Showing posts with label improvisation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label improvisation. Show all posts

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Top tips for arranging your work from home setup 

By Natalie Hunter

 

The year is 2020. You didn’t think it’d come to this. You thought surely your micromanager boss who constantly breathes down your neck would rather wear ten masks then let you work from home. And he probably would, but it’s out of his hands now. Dr. Fauci and Andrew “Lov Gov” Cuomo have said your office is unsafe and you’ll be working from home for an indefinite amount of time. No awkward water cooler chatter or having to pick out the bottom half of your outfit? You could get used to this. But your coffee table and an egg chair isn’t going to cut it as a workspace. Here’s how to turn your living/eating/sleeping space into your work space as well. 

 

Ultimate appearance enhancer


Now that you’ll be doing all of your communication through Zoom, you’ll want to look your best. Filters are a dangerous game because with one slip of the finger, you could turn yourself into a fish rather than enhancing your features. Instead, invest in a ring light. Since they’re all the rage, they may be hard to get your hands on for some time. In the meantime, order a donut from Dunkin Donuts on Grubhub and attach a flashlight.

 

Key to a healthy lifestyle


Working from home means less walking from the subway or parking lot to your office. That’s ok. Now you can do two of life’s most pleasurable activities at the same time — working and working out. That’s right. With an under-the-desk treadmill, you can now squeeze in a brisk jog while typing out expense reports. No one will ever notice how winded you sound while taking phone calls and they certainly won’t think you’re up to anything inappropriate. For the overachievers, you can take your desk side fitness to the next level by investing in a human hamster wheel.


Source of Nutrition

One aspect of the office you may find yourself missing is the vending machine. Fear not! You can recreate the glorious sensation of watching your favorite snack be dispensed to you. Get yourself and automatic cat feeder for your at-home desk. You can set it up to release chips, jellybeans or whatever your favorite treat is on the hour and one will be there to watch you shamefully shove your face in it. Plus, you won’t need to get up and decrease productivity! Yay!

 

Pet-friendly set-up


Your cat may be upset that you snagged its automatic feeder. That’s ok. You can make up for it. Once you start doing 5 zoom calls a day, your cat will realize that pulling focus by meowing, crawling across the keyboard and “accidentally” hitting the unmute button during these calls will be the best way to be disruptive. So why not embrace it? Get your cat a pedestal so it can be the center of attention during every zoom call. Maybe your boss will be distracted by the cuteness of your cat and forget about that presentation that was due?

Congrats! Your at-home cubicle is ready to go! How long will you be here for? Who knows? So get comfy!




So helpful, right?! These gems of wisdom must surely have prepared you for IRTE's REMOTE!



Fridays and Saturdays 
November 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 & 23
December 6 & 7, 2024
8:00-9:30pm


The Producers Club, 358 West 44th Street
Between 9th & 10th Ave
New York, NY


Tickets: $20 on-line, $25 cash only at the door

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Experience the S.S. Maximamoolah

Never has there been a cruise ship the size of the SS Maximamoolah.

Soooooo big, one camera can't capture it all!

No other vessel on the seven seas rival it in luxury or expanse. Boasting no less than
seventeen turbine engines designed by Elon Mush, it is the fastest boat of its size. Its
specially heated prow can melt ice for an Antarctic adventure, or hatch Condor eggs
without the help of a mother Condor. Now that makes for a hearty breakfast in any one
of the 32 eating establishments throughout the 44 decks. The dining in the main ball
room has been prepared especially for your journey by none other than James Beer
Award winner Mario Battalion.

Endangered Species Treats!


There isn’t just food aboard the Maximamoolah, but a new world of fun.
There are movie theaters plus IMAX on board. A cabaret, and a Broadway sized theatre
with three balconies. This summer’s entertainment includes the beautiful vocal shadings
of Tym Moss straight out of Manhattan.
But, performing arts aren’t the only fun you’ll have on board.
Gamble at the casino, or at the Jai Alai court on S, T, F and U decks. Have fun on the
water slide, or feed the exotic wild cats in the first floating animal park!

Oops! Look who's using the pool!

Come join the fun and sun on board the SS Maximamoolah! Sea-ing is Believing!

