As 2016 comes to a close, we at Audacity look back at the past year with pride. It wasn't a super-busy year, but it was filled with transformation. And we did do some good, original work.
Last January, we World Premiered Jeff Hernandez and Brad McEntire's NIGHT OF THE TARANTUBEARS at the Margo Jones Theatre in Dallas. With a great cast and a nice positive review the year was off to a fun start. In June we put on the 3rd Annual Dallas Solo Fest. The location in Fair Park offered some obstacles, but the festival went over pretty well. Eight solo performers from around the country converged on the DFW area for two weekends of one-person shows. The summer was used for development. Artistic Director Brad McEntire was accpeted into both the Kathy George Indie Artists residency in Ashford, Orgeon as well as Will Power's Dallas Playwrights Workshop at Southern Methodist University. This summer, Audacity removed itself from Partnership at the Margo Jones Partnership at the Margo Jones Theatre. Brad McEntire and Ruth Engel also removed themselves from the Board of Directors of that organization. Since 2013, when Matt Tomlanovich brought Audacity over to the Margo Jones Theatre in Fair Park, the members of ATL worked hard to help facilitate the space. While we felt we helped get the theatre into working operation after the passing of Mr. Tomlanovich in 2014, the work load became prohibative. We were spending a lot more time running another theatre and facilitating a venue rather than creating original theatre (which is, after all, our mission). More problematic, Fair Park, while a great location on paper, presented a hundred and one logistical impracticalities for producing theatre in a serious and consistent way. It was and is hard to get audiences to the space, the events at the Margo Jones Theatre are often overshadowed by any other event in the Park, parking becomes an issue, the physical structure is in need of some real and pressing repairs and renovations, and the lines of communication of what else is happening at any given time in Fair Park are less than ideal. This was extremely apparent during the Dallas Solo Fest this year. We at ATL actually communicated quite extensively with staff at Fair Park, but that did not prevent major disruptions occurring that threatened to envelope and ruin the DSF (from fireworks and noise pollution from Taste of Dallas to live bands literally in front of the theatre for Fair Park's 80th Celebration). In order to grow and mature as a company of artists, we at ATL felt it was time to move on from the Margo Jones. ATL parted amicably with the rest of the MJP board and we will probably use the space in the future for small projects like readings, salons and workshops. It is just not a place for really ambitious work. Here's the blurb we had on the Margo Jones Theatre website (for posterity)... Audacity Theatre Lab is a small, nimble theatre collective based in Dallas, Texas. Originally operating as Audacity Productions from 1999-2006, then setting up under the banner of Audacity Theatre Lab since 2008, ATL is interested in the individual artist as the center of theatre creation. Each artist at ATL is an instigator, developing and helming his or her own individual projects. The single artist sees this personal project through from the first germinating ideas to the final finished production. The artist is encouraged to take the project to other cities and other venues to expose the work to wider audiences. The traditional lines between actor, director, writer, producer and designer blur here. The usual hierarchies are cast aside. There is no “house style” or unifying company aesthetic. Instead, several unique and individual voices each make his or her own kind of theatre. Audacity acts as an umbrella of sorts, or a joint-studio, a laboratory for idiosyncratic theatrical expression. Although ATL produces a considerable amount of its projects at venues and festivals around the country, Audacity is pleased to have made the Margo Jones Theatre its Dallas homebase since 2013. ATL is especially pleased to share the Margo Jones Theatre with other small, forward-thinking groups who are intent on creating new, exciting theatre. Visit: facebook.com/audacity.theatrelab www.audacitytheatrelab.com In November we held our 2016 Autumn Solo Salon. Mikey Abrams, Stefany Cambra and Isaac Young all presented solo pieces in progress. The year has not been as action packed as some in the past, but it has been filled with change. And change is a good thing in the theatre.
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The aim of the Audacity Solo Salon is to support and nurture both established and emerging solo performers in the north Texas area. It is also a way to extend the mission of the annual Dallas Solo Fest beyond just the festival itself.
This quarterly series will be a way for solo artists to rehearse, experiement and develop their work in front of supportive audiences. Come on out and see a new one-person show in progress... This installment in what has become a semi-quarterly series from Audacity Theatre Lab will feature excerpts from solo pieces in development by Mikey Abrams, Stefany Cambra and Isaac Young. Sunday, November 20 @ 7:30 pm At the Margo Jones Theatre in Fair Park, Dallas TX For directions and parking information visit... HERE Admission is P-W-Y-C (donations go towards the the Dallas Solo Fest). Also BYOB! The Excerpts: The Joy of Publik Skool - Written and Performed by Mikey Abrams After years of teaching drama in the inner city near Dallas, a gay Jewish high school teacher, exhausted and frustrated, swears this year will be his last in the classroom. He will finally get to live his dream of acting in a lead role. Or will he? In his one-man comedy, writer-performer Mikey Abrams doesn’t filter the reality. Just makes it funnier. Big Enough: The Adventures and Musings of a Bumblefuck - Written and Performed by Stefany Cambra A one-person show that focuses on interactions of love and blending in until being ready to stand out. BLINK - Written and Performed by Isaac Young A one-man play about the angel Gabriel, who has returned to earth with a crisis of faith. From the twisted minds of writers Brad McEntire and Jeff Hernandez comes a comedy horror World Premiere... NIGHT OF THE TARANTUBEARS Directed by Brad McEntire A genetic experiment surfaces as a seemingly harmless viral internet sensation. Part bear, part spider hybrids are the latest trend. But what happens when our passing fascinations grow and things begin to go horribly horribly wrong. Five survivors hole up in an abandoned theatre, while the city is over-run by genetic monstrosities. Who will survive the night? Featuring Miller Pyke, Dani Martin, Whitney Holotik, Brain Witkowicz and Kasey Tackett Playing January 21-31, 2016 at the Margo Jones Theatre in historic Fair Park 1121 First Ave., Dallas, TX 75210 [map here] Online tickets... HERE For reservations and other information visit... HERE The aim of the Audacity Solo Salon is to support and nurture both established and emerging solo performers in the north Texas area. It is also a way to extend the mission of the annual Dallas Solo Fest beyond just the festival itself.
