Hazardous Cargo by Bryan Enk

Nosedive Central's good pal Bryan Enk, producer-director of The Big Bad, made this short film, Hazardous Cargo, last year for Nosedive's 10th Anniversary Gala. It's now up and available online. It makes me smile. Featuring Becky Byers.

Happy he has his thumbs,

James "Hazardous Playwright" Comtois

Reliving the Gala, Part Two: The Photos

Yesterday, I showed the four videos Ben VandenBoom created for our 10th Anniversary Gala. Today, I'm showing some the photos he's uploaded.

Here are some select photos:

Our incorrigible and excitable host, Bastard Keith.



Sean Williams and Mac Rogers
figure out how to kill Yours Truly
in Mac's aptly-named "Get Jimmy."



Alisha Spielmann and Neimah Djourabchi in
Crystal Skillman's "Ten Year Twilight," bringing
some much-needed tenderness and class to the joint.



Our musical act for the evening, Dye Violets,
comprised of Sarah Engelke and Adam Swiderski.



Christopher Yustin, Rebecca Comtois and Patrick Shearer
in Jeff Lewonczyk's "The Nosedive Decade."



Epic poet Brian Silliman explains to the crowd how
Nosedive may survive another 10 years if we
change our name to "Vampire Cowboys."



Do you really need a caption? I'm sure this had something to do with a script by Qui Nguyen, but...it really kinda speaks for itself, doesn't it?

There are more photos, which I'll give the link for as soon as I find out if the album is public or private. (I know, I know, I should automatically know shit like that, but look: just because I "maintain" a blog, doesn't mean I have any technical know-how, or any desire to gain any.)

In the meantime, you're welcome.

Dropping the mic (on his foot),

James "...ow..." Comtois

Reliving the Gala, Part One: The Videos

Well, gang. I know not everyone could make the Gala last week. But we here at Nosedive Central aren't a, "You Snooze, You Lose" kinda company.

So with that, I wanted to offer folks just a slight taste of what was experienced at our 10th anniversary shebang (minus the debauchery, which unfortunately, is a, "You Snooze, You Lose" kinda situation).

With this entry, I'm posting the retrospective videos we played throughout the night. I think they offer a decent kinda-sorta idea of the

shenanigans we participated in over the past decade. (They're also up on the Nosedive Web site.) Some are goofy, some are (dare I say) touching, and some are both. At any rate, I hope you enjoy them. Ben VandenBoom did (in my not-so-humble opinion) a spectacular job putting these videos together from the decade's worth of footage we've accumulated.

And it's fun to see footage of me with dark hair.

(I should probably add that some of the videos, particularly the third one, have some not-safe-for-work elements. Like Yours Truly's pre-9/11-era jiggling bare ass.)

10 Years: Gratitude from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

10 Years: A Chronology from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

10 Years: The Monkey Years from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

10 Years: Valentine from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

With the next entry, I present the photos (and proof that no one in Nosedive, or even tangentially related to the company, can ever run for public office).

Slightly nostalgic and quite bemused,

James "Dorkahedron" Comtois

Hu-fucking-zzah!

I have to say, last night's 10th Anniversary Gala went about as well (and got about as nuts) as any of us in Nosedive Central could hope for it to be. I'm still actually reeling from it the following afternoon.

I knew when our incorrigible host, Bastard Keith, exposed his balls to the audience in the second half of the show, it was going to be That Kind of Evening.

At any rate, I had an absolute blast, and I hope everyone else in attendance had as much fun as I did.

I really want to thank everyone who worked on this, and to everyone who made it out last night. Seriously, folks, thank you so much. It means a great deal to me.

Also, thanks to everyone at the Brick Theater for letting us engage in such silliness in your home.

And to all you other fuckers in Nosedive Central, thanks for making this decade anniversary happen. Congratufuckinglations, guys. You assholes are awesome.

And if I may be so uncharacteristically sappy for just a moment, I'd like to briefly reflect on how lucky I consider myself to be by having such immensely talented and batshit insane friends and colleagues. I consider myself very, very lucky indeed to know all of you.

