Never Trust Your Pet With the Devil Vet!

FavoriteThing(s)This Week - AJ Fosik

2011-11-01T03:45:00.000-07:00

Vibrant. Violent. Tex Avery Inspired Taxodermy. These pieces are so full of color and electricity. What sort of adventure was undergone to take down these beasts and mount their tokyo colored heads? These 3-D pieces always bring me a sense of joy, fun, and wonder.

Favorite Thing(s) This Week - Moebius

2011-10-28T05:43:00.000-07:00

http://theairtightgarage.tumblr.com/

I love Moebius. Most of us do even if we don't realize it. This link is to a blog appreciating his work. H/T to Tony Akins for pointing the way to it!

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek - Richey Beckett

2011-10-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

Richey Beckett
This is powerful stuff!

FavoriteThing(s)ThisDecade - Paul Pope

2011-10-26T05:21:00.000-07:00

I remember buying a bunch of THBs. Not really knowing what they were, but so enamored of the images. I want to buy a copy of BATTLING BOY. Paul? Are you out there? Will you let me buy a copy already?

Favorite Thing(s) This Week - Brendan Monroe

2011-10-25T03:53:00.000-07:00

Brendan Monroe

Also featured on BOOOOOOOM

Isolation. Mired in primordial sludge or thin quantum super strings. These pieces are melancholia caked with mud. I feel a sort of total lack of morality, something pre-moral.

Plays I'd Like to See

2011-10-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

The Catupuncturist - Two brothers, one a carnival barker, the other a hobo, struggle to out do each other in a post apocalyptic world where cat owners want desperately to curtail and domesticate various felines' instinctual need for wanderlust. How? through Acupuncture! But when Cain conquers Abel in the market, he discovers too late that his technique is fatally flawed! But fatal merely for the felines? Or have these little beasts had one too many treatments leading to terrifying seemingly paranormal results?

Favorite Thing(s) This Week - Ray Caesar

2011-10-24T04:06:00.000-07:00

Ray Caesar

Opulence. Decadence. Danger. Allure. A darling of Juxtapoz Magazine. I can not find the article, but I recall or hallucinate that these works are actually sculpted in a digital realm using 3d rendering software.

These feminine children are beguiling, but the narrative hints at something cautionary to me. Their beauty and youth seems Faustian. These women are the result of paranormal covenants. The painting above could be an apocraphal sitting room from the prelude to an alternate version of Sartre's No Exit.

Favorite Thing(s) This Week (or FTTW for short) is a recurring exploration here at DEVILVET. Anything that inspires us, but primarily visual artists whose work reverberates, delights, or provokes us.

On Alice, Why Alice?

2011-07-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

Not long ago, I was seriously Anti-Alice in Wonderland. Not that I didn't think it was a good story. I just thought it was over done. I wonder what could be brought to it that hasn't been done before. I sort of wanted everyone to get over Alice and start to look for something else that achieved that same sense of the wonder, surrealism, beauty and awe.

But, we are a species that repeats and repeats. There is something about this story that we can not let go of. No matter how many Gaimanesque Heroines there are out there... Alice can not be dismissed.

My attitude toward Alice is changing too. Perhaps I am mellowing. Perhaps I just see the advantage to Lewis Carroll's approachability in the same fashion that Shakespeare, Chekhov, and Neil Simon are unquestionably approachable.

Having begun some serious video play with the current production, I think over 2012, the Mammals are going to play with Video and Alice.

Finger Inspiration - Taylor Mead Twins

2011-06-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

2011-06-02T18:17:00.001-07:00

Finger Links

possibly NSFW nudity

Finger Soundtrack

2011-06-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

Script Bits - PM_IY_

2011-03-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

SNAIL - I am so glad that B.B. introduced us. He is right you are… Well words just don’t… I really like looking at you.

BIRDY - (A little offput) OK

SNAIL - We have this movie, would you like to…

BIRDY - What is the movie about?

SNAIL - It is about you

BIRDY - Me? You don’t even know me.

SNAIL - To capture you, I don’t need to know you. I only need to see you.

OK that was short

2011-03-10T17:41:00.000-08:00

I know... I know... how many of us try to stop blogging but then we start back up again. But, I decided it was time to give it another shot. Jumping back in with both feet next week.

Sunset

2011-01-20T08:30:00.000-08:00

Ok this is it! If you want to keep in touch you can try me at my facebook or check out the chicago mammals at chicagomammals.com

It has been fun amd exciting and I learned a bunch! This site will go offline next week!

Thanks again everyone!

Sometimes the best way to start over is to start over

2011-01-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

So, how many of us have done the old... I am signing off bit and told the world... no more... I blog no more... like Peter Parker we walk away leaving our mask on the garbage heap.

Let me say, I am not quitting, but I need to find a new way to do this and make it mean something. So fresh starts are the best way.

I plan on making this my next to last post at this address, this blog...

I am going to move my internet attention elsewhere... I just got to figure out where and how.

I will continue to update chicagomammals.com and/or themammals.blogspot.com with all things about the company!

Thanks everybody! Good Times were had here!

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-12-22T20:08:00.000-08:00

tomiillustration.com

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-12-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

Skottie Young

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-12-19T21:23:00.000-08:00

Calamityjon h/t BoingBoing.

Thoughts on getting ready

2010-11-27T15:26:00.000-08:00

Getting things ready for the next show. Trying to remember that the less I fret, the better. The more I merely prepare and then open myself up to whomever walks through the doors and whatever they bring through the door with them... the better.

I want this next one to be like a game. Like the joy one gets playing with toys as a child does.

There are very dark themes and actions to be portrayed in the Dream Journal. All the more reason to play, to enjoy. We will bring all our ability and craft and intelligence to this, but no matter how dark the material, we will dance while making this story!

