How do you like them apples?

Two things are creeping ever closer. The start of the Capital Fringe Festival and the end of birds. Tomorrow night we have a performance of birds which is almost sold out I am told and that should serve as a warning to those of you who can put the puzzel pieces together that there is every chance that the rest of the performances will start filling up as well.

I know that we are taking the opportunity to put some of your theater options here before you in an easy to read and digest format. Hopefully these shows will spark your interest in seeing a lot of theater in the next two weeks in addition to birds.

Today we start off with what Danny Gavigan has been up to since References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot closed. Mostly I think he was brushing up his Southy accent and eating sandwiches if the photo is any indication. And then a one night poetry and dance event at the JCC. See some theater!

Molotov Theatre Group, Washington, DC’s most incendiary new acting company, is introducing itself to theatre-goers with the new work For Boston, which will see its world premiere during this year’s Capital Fringe Festival.

Written by Michael McMahon and Lucas Maloney (Molotov Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director)

Performance Schedule:
Saturday, July 21, 2007, 9:00pm
Thursday, July 26, 2007, 9:30pm
Friday, July 27, 2007, 7:00pm
Saturday, July 28, 2007, 8:00pm
Sunday, July 29, 2007, 2:00pm

Location:
Flashpoint’s Mead Theatre Lab, 916 G Street, NW, Washington, DC.

Featuring Washington, DC-based actors JJ Area, Chris Dinolfo, Danny Gavigan, and Eric Humphries, For Boston is a horrifically dark comedy following two barfly buddies as they get sucked into the undertow of bad decisions.

While For Boston is Molotov’s first theatrical production, the company plans to begin reviving original Grand Guignol scripts later this year. This makes Molotov the first company on the East Coast, and only the second in the entire United States to focus on this genre as a key part of its mission.

To find out more about Molotov Theatre Group and Le Theatre de Grand Guignol, please visit www.molotovtheatre.com or www.myspace.com/molotovtheatre.

Hi everyone!

Just a quick note about my upcoming piece in the DC Fringe Festival.It is a live poetry reading of Carly Sach's book, the steam sequence,combined with an interactive dance performance.

We don't want to tell you too much beforehand, but Carly and I are very excited about the performance and hope you can make it!

Performance Schedule:
Wednesday July 25, 8pm

Location:
DC JCC, 16th and Q Str. NW

Tickets available at the door, or see attached flyer

All the best,
Shannon

PS Because of the nautre of the poems, the project is not appropriate for children.

Two Fringe Shows and birds Matinee

We start off our tour through the world of all things Fringe with some information about two shows that I for one am interested in seeing. As always these recommendations are in addition to seeing Jennifer Maisel's birds and not in place of. birds performs Thurday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and this weekend we have a Saturday Matinee starting at 3pm. Tickets for birds and any of the Capital Fringe shows may be purchased at the amazingly low price of just $15 at the Fringe Box Office located at 507 7th Street, NW or visit the Cap Fringe web site.

Onward to a mug shot of a Rorschach alum (I knew it would come to this Andy) and a Dada trip to the seaside.
Journeymen Theater presents BREADHOUSE, an Intergalactic Premier by Jon Reynolds.

A bank robber, a car thief and an arsonist. Hansel & Gretel. Onestage. Three hundred screaming kids.


Performance Schedule:
Thursday, July 19 at 8:00pm
Friday, July 20 at 8:00pm
Monday, July 23 at 5:30pm
Tuesday, July 24 at 5:30pm
Wednesday, July 25 at 5:30pm

Location:
Ebenezer's Coffeehouse
201 F. Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Ticket & Show Information:
www.journeymentheater.org or Cap Fringe web site

LOW TIDE HOTEL an original theater piece that resembles a poet's Coney Island scrapbook starring Mark Jaster, Sabrina Mandell, and Scott Sedar.

