This is the One with a Monkey at the End

I made a new friend last night.

Her name is Louise and she has been a Rorschach fan since Master and Margarita. She has seen every show since, with the exception of two: Accidental Death (she had tickets for the night Karl got sick and she couldn't make it back when Grady took over) and The Beard of Avon (because she says she hates Shakespeare).

Louise got to the bar last night about 10 minutes to 7pm last night and was greeted by Jenny, Randy, Matt, Katherine Tripp and myself sitting in the upstairs room at Stetson's quietly coloring in stickers from the dollar store. She was early. She was planning to get there at around 7:15 and she missed the mark by about 25 minutes. But once she got there and got a Manhattan in her hand she started mingeling.

Alot of the time these events like the one we had last night turn into mutual appreciation society meetings. Actors, designers and directors standing around a bar looking at one another and wondering why they even stopped by since they saw these people at the last party they went to and they would probably see them again at the next party. But last night was cool because of folks like Louise.

She has been following our company for years now and here she is coming out to an event with people she only knows from watching them on stage or manning (I'm sorry, dear, personing the box office) and yet she somehow knew that this event and Rorschach in particular would welcome and her and all of the others who came last night who had never been on our stage or been forced to sit through a single designer run.

We sold some tickets to the benefit last night, we saw some old friends, and drank some drinks, but I think the best thing about last night is that we were reminded that there are people who come to our shows again and again because we are creating something that they enjoy! To all of you who have never missed a Rorschach show since you walked through our door, you are our kind of people and we'll drink with you any time.

Thanks Louise and I hope we can get the Rorschach bowling trip set up soon!

Only Chance to Save $30

Tonight in additon to the great company and stimulating conversation that are standard fare at any event sponsored by Rorschach Theatre, we are offering some things for your purchase and perusal.

In case you didn't know or have forgotten due to the intervening days since I last mentioned it, Rorschach will be hosting a gathering at Stetson's tonight at 7pm in the upstairs bar, 1610 U Street NW, Washington, DC .

This will be your one and only opportunity to purchase tickets to the Black & White Masquerade Benefit on May 10th. After tonight the minimum price for tickets for what promises to be a night of music, dancing and libations will run you $50. But tonight you pay $20 and you are in. That's right a fancy dress up party with finger food and a beer and wine bar for just $20.

Think about how much you would pay for something like that and you realize that it is cheap at $50 and insanely inexpensive at $20. No excuses, we are in Exile and we are taking neither excuses or prisoners as we make our way towards our summer at Georgetown.

See you tonight!

How I Want Rorschach to Turn Out In 50 Years

As many of you are aware in the morning I watch a half hour of Good Morning America before I got to work. What can I say I love me some Robin Roberts.

This morning they featured a group of 70+ folks who have a choir, Young@Heart. What makes these folks so special you may wonder? Well it is mostly their choice of songs, all rock, disco and punk. That's right grandparents singing The Ramones, Bee Gees, Springstein and Cold Play. There is a movie which has just come out in theatre's this week and I am looking forward to seeing it when I get a minute. Usually I am immune to the sentimentality of kittens, small children making funny faces and old folks singing, but for some reason this group makes me smile and cloud up a little.

I know that this has little to nothing to do with Rorschach and I should have found room for this entry on my own little used blog, but there is just something about these folks that reminds me of us as a Company. People who care about creating something and performing with every ounce of energy in their bodies to make others and themselves happy.

I hope that is big part of what Rorschach is about too. And in 50, or for some of us less, years I hope that the Rorschach Family come together and have as much fun as these folks are having. Here are two quick samples, but there are more on YouTube. I'm sure you are all smart enough to find them on your own.

Monday Night with Rorschach at Stetson's

See those guys in the picture. Both of them had their livers replaced after the World Premier of Behold!

I can only recommend that you avoid their mistake and drink responsibly. And if you are going to drink responsibly you should drink with friends. And who is more of a friend to you than your favorite theatre company beginning with an R.

Come to our special Rorschach in Exile Kick-Off event this Monday at 7pm in the glorious upstairs barroom of one of Jena Bush's favorite hang-outs (and I am not referring to what happened to her dress at the first inaugural ball) Stetson's on U Street, between 16th and 17th and just blocks away from the U Street Metro Station.

Stetson's is located at 1610 U Street NW, Washington, DC and we'll be upstairs. Bring your ID! If you have a fake ID I don't recommend trying it, but its up to you take a chance.

We will be offering fantastic discounts on some of our upcoming events and we promise to be entertaining. Really!

The Rorschach Blog and Its Series of Show Plugs for Folks We Know and Love

There is a lot of great theatre in Washington, DC. And since I know that for some of you money can be tight and you can't always afford the high priced tickets at larger theatre's that produce the works of a certain playwright from Avon, I highly recommend that you go and see dog & pony's upcoming production of Cymbeline.

Why you may ask? Well there are a couple of good reasons and a one budgetary reason.

Good Reason #1: When the hell are you going to get a chance to see Cymbeline again any time soon? We all love the big name Shakespeare plays. It seems like a year doesn't go by without a depressed Dane or sword wielding Scotsman or two mixed up kids from Verona without finding their way onto DC's stages. But how often do you get to see this tale of Romans and Britains beating the crap out of one another?