Favorite Thing(s) This Week

2010-11-26T11:59:00.000-08:00

Trailer #1 | "William Kentridge: Anything Is Possible" (2010) | Art21 from Art21 on Vimeo.

William Kentridge

Favorite Thing(s) This Week - Souther Salazar

2010-11-23T22:04:00.000-08:00

http://www.southersalazar.net/

Thanks Again!

2010-11-08T17:15:00.000-08:00

Hey Thanks again! This time from the Octogenarian Veterans!

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-11-04T20:23:00.001-07:00

Zoe Williams
Oh Wow this gives me ideas for Dream Journal of Dr. Jekyll!

Journal Entry

2010-11-02T18:58:00.001-07:00

Seven Snakes sold out this weekend. It is a good feeling to have the closing weekend sold before the middle of the week. I think if we had another 20 seats we might have been able to fill them. I need to figure out a production model that allows us to keep a succesful show like this one up and running. It would have been difficult under any sort of conditions since there are 15 people in the cast, but what if we have a smaller cast show?

I will miss this show. Alot. I still need to process all the stuff I learned making it. I went way out of my comfort zone, and it worked. I have alot of folks to thank for that. The cast, David Lykins, John Ross Wilson, and many more. Thank you all.

Nanowrimo is going well. I am using Nanowrimo in the same manner in which I used it back in 2006 when I was working on a prose version of Seven Snakes. It worked in 2006 and I think it could and will work for The Grave Stranger as well. And, I must admit it has made the past few days very fruitful and positive. Taking a wider lense, a sort of world building approach to the story helps me to realize or generate elements to the story that just would not have occured to me before (or at the very least not as quickly...) Characters sudden appear that I had no idea could be in the story, for instance... Yesterday and Today, two very important characters to the protagnist's past just appeared. Why? Because there was something to this imposed word count deadline that helps one to keep hitting the keys (it helps me anyway).

I think I got to go back to writing right now.

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek - Adam Schmidt

2010-11-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

Adam Schmidt

FavoriteThingsThisWeek

2010-11-01T20:28:00.000-07:00

The return of FTTW!

I don't know how to not love this.

The artist is Michael Rea.

I'm going to eat my geek heart out!

Personal Stuff

2010-10-31T17:43:00.001-07:00

I've been very busy these past few weeks and months attempting to find my way through a new genre (the West) as well as other various falling apples life has sent my way.

Regarding the western, having now seen it a dozen times on its feet, having heard various audience respond, having read the criticisms of it... I believe I now know how to make this 2 and quarter hour 2 act into a 90 min One Act. I suspect that sometime in the not too distant future we'll give it another shot in its new form.

It has been a hell of an experience, very positive but tough at the same time. A lot of heavy lifting on this one. Not just for me, for all of us. But, the journey has been its own reward, and I have learned more on this one production than I have for a single specific production in a long time. My soul and mind are riper for it.

Now, I have to put some serious energy back into getting back in shape. Canceled the gym membership. It was good in the beginning, but realistically it was too out of the way to get to with continued frequency. So, this week I am buying a recumbent cycle for the home. Last time I had one, I worked out with great frequency, and I think that this is definitely the way to go. Also, a couple of free weights as well. The goal is to lose 30 pounds before the next show opens. I can do this!

La Rinascita

2010-10-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

Looking back at the Chicago Fringe, this was my favorite performance. I hope we see more from La Rinascita.

Production Journal for Seven Snakes

2010-08-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

I've said to more than a few folks that this show feels somehow more free than the previous ones. That is still the case. I sort of love that things are happening to the story in every rehearsal that none of us knew would before we get together every night. Within the frame of the story itself, I am trying to bring in something fun, playful, lurid, spontaneous. I have two documentaries on Fellini burned onto DVD and now after frequent viewing burned onto my brain. I am trying (to the best of my ability) to try it his way. To be constantly throwing new ideas at the actors, to be pushing them to try new things. To refuse to settle (at least till we get closer to tech week). I hope it is as much fun for the actors as it has been for me. I am trying here in the beginning this first few weeks of rehearsal to say 'Yes, and' every chance I get. It feels so good.

Girl on a Fish

2010-08-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

She was wearing something that whispered against her skin
A gown that tempted others across the room to wink
She was riding a big vinyl fish with a barbed wire bridle
"Are you ready to give a damn about a girl riding a big silver fish?" She asked as her shoulder strap dropped to her elbow.

The giddy pleasure of no rules.

2010-07-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've spent much of the past decade watching, learning, sculpting 3 specific scripts that were each an homage, expansion, and/or investigation of the facets of the Noir Genre. As a result, I've acquired alot of the technique and style of that period. My imagination is intimate with the style.

However, there really is no way to immerse yourself in that sort without picking up on a few rules, a few boundaries, a few precepts. As you move toward the genre, your mind, your approach, however fluid in the beginning will begin to take the shape of the glass, so to speak. In short, when working in the realm of Noir, I have rules, all sorts of rules. Even when other people can't discern the rules, or if I choose to break them for a moment, they are there. They help me as a practice craft. They are essential, I don't want to disregard them, but Hey! ... Rules sometimes can feel a little limiting.

Now that I have switched Genres for a short time (the Mammals theatre company will soon be beginning production on Seven Snakes, our take on the Spaghetti Western), I feel suddenly free from rules. There is a real giddiness, a tangible pleasure of discovery as we move closer to our first western for the stage. I have no rules! And even though I'm sure something with a little more restraint will arise, right now I can try anything. Frightening? Yes! But Invigorating too!

Rehearsal for New Year's Resolutions

2010-07-14T12:20:00.001-07:00

There are still things in this world that are worth getting mad over. But here is a list of things that I used to let inspire rage inside, but am making a resolution to learn how to let them go.

