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May 4th, 2012
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Moderated by Kris Vire of Time Out Chicago, our Theater Thursday panel discusses why Chicago is THE home for new plays. Panelists include Bonnie Metzgar of About Face Theatre, Geoffrey Jackson Scott of Victory Gardens Theater, and our very own David Perez.
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Apr 11th, 2012
Girl Blog: Bixby (Our playwright. He’s ours!)
Shhhh.
I have developed a secret crush. I don’t want to talk about it because, you see, we work together…and I have a boyfriend. Ugh. It is just really really complicated - and, well, it is a little odd because –it isn’t just a person – it is more like an entity – like a whole bunch of someones. No – I didn’t go to a key party! Get your mind out of the gutter. Oh maybe I should just tell you. You promise you won’t tell? Pinky swear? Cross your heart and swear to die? Ok…
I have a crush on Pavement Group.
I feel just like a 12 year old school girl filling my smash book with musings on my crush. True Love Forever: BIXBY + PAVEMENT GROUP. I can’t stop myself.
It all started last Sunday when I arrived in Chicago for rehearsals for my new play GIRL YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE and I met up with the cast and crew at David Perez’s house for a little pot luck. I started to fall for them hard and quick. Everyone was so nice and welcoming and they shared their rice crispy treats and quinoa (is that even how you spell that) with me. Then – they asked me to CRAFT. It’s as if they knew my inner most thoughts and desires. Sure – some playwrights are swayed by marquees with their name in lights – not this one – I am a sucker for a good long session with a pair of scissors and a glitter pen (if you toss in a glue gun I am yours for eternity).
Things just sort of progressed from there and I found my crush growing stronger and deeper as the week progressed.
I headed off to rehearsals where I witnessed the true brilliance of Pavement Group. They had taken my little play about Milli Vanilli and transformed it. I was in awe at the work they had done and it was stunning to watch the play come to life. With each scene I could feel my heart pounding – what was this strange feeling coming over me – it could only be one thing. Love!
I started meeting them every night at the theater just to spend more and more time with PG.
I watched as they tackled problems and solved them. I watched as they mixed business and pleasure. I watched as they told completely inappropriate jokes. It was and is…magical.
But not everything in love is easy, and I like it that way. Pavement Group knows I like some pain – so they challenged me and I made some cuts and the play got better and I liked it. They asked me tough questions and then they tied me up and made me beg for…oh…never mind that didn’t happen. Moving on.
And just when I thought that I had my feelings under control and I could deal with everything in a controlled and professional manner – Tech happened. Quickly my stirrings of love turned to obsession.
Tech’ing with PG is a unique and exquisite experience. You never know what is going to happen – trapped in a dark basement for 12 hours a day (or more) with a minimum of 15 people – it could be a total disaster. Instead the tech for GYKIT was amazing! Yes – the play was tech’d and once again the play moved to the next level with buh-rilliant lights, mind-blowing costumes, miraculous moving walls and sick sound cues! But there was more. It was also an educational experience - I learned so much. I learned about glitter cannons, knife fights, the choreography to Thriller, the number of gummy worms that can be ingested in two days of tech and that it’s too soon to joke about Aaliyah and Whitney. I met Rodney and Heather and the boyz from In Living Color. I heard buckets of inappropriate jokes, bad puns, raps and a multitude of alternate lyrics to the Milli Vanilli hit ALL OR NOTHING. It was an orgy of laughter, hard work, craziness and flooding.
Oh yes, every good romance has a flood – right? Like the Titanic! It was really the flood that has turned my crush into a full blown, out of control obsession. After 10 hours of tech’ing a pipe broke and began to fill the theater with water. Most companies would have panicked, screamed, become completely unraveled, but not Pavement Group. Everyone sprang into action –there was much moping and vacuuming and dumping of water…and instead of everyone taking off and leaving the work to the crew or production people, everyone stayed and helped hold off the rising waters and then hung out for a beer and a round of “light as a feather – stiff as a board” (don’t ask).