If you love Shakespeare, and I think a lot of you do, you need to check this one off your list.

Good Reason #2: There are Rorschach folks in this thing. Well folks who will soon be appearing in The Skin of Our Teeth this summer. The show's director Wyckham Avery will be playing Mrs. Antrobus and cast members JJ Area and Becky Peters will all be on stage at Georgetown this summer.

And the Budgetary Reason: The tickets are just $15.

Follow this LINK for information on how to get tickets and such.

The show runs April 11th through April 27th, so don't miss it.

Benefits and Stetsons

Here is another hint about what is happening May 10th. Well less of a hint really and more of a damn that is a fine looking post card image for the Black & White Masquerade Ball Announcement.

That's right the Rorschach Masquerade is back and better than ever. And you all have a chance to get a discounted ticket to one of the hottest open bar events of the year 2008.

If you can get your tail sections over to Stetsons on U Street this Monday, April 14th, you can not only be among the first people to purchase tickets to our swanky benefit but you can be one of the cheapest folks there as well. Tickets that would run you $50 will only run you $20. That's right for the price of a ride from Dupont Circle to Adams Morgan with a crooked cab driver you can spend the evening with Rorschach, a DJ and all the wine and beer you can drink.

You also get to wear a mask and some sweet dress that you have been saving to look particularly tasty in for the ladies (and some men) or a suit that you haven't worn since you were confirmed for the guys.

And if that weren't enough we will also be announcing the Theme for our next edition of Myth-Appropriations at Stetsons as well. What will it be?

This is a great time to be in Exile. You should really think about joining us as we rove the city like a pack of wild rabid hedge hogs looking for a home.

See you at Stetsons next Monday at 7pm. We'll be the ones upstairs making all of the noise!

Serotsky's In Flight, Afternoon Delight

See I made a Starland Vocal Band joke out of Shirley's last name. And who says puns aren't funny?

Anywho, here are the answers that Shirley gave to DC Theatre Scene for their feature on Helen Hayes Nominees. For further reading visit them HERE.

I read something somewhere that Shirley was concerned about sending them a picture. I personally think that Shirley couldn't take a bad picture if she tried. But I'm just the Moon what do I know?

Shirley Serotsky, Outstanding Director
References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Rorschach Theatre

Why this play?

I have wanted to work with Rorschach since I saw their production of LORD OF THE FLIES in 2002. I dig the gutsy, visceral work they do and Casa Del Pueblo is an exciting, provocative, challenging space to work in (may it rest in peace). Then I read the play. And it was stunning and beautiful and difficult and heart breaking. And daunting in the way that it combined a completely theatrical world with talking cats and dancing moons with the gritty, realistic, kitchen sink drama of two people who are totally in love but failing miserably at making that love work–trying desperately to come together and love each other again. And I thought it would be really hard to meld those two worlds without discounting either one of them. And the more I do this, the more I realize that the greater the challenge the greater the pay-off.

Most difficult scene

The quick answer is the sex scene, because it was the first time I’d directed an all out sex scene, and those are just tough–both technically and emotionally. Because it is such a personal thing and there you are putting it on stage. And the audience is two feet from Gabi and Andrew’s heads, and it might be your grandmother sitting in that seat. And where does Gabi throw her shirt so that she can find it later? And what happens when the wooden fence/bed creaks? And will they get splinters? And why does the damn sheet keep coming off the corners? As it turned out however, I think the two Benito/Gabriella scenes were simultaneously the hardest and the easiest to “get”. Because we can all connect with the relationship struggles that these people are going through, on some level we get that. We KNOW that. But because of that, it’s just not a fun place to go to for hours on end, night after night. And it was a challenge to find the shifts in the landscape of their argument, the rises and falls, the flare-ups and the moments of breath, so that it didn’t sound like one long rant.

Surprise

I think the most surprising thing happened during auditions, and that was finding Gabriella in the first place. I’d had artistic directors of several theaters in the area say, “We thought about doing that play but were not sure we could ever cast it”. And here’s Rorschach, a small theater using all non-Equity actors, trying to do the play justice. And that meant finding actors for several of the roles that were, indeed, Latino. I knew Andrew was of Columbian descent and have admired his work for years, but I did not know if we would find an actress with the chops and background and spirit to play the role of Gabi, not to mention the fact that everyone in the play has to totally fall in love with her. And there was a somewhat exhaustive search. And then like, three people emailed me Gabriella’s info. And she came in and she tells us she’s of Puerto Rican decent, born there and raised here, and she’d lived in New York, and she’s gorgeous, and then she read the side and left the room and I think Randy and Jenny and I looked at each other and said, “We can’t let her leave the building. If we have to kidnap her and keep her here in Casa for eight weeks we will do that, but we have to have her in this play.”

Favorite moment

Ahhhhh. Hard question. I can’t pin it to just one. I loved the Moon’s tuneful serenading and melancholic speeches from up above. I loved the eerie moon-glow light when he landed on the ground (thanks Andrew and Connor). I loved the perfect tango music (thanks Matt!). I loved the look in Martin’s eyes when he was peeking over the fence. I loved the Moon/Martin fight with the belly check (thanks Grady). I loved Cat coming back from her torrid night out all rumpled and wheezy and then climbing into the cupboard. I loved many moments that Robbie Haye’s brilliant set made possible. I loved Coyote’s tight, tight jeans (thanks Pei) and his passionate howls and heart-broken ghost. And, okay, look, it got to a point where watching Benito and Gabi interact was so laden with charged moments that now, reading back over the script, I can’t pin just one. Seriously, I loved watching those two. Can you tell? I loved this cast, I loved my design team (and I have to thank Tim Getman for putting that together). And I have to also say, I couldn’t have done this show without guidance and wisdom from Jacqueline Lawton’s dramaturgical input and overall smarts and clear-headedness.

