The Philadelphia theater scene is stunningly prolific. We’ve got numerous Equity houses like the Wilma, PTC, the Arden, and the Lantern. We have many more companies like 1812, the Lantern, Azuka, InterAct, Brat Productions, and Pig Iron that offer union wages while developing provocative work. We host award-winning comtemporary playwrights like Michael Hollinger and Bruce Graham. And, via the annual Live Arts and Fringe Festival, we provide fertile ground for up-and-coming companies like Swim Pony, Nice People, and 11th Hour to grow and thrive. Attention Mayor Nutter: perhaps we should change our motto to “Come for the cheesesteak; stay for the show.”
A big part of why I co-founded PJI with Kate is because I’ve long felt that Philadelphia improv could benefit from absorbing some of the local theatricality. Part of the beauty of improv is that it’s possible to do a great show with nothing more than some people, some other people watching, and a space to do it in. Yet improv’s punk rock aesthetic often contributes to its downfall. Many audience members leave a comedy show with the feeling that they got lost on the way to the theater and wound up in somebody’s cousins’ friends’ basement. Sometimes shitty production values aren’t hilarious, or guerilla, or refreshingly minimalist. They’re just shitty.
That’s one reason I was endlessly excited to kick off with a show like Cecily and Gwendolyn’s Fantastical Balloon Ride. While I’ve always known that improv was a legitimate performance form, it was beyond satisfying to see theatrical professionals Karen Getz and Kelly Jennings do a I felt just like Kevin Pollak as Wayne Boggs in the legendary coming-of-age epic She’s All That; watching improv take of her stupid nerdy glasses and change into a nice dress so that Freddie Prinze, Jr. can just love her already. For you Prinze Jr. types (who somehow missed that Rachel Leigh Cook in an ugly outfit IS STILL RACHEL LEIGH FREAKIN’ COOK), my hope is that PJI’s investment in production values will help divulge one of theater’s biggest open secrets.
Coming up next for PJI is “Rodgers and Hammerstein Are Dead.” It’s a completely improvised musical inspired by the classic musicals of Broadway’s Golden Age. No, we aren’t doing any Rodgers and Hammerstein music. We couldn’t afford the rights, and anyway, if we knew the music in advance it wouldn’t be improvised! Yes, we are dressing our superb cast in period-appropriate costumes (designed by Katherine Fritz) that evoke the proper aesthetic. Yes, we did enlist the help of musician/comedian/excellent person Joe Gribbin (of ComedySportz and the Action Section). And yes, the project is under the direction of Jason Stockdale. For hot director-on-cast directing action, see below photo!
Jason Stockdale (R) directs R&HAD cast members Olwn Conway and Mark Bringhurst.
Photo by Katherine Fritz.
This post was originally supposed to be about why we selected Jason as the director. The short answer is that he’s an experienced improviser, an experienced musical theatre performer, outrageously talented, and a swell guy (PJI has a fairly strict “No A-Holes” policy). The long answer is worth a whole separate blog post. Managing Director Kate Sabato managed to sit down with Jason and record his thoughts on the project. Hopefully we’ll be able to post some or all of the interview and you’ll be able to hear Jason’s qualifications for yourself.
Ok, here is the part where I struggle for a conclusion. Well, this entry has already taken several days to complete (blogging is NOT EASY when you’re a mediocre writer) and I’m getting really, really hungry. So I’m going to go all grade school on this post and commit as many concluding faux pas as I can recall
In conclusion, I — the author of this piece — do hereby conclude, THAT PAUL WALKER TOOK IMPROV TO A SWANKY HOTEL AND TRIED TO RAPE IT.
This tale starts in the spring of 2003, during my second semester at Haverford College. I had torn my right ACL and the swelling had just gone away, leaving behind stiffness and despair about whether I’d ever play basketball again. One Thursday night, Alexis Simpson told me about an improv workshop her group The Throng had arranged for absolute beginners. I hung out with Alexis and her friends pretty often and always had fun with the ones who also did comedy. Still, I wasn’t too excited about dicking around as performance. I specifically remember telling Alexis that I didn’t “play well with others.” Yes, a basketball player said this…with a straight face (Only now do I realize how ridiculous that is.).
So on Saturday morning, I go to the workshop. Upright Citizens Brigade Theaterperformers Chris Gethard and Zach Woods ran the workshop, striking an inspiring balance between supportive and demanding, a lot like a good basketball coach. At the time, the idea that “offers from your scene partner are gifts” resonated most. Perhaps the receptors for that kind of rhetoric are strong for the average liberal arts college kid anyway.
