Crazytown

AND THE AWARD GOES TO

...Baby iguanas. Seriously though, read on.
By Alisha Giampola (writer/performer)

This week, we learned that we might be living in The Matrix. After a totally crazy last minute envelope mixup at the Oscars, America went from thinking the highest film award honor of Best Picture had gone to preposterously over-hyped and under-whelming La La Land to realizing that it had actually gone to the deeply moving, amazingly written, and incredibly beautiful Moonlight (strong opinions mine). This alternate reality scenario in which the best possible outcome happened to be actually true, got most of us wondering "can we go back and maybe check that presidential-election-envelope again?" 

But no, you-know-who is still currently the 45th person to hold the highest office in our land, and daily proves himself to be just a genuinely revolting human. On Monday, he realized that healthcare (as an entire concept) was much more complicated than anyone could possibly have ever anticipated. No really. Then he had a joint session of congress and basically said things like how he will "promote clean air and clean water" while literally earlier today he issued an executive order to withdraw the Clean Water Rule. No really. 

I will say that his complete lack of knowledge of the American system of government has encouraged myself and a whole lot of other people to get significantly more knowledgable ourselves in order to appropriately arm ourselves to intellectually fight back. If you haven't already availed yourself of the amazing Indivisible Guide which has been breaking the internet recently, may I recommend that you find a local group and get active? My husband, Daniel, whose preferred coping method is something I like to call Extreme Organizing, formed a local Indivisible chapter in our neighborhood. You can check ours out at our website here, and come join us for a meeting if you're interested! Our group is called the New York Indivisible Action Council, or the NYCIA Council. Haha. (Say "NYCIA Council" out loud and feel free to enjoy the little ecumenical-historical joke I made purely for my own entertainment.) 

There were a lot of amazing moments a the Oscars this year besides Moonlight's big win. Viola Davis made history as the first black woman to have earned an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony in Acting categories. Asghar Farhadi, from Iran, won for his Best Foreign Language film, and had a powerful statement against the recent unconstitutional travel ban read on his behalf by Anousheh Ansari, the first Iranian/Muslim woman in space. Not to mention that Janelle Monáe wore my new favorite outfit of all time:

I MEAN.

With the awards season wrapping up and the resistance honestly just getting started, it's been a pretty busy time. If you've also been busy, and a little overwhelmed with the state of the world, may I recommend checking out the new season of Planet Earth?! Like you need to do this immediately. We watched the first two episodes (Islands and Mountains, respectively) last night and we literally shrieked like children seventeen times. I swear at one point Daniel and I were both yelling "FASTER FASTER FASTER!" at baby iguanas on the screen. 

OMG OMG OMG OMG.
(Watch the full trailer for Planet Earth II here.)

Have a great week, Crazytown. And remember: even a baby iguana can outrun a pack of snakes. (Is it a "pack" of snakes? No. According to this, it is several possible things, all of them creepy. But a group of rattlesnakes is called a "rhumba", which is absolutely fantastic news.) 

ALISHA GIAMPOLA is an NYC based actor/teacher/writer who, just like you, had to Google whether or not that was Mel Gibson's girlfriend or daughter and, just like you, was deeply mortified to find out that she was his WIFE.
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IF YOU WANNA HEAR MY BODY RAP...

...just ask me and I'll tell you about that.
By Jennifer Anderson (Actor/Singer/Body Beatboxer)

Crazytown, I've been feeling very uninspired this week. I tried to crap out another Super Shitty sketch (get it?), but to no avail. Writers' block damn you, you evil mistress.

So to keep you entertained, I've decided to share one of my favorite podcast clips with you all today: It's Kyle Dunnigan and his amazing body rapping skills from the sadly defunct Professor Blastoff. Enjoy!

 

 

JENNIFER ANDERSON is an actor and singer living in Brooklyn. Just ask her about her body rap. www.jenniferjanderson.com
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SUPER SHITTY SKETCH THURSDAYS!