If you could work with anyone in the theatre, living or dead, who would it be and why?

This is also tough. It’s like that dinner party question–where you have to think, certain people made really awesome contributions to history and to the world–but would they be good conversationalists? Likewise here. Just because someone’s brilliant doesn’t mean they’d be fun to work with. But I had an a-ha moment while up in NY earlier this week.
I’d like to work with my twin brother, who is an actor. Because he’s smart and talented and we shared a womb. I mean, with the short hand (secret twin lingo, right?) we have I think it would at the very least save time. And that would definitely make it into my parent’s holiday newsletter. I mean, I hope. Mom?

Next

CRUMBLE (LAY ME DOWN JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE) by Sheila Callaghan with Catalyst Theater Company, running May 7-June 7. And yes, JT does make an appearance. Several, in fact.

Once Again Someone Else Does the Work and I Write an Intro

Once again our friends over at DC Theatre Scene are running their second annual Getting Personal Feature. This is where they ask questions of the Helen Hayes Nominees and ask them about their roles/jobs, the shows they are nominated for and things that they found enjoyable about working on that show.

This year being our first double nominee year, I have asked permission to run both Gabi and Shirley's contributions to the Feature. Today Gabi tomorrow Shirley.

I would also like to add for as much love as both of these women throw Rorschach's way, it is returned 10 fold by the Company and 20 fold by the blogger.

If you want to read about numerous other nominees follow visit DC Theatre Scene with this LINK. Enjoy!

Gabriela Fernandez-Coffey, Outstanding Lead Actress

Gabby in References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot

The character

Well she has a great name. ;-) and is intensely alive in her dreams. We meet her full of doubt…alone. Still we know she is a fierce woman. She conjures people, animals, elements and planetary bodies….she counts them as her friends…sometimes enemies….always companions. She’s earthy, sexy, bold and wise. I love her very much.

In response to one of Rorschach’s blog questions asking which of the characters would win in an ultimate deathmatch (I love Rorschach), the playwright Jose Rivera responded that it would be Gabby. awww yeah. But really, who else could….she is fighting for life and love. She is fighting to maintain faith. and though we understand that she is facing the most formidable enemy… the shadow of death and war that have eclipsed the hearts of both her and her husband…we want to believe….like she does…that it is possible and necessary to leave the desert and find a way back to fertile soil.

Connecting

Well almost the entire play is in her mind (possibly)…so that helps….I listened to the words. and understood how she talked to the moon. and looked across our cracked wood desert to her husband coming in from the darkness, and her cat crawling out into coyote wild unknowns. I watched as her young neighbor climbed back over to his side of the fence; and her friend the moon said his final goodbye. It was all there. All the actors, designers, Shirley [Serostsky, Director]..had brought to life Gabriela’s most intimate landscape. So I had it easy….i just had to listen and be in the world around me. and I understood her doubt…her questioning. The ground had shifted underneath her feet. Her sky had been blown apart.

Surprise

Not a what…as much as a who surprised me. life is beautiful that way.

Favorite moment

Benito’s final entrance. without a doubt. at the end we circle back and can begin again….maybe.
And also the top….walking onstage in darkness (semi-darkness on matinee days) while Scott took his lunar position on top of the refrigerator and the audience hushed awaiting…laying down on my back in the stillness of their hush and watching the stars in the shattered sky turn on….”fly me to the moon” begins to croon.

Favorite Performances

Performances in The Unmentionables and Solas Nua’s Made in China were fantastic…brave and fun. Andrew Price and Clay Steakley, as the brothers Dukes and Bones in Inkwell’s Underground, were something to behold …“We two is brothers till the lord calls us home.”

Next

Wrapping up the incredible Stunning experience….stunning-stay no doubt. and looking forward to being home for awhile…having more time to develop some work with friends…play.

They Write Blogs So I Don't Have To

I don't know if you know this but I was kidding yesterday. It was an April fools prank! Rorschach never did a show called King Kong: The Musical. I wrote it and Jesse Terrill scored it but Jenny and Randy just won't produce it.

The zoo stuff is all true though. Or is it?

Enough of those shenanigans and on to some real honest to goodness blogging, which in this case involves me directing you to someone else's blog.

As you are aware at this point Rorschach is very excited to be working on a new piece by "hot young" playwright Jason Grote. I put the hot and young in quotes because I am sure on some level Jason is as sick of that term as Rorschach is of the terms scrappy and shoestring.

The first show of our season in Exile will be Jason's play This Storm is What We Call Progress. I have had trouble really boiling this show down in synopsis but there is someone out there who has done a pretty sweet job of it.

August Schulenburg (look mom he spells his name with an "sch" just like we do) who seems to be my opposite number at the Flux Theatre (actually Flux seems to have a whole crew of my opposite number, go figure) has given the show a pretty thorough run down after their company reading of the show last Sunday night in NYC.