This quarterly series will be a way for solo artists to rehearse, experiement and develop their work in front of supportive audiences. Come on out and see a new one-person show in progress... This fifth event in a quarterly series from Audacity Theatre Lab will feature excerpts from pieces in development by Maggie Gallant, Kris Noteboom and Dani Martin. Tuesday, November 17 @ 7 pm At the Margo Jones Theatre in Fair Park, Dallas TX For directions and parking information visit... HERE Admission is P-W-Y-C (donations go towards the the 2016 Dallas Solo Fest). Also BYOB!
A press conference is held. A dinosaur from the past and a robot from the future explain about their involvement with, supposedly, saving a stupid little girl from a speeding train.
Audacity is pleased to be teaming up with Sundown Collaborative Theatre in Denton, Texas to co-produce this remount of audience-favorite DINOSAUR AND ROBOT STOP A TRAIN. Featuring Robert Linder and Janelle Schroeder Written and Directed by Brad McEntire The show will play in two different cities over four weekends. Playing... Fridays thru Sundays October 30-November 1 and November 6-8 @ 8pm Point Bank Black Box Theatre 318 E Hickory St., Denton, TX 76201 [map here] November 12-15 and 19-22 @ 8pm Margo Jones Theatre 1st Avenue, Dallas, TX 75210 [map here] To reserve tickets, email: boxoffice@sundowntheatre.org For more info visit... HERE or the Facebook page... HERE The aim of the Audacity Solo Salon is to support and nurture both established and emerging solo performers in the north Texas area. It is also a way to extend the mission of the annual Dallas Solo Fest beyond just the festival itself.
This quarterly series will be a way for solo artists to rehearse, experiement and develop their work in front of supportive audiences. Come on out and see a new one-person show in progress... This second in a quarterly series from Audacity Theatre Lab will feature excerpts from pieces in development by Erin Singleton ("Super MortaL"), Jeffrey Colangelo ("Fight Night") and Jeff Hernandez ("Jon Goes To Mars"). Admission is P-W-Y-C (donations go towards the the 2016 Dallas Solo Fest). Also BYOB! For directions and parking information visit... HERE The Down Low
A New Dark Comedy (in an Old House) by Danny O'Connor Directed by Brian Grunkowski When the nude body of a recently slain man is discovered in Aaron's bedroom, his friends and roommates one by one must decide whether they should go to the police or protect themselves from what would come if they did. The play all takes place in the living room of a real home and playgoing capacity is maxxed out at fifteen seats, so the audience is right there in the room, witnesses to these characters as they continue to make the worst possible decisions in moments of very real, completely avoidable crisis. THE DOWN LOW is a hilarious new play with undercurrents of the fear, optimism, loneliness and selfishness that permeate middle-class white America. Featuring Jeff Swearingen, Jordan Tomenga, Robin Clayton, Danny O'Connor, Brian Grunkowski, and introducing Mercedes Arndt. Produced by Audacity Theatre Lab and Octaviar Productions. 5922 E Mockingbird Ln, Dallas TX 75206 April 30 May 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 All shows start at 8:00 pm, seating starts at 7:45 pm Tickets $15... cash or credit at the door. Reservations HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Extremely LIMITED SEATING! 15 Seats per show! For reservations/ tickets call (469) 546-9127 or for online ticketing click... HERE The aim of the Audacity Solo Salon is to support and nurture both established and emerging solo performers in the north Texas area. It is also a way to extend the mission of the annual Dallas Solo Fest beyond just the festival itself. This quarterly series will be a way for solo artists to rehearse, experiement and develop their work in front of supportive audiences. Come on out and see a new one-person show in progress... This third in a quarterly series from Audacity Theatre Lab will feature excerpts from pieces in development by John Davies, Lindsay Hayward, and Kevin Fuld. Curated by Brad McEntire. Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 7:30 pm At the Margo Jones Theatre, 1121 First Avenue in Fair Park, Dallas TX 75210 [map and info here] FREE! (though a P-W-Y-C donation is suggested) Untitled by John S. Davies John S Davies is an actor, director and teacher. This is his second solo play. The first, "Beem", was originally produced by Ground Zero Theater (now defunct) and Kimberlyn Crowe (not defunct) in 1999 at the Deep Ellum Center for the Arts (alas, defunct). It enjoyed some mild success and was seen by tens of people. That experience was so encouraging that he's back 16 years later with this next attempt. He has this to say: About the Piece: I sure would like to have a name for this. Perhaps you can help. Here are some I've toyed with--Maybe/Maybe Not; Signalling Through the Flames; Jesus F#*%^%g Christ!; The New