Tympanic Theater Company Blog

Greetings Ya’ll!

Tympanic Theatre would like to thank the men and women of Chicago who came out to audition for Bastards of Young yesterday and Sunday at the Side Project Theatre. We had a ton of people show up, and all of them were very professional and good natured. Having such prime examples of what to do when going to an audition, just reminds me of what you really should NOT do when attending an audition.

If you’re reading this blog, chances are you are familiar with Theatre in general and are probably an actor, writer, director and so on. I’m sure you’ve also heard about Audition Etiquette at one point or another. For those of you who haven’t, please read this! For those of you that have, enjoy.

1.  Do not show up DRUNK to an audition. Chances are you will not be cast. This is not because we subscribe to prohibition practices, it is simply because . . . really? Drunk? You’re really going to come in here and waste our time. Not only did you just come in with no headshots and a lengthy story about why you didn’t have said headshots, but you’ve shown up 30 min late and proceeded to ask for more time. Ridiculous. Don’t do it.

2. When performing a monologue it is customary to PERFORM THE MONOLOGUE. Please do not stand there and literally read the monologue off a piece of paper.

3. We encourage people to show up early to auditions! HOWEVER, if we can not fit you in early; throwing a temper tantrum in front of everyone does not bode well for you. Unless we’re looking for crazy, which unfortunately, we’re not. Take a seat with the rest of them and kindly wait for your time slot please or until we are able to pencil you in early.

4. Never, and I mean NEVER come in to an audition and start with “I’m not as good as the last guy”. This kills me.

5. Please wear shoes you can move in. The point is to not look well in heals, but to look good as a performer. (That being said, if you can work some heels? Get there!) That goes for men as well, work those heels!

6. If you are a man . . . AUDITION. For some reason the amount of men that go audition in Chicago is dwarfed by the amount of women auditioning. I can almost safely guarantee that you at least get a callback.

(In no way was I actually stating that male performers will always get a callback because they happen to be male. This was not intended as a slight against women in the theatre community. I happen to love women and men equally as performers. Have I covered my bases yet?)

7. Do not promise sexual favors to anyone in the company pre/during/or post the audition. Not very professional and chances are you just slept with the lighting designer who really can’t do much for you. Unless on the off chance you get a role in the show, and he/she is able to light you so brilliantly that somehow you receive your big break etc. . . . Don’t do it.

8. If auditioning with a monologue, please know what play you are auditioning for. For Example: You don’t use a monologue about how your daddy drowned a bag of kittens, when auditioning for A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum. Unless you’re very talented.

9. Please do not attack the director and attempt to sever a limb using piano wire.

And that’s my advice when it comes to auditioning for a play. Although some of those probably will never happen, this is America’s youth we’re talking about here. We should all be very, VERY prepared.  Like these folks here, just click on the link.

Midnight at the Oasis

Be seeing you – Mac Gerber

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that." ~ Mark Twain.

That's a nice quote, isn't it? I think it is. I'm really driven off inspirational quotes, and – as most people in the arts should be doing – I'm constantly trying to consume as much about the world around me, to better inform my own world view. Or, at the very least, so you have something to talk about at the wrap party.

At any rate, I'd never heard that quote until I subscribed to the Actors And Crew Twitter feed. While the feed has some interesting quotes every couple days or so, what's more important is that it has casting notices and advice from established actors. Backstage has a Twitter feed too, which should interest the coastal actors more, for sure. I know what you're thinking: big effing deal, what's this mean for me? Well, if you have a Twitter account you can get up-to-the-minute casting notices whenever you're at the computer.

I bet you didn't know they had Twitter feeds, did you? I sure didn't, I just learned about it a couple weeks ago, and they've been wonderful so far.