To read his quite excellent run down and even a shout out to DC audiences to come see the Rorschach production in June, follow this LINK to the Flux Theatre Blog.

And if you want to spend some quality time with our playwright before you see Storm you can always visit Jason Grote's always entertaining blog HERE.

Remember theatre blogging is the new pink so get on board.

BIG NEWS

In a bold move Rorschach has announced that after their Summer in Exile at Georgetown they will have found a new performance space at The National Zoo.

This brings to an end months of speculation as to where this theatre company would be flinging their unique brand of theatre.

Co-Artistic Director Randy Baker tells the blog that approaching The National Zoo about a residency was a no- brainer.

"Think about it, dude! The location, the metro accessibility, the prairie dogs! Where else should we be?"

Jenny McConnell Frederick, Rorschach's other Co-Artistic Director said the idea came out of some of Rorschach's earlier work.

"The Hairy Ape, Rhinoceros and King Kong: The Musical these early works helped define who we were as a company. This is a return to our animalistic roots and we get to spend some time at the zoo."

The planned space is currently an over-grown enclosure at the top of the hill path that leads down to the sea lions. Once used to house bears and a particularly wiley coyote the enclosure would serve as a perfect out door amphitheater for any number of classical and modern plays.

Director of Marketing, Scott McCormick, says that the company is considering numerous works to inaugurate the new space.

"Right now we are trying to decide whether to take obvious approach and go with animal themed shows; Birds, Frogs, or the little performed Greek Tragedy, Scabies. Or should we look with subtler zoo connections like The Glass Menagerie or Evita. We think musicals will be an option if we can just keep the howler monkeys from going off every time they hear a middle-C."

The Buck Stops Here

Good Monday morning to all of you freaks and greeks out there in cyberia.

As I awoke on this particularly cold and rainy Monday morning and as I said goodbye to Girlfriend of DCepticon, I was reminded that I haven't given you all nearly enough grief this month. If I am going to suffer I will not do it with either grace or charity. To misquote the man who I am currently endorsing for the Democratic Presidential nomination, "The Bus Stops Here."

Have you voted for Rorschach to be The Best Theatre in Washington every day like I asked. This is the last week and I can't be the only IP address voting for Rorschach otherwise they will think I am a lone lunatic with Rorschach fixation. And as close as that is to being true, you owe me! You may not know why or even care that you owe me one, but I assure you that you do in fact owe me! So click this LINK, jump through every hoop the good folks at The City Paper ask you to every day this week and you can consider our debt settled.

If you don't? Well let's just say, I hope you enjoy messages sent wrapped in newspaper and smelling of halibut.

Happy Monday from you good friends at Rorschach Theatre!

See Its Like a Swap for Ads Instead of Clothing or Wives

See we try and help our friends here at the ol' Rorschach Blog. Got this note from Gwen the afternoon and we begin the eternal cycle of butt scratching (or it might be back scratching I was never good with cliches).

I do love me some Brecht so I think it is all kinds of exciting. Enjoy!


hey DCepticon,

I think we talked about this a long time ago - would you be willing to put something up for the opening of the constellation show today?

Katie Atkinson, Yasmin might be the only rorschachites, also meghan reichelt is running sound board for this first weekend. (Editor: Yvette Ryan also.)

let me know!
thanks darlin,
g

THE GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN
by Bertolt Brecht,
directed by Allison Stockman

Performances are March 27th - April 20th. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm

Summary: Three gods descend to earth in search of one good person and discover that kindness and compassion don't pay the rent. Shen Te, a kind and generous prostitute, is driven to disguise herself as a shrewd and unethical male businessman in order to navigate the demands of love, family and hungry neighbors. Bertolt Brecht, the avant-garde father of epic drama, mixes comedy and fantasy to create an exotic world that turns out to be very close to home.

Ensemble: Katie Atkinson, Molly Cahill, Katy Carkuff, Catherine Deadman, John Feist, Kevin Finkelstein, Lewis Freeman, John Geoffrion, Keith Irby, Ashley Ivey, Hilary Kacser, Jenny Leopold, Lisa Lias, Kenny Littlejohn, Beckett Martin, Francisco Reinoso, Joe Thornhill, Meghan Tolmie, Yasmin Tuazon, Ron Ward.

Musician & Composer: Tom Teasley.
Design and Technical Team: A.J. Guban, Yvette M. Ryan, Chris Baine, Francoise Bastien, Brett Abelman, Angelo Merenda, Erica Jean Yeager, Michael Roike

All performances are at Clark Street Playhouse in Crystal City, VA

DIRECTIONS

Discounts:
1) PWYC performance on Thursday, March 27th and Friday, March 28th
2) $15 Student/Senior tickets, $12 Group tickets for groups of 5+
3) $10 "ARTIST" code tickets online for the first two weeks - Sun 3/30 through Sun 4/6.

For more information visit Contellation Theatre's web site.

Hint #2 for May 10th

Here is your second hint for what is happening on May 10th.
Name this Rorschach Company Member while you are it.

Steal This Banner Ad or Print Ad

Please feel free to steal this Banner Ad or Print Ad and use it wherever Banner Ads or Print Ads are used!

