Tympanic Theater Company Blog

OZMA and HARRIET tickets are officially ON SALE!!!

(insert dance party here)

C’mon, whatcha waitin’ for?!?! Get ‘em while they’re hot. If you’re second guessing just ask yourself…

“WWPBD?” (What would Pimpbot Do?). 

Answer?

He’d get is ticket!

Our OZMA and HARRIET poster design.

 Thanks Paul E. Martinez!!

To reserve your tickets for the show e-mail admin@tympanictheatre.org or visit www.tympanictheatre.org

Producing a new play ain’t easy.  Lucky for Tympanic we’ve got a stellar director/playwright duo that makes it look easy as puddin’ and pie.  Mmmmm…pie!  This week we do some Q&A with Tim (director) and Dan (playwright) about OZMA and HARRIET rehearsals, process, and life in general.

1. Which famous duo would you compare yourselves to?

TIM:   Lewis and Clark (even kind of looks like us!)  

Whoa! Eerie, PA. Ch-ch-check out the resemblance!?!

DAN: I’d probably go with Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy.  If they teamed up, that is.  I think that happened on South Park once.  On second thought, that would be pretty disturbing.  Let’s just say we’re like Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear.  Or Bert and Ernie.  Or just Jim Henson and Frank Oz.  

 2. Without giving too much away, tell us a little bit about Ozma and Harriet.

T: It’s a play about obsession and finding yourself through fulfilling those needs. 

D: What Tim said.  Plus a lot of stuff with robots, sex, and T.G.I.F.

3. What is it about this story that tickles your fancy?  What gets you all jazzed and juiced to share this with the Chicago community?

T: The story is kind of a modern day Frankenstein tale with a lot of moral areas to explore.  I am extremely excited to share a world premiere play produced by the wonderful off-loop Tympanic Theatre from the mind of Mr. Caffrey.  It is already turning out to be a truly collaborative piece, with a great renegade storefront style, cast, and production team.  It’s very risky and it’s very exciting to be a part of this group and I’m eager to share our creation with Chicago. 

D: Without patting myself on the back too much, I like how the play uses pretty goofy aspects of pop culture to explore darker themes.  I’m always a big fan of when something seemingly silly can make you think about strange issues in unexpected ways.  If the final script succeeds in doing that, I’ll be really happy.  Plus it’s always a pleasure to work with Mr. Bambara and we’ve got a killer cast on our hands.

                                                                               The ‘Killer Cast’…sort of…

4. What character in the play do you find yourself relating to most?  Why?

T: I actually identify with Frank.  He’s a frustrated genius with a deep moral complex.  He represses a lot of emotion which causes him to go down some dark paths.  I’ve been down some of those paths and it’s not pretty.  It’s good for me as a director because I’m not afraid to push the actors down some darker routes to see what they can discover.

D: Although it pains me to say it, I’ll have to go with Frank as well.  I feel like I can identify with his paranoia when it comes to relationships and not always saying what’s on my mind.  Those aren’t the best traits to have, but I feel like they’re pretty common and relatable.  Yikes!

5. The script deals a lot with media’s influence on the decisions we make in our every day lives.  Have you ever found yourself acting a certain way in a real life situation based on what you saw on television?

T: I act like characters I see on TV (i.e. Michael Scott) all the time and I especially emulated certain icons as an adolescent.  What’s great about this script is that Ozma is raised on the morals of T.G.I.F. shows.  This type of programming was on everywhere during the early 90’s, a time where my own morals were heavily influenced by what I knew in pop culture.

D: All the time!  It’s really terrible.  I’ll see or read about conflicts with fictional characters and will think those are indicators of how similar situations will turn out in real life, even though the situation might be completely different and those characters are…um, fake.  Sometimes, I’ll see a cool way that some problem gets resolved on a television show I like and think to myself “man, I hope I’m in a situation like that so I can act the same way!”  It’s awful. Awful and true.

6. If you were stranded on a deserted Island for life and could only take one television show with you, what show would it be?  Why?

T: Cheers – every time Cheers comes on I feel at home.

D: Definitely The Sopranos.  I’ve watched the entire series three times all the way through and never get tired of it.  In fact, I find myself often wishing that I was watching it again.  It says so much about so many things and is just so goddamn well executed.  You always find new things in every episode.