Or, Jennifer attempts to get her ass in gear.
By Jennifer Anderson (actor/singer/writer when she has a deadline)

Crazytown, it's time for me to admit my failings as a burgeoning sketch writer. One of the first rules of starting to do this thing is to, simply, write. And write. And write some more. And write a lot more. And at that, I am terrible. Unless I have someone standing over me, or a group to hold me accountable, or a gun to my head, I can't ever sit down and barf out even the shittiest of sketches. I'll be inspired by an idea, start the first few lines, then give up when it's not as funny as Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer. So I've decided to use my Thursdays here at Crazytown as a tool to get myself writing. And because I like transparency and the least amount of pressure possible, my goal is that this will be the space for all of the crap I come up with but can't finish because I feel like it's not good enough. So, feel free to make fun of it. Feel free to question my ability and talent as a writer (I know I will). But my hope is that once all of the constipation of terrible ideas have passed, the really good stuff will start moving though. So enjoy! (Or don't. Probably don't.) Today's pass: "Tough and Dirty Race"

WHAT I KNOW

...and what I don't.
by Kathleen Choe (actor/singer/writer)

I know that it’s been hard to write this blog lately. I know that these days I’ve been putting it off until the last minute, wondering if anything I have to say is of any value in days like these. That my thoughts have been in a constant jumble.

I know that I’m heading up to Rochester, NY today to work on a devised theatre piece based on the concept of the American Dream. I know that I’m going to be working with some very talented people. I know that I’m going to see a very dear friend of mine when I’m up there. I know that 10 inches of snow yesterday got dumped in NYC and that “there is no real snow upstate” (direct quote from said friend who lives upstate). The irony of that makes me chuckle.

I know that making theater makes me happy. That acting and creating always does.

Existential Detective.
Don't ask (super-fun, though).

I know that these days, the state of the world weighs heavy on my mind. That hearing opinions and actions based in ignorance and fear, or people sharing “news” or information without first checking what the sources are makes me want to scream. I know the last is because it's consistent with their view of the world, but these days it’s too dangerous to share information without checking out where it came from first. As a journalist friend of mine said, “I'm always bitching for people to 'get to the second thought' of questioning an idea. If we don't take the extra minute to research or think something through, we're all dead.”

For God’s sake, stop and get to the second thought. For God’s sake, STOP and THINK.

I know that these days my patience is thin for people making the same mistakes over and over…and that includes myself.

I know learning is not always linear.

I know that “I Am Not Your Negro” is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very, very long time. That what James Baldwin said 30 years ago still applies today. I know that I wish everyone could see it, that I hope it’ll make light bulbs go off in heads all over the world, inspiring them to take action.

 

I wish and hope that it will.

I know that when they played the theme to Star Wars on WQXR on Wednesday in honor of John Williams’ 85^th Birthday I almost cried at work. Because that theme song and that movie always reminds me of everything I loved in my childhood, and right now I’d do anything to feel that pure, simple, love for something, rather than these days when joy seems to be so fleeting. Yesterday while trudging through the snow I had to stop for a minute and laugh. Why? Because snow was falling in my eyes and sticking in my hair, and all that kept running through my head was, “Echo 3 to Echo 7. Han old buddy, do you read me?”

NYC or Hoth?

I know that I’m a nerd. I wear that label proudly and apologize for nothing.

I know that these words of James Baldwin sum up what I know better than I can right now: “I can't be a pessimist because I'm alive. To be a pessimist means that you have agreed that human life is an academic matter, so I'm forced to be an optimist. I'm forced to believe that we can survive whatever we must survive.”

I know that if we want to see a better world, we fight, live our lives, and go on.

 

KATHLEEN CHOE is a NYC based actor, singer, and writer. www.www.kathleen-choe.com
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WHEN THE UNIVERSE IS BEING A M@#$%*!^ING JERK

What do you do to stay friends?
By Kathleen Choe (actor/singer/writer)

I once had a conversation with someone who said, “The universe is an inherently flawed place run by idiots.  And they are my bitch.  And they should be your bitch too.”