It's not just Twitter feeds though, sometimes you just want some advice or even just some nudging into the direction that  – makes you go – "well, at least I know it's not me out there." Blogs are super handy for that. For example, take http://50in50.wordpress.com. It's a blog created by an actor that's trying to create a new, distinct character every week for 50 weeks. Why? He took a break from auditioning to accept a full-time job, and rather than let his skills diminish,he's using videos of each character to keep him sharp. We all end up in a dreary day job at some point, might as well use what's around you to keep you sharp.

Basically, what I'm saying is this. The Internet has more to offer you than just Facebook and Evite. If you look around, even when you're 'slacking' at work, you'll still be working on your career. After all, us actors are always working, even when we're not.

In a recent blog, introducing Tympanic's newest kids on the block,  McKenzie Gerber posed this question…

"Why is Tympanic Theatre a good fit for you?" 

 After reading the responses of the newest Tympanites, I started thinking to myself, "Why is Tympanic Theatre a good fit for ME?"  Having been a part of Tympanic from the beginning of time, I was slightly embarrassed to admit that I hadn't ever thought about why Tympanic was the PB to my J.   So to make up for lost time I thought I would dedicate today's blog post to the many reasons why I love Tympanic.  After all, love don't come easy.  Without further ado here are the reasons Tympanic sets my heart in motion…

GUERILLA MARKETING

Tympanic is probably one of the few Chicago Theatre's where you will find an Artisitic Director so dedicated to his craft that he'll brave the CTA and down-town Chicago in a Lion-O costume in order to promote a show.  Anything in the name of Marketing!

 

 Honestly.  What's not to love about folks who take reaching the masses this seriously?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WE LIKE OUR MAKE-UP HEAVY, UGLY, AND BLOODY

It's become somewhat of an unspoken Tympanic tradition to have at least one make-believe, out of this world, type of mythological creature in our season.  Call us a one trick pony!  Call us geeks! But I DOUBLE, TRIPLE, DOG DARE you to tell me these aren't faces to love.

 THESE AIN'T YOUR MAMA'S BEDTIME STORIES

At Tympanic, we dedicated ourselves to producing new work with fantastical, frightening, or absurd subject matter that provokes as well as entertains.  We invite our audience to explore new theatrical worlds of fresh, visceral storytelling, and extraordinary characters.  While doing all of this our goal is to foster the young voices of today's playwrights.  That's a tall order, but with a band of  multi-talented, theatre loving, hooligans by your side it's an easy order to fill. 

 

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS

I don't know if you've heard, but apperantly we're in an recession?  Time's are hard and finding funding for the arts is even harder.  It's times like these that make me wish the bartering system was still an acceptable means of survival.  Unfortunately, that ship sailed back in 500 B.C.  So what is a green theatre company to do when they're in need a rehearsal space?  They make the best out of their resources.  Yep, that's right folks!  At Tympanic we rehearse right out of Artistic Director, Daniel Caffrey, basement.  Throw some paint on the wall, sprinkle some production photo's, and add a few black boxes and…TADA! You've got yourself a rehearsal space! 

 DO YOU HEAR WHAT I 'EAR'? 

When your name is Tympanic and your logo is an ear, you better be damned if you don't know a thing or two about killer soundtracks.  Tympanic's shows are always chock-n-block full of awesome tunes (old ones and new ones) that help set the tone of the piece.  Hell, we even named our upcoming short play festival after a replacement song, BASTARDS OF YOUNG.  We believe in stimulating all the senses and our soundtracks arejsut one of the ways we aim to please. 

PASSION IS SO IN FASHION

Bottom line…these cats have a true, hot blooded P-A-S-S-I-O-N for what they do.  I can't feel luckier that they have branded me as one the clan.  It's family, ya'll!  There's something special about gathering in a room full of folks and knowing just by the pure energy in the room that these folks are here for the same reason…to put on a killer show while having a killer time!

Thanks for reading!

Susan 

Hello, faithful readers!  I'm giving you an update from the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, where I'm participating in Endstation Theatre Company's annual Blue Ridge Summer Theatre Festival.  I figured I’d give you the skinny on what’s going on up here, since a lot of it has to do with new work.  And if you’re reading this blog, chances are that’s something you’re a fan of.

