July 10, 2009
Got the full details now!
Tuesday, July 21st at 7:30 PM
Mrs. Murphy’s and Sons Irish Bistro, 3905 N. Lincoln (Chicago)
Featuring Kate Buddeke, Casey Cunningham, Clancey McCartney, Blair Robertson, Randy Steinmeyer, and Kyle Wallace.
Directed by Damon Kiely.
If you missed the reading at Chicago Dramatists in May, come check this one out! Before the reading, beginning at 6:30, Route 66 is hosting a “First Rehearsal Reception” with the cast and crew of their upcoming production of High Fidelity.
And in the spirit of all things Pittsburgh, enjoy this picture of our commander-in-chief, showing his support for the good guys.
June 30, 2009
The details aren’t solid just yet, but sometime in July, McMEEKIN FINDS OUT will be having another reading in Chicago thanks to the kind folks at Route 66 Theatre Company. Check out their website for more about their company and their current show, The K of D: An Urban Legend, running at A Red Orchid Theatre through July 12.
June 16, 2009
Nothing much to report this week. Got a few interesting things bubbling, but nothing yet to report officially.
However, I did see the Curious Theatre Branch production of Pinter’s The Caretaker, and it’s fantastic. Everything about it is fantastic. Go see it this weekend. They have two more weekends, plus an added show Monday the 22nd.
Add to that this happened:
And it was a pretty damn good weekend. A Super Bowl and Stanley Cup in a span of four months? It’s a good year to be from Pittsburgh, once again the CITY OF CHAMPIONS!!
More soon.
June 5, 2009
WildClaw Theatre (who of course recently produced THE REVENANTS to great acclaim and packed houses) has just announced to their mailing list and the press this week that they have, indeed, invited me to join their dark and deadly ranks.
Dani McKenzie has also been invited to join WildClaw as a company member, as well as Karen Tarjan as an artistic associate. Both Dani and Karen worked with WildClaw on The Great God Pan and Dreams in the Witch House.
I’m thrilled by this invitation. WildClaw is a fantastic group to work with, I wholeheartedly support their mission, and I look forward to working with them on a more regular basis, extending the reach and depth of horror theatre in Chicago…
…and beyond…mwahaha…
May 25, 2009
THE REVENANTS closed Sunday. When Coye and Anna were wiping the blood splatters off the wall for what I realized was the last time, I got unexpectedly choked up and had to remove myself from the theatre. Working with WildClaw over the past year and change has been the most fulfilling experience I’ve had working in theatre. What a lovely group of people. Thank you to an outstanding cast, crew, and company for making it such a great ride, and thank you to our terrific audiences as well.
Just saw this review from Don Hall, over at his blog. Don is a man, an artist, and a force in the scene who I have nothing but the utmost respect for. To receive such a thoughtful response from him on the weekend of our closing is truly meaningful indeed.
I’ll miss this show. For quite a while I’ll miss this show.
Photo: Laura Hooper and Brian Amidei (by Charlie Athanas)
(I’ve rounded up my favorite press bites about the show on the Press page. Interviews are there too. Looking forward to Pittsburgh!)
May 19, 2009
The good folks from Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company (including Artistic Director Mark Clayton Southers) were up in Chicago this past weekend to see the WildClaw production. I’m happy to report that they have decided to include THE REVENANTS in their 2009/2010 season, which gets underway this fall.
So be warned in da burgh. Zombies approach! I can’t wait for this, it will officially be my hometown debut. And the fact that George A. Romero is from Pittsburgh makes it even more perfect that I come home with this play.
I’ll be back in Pittsburgh this weekend to see PPTCO’s current production of August Wilson’s Seven Guitars and meet some more of the company. Added bonus: I get to meet one Mia Kate Barsotti sooner than expected!
May 15, 2009
Today, as I write, there are only 7 more performances of THE REVENANTS. Only seven! This insane ride that I’ve been on with WildClaw for the past year is sadly coming to an end, as all things must, decaying into a mere shadow of its former self, with little more than an insatiable hunger to keep it going until it finds that next essential bite. But…uh…don’t miss your chance to see this show. Seriously. Tickets are going very very fast (I hear we’re sold out, or nearly, through next Thursday). Go to WildClawTheatre.com and reserve your tickets before they’re totally gone. Do it now, before these zombies shamble off into the sunset without you!