Now the tech and the floods and the insane amounts of sugary treats are done and we have our first preview on Thursday night and I am completely unable to express myself to my crush. I have thought about writing a love letter and leaving it on the tech table for Pavement Group to discover.
Dear PG:
You don’t know me – but I have admired you from afar. I am captivated by you as a whole and keen on the individual parts. I have become dazzled by the brilliant and creative direction of David Perez and his ability to lead GYKIT. I find myself completely enamored with all of the actors – all throwing down real, honest, touching AND f’ing funny performances. I am bewitched by the designers who are turning GYKIT into this amazing spectacle. I am entranced by the production team (the remarkable Mary and Brittany, the incredibly Kaitlin and fierce Taylor and the marvelous Aimee). I think you are all talented and dedicated and passionate and hardworking and…you are all really cute too!
I know we have only known each other for a few weeks but I have a really good feeling about where this might be headed. Why don’t we take things to the next level and maybe go public and share this with a bunch of other people – maybe a bunch of nights each week at around 7:30pm and maybe at 3:00pm on Sundays until May…whatdya say PG?
If you are in favor of exploring this a little further – meet me at The Chopin tonight at around 6:00pm and we can run through the details.
Signed,
Your Secret Admirer
Oh – no – that might be too much – maybe a bit of an “over share”. Maybe, I will just keep my crush to myself – or post about it on a blog. Who knows?
PLEASE NOTE: If anyone reading this tries to move in on my PG crush – I will cut you!
Girl You Know It’s True - by Bixby Elliot
Directed by David Perez
April 12, 2012 - May 13, 2012
Thursday - Saturday@7:30pm
Sunday@3pm
Opening Night 4/16; Industry Night 4/23
Chopin Theatre
1543 West Division Street
pavementgroup.org
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Mar 30th, 2012
‘Girl’ Blog: Sentell Harper plays one half of Milli Vanilli
When I first read for the role of Rob in Girl You Know it’s True, I said to myself I really want to do this play. What actor wouldn’t want to play one half of the most famous pop icons of the early 90’s?! Of course I knew about the rise and fall of the fantastic duo and had my share of jokes about their ridiculous hair and lip syncing career. However, what excited me most about this play was (besides wearing spandex and hair weaves) that, I would be playing a real life person who had committed suicide because the shame of what he had done and the rejection of millions of people was too much for him. I knew I had an actor’s challenge on my hand and that was something that I didn’t want to pass up! So, I researched dance moves and even Diane Warren’s Solitaire a song that I had never heard of. Went into that audition and callback and just had fun. Well here I am, cast in a Pavement Group show.
I have never worked with Pavement before this and to be honest I had not heard of them until the audition. Yet, being the researcher that I am I did my homework and looked at the website to see what this group was all about and the production history that they had. One thing that really stood out to me which was something that I had not seen here in my past 4 years as an actor in Chicago was that, Pavement had a company member who was a black female. As a black male, I thought to myself “Wow, that’s really awesome. That is just something you don’t see a lot of in Chicago.” It’s important to me that I work and collaborate with artists who recognize diversity and bring it in to the work that they do. The second thing that caught my attention was the past productions that Pavement has done which have been not your run of mill theatre show. They actually looked fun! I was excited to go on the journey with this theatre company and my only goal during this production was to just have fun. And baby that is what I got!
The first rehearsal was not only fun it was so inviting especially to someone who was new to the company. That can be very intimidating to a new artist to be in a room with company members that share a history, yet I felt welcomed and accepted. Now I feel like I am writing a restaurant review…I give Pavement Group 5 stars for ambience and now on to the meal. If rehearsing with the cast and Working with David Perez is a meal then it would be delicious. I enjoyed the way David directs with working from the outside which is something I had not done since grad school.
There really has not been any tough moments with working on the play or the character of Rob since I started. I knew that I wanted to humanize Rob and make him not the coked out larger then life figure he may appear to be but to show that he was a young man who suffered from extreme fear of not being loved and accepted. Rob was an outcast something I can relate to and he had such a focused desire of making it which any artist can identify with. What I love about Bixby’s play is that it shows the audience exactly what they want and remember right about Milli Vanilli and then it goes deeper and shows us who these two young men were. Rob is a complex character that for the last 21 years has been a joke. I believe the play in many ways allows Rob to have a voice that he didn’t have during those years of being a mockery. I have so enjoyed working with Pavement Group and Girl You Know It’s True. Thank you for the opportunity to play Rob Pilatus and to wear early 90’s fashion!