Endstation is a collective of theatre artists run by Tympanic friend and fellow FSU alumni Geoffrey Kershner, and focuses on the development and promotion of theatrical arts in Central Virginia.  Most of their shows are centered around the scenic, history-rich locale, even their Shakespeare series, which is pretty rad.  On top of a killer, dynamic outdoor production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, this year’s festival also includes two new scripts: THE BLUEST WATER: A HURRICANE CAMILLE STORY (written and developed by Jason Chimonides and Endstation about the 1969 storm that devastated Nelson County) and MY BROTHER’S KNIFE: A MADISON HEIGHTS ODYSSEY, a creepy/hilarious Southern gothic tale written by Tympanic stalwart Joshua Mikel.  On top of the shows themselves, this year’s festival features their first ever Playwrights’ Intensive, which is the gig I’m here for.

The Playwrights’ Intensive is made up of two components: Ad Hoc and Posthaste.  Ad Hoc is pretty basic; a workshop and staged reading of a pre-existing work from each playwright, while Posthaste is a bit more intense (no pun intended.  No, screw that, pun intended.  I mean who doesn’t like puns, right?).  Here’s how it works:

At the beginning of the week, all of the playwrights (there are four of us) get together and write down several elements they think might be fun to have in a new script.  We put all of the elements into a box and draw out five.  Each playwright has to use all of those elements in a new script that they start working on right away.  We meet for private readings throughout the week, workshopping the script before a public reading at the end of the festival.  The format is derived from the 24-Hour Play Bake-Offs used at various theatre festivals and grad programs throughout the country to kick off their academic year.  This year’s elements are:

-Atlantis

-The Sword In The Stone

-A character who doesn’t speak for the first half of the play

-A talking pumpkin

-Incest

A pretty tall, but colorful order.  The playwrights can use the elements as literally or as metaphorically as they like, as long as they pop up somewhere, serving as more of a springboard for story ideas than a strict outline for plot.  As a result of the exercise, I’m cooking up a full length called ORANGE ORBS that I’m pretty proud of, so we’ll see what happens with it in the future.

Not to get all maudlin on you, but being up here really puts things in perspective.  At the end of the day, you should be doing theatre because you love it, and being isolated in the mountains with a merry band of fellow artists and friends with nothing to do but focus on their art really takes it back to that.  It’s been such a rewarding experience so far and I hope to do it again next year.

Bottom line: Endstation Theatre turns out some stellar work and truly has the theatre artist’s best interest at heart.  For more information, definitely check out www.endstationtheatre.org or http://endstationtheatre.blogspot.com/

I hope you’re all having a fantastic week.  See you when I get back!

Just something to think about.

Dan

 

Salutations dear friends!

Today is the day we start to give you a little insight on the people who make Tympanic tick! 

 

I recently decided to pose a few questions to a few of our new company members in hopes it would shed some light on their character, much like when the Batman interrogated the Joker.

Though I didn’t hit anyone (hard anyway) I think I was able to extract a few interesting tidbits about these crazy kids.

In the inaugural edition of the “Getting to know you” section, we’ve decided to highlight Tympanic’s New company members Michael Greco, Chrissy Wiesenburger, and Ali Delianides

Here are few things you may not have known about them.

 

Michael Greco

 

Why is Tympanic Theatre a good fit for you?

 

Tympanic is a good fit for me because the   members share such a strong passion for contemporary theatre, new work / original scripts, edgy and provocative subject matter, fearlessness, and unusual means of expanding the theatrical experience … all in the service of what 'works.'  Most of the experimental choices that end up as part of a production are interesting and pretty compelling (there is never the sense that some element or piece was included or introduced just to gratify someone's ego or navel-gazing "I've always that it'd be so fucked-up if…" type of whim).   Plus the members are talented, serious and a blast to work with.

 

If Theatre is your Career, what's your job? What's your everyday disguise? Clark Kent to Superman style.

