Princess Internet – Katherine’s Strange Blessings #Melbourne International Comedy Festival #geekgirl

Katherine’s Strange Blessings for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Or how to put on a variety show with one person or less.

Katherine has experienced many strange blessings in her life. Her new show entitled Strange Blessings being amongst them.

Strange Blessings is the story of the Blessington Community Variety Show. Every year the citizens of this small town strut their stuff: the librarian reads her saucy poetry, the plumber shows off his skills at air guitar, and Lord Mayor Frank the Bunny-Eared Angel demonstrates that his toes are indeed twinkly, performing a dance number with the mistress of ceremonies. This year something special happens when two of the performers discover true love.

Katherine says, “As a child if an activity proved creative, I was in it boots and all. So the only job that seemed to ’sensibly’ combine my interests in comedy, writing, singing, dancing, acting, and macaroni necklaces was creator of Broadway musicals. I studied playwriting at the University of Washington where one of my schoolmates was Kyle MacLachlan.”

Katherine’s first job out of uni was editor-in-chief for a computer game magazine. This job led her to become the author of Australia’s first Internet book for the average punter, Surf’s Up: Internet Australian Style. The book sold out in a week. The media dubbed her “Princess Internet”. The book then led to a PhD scholarship for studying storytelling for computer game design at RMIT. Later it was sung on Spicks and Specks.

Since 2006 she has been working on her skills as a stand-up comedian and TheatreSports
improvisational actor performing at such venues as The Rhino Room, Comix Comedy Cellar and The Grace Emily in South Australia, and Willow Bar in Victoria. She has even done some writing for Monkeystack Animation and Nickelodeon. “I’m back doing theatre, but now I have the technological know how to do it myself using multimedia. Blessings don’t come much stranger than this.”

Strange Blessings is a one person show making use of soft toys, balloons, and audience
participation to bring quirky and endearing characters to life. It will be on throughout the Melbourne International Comedy Festival at POP Upstairs, 68 Hardware Lane, Melbourne CBD, 24 March–17 April 6-7pm Tues-Sat.

Tickets through Ticketmaster outlets or call 1300 66 00 13, Comedyfestival.com.au.

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If you’d like more information about this topic email muse@glasswings.com.au

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Farragut North, a play about dirty tricks and media fixers on the campaign trail

In a double election year for Victorians, what the public get to know about the respective candidates will be created in PR boardrooms around the country long before the campaigns commence.

Farragut North, set within Washington’s back corridors and bars, explores the compromised relationships between media managers, spin doctors and journalists on the campaign trail as the Democratic party decides on its presidential candidate.

Stephen, a young and extraordinarily gifted press secretary is working for a fastrising candidate. With confidence and power beyond his years, he’s convinced that he and seasoned campaign manager, Paul can steer their team into the west wing without breaking a sweat. But power demands the highest of integrity and someone must fall when a confidence is broken to the opposition.

With quick-witted banter and an inside look into the world of politics, Farragut North is a timely tale of hubris, loyalty and the lust for power.

“A morality tale about a ‘Crackberry’ generation mover and shaker…and the frenzied scheming and counter-scheming of would-be Washington kingmakers.” LA Times

Beau Willimon worked as a campaign aide in college, and graduated to working on campaigns for Hillary Clinton and Howard Dean. Farragut North captures the merciless pursuit of victory as well as the way political machinations have eclipsed what’s really at stake in elections.

“The subject of [Farragut North] is not politics,” Willimon says. “The subject is ambition, power, hubris … it’s a universal story.”

Starring Red Stitch ensemble members David Whiteley, Brett Cousins and Tim Potter alongside Lucy Honigman, Kurt Geyer, Karen Roberts and Adrian Dean, Farragut North is directed by Kim Durban.

Previews: Wednesday 3 & Thursday 4 February
Season: Friday 5 February – Saturday 6 March
Times: Wednesday – Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 6.30pm
Bookings: (03) 9533 8083 or www.redstitch.net
Venue: Red Stitch Actors Theatre, Rear, 2 Chapel St, St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia

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Who wants to be murdered for Halloween?

