe start to believe in the magic of everyday life again

7. If you had a theme song what would it be?

oh gosh, that's hard. marissa stole the best one. roxanne. from the man's perspective. phil collins i can feel it coming in the air tonight. james i think has really bad musical taste, but starts to finally hear the meaning in things.....maybe?

get back to me on that one.