I practice law on people.  They got rid of most of the enclosing phone booths (DOH!  That was in the 70s Sup, showing my age-ism), so changing guises is a challenge.  I have a car for that.

 

What's your favorite El Stop ? why?

Easy.  The Belmont el-stop is such a gateway, the intersection of numerous transit routes plus a riot of urban energy vibes.  If John Dos Passos were alive and had to re-write Manhattan Transfer re-set in Chicago (or outside Manhattan), he'd need only squat on the Belmont platform for a Spring or Summer weekend.

  

What is your favorite Joke?

There are lots, but for bartender style purposes (quick strike for short attention spans):  "How do you titillate an ocelot / oscillate its tit a lot."   (Musical, rolls trippingly on the tongue, plus the edu-geeks laugh harder to signal they know what an ocelot is, the others look around nervously if they don't).

 

Who do you admire the most and why?

I'll have to give this more thought, but for quick answer purposes I'd love to emulate Francis Ford Coppola.  Zoetrope studios didn't work out perfectly, and Apocalypse Now is a bloated take on Heart of Darkness (I watch it every few years though, still love it).  Sidney Lumet was more prolific and probably more disciplined, but Coppola could create scope  –  in 1974 he won Oscar for Godfather 2, and The Conversation was his side project (!!!).

 

 

Ali Delianides

 

Why is Tympanic Theatre a good fit for you?

 Tympanic and I go together like peas and carrots. My first production when I moved up to Chicago was Gregor and the Squonk with Tympanic. I had a blast working with everyone and am very much at home

with the company. I'm also a big fan of Tympanic's mission statement and the work that is produced through it.

 

If Theatre is your Career, what's your job? What's your everyday disguise? Clark Kent to Superman style.

I wear a lot of different disguises in my everyday life. Right now, I am teaching an acting class at Victory Gardens Theatre for kids,  grades 7 to 12. I also am a house manager and bartender for the theatre. I also dabble at the GAP part time. I just finished acting in a 4 month long run of Cinderella with The Chicago Kids Company.

 

What's your favorite El Stop ? why?

Southport el stop is where it's at kids. When I first moved up here and started to familiarize myself with the el.   I took a trip to the Southport. I loved the homey and city feel you get from the area all at once. I'm lucky to live by it now.

 

What is your favorite Joke?

What do you call cheese that's not yours? Nacho Cheese….pure genius.

 

Who do you admire the most and why?

My mom is the most incredible woman I know. She is my rock, best friend, role model, and biggest fan. I don't know what I would do without her.

 

Chrissy Weisenburger 

 

Why is Tympanic Theatre a good fit for you?

Tympanic is great for me because being in this company allows me to stay involved in theatre while having very limited availability. I'm currently working toward a second bachelor's degree in Computer Science at UIC, and it is very time consuming! With all the work required I have little to no time to audition or really work on a show. But being with Tympanic I can still be involved in planning, give my input on various issues, and help in small ways with upcoming shows. I've also been in or worked on all of Tympanic's shows since the company opened in Chicago. Having spent so much time with this group I've become good friends with everyone. So being a part of Tympanic is truly great because I get the chance to work on theatre with people I truly enjoy being around. The people make the experience worth while!

 

If Theatre is your Career, what's your job? What's your everyday disguise? Clark Kent to Superman style.

For me theatre is my first career, but as I mentioned I am in school for Computer Science. So right now I'm a student and cannot wait to graduate! After school I hope to work as a web designer or in some form of computer animation. My ultimate goal is to be able to work with computers during the day and do theatre on nights and weekends. So I guess I'm trying to be superwoman

 

What's your favorite El Stop ? why?

My favorite El stop?? Umm…I never really thought about it, but I guess I would have to say Washington on the Blue Line. Washington is right in the Loop downtown Chicago, and I love downtown! I love the activity, variety of things to do, and people to meet. So I suppose any stop that gets me downtown is at the top of my list.

 

What is your favorite Joke?