The only other recollections from the workshop were the “Crazy 8s” warm-up (which I miss, now that I think about how that used to feel) and a scene work exercise where we were assigned to choose an emotion and take it to the extreme (or “blow it out”) in the context of the scene. I played a woman getting fitted for a wedding dress while her already-married, judgmental sister looked on. My character had had enough of her sister’s treatment and proclaimed that the wedding was finally going to be her special day that no one could ruin…That’s how I’m remembering it even though I hadn’t thought about it since that day almost seven years ago until this writing. It felt equal parts ridiculous and natural at the same time. And the praise wasn’t bad either. What was in this improv stuff that it can make me feel like this?
That Saturday ended with an improv show featuring Haverford’s resident comedy groups, The Throng and The Lighted Fools. The headliner was a group made up of Gethard, Woods, Brandon Calhoun, Shannon O’Neill andTarik Davis. Their suggestion was ‘books,’ and the opening was what I’d learn later to be an organic. The group started out by chanting ‘books’ as they mimed turning their own individual pages. I remember being swept up by what they were doing, knowing that it would have an immediate impact on what they decided to do later in the show. The chanting became interspersed with lines from novels, and left me thinking I needed to read more. The one memorable line to come out of the organic was Gethard saying “He couldna done it; he got a dead arm!” which I presumed was Jem Finch (“Nice one, I see what we’re doing here,” I thought.). I only other clear memory from that set is when the players were at a school dance where the chaperone (Calhoun) wanted the students to make room for the Holy Spirit, and Davis stepped in as the Holy Spirit. Nothing else comes to mind, but I do remember thinking, “That doesn’t seem so hard. And I sure would like the kind of attention they’re getting.”
Later that night, there was a party (I don’t remember where, but I think Drinker House was where the Saturday parties were normally, so it may have been there) where I ran into Alexis and another member of The Throng named Alejandro Miyar (more on him later). They both told me that since they were graduating, along with some other members, they wanted to fill in some slots this year so that the group wasn’t too small at the beginning of the following year. That they cared so much for what they’d built showed me that the group mattered. They also said that Gethard and Woods mentioned my name when asked if anyone stood out in the beginners’ workshop. So when they asked me if I’d be interested in auditioning for the group the following weekend, I immediately said yes.
The first scene I ever did with The Throng involved me urinating to destroy a wall. Jeph Gord and I played soldiers who decided that drinking acid and peeing on a wall would be the best way to infiltrate enemy lines. Don’t ask me how we didn’t die from drinking the acid (maybe I thought we were invulnerable to such things because sometimes Jeph talked like a robot). It wasn’t an especially funny scene, but I was just enjoying the idea that there was something new in my life that I could comfortably get better at with practice. I’d found a new outlet. So by the time I left the audition, I really hoped that they’d take me. I even called my mom and told her about it (sans the peeing) and she could tell I was excited, which was a pretty rare emotion for me. The acceptance notice probably came in an email, maybe even that night, but I can’t be sure because every minute that I didn’t hear felt like hours.
After that knee injury, I’d been preoccupied with when I was going to get surgery so that I could play ball again. But after being taken in by whom I considered like-minded, smart and talented people, I told myself that surgery could wait. After all, how the hell was I going to edit scenes on crutches?
Some of the Philadelphia alternative comedy community knows me; most of it doesn’t. But allow me to share a story that may benefit the would-be improv/sketch comedians/actors who are experiencing the journey.
I’m LeMar McLean. I graduated from Haverford College in 2004 and was a member of The Throng, the school’s only long form improv group. In the summer of 2004, I moved back home to Brooklyn, New York and have been performing at theUpright Citizens Brigade Theatre since then. Today, I play “Marz, the Black Planet,” a comedy wrestler in the UCBW Cagematch show. I haven’t done improv since October of 2008 at Throng homecoming show.
Whether I miss improvising isn’t as important as the story I share with you about how the last 7 years, New York, the “industry,” and Philadelphia have made me into the kind of creative person I am today. If this sounds just like another excuse for a blogger to talk about himself, I assure you that my hope to share a worthwhile story is sincere. As with any performative act, I’m aware that sharing this story will wind up being just as (if not more) meaningful to me as it is to anyone reading it. But that’s never stopped any of us bozos from trying to make people laugh, only to be the only one laughing, has it?