I disagreed with him. I like to think of the universe as my friend. Like all friends, it’s not perfect and can occasionally be a jerk, or a prolapsed rectum (or in layman’s terms, an asshole). Yes, it is inherently flawed, and yes, there are some idiots in charge, but until someone finds a way into an alternate dimensional plane:

McCoy thought the goatee gave him character,
but other than that, the mirror universe?
Not such a great place to be.
 

Which honestly, might not be so great:

Two words: Upside Down.
 

We’re stuck being here.

And the universe has been a Jerk these past few weeks. A Real Class-A Gigantic Ass-faced Jerk.  And I’m furious at it.

And I have two choices.

1. Make the world my bitch. Demean it, scream at it, smack it down until I hurt it as badly as it’s hurt me. Laugh at it when I get my points in. Hit back twice as hard when it tries to take advantage of me. Live in a constant state of battle-mode and anxiety and anger at how unfair things are and let that exhaust me, until the universe is that way that it should be. 

I know it’s exhausting because I’ve done it. I still do sometimes. That’s fine because I’m human.

or

2. Know that it’s being a jerk right now. Acknowledge that I’m angry with it. Call it out on every occasion when it is being a jerk, not backing down when it gloats, not staying silent when it says or does something nonsensical.

 Keep speaking up, even when it tries to shout over me. Keep showing up.

Take care of myself and surround myself with people who are also trying a way to deal with it being an asshole. Help guide it to being the place that we want it to be. 

Choice two is harder. Choice two will not always win. Choice two can also be exhausting.

But Choice Two allows for two things: hope and happiness.

So, Universe. You’ve decided to be a Jerk right now. That’s unfortunate. But I’m not going anywhere, and there are a lot of other people like me. And you’re going to have to deal with us until you come out of whatever dark hole you seemed to have crawled into.

We’ll be waiting with open arms.

KATHLEEN CHOE is a NYC based actor, singer, and writer. www.www.kathleen-choe.com
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CAMP CLASSIC WATCH: ZOMBIE PROM THE MOVIE!!!!!

The delicious off-Broadway musical was made into a camp-classic movie that never saw the light of day...

by David Davila (Musical Theatre Writer) 

 

If you're a musical theatre obsessed weirdo like me, then you've loved ZOMBIE PROM the musical for quite some time. I was in a production back in 2007 and boy did we have a blast! It's a hysterical musical about a 1950's high school love affair gone dead; literally. I've always thought it would make a great movie, so you can imagine my surprise when I discovered that they already made it into a movie back in 2007 starring the legendary queen of camp, RuPaul.

It looks like they probably ran out of money during filming because the two and a half hour musical has been in turned into a short thirty-six minute film. Too bad the movie was made back in the days BEFORE Kickstarter and Drag Race. 

Still a short film is better than nothing... or is it just enough to make us long for a full version??? 

I can't decide! At least we have these glorious thirty-six minutes of RuPaul, rotting flesh, and poodle skirts!!!! Someone posted it on Youtube y'all... ENJOY!!!!!

 

WHAT'S HIS NAME, MAN?

Baby camel + hit Broadway show =______________
By Jennifer Anderson (Actor/Singer/Lover of animals and puns)

Crazytown, I know you've been engrossed in election coverage (on SNL and Full Frontal), but I wanted to make sure that a very important piece of news crossed your path that you may have previously missed. I know I did.

On May 9, the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago celebrated the birth of a Bactrian Camel. A little over a month later, on International Ungulate Day, the park debut the youngster under his new moniker: ALEXANDER CAMELTON.

Just like his country he's young scrappy and hungry.

What is not to love about this story? Adorable baby animals and hit Broadway shows go together like baked brie and Pinot Noir. Zoos of the nation, take note. If you need a little help coming up with names for your newborn animals, here are some starters:

Foxy Hart

The name on everybody's lips is gonna be...

Mama Crows

Here she is, boys! Here she is, world!

Miss Honey Badger

THIS IS MY HOUSE

El(e)ph(ant)ba

Okay, this one is a stretch, I know.

