IRTE 2014: Say "hello" to Robert Baumgardner!

The new year is here and with it a new season of shows for IRTE!  We have an exciting, fresh new line-up of shows and a couple of not-so-new faces joining our ranks this season!  So say "hello" to the 2014 cast!

Returning as a regular cast member this season is the lovely and talented Robert Baumgardner!  He is a founding member of IRTE and we're excited to have him back!  We sat down with Robert for a chat.

 

What do you love most about IRTE?

The pageantry and finding out who's wearing who on the red carpet. Seriously, it's been a lot of fun being a part of really inventive, crazy, and zany shows. Groovy Gang was ridiculous, but it was hilarious. And, vIRTEgo Circus had its own over the top magic with the spooky insanity of the circus freaks.


What are your thoughts on this season's cast?

They tasted delicious with the sautéed red onions in balsamic vinaigrette. What? Oh, I thought you said "well seasoned cast." The 2014 cast is great. I've worked with all of them before in last year's IRTE productions. Every single one brings a funny take to any situation their character is put in.



What are some memorable moments from last season? 

Performing Time Jump at the New Orleans Comedy Arts Festival...Running around screaming with the Groovy Gang in the Del Close Marathon...Space Probe visiting a planet with a butter churn based economy.


Who are some of your favorite IRTE characters?

Chompers for one. The talking alligator is a character in the Groovy Gang, but we heard about his grisly fate in Hint. Captain Cat, a cat in charge of a starship in Space Probe, was a lot of fun, too. Jeff and Nannette came up with those characters, respectively. I guess my favorite character that I created has been Dr. Gumbo Van Sant in last year's Groovy Gang.



What are you most looking forward to this season?

All the shows sound great to me. The Scary is going to be ridiculous. Small Claims is going to be hilarious. vIRTEgo-go is going to be out of this world, baby. The Magic Zoo is going to be fun, and I may get to play guitar during the show...I just have to learn to play the guitar. And, I'm also looking forward to The League of Extraordinary Blondes...Need I say more?


Thanks Robert!  We're thrilled to have you back with us this season!


Don't forget to reserve your spot for our upcoming workshop: 

IRTE Presents: Marc Adam Smith Improvisational Acting Workshop: Instant Characters

Saturday, February 22 at 2:00pm

Theatre Row Studios, Studio 5, 411 West 41st St, New York, NY (between 9th and Dyer Aves)

 

Space is limited so be sure to sign up now!

IRTE 2014: Say "hello" to Marcia Sofley!

The new year is here and with it a new season of shows for IRTE!  We have an exciting, fresh new line-up of shows and a couple of not-so-new faces joining our ranks this season!  So say "hello" to the 2014 cast!

Joining us as a regular cast member this season is the lovely and talented Marcia Sofley!  She was so fantastic when she was a guest last season that we just had to have her join us as a regular member!  We sat down with this funny lady for a chat.

What do you love most about IRTE?

Aside from the amazing people in it, I like the full season of different shows.  The theatrical elements appeal to me and the different themes and formats keep it fresh for us and the audience. I also like that it rhymes with birdie. And purty. And Aunt Gertie.


What are your thoughts on this season's cast?

I think I’ll probably get voted off of the island first because Curt seems pretty ripped, GraceAnn is pretty, Robert and Nannette are likely to form an alliance, and Alex and Jamie are definitely conspiring, but if the bachelor gives me a rose, I think I can find true love.  Besides which, they’re all pretty awesome and funny and I’m excited to work with them.


What are some memorable moments from last season?

As an audience member, Nanette’s bath (as a cat) in Space Probe.  As a performer, we interviewed someone in Tampa for a scene whose “bad day” was largely because of a lack of caramel in her coffee – Jamie, playing the girl, had the meltdown of the century in the reenactment.  Thinking of it still cracks me up.


Who are some of your favorite IRTE characters?

I’m a big fan of Bartholomew the Bear (and excited he is making a return appearance), The Space Probe Robot, and of course, the entire Groovy Gang.


What are you most looking forward to this season?

The return of The Walking Dead. Oh, wait. You mean IRTE?  Pizza. Oh, wait. Onstage?  I gotta say Virte-go-go.  I love IRTE’s spin on short form shows, and the 60s, and am sure we all have some groovy moves to show off… and I’m also looking forward to… the return of The Walking Dead on tv.

Thanks Marcia!  We're thrilled to have you with us this season!


Don't forget to reserve your spot for our upcoming workshop: 

IRTE Presents: Marc Adam Smith Improvisational Acting Workshop: Instant Characters

Saturday, February 22 at 2:00pm

Theatre Row Studios, Studio 5, 411 West 41st St, New York, NY (between 9th and Dyer Aves)

 

Space is limited so be sure to sign up now!

The Formative Years of Robert Baumgardner

The Clique, IRTE's next show, opened Saturday, August 3rd 2013. The last performance (unless we bring it to a festival) is Saturday, August 17 at 8:00 pm. It's about those high school years we all remember and love so well. At the top of the show, our principal, Jeff O'Leary will interview a member of the audience about their high school experience. So, to be fair, we decided to interview some of the cast members of The Clique before we subjected anyone else to such experiments.

This time we hear from improvisor Robert Baumgardner:

BIRTE: Where did you go to high school?

Robert: I went to an all boys prep school in northern New Jersey run by Benedictine priests.

Jersey Boy

B: Who were your friends? Were you part of a clique?

R: I think the school was too small to really have strictly defined cliques. There definitely were jocks, and I suppose nerds. I played soccer, then ultimate frisbee, and sat in the library a lot. I guess my closest friends were nerds and stoners. At least the latter had a reputation for being stoners. I actually never saw weed until I went to college.

B: Did you ever get bullied/picked on by someone?

R: By students or faculty? Ha! I don't really remember anyone getting picked on a lot. Not that there weren't days...threats of chocolate swirlies, your-mama jokes were big, etc. One guy who got picked on in my class was actually the biggest kid in the class. I think he was an offensive lineman on the football team, and others would pick on him because he wasn't the sharpest pencil in the cup. He would take their crap, but sometimes if he thought someone else was getting picked on, he'd put the bully in a headlock. That pretty much ended the bullying for awhile.

B: Did you ever get sent to the Principal's office?

R: We didn't have a principal. We had a headmaster, a very strong priest who had been living for over a thousand years. Oh, sorry. Let me turn off "True Blood". There we go. Where were we? Oh no, the headmaster was probably in his forties. I don't ever remember getting sent to the office. The priests scared me, so I stayed in line.

Check out The Clique this Saturday, August 17 8:00 pm at

Gotham City Improv
48 West 21st, 8th Floor - Buzzer #801
New York, NY 10010
212-367-8222

Tix: $6

Reservations: IRTEinfo@gmail.com

Special Discount!!!: $3.00 for High School / College Students with advance
reservation.
$3.00 for groups of 3 or more with advance
reservation.