Ripped from the Floorboards…

Sci-Fi-Q Gets Lost in IRTE’s The Experiment
By Jeremy Binderhull

His body was found stiff and cold, burn marks around his face and neck. But this didn’t look like any electrocution Chet had ever seen, and he’d witnessed a lot of them during his six years onboard the USS Juno, first transwarp space vessel in the fleet. A hazard of the job, engineering on one of the most complex machines in the known galaxy. Electrocutions were as common as airlock drills. This was something different, something Chet couldn’t wrap his wrench around. One thing was certain, Captain Rosin was dead and something strange and terrifying was going on.

~ ~ ~

This scene is just one example of what you might witness when you attend one of IRTE’s performances of their sci-fi comedy thriller, The Experiment, at this year’s Asheville Fringe Arts Festival.

Performing for two nights during the 4-day festival, the Improvisational Repertory Theatre Ensemble mixes comedy improv and science fiction in their unique brand of improvisational theater. The troupe works without a script, crafting their character relationships and stories onstage before your very eyes.

Last year IRTE won the award for “Artists Whose Work Made Me Laugh The Most” for their improvisational birthday party extravaganza, Happy Birthday, Stupid Kid! Their production for the 2018 festival (the 16th annual Asheville Fringe Arts Festival!) is a decidedly different show. Thanks to their director writing up his impressions from some of the ensemble’s rehearsals (yes, they do rehearse for their unscripted shows), we have a few more glimpses into the possible worlds awaiting audience members who dare to submit themselves to "The Experiment"... Enjoy!

~ ~ ~

Is he gone yet? I don’t hear any footsteps. He must be gone.

"He"? Why do you keep saying “he”? You saw that thing same as I did. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t know if I can call it a “he” or anything else I’ve ever known.

Did you just hear a chicken?

~ ~ ~

She gazed deep into my eyes. I could smell her breath. She’d had some of Charlie’s four-alarm chili. That was when I knew she was still human, still one of us.

~ ~ ~

Strange going-on in the mountains of western North Carolina...

Kids gone missing up in the foothills outside of Waynesville, Asheville, and Fletcher. Reports of bizarre sounds and eerie lights. These are the things that keep residents ever watchful and neighbors banding together to solve a problem local authorities seem unable to. With the winter chill firmly taken hold in these small, mountain communities, folks aren’t taking any chances. People are taking things into their own hands, and it’s about to get messy.

~ ~ ~

Find out what happens, and be a part of the action at IRTE’s The Experiment, presented by the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival

Featuring Actors: Nannette Deasy, Robert Baumgardner, Jamie Maloney, Connie Perry, and Sam Katz

Directed by Bill Berg

With Musical Guest Mike Andersen and Friends

Thursday, January 25 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, January 27 at 7 p.m.
Sly Grog Lounge, 271 Haywood St, Asheville, NC

Tickets: $13

http://www.ashevillefringe.org/events/irte-presents-experiment/

Innies vs Outies

The Great Introvert/Extrovert Debate

By Ima Shyone

Would I - a socially skeptical, self-proclaimed introvert - be willing to participate in a Game Show…are you crazy?

Really?  The prize is a fully funded year alone on a deserted island?  You have no idea how much I need that...if I don’t get space and solitude soon I may have an unobtrusive and quietly painful nervous breakdown...I’m desperate so -

Yes, I will do it!

Please note that I don’t throw around exclamation points every day – and this is completely out of my comfort zone - but in this case I’m all in.  For the record as an introvert, in my way, I’m often all in.  It’s just hard to tell.  It’s not really hostile.

Belly buttoned-up!

Even my bellybutton is an innie.  I wonder if all introverts are innies?  And are all extroverts outies?  Naval introspection aside, I need this year alone on a deserted island.

So I will be a contestant on the game show AVOIDANCE!  If the other introverts on the show can deal with the cruel torture of being exposed to loud buzzers and assorted extrovert exuberance and inappropriate lack of boundaries and general obnoxious in-your-face behavior, so can I. 