In deference to the rhythm of blog reading, I’ll break the story out into chapters (I suppose it’s also an underhanded ploy to get people to revisit the Philadelphia Joke Initiative blog space. Credit for full disclosure? Eh? Hm?). So! Here goes, Readers. And thank you for reading.
Ladies and gentlemen, tonight is the first night of the closing weekend of Cecily and Gwendolyn’s Fantastical Balloon Ride. Just four more chances to see the fully improvised Victorian time-travel adventure that audiences are raving about!
Cecily and Gwendolyn’s Fantastical… is performed at the Latvian Society, 531 N 7th Street, Phila PA 19123 (adjacent to the German Society on the corner of 7th and Spring Garden).
In their travels, Cecily and Gwendolyn have visited most cultures throughout history, so they’ve witnessed major economic upheaval first hand. They know all too well the value of currency(and during a recession, no less!). They inisited PJI keep ticket prices affordable. Admission to tonight’s 8pm performance is only $15; Friday and Saturday’s 8pm shows are just $20; and Sunday’s 7pm Closing performance is a steal at $10! Buy tickets for Cecily and Gwendolyn’s Fantastical Balloon Ride
Want to get a little taste of what you’re in store for? In the following video, Cecily and Gwendolyn discuss and discover deep truths about Woodrow Wilson.
Loves, we received this transmission from a very weary Cecily and Gwendolyn. Though have been spending hours and hours in their laboratory, they want to do MORE research! Which requires MORE subjects!
Watch Cecily and Gwendloyn’s Fantastic-ILL Laboratory Tour:
We also want to congratulate the winner of the Bing Supernova, Comedy Legend Haiku Contest. We thank all those who entered- you gave us many excellent options to choose from. The winning Haiku, authored by one Darryl Charles, had the perfect blend of hilarity, smugness, and saucy-beret-wearing. Presenting, the winning Haiku:
Worlds greatest haiku
requires only two words:
Bing Supernova.
Congratulations, Darryl! Enjoy those 2 tickets to tonight’s Bing Supernova’s Cavalcade of Fools!
Now, it’s time to get down to brass tacks and explain the title of the blog post. We’re running a sale on tickets all weekend long!
We know the deal. You wanted to see Cecily and Gwendolyn’s Fantastical Balloon Ride, but you are all like, broke and stuff? Well, turn that un-employment into FUN-employment, and experience the savings of PJI Presents: PJI’s $10 Weekend at PJI! A Hats OFF! Production.
Schedule:
Fri 1/15 8pm: Cecily and Gwendolyn’s Fantastical Balloon Ride
Fri 1/15 10pm: Bing Supernova’s Cavalcade of Fools
Sat 1/16 8pm: Cecily and Gwendolyn’s Fantastical Balloon Ride
Sat 1/16 10pm: Improv featuring Hello Laser (from the Magnet Theater in NYC)
Sun 1/17 7pm: Cecily and Gwendolyn’s Fantastical Balloon Ride
To purchase advance tickets for Saturday and Sunday’s Cecily and Gwendolyn, follow these steps:
1) Go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/92105
2) Select your date
3) Think about someone or something you love
4) In the discount code field, type HATS OFF and click “Show Additional Prices”
5) Wonder if that person or thing loves you back?
6) The $10 ticket price should appear as if by magic!
There are no online sales for the Friday shows or for Satuday’s 10pm show. Wah wah wah, that’s just the way it goes.
PJI took a little nap from the blog. After we squeezed out a video (featuring the amazing Kevin Kelly), I figured it was time to roll over and soak up some warm winter sunshine (like the clementine, here for a limited time only!). By soak up warm winter sunshine, I of course mean working on paperwork indoors and watching more than the recommended daily allowance of Style Network’s “Ruby.”
Cecily and Gwendolyn took a much-needed “vacay” as well, during which they promised to stop using the slang term “vacay” forever and ever. Did you miss Cec and Gwen? We did. That’s why we are thrilled to have them come roaring back from the time stream and head-first into a media-filled January. I wonder which year they rang in this New Year’s?
Cecily and Gwen have also been mouthing off to the muckrackers employed at our City’s fine alt weekly paper. But darling, they wouldn’t be Cec and Gwen if they weren’t mouthing off to somebody. Read the CityPaper preview piece by Julia West here.