Improv Comedy
Hot women always leering at me on public transportation
Double wide infant strollers
Panhandlers
Assholes in the audience
Comcast's Prices
Lady Gaga
Rush Limbaugh
Fox News
Twitter's effect on cumulative thought
The approval of squares
The approval of anyone
People who make faces
Kids who think they know better
FreeCreditReport dot com
Jon Stewart's frat boy antics
Cubs fans
NBA thuggery
That asshat who knocked up the other asshat in that movie of the same name
MTV
American Idol
Prescription Drug Marketing
Rednecks
Car exhaust
Pollen
Co-Workers misbehavior
The General lack of anything on TV that doesn't suck
Rickety chairs
Squeaking Wheels
Emotional Vampires
Fucking Stephanie Meyer
Andy Rooney
Dave Barry
etc.

You Are Not Your Label

2010-07-13T09:19:00.001-07:00

How do you define yourself? I guess I'm talking about your theater company specifically? There are a lot of different labels and designations, so many that the terms can suffer for meaning. Chicago theater, Storefront theater, Off Loop, Emerging, Experimental, Community theater, OffOff Loop, GBLT, Member of the League, Late Night theater, Comedy theater, Physical Theater, Theater of Images, Political Theater, Urban Theater, Ethnic Theater, and on and on and on.

The labels sometimes enable. Often they are a way in which others attempt to relegate you. At worst, occasionally it is what helps folks decide whether or not to dismiss others' artistic efforts. For many people, the Mammals are an off off loop low budget theater company that specializes in Horror. If this is what a person decides we are, that will enable or disable their desire to see your shows. We can do the most faithful production of 'Miracle Worker' and some people will be certain that a Mammals take on it would have to include blindfolding the audience and dowsing them with water (I don't want to do this production, but I have to admit it would tickle me to hear of such an endeavor). Labels can lock you into the grid. And there are a few of us, very few of us I fear, who ever want to get off the grid. (I think the most exciting undiscovered country is be found off that grid).

Labels have more to do with marketing than meaning. And if you decide that your marketing is your meaning, well you have consigned yourself to a inferno of economics over art. I know it wouldn't work for everyone, but today my own personal theory can be visualized as a see saw, art on one side, economics on the other. Except that balance rarely occurs (I originally typed 'Accept that balance rarely occurs'). I'll save that tangent for another day.

In the end though it is up to you and your audience to decide what you are. No one else gets a vote. No one else's opinion truly matters. Even a critic's opinion only matters after they have become a member of the audience (this means that you have to do more than just a few shows). Once they become a member of the audience, then they have a opinion that you as the playmaker should start to hear. That doesn't always mean you concede, or you conform to every expressed desire. It means that your audience does have a right to enter into a conversation with you about the work, if they so choose. And, if they are not conversing with you, I sure hope they are discussing the work with someone. Otherwise it seems futile.

Remember that it is ok for someone to not like the work, to not enjoy the show, to have criticisms. It doesn't mean you have to exclude them from your circle of friends. It doesn't mean you now have a sworn enemy to defeat. It means that whatever you put up in front of the audience that night didn't resonate with that person. Period. They have a label they might put on you, but you are not your label.

If anyone out there tries to convince you that 'everyone' loves their show, smile and nod. Don't try to convince them otherwise. If anyone out there tries to convince you that 'no one' likes your show or that your show doesn't count, smile and nod. This sort of individual usually can't be

I always thank the audience as they are leaving the space (or I always intend to). Sometimes you might get caught up doing something essential for the performance space or putting out a metaphorical fire. Still, there is something about thanking the audience that I learned is essential. It lets them know that for good or bad, you stand by what you just showed them. It shows them that they are important. When you are doing very challenging work, an audience member can sometimes feel superfluous to the production. Looking them in the eye with gratitude helps. After thanking them, many folks don't see a show that needs to be labelled. They see a show that Bob put up. The Mammals then becomes synonymous with myself and the other folks that night who thanked them for listening to the story. We occasionally discuss the stories, and forget about the labels.

The Author and Auteur

2010-07-12T14:01:00.000-07:00

What happens when you hear the script outloud either the first time or after a very long time?

It helps me immensely. I like hearing people respond to the piece. Sometimes during a reading you can get a thrill listening to the words coming out of actors' mouths. It is tough though in that you want to start directing right away.

There are somethings that a reading can't show you, can't tell you. Often a reading just can't tell you how powerful the visual component of the play will be. You can (and I have) spend alot of time and energy working on explicit descriptions of the nuts and bolts of the titanic as it goes down, but it just wont happen during a first read thru.

You can say "He stands there, eyeing the crowd" and never know during a read thru if that is the right moment in the script for such an action. Sometimes a reading can give you an excellent indication of pace, but other times it can't especially when action is being described rather than enacted.

In the end, I think that there is so much that is cinematic in its approach to a script, yes even a stageplay nowadays, that theatre is increasing less about literature and more about action. Shakespeare is precious, but if somebody tried that approach today, they would be told all sorts of feedback that would boggle the mind of a Bill's disciples.

That is not to say that you shouldn't be thankful for feedback. But, you should away look upon that feedback as a way to understand your deeper intent rather than as a way to make a more palatable 'product'. Everyone has an auteur inside them. That auteur has to be able to communicate, but still let the auteur smile and scowl and wink on occasion. Variety can be the wondrous result.

The author/auteur must be willing to listen to the response without abandoning originality and intent. The read thru is not a final judgement, but it is an experiment (god that is a hard word to type because of all it implies to so many out there). Even if the experiment fails, I say hold on to the intention of that experiment. Hold on to it as long as you can!

Doubt happens but it is ok

2010-07-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

Doubt happens. It is part or the process. To proceed without having had doubts is foolhardy. To endure despite doubts is somewhat heroic (in that small personal sort of way).

The script can be a huge source of doubt. It sits there on the screen or on the page. You can spend countless hours studying it. And when you attempt to recall your original intent, you fear that those words were once carved in ice and now only vapor. But persistence in the face of such doubt is required.