The SS Maximamoolah sets sail in IRTE's

THE SHIP BE SINKIN'

April 5, 6, 12 & 13, 8:00 pm

 The Producers Club, 358 West 44th Street
between 9th and 10th Avenue
New York, NY


 Tickets: $15 on-line, $17 at the door

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

David Jay's DIY Paper Craft Game - Bachelorette Party FUN!



Have you ever wanted to make a fun DIY paper craft game for a bachelorette party? Of course you haven't. But now you can, with...

David Jay's Penis Ring Toss Game. 

And you'll be the most popular person there!
Watch the exciting video tutorial, and print out the instructions and template here: http://tinyurl.com/y3crbtvg


And if you're in New York City, see Tammy's Bachelorette, a hilarious comedy improv show by IRTE and David Jay as the "Adult Entertainment."

March 8, 9, 15, 16, 2019. 

Tix and info at: https://www.irteinfo.com/tickets/Tammys-Bachelorette-p129993812



Sunday, January 21, 2018

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

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Help Us to Continue Bringing Good Cheer in the New Year!



Dear Friend,

We had a great season this past year, producing four different shows. Plus, we're doing our best to reach audiences outside of New York City, as well. In January, we're performing at the Asheville Fringe Festival. So, if you live in or near NC, now's your chance to check us out live and in person!

For the upcoming 2017 season, the IRTE elves have opened their workshop, and are hard at work making plans for four new improvised shows. They're hoping to bring entertainment and laughter to all, and give everyone some relief from the past year.

We can't do this without contributions from people like you who want to share terrific, zany, live comedy and who want to make sure it's affordable for everybody.

If you weren't able to take part in our 2016 Indiegogo fundraiser, and would like to see  small, independent theatre thrive, there is still time to make a tax deductible gift to IRTE in 2016 through our fiscal sponsor, Fractured Atlas. To give a gift to IRTE during this charitable time of year, please go to the Fractured Atlas IRTE page and make a tax deductible donation on-line. If you prefer, you can also donate by check. Please send contributions to IRTE c/o Robert Baumgardner, 10 W 66 St, #19-H, New York, NY 10023. Checks should be made payable to Fractured Atlas, with IRTE in the memo line. IRTE is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of IRTE must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” and are tax‐deductible to the extent permitted by law. We greatly appreciate it.

We at IRTE would like to wish all of you a happy holiday season and a wonderful new year! We'd also like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your support over the past five years. Our 2016 fundraising efforts helped us pay for over a third of our overall costs. Our biggest expense, by far, is rent on theatre and rehearsal spaces. This year we spent over $3,400 on that alone. Donations weren't the only way you supported us. We had a blast seeing so many of you in the audience for multiple shows in our season.
 

Happy Holidays from all of us at IRTE, and we look forward to seeing you for our excit
ing new 2017 season (announcement coming soon)!

Nannette Deasy, Artistic Director
Robert Baumgardner
Curt Dixon
Jamie Maloney
Bill Berg


Thursday, March 26, 2015

THE CAPTAIN’S CORNER - Welcome Aboard!


THE CAPTAIN’S CORNER
_____________________________________________

Ahoy, Mateys!

That’s sailor talk for “Hello, friends!”
Capt. Adam LaRonde of the
SS Ted McGinley
My name is Capt. LaRonde and let me be the first to welcome you aboard the SS Ted McGinley cruise ship.

For those first time cruisers, you are in for the experience of a lifetime. I hope you packed your sunscreen and left your worries behind.

The first question I get from folks who have never been on a cruise before is always when do we eat?

Well, I’m proud to announce that our award-winning buffet service is now open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  As my dear old Dad used to say:  if you don’t get enough to eat, it’s your own damn fault.

Also you might want to take a second to pinch yourself (ouch!)

Why did you just pinch yourself? Because we are extremely lucky to have on this voyage the one and only Shecky Herring. The legendary prop comedian will be performing nightly at our famous Peppermint Lounge.  Also we have a variety of musical acts for your enjoyment, including my personal favorite Mary Knapp and her magical accordion stylings.

And if all that food, comedy and music still isn’t enough, our Cruise Director Judy McGill has planned a smorgasbord of fun and exciting activities for you to enjoy.

And now for all those grizzled cruise veterans among us, I say:  Quit bugging me and let me steer the ship!

All joking aside, please do not try to enter the main steerage deck.  Especially in these post-9/11 times I fail to find the humor in it.