Okay. Enough sweetness. Time to go put on a fuckin' play.

Still giddy,

James "Keith! Put Your Balls Back!" Comtois

This Tuesday: Nosedive's 10th Anniversary Gala

That's right, folks. To celebrate 10 years of playmaking shenanigans, we're starting this 10th anniversary season with a bang. And by "bang," I mean, "evening of entertainment and imbibing mass quantities of alcohol" (that's what "bang" means, right?).

This Tuesday, March 9, Nosedive Productions is having its 10th Anniversary Gala at the Brick Theater.

The way it works is simple: you show up to the Brick on Tuesday night with $20, we entertain the hell out of you and get you all liquored up.

You have a blast. We have some startup money for our upcoming play, The Little One. Everyone wins.

Trust me, folks. It's a-gonna be crazy fun.

Getting all lathered up,

James "Scottish Spring" Comtois

Nosedive Productions Presents

Nosedive's 10th Anniversary Gala

A Fundraising Variety Show & Party a Decade in the Making

In addition to drinking heavily and waxing nostalgic, Nosedive has rounded up some of its crazy-talented pals over the years to offer an evening of socializing and variety acts, including:

New Short Works By
Jeff Lewonczyk
Qui Nguyen
Mac Rogers
Crystal Skillman

A Short Film By Bryan Enk

The Epic Poetry Stylings of Brian Silliman

Burlesque by the lovely and libido-inspiring Mme. Renee Rosebud

And (as the kids say) MORE!

Hosted by Bastard Keith

Tuesday, March 9th at 8 p.m.!

At the Brick Theater on 575 Metropolitan Ave. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

(Between Lorimer Street and Union Ave.)
G L trains to Lorimer Street/Metropolitan Ave.

Doors at 7:30 p.m., Show at 8 p.m., Party thereafter

$20, All You Can Drink

www.nosediveproductions.com

From the Nosedive Archives: Where is Overman?

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the opening of Nosedive's first show, Monkeys, which went up February 16-26, 2000, Pete is uploading a new videos from our past exploits each day on our Web site.

Since we have no video or photos of our first play, Monkeys, we're posting a seemingly random hodgepodge of performance videos and backstage shenanigans.

And now, dear readers, we come to the end of the line for the daily posts, though keep checking the Nosedive site for new videos, which will continue to be posted daily for the next few days.

For our final daily video, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the closing night of our first production, we bring you the massive Overman monologue from our 2008 production, Colorful World, my ersatz stage adaptation of Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns/Strikes Again graphic novels.

Pete and I pretty much agree that this scene here is all about the Shearer Brothers: Patrick does an astounding job here as Overman, and his older brother Phil does wonders with the lights. See for yourself. I don't know if much introduction is necessary: Patrick as Overman will fill in the gaps for you.

Nosedive Archive: Where Is Overman? from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this haphazard walk down memory lane with me. Again, more videos will continue to be posted on the Nosedive site in the ensuing days and weeks. I'll resume blathering about whatever I damn well please on this site starting next week. In the meantime, have a good weekend, folks. I'll catch you all on the theoretical flop.

Putting way too many words in his actors' mouths,

James "At Least It's Just Words I'm Cramming In There" Comtois

From the Nosedive Archives: A Total Mess

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the opening of Nosedive's first show, Monkeys, which went up February 16-26, 2000, Pete is uploading a new videos from our past exploits each day on our Web site.

Since we have no video or photos of our first play, Monkeys, we're posting a seemingly random hodgepodge of performance videos and backstage shenanigans.

And as we nearly come to a close (with the final daily video being posted tomorrow), we bring you our penultimate video: a sketch from our 2006 "Good Night, and Get Laid" fundraising show that...didn't go according to plan.

This was very late in the night, when all of us - All. Of. Us. - were very, very drunk. I mean, see for yourself. Do you really need me to explain that to you? Look at the way Patrick can barely keep his head upright. We're all trashed in this video, as was the audience, at this point. Enjoy.