Know that even the most braggadocios have doubt. Doubt is valid, but so is tenacity despite those doubts!

How do you manage your doubts? How do you overcome them?

Am I getting too old to change my word processor?

2010-07-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

So, I got to thank a few friends lately that happen to be diligent enough to catch my clerical errors when trying to arrange readings. Between all the hullabaloo of real life, a short 4 day work week, etc... I got all my dates and days mixed up. The tough thing about that sort of mental mix up is that it seems so darn hard to shake, like signing 2009 onto your 2010 cheques this past January.

But rather than talking calendar logistics, lets turn it back to the art. As I've been writing and rewriting, it can sometimes get a little confusing which version of the script is the one who want to go with. I used to attach the latest version of any script to a gmail draft email so that I could have access to it wherever I went (that had wifi... which is turning into almost everywhere).

Now most the time, I was able to keep everything in order, properly label each and any draft, and actually have a pretty good record of various drafts. I know that google documents might even be a better option for this sort of exercise, but I am not the biggest fan of the google documents interface. I like, perhaps I might even need, to see writing subdivided by pages. Openoffice does this. Word does this. Heck, even Wordperfect does this. But Google Docs does not.

Some of my friends are huge advocates for scriptwriting software. I have tried a few, but haven't found that software that makes me fall in love and think about uninstalling my openoffice. What sort of software do you use when writing?

Woyzeck - Spoilers Ahead!!!

2010-07-08T13:16:00.000-07:00

I had a conversation today with some tweeters about this Woyzeck Festival that is apparently happening. We each seemed to be coming at it from different angles, but one of us asked if anyone could participate in the festival since the work was in the public domain. I thought that just because anyone could didn't necessarily mean that it was a good idea, especially for smaller companies who may feel that they were already struggling for audience and/or exposure.

Whereas, some can imagine this as a diverse experiment, others might consider that after a single version or perhaps two different versions, and audience might get Woyzeck fatigue. Comparisons were made to the success of the O'Neill festival and how that could translate to this sort of endeavor. But, I don't know that that is an apt analogy. This isn't a Buchner festival of many companies performing all four of his works, this is just one specific play.

Some of the play's fans suggest that this specific piece could transcend fatigue since there are endless possible variations of production. For those of you who aren't familiar with Woyzeck, there is no definitive version. Many different versions in different scene orders exist, which has meant that the events in the play are open to recombinations.

But, even despite this, the question for me remains (spoiler alert)... how many times can I watch Franz stab Maria in a single season before I decide to spend my audience dollars on a more diverse selection of stories?

Any thoughts? Is audiene fatigue a possibility here? Does it matter? If not why not?

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek - Arts Club of Chicago

2010-07-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

Arts Club of Chicago. I am amazed how many of my fellow artists and art lovers don't avail themselves of this wonderful little oasis nestled in the Streeterville neighborhood. Right now they are exhibiting work by one of the greats of the 20th Century German Art, George Grosz. Click, but don't just click... go see! It's free!

On being civil when asking for money!

2010-07-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

On being civil at the very least in person.

So I was invited to a fundraiser. It happens. Alot. And when I got there, I found alot of friendly faces I hadn't seen in a while. It felt great. Two interactions really stood out. One of the individuals there was super friendly. This person when out of their way to make me feel welcome, to introduce me to other people I didn't know. This person made the experience wonderful, inclusive, inviting. There was somebody else there, this person was in a bad mood. This person went out of their way to be rude and standoffish. This person did nothing but complain about others in a recent project. When asked what this person was working on, this person just shrugged and said something self derogatory and then mocked me for pretending to care.

Here's some advice. If you can't be friendly, positive, and gracious at your own fundraiser, stay home... or at the very least stay away from my table after I just paid the cover to support you.

Are you still connected? What do you want from your theatrosphere?

2010-07-04T23:00:00.000-07:00

I told a friend that now was an exciting time for off loop theatre. She seemed surprised to hear me say this. I thought more people were getting work produced. I thought the press was more interested, I thought people were still coming to see shows at the off loop level (of course this is a hard to agree upon thing to define...off loop of off off loop anyway, I think the people I know are getting work up, the work is being seen, they are growing as artists, they are making it work).

I've seen a ton of good theatre in the past 2 years. Most of those productions are listed over in my margin (I occasionally don't get a show up there that I've seen, but most of them I do.

However, I do think there is a by product of that energy and business and excitement. I think that sometimes many of us let our connections fall to the wayside. We get so busy in the making of the art, that we don't have as many beers and behind the scene connections as we once did.

Fewer posts about the work, about the day to day of what we do.

So, in a roundabout way here is my question... are we all still as connected as we once were? I mean on any level you wish to address be it locally here in Chicago or nationally and virtually on theatrosphere?

Is the theatrosphere still giving you want you want from it? What do you want from it?

Father Scene

2010-06-30T21:31:00.000-07:00

A-Your Father?

B-Yes

A-What Happened?

B-He held me

A-An Embrace?

B-No. By the throat.

A-He was choking you?

B-No! Just holding me by the throat.

A-And then what?

B-And then he reached into his pocket with his right hand, the left hand still holding my throat. He pulled a knife out of his pocket. He showed me the knife. And then he cut open my face. It is was quick. A slash. And there wasn't any blood, but there was that weird sense of air passing over flesh never ever exposed before.

A-Why did he cut you?

B-He was angry. He was very angry with me.