Now, for both the “newbies” and the “vets”, may I make this humble request?

If you find yourself with time to spare, feel free to lend us a hand. Help scrub the deck, cut up some taters in the kitchen or just shovel coal in the engine room (just kidding – our engines run on nuclear fuel).

Our newly-installed engines are perfectly functional, bought at bargain prices from the former Soviet Republic of Azberbaijan. Say what you want about the evils of the Soviet communist system but man oh man when that sucker collapsed there were bargains to be found everywhere!!!

It’s traditional to launch a sea voyage with a toast. And here is one of my favorites:

May you always be upgraded to a deluxe cabin, may the buffet line always be short, and may your plumbing never need fixin!

Huzzah, Bon Voyage and L'Chayim!

-Capt. Adam LaRonde

SS Ted McGinley

 

Climb Aboard the SS Ted McGinley

with IRTE in...  
Saturdays, April 4, 11 & 18, 8:00 pm
at The Producer's Club
358 W 44th St, NYC
between 8th & 9th Ave.

 


Sunday, February 15, 2015

IRTE 2015: Say "hello" to Bill Berg!

It's a brand new year, bringing with it a brand new season of IRTE shows! We're proud to announce that one familiar face will officially be joining us! Say "hello" to our newest 2015 Ensemble Member, Bill Berg!

 

One of our all time favorite GIRTEs (Guest of IRTE), you might remember Bill as the 70s lothario Lupine Lou in last season's vIRTE Go-Go! or as Ken in The League of Extraordinary Blondes. We sat down with Bill for a chat.



So, Bill, tell us... What do you love most about IRTE?

What I love most about being a part of IRTE is that we all get together and come up with a bunch of different show ideas and then we vote on the ones we like best. Then we get to do them! That and the scotch at "the end" of our meetings and rehearsals. I love scotch!


Well, we know how to keep our IRTEs happy. Speaking of whom, what do you think of the cast this year?

I consider myself lucky to get to play and create and perform with such a talented, generous, and kooky group of people.

Kooky?

Kooky.


Okay, I'll admit we can be a bit "kooky." Assuming you haven't had too much scotch, any memorable moments from last season?

Blondes. All I can remember is blondes.

Figures.

Besides all those blondes, who are some of your favorite IRTE characters?

Only a narcissist would say that one of his favorite characters was one of his own.

Do go on...


Bill's always been a groovy dude... With Marcia Sofley in vIRTE Go-Go!
I am a narcissist. I LOVE Lupine Lou! Such fun. That guy in the wheelchair always makes me laugh, too. Bonnie Winters, of course.

Of course. :)

And who doesn't love a run-over bunny with a buzzard eating it's head? Am I right?!

(Laughs) Absolutely!







...and he can type, too, even without a typewriter! With Jamie Maloney in The League of Extraordinary Blondes
What are you most looking forward to this season?
The opportunity to meet James Carville. Rumor has it he'll be making a special appearance for our 'Late Night News' show. Shhh...don't tell Mary - we didn't invite her. Oh, and...'Calamity!'

Calamity! was your original idea, and I hear you're going to direct!  How exciting!!

Thanks, Bill, we're so happy to have you join the ranks!

Come see Bill and all the IRTEs in...

Wow Wee! Adventures of a Little Girl Robot

Saturdays, March 7, 14 & 21, 8:00 pm at
The Producer's Club
358 W 44th St, NYC
between 8th & 9th Ave.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Magic Zoo News: Princess Patty is Nannette Deasy!!


IRTE's latest production, THE MAGIC ZOO continues Sunday, July 27, 2014. It's our tongue-in-cheek take on the kids' shows we grew up with like THE NEW ZOO REVUE, THE MAGIC GARDEN, and ZOOBILEE ZOO.

Jeff O'Leary, guest performer and 2013 IRTE company member, asked some fun questions of our cast to get to know a little bit about the psychological trauma they went through growing up, and how children shows helped them adapt to society. This time he talked to company member and artistic director Nannette Deasy:

Jeff: Tell us about the character you are playing in THE MAGIC ZOO.