Adventures of Old Christine (that one may have been used...). It's a show about Jesus, or a man who claims to be Jesus, or mental illness, or our collective empathy deficit, or something. You decide... More info on John at: www.johnsdavies.com Portrait of a Rambling Female by Lindsay Hayward Lindsay Hayward is a seasoned entertainer with experience on three continents. She has acted throughout the DFW area, and with Michigan State Theatre, New Jersey's Appel Farm Arts Center, London’s Ashcroft Theatre, and South Africa’s Baxter Theatre. Her vocal stylings include cabaret evenings, choral concerts, and sessions with international rock bands. Hayward holds a BFA in Theatre from Texas Christian University, and a Post Graduate Diploma/MA from Mountview Academy of Arts UK. About the Piece: Portrait of a RAMBLING FEMALE is an interactive performance that chronicles the misadventures of an millennial everywoman. Lindsay Hayward examines all the complex roles expected of a modern female though a medley of scenes, songs, and monologues. The audience is invited to join Hayward on a light-hearted journey drawn from her own various semi-autobiographical experiences, in order to find the common thread that weaves all modern humans together. Premature Emasculation by Kevin Fuld Kevin Fuld is a frequent actor/collaborator with Dallas' Pocket Sandwich Theater. He studied at the University of North Texas and acts as the Artistic Director of Camp Death Productions. About the Piece: Mark Peters is a successful documentary filmmaker who has been recording video diaries every week for twenty-five years. On his 35th birthday he records another and discusses life, love and mulls an important decision. Performed by Nick Haley and written by Kevin Michael Fuld. CYRANO A-GO-GO is an exploration of one restless theatre artist's fascination with the swashbuckling 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand. A chance encounter with the script at a suburban public library at the age of 15 leads to a cruel and wonderful calling. Presented as an old-school oration the piece mixes the personal, historical and literary into a journey through Rostand's play. McEntire presents a funny, warm, insightful meditation on the nature of theatricality, the nobility of personal identity and the hard-won lessons of love, unrequited and otherwise.
Playing as part of the 2015 Out of the Loop Fringe Festival WaterTower Theatre at the Addison Theatre Centre Stone Cottage Theatre 15650 Addison Road, Addison, TX 75001 Saturday March 7 – 5:00 pm Friday March 13 – 7:30 pm Sunday March 15 – 7:30 pm TICKETS: Single tickets to all events go on sale Feb. 24. Festival Passes, now on sale, include one admission to each Festival event and are $65. WaterTower Theatre subscribers receive $10 off each Festival pass. Individual ticket prices for each event are $10 or $15. More ticket information at 972-450-6232 or via email at: boxoffice@watertowertheatre.org More info about Out of the Loop... HERE
After years of traveling to venues and festivals around the country Dallas-based playwright/performer Brad McEntire presents his solo show CHOP for a full run in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area January 29 through February 7, 2015 at the Margo Jones Theatre in Fair Park.
CHOP concerns a man totally isolated from the world around him. A chance meeting with a mysterious tattooed woman leads him to the place he might truly belong… an underground amputation fetish group. After readings in Seattle (at the Outsider’s Inn Collective) and New York City (Cry Havoc Theatre) McEntire premiered CHOP at the 2010 Out of the Loop Fringe Festival at Addison’s Water Tower Theatre. Since then he has toured and performed the show at multiple venues and festivals, including the Phoenix Fringe Festival, the New Orleans Fringe, Houston Fringe, Portland Mini-Fringe, College of Santa Fe and San Antonio’s Overtime Theatre, 2012 New York international Fringe Festival, Seattle Fringe and New Orleans SoloMania Fest among others. The piece played a two day limited engagement at the Margo Jones Theatre in July 2012. McEntire is delighted to bring the show back to Dallas for a full two week run. The piece was directed and sound designed by Andrew J. Merkel of Brooklyn, NY. Brad McEntire wrote, designed and performs the piece. Brad McEntire is the founding Artistic Director of the small theatre collective Audacity Theatre Lab. He is a playwright, performer, improviser, director and visual artist. He is the creator/producer of the Dallas Solo Fest. More information about his activities can be viewed at: www.BradMcEntire.com Opens January 29, 2015 at 8:00 PM. Plays January 29 – February 7 (Tuesday thru Saturday) at 8:00 PM. The Margo Jones Theatre, Magnolia Lounge in historic Fair Park, 1121 First Avenue, Dallas TX 75210 Tickets $12. Information/reservations at: (214) 888-6650 or... HERE. For more information about the show visit... HERE |
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