Hats

2010-06-19T21:19:00.000-07:00

A-I don't like this hat anymore
B-Why not
A-It's making me old
B-You used to love that hat
A-Not anymore
B-You're going to get old regardless of the hat.
A-But the hat aint helping things. Not a bit.
B-Why blame the hat.
A-Hat like this one comes with responsibilities
B-Does it?
A-They convince you that look good in a hat like this. They intimate it is the right hat for you. It makes you look dignified and other such stuff. But what they don't tell you is that these sorts of hats require a lot of upkeep. And the more time you put into the care and management of this type of hat, the more the hat sort of sinks it's fangs into you. You start caring about the hat, even though you might truly hate the hat. You might truly hate the way the hat makes you feel. But it was such a difficult hat to come by. And if you just take it off and throw it away, hell, who knows when you'll ever find another hat.
B-You get something back from the hat.
A-Headache is all you get. This hat gives me a headache
B-So chuck it already.
A-That's just what I'm going to do. I'm getting rid of it. I'm finally going to get the hell rid of this hat.
B-I'll roll down the window for ya.
A-Good. Here it goes
(A doesn't get rid of the hat. B shakes head and rolls the window back up.)
B-Well, I don't blame you.
A-...God damn I hate this hat.

Why get the cure when all you really need is assurance?

2010-06-17T19:24:00.000-07:00

It appears that I had forgotten how to blog. It used to be a habit. Almost daily, I would show up in this virtual space and type all sorts of crazy, provocative, personal items. I would fashion manifestos and take pot shots at virtual frienemies.

But during the last production something happened. Suddenly I found that I wasn't compelled, or perhaps I wasn't compelled to the same degree as I had been before.

Is there such a thing as "blogger's block"? I ask this because even though I haven't written much here lately, I have been writing. I have also been reading alot. Reading happens in shifts for me. It is sort of like the seasons. When the reading season hits I want to get as much of the crop in as possible before the frost stops and self diagnosed dyslexia sets back in.

I don't tend to believe in 'writer's block'. I believe that if you think you have 'writer's block' then the best thing to do is to just start writing random words on a page. Then rewrite the same words over and over again until the words become sentences and then the sentences become something more.

I believe that sounds and shapes can work like rorschachs and that you can become your own psychoanalysis. I'm not claiming that you can cure your neurosis yourself (most of us I think in all honesty don't want the skeleton key to our own minds, we just want assurances that we are on track regarding our 'meaning'), but by simply writing nine random words on a page, and then rearranging them into phrases and then amplifying and supplementing them into sentences, one can start to map thoughts and dreams and visions that one didn't realize were sitting beneath the apparent mind.

We don't want the cure. We just want assurance.

That is a thought that wasn't inside my conscious mind five minutes ago when I sat down and started typing randomly.

If you can think of a song, then just keep humming or strumming scales.

I'm going to take this instruction. I'm going to take this medicine myself.

I feel like I still have great things, great thoughts inside me. I have to try.

You should too. If you feel discouraged. You should keep putting various words on the page or screen. Just keep doing it.

Wow. I didn't think I had another post in me tonight. But, here it is.

Alright, back to Seven Snakes.

Seven Snakes - Process

2010-06-03T19:33:00.000-07:00

Process

Getting ready to begin pre-production for SEVEN SNAKES in earnest. I am excited to be working on this script which represents characters, ideas, narrative that I began dreaming of back in 2006 while my time was short in Atlanta, Georgia. I needed something to escape the waiting of my departure back to Chicago. I found that escape in NANOWRIMO. My last day in ATL was November 30th. So, I spent those last thirty days throwing myself into this variation of a Native American fairy tale that I had heard of in Joseph Campbell's POWER OF MYTH.

I've spent the better part of the last decade attempting to figure out how the genre of Noir could work into my personal aesthetic. So, I am anxious and exciting to use this production to embrace the Western.

The Mammals investigate history, mythology, and destiny using the genres of Science Fiction, Horror, and Phantasmagoria. It should be a ton of fun pulling that all together in this piece which I hope ends up as a love letter to the works of Leone and Peckinpah.

Why so quiet lately?

2010-05-31T14:31:00.001-07:00

Well, I was pretty busy with a show. Then I got around to some navel gazing. Now, I'm trying to figure out how to proceed.

I will proceed on the blogosphere, but now the question is how.

How?

Don't Make That Face

2010-05-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

Don't make that face
Really not self congratulating
Still it's a fact
My midnight reading
has been schizo-eclectic
First, poems from Charles Simic
Then a few pages of Marvel Comics Essential Punisher Volume 2
Even the Cro-Magnon Adolescent
can have a +130 Intelligence Quotient

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-04-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

Samantha Stella Reis

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-04-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

Ian Paterson

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-04-20T05:39:00.000-07:00

H/T to Paul Pope

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-04-19T19:32:00.001-07:00

Cynic With A Pencil aka Bobby O'Herlihy

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-04-08T05:24:00.000-07:00

Peter Root

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-04-07T05:13:00.000-07:00

Michihiro Matsuoka

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-04-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

Geoffrey Gorman

Dave Goss as the Meatlocker

2010-04-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

The MEATLOCKER opens April 16th
for more info visit chicagomammals.com

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-04-05T05:50:00.000-07:00

Ambrea Wellmann

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-04-01T04:15:00.000-07:00

Matt Cipov

Sara Gorsky Done Good!

2010-03-08T06:45:00.001-08:00

Sara Gorsky has won best actress for the 2010 Orgie Awards!

More on the Orgie award and ceremony below!

ORGIE THEATRE AWARD

The "Orgie" is an award to encourage original, innovative, risky, thrilling, inspiring, and possibly outlandish work in Chicago theatre. All theatre disciplines are eligible to receive an Orgie Theatre Award -- directing, acting, playwriting, music composition, ensemble work, lighting, sound, props, set design, artistic direction, producing, et al.

The Orgie Theatre Award committee is an anonymous collection of theatre artists and patrons. The name "Orgie" is taken from the word "original." To be granted an Orgie, a nominee must receive a majority of the committee's votes. The Orgie Theatre Award committee does not claim to be fair, unbiased, or reasonable. Their goal is to encourage a spirit of originality and adventure in Chicago theatre.

COME TO OUR ORGIE ORGY!