Out and proud!

Hold on…my enthusiastic extroverted cousin, Buddy Friendly, just texted me that he is in fact, an outie.  So maybe there is some science behind the bellybutton question…hmmm, a lot of extroverts wear clothes proudly displaying the navel so surveys for research on the subject could be easily available….I will pose it to the powers that be in the inner workings of the trivia world.

By the way, my cousin Buddy Friendly is delighted that I will be on a game show.  He and his 8 year old son Mikey want to attend.  Mikey is still young so he hasn’t completely  perfected the social dictates of congeniality and perhaps he will bloom into a careful and discerning introvert like his Aunt Ima.  One never knows how kids might turn out.  Apparently I was a love bug when I was 2 years old.  So odd.  Well, I will have a close look at Mikey’s bellybutton and see if it is prophetic.

Oh, speaking of 8 year old potential introverts Mikey has just asked his father to text me his thoughts on innes and outies.  (He is very bright – which is why, despite his vivaciousness, there is hope that he could use that energy to think inwardly instead of screaming).

Here is this clever 8 year old assessment of the whole Innie/Introvert vs Outie/Extrovert mystery:

Jokes by Mikey Friendly

How many extroverts does it take to change a lightbulb?

At least a dozen.  One to make the food to celebrate the cool burst of light, two to buy the drinks, and at least nine to make it a party.  Make that fifteen: someone has to actually change the bulb and two to hold the ladder. 

How many introverts does it take to change a lightbulb?

You already know the answer:  innies are electrified by doing things on their own.  So yes, one.  Well, maybe two.  One to actually change the bulb, and one to make sure no one is else is going to show up to turn one simple household task into a noisy, crowded, energy-sucking party.

Was Jackie Coogan an introvert?

Why did the extrovert cross the road?

Because there were tons more people and lots more stuff going on, on the other side, and I mean, it’s kind of yucky to just walk along by yourself.

Why did the introvert cross the road?

For sure, dude, trying to escape from the extroverts – they’re everywhere man.

Why did the introvert & the extrovert throw the alarm clock out the window?

I don’t know either. 

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Innie.

Innie who?

Innie body know where I can find a quiet little alcove with a lock on the door?

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Outie

Outie who?

‘Owdie you expect me to wait here alone for ten minutes?

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Orange.

Orange who?

Orange you glad I’m outie here?

Come meet all our introverted contestants at...
AVOIDANCE

Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. 

May 19, 20, 26 & 27

The Producer’s Club

358 W 44th St, New York, NY

Tickets: $15

Experiment BIRTE - Good to Go!

SCI-FI-Q Gives Readers

An Inside Look at IRTE-TVs New Programming

New CEO at IRTE-TV Promises Bold New Programming

Jeremy Binderhull, Staff Writer for Sci-Fi-Q

Interviews IRTE-TV CEO Hollander Caul-de-Zak  

      

SFQ Staff file photo.

Science fiction fans respond to news from IRTE-TV with cautious anticipation.

He’s been an enigmatic presence in the regional television broadcasting industry ever since he breathed life back into dying but beloved local tv station, WXRV, thirteen short months ago, reconfiguring it as an analog/cyberspace crossover property for the digital age and renaming its flagship television brand, IRTE-TV.

Get ready to be surprised again, because Rochester’s own Rupert Murdoch is at it… again!

Hollander D. Caul-de-Zak, the brash and eccentric CEO of WXRV, and its most famous outlet, IRTE-TV, has taken a gamble with a bold new programming move. Sci-Fi Q’s award-winning blogger, Jeremy Binderhull, took a few moments the other day to sit down and stick a probe in old Hollander’s brain.

Here’s what we found out...

SFQ: (adjusting settings on recording device) Ah, let me just… Oh, we’re live - uh, we’re recording now, sir.

Caul-de-Zak: (coming at the blogger with a raised palm) I thought you told me you weren’t going to record this first part!