Nannette: I play Princess Patty, owner of the zoo. Patty is royalty (don't you forget it!) and extremely proud of her menagerie of zoo friends - never mind that the whole zoo consists of just four animals and one tree. She has a bit of a crush on Game Warden Bob, mostly because he's handsome, mysterious and the only other human being for miles around.
I think I picked the Princess as a character, because I wanted to wear a tiara and carry a sceptre. (Don't judge me).

J: What was your favorite kid's show when you were growing up and why?

N: I spent a LOT of time in front of the TV (which did not stunt my growth in any way!), so I had a lot of favorites, including Scooby Doo (which explains last season's The Groovy Gang Adventures), Land of the Lost, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Bozo the Clown and The Magic Garden.

Journey to the Center of the Earth was the cartoon I was actually watching when my mother thought I was tuning in to Sesame Street. I was never really a big fan of Sesame Street - my mother made the huge mistake of telling me it was educational and "good for me", which completely turned me off. Every time, she left the room, I'd switch the channel to Journey to the Center of the Earth, whose 17 episodes played over and over again in syndication. The show (a very Johnny Quest-like cartoon) had very little to do with the Jules Verne book but followed the adventures of a professor and some kids and a duck named Gertrude as they raced to...well... the center of the Earth where apparently the lost city of Atlantis ended up. Riveting stuff.

While I did not like Romper Room (I thought the hostess seemed "mean") I looooooved The Magic Garden. Carol and Paula seemed so easy going and accepting and could play dress up like nobody's business! I dreamed of being allowed to just hang out with them and Sherlock the pink squirrel.
image
The Magic Garden (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyc...
The Magic Garden is a live action children's television program which aired Mondays through Thursdays from March 6, 1972 to September 14, 1984 on WP...

Preview by Yahoo


3) Did you ever apply any "life lessons" from a children's show to your own life? Did you ever have a problem as a kid that you wished would have been addressed on a show you watched?
N: I think the one major life lesson I took from these shows is that "dressing up" and make believe is FUN and worthwhile. It's probably part of the reason I became an actor.
J: If you were a big shot television producer and could create your own kid's show, what would it look like?
N: It would be a little scary and dark and completely live action. And, it would have absolutely no educational value whatsoever.


Well... I hope we all learned something.

Thanks, Jeff and Nannette, we'll see you soon at the zoo!

Sunday, July 27, 8:00 pm

at The Producer's Club
358 W 44th St, NYC
between 8th & 9th Ave.



Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Magic Zoo News: Chompers is Jeff O'Leary!

IRTE's latest production, THE MAGIC ZOO continues Sunday, July 27, 2014. It's our tongue-in-cheek take on the kids' shows we grew up with like THE NEW ZOO REVUE, THE MAGIC GARDEN, and ZOOBILEE ZOO.

Jeff O'Leary, guest performer and 2013 IRTE company member, asked some fun questions of our cast to get to know a little bit about the psychological trauma they went through growing up, and how children shows helped them adapt to society. This time he talked to Jeff O'Leary in a mirror:



Jeff: Tell us about the character you are playing in THE MAGIC ZOO.

O'Leary: I play Chompers, a friendly alligator who is constantly trying to balance his generous nature with his instinctual desire to kill and eat everything that has a beating heart.  He has been brought to the zoo against his will (kidnapped right off the street of his suburban Tampa Bay neighborhood by Princess Patty herself!) but decides to make the best of it. Turns out that living in a zoo is like a gourmet buffet for a gator -- penguins, zebras, marmosets, just to name a few of the delicious creatures on the menu. It's a veritable smorgasbord for a cold-blooded predator!  He never ate so well in his life -- let's face it, Tampa Bay isn't known for its culinary treasures.

Jeff: What was your favorite kid's show when you were growing up and why?

O'Leary: I grew up in Colorado and the popular kids show was "Blinky's Fun Club". It was a locally produced show starring a clown named Blinky. It was a very big deal to attend a taping of a show on your birthday, since Blinky sang his signature song "Happy Birfday to You" on every single show.  It was on the air for three decades, with over 10,000 episodes shot (thank you, Wikipedia!)
Eventually Blinky started to go downhill with the addition of two other characters (Otis and Zelda) who joined the show in the early 1980s. There were "creative differences" with Blinky -- apparently they objected to his peculiar sense of humor. For instance, he reportedly forced an overweight diabetic woman to eat birthday cake on air. It was a very sad day when Blinky's Fun Club was finally taken off the air in 1998.