If you’d like to celebrate the winners, the Orgies, Chicago theatre, or just want your shot at a free beer:

The Spot
4437 N. Broadway
Upstairs
Thursday, March 11
9:00 pm – 12:00
First 20 people to say “Orgie” get a free beer!

Re Invention

2010-03-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

Crypto Inspiration

2010-02-27T11:09:00.001-08:00

While imaging landscapes for the Chicago Cryptozoological Tour, members of the creative team will be either taking awesome pictures of locations all over the city or searching through the net for amazing photography of the city. Later we will use this images to help create our stories for the cryptozoological beings we will discover/create.

Photo by Steve Duncan

How To Stay Connected to Your Friends and Your Artistic Community?

2010-02-26T21:50:00.000-08:00

The thing about success is that it can also create isolation. As success reverberates you are enabled to do more. Often, you decide to do just that. But, that means you have less to absorb in the ways you used to. Translation, you see fewer shows, read fewer books, listen to fewer new bands... when your work life or job life or art life starts picking up.

So, how to manage it? Is it merely a matter of smaller bites throughout the day? Reading in smaller chucks? Watching everything on DVR? even the news? Sacrificing your time as an audience member?

Time Management? Self Sacrifice? Less Sleep?
Disappointment? Resignation? Relief? Caffeine? Less Blogging?

I don't know if I have any answers. Anyone else have thoughts, comments, or do you just feel the same way?

If you are working on more than one show at a time, doing the day job thing, rehearsing 5 nights a week, maybe even performing the other 2 nights... what are the things you are willing to let go of? What are the things you refuse to leave hanging?

Cryptozoological Homework Assignment Number One

2010-02-26T16:53:00.000-08:00

Chicago Cryptozoological Tour is back on which means that for those of you out there who are interested in this little bit of insanity, the homework now resumes.

Homework Assignment #1

Take interesting pictures of Chicago's many potential landscapes or comb the web for them and send them to me at devilvet at gmail dot com. Once we get 10-20 intriguing photos we can move on to the second homework assignment.

Go!

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-02-25T10:21:00.000-08:00

Charles Glaubitz

What sort of art do you want - 2

2010-02-16T10:35:00.000-08:00

I want art that offers catharsis only when it is earned.

"I want to enter my house justified"
- Joel McCrea in Ride The High Country

What sort of art do you want - 1

2010-02-16T10:31:00.000-08:00

I want art that is akin to turning over a rock and seeing what crawls beneath.

This is it - BREED closes tonight Sat Feb 13th

2010-02-12T22:44:00.000-08:00

Call 866-593-4614 for reservations

2010-02-10T16:31:00.001-08:00

The Mammals BREED WITH ME closes Sat Feb 13th. For tickets call 866-593-4614!

A bit sexy, dangerous, dirty... it's an adventure and you got one last chance to get in on it!

2010-02-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

Ron Kroll and Sara Gorsky as the SHUTTERBUG and the DOLL in BREED WITH ME

One show left! The final performance is Sat Feb 13th at 10pm BYOB
Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donations $15.00.

Call 866-593-4614 for reservations!

The Quickening Race to settle the question of race.

2010-02-08T21:24:00.001-08:00

It is tough to keep up with the goings on in theatrosphere as of late. Not so much to time to take it all in. But, it is encouraging to see the conversation, consternation, and community like back in the good old days. The all or nothing days.

Not sure what I could add to the diversity talk that hasnt already been said. I usually don't feel compelled to engage in these sorts of rowdydows.

As a half cuban half gringo who has never read as anything to most folks other than white, I find that just about every audible 'white' voice seems to be aiming for catharsis (even my own)... and that when it comes to race, the white catharsis happens quicker than the minority catharsis.

Finding our catharsis isnt the problem though is it?

I think a direction we need is getting black people and white people to socialize more and better and more deeply.

Can theatre do that? Not white theatre or black theatre... just theatre?

That might not resolve economic inequity enough for the satisfaction of some (or most)... but even if it seems like weak tea, it is the only thing that I can think of right now.

I can't solve racial inequality in theatre or anywhere else. All I can do is examine it, dissect it, tell stories about it, listen to others stories about it.

I think that the best thing to do often is just listen. Don't even repeat. Because the stuff people say just gets revised each time it is repeated by the voice of another 'other'.

Start with listening. Fuck consensus. Listen. Do that first. That and when you see someone get a little steam behind them, get out of their way.

Everytime a minorty voice speaks a story, I wish more 'white' ears would listen. Forget rebuttal, just listen.

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek - Amy Casey

2010-02-04T19:25:00.000-08:00

Amy Casey

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-02-03T21:38:00.000-08:00

Nicholas Di Genova. He's got a blog NSFW.

Also Hi Fructose has a bunch of his work up.

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-02-02T17:09:00.000-08:00

Sailor Twain... made me feel like I was a saltie.

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-01-31T19:30:00.000-08:00

Raquel Aparicio

We Want You!

2010-01-20T20:35:00.001-08:00

We have only got 4 shows left, and those final seats are going fast!!!

Friday Jan 22nd
Saturday Jan 23rd
Saturday Feb 6th
Saturday Feb 13th

All show start at 10pm

Call 866-593-4614

The Mammals are Extending our Critically Acclaimed Production of BREED WITH ME!

2010-01-18T21:05:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Mammals Theatre Company presents

BREED WITH ME
written and directed by Bob Fisher

"I was alternately fascinated and terrified by the wonderfully perverse story" - Jack Helbig w/the Reader

"A must see for horror and noir fans alike" - Kerry Reid w/Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Mammals are extending their run of BREED WITH ME.

The following performance dates have been added

Saturday Feb 6th
Saturday Feb 13th

Both additional performances are at 10pm

Aliens, Ghosts, Noir... BREED WITH ME (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, Chicago Reader & New City) is the Mammals' Hardboiled story of a man whose sexual appetites have forced him to run away from his past into the American desert where he falls into the clutches of the ultimate femme fatale.