SFQ: Oh, I’m sorry. I thought we already finished the - I’m sorry. Here, I can turn it off.

Caul-de-Zak: Oh well! Never mind!

SFQ: What?

Caul-de-Zak: I said Go Ahead! Are you deaf?! (muttering to himself) Or just an idiot!

SFQ: What? Oh. Ok. No, sir. Ok, fine.

Hollander Caul-de-Zak sits silent, stern and stolid, not saying a word.

SFQ: Shall we continue, then? Let’s continue. Ah, I mean, where shall we begin…?

Caul-de-Zak: (twiddling his fingers as if brushing crumbs off his robe) Go ahead…

SFQ: I’m sitting here with relatively new CEO and Chief of Programming at Rochester’s own, and much beloved, WXRV, and their “offspring”, as it were… (coughs slightly) the crown jewel of Lake Ontario South Shore television programming, IRTE-TV. (covering mic and speaking directly to Mr. Caul-de-Zak) Did I say that right? Rhymes with “birdy-teevee”? (whispering) Ok, good. Thank you... Sorry.

SFQ: (clears throat) The buzz on the airwaves is you’re about to shake things up with local original and/or “renewed-retro” programming, specifically in the 5 to 9 p.m. time-slots, Monday through Wednesday, for those customers with satellite dish service or piggybacking off a strong signal from the Canada side of the lake, most likely in the Prince Edward area of the lowest southeastern portion of Ontario. That tends to give the strongest signals to us Rochesterians who like to add variety to our viewing choices… Sorry. Uh, people in the know say this is a gamble that is likely to pay off?

Caul-de-Zak: Well, I’ll tell you what, young man. I’ve been in the industry a long time for around these parts. I’ve learned a thing or two, and I know you can’t win big if you’re not willing to pony up and throw a heaping pile of chips onto the table every once in awhile.

SFQ: Yes, well people in the know are saying -

Caul-de-Zak: I know what people in the know are saying! I am People in the Know! Now let me tell you what we’re up to over here at XIRT-V - that’s what I call it, son. You can’t call it that.

SFQ: Ok, Mr. Caul-de-Zak. Of course, sir.

Caul-de-Zak: Now where was I? (twiddling his fingers again) Oh, yes. About six or seven months ago I was sitting around with my business partners, if you know what I mean, and we were discussing possible next moves for the early evening to prime time slot in our early to mid week extended programming service. And one of the guys was talking about his niece writing a story for a science fiction contest, and - oh, hell! You don’t need to know how the sausage is made! I came up with this great idea for after-school and dinner-time tv watching for our local families and extended programming tv viewers!

SFQ: Great! I’m sure our readers would love to know all about it.

Caul-de-Zak: Alright, well, it’s gonna be great!

SFQ: Great! Sir. I wonder if, perhaps, you might be able - uh, willing to share a bit more detail for our - and your - fans, sir.

Caul-de-Zak: Well, I don’t want to give too much away, but let me just say that we’re giving science fiction fans a whole new reason to tune in on weekday evenings. A whole new reason!

SFQ: Great!

Caul-de-Zak: Let me finish, son. Yes, it IS great! Now I know that nowadays young folks like their entertainment fast and cutting edge - “EXTREME!” I think they call it. People want to feel that what they’re watching is beyond real. Hell, even at the national level the lines between reality and made-up facts is getting blurred. So we’ve gone ahead a retooled many classic science fiction favorites and injected them with new life, literally! (directly to Sci-Fi Q blogger) Now this is where you ask me, “well how are you doing that?” Go ahead, now.

SFQ: Oh, now. That’s now? Ok...So, tell me sir, because I’m sure our readers are dying to know, how are you going to do that?

Caul-de-Zak: I’m glad you asked. We’ve hired a good, sturdy stable of the finest actors in the area - Regional Actors - and we’ve got them performing LIVE in front of a studio audience some of the great science fiction thrillers in motion picture history, and a few as yet unseen. And let me tell you, we’re real excited about this whole deal.