Jeff: Did you ever apply any "life lessons" from a children's show to your own life? Did you ever have a problem as a kid that you wished would have been addressed on a show you watched?

O'Leary: I learned the true meaning of giving from Bert and Ernie's "Gift of the Magi" It was Sesame Street's take on the O. Henry classic story.  Bert sells his paperclip collection to buy Ernie a new dish for his rubber ducky. At the same time, Ernie goes out and sells his rubber ducky so that he can buy Bert a box to keep his paperclip collection in. Disaster!
I re-watch it every holiday season lest I forget the true meaning of Christmas.

Jeff: If you were a big shot television producer and could create your own kid's show, what would it look like?
O'Leary: I would create a spin-off of the Magic Zoo called "It's Chompin' Time!" starring (who else?) Chompers. It would take place in a swamp, where Chompers would hang out with all his old animal friends from the bayou -- poisonous snakes, snapping turtles, herons, etc. There would be a haunted cypress tree where an old coot would tell ghost stories. And Chompers would always be on the lookout for evil hunters who are constantly trying to kill him and make a fortune off his very valuable alligator hide.

Well... I hope we all learned something.

Thanks, Jeff and ... Jeff, we'll see you soon at the zoo!

Sunday, July 27, 8:00 pm

at The Producer's Club
358 W 44th St, NYC
between 8th & 9th Ave.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Magic Zoo News: Robert Baumgardner is Game Warden Bob

IRTE's latest production, THE MAGIC ZOO continues Sunday, July 20 and 27, 2014. It's our tongue-in-cheek take on the kids' shows we grew up with like THE NEW ZOO REVUE, THE MAGIC GARDEN, and ZOOBILEE ZOO.

Jeff O'Leary, guest performer and 2013 IRTE company member, asked some fun questions of our cast to get to know a little bit about the psychological trauma they went through growing up, and how children shows helped them adapt to society. This time he talked to Robert Baumgardner:




Jeff: Tell us about the character you are playing in THE MAGIC ZOO.

Robert: I play Game Warden Bob. He's sort of the Magic Zoo's general manager, mechanic, animal handler, cleaning man and rhythm guitarist. Luckily he has a lot of help from the uncaged animals running around the zoo.

J: What was your favorite kid's show when you were growing up and why?

R: The McLaughlin Group. Every Sunday morning my parents would tune in to these five animals in suits that would screech and bellow about news events. It was hilarious, especially when Pat Buchanan the Bear would grunt how well prohibition worked! Plus, "McLaughlin" has the word "laugh" in it.

J: Did you ever apply any "life lessons" from a children's show to your own life? Did you ever have a problem as a kid that you wished would have been addressed on a show you watched?

R: Sure, The McLaughlin Group had a game called "Which of these things is not like the Other?" There was John McLaughlin, Pat Buchanan, Fred Barnes and Eleanor Clift. Eleanor was the different one. Why? No, not because she was a woman. She was known as a blee-ding-heart-li-ber-al. As an adult, while finely crafting the character of Game Warden Bob, I had a choice of four props: a hand gun, a machine gun, a bazooka, and a whip. I chose the whip. Why? Not because it was leather and the other objects were metal, but because it does not shoot projectiles.

J: If you were a big shot television producer and could create your own kid's show, what would it look like?

R: It would look awesome!! Like a nuclear submarine that was blown out into space because of a tsunami caused by global warming. Me and the rest of the crew would travel through time and space looking for the causes of, and a solution for global warming. It would be educational because all the adults on board can read. Because they can read, they make good role models for children.

Well... I hope we all learned something.

Thanks, Jeff and Robert, we'll see you soon at the zoo!

Sundays, July 20, & 27, 8:00 pm

at The Producer's Club
358 W 44th St, NYC
between 8th & 9th Ave.


Friday, July 18, 2014

Magic Zoo Director: Marc Adam Smith


IRTE's latest production, THE MAGIC ZOO continues Sunday, July 20 and 27, 2014. It's our tongue-in-cheek take on the kids' shows we grew up with like THE NEW ZOO REVUE, THE MAGIC GARDEN, and ZOOBILEE ZOO.

Jeff O'Leary, guest performer and 2013 IRTE company member, asked some fun questions of MAGIC ZOO director, Marc Adam Smith to get to know a little bit about growing up, and how children shows helped a funny man adapt to society.