Sincerely,

The Management

Riddle Me This Rorschach Fan

What is Black and White and happens on May 1oth?
Leave you guesses in the comments section.

City Paper Best of DC Picks

Here at the Ol' Rorschach Blog we are big believers in lobbying for our place in the sun.

When contests come up where we can lobby you, our 10 or so loyal readers, to vote for us in an on-line poll we will pimp ourselves out like anyone seeking the presidental nod.

This time the City Paper has given us the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the ease and simplicity of on-line voting.

Washington City Paper's 2008 Best of D.C. popularity contest is up and running.

What you ask do I have to do?

Quite simple really. Follow this LINK and where it has a blank next to Best Theatre Company, just type in Rorschach Theatre. If you want you can even copy Rorschach Theatre from this blog and paste it into the appropriate slot.

Just scroll down the list to Best Theatre Company it's right after Best Strip Club (for which I recommend you write in the DAR Constitution Hall).

You can vote for anything else as you see fit. You'll have to hit the Orange Continue to next page button a couple of times to have your vote cast.

Remember it is only with your help that we can hope to oppose the forces of certain companies whose names begin with S, W, and A. Vote now and vote as often as they will let you (which is one a day it turns out). This is not a presidental election so your vote should actually count.

Thank in advance and remember the only payment I can offer is love. Not physical love but the spiritual kind that they talk about in books and world religions.

I Swear, The Green Milk-Shakes at McDonalds taste Minty

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all. The one day a year where we aren't Rorschach Theatre but O'Rorschach Theatre.


Today I would like to salute all the Irish people who make this company possible.

Jenny McConnell Frederick
Randy Fitzbaker
Timmy O'Getman
O'Grady Weatherford
Scott McCormick
Rahaleh "Bridget" Fitznassri
Lauren O'Hyland
Lindsay McAllen
Patrick Bussink
Matt Fredpatrick
David McGhatan
Maggie Glauber
Seamus Guadamuz
Jason Fitzlinkins
Karl Milleriley
Tracy Lynn O'Livera
Melissa McSchwartz
Debra Kim Fitzivigny
Yasmin Tuazon (yeah I ran out of ideas at the end here)!

I Look Into My Crystal Ball and See The Future

I was almost run over by a car this morning.

Anyway this is a message to everyone who is checking in after the beautiful email announcement sent out this morning congratulating Gaby and Shirley on their well deserved Helen Hayes nominations for References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot.

It has long been my belief that smaller theaters in DC are given the shaft when it comes to Helen Hayes nominations. These nominations of course call me on my beliefs but I think of all the fine work that is done by talented people in small spaces all over this town and them hardly getting the recognition they deserve and I still scratch my head.

I am going to make a couple of predictions right now:

Someone at the event will be drunk in the following situations:
- While presenting.
- While receiving their award.
- While arriving.
- While arguing over paying $30 for parking.

Someone at the event will hook-up with someone they shouldn't and cause friction among their friends and co-workers for the year to come.

There will be loud cheers for Signature from Catholic U. alums and grads.

The next day someone will post a complaint on DC Theatre Scene about young people cheering at the Helen Hayes awards and their inability to hear the show.

Someone will utter the following phrase during their acceptance speech for one of the Non-Resident Production Awards "Thank you so much! I didn't even know you all had theater awards here."

There will be a musical parody based on a Kander and Ebb song that only three people in the audience could tell you what show it comes from. All three will laugh very hard.

There will be a Canadian in attendance.

An artistic director of a major theater company will trip and take out an ice sculpture.

There will be a celebrity presenter who will tell us a story about when they were a young actor/actress and their experience of touring a show at the National/Warner/Kennedy Center before it went on to Broadway.

Our two nominees and Tracy Olivera will be the sexiest nominees at the whole damn shabang.

There will be corndogs.

Patrick Hat Trick

Here is a treat for a Tuesday. Patrick Bussink actually answered these questions for the blog in November and like the bubble head that I am I have not gotten around to publishing it until today. Sorry Tricky, but I am not perferct, nor is my grammar (see below).

There is only one Rorschach Company member I have known longer than Patrick, but Patrick and I go back a ways and I think fondly of the time we were stranded in a snow storm on Rt. 70 West and were forced to consider which tour member we would eat first if human predation were the only means of survival. Thank God the road opened up or DC audiences would have been denied the acting talent of Mr. Jesse Terrill.

Patrick has been in three Rorschach shows, and has given three memorable perfomances. A talented comedian and a skilled dramtic actor, he has toured around the world on a bike and was responsible for the one time in the last 10 years when I broke on stage. We are lucky to have added him to the Company this year. Now another Profile to Discourage, Patrick Bussink.

1. Place of birth?
Annapolis, MD, the undisputed boat-people capital of the universe.

2. First experience in theater?
6th grade production of Goin' Buggy, a musical about bugs marching on Washington for equal rights. I played an innocent spider, delivering a stirring monologue about insect oppression after "scaring" Little Miss Muffet away from her tuffet---what a spaz.

3. Where you went to school?
Great grammar, Mr. Decepticon---where YOU went to school? (Editor: Bite Me!) Me: Annapolis High, Anne Arundel Community College and Towson University.

