Curious Theatre Branch

CURIOUS THEATRE BRANCH STILL IN PLAY: A PERFORMANCE OF GETTING READY September 15-17, 2011

The MCA Stage's 15th season launches with the world premiere of a work by Chicago's Curious Theatre Branch that reveals a behind-the-scenes view of the hour before a performance begins. The situations that unfold by the 17-member, multi-generational ensemble are inspired by real experiences and rituals within the company. Still in Play: A Performance of Getting Ready was developed by Jenny Magnus through a year-long residency at the MCA, is directed by Stefan Brün, and features live music by ensemble-comprised Crooked Mouth Band. The performances take place at the Museum of Contemporary Art on September 15-17, 2011.    Still in Play is scripted, but has the feel of real time improvisation as the actors work through activities and anxieties prior to the start of a performance. The ensemble members move back and forth between acting and playing and singing songs with lyrics that act as a "Greek chorus commentary" about what is happening in the story, focusing on themes of fortitude, perseverance, and frustration. Crooked Mouth Band's style is a cross between folk and pop-rock and features guitar, banjo, bass, accordion, and drums. A massive video projection behind the actors adds another dynamic by presenting both live feed and pre-recorded content. The actors are responsible for running the video while they perform, revealing the creative process to the audience.  Magnus' residency was part of the MCA's ongoing commitment to support the development of new work by visual and performing artists. Her residency, titled Office Hours, took place over the course of a year. Magnus welcomed visitors to engage in conversation about topics they were interested in and related to Still in Play, including the notion of the theater as a place of work; the stress between parenting and being an artist; the ensemble as tribe and clan; how to maintain generational working relationships; and how an artist can create attention on stage. Notes culled from these interactions directly inspired the development of the work and some of the script is a "love letter to the MCA Stage," according to Magnus.     ABOUT THE ARTISTS Curious Theatre Branch was founded in 1988 by Jenny Magnus and Beau O'Reilly as the Curious Theatre "Branch" of the alt-rock cabaret act Maestro Subgum and the Whole. Curious works with an ensemble of artists, ranging from pre-teen to late 70s in age, in a non-hierarchical decision-making process. Curious has produced more than 100 full productions of world-premiere shows. Still in Play marks their fourth full performance at the MCA Stage, including Dictator Light (1997), No Danger of the... Spiritual Thing: Short Plays by Samuel Beckett (2006), and Round and round: a sexfarcetragedy (2008). Jenny Magnus is co-founder of Curious Theatre Branch, a playwright, performer, and musician whose work has appeared nationally and internationally with Curious, Steppenwolf Studio, Cleveland Public Theater, and the Chimney in Berlin. She also teaches theater and writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Chicago, and Columbia College. She has released four music recordings. Stefan Brün, co-artistic director of the Prop Thtr, has been working with Curious Theatre Branch since 1988 when he directed Careening Is a Skill. Other recent projects include I Am In A Small Space For A Reason I Don't Understand and the current version of Room with Jenny Magnus.     ARTISTS UP CLOSE First Night Thursday, September 15 A moderated post-show talk with the company members and MCA Associate Director of Performance Programs Yolanda Cesta Cursach in the theater provides insight about the performance and includes time for questions from the audience.   CD Release Concert Friday, September 16 $10 ticket or $5 with a Still in Play ticket A CD release concert (separate ticket) for a recording by Crooked Mouth Band along with Elvis Bride and Midnight Moxie follows the September 16 performance.    Saturday Speakeasy Saturday, September 17 An informal post-show gathering provides a special opportunity for the audience to engage with the artists. Snacks, hot and cold beverages, and beer and wine are available for purchase. Still in Play takes place Thursday, September 15 - Saturday, September 17, at 7:30 pm at the MCA Stage, 220 East Chicago Avenue. Tickets are $28 and a limited quantity of $10 student tickets is available. The MCA Box Office is at 312.397.4010 or www.mcachicago.org. Running time is approximately 60 minutes.   Image: Curious Theatre Branch performing Still in Play. Photo: Kristin Basta

15 MINUTES: HOMAGE TO ANDY WARHOL

15 MINUTES: HOMAGE TO ANDY WARHOL
An Exhibition in Sight and Sound


The Pollack Krasner House Foundation opening yesterday honored the shows organizer and producers, ... Jeff Gordon and Path Soong, the exhibition features silkscreen prints and original recordings, ranging from spoken word to music and sound, created by some of the most prominent artists, writers and performers who knew, worked with, or were associated with Andy Warhol. Included are Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Ivan Karp, Billy Name, Ultra Violet, Lawrence Weiner, Carter Ratcliff, John Giorno, Vincent Freemont, Alexander Heinrici, Brigid Berlin, Christopher Makos, Yura Adams, Nat Finkelstein, Connie Beckley, Susan Breen, Path Soong, and Jeff Gordon. ... http://sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/pkhouse/exhibition/warhol.shtml

The 15 MINUTES Box, sponsored by Sony and released through Sony's Legacy Recordings, and is available for sale.


All Photos © Jamie Ellin Forbes/ Sunstorm Arts Publishing Co. Inc. 2011, above top Roy Nicholson, Helen Harrison, Director of the Pollack Krasner House Foundation, Below Anthony Hayden Guest, Renee Dahl, happy crowd, Jeff Gordon, project organizer and producer, guests, Helen Harrison, Jeff Gordon &, fellow organizer and producer, Path Soong, crowd, Hans Van de Bovenkamp, & Phyllis Graff, Pollack Studio shot

Karyn Mannix contemporary will be hosting "A Select View" a POP UP show at the Delaney Cooke Gallery, 17 Madison St (across from Il Cappucino), Sag Harbor.

Karyn Mannix contemporary will be hosting "A Select View" a POP UP show at the Delaney Cooke Gallery, 17 Madison St (across from Il Cappucino), Sag Harbor.

Showing multiple disciplines in art; painting, photography, digital art, and sculpture..from six artists; Kristina Gale, Steve Haweeli,  Athos Zacharias, Steven Zaluski,  Evan Zatti, and Zig.

The show will be on view Saturday, August 13, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, August 14, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Artist Wine Reception will be held on Saturday, August 13, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

www.karynmannixcontemporary.com. 516 318 0000.

Daria's opening, New World Stages " Flash Back- The Larry River Years" 8/4

Thanks for viewing Daria Deshuk's " Flash Back- The Larry River Years " at the  New World Stages opening 8/4 curated by Bernard Stote, Hanging Art Organization pictured left.

All friends of Daria below had a great time. Every one was wowed by the depth of Daria's  body of work. The space is beautiful and every thing displayed perfectly.

Glad you come with me via the pics.