LOW TIDE HOTEL is a DADA day at the beach, a nostalgic maritime postcard, a surrealist voyage. The message in the bottle is poetry. The waves roll away and comedy looks up like a clam.The show's aesthetic conjures the days of ocean travel on ships, drawing inspiration from antique maritime documents, luggage labels, posters, literature and song. There will also be delicious Salt Water Taffy and Souvenirs for sale before each performance. Step right up...lookie, lookie, lookie!

Performance Schedule:
Friday, July 20th at 4pm
Saturday, July 21 st at 7pm
Sunday, July 22nd at 2pm
(and shows might be added so check www.happenstancetheater.com for updates)

Location:
The Mead Theater Lab at
FLASHPOINT
916 G Street, NW, Washington DC

Ticket & Show Information:
TICKETS $15
by phone 1.866.811.4111 or Cap Fringe web site.

My Plan for Fringe Coverage

Hello friends and well wishers!

Quick does anyone else see the resemblance between this City Paper theater critic and this cartoon drawing from the Fringe Guide? I grant that the nose on the drawing is a little broader and the brows heavier, but I am not one to take coincidences as coincidences. Judge for yourself. Now onward!

birds is my number one priority. You should see it with all speed and expediency. I think it is a show worth seeing and that you do yourself a great disservice if you don't see this rare show.

That being said I would be remiss in my duties, if I didn't mention that there is a Fringe Festival going on for the next two weekends and that means there is a lot of theater to see. Some of it created by some of our own Rorschach Alums. There is something special about this kind of theater. A sense of immediacy that doesn't exist in theaters that have their seasons picked two or three years in advance.

Performers flood the town for a couple of weeks in the summer and then are gone. Some of these shows will continue to go from place to place trying to find an audience where as others have all the life expectancy of the three or four performances that they will have in the next two weeks.

Budgets are low, but talent and committment are high. Tomorrow I will start running blurbs and images from some shows that I do not know personally on the whole but that I think deserve a shout out somewhere on the web. I encourage all of you to visit the Capital Fringe page for more information on all the Fringe Shows. Get out there and see theater. But see birds first.

Look for more tomorrow.

Friday the 13th

Great response to my Fringe Ad Exchange yesterday. Still space for those of you who are interested.

birds continues tonight at 8pm and tomorrow at 8pm. Remember folks last year Arabian Night sold the hell out and it to was our submission to the Capital Fringe. So beat the rush. I have heard a rumor that next Thursday is nearly sold out.

This is the final weekend to get our 2 for 1 tickets deal. Just use the ticket code "Early Bird" when you order and you get two tickets for the price of one. Click here to purchase tickets.

By the way Happy Friday the 13th! Be careful around all ladders, cats, mirrors, salt shakers, open umbrellas and "Scotish Plays".

Help Me Help You Fringers

Some of you may have already gotten this in your in-box today, but I may have missed some of you so take a gander if you are Fringing this year.

Hello friends,

If you have received this than I either know, assume, suspect or kind of sort of think you may be involved in some sort of Fringe related production. If you know someone and like them enough to help them, please feel free to forward this on to them.

While I know the fine folks at the Fringe are doing a bang up job of advertising your shows, I also know that any extra advertising helps. Therefore I make you an advertising offer that costs you nothing.

Too good to be true?

Yes it probably is but you might as well trust me, you are reading this blog.

I would like to include an insert in the Rorschach program for birds with your Fringe Ads.

Also if you send me a short blurb and some photos of your show I will include them on the Rorschach Blog starting next week.

What do I expect in return?

Well very little really. Either:

If you have room in your program to run an ad for birds that would be all I ask.

or if you don't have room for an ad for birds, then hang a poster for birds in the lobby of your show (I will email you a pdf and you can print it out as many times as you like).

It is that simple.

If you would like to also distribute the insert I am creating for the Rorschach Program in your program just let me know and I will send you along whatever I end up producing.

Ads should be 3 1/2" wide by 3 " high and in jpg format.

Please be sure to include the dates of your show and any web information or phone numbers you would like to include.