JENNIFER ANDERSON is an actor and singer living in Brooklyn. She hopes Alexander Camelton stays away from his sworn enemy in the Tiger pen, Aaron Purr. www.jenniferjanderson.com
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SWITCHIN' IT UP

Nintendo's new system might be the best idea they've ever had.
by Alex Syiek (Writer/Performer/Gamer)

If you're a person who happens to love video gaming, then last Thursday was probably a very exciting day for you. Nintendo, father of Mario, Link, Samus, and many more, unveiled their new console, Nintendo Switch, set to release in March of 2017. They shared this news with the masses through a three minute video on Youtube that I will share with you now:

So sleek, very Nintendo, wow.

Now, aside from the fact that I was freaking out while watching this, because, I mean...look at it, there's a bigger reason why it got me so giddy. Nintendo has always focused on family-friendly experiences, ideas that bring people together, innovation. This time it is no different. But the possibilities for shared experiences with others is even greater now than ever before. Just based on the design, if you leave your home with the portable version of the console, you automatically are carrying two separate controllers, one on each side. Crazy me is already imagining handing a random person next to me on the subway a controller and going at it while slogging through traffic.

I think in this world of increasing disconnection between human beings, Nintendo has never lost sight of what makes humans special: the ability to communicate with each other. I will be grabbing this console as soon as it comes out and sharing my experience with whoever is game to join me. Anyone else wanna jump in?

THERE AND BACK AGAIN

Encountering the Amazon without taking off my headphones.
By Alisha Giampola (writer/performer)

Last week I had the opportunity to see the opening night of the first play to open the 2016/17 season on Broadway, Simon McBurney's one-man immersive audio-experience, The Encounter. 

The circumstances that led me to be sitting in the very first row (in front of Kevin Kline, no less!) of this production were related to my husbands' work, so I actually had not prepared myself in any way for the show I was about to see until the lights were dimming. Well, unless you consider preparing yourself to include spending an inordinate amount of time deciding what to wear because I really wanted to feel fabulous at the party afterwards. "What's this called again?" I whispered to Daniel as we were instructed to put our headphones on and check that they were working. 

Opening night curtain call of The Encounter.
You can actually see Daniel's head just under the "T" of the "Exit" sign there in the front row, clapping. 
I was there too, but I'm about a foot shorter and standing to his left, so. 

The best way I can describe the experience of seeing The Encounter is.... well, have you ever done any drugs? Haha, I kid. But seriously, have you? Simon McBurney, alone, on a stage full of microphone and audio equipment and a whole lot of water bottles creates an aural experience that can only be described as a live psychedelic podcast. Both wildly broad and incredibly intimate, he is able to recreate the sounds, colors, and damp heat of the Amazon rainforest using only his ability to speak directly into your ears through an anthropomorphic microphone that sits in the center of the stage for the entire production. Silent, almost talismanic, his solitary high-tech scene partner is the only other humanoid on stage with him. And yet, you feel surrounded by an entire tribe of people, an entire jungle of creatures, and occasionally if feels as if the stage has transformed into the interior of a mind grappling with it's own consciousness.

So, trippy. It's very trippy. As in the literal meaning of that word: "trip". I have never felt so transported by so little while surrounded by so many people. At one point, I disengaged from the production happening before me to check in with my real-life surroundings. There I was, sitting in a huge Broadway theatre full of people wearing headphones. None of us could hear anything other than what was being piped directly into our ears. Someone arriving late, into the back of the theatre, would hear nothing but a faint distant whispering coming from the stage, perhaps. See an entire crowd, enraptured, but silent, fixated on a man presumably audio-mixing something from the stage using little else but his voice, water bottles and occasionally rolls of undeveloped film for sound. 

Perhaps the best suggestion for how to encounter The Encounter is to do so as I did. Knowing absolutely nothing about what you're getting into. (And also, pee first. There is no intermission and it's a solid 2 hours long). (If you can't handle the suspense, feel free to give yourself a few spoilers via all the rave reviews it's getting.) I will say that, for myself, I enjoyed it a lot, and we all know how much I love a good podcast and McBurney tells a hell of a story. The perfection (or was it irony?) of learning through this highly sophisticated aural technology about a little-known indigenous culture while simultaneously being confronted with how technology is destroying indigenous cultures was not lost on me.

