Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Merry Christmas, Everybody!


Well, folks. Today is my last day of work for the year, so I am off into the wild gray yonder.

For reasons we've already gone into on this site, this has been an incredibly stressful year for me (and for other folks I know, for reasons we've not gone into on this site - and won't). This means that I'm very ready to check out of 2011 earlier than planned. So, I'll soon be going up to New Hampshire to both do a lot of personal writing and a lot of nothing.

Well, okay, not entirely nothing. I plan to watch a great deal of media and read a few books. But these activities will most likely be done while my feet are in a reclined position. And okay, okay, I'll also be going to a wedding. But I don't have to "do" anything there - except stay standing up.

At any rate, I hope everyone enjoys this holiday season and has a happy new year. I for one am curious - if not eager - to see what 2012 has in store for us.

And oh, yeah. I'll admit it. I'm very excited about seeing this. And being part of this. So right out of the gate, January 2012 has got some fun stuff in store for us. And by "us," I mean, "theatre folk in the greater-NYC area."

So again: Merry Christmas & Happy Chanukah, everyone! And here's to a better and brighter New Year!

Full of holiday cheer for some reason,

James "Ambivalent Santa" Comtois

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Friday, December 16, 2011

Little Bucky Comtois: Someone to Know

Over at his Visible Soul blog, Zack Calhoon explains to his readers why Kid Sister Becky Comtois is a Person You Should Know. Having known her literally her entire life, I am inclined to agree with him.


As an added bonus, she talks a bit about Mac Roger's upcoming ADVANCE MAN, the first play in his Honeycomb Trilogy. It is on. Oh, yes. It is on.

All about the nepotism,

James "Lil Theatrical Caesar" Comtois

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Thursday, December 08, 2011

Nosedive Brings Molotov's FAT MEN to NYC

Nosedive Productions Brings Molotov Theatre Group to New York
for Fat Men in Skirts Run in January


“Surprisingly Sweet Show about Rape and Cannibalism”
Is the First Traveling Show from Washington DC’s
Notorious Grand Guignol Horror Theatre Company



Washington, DC (December 8, 2011) — Nosedive Productions, New York City’s “Theatre for Sick Little Monkeys,” will host DC-based Molotov Theatre Group, America’s second-oldest Grand Guignol theatre of horror, for a three-show run of Molotov’s critically acclaimed Fat Men in Skirts, January 5, 6 and 7, 2012.

Molotov’s Fat Men in Skirts will be performed at 8 PM each day, at the UNDER St. Marks Theatre, 94 Saint Marks Place, in New York’s East Village. Tickets are $15, and can be purchased in advance online here.

Advance purchase for this extremely limited run is strongly recommended, although tickets may also be purchased at the door on a space-available basis.

The run time of Molotov’s Fat Men in Skirts is approximately 95 minutes with no intermission. Please pee before entering.

Nosedive Productions Co-Founding Co-Artistic Director James Comtois said, "The folks at Molotov make exactly the type of theatre that excites us here at Nosedive Central: sweet, funny and horrifying all at once. So we're thrilled to be bringing their delightfully effed up play up to New York from DC."

“We’re grateful to the kindred spirits at Nosedive Productions for helping us put this show on its feet in New York,” said Molotov Artistic Director Kevin Finkelstein. “UNDER St. Marks is the perfect venue for us – shadowy, quirky and right in the middle of all the action. That’s the perfect recipe for Molotov’s special brand of nonsense.”

Written by Nicky Silver, Fat Men in Skirts was Molotov Theatre Group’s fifth Capital Fringe Festival production, and the first ever Capital Fringe show to be “Helen Hayes Awards Recommended.” The Helen Hayes Awards are Washington DC’s most prestigious theatre community honors – what the heck is Molotov doing getting this kind of recognition?

Critics reviewing the Capital Fringe production of Fat Men in Skirts heaped awkward praise on Molotov’s staging of the bizarre dark comedy:

"...a wonderful piece of theater art that inspires laughter, tears and three hot showers after viewing..." Maryland Theatre Guide (5 star review)

“…Surprisingly sweet for a play about rape and cannibalism…”: The Washington Post

“…Just the right tone for a Fringe play — it’s edgy, raw and a little nonsensical…”: DCist.com

“…I enjoyed [it] as much as one can enjoy a play that involves mental illness, rape, murder, and incest…”: dctheatrescene.com

“…Rethink your own revulsion when it comes to eating dead babies”: Washington City Paper


Fat Men in Skirts features DC area actors Katie Culligan, Dave Gamble, K. Clare Johnson and Matthew Marcus. The play follows the Phyllis Hogan and her son, Bishop, stranded on a desert island in an increasingly “interesting” relationship. Rescued five years later, they discover the family’s philandering patriarch involved with a young porn star. Chaos, insanity, violence, cannibalism, and sidesplitting hilarity ensue.

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE EMOTIONALLY OR PSYCHOLOGICALLY IMPRESSIONABLE OR FOR PEOPLE WITH CARDIAC OR NERVOUS CONDITIONS.

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED FOR COUNTER-CULTURAL, UNDERGROUND AND CULT FANS WITH PROPERLY WORKING HEART AND CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS.

FOR THE SAFETY OF THE ACTORS AND THE SEATED AUDIENCE, PEOPLE LEAVING THE THEATRE WHILE THE SHOW IS IN PROGRESS WILL NOT BE READMITTED.

About Molotov Theatre Group

Founded in 2007, Molotov Theatre Group is dedicated to preserving and exploring the aesthetic of the Grand Guignol, or French Theater of Horror. The company will strive to accomplish this in two ways:

• Through its ongoing project, “Grand Guignol DC,” to produce English translations of original Grand Guignol scripts to preserve and draw attention to this important, and essentially forgotten genre; and

• To apply ideals from the Grand Guignol to contemporary and classic works.

Molotov Theater Group will pursue these goals following the Grand Guignol model of employing a resident company of artists and working towards building a true rotating repertoire of plays. To our knowledge, no other company in the world is working to maintain this genre in such a traditional way. For more information, visit Molotov Theatre Group's site. Molotov Theatre Group is a not-for-profit professional theatre under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code — really!

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Monday, December 05, 2011

Monkeys at the Monkey

Hey, folks. Tonight at 8pm at the Monkey Theatre, John Hurley will direct the opening scene from the debut play from Nosedive Productions, Monkeys.

Yes, this is the show that gave Nosedive it's logo.


Part One of Monkeys features Joe Mathers and Shashanah Dattilo. They're awesome. And awesome in this.

The excerpt will be part of Purple Rep's Dark Night Serials, which will take place for the next few Mondays (possibly longer) during the run of their latest show, The Myths We Need - or - How To Begin.

In addition to Yours Truly's show, tonight's Dark Night Serials feature excerpts from the work of Johnna Adams, Brendan Burke and August Schulenberg.

Next Monday features the work of Kristen Palmer, Adam Szymkowicz, Charlotte Miller and Larry Kunofsky.

And did I mention it's free?

The Monkey Theatre is on the 12th floor of 37 West 26th Street. A bunch of serialized plays by talented people are playing there tonight for free. So go there. And enjoy yourself. And be somebody.

Throwin' his poo art around,

James "Creative Biped" Comtois

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