Remaining Performance Dates including added shows are as follows

Friday Jan 22,
Saturday Jan 23
Saturday Feb 6th
Saturday Feb 13th

All performances are at 10pm – BYOB
Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donations $15.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

Can You Do Nighthawks Justice?

2010-01-12T21:46:00.000-08:00

This is not even with final lighting and costumes. I think we're going to rock it out!

The Edward Hopper Project

Lame Post About How Books Should Get You Laid

2010-01-11T13:41:00.001-08:00

"We need to make reading books sexy again. If you go home with someone and they don't have books in their home... don't fuck them." - John Waters

What are the 5 best books you read last year?

I'm talking about 'ought to get you laid on the college quad' kind of sexy books.

What are some books you want to read this year or that you would put on everyone else's must read list.

p.s. I will delete any reference to Outrageous Fortune (wink to Issac)

The year is starting off with a bang!

2010-01-08T08:23:00.000-08:00

The year is starting off with a bang!

Right now....

we are nearly sold out for the remaining run of the Mammals' Show BREED WITH ME.

Next week, my other theater company WNEP, opens The (edward) HOPPER project, an endeavor that has been years in the making.

The week after that, WNEP opens NIGHTHAWK SANDWICH, a sort of wild child constructed out of HOPPER scenes that maybe didnt make the final cut, but still were so fun and compelling that they deserve a night all their own!

Non-traditional Spaces and Approaches Forum on the 17th at the Zoo Studio, great way to make new friends and have exciting and challenging conversations with fellow theater makers.

And then Auditions for the Mammals' next show THE MEATLOCKER

No sleep till Feb!

Picking Our Parents?

2010-01-07T10:19:00.001-08:00

Thinking about 99's post yesterday, specifically the comments section

http://99seats.blogspot.com/2010/01/isaac-poses-question.html

This sort of conversation is the kind that I find pleasurable. Who has influenced you?

How does inheritance, essentialism, conditioning, etc affect who we consider to be the parents of our artistic influence?

Is there a difference between building upon the parents, entering into conversation with the parents, or publicly rebuking the parents?

Do we merely inherit a canon, or do we have the opportunity not merely at a counter canon, but multiple counter canons?

Are there reasons to fear a sort of 'seperate but equal' perception of not multi-culture but multiple culture?

What are the fine points of difference between those two concepts?

Auditions! Please help us spread the word!

2010-01-06T18:09:00.000-08:00

The Meatlocker - Opening April 2010

The Chicago Mammals are holding non-equity auditions for men of all ages for our next show entitled THE MEATLOCKER.

Auditions will be held on Sunday Jan 24th from 12-5pm. To schedule an appointment to audition or to ask questions, please email us at themammals@gmail.com.

The Chicago Mammals like smart tough non-equity actors who work hard and are easy to get along with! If that sounds like you drop us an email!

The Third Play in the Noir Triptych, this is the tale of a boxer haunted by demons from his past warning that if he goes down for the full ten count, even if it's a dive, he wont ever get back up. Every time the boxer steps on the mat, he is fighting for his life. The real trouble occurs when the boxer meets a bookie who wont take no for an answer to fix a fight. This story will be told by the Mammals in both graphic novel form as well as a stage production.

pre-visualization of one of the pages from the upcoming graphic novel, click to enlarge

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2010-01-06T14:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/books/review/Roiphe-t.html?ref=books&pagewanted=all

Non-Traditional Spaces and Approaches - Part Two

2010-01-06T09:01:00.000-08:00

Where you come from and where you want to be greatly influences you're opinion of non-traditional spaces and approaches.

Where you do your show affects your production how? When you did that show in...

a bar,
in the park,
at the gallery,
in the back of a car,
at the bus stop,
in your living room,
beneath the bean,
from the balcony
in the lobby
in the goldfish bowl...

There was no way you were able to process in a manner that you were taught while at college. What are the big surprises that almost or maybe even did kick you in the butt?

How did the non-traditional venue affect things like

audience's comfort
attention span
actors enthusiasm
difficulties in promotion
ensemble anxiety

When you did your non-traditional production, did it feel...

just right
exciting,
sort of like 'slumming it'
fearful
nothing special
a break thru for the form the form of theatre
sort of like a dirty picnic
walking through a sculpture garden?

Ron Kroll as THE SHUTTERBUG

2010-01-04T18:41:00.000-08:00

Click on image to enlarge!

Ron Kroll as The Shutterbug and Meghann Tabor as The Doll in the Mammals' new show BREED WITH ME! For info about tickets click here!

The Mammals are back at it!

2010-01-03T18:56:00.000-08:00

click on image to enlarge

BREED WITH ME is back in 2010!

We have six shows left! And due to limited seating, remaining shows are already half full! We really hope you come out to see our show called a "MUST SEE" by the Chicago Tribune.

Performance Dates are as follows

Jan 8,9
Jan 16 (no show Jan 15th)
Jan 22, 23

Industry Night Monday Jan 18th (PLEASE NOTE Industry night performance is at 8:30pm)

All other performances are at 10pm – BYOB
Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613

Suggested donation $15.00. Jan 22nd and Jan 23 will be closing weekend fundraisers. Tickets for Jan 22nd and Jan 23rd are $15.00 (post show party and drinks included)

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

How Do You Deal With The Doubts of Others?

2010-01-03T10:21:00.000-08:00

Listen... evaluate... then persist.

Who's Going To Stop You?

2010-01-02T21:14:00.000-08:00

No one can. They may try, but you can endure. You may change, but you will endure.

On Criticism

2009-12-30T08:41:00.000-08:00

Rather than offering the "final word" on an art object or performance, the very best sort of criticism seeks to begin discussion.