But is a really good podcast, watching someone essentially produce a radio performance piece in front of you, a legitimate immersive theatre experience? More importantly, is it a play? These are the kinds of technological conundrums surrounding art that begin dividing the olds from the youngs as they do every twenty or fifty or a hundred years or so. Are selfies legitimate portraiture? And if it is, is Kim Kardashian a legitimate artist? Bach and the Beatles are both composers of great music, and even though McBurney's play can only be experienced via headphones, who is to say that it's not just natural artistic evolution: the theatrical medium simply adapting to encompass the way we currently consume media? 

No matter what, The Encounter is a limited engagement, and unlike other forms of theatre, there will be no way to enjoy it except for seeing it live. No script book, cast recording, or YouTube clip could even begin to do this one justice. And maybe that is exactly what makes it theatre at its most theatrical. 

image via. 

ALISHA GIAMPOLA is an NYC based actor/teacher/writer whose favorite Kevin Kline movie is A Fish Called Wanda. Thanks for asking.
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DEAD RIGHT

The SCOTUS with the Mostest.
By Alisha Giampola (Writer/Performer)

The Notorious RBG gave a speech in New York City last week at the Temple Emanu-El Skirball Center, and I had the extreme honor of attending with my friend Ilana (of Argument Sessions fame). We stood in line to get our tickets checked with the obnoxiously giddy excitement of two teenagers circa 2002 at a Britney concert. Behold:

It's tempting to say that this is the nerdiest picture I've ever been a part of, but I'm sure I'm underestimating myself.

Justice Ginsburg was asked if she thought women still faced bias in the workplace as they did years ago when she founded the Women's Rights Project in the seventies. She conceded that while things have gotten better for women over the years, particularly from a strictly legal perspective, that unconscious bias towards both women and minorities continues to persist in workplaces and society in general. "People are comfortable with people who are like them, and white men are comfortable with other white men," she pointed out, a tiresomely familiar sentiment to any female who has ever tried to make an impression at a job or have a conversation in a public space or make a point at a political debate without being incessantly interrupted. Cough cough, Hillary. 

Literally don't know how you kept it together, girl. High fives.

When asked about the climate of discussion within the Supreme Court and whether or not things get tense during argument, RBG smiled and pointed out, "You can disagree without being disagreeable." Preach, girl. Justice Ginsburg famously had a personal friendship with a man who couldn't have been more her ideological opposite on the bench, late Justice Antonin Scalia. When talking about their friendship, RBG said that although they frequently did not agree, she valued their friendship, shared love of opera, and then visibly teared up as she added "He just made me laugh." That's the kind of classy, across-aisles working friendship I can barely imagine happening anywhere else in politics today. While I personally think Scalia was a horrible human with horrible ideas, I am happy to wrap my head around the idea that he and another person who I admire were able to put aside what made them different in order to seek out the things that brought them together.

It's blurry, but this is an actual picture I took of Ruth Bader Ginsburg being interviewed by Dan Abrams, live, and for that, you're welcome future little girls of America. 

The Supreme Court is the closest thing America has to some kind of panel of ancients. They're sworn in for life, the threat of losing their job never influencing the decisions they make, they look at change with a macro, rather than microscope. Decisions take time, the constitution requires study and interpretation, and ultimately dissents are as valuable as decisions. The queen of the eloquent dissent, RBG pointed out that "great dissenters are looking to a future age." This forest-rather-than-trees view of history is something I find comforting, particularly during an election season such as this. She discussed major heavy hitting cases including Citizens United and the recent striking down of the restrictive Texas abortion laws with equal gravity, and in the case of decisions she disagreed with, the hope that the dissents of her court could provide historical support for future generations who may be more amenable to change. It's so easy to look back on Brown v. Board of Education now and marvel at how ridiculous it was that racism used to be ingrained in law to such an extent, but then we unfortunately have almost daily reminders of the systemic and institutionalized racism that still permeates our lives. Active desegregation of schools basically stopped short in the 80s, and currently schools in the US are as segregated as they were in the 60s, despite the fact that bussing to desegregate student communities has been more successful than any other measures in raising educational fortunes of minority students.