Jeff: What was your favorite kid's show when you were growing up and why?

Marc: Fat Albert

J: Did you ever apply any "life lessons" from a children's show to your own life? Did you ever have a problem as a kid that you wished would have been addressed on a show you watched?

M: No, but when I was a kid I was a loner so I would like to have seen that dealt with in a positive way, not making us all out to be mini-Oswalds

J: If you were a big shot television producer and could create your own kid's show, what would it look like?

M: Apes would be in charge.....wait no, we would be slaves to machines.......No....................Apocalypse Now for Kids!!!!!!

Well... I hope we all learned something.

Thanks, Jeff and Marc, we'll see you soon at the zoo!

Sundays, July 20, & 27, 8:00 pm

at The Producer's Club
358 W 44th St, NYC
between 8th & 9th Ave.


Monday, July 14, 2014

Magic Zoo News: Twitty is Evie Aronson!



IRTE's latest production, THE MAGIC ZOO opens Sunday, July 13, 2014. It's our tongue-in-cheek take on the kids' shows we grew up with like THE NEW ZOO REVUE, THE MAGIC GARDEN, and ZOOBILEE ZOO.

Jeff O'Leary, guest performer and 2013 IRTE company member, asked some fun questions of our cast to get to know a little bit about the psychological trauma they went through growing up, and how children shows helped them adapt to society. This time he talked to Evie Aronson:




Jeff: Tell us about the character you are playing in THE MAGIC ZOO.
Evie: I play "Twitty" the exotic bird and she is colorful like a rainbow. Twitty accepts all animals no matter their breed, color, language or position they occupy in the food chain. Twitty tries to keep everybody happy by singing with her piccolo to the delight of....only herself apparently.  Sing along with Twitty when you see her at the Magic Zoo.

J: What was your favorite kid's show when you were growing up and why?


E: I loved Sesame Street because of the multi-media - they had live action humans and puppets and then there would be an animated clip and then  there would be a short film, then back to the live action/puppets - plus a lot of singing, dancing,  and learning Spanish.

I also liked the Electric Company because they sang a lot, and MORGAN FREEMAN! and....."It's the Plumber, I come to fix the sink" cartoon is HILARIOUS!

I loved The Magic Garden for the Chuckle Patch and the Storybox - I used to recreate that show with my friends - I think I always wanted to be Paula but somehow ended up being Carole. I loved the pink squirrel "Sherlock" and just remembered that a later addition to the garden characters was "Flapper" the bird! 


I guess I learned how to tell jokes through most of these shows.

J: Did you ever apply any "life lessons" from a children's show to your own life? Did you ever have a problem as a kid that you wished would have been addressed on a show you watched?


E: The only moment I remember that I applied a kids show to real life was one day when I was about 5 years old, I saw some kids playing in the lot next to our house, where there was a foundation and construction was just beginning so there were wheelbarrows, tools, cement blocks, 2X4's etc in the lot. This  looked dangerous to me, so I ran inside to tell my Mom about it.  As we were walking out the door to the backyard I shouted "HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY!!!" and raised my fist in the air as I led my Mom to show her where the kids were.  Yes, I thought I was Mighty Mouse.
(This was also way before I knew anything about Andy Kaufman)

J: If you were a big shot television producer and could create your own kid's show, what would it look like?
E: If I produced a kids show I would have singing, dancing, lots of jokes - puppets -  and it would emphasize physical exercise and laughter as ways to help you stay in a good mood...... Also would have a lot of celebrity cameo appearances like Joseph Gordon-Levitt tap dancing, Ryan Gosling playing a ukulele and Mark Ruffalo telling jokes. Of course as Producer, I would have to be on the set everyday. 

Well... I hope we all learned something.

Thanks, Jeff and Evie, we'll see you soon at the zoo!

Sundays, July 13, 20, & 27, 8:00 pm

at The Producer's Club
358 W 44th St, NYC
between 8th & 9th Ave.



Thursday, July 10, 2014

Magic Zoo News: Timmy the Monkey (or maybe human boy) is Curt Dixon!!

IRTE's latest production, THE MAGIC ZOO opens Sunday, July 13, 2014. It's our tongue-in-cheek take on the kids' shows we grew up with like THE NEW ZOO REVUE, THE MAGIC GARDEN, and ZOOBILEE ZOO.