Cecily and Gwendolyn’s Fantastical Balloon Ride opens next Wednesday. Do you have YOUR ticket?
If you’re one of those whiners who likes to bitch abot Christmas happening earlier and earlier every year, then you’re going to HATE this blog post. Even though it’s not even December yet, PJI is already gearing up for its January production of Cecily and Gwendolyn’s Fantastical Balloon Ride.
WHO? Glad you asked. Cecily and Gwendolyn are two slightly mad Victorian time travelers created by Karen Getz and Kelly Jennings. In this completely improvised, two-person, audience-interactive extravaganza, Cec and Gwen (self proclaimed social anthropologists) “discover” new civilizations and boldly go where no self-respecting Victorian woman would ever dare! We like to think of it as the show Oscar Wilde didn’t have the courage to write.
PJI is having a Cec & Gwen production meeting today, and while we’d love to tell you about it, we think you’d be bored to tears. Insider knowldege is only sexy if there is a lot of backstabbing and substance abuse. The only substance we’ll abusing today is expensive cheese.
Instead, check out this video of Cecily & Gwendolyn answering viewer questions:
You can become a fan of Cecily and Gwendolyn on Facebook. And after that, you can subscribe to their Youtube Chunnel! I mean, Youtube Channel! Man, this British stuff is mighty contagious.
The sixth and final member of our Travelogues cast: Jp Boudwin. While his name is surprisingly easy to mangle, his comedy is hard to forget. Jp stormed onto the scene sometime within the last year and has quickly emerged as one of Philadelphia’s most prolific comedians. He does it all: improv, sketch, stand-up, hosting the weekly Propaganda Party at the Starlight Ballroom (every Thursday night at 8pm- except tonight, of course). He’s also a pretty nice guy. Let’s hear it, folks. THREE CHEERS FOR JP!
Name
Jp Boudwin
Hometown
Upper Darby, PA
Stage Name
It’s currently “LackAdazeicaL”, but I’m changing it to Prince’s symbol.
Winning Sophomore year battle of the bands after being a band for a 2 weeks! Too many comedy related ones.
Any good travel horror stories?
I went to Pittsburgh and everything was closed. Also it sucked.
Why are you doing this show?
I’m an attention whore.
Why do you do comedy?
I’m an attention whore.
This concludes our Travelogues cast interviews. Or does it? In a way, yes. But in another, more accurate way, no. We’ve got some nice lil’ bits from Nathan Edmondson and Matt Holmes of the Rare Bird Show coming up later today. We also sent the questionnaire to Alexis Simpson, but it just came back to us with an O Magazine subscription renewal. What the hell, Alexis? Anyway, see you later tonight?
We sat for a long time thinking about what to write in this introduction. What do you write about Mary Carpenter that reflects both her onstage talent and her offstage grace, without making her uncomfortable with all this internet idolatry? Well, I guess you could pit it this way: when Chicago’s legendary Second City came knocking on Philadelphia’s door this past summer, it surprised no one to discover that they wanted to hire themselves a Carpenter. Name
Mary Carpenter
Hometown
Born in Villanova, currently living in Mt. “Hippie” Airy
Stage Name
Phantom Junior
Credits Include:
ComedySportz Philly, Suburban Love Songs and Disco Descending (1812 Productions), City Of Nutterly Love (Philadelphia Theatre Company) , Co-founder of Freefall Productions, Dazed and Amused: The 24 Hour Improv Marathon.
Favorite onstage moment?
Hitting on the cop who just pulled me over and later meeting in Applebees under the harsh light of reality.
Any good travel horror stories?
Going on a sailing trip with people who “Knew” how to sail, and having to be towed in twice.
This Travelogues cast interview features someone who is best described as a Philadelphia improv powerhouse. We bolded the word powerhouse to hammer home our point. We bolded the word hammer because it makes us think of “acclaimed” rapper MC Hammer, and this improviser is also pretty sick when it comes to rocking a microphone. Also because jokes always come in threes.
If there’s an improvised show in Philadelphia she’s probably had some hand in it, whether via performance or coaching those who perform. At last October’s 5th Annual Philadelphia Improv Festival, she racked up four, count ‘em, FOUR, appearances. So it’s no surprise that she’s a part of PJI’s upcoming The Mike Connor Travelogues.
Jason Stockdale (R) directs R&HAD cast members Olwn Conway and Mark Bringhurst.
How could you, Paul Walker? How could you?