May 11, 2009
Thank you to a wonderful cast (Randy Steinmeyer, Kate Buddeke, Blair Robertson, Andrew Raia, Steve Lenz, and Casey Cunningham), a fantastic director (Richard Shavzin) and one of the hardest-working organizations in town (Chicago Dramatists) for a great reading of my newest play. I’m very excited about McMEEKIN and looking forward to seeing where it goes!
Thank you also to everyone who came out to laugh, and stayed afterward to share their thoughts.
Lots of chances to see THE REVENANTS and COYDOG this week:
ACTORS NIGHT tonight for THE REVENANTS! 7:30 curtain, half-price tickets, first come first served.
Wednesday-Saturday at 8:00, COYDOG down at EP Theater (which opened to a very receptive house on Friday). This cast is very fun to watch. Will Erin Callahan switch out her prop beer for real beer and actually chug a six-pack in 30 minutes? Will Meghan Murphy punch someone in the nose, just to add that extra edge of danger? Will Ruth Bistrow lose herself in her character and literally dig her finger into Ms. Callahan’s arm? Will Rose Buckner ever find her house?
Lovely ladies, a dark comedy, and live music every night. Come see!
Thursday-Saturday at 7:30, Sunday at 3:00, the second to last weekend of THE REVENANTS. We’re fillin’ this place up and pre-selling more and more tickets, so don’t miss your chance to see this marvelous WildClaw production! You can check out our great press, and cool photos, and awesome trailer and all that at WildClaw’s website…but you need to be there, in person, to appreciate how stunningly designed, beautifully directed, and powerfully acted this show is.
Hope to see you at the theatre! Go Pens!
May 4, 2009
The date of COYDOG’s opening has changed a few times, but now it’s set and ready to open. EP Theater will begin its short and sweet run of COYDOG this Wednesday, the 6th, at 8:00 PM. EP Theater is at 1820 S Halsted, with the entrance around back and free parking available.
COYDOG
written by Scott T. Barsotti
directed by Brad Bartolo
featuring Ruth Bistrow, Rose Buckner, Erin Callahan, and Meghan Murphy
8 SHOWS ONLY!
May 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16 & 20, 8 PM
Each performance will be accompanied by live music, with musical guests changing each performance. Tickets can be had for $10 (and even that is a suggested donation, this is a very good time for very little money.) EP is BYOB too. Come relax, hear some music, see some theatre.
Also, the staged reading of McMEEKIN FINDS OUT in the Chicago Dramatists Saturday Series quickly approaches. It’s this Saturday, May 9, at 2 PM. 1105 W Chicago (Chicago Blue Line).
And THE REVENANTS is still shambling through May 24! An Actor’s Night performance has been added, a week from today (May 11).
May 1, 2009
Issue #89 of Rue Morgue Magazine, who interviewed me about THE REVENANTS last month, hits shelves today, with an article in their “Dreadlines” section about the WildClaw production.
Check it out!
Also, we got fantastic reviews from the Windy City Times and Chicago Free Press. Give those a read if you have a minute, great things to say about our beloved zombies…
“[T]ranscends formula schlock. The Revenants opens with…a mini-masterpiece of unnerving terror. [S]tartlingly vibrant performances. As the tightly paced story winds on…the intriguingly troubled history of this four-way friendship unwinds as the desperation increases. The end, as you might expect, isn’t pretty. But it is as perverse a happily-ever-after as you could possibly want from a tale of love among ghouls.”
– Catey Sullivan, Windy City Times
“Wildclaw Theatre’s presentation of Scott T. Barsotti’s somber zombie drama The Revenants contains a surprising emotional elasticity particularly for those anticipating nothing more than an all out limb flinging gore fest. Those schooled in horror, though, know that the best of the genre (wherein The Revenants firmly places itself) picks at the heart as well as the fear bone. Director Anne Adams keeps things moving at a nerve rattling pace while simultaneously highlighting Barsotti’s tight humor and multiple emotional shifts…the magnificent four person cast ultimately make us wonder if indeed the undead have memories and compassion that reside far beyond the mind’s eye”
– Brian Kirst, Chicago Free Press