  

Regional Actors in Caul-de-Zak’s WXRV’s IRTE-TV “Experiment”

SFQ: I’ll bet you are! Oh, boy!

Caul-de-Zak: Settle down, kid!

SFQ: Sorry.

Caul-de-Zak: Anyway, as I was saying - and this bears repeating because this is major stuff happening here! We are going to broadcast a LIVE taping of a performance in front of a LIVE audience a series of sci-fi thrillers! Do you understand what I’m saying here?

SFQ: Yes, of course I do, sir!

Caul-de-Zak: This is cutting edge! This is “EXTREME”! Now print that! Or post it, or whatever it is you people do these days.

SFQ: That’s why I’m here, sir.

Caul-de-Zak: That’s why I’M here.

IRTE-TV’s thrilling new sci-fi programming, appropriately entitled The Experiment, will begin with a two-weekend premiere celebration Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m., April 21, 22, 28, and 29.

Watch the creepy trailer here.

Return next week when SFQ Staff Writer, Jeremy Binderhull, brings readers an exclusive super secret look into the clandestine world of “Syracuse Soothsayers,” who claim to hold the missing link between the Star Wars and Star Trek universes.

THE EXPERIMENT

Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. 

April 21, 22, 28 and 29

The Producer’s Club

358 W 44th St, New York, NY

Tickets: $15

The Two Davids, a Dueling Interview

David E. Johnston

Mr. David Jay

By Jamie Maloney

I had the rare opportunity to talk to both David Johnston AND Mr David Jay, long time IRTE collaborators, about their experiences with IRTE and the upcoming production Last Resort.

Jamie: How did you come to be involved with IRTE?

David Johnston: I worked with Brad Barton, who is an improv comic and friends with IRTE. He knew I was starting a band called “Gift of Tongues” and that IRTE was looking for musical guests for their shows.

Nannette Deasy "Jay" declined to comment
on this interview

Mr. David Jay: When Gift of Tongues bowed out, my ex girlfriend/wife Nannette asked me to come perform at the last minute

Jamie: How long have you been a GIRTE? In which IRTE productions have you appeared?

David Johnston: I have been a GIRTE for about 4 years. Gift of Tongues appeared in the 2013 season and in one show in 2014:

Interludes 2063, vIRTEgo Circus, and Space Probe. The 2014 show was The Scary

Mr. David Jay: Seems like forever. I started in the 2014 season with vIRTE Go-Go. In Magic Zoo I did an excerpt of my upcoming one-man show “Zoo-sical- Behind the Bars of the Human Zoo”. Then I headlined The League of Extraordinary Blondes .In 2015 I performed in every goddamn show of the season

Jamie: Do you have a favorite memory of your experiences with IRTE? What do you like most about performing in IRTE shows?

David Johnston: One of my favorite Gift of Tongues experiences was for Space Probe, when I wanted to do music that combined 70’s space funk with songs about clones. And I had Matt Dallow on theremin- which I think is one of the coolest instruments.

Mr David Jay: My favorite memory was at DIG!, when I made 4 audience feel like they had to leave the theater. I was just doing a simple monologue about suppositories and my mother’s French manicures. What’s the big deal?

Jamie: Do you have any interesting talents or abilities that people might be surprised to know about?

Mr David Jay: No. Everything you need to know is right on stage

David Johnston: For about 5 years I had a company called “The Bubble Roome” which made personal care products like soap and body butter and things like that. I started in my tiny Brooklyn kitchen and then was able to have someone else manufacture my recipes as the products got into over 100 stores.

Jamie: The current IRTE show, “Last Resort” is all about wish fulfillment. Do you have a secret wish you’d like to share with everyone?

David Johnston: Gift of Tongues doing a huge spectacle show at the BAM Opera House

Mr David Jay: My secret wish: to always have a follow-spot, and a fresh glass of Maker’s Mark on stage at all times

Jamie: So what will you be doing for the show this time around?