Jeff O'Leary, guest performer and 2013 IRTE company member, asked some fun questions of our cast to get to know a little bit about the psychological trauma they went through growing up, and how children shows helped them adapt to society. One person who would talk to him was Curt Dixon.



Jeff: Tell us about the character you are playing in THE MAGIC ZOO.
Curt: I'm playing Timmy, the human/monkey hybrid.  He was born and raised in a lab.  Eventually the lab lost funding and they were forced to sell Timmy to the zoo.  Timmy is very childlike which is good and bad.  He can be very sweet and lovable but, like most children, he can lose his temper.  And being a hybrid his temper tantrums can be very dangerous since he possesses monkey strength.  He has imprinted on Princess Patty and thinks she is his mother.  He's happy at the zoo and, for the most part, very happy-go-lucky.

J: What was your favorite kid's show when you were growing up and why?
C: I was more into cartoons, but would watch The New Zoo Review.  But it was really for little kids and I would watch it and make fun of it for being so stupid.  Then I would change channels and watch Scooby Doo or The Three Stooges.

J: Did you ever apply any "life lessons" from a children's show to your own life? Did you ever have a problem as a kid that you wished would have been addressed on a show you watched?
C: I never learned a life lesson from a tv show.  My life lessons were gained in life.  For example, I learned how to share by getting beat up by my brother.  And also that if I retaliated by smashing my brother in the back of the head with a bowling pin that my father would spank me.

J: If you were a big shot television producer and could create your own kid's show, what would it look like?

C: It would be crazy.  Lots of insane, colorful madness.  Very fast paced and action packed.  I would dance near the border of driving kids to the point of seizures with so much sensory overload.  Something to make the kids brain expand in ways they could only imagine.  I want to give them amazingly beautiful and sometimes frightening dreams.  No life lessons.  Just insanity.

 Well... I hope we all learned something.

Thanks, Jeff and Curt, we'll see you soon at the zoo!

Sundays, July 13, 20, & 27, 8:00 pm

at The Producer's Club
358 W 44th St, NYC
between 8th & 9th Ave.



Monday, July 7, 2014

Magic Zoo News: Alena Acker is the Giggle Berry Tree!

IRTE's latest production, THE MAGIC ZOO opens Sunday, July 13, 2014. It's our tongue-in-cheek take on the kids' shows we grew up with like THE NEW ZOO REVUE, THE MAGIC GARDEN, and ZOOBILEE ZOO.

Jeff O'Leary, guest performer and 2013 IRTE company member, asked some fun questions of our cast to get to know a little bit about the psychological trauma they went through growing up, and how children shows helped them adapt to society. The first person who would talk to him was Alena Acker:



Jeff: Tell us about the character you are playing in THE MAGIC ZOO.

Alena: I'm the Giggle Berry Tree. I'm a wise talking tree who functions as a confidant.  The animals come to me when they are feeling sad or need advice.

J: What was your favorite kid's show when you were growing up and why?

A: I was obsessed with Punky Brewster to the point that when it was taken off the air, I made a sign that said, "Bring Back Punky" and was ready to go protest at the Network.  I guess I liked it because I related to Punky a lot.  To be honest, I don't remember a lot about the show anymore.

J: Did you ever apply any "life lessons" from a children's show to your own life? Did you ever have a problem as a kid that you wished would have been addressed on a show you watched?
 
A: I definitely took to heart all of the episodes of shows that demonstrated the dangers of drugs and alcohol.  I was an extremely obedient child and teenager.  Then I went to college and that all went out the window.

A problem that I had that I wish had been addressed: "How to make your older brother and his best friend stop setting traps for you." Perhaps it was a little obscure to be relatable to kids across the board?

J: If you were a big shot television producer and could create your own kid's show, what would it look like?

A: It would be called, "You Are Not the Center of the Universe." I think that's the message kids (especially NYC kids) need these days. There would be segments about smart phone etiquette and teaching kids how to interact with actual humans.

 Well... I hope we all learned something.

Thanks, Jeff and Alena, we'll see you soon at the zoo!

Sundays, July 13, 20, & 27, 8:00 pm

at The Producer's Club
358 W 44th St, NYC
between 8th & 9th Ave.