Opening appropriately on Halloween Vincent Lyce’s Final Curtain is a macabre mix of comedy, murder and mystery served with a delicious dinner. Ex wives, illegitimate sons and fans alike will gather to celebrate the illustrious career of Vincent Lyce. Forty years as the star of horror movies as forgettable as “Dump of Death” and “When Death Knocks Don’t Answer”.

For the night you will be allocated a small character to play as much or as little as you choose. You might be a former co-star, a member of the press or maybe a movie star’s agent or a fan. You’ll be united in your admiration for the great star’s life work and dress as your favourite Vincent Lyce movie character – werewolves, vampires and mummies will rule the night. Click to view Vincent Lyce’s Filmography

But will all be as it seems? Could there be skullduggery afoot and a mystery to solve? Who can tell where Vincent Lyce, ‘the man behind the mask‘ is concerned?

Another unique evening of interactive comedy, murder and mystery from the producers of A Dinner to Die For.

Book to celebrate Halloween on Saturday 31st October
Venue: Queens Loft,133, Queensbridge Street, Southbank, Melbourne, Australia
Bookings: (03) 9698 8011

More info at http://vincentlyce.com/

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The Laramie Project a tribute to Matthew Shepherd

RED STITCH TO REPRESENT VICTORIA IN
GLOBAL READING OF HISTORIC WORK,
THE LARAMIE PROJECT – 10 YEARS LATER

In a 24 hour period, over one hundred theatre companies worldwide will take part in a historic reading of the epilogue to the seminal work, The Laramie Project to

On October 6th of 1998 Matthew Shepard was beaten and left to die tied to a fence in the outskirts of Laramie, Wyoming. He died 6 days later. His murder became a watershed historical moment in America that highlighted the violence and prejudice lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people face.

A month after the murder, the members of Tectonic Theater Project travelled to Laramie and conducted interviews with the people of the town. From these interviews they wrote the seminal play, The Laramie Project, which they later made into a film for HBO. The work has been seen by more than 50 million people in the US alone. Recognised as a modern classic, it is one of the most acclaimed and frequently staged plays of the past 10 years.

Tectonic’s eagerly awaited epilogue, The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later will be performed in over 100 theatres in all fifty states of the USA, in Canada, UK, Spain, Hong Kong and Australia on October 12/13, 2009. Red Stitch is honoured to have been invited to take part.

The Laramie Project – 10 Years Later focuses on the long-term effects of the murder of Matthew Shepard on the town of Laramie. It explores how the town has changed and how the murder continues to reverberate in the community. The play also includes new interviews with Matthew’s mother Judy Shepard and Mathew’s murderer Aaron McKinney, who’s serving two consecutive life sentences. The writers also conducted many follow-up interviews Laramie residents from the original piece.

“The Tectonic Theater Project set out to find out how Laramie had changed in the ten years since the murder of Matthew Shepard. When we arrived, we were forced to confront the question, ‘How do you measure change in a community?’ One of the things we found when we got there, which greatly surprised us, was how many people in Laramie were trying to say this was not a hate crime,” said Moisés Kaufman, Artistic Director of Tectonic Theater Project.

Performance Date: Tuesday 13 October, 7.30pm
Venue: BMW Edge Theatre, Federation Square, Melbourne, AUST
Tickets: $10
Bookings: www.redstitch.net, tel: 03 9553 8083
Media enquiries: TS Publicity on (03) 9419 8837

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FULL TILT at the Arts Centre presents CANDY BOWERS in Who’s That Chik?

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This Is Not Art

A supercharged convergence of writers, performers, thinkers, independent and industry musicians, creative researchers, electronic artists, dilettantes, and DIY culture makers in a showcase featuring over 400 local, national and international artists.

TINA present Australia’s most exciting and emergent exhibitions, screenings, performances, panels, workshops, talks, gigs, interventions, live art and special events in five days of creativity and absolute madness!

Features: Zombie Rights March, Zine Festival,heck way too many to mention. Check out all the This Is Not Art participants here.