4. What do you do?
Act, write, eat, sleep. Rinse and repeat.

5. What was your first experience with Rorschach?
Grady Weatherford showed up at a party with makeup from Rhinoceros on, it looked like gangrene. And I thought to myself "Wow, I really have to work for these people." My 1st actual show was J.B.

6. Company member you would most like to be if you were not yourself?
Maggie Glauber. 'Cause she's got MOXY.

7. Some story about working on a Rorschach play that either made you laugh or touched you deeply?
Touched me deeply: the backstage conversations during J.B., which opened right after 9-11. I will "never forget" that.

Made me laugh: just about anything that happened backstage, onstage or upstage during The Beard of Avon.

8. Where do you think Rorschach will be in the next ten years?
Hopefully in its very own magically rough space.

9. What is your favorite Rorschach show that you were not in?
A Bright Room Called Day, even though Rahaleh directed it.

10. Scott McCormick harmless adolescent or world conquering super villain?
Scott McWho?

What The Hell Are You Doing?

Annonymous Writes:

What are the Rorschach Company members doing on their time off right now?

Well Anonymous, if that is your real name, we really don't have any time off because we are quite busy preparing for our Exile at Georgetown this summer, but I sent out an email to the Company to see what other things folks are up to and these are the answers I have been able to gather.

From Tracy Lynn Olivera:

Hi! I just started rehearsals for THE HAPPY TIME at Signature, which opens in April as part of the Kander and Ebb festival and runs until the end of may. I miss you guys.

From Tim Getman:

hey bud...doing the miller reps at arena, playing happy in salesman and mike in view from the bridge. then doing in the heart of america at repstage. hope yer well

From Deb Sivigny:

I am opening Chasing George Washington at the Kennedy Center tomorrow night. Then I am working on Crumble with Catalyst Theater and HH nominated Shirley Serotsky. Then Neglect with Journeymen Theater, directed by RT alum Jessie Gallogly some other small things, like YPT's tour and the Source Festival too, but those are the major things...deb

And Cesar Guadamuz, Maggie Glauber, Patrick Bussink (who I just found a profile which I haven't run yet, sorry Foo) and Scott McCormick will be appearing in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot for Forum Theatre and Dance, we started rehearsals in last week and it will open in early April.

If you wish upon a star . . .

Dear Rorschach Blog Readers,

If you have any questions about Rorschach you have always wanted answered send them in.

I would ask that they be at least slightly related to Rorschach shows, company members, actors, directors or designers? Ask about our past our futures and the like and I will get you some answers.

Either leave your questions in the comment section or send them to me by email.

Sincerely,
The Mad Blogger-what-Blogs-at-Midnight

Think and Name the Actor and the Play

WITMWTGE?

We spent a good portion of Saturday sitting in a basement room at Georgetown this weekend, not the cellar but the basement there is a difference, and we worked our way through a draft of Randy Baker's next play Dream Sailors. Don't let the name fool you this play is f to the up crazy, sexy and a little scary.

The premise of Dream Sailors is not as exciting as the way it will unfold, which will be episodically, with a new show in the series premiering each week. Four episodes in all and each one ends with a cliff-hanger for the week to follow.

It tells the story of four friends who wake from their lucid dreaming party to find a dead body. I think I will leave the rest to your imagination.

Randy has got himself something new here. Taking the conventions of television and adapting it back to the roots of dramatic story telling on stage.

In honor of this exciting and promising read through I want to start the shows first catch phrase, sort of along the lines of "Save the Cheerleader. Save the world.", "The Truth is Out There." or "Sit on it Potsy!"

"Who is the Man with the Green Eyes?"

Start using it in conversation, to pick-up members of the opposite or same sex, organize viewing parties and get ready for the excitement.

Overlooked and A New Rorschach Slogan Campaign

So one of my favorite post Helen Hayes announcements traditions is to read what Jane Horwitz felt was overlooked from the previous season of shows. This year was no exception as Jane refers to one of last seasons shows as:

Rorschach Theatre's riotous "Rough Magic";

Jane asks where was the nomination for Rough Magic along with the other over looked shows and performances. Of course we are floating on cloud 9 thanks to our two nominations for References . . . but it is nice to be included with other great shows that were over looked.

Yesterday witnessed one of the most sincere exchange of mutual appreciation that I have ever witnessed in the 17 year I have had e-mail. Cast, designers, producers and directors of References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot exchanged praise and snarks via e-mail for a good portion of the day yesterday.

One interesting development was a series of new Rorschach slogans. Here they are listed with their creators.

Jenny as inspired by Danny G.'s rather explicit maternal fantasy:

Rorschach Theatre: Like Your Mother's Womb

From Cesar:

Rorschach Theatre: Taste Them Again, For the First Time
Rorschach Theatre: Our Spirit Rebuilds The Place - Your Money Rebuilds the Space!

From Scott:

Rorschach Theatre: Like your mother's womb with a smoking section.

And over acheiver Yasmin:

Rorschach Theatre: Just like mom used to make.
Rorschach Theatre: Now climate-controlled and vermin-free!
Rorschach Theatre: We do stuff your artistic associate dreams about.
Rorschach Theatre: Bringing sex to the stage in stranger ways for nearly a decade.
Rorschach Theatre: Come for the theater, stay for the pie!
Rorschach Theatre: Give us a fish, we eat for a day. Give us a warehouse, we create for a lifetime.
Rorschach Theatre: Try us hot!
Rorschach Theatre: See a show and still make it to Wonderland.
Rorschach Theatre: Kicking more ass than George Washington since 2000. (Editor: Technically since 1999 unless Yasmin is saying no ass was kicked in 1999, in which case we will have words I promise you. Words!)