7. Dan, what were some of your biggest influences while writing this script?  Tim, what are some of yours as you go into rehearsals?

D: Well, the script came out of a little ten minute piece I wrote with the same name.  In that version, this woman pretty much seduces this android that her husband built.  They talk about wanting to be in a committed relationship and all that.  The play ends with them having sex, and this transforms the android into a human.  The woman starts talking about how now she can leave her husband and they can settle down and have their own children, which causes the android to freak out and leave.  The whole thing was fun and very silly.  Anyway, that basic idea came out of this comic book called Army@Love.  It’s this satire on modern warfare and in it, there is this soldier who’s a huge horror movie fan and falls in love with this woman he meets in the mountains.  But there’s a catch.  She’s actually this cursed were-creature who turns into a sasquatch type beast for days at a time.  The soldier soon discovers that the more they have sex, the faster her transformation back to human form becomes.  And that was really interesting to me; just the idea that sex and/or love can transform something into a human being.  So that was the original genesis of the script.  Since then, it’s become something completely different.  There’s still an android who falls in love with a woman, but the similarities end there.  It’s much darker and in the revision process, I’d say I’ve been really inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey and of course, Frankenstein, and the sitcoms from the golden years of T.G.I.F., but in a really twisted way, particularly Dinosaurs.  Wow, that was a really long answer.  So yeah…

 Army@Love + 2001: A Space Odyssey + Frankenstein + T.G.I.F. = Ozma & Harriet.  

T: I am heavily influenced by David Mamet’s literature on practical directing and acting as well as the collaborative practices of the LAByrinth Theatre of New York.  I’ve also had the good fortune to assistant direct some great Chicago directors and I bring everything I’ve learned from them to rehearsal.  It’s helped me to develop a process called “funneling” which allows for a lot for collaboration with a practical out come.

8. What would your robot name be?

 T: BAM-B AR-A-BOT

D: Bicentennial Man.  Just kidding.  Probably The D-caffinator.

9.  In five words or less, what’s the number one reason someone should come see Ozma and Harriet?

T: The dance of joy!

D: You got it, dude!

For more ‘deets’ on OZMA AND HARRIET hop on over to www.tympanictheatre.org.

Thanks for reading!

Susan

Here it is folks! Our totally talented, totally cool, totally robotically bonafied cast for OZMA AND HARRIET.  Rehearsals are in full swing over at the Ainslie Basement and we’ll be posting all sorts of exciting news, updates, and information on this here blog over the next few months.  So keep on swinging by.  We’re happy to have you!

CAST (party)!

Ozma – Chris Acevedo*

Harriet Younger – Cara Olansky

Frank Younger – Paul E. Martinez*

Sandra – Jamie Bragg

TV Ozma/Man – Jared Nell

Grip Ensemble – David Boren

Grip Ensemble – Ali Delianides*

Grip Ensemble – Shelley Geiszler

Grip Ensemble – Jonathan Harden

*Denotes Tympanic Company Members 

Here’s a snapshot of COCO and Pimpbot at an OZMA and HARRIET table work rehearsal (Whoa!)

Thanks for reading!

Tympanic Theatre announces auditions for our Spring production…

OZMA AND HARRIET
Written by Daniel Caffrey
Directed by Timothy Bambara.

ABOUT THE PLAY:
Scientist Frank Younger has constructed Ozma, the world’s first fully functional android. All goes well until Frank’s wife Harriet develops a bond with Ozma, secretly spending her spare time watching television with the android, which becomes his primary learning tool. When tragedy strikes, Ozma finds himself alone, embarking on a TV-fueled quest of sex, death, and revenge in this dark fable for the digital age.

CAST:
Ozma: (20’s – 30’s) an andriod
Harriet: (20’s – 30’s) a housewife
Frank: (20’s – 30’s) a scientist
Sandra: (20’s) a prostitute
Grips: (all ages) fast and creative movers

ABOUT THE AUDITION:
WHAT: 60 second contemporary monologue
WHERE: Rough House Theatre
2131 N. Milwaukee
Chicago, IL 60647
WHEN: Jan 31st 11:00a – 5:00p

***e-mail auditions@tympanictheatre.org for an audition time***

OZMA AND HARRIET runs at The Side Project, March 25th – April 18th Thurs, Fri, Sat, and Sun with two possible Monday performances. Rehearsals start on or around Feb 7th.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Tympanic Theatre Company

Happy FRIGGIN 2010, ya’ll! 