This Is Not Art
Office: 3/231 King Street, NEWCASTLE, Australia 2300
Phone: (02) 4927 0675 Fax: +61 2 4927 1475
Email: admin@thisisnotart.org
www.thisisnotart.org

independent, emerging & experimental annual arts & media festival

01 – 05 October 2009
Newcastle, Australia

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MySchoolAct is an Australian first for online high school music competitions

A school assignment like never before!

Do you want to be the next world famous music star, but just don’t know where to begin?  Now launched MySchoolAct – is Australia’s first ever online high school music and creative talent competition…and they are calling for YOUR submissions!

Hosted by ex-Idol host James Mathison and supported by Sony Music Australia, the comp allows high school students to showcase their talent via an interactive Web site – www.myschoolact.com

What’s more, they’re not just looking for music acts – MySchoolAct is searching for talented ‘behind the scenes’ creatives such as video producers, managers and songwriters.  There is more than $150,000 in prizes up for grabs, including:

• A recording deal, commercial album release and music video from the team at Sony Music Australia

• Two full scholarships for a Diploma in Audio Engineering or Film making at any of the 6 SAE Institute campuses in Australia and a Diploma in Graphic Design at any of the 3 Qantm College Campuses in Australia

• $15,000 publishing deal with Sony ATV for the best original songwriter

MySchoolAct’s Music Director, John O’Donnell is the man responsible for helping young Aussie artists such as Missy Higgins, Operator Please, Silverchair and Jebediah on their rise from the classroom to the top of the charts, and he’s back on the hunt for the next big thing.  “Whether you’re an aspiring rock star, singer/songwriter, hip hop stylist or music video director, MySchoolAct provides the opportunity to share and develop your talents in a digital forum. I can’t wait to see what Australia’s youth have to offer.”

Put yourself in the running for the ultimate career kickstart, log onto www.myschoolact.com and get your act together!

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A Dinner to Die For interactive evening of murder mystery and mayhem

Lord Quinten Daventry invites you for an interactive evening of murder mystery and mayhem all served up with a delicious 3 course dinner.

We’re not talking molecular gastronomy here, but rather a wickedly funny Murder Mystery Dinner. Bare Elements Productions, based in Melbourne, present their new dinner dates.

Become part of the show whilst watching the show – set in 1928 you are invited to be a guest of Lord Quinten Daventry at his birthday bash. The rumour going around social circles is that he will announce his engagement to Miss Fanny Farquar.

It’s Agatha Christie in spirit – all cut glass accents, strings of pearls, flapper dresses, army outfits, dinner jackets and monocles – with lashings of sexual innuendo and double entendres.

When: 29 Aug, 7 Nov, 5 Dec, 12 Dec and 19  Dec, 2009.
Website:http://www.adinnertodiefor.com

“I would pay thoosands and thoosands of poonds to see this show”

“Murder! Mayhem! Merriment! and Mirth! A marvellous cast and excellent entertainment. We had a ball, fun & laughter all night long! Definitely recommended – get right into the characters and transport yourself to another era.”

“Just brilliant. I’ve never had a more entertaining dinner!”

“Absolutely brilliant, the acting was at a high level, exceeded my expectations”

“The whole experience was like being in an enjoyable time warp.Encore…”

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Artist Revisits Australian Television’s Biggest Kleenex Moment in ‘The Death of Molly Jones’.

Like many Australians, artist Jo Kerlogue vividly remembers mourning much loved Molly Jones from the popular Australian soap A Country Practice. Described as Australian television’s biggest ‘Kleenex moment’, the two episodes screened over two nights in 1985 are the subject of her latest solo exhibition ‘The Death of Molly Jones’.

Masquerading as alter-ego Nonchalant Sally, Jo Kerlogue will exhibit a camp, nostalgic re-evaluation of history. Armed with the tools of parody ‘The Death of Molly Jones’ will re-assess received wisdom and dominant Australian culture through the satirical vehicle of illustration montage. The Death of Molly from A Country Practice is both a vivid emotional memory shared by many Australians and a metaphor of the Australian contemporary condition.