If you would like to be featured on the Rorschach Blog just send a paragraph about your show, the show times and a picture and I will let you know when the information is going to be posted next week.

This is purely an independent project and therefore please do not bother the good folks at the fringe. Just bother me.

All the best,

Scott

Email me if you would like to get involved scott@rorschachtheatre.com.

This Just In

Thursday I mentioned a Best Bet Picks birds got from The Examiner. Well Jolene Munch has come through with a great full review today in The Examiner.

It’s imaginative work from a playwright who builds a fascinating premise that’s heavily thematic without being heavily stylized. And that’s partly due to the work of director Wendy McClellan, who carefully balances hardcore New York with the familiar magic of sensationalist cinema, marking real time events with a background fantasia of blurry dreams and melodramatic humor. - Jolene Munch- The Examiner

Here is the link to the rest of the review which is pretty damn good and calls out all of the amazing work done throughout the show. Enjoy!

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

More Reviews from the Interwebs

The Rorschach company consistently invokes a feeling of uneasiness throughout the work — we're never quite sure about the reliability of our narrator, Jorie (Jjanna Valentiner), or whether to fully trust the charming but creepy Gus (a wry, winning Brian Hemmingsen), who may or may not be a mere homeless man. Its actors also warm us to less than endearing characters — prime examples include Nanna Ingvarsson, who plays Rhea as self-aware Norma Desmond with a touch of the sardonic, and Tim Getman, who makes us feel for snobby, superficial James even at his most offensive moments. - Missy Frederick - DCist

Missy at DCist has written a well thought out review of birds and once again theater criticism comes down to a matter of taste. Like Glen Weldon in The City Paper review, Missy has found the heart of this story and while she comments on some roough edges, she also sees the potential of this new work.

New work that needs to be supported. The way you do that is by coming out and seeing the show. Remember we have three performances this week. Now that most of the reviews are in, I can start turning my attention to other blog worthy material. Like did I mention we just picked Rorschach Season 8? And I still have a couple of more Get to Know me pieces I need to get through this week. So keep on coming back for all the Rorschach news you have come to expect and love!

Another Country Heard From

Well the press continues to weigh in on birds. Above is the first banner ad we have ever run on the City Paper site. It ran for a couple of days and I think it looked pretty cool while it was running.

Now onto what Glen Weldon said in The City Paper. The long and the short is that he liked a lot of what he saw. He dedicates 5 paragraphs to a particular scene in the play which he absolutely thinks is amazing. But he then discusses the rest of his feelings, which I can best sum up as being a bit let down. Here is the juciest bit that gives credit to an incredible cast of actors:

Every actor steps up. Valentiner’s Jorie is believably steely, intelligent, and in control until exactly the moment when she’s not anymore, and she makes that transition work. As Gus, the bear of a homeless man who knows more than he’s telling, Brian Hemmingsen exudes warmth but lets us see something dangerous behind his eyes. Marissa Molnar’s portrayal of a young prostitute known only as “A” is affecting and unsentimental. And as the evil, cackling witch Rhea, whose mysterious hold over Jorie’s mind and memory drives the narrative, Nanna Ingvarsson is having a ball. She’s doing a full-tilt Norma Desmond, lifting her grimacing face to the sky while her arms undulate slowly, menacingly, like charmed snakes. She switches from seething malice to annoyed distraction in the blink of an eye, and it gets a laugh every time. - Glen Weldon- The City Paper

There will be a few more reviews rolling in but I just wanted to draw your attention to an article that ran in the Examiner yesterday in the business section. Missy Frederick, DCist theater critic and Examiner Business Reporter who did that wonderful article on small theater about a month back that quotes Jenny and Randy liberally, has written a piece on the end of The Shakespeare in Washington Festival. In here 6 months of Shakespeare wrap up in D.C. she gives Rorschach a quick shout-out for our production of Rough Magic back in January.

Have a great weekend everyone. And get out and see birds. There are shows tonight and tomorrow at 8pm.