Girl You Know It’s True - by Bixby Elliot
Directed by David Perez
April 12, 2012 - May 13, 2012
Thursday - Saturday@7:30pm
Sunday@3pm
Opening Night 4/16; Industry Night 4/23
Chopin Theatre
1543 West Division Street
pavementgroup.org
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Feb 17th, 2012
Kim Lawson
1. Who the hell is Victory Gardens and what makes you the best?
What a ridiculous question. Victory Gardens is where an assembled team of gardeners and botanists and skilled florists come together and cultivate little playwright seeds. We watch their plays bloom before our eyes before Mother Nature takes them to New York. She’s one vicious producer.
Best? More like the most wondrous company ever.2. What’s your favorite karaoke song and why?
<Don’t Rain On My Parade because everyone groans when they hear the intro, but I win them over in the end. Every. Time.3. Do you have a company mantra/slogan/catch phrase?
“Did you see Chad Deity? That was us.” Also, “Theater so close, it touches you.” (Inappropriately)4. If you could go back in time and see one show, what would it be?
Funny Girl with Barbra. To see and hear her at the beginning of her career would be an incredible experience. Second choice, Bells are Ringing with Barbra Harris.5. What were the 90s like for you?
Ages 10-19…can we say AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! As a violinist, singer, and actor who enjoys reading, sci fi, and showtunes, I can say there was no awkwardness at all…not at all.———————The Karaoke Showdown is TOMORROW!!! pavementgroup.org -
Feb 16th, 2012
Stephen Ptacek
1. Who the hell is Dog & Pony and what makes you the best?
We’re the best because we don’t have to explain how we’re the best. Everyone just accepts it.2. What show or event is your theatre best known for?
We’re best known for our world premier promenade work (As Told By The Vivian Girls, The Twins Would Like To Say) and our local premier new work (God’s Ear, Dead Letter Office, Roadkill Confidential)3. Who makes the best music these days?
I’ve really been enjoying Nat Baldwin’s solo work. He’s the Bassist from the Dirty Projectors, and he’s pretty amazing by himself. I’m also a really big fan of CaCaw, but they just broke up. Cave is monster awesome.4. What is your favorite thing about the Chicago theatre community?
The PEOPLE. The DIVERSITY. The RISKS. NEW WORK.5. What were the 90s like for you?
Very repressed. And spazzy. I memorized whole seasons of Doug and the Simpsons. I also watched a lot of Bob Ross painting shows. It’s funny, because I don’t really watch TV anymore, but the 90’s were different. It was like TV was all that mattered.———————More info on the Karaoke Showdown coming up THIS SATURDAY! pavementgroup.org -
Feb 15th, 2012
Wes Needham
1. Who the hell is The New Colony and what makes you the best?
The New Colony’s mission is to contribute original material to the American artistic canon, all while developing a new theater going audience.
My goal is to systematically ruin them. And this contest is just one of many steps I’m taking to do just that. That is why I’m the best.2. What show or event is your theatre best known for?
I would love to say “any of the ones I was associated with. From 11:11 to Sordid Little Story or FRAT”. Those were all super fun, and a blast to be a part of, but 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche is just about the hardest I’ve ever laughed at a show ever.3. What’s your favorite karaoke song and why?
I do not wish to release this information, as I’d like it to serve as a surprise dagger through the hearts of non-believers. Here’s what you should know. It’s loud, it’s love, it’s all of us.4. If you could go back in time and see one show, what would it be?
I know this should be more theater in Chicago related, but I’m sorry, the answer will always remain “rooftop Abbey Road, Beatles”.5. What were the 90s like for you?