If you can think of any others leave them in the comment section.

Stealing from Match Game and Perez

Shirley is wincing because she just ___(BLANKED)_____!

Whoa People!

Some of you seem to have jumped the gun with your congratulations in the comment section below. I can well understand your enthusiasm and we should all be very proud of our little company and especially the special women and men who are getting some well deserved praise and kudos. And we all know we love us some kudos!

Where to begin in the run down of Rorschach related nominations for the big HH Awards?

That is pretty straight forward, let us sing the praises of Shirley and Gaby!

Outstanding Director of a Resident Play - Shirley Serotsky for References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot

Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play - Gabriela Fernandez Coffey for References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot

How about that for some hotness? In one fell swoop we double the number of nominations Rorschach has ever received and get some recognition for two of the most talented, smartest, and ballsiest women I have ever had the pleasure to have worked with.

We all know that References . . . was a special show, a wonderful script, cast and designers, we didn't need anyone else to tell us what we knew in our hearts, but these nominations are a pip-pip and three cheers to the two people on whose back the weight of this show rested. Gaby and Shirley the first drink is on me (thank God it's an open bar.)

But not so fast my lovelies there are other Rorschachians with the their hands in this proverbial cookie jar this year.

Company Member and star of such Rorschach shows as God of Vengeance, JB and last years Rough Magic, Tracy Lynn Olivera is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Musical in Merrily We Roll Along at Signature Theatre. And Company Member Patrick Bussink is up for Outstanding Ensamble for Scenes from the Big Picture at Solas Nua, but more on it and him below.

And what about our alums:

Matthew M. Nielson (sound designer for Rorschach's A Bright Room Called Day, References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot and birds) - Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production for both Nest at Signature Theatre and The Unmentionables at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.

Alexander Strain (actor in Rorschach's A Bright Room Called Day) Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play in Pangs of the Messiah at Theater J.

And then here is where it gets exciting again as The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play or Musical gets a lot of help from a lot of Rorschach Alum:

Scenes from the Big Picture, Solas Nua - including Rorschachians - Patrick Bussink (Company Member, JB, The Beard of Avon, Fair Ladies at a Game of Poem Cards), Brian Hemmingsen (birds), Nanna Ingvarsson (birds), Jason McCool (Arabian Night) and Jon Reynolds (Monster and soon to be in The Skin of Our Teeth).

Insurrection: Holding History, Theater Alliance - Frank Britton (actor in Rorschach's After the Flood and Accidental Death of an Anarchist).

This is a great year and we are proud of all of the nominees and to those of you who were nominated and have not worked for Rorschach yet, don't worry I am sure you will some day. Everyone needs something to which they can aspire.

Here is a link to the rest of the nominees.

Just Like that Party in Batman Returns

I have to say things are busy, busy around the workshop these days. Casting is in full swing for This Storm. . . and Dream Sailors, we are beginning to make plans for the April Edition of Myth-Appropriation and there is a Masquerade Benefit acoming.

Did we already mention the return of the Masquerade Benefit? Must ask Jenny and Randy if I was supposed to spill the beans. Any way start working on your masks now, you have a couple of months to make yourself a bitchin' mask.

Stay dry and stay safe people.

And finally I want to apologize to someone for giving them grief for not reading this blog. I know you are very busy it just helps when you know have someone reading this business called blog who won't judge you too harshly when you go off the deep end.

Post 600

Well that is a relief. I have been dragging this announcement thing out for weeks and it appears some of you were actually interested.

Today I can switch gears for just a moment to celebrate the 600th entry here on the Ole Blog.

Wow! We are pretty damn amazing!

I know other theater companies have blogs and some of the other roundish theater companies in DC have even started to run their own trailers. Many of the innovations that have made us unique and ground breaking now seem par for the course, but you know what, we are just going to try harder.

We didn't invent the blog and I know other folks had done play trailers before us, but the thing that has always marked our endeavors is the use of limited resources to bring something together on a regular basis. Just like our shows we find a way to make art that matters and do it for nearly nothing at all.

At this point I want to direct your attention to some of the other coverage we have been getting around the interwebs since yesterdays announcement in the Post.

Our friends at DC Theatre Scene picked up Jane's article and ran a brief piece yesterday morning, Rorschach in Exile (see branding works.)

And dear sweet Missy Frederick at the DCist seemed down right excited in her piece yesterday announcing our big plans in Rorschach Gets a New Home (For Now).

Missy do us one small favor though, could we not use the word scrappy for a little while. It has the connotation of a small annoying dog brought in to an otherwise enjoyable show about youth culture, love triangles,vans, mysteries, Great Danes and drug use.

And for forms sake here is a link to my favorite blog entry of the last 100, which many of you probably missed the first go around because it came out at Thanksgiving, I call it Thanks for Not Snitching. Enjoy!

So here is to the next 600 blog entries! God help us all!