The Free Press

Let's try this again. Above is a bit about the birds from Jolene Munch at The Examiner. She saw the show on Saturday and in the Weekend Section of The Examiner she has made birds her #1 pick for best theater in DC. While the review is short and sweet, her final sentence sums it all up:

Wendy McClellan directs a gallant cast who deliver Maisel's stunning revelation in a production that demands we forget about living happily ever after.

There is also some nice words from our friends over at The Express (The Washington Posts free daily). Erin Trompeter writes:

Those on the aisle be warned: You may be propositioned.

Here is the link to the whole shabang but you might want to pick one up yourself.

Yesterday there was a nice piece in the Back Stage Column of the Post. Jane Horwitz spoke to both birds playwright Jennifer Maisel and director Wendy McClellan. Here is the link (be sure to scroll down past the stuff about Olney and Jimmy P.) and here is my favorite quote from Jennifer:

The Los Angeles-based Maisel, whose "The Last Seder" was produced at Theater J in 2003, says one of the themes is making connections across class chasms -- "you see the homeless person and say, 'That was someone's baby.' "

What else we got you may ask yourself?

There are two mixed reviews from Potomac Stages and the newly rechristened DC Theatre Scene.

It is Hemmingsen, however, that takes possession of the stage each time he's on it. He's a homeless man with a surplus of common sense and a touch of magic of his own. When Valentiner donates one of three of her boyfriend's overcoats to the homeless man she sees on a bench every day, he begins a transformation into a sartorially splendid, suave man about town. Through it all, he remains fascinating to watch. -Brad Hathway- Potomac Stages

Enter a menacing but friendly ogre, in the form of a homeless man, Gus, (Brian Hemmingsen). Along with the prostitute, A, (Marissa Molnar), who hustles a stranger in the audience, these two street characters seem to have a better grip on the real world than do our hero and heroine, living in a high-rise dream. Maybe all four characters are one and the same? Jorie tells us she feels dislocated and bought, just as A does. James is jobless; Gus is homeless. Aware of their sameness, Jorie and James throw a cocktail party, invite and share their lives with A and Gus, who allows his hair to be cut and dresses up in a business suit. In the play’s best moments, the four characters swap roles and interact as if they accept their oneness as a family and the city as home. - Rosalind Lacy - DC Theatre Scene

I will continue to bring you the words of the critics and Rorschach fans alike here on the blog.
Do you agree with the reviews or do you have an opinion of your own. Tell me what you think about birds. Email me here and we can talk.

Sincerely,
Scott "The Mad Blogger What Blogs at Midnight" McCormick

Fourth of July Prep and Post Review

There was worse news in the Post today then Peter Marks' review of birds. Beverly Sills passed away. Terrorist cells are now using doctors and medical students in attempts to take lives instead of save them. And our "leader" decided to bring the nation even lower by commuting the sentence of one of his cronies.

Here is the nice thing Peter said:

The production's hero is its set designer, Jacob S. Muehlhausen, who has ingeniously loaded into the church sanctuary an abstracted Manhattan streetscape of newsprint and what look like Xerox images of office buildings. The evening's cleverest surprise is the manner in which Muehlhausen shifts the action to James and Jorie's inner sanctum.

4th of July Safety Guide

So not to change the topic but here are some quick reminders for 4th of July Safety:

1. Fireworks are fun, but dangerous. Do not store them in the trunk of your car or near open flames. And for God's sake get that thing out of your mouth.

2. Know when to say when. And I don't just mean if you are driving. If you find yourself at a party talking about how hot it is, over and over again you have had too much. And I can promise you someone will eventually hit you.

3. Sun screen. Lots and lots of sun screen. And a hat. Maybe a mosquito net and some sort of goggles.

4. Avoid the temptation to make jokes about hot dogs. Yes we all know what they are shaped like, you don't have to remind anyone and the chortle to yourself.