“Impending homosexuality, detachment from extended family through immigration and living in suburban Adelaide altered my understanding of significant sentiment”, says Kerlogue. “Instances, regarded as meaningful, such as births, deaths and marriages were qualified through the characters from soap operas, who became ‘real family’ albeit, one made up of light and electronics”.

Possibly the only artist ever to undertake a Masters degree as an alter-ego, Kerlogue explains, “We have entered an age where fleshy analogue organisms intertwine with digital electronics and binary codes to create a new breed of bio-cybernetic creatures. In a world of images and simulations Nonchalant Sally is a cultural product, an attempt to answer the question; how does an artist compete in a world which is essentially a gigantic McFlurry of images?”

‘The Death of Molly Jones’ will combine a myriad of illustration montage with an installation of theatrical lighting, live classical music, recorded sound and moving image. The result is an unconventional and emotive, multi-media illustration experience, in the Old Port Adelaide Waterside Worker’s Hall, opening on Tuesday July 7th at 6.30pm until July 18, 2009 in conjunction with Vitalstatistix Theatre Company.

About Jo Kerlogue and Nonchalant Sally
Jo Kerlogue has exhibited work in Busan, Korea, Adelaide and Melbourne and is currently undertaking a Masters Degree in Illustration at the University of South Australia. Kerlogue and alter-ego Nonchalant Sally illustrate for a variety of formats including mobile phone, large scale digital projection, packaging, fabric printing, illustration performance, the world wide web as well as the traditional gallery setting. Nonchalant Sally Illustration and Art work are for the culture savvy consumer, always willing to remain one step ahead of the cultural zeitgeist.

Websites:
www.nonchalantsally.com
Also check out the Nonchalant Sally Blog as there will be a  ‘Death of Molly Jones’ video posting after the opening night and pics
www.nonchalantsallynews.blogspot.com/

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In A Dark Dark House

In a Dark Dark House

Written by Neil LaBute
Directed by Wayne Pearn
22 July – 22 August, Red Stitch Theatre, Melbourne.

In A Dark, Dark House by one of America’s most provocative playwrights, Neil LaBute, is the latest offering by Red Stitch Theatre. An explosive drama full of twists, secrets and revenge, In A Dark, Dark House explores the depths of family loyalty and betrayal.

Terry is visiting his estranged younger brother Drew in the grounds of a psychiatric institution. Drew, a lawyer turned wealthy businessman, wants Terry to confirm a watershed event from their adolescence which may help make sense of his recent fall from grace.  But information has a price.  In A Dark, Dark House is a tense tale of fraught fraternal relationships, where male violence and vulnerability co-exist and where emotion can be seen as weakness.

Neil LaBute is one of the most prolific and provocative writers of our generation.  He adapted his first play for the big screen – In the Company of Men starring frequent collaborator Aaron Eckhart. Some of his other plays include Bash, Fat Pig and This is How It Goes. He wrote the screenplays The Wicker Man, and The Shape of Things, as well as directing Nurse Betty and Lakeview Terrace starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Wayne Pearn, founder of award winning theatre company, Hoy Polloy, makes his directorial debut with Red Stitch Theatre. Pearn’s previous productions include the much acclaimed play, Killing Jeremy, as well as last year’s The Real Thring and David Mamet’s Boston Marriage.

Red Stitch Ensemble member Dion Mills (Work of Wonder, Yellow Moon) stars as Terry alongside guest actors Geordie Taylor (This Wide Night) as Drew and Eloïse Mignon (Neighbours) as Jennifer.  Design is by Peter Mumford (Leaves Of Glass), with lighting design by Stelios Karagiannis (This Wide Night).

When: Wednesday 22 July  – Saturday 22 August 8pm (Sundays at 6.30pm)
No show Monday or Tuesday. Running time approximately 2 hours
Where: Red Stitch Actors Theatre, rear 2 Chapel St, St Kilda East (opp Astor), Melbourne
Tickets: $20 – $34 ($15 student rush)
Bookings: www.redstitch.net (discounted tix) or on 03 9533 8083

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