A lot of fake skateboarding on my Alien Workshop skateboard, wearing my Airwalks while parting my hair down the middle, blasting Nirvana’s “Bleach”. What a little shit.———————More info on the Karaoke Showdown coming up THIS SATURDAY! pavementgroup.org -
Feb 14th, 2012
Carlo Garcia
1. Who the hell is Mary Arrchie and what makes you the best?
We’ve been tackling plays about societal outcasts and the subjects of exile whether self inflicted or from outside sources since 1986 on the back of the Chicago Theater stalwart Richard Cotovsky.2. Where do you hang out after shows?
We usually hang out at Angel Island post show, with a case of beer and some music. But, we’ve been known to take it up elsewhere like Justin’s on Southport when Karl is tending bar or everyone’s favorite Four Moon.3. What show or event is your theatre best known for?
For the past 23 years, the Abbie Hoffman Died for Your Sins Theater Festival has been a popular fringe festival for the theater community, open invitation and over 50 companies providing theatrical entertainment for 72 hours. We’re also known for producing Cherrywood with David Cromer and 49 actors in our 50 seat black box.4. What’s your favorite karaoke song and why?
My favorite karaoke song is… no, wait! I will sing it in the first round at the Showdown! Come see it if you really want to know.5. What’s your LEAST favorite thing about the Chicago theatre community?
The empty houses are the hardest part for me. There is so much great theater in chicago that goes unseen. Go see a play, e’rebody!———————More info on the Karaoke Showdown coming up on February 18th! pavementgroup.org -
Feb 13th, 2012
Johnny Arena
1. Who the hell is The House Theatre of Chicago and what makes you the best?
We’re the best because we’re free range/organic/pesticide free/ farm raised and USDA certified.2. What is your favorite karaoke song and why?
Mine is “I Just Wanna Love You” by Jay-Z because I really don’t need the lyrics.3. Who makes the best music these days?
I can’t get enough of SBTRKT and the Tuneyards right now.4. What’s your favorite thing about the Chicago theatre community?
It’s right there in the sentence. Community.5. What were the 90s like for you?
A Color Me Badd video———————More info on the Karaoke Showdown coming up on February 18th! pavementgroup.org -
Feb 10th, 2012
Daniel Smith
1. Who the hell is Caffeine Theatre and what makes you the best?
Caffeine Theatre mines the poetic tradition to explore social questions. Are you mining the poetic tradition? I didn’t think so.2. What show or event is your theatre best known for?
“Boojum!” was the runaway existential chamber opera hit of 2010. We also recently did a play called “Or,” about Aphra Behn. Next up: “The Oxford Roof Climber’s Rebellion” by Stephen Massicotte, opening March 10.3. What’s your favorite karaoke song and why?
“You’re the Cream in My Coffee.” It’s the only song I could think of about coffee. Oh, there’s that one song with Robbie Williams singing about your lipstick mark still on your coffee cup. Remember that one? ”Back for Good.”4. What were the 90s like for you?
Our company was founded in 2003. Several of us were in high school and college in the 90s. Have you seen “Saved By the Bell”? It was just like that.5. Do you have a company mantra/slogan/catch phrase?
Poetry, Percolated.———————More info on the Karaoke Showdown coming up on February 18th! pavementgroup.org -
Feb 9th, 2012
Cyd Blakewell
1. Who the hell is SiNNERMAN Ensemble and what makes you the best?
Please stop yelling at me. SiNNERMAN ensemble is the best. the best need not explain themselves.2. What show or event is your theatre best known for?
Sweet Confinement, as it was written by our artistic director Anna Carini and very much an ensemble-driven show.3. Where do you hang out after shows?
Wherever there’s beer and whiskey aplenty.4. What is your favorite thing about the Chicago theatre community?
Just that. It’s a community. I love to support the folks that I’ve worked with and feel that it is reciprocated.5. Do you have a company mantra/slogan/catch phrase?
I would like to quote the great Sheldon Patinkin who directed our fourth show and loves to say “It’s better to be an asshole than a chickenshit.” We quite agree.———————More info on the Karaoke Showdown coming up on February 18th! pavementgroup.org
new plays, new takes, new voices