Follow these 4 easy rules and you should be able to avoid trips to the emergency room this year.

birds Trailer and Opening Night Report

birds opened on Saturday night and I think there were a lot of folks who liked it. They really really liked it. This show has been a huge undertaking for everyone involved.

This photo on your right should give you an idea of the scale of this here set. And that is just the set when it is at rest. Someone from the audience on Saturday said it reminded them of an Advent Calendar, you sat there looking for the doors and set pieces that would pop out of nowhere and reveal a new secret.

We were glad to see everyone, press and friends alike. And now the show belongs to the audiences, like a I promised. Thank you to the cast and crew for working so hard to make this happen and we look forward to a successful run.

I will be putting links to the press material as it appears, so check back in at least once or twice this week.

Congraulations to everyone, you should be proud.

Very Busy

Everything is coming together for tomorrow nights opening. I am very busy today so I offer you some photos and a link to Jason Linkins birds article over at DCeiver. It is a fun new game you will all enjoy called Rorschach's Birds or Member of the Sugarcubes.

Remember one last PWYC preview tonight at 8pm. I will see some of you at Opening, to the cast and crew thanks and good luck.

Making a List

So much going on that I am not sure where to begin. So this will be a list of things you need to know about birds this week:

1. First preview last night. Due to our constant need to improve and make things better the show time was pushed back to 9pm. Once again I apologize to you folks who came thinking the show was at 8pm, but these things are unavoidable. And for those of you hung on and saw the show at 9, thank you. Having an audience is always important, especially for a new show.

2. Watched the show last night. What really speaks to me in this show are the performances. There are a number of surprises in store for Rorschach regulars as four fantastic actors join our Tim Getman in putting some real humanity and vulnerability to these characters that Jennifer Maisel has created.

3. Pay-What-You-Can Previews continue tonight and Friday night. Show time is our regular 8pm. Tickets will be available starting at 7pm on a first come first serve basis, so you might want to get there by 7:30 so you can be sure to find a seat.

4. After I watched the preview I stopped by Grady Weatherford's place to see the work he was doing on the new birds trailer. It is still coming together but I think he gets better and better each time he creates one of these. We sat in front of his computer screen for about a half an hour and he showed me how the magic happens and he makes the show look awsome. Should have something to show you early next week.

5. Marigan came down to do a photo call on Tuesday night. Should have some pictures to show you all tomorrow.

6. Opening is Saturday and it is my understanding that we are either sold out or nearly sold out. If it was your plan to RSVP at the last moment I am afraid that this performance is already packed. I encourage you to either join us for one of the 2 remaining previews or come some time during the regular run.

7. Still have a couple more Get to Know interviews coming soon. So be on the look out.

That does it for today, check in tomorrow and I will have photos for you to look at. Very exciting! No?

A Message from the Management

Hey Gang,

Just a head's up that tonight's preview of Jennifer Maisel's birds will have a DELAYED start time.

Tonight's preview will start at 9pm (instead of the normal 8pm). All other previews have normal start times.

If you know anyone who is planning on coming tonight, please let them know.

Thanks guys! See you all soon!

Randy

Time Keeps on Slipping

There are a lot of people very busy in this week in preparation for birds' Opening Night on Saturday at 8pm. Envelopes have been stuffed. Sets are being painted. Lines are being polished. Blocking is being finalized. And stitches are being stiched. This is when we all are fighting the urge to go back to college and study something that wouldn't have us working long hours for small pay.

But in the end it will be worth it. It always is.

With each email I write to a reviewer who hasn't R'ed their RSVP for press opening. As I print out transparancies for the run tonight. As I juggle a photographer and a videographer to get the materials together for the press photos and the trailer. I know it is worth it.

As Randy and Jenny put out one fire after another. As Deb finds just the right pair of shoes for Brian. As Jake and Roni put the final coat of paint on the set. They know it is worth it.

And as Wendy makes her final notes for the actors. As the actors try and remember the new blocking or lines they were given yesterday in addition to every other note they have gotten in the last month of rehearsals. They know it will be worth it too.