For example, if the critic finds the attitudes and actions of the characters onstage to be villainous, misogynistic, noble, endearing, etc... It is much more exciting when there shared reflections on the work become part of a conversation about "why" this piece rather than "what is" this piece.

A mere prediction about the value of consuming a work of art isn't ask exciting or engaging as the sort of criticism that becomes the first volley are interpretation, exchange of ideas not only about the piece of art, but ourselves and its affect on that.

Non Traditional Spaces and Approaches - Part One

2009-12-29T09:29:00.001-08:00

In preparation for the upcoming forum on Non-Traditional Spaces and Approaches, I'll be sketching out posts over the next few weeks regarding various artists and ideas in the hopes of sparking the conversation. More info on the forum and the summit are available by clicking here and here.

I've never been truly engaged by the Puppet Bike. That is not a artistic dig, I just have never seen a live performance that wasn't 2 stuffed animals wagging themselves at each other. Whereas the content doesn't resonate with me, the spirit of the endeavor does. Here is an artist that is truly free from so many of the constraints and obstacles that hinder and concern an entire section of the storefront theatre makers.

Now one might say, well that is all well and good for a man who makes simple children's puppet shows... but how am I supposed to realize my artistic vision from the back of a 3 wheel bicycle? Well why not? Use the empty space in the back of the bike or the front of the bike or in a trailer behind the bike to express your narrative. If the design of your narrative is longer than you envision a crowd being able to gather and focus in a public space, then focus on the premise of your story and create a condensed version.

The performance can go anywhere the bike can. That enables an amazing self-reliance.

Mobility, modularity, inventiveness, distillation... these are lessons that any artist could learn from Puppet Bike. If you are committed or merely interested in Non-traditional spaces and approaches, you should ask yourself how such an approach to art and real estate could enable you as a storyteller.

p.s.

You can also take the idea of a mobile stage and expand it the way INCOGNITO, INC did (h/t to Ben Thiem for helping me remember the company's name)

http://www.performink.com/Archives/reviewroundup/2003/11-21ReviewRoundup.html

Sara Gorsky as THE DOLL

2009-12-28T10:51:00.000-08:00

goto themammals.blogspot.com for info

FavoriteThingsThisWeek

2009-12-21T18:52:00.000-08:00

Hey Oscar Wilde!!!

Just go it is a beautiful thing!

I am seriously in love with this site!

FavoriteThingsThisWeek

2009-12-15T05:10:00.000-08:00

As the Mammals Theatre company continue to present our new show BREED WITH ME, I am going to focus my FavoriteThings on some of my favorite genre websites, artists, etc... things that inspire me and inspire my art, art like BREED WITH ME

Seeing a Richard Foreman show was tranformative for me. I had never seen anything like it. His style, his aesethic is singular and has inspired me for most of my artistic life. Whenever I am feeling less than brave about putting up a moment in a show like BREED WITH ME, I remember this man's art and his biography, and I am reinforced. He says this is his last show (IDIOT SAVANT) or at the least his last piece of theatre. I hope not.

Richard Foreman - Wake Up Mr. Sleepy!...

Other Related FavoriteThingsThisWeek posts...

Monstermoviemusic.blogspot.com
Aly Fell

Putting out the casting call!

2009-12-14T21:34:00.000-08:00

The Mammals are getting ready to cast their spring show, THE MEATLOCKER. It is a period boxing noir/science fiction/horror story set in the 50s. We need tough guys who are easy going and excellent actors. Sound like you? Interested in being a part of it? Email us at themammals@gmail.com for more information!

2009-12-14T18:10:00.000-08:00

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2009-12-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

As the Mammals Theatre company continue to present our new show BREED WITH ME, I am going to focus my FavoriteThings on some of my favorite genre websites, artists, etc ... things that inspire me and inspire my art, art like BREED WITH ME

Kiki Smith

Kiki Smith has created some of the most immediate, simple, powerful imagery about women I have ever seen. I am always compelled and influenced by her work, especially when thinking about characters like the femme fatale in the Mammals' BREED WITH ME.

When I look at these sculptures, I've always wanted to see them come to life, to watch/witness stories starring them as the protagonists.

FavoriteThing(s)ThisWeek

2009-12-09T06:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.lapp-pro.de/

Non-Traditional Spaces and Approaches Forum

2009-12-08T16:03:00.000-08:00

Where: Zoo Studios 4001 N Ravenswood Ave Ste B-1
When: Sunday January 17th at 7:00pm

RSVP by sending an email to devilvet@gmail.com with your name and what questions/goals/etc you have and/or want to get out of this forum.

If you just want to meet, to ask questions, or think you have something valuable to add to the conversation... let me know.

Currently, I'm working on discussion points, etc for the evening. Now is a great time to tell me what you want out of such a forum.

If you want to know where I get off thinking I can head up one of these things, well then you ought to come see my latest endeavor also at Zoo Studio as well as introduce yourself to me!

I promise to start posting about other things soon but...

2009-12-08T06:43:00.000-08:00

We (the Mammals) have been working hard on our newest show BREED WITH ME. And the reviews are in. I hope you'll consider coming to see our show. Below, we've listed some links to folks who have seen it and had some very positive things to say.

Don Hall's review for AWG
Zac Thompson's review for the Chicago Reader
Lisa Buscani's review for NewCity
Caitlin Montanye Parrish's review for Timeout
Jack Helbig's Chicago Reader review from 2003

You can imagine getting this show up has taken the better part of my time for the past 6 weeks. It has been a labor or love. However, I may now be able to start writing about some other arts/theatre relating things!

BREED WITH ME's First Review

2009-12-07T08:40:00.001-08:00

Here it is!

2009-12-07T05:35:00.000-08:00

Pulp Art Cover!

2009-12-06T21:40:00.000-08:00

I'm getting ready to make my first Lulu publication and I'm working on the cover art. I'll be putting a number of these up during the next few weeks. Let me know which ones are your favorites!

And go check out the show too!