2009 brought a lot of changes for Tympanic Theatre Company and now that 2010 is underway, we’re tickeled pink to share all of our exciting new endeavors with you.  The new year is a time to get organized!  We’ve given you a head start by listing all of Tympanic’s important upcoming events, shows, readings, etc, etc.  So get out those glitter pens and highlighters and show your calendar what you’re made of.

Jan 9th: OZMA AND HARRIET directing proposals due

Jan 10th: OZMA AND HARRIET reading

6p.m. at Zoo Studio’s 4001 N. Ravenswood Suite B-1

Jan 28th, Feb 4th, Feb 11th: AND THEN IT BURST : Short Works by George McConnell

9:00p at Prop Thtr, as part of Curious Theatre’s 21st Annual Rhinoceros Festival.  Buy your tickets now, NOW, now, nooooow, now, soon, now.

More information on all of these upcoming projects can be found on our website or be our friend on facebook and we’ll keep you up to date!

Thanks for reading!

Susan

We’ve officially started rehearsals for all four plays in AND THEN IT BURSTS.  This is our first show acted, directed, and designed by Tympanic Company members.  AND THEN IT BURST is a great opportunity for us to come together as a company and show off one another’s strengths.  Most of us have been working together artistically since the college days, which means we’ve come to know one another inside and out.  It’s a treat when you get to work with actors who you already have strong relationships with.  You get to skip all of the ice breaker conversations, the nervousness, the self-consciousness, and dive directly into the material.  (Not that I don’t like the excitement of a bunch of strangers getting into a room – - it’s just a totally different experience)   This has become particularly apparent to me in our rehearsals for TEA, one of the four pieces that make up AND THEN IT BURST.  Ali, Chrissy, and I are treading through new territory every day.  The pieces is growing with leaps and bounds and I have

A. George’s excellent depiction of the care vs. conflict every mother/daughter relationship has

and…

B.  Ali and Chrissy’s complete and utter willingness to take risks and their ability to fully embrace every challenge that comes their way

 Last night’s rehearsal was particularly rewarding as we did the usual character-ey type work.   We’re learning more about these characters, their desire to escape, but the genuine love and care for one another that keeps them trapped.  And all of this over a cup of tea…

When I’m directing a play I always like to collect some images that I think reflect what the play is about.  Emotion, tone, lighting, costume, or make-up effect.  It can be as literal or figurative as possible.  Here are some images I have collected for TEA.

Thanks for reading!

Susan

For more information of AND THEN IT BURST, tympanic, and general nonsense check out www.tympanictheatre.org.

The Tympanic Theatre Company is seeking an innovative director for their Spring production of OZMA & HARRIET, a world premiere running at The Side Project late March through late April Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  All applicants must read the complete script and submit an application along with a resume’.  For a copy of the script and the application form, e-mail admin@tympanictheatre.org, attn: Daniel Caffrey.  We can not offer any pay at this time, but we promise an enjoyable and artistically fulfilling experience!

About OZMA & HARRIET

Scientist Frank Younger has constructed Ozma, the world’s first fully functional android. All goes well until Frank’s wife Harriet develops a bond with Ozma, secretly spending her spare time watching television with the android, which becomes his primary learning tool. When tragedy strikes, Ozma finds himself alone, embarking on a TV-fueled quest of sex, death, and revenge in this dark fable for the digital age.

Tell your friends, who have friends, who have friends!  We’re looking forward to all of the submissions.

Thanks for reading!

Hello Ladies and Gents!

Check out the super rad poster design (compliments of Josh Mikel) for AND THEN IT BURST!  To find out more about the show and the 2010 Rhino Festival visit www.tympanictheatre.org.

We’re stoked to announce that Tympanic Theatre has been selected to particapate in the 2010 Rhinoceros Festival.  Below is some more information and an excerpt from one of our scripts.

  The Tympanic Theatre Company proudly presents…

Thanks for reading,

Susan