Rorschach in Exile

Thank you Jane Horowitz for breaking the news to your readers. For those of you who would rather read this on-line than squint to read this run down of what the hell we are doing, go HERE. Scroll down the page after you have read the lovely salute to Living Stage founder Robert Alexander and you can read the article in beautiful html.

So there you go. Rorschach in Exile, is our catchy title for this experiment in what can only be described as a Theatrical Attempt to Keep All of Our Balls in the Air at Once. And here is a link to the rediculously Low-Priced Subscription to see not 3 but 6 shows this summer.

What will this mean for you the Rorschach audience member?

- Air conditioning.
- Shows running all summer long with a good amount of overlap.
- A chance to get a look at Georgetown's fine looking spaces.
- Getting to see what Rorschach can do when we aren't in a pitched battle with loud Columbia Road traffic and summer noises.
- Did I mention air conditioning?

Many of you have been with us since the days when we would spring up somewhere in DC and put on a show. Our time at Casa, while sweet and productive, was only supposed to be a brief stop on our way to better and bigger things. Some of which is coming together even as we speak and I will have more annouoncements to make as this year rolls on.

So for those of you who have followed us from the JCC to the roof-top Greenhouse in Tenleytown, from Signal 66 to an abandoned auditorium in SW, we hope you will follow us to the swankier digs at Georgetown. I promise you this will be something special and well worth the commute.

Here are the links to our remaining shows that will make up Rorschach in Exile.

This Storm is What We Call Progress - June 22 - July 20
The Skin of Our Teeth - July 13 - August 10
Dream Sailors -
Episode 1: July 17-20
Episode 2: July 24-27
Episode 3: July 31-August 3
Episode 4: August 7-10
All 4 episodes run together in the final week Aug 12 - 17

Tease

So it has been a long weekend for me and hopefully for you as well.

I spent a large portion on vacation, it is probably for the best that I took my vacation in February because it will be very busy this summer. Oh, was I supposed to not mention how busy I and Rorschach are going to be this summer?

Damn it I hate it when I just let things slip out like that. The next thing you know I will start talking about Exile, Festivals, Jesuits and Jane Horowitz's column in the Style section of the Post tomorrow.

I promised myself I was going to hold all of this stuff in until tomorrow, like how there is going to be a big announcement and you should be sure to check for a special email from Rorschach this week!

Dad-nab-it? I did it again didn't I?

Do me a favor and let's play pretend. We'll all pretend that I didn't say anything about Rorschach announcing our plans for the rest of Season 8 tomorrow and you all can act surprised when you read it. There that should cover my ass!

See you tomorrow!

Monday!

There is stuff afoot!

I will simply note that we have announcements to make very soon.

I mourn the death of Chief Brody.

I am pretty sure that most of you have to vote tomorrow, so do it early and often!

Very Busy! We'll Talk Monday!

Name the Actor, Name the Show Returns

Side Trip with Another Playwright

Hey Blog Bot 3000,

Really interesting interview with Jason Grote (Editor's Note: Author of This Storm is What We Call Progress, coming soon to a Rorschach Theatre near you.). It is made especially interesting because the interviewer - Caridad Svich - is a pretty fantastic playwright as well.

Go here for the interview.

Sincerely,
Randy

Ah Wilder-Ness!

DCepticon is back for the day. The robot is letting me talk to you about the first play I was ever in, Our Town.

There has become a perception about Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth to a lesser extent that these plays are both easy and dated.

Well that is bunk. After numerous high school, college and community theater productions of these plays it is understandable that these plays now seem worn out.

However, I want you to consider the case that Our Town marks a leap forward in American drama that has allowed modern American theater to exist.

Imagine a play that opened on Broadway without sets, that jumped backwards and forwards in time, had an all seeing and knowing narrator, contained direct address to the audience and the third act was told from the point of view of a dead woman.

That is exactly what Wilder gave the world when Our Town came to life and many of those same devices found their way into The Skin of Our Teeth.

Wilder was taking many of the same theatrical devices that playwrights in Europe like Brecht and Pirendello were employing and used them in ways that even those greats of the world stage had never imagined.

More on this tomorrow, I promise.

Thornton Wilder-ness Safari Day 1: Undiscovered Country

I will name 4 American 20th Century playwrights and I want you to not think about their work but think of their personal lives:

Tennessee Williams
Arthur Miller
Eugene O'Neill
Thornton Wilder

I bet with the exception of a few Wilder fanatics and theater history buffs, you stumbled when you got to the bottom of the list.

While the names of Williams, Miller and O'Neill immediately bring their biography to mind as quickly as the titles of their works, Wilder's life is less well known.

In her introduction to The Skin of Our Teeth playwright Paula Vogel makes the point that of arguably the 4 most important playwrights of the 20th Century only Wilder is not weighed down with the psycho-biographical baggage of the other three.

If you were to look at Wilder's most famous play, Our Town, one might assume that he grew up in a town not dissimilar to Grover's Corners, New Hampshire. If you assumed that you would be wrong.

So here is todays assignment: (Did I mention this was going to be interactive?)

Someone tell me in the comments section where Thornton Wilder was born.

Tell me what foreign country Wilder and his siblings spent a significant amount of time in while growing up.

And for you eager googlers tell me what role did Thornton Wilder's father ask him not to play while attending high school and why? Follow this link for the answer.

Monday we will examine Our Town.