Because on Saturday night this show belongs to the audiences. Up until then it is our own little secret that we share just enough to peak your interest. With photos of Marissa and shots of the set, just titilating enough to make you all wonder what the hell is this strange creature that is being put together over at Casa.

Well the wait is almost. When you are a performer, designer, director, producer, playwright or stage manager you always want more time, but time is finite. As is the run. So book your tickets now and maybe stop in for a PWYC.

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.

Get to Know Roni Lancaster

I don't know much about Roni personally. Only know what I see in the set construction photos for the set of birds. So this is just much of a chance for me to Get to Know Veronica "Roni" Lancaster as it is for you. Be kind people she is new and works hard.

1. What is your job in producing birds?

Technical Director

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

I think I've always been partial to the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast. And I don't just mean the Disney version. (Though that was definitely one of my favorite movies as a kid.)

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?

Technically, yes, this is the first time I've worked for Rorschach. (I helped the set designer on the last production for a couple of days .)... The sandbox over here just looked inviting. The people seemed nice - like they wouldn't gobble me up whole. Also, on a funny kind of note, Randy and I have played email tag for the last couple years. Unfortunately during that time I had the crazy schedule of an undergraduate and never had time to work for the theatre. Now that I got my papers and have time, it seemed like the timing was finally right.

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

You only want one thing?

5. What is you favorite bird?

The Australian (Southern) Cassowary. Have you ever looked at one up close? They're just cool - in that freaky kind of way. With talons like a prehistoric raptor, yet a frugivorous diet; a funny bone sticking out of their skulls; and brightly colored necks, complete with wattles like a turkey's. C'mon - what could be cooler?

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

I hope audiences walk away sated. It's a good story about not letting your past control you. Ultimately you control your life and are responsible for its outcome.

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

It often changes, but lately it's been "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield.

Ready, Set, Photo

Roni Lancaster is our go to lady for all things set construction. Officially listed as Assistant Set Designer, but that only begins to scratch the surface of what she is being called on to do in order to bring Jacob S. Muehlhausen set to life.

Tomorrow I will be running Roni's answers to the Questions of Doom, but today Roni has forwarded on these shots of set construction for birds. Roni sent this note along with her latest batch of photos:

Hey Scott,

Yesterday we had a giant push to work on lights and scenery in the space. (YAY for lots of helping hands!)Got a few more photos of things in progress, if you are interested. But again, feel free to do with the photos as you will. Enjoy!

~Roni

Post Card and Results

I am kind of proud of this one. There was a lot of planning and replanning, shooting and reshooting and design work that went into this one, but I think the whole thing is pretty damn stunning.

Onto the results portion of our polling. Well I have to say I am a little surprised. I thought for sure the Randy v. Jenny Death Match would have been a lock, but I have been wrong before. The results:

It seems now I will have to battle each company member in one on a bunch combat in order to satisfy your blood lust. So be it! Bring it on and remember I fight dirty.

Pay-What-You-Can Previews for Jennifer Maisel's birds start one week from today. Acting, designing, directing and producing continue at their heady pace, but I think we will all be in for a beautiful, wonderfully strange ride when this horse leaves the paddock, so save your lose change now if you want to get a peak at birds before we open on June 30th.

Tomorrow, I will have some construction shots of the set, which have been provided by someone with an inside view of what it is to build the kind of monster set you have come to expect from a theater like Rorschach. Until then, bye!

Get to Know Jennifer Maisel

The blog recently had taken on the flavor of a playwright whose who of late. With the various email contributions of Jose Rivera during References . . . and now with the contribution of Jennifer Maisel. Jennifer has been in town helping her little bird take flight. She has been in and out of town on several occasions helping to shape and reshape birds as it draws ever closer to production.

Jennifer is known to DC area audiences for Theater J's production of her play The Last Seder a couple of years back. The fact that she has worked so hard to develop the play with Rorschach speaks volumes about her and we are glad to welcome her into our tribe. Enjoy!