So a blond, brunette, and a redhead are running down the street from a cop. They run into a bar and ask the bartended for a place to hide. He points under the bar to three potato sacks they can hide in. So they climb into the sacks just before the cop enters the bar. He's looking around and finally notices the potato sacks. He goes up to the first one and kicks it, it’s the brunette and she says "Woof Woof!" The cop says "oh it’s just a dog". So he kicks the second one, it’s the redhead and she says "Meow!" The cop says "oh it’s just a cat. Finally he kicks the third one, it’s the blond and she says" "POTATO!!".

Haha! Get it!?

 

Who do you admire the most and why?

I admire my parents the most. Because of my father I fell in love with the arts. He is an artist as well as a craftsman and since I was little he would teach me how to draw or how to look at things a bit differently. Because of him I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the arts. My mother is a nurse and has always been there to take care of me and my sister. Because of her I know not to lose my head when a little problem occurs but to stay calm  and do the best I can with whatever situation I am in. Together they have turned our house into a home, provided for me and my sister, and most of all supported us each step of the way. When I decided to go into acting they never once said it wasn't ok. Because of their love and support I knew and know that whatever I decide is the best thing for me. My parents helped me become who I am today; they are extraordinary people and I love them very much!

 

Thanks for getting to know us!

Be seeing you – Mac Gerber

Proudly announces the first production of our third season

BASTARDS OF YOUNG

The Side Project (1439 W. Jarvis)

October 15th, 2009 through November 8th, 2009

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 8:00 P.M.

Press Night is Friday, October 16th

We are the sons of no one..

Assassins.  Vultures.  Cannibals.  These are just a few of the lowly characters featured in Tympanic's upcoming evening of explosive new work.  With a colorful cast of killers, misfits, and just about every other offbeat outcast under the sun, there eight world premieres explore the horror, comedy, and humanity found in the most surreal dregs of society.  Often twisted, often hilarious, and always armed to the teeth, Bastards of Young is a night of short plays unlike any other.

THE PLAYS

THE ELF KING - written by ensemble member Susan Myburgh, directed by ensemble member Chris Acevedo:

A blacker than black fairytale that shows the consequences of parents who disregard their sick little children

FOLKFIRE - written by Artistic Director Dan Caffrey and Dan Pfleegor, directed by Aaron Henrickson:

In the wake of a deadly forest fire, two American legends meet up to settle old scores.

THE GREAT BLACK VULTURE – written by Josh Mikel, directed by ensemble member Susan Myburgh:

Two castaways are torn at the seems by paranoia of death before meeting a most unlikely maker.

MAY IS A SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR – written by Rob Matsushita, directed by Timothy Bambara:

Love is in the air as two government assassins find themselves in the middle of what may be their last job.

NIGHT VISION – written by S.L. Daniels, directed by Casey Franklin:

A prostitute gains the ability to see the true monsters lurking beneath her customers' skin.  But is it a blessing or a curse?

NORTHSTAR NAVIGATION – written by ensemble member Mick Greco, directed by Tracy Wray:

A pair of two bit thieves are aided by their GPS in a robbery gone horribly wrong.

PERSONAL APOCALYPSE – written by Bob Fisher, directed by Sean Kelly:

A low level employee is viciously interrogated about a vague mental breakdown.

ZACHARY ZWILLINGER EATS PEOPLE – written by Lauren D. Yee, directed by Hollis Rabin:

A hopeless romantic copes with the fact that he eats every woman he loves.

OUR MISSION

Tympanic Theatre Company is dedicated to producing new work with fantastical, frightening, or absurd subject matter that provokes as well as entertains.  We invite our audience to explore new theatrical worlds of fresh, visceral storytelling, and extraordinary characters.

For more information on Bastards of Young and Tympanic Theatre Company, please click here.

It's not too late to make a donation for our online fundraiser.  We have raised 53% of our goal and with your help we are positive we will make our goal by our Aug 1st deadline.

 

Thanks for reading,

Susan