Mr David Jay: Breaking the rules, bridging gaps, and bringing people of different colors together under a rainbow of glitter.

Jamie: Do you have anything else happening that you’d like people to know about?

David Johnston: We’re working on a video for one of our songs from our last CD, which is called Dahmeresque. It will like a bloody valentine.

Mr David Jay: I’m currently very constipated.

Jamie: Thanks David and David, I’ll see you at showtime.

Don't miss LAST RESORT

Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m.
June 10, 11, 17 & 18
The Producer’s Club
358 W 44th St, New York, NY
Tickets: $12

THIS GUY! MOVIE GUIDE



I’VE SEEN ‘CALAMITY!’ AND IT’S AWESOME!!!

By Tyler Kevin

THIS GUY!

Hey guys! I know I promised you I’d share the trailer for IRTE’s latest show, ‘Calamity!’ as soon as I got my hands on it, but I’ve been - uh - indisposed for the last week or so. Turns out what’s legal in Colorado is supposed to stay in Colorado. Thanks for the heads-up, dudes!

 

Anyway, as you can see by the change in my header, I’ve struck out on my own and am no longer with those guys at “That Guy” Movie Guide.

It’s great to be C.E.O.!!

 

Bu-uh -- I DO have the ‘Calamity!’ trailer, along with some other great goodies from the fine folks at IRTE!

 

So strap in and get ready for some action. You’re gonna need to because the latest production out of IRTE’s fun factory is a knock-down, drag-out, no-holds-barred BLOCKBUSTER extravaganza!

 

That’s right - these guys (and gals!) have really outdone themselves. There was a freakin’ hurricane on that stage this past Saturday night. A hurricane of CATS! And there’s no tellin’ what’s gonna happen next time. YOU. GET. TO. DECIDE!!!

 

 

I know it sounds crazy that no one knows what they’re gonna be up against until seconds before the show starts, but - hey! - that’s what these guys (and gals!) do!

 

Not only that, they had as their very special musical guest none other than Carla Ulbrich, one of the stars whose music appears on the ‘Calamity!’ soundtrack, and she’s just as funny and talented as the rest of that crazy bunch. She had me and the rest of the audience in stitches with her song about one particular word that starts with the letter ‘f’!

I don’t want to give too much away - and I can’t because they make that sh*t up! - but you just gotta trust me on this and get your butts in those seats for the wild ride that is IRTE’s ‘Calamity!’

 

You’ve got just 2 more chances to do just that. And you can’t go wrong with the musical guests they’ve got lined up for their next 2 shows. On July 18, you’ll get to see the luminous Tym Moss. And at their final performance on July 25, the ever daring and spectacular Mr. David Jay will tear up the stage! (What’s left of it!)

 

So put your thinking caps on, get your ass in gear to the Producer’s Club, and tell this band of action heroes (and villains and love interests) what disaster we need them to save the world from!

 

 

“Calamity!” runs 2 more Saturdays in July at

8 p.m. at The Producer’s Club

 

July 18 and 25 -- 358 W 44th Street, New York, NY

 

Here’s some links -- the goodies that I promised you. Check ‘em out!!

https://youtu.be/yZSKqbaFXlg -- Calamity! movie trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrs2ngrd5dk  -- Radio Show on Youtube - entire show (2 hrs)

http://yotina.podomatic.com/entry/2015-07-13T12_49_27-07_00  --  Hustlin’ Awesome Show clip on PodOmatic

http://carlau.com  --  Carla Ulbrich’s website

http://tymmoss.com  --  Tym Moss’s website

https://www.facebook.com/MrDavidJay  --  Mr. David Jay’s Facebook page

http://www.irteinfo.com/#!tickets/cz8h/!/Calamity/p/45840953/category=8705737  -- Tickets

Until next time. Take it from me, Tyler Kevin, and This Guy! Movie Guide!!