1. What is your job in producing birds?

I wrote it.

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

Any story it seemed - I'd lie in bed and be a different one of the twelve dancing princesses every night. I'd read A Wrinkle in Time again and again. My parents would punish me by taking my books away. Yeah, I know...

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?

The fates aligned, the witches cast their spell, or Tim Getman (who starred in my play The Last Seder at Theatre J) was sleeping on Wendy McClellan's floor during the Humana Festival (where Wendy was directing my play Goody Fucking Two Shoes) and there was drinking and talking about theatre dreams and Wendy and I were talking about this play of mine we'd been wanting to workshop for years...and so the magic began....This production is my first experience with Rorschach - we've been workshopping the play over the last year and a half.

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

In my mind it's all possible.

5. What is your favorite bird?

I don't play favorites.

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

I don't want to make predictions - I only hope they are there excited about going on the ride.

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

Today it's Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good" or "It's a Hard Knock Life" from Annie - no, that's my 5 year old singing in the background. Tomorrow - who knows?

Get to Know Marissa Molnar

Once again we begin our continuing series of probing questions in an attempt to Get to Know the Cast and Crew of Rorschach's various big top like events. A series of questions were submitted to the cast and crew of birds and today I present you the first victim, Marissa Molnar.

I already told you about Marissa's adventure in the back alley behind Casa two weeks ago. She is delightful company and has been coming to see Rorschach shows all season so I feel like she is already one of the family. So take a moment to discover the slightly twisted yet exceedingly entertaining answers that this young actress gives to my 7 Questions of Doom.

(P.S. Keep voting for the Rorschach Ultimate Fighting Match-Up below. You can vote everyday and I will have the results on Wednesday.)

1. What is your job in producing birds?

i'm the production's prostitute. i keep everything fluffed up and ready to go. because there are so many feathers with all the bird imagery, you know.

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

i was a big fan of narnia until i realized that aslan was an awful lot like jesus, and then i just got confused and moved on to safer, more pagan stories like arthurian lore and ursula leguin.

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?

yes... i could not turn down the chance to let my inner teenage hooker out. everyone has one, and mine has been repressed for far too long. also, jenny gave me candy once.

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

jjana gets drunk?

5. What is you favorite bird?

roasted, with ginger and mango chutney.

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

i think they will walk away thinking about how funny it is how much belief influences the perception of reality. i hope they will not throw things at us.

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

um, roxanne?

Ultimate Polling Countdown

Eventually I will find something useful to do with this new technology but until then. Enjoy this test of the Rorschach Polling System.

Which Rorschach Company Member Ultimate Fight would you most like to see?
	Grady v. Rahaleh
	Maggie v. Tim
	Jenny v. Randy
	Jason v. Jason
	Lindsay v. Lauren
	MJ v. Yasmin
	Deb v. Matt
	Scott v. The Entire Company
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Peeking at the birds Set

I know, I know, it's just a model. But a large percentage of this massive set has already been built at Casa. birds production is running apace and we will be ready for visitors in just over two weeks.

Look at this thing! The set will be huge! And I would almost say it was impossible to build given the fact that the cage portion of the set goes right up to the ceiling. I know it can be done though. The fact is that Jacob S. Muehlhausen has done the impossible for us before. Those of you who remember the set for A Bright Room Called Day last season, undoubtedly remember the walls that were transparent, the fire place that opened to allow the Devil to walk right in and the projection screen that hung above the stage. This is a designer who knows what he is doing and we have a hell of a TD working for us, so I believe in both of them.

Pay-What-You-Can Previews for birds start Wednesday, June 27, so get ready to be amazed!

Happy Hour and Rahaleh in Drag

Some of you may have been asking yourself lately "Where the hell has Rahaleh been?" Well if you want to join Rorschach for its upcoming Happy Hour and make your own arrangements you can see where Rahaleh as been.

Rahaleh has been matriculating with the folks over at the Shakespeare Theatre Company. I know it sounds dirty but you can look it up.

Her final projects are going up this weekend and we at Rorschach couldn't be prouder. She will be performing as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing and 'Tis Pity She's a Whore.

Our plan is to socially lubricate ourselves before we head into the show so meet us at 5:30 pm on Tuesday June 1th at Finn McCool's on 8th Street, SE. Come for the drinks and then stumble on over to the Shakespeare Theatre rehearsal space for some Bard. Do one or do both no big whoop!

Here are the details for Rahahel's shows:

Much Ado About Nothing
(June 11, 12, 15, 16-matinee, 19, 21, 23-evening)
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Michael Barakiva

‘Tis Pity She's A Whore
(June 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22-evening, 23-matinee)
By John Ford
Directed by Christopher Grabowski

Shakespeare Theatre Company Studios
507 8th Street SE
Washington, D.C.

7:30pm Saturday matinees at 2:00pm

RSVP by phone to: 202. 547.1122 and press 9 or email ACARep07@ShakespeareTheatre.org

I have my suspisions where the following photo came from but no proof. I got it from someone who got it from someone. Not sure who she is supposed to be but I have some weird pictures of Rahaleh over the years and this one gives them all a run for their money.

Photo Shoots and the Setting Sun

Things slow down here at the old blog if your's truly isn't in the theater with the crazy kids trying to put on a show. That doesn't mean that things aren't happening, it is just that the information I have to impart is almost always of the marketing/press variety.

Marissa Molnar is a beautiful woman and she was kind enough to do two photo shoots for birds. The first shoot didn't turn out so hot.

Several months back we tried to shoot the post cards for the three remaining shows in Season 7. A group of about ten of us (models, photographer, costumes designers, Artistic Director and Marketing Director) all gathered in various stages of undress in the lobby of Woolly Mammoth to make us some art.

You all by now have seen how fantastic the images for Rough Magic and References . . . turned out. Well we also made an attempt at shooting birds that day as well. I have included a sample of what we were trying to achieve above, for some reason I haven't got any actual shots from the original shoot. The concept was as straight forward as my mind allows me to be. Marissa dressed as a prostitute with feathers sprouting from her body in various locations, shot down a long hallway with light in front of her and a trail of smaller feathers like bread crumbs behind her. Well let's just say this is not an easy thing to do and the final product by no fault of the model or photographer was crap.

So we needed to do a new shoot. Marigan and Marissa were champs. Marissa dusted off her streetwalker best and Marigan made the trek from B-more through thunder storms and traffic on 95 at rush hour to get to Jenny's place before the sun set in the alley behind Casa. It was a close call and we didn't get in the alley until after 7pm.

As you can see by the examples I have been doling out, the effort paid off. There will be several things done to the shot by our graphic designer Carrie before it is finished but a combination of talent, genetics and Jenny standing with a reflective dish in an alley trying to catch the light of a setting sun, made for some fantastic pictures.

Thank you to everyone for not just helping to fix something but in making it a whole lot better.

Just a Taste

This isn't the final image for the post card, but it is an example of the adventure that Marigan, Marrisa, Jenny and I had in the alley behind Casa on Monday Night. There are some beautiful pictures that we scrambled to get done as the sun set in the west. We had a rather interested audience for some of the shots as well. We will have more to show you soon.

birds Poster Mach I

Sorry folks it has been a busy week here at my day job!

Lots of trips out of my comfortable air conditioned office to parts all around the region. I will have some hot shots to look at later this week. I checked in with some of the cast and crew of birds last night and they all say other than the usual late spring warmth, things are moving along quite well in rehearsals.

For those of you who like to advertise these shows as soon as possible click on the pic below and print out a dozen and start sticking them up around your office, neighborhood or bedroom. I am not one to judge so anywhere you think is leagal and safe please plaster away to your hearts content. This is not the final poster but it is a fun image to get the ball rolling.