Nosedive Archives: Wookiepiece Theatre from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

Making weird warbling noises all the time,

James "Aspiring Wookiee" Comtois

From the Nosedive Archives: Quota Jim Pitches Zombie Tom

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the opening of Nosedive's first show, Monkeys, which went up February 16-26, 2000, Pete is uploading a new videos from our past exploits each day on our Web site.

Since we have no video or photos of our first play, Monkeys, we're posting a seemingly random hodgepodge of performance videos and backstage shenanigans.

Today's video is a clip from Evil Hellcat and the Liquid Lunch, the main show of our 2003 collection of one-acts, Evil Hellcat and Other Lurid Tales. In this scene (from a script that's basically Angel City-lite), Zombie Tom (Dennis Hurley), a producer and zombie, listens to the pitch of a young and eager screenwriter/would-be filmmmaker, Quota Jim (Don Makowski), so he can seduce coach Jim to make a killer pitch to the studio executive, Vampire Lula.

Yes. A short play about Hollywood-as-B-monster-movie, where studio execs are monsters who want to corrupt the idealistic young creator and groupies are succubi. I know. Subtle.

Anyway, here's the video. I think Dennis and Don are kind of freakin awesome in this scene. And note around the three-minute mark Tom's indignation towards Jim dropping a sliver of a pick on a black-tiled floor under dim lights. Dennis knew (from rehearsals) that once you drop that thing, it's gone.

Nosedive Archive: Quota Jim Pitches Zombie Tom from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

Wanting his three-picture deal,

James "Massive Would-Be Sellout" Comtois

From the Nosedive Archives: Working With Children and Animals Double Feature

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the opening of Nosedive's first show, Monkeys, which went up February 16-26, 2000, Pete is uploading a new videos from our past exploits each day on our Web site.

Since we have no video or photos of our first play, Monkeys, we're posting a seemingly random hodgepodge of performance videos and backstage shenanigans.

Since Pete and the rest of the A.V. club at Nosedive Central posted some videos over the weekend, I needed to catch up by posting two videos yesterday and two today, so here's your double feature of days from Nosedive's dubious past.

The first video here is an excerpt from our 2004 play, Mayonnaise Sandwiches, a show for which I have a lot of fond memories. Mayonnaise Sandwiches ended up playing surprisingly well despite early tepid responses. (We ended up having to turn people away towards the end of the run, something we'd never had to do until this show.) Hell, we even won an award for this show (from the Off-Off-Broadway Review). Not too shabby, I guess.

Anyway, I thought Pete and the cast did a spectacular job on this show, which also served as Patrick's crash course in sound design (having created, what, 132 sound cues from scratch for this one?).

This scene is the final scene in Act One, just before intermission. What needs to be said here? Well, simply put, the main character is dealing with a nightmare in which he imagines his somewhat mundane life as a shitty sitcom, complete with canned laugh track.

The video features everyone from the cast (with the exception of Raum-Aron's understudy/alternate, Gregory Ritchie): Bryan Fenkart, Leslie E. Hughes, Don Piccin, Raum-Aron, Ashley Diane Currie, Chris Mollica and Christopher Yustin.

Nosedive Archives: Simon Goes To Jail from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

This next video is a series of outtakes from our "Celebrity MySpace" sketch, in which Christopher Yustin shows us all what it's like to live with the guy (watching these shots, I was pretty much reminded of our tenure together as roommates back in the day).

Nosedive Archives: Special Skills from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

Working with children and animals,

James "Producer's Worst Nightmare" Comtois

Tuesday, March 9th at the Brick: Nosedive's 10th Anniversary Gala

Nosedive Productions Presents

Nosedive's 10th Anniversary Gala

A Fundraising Variety Show & Party a Decade in the Making

Yes. It has indeed happened. Nosedive Productions, that theatre company that has brought you plays featuring nervous boys, superhero ladies, monkey puppets, and brain-eatings, has turned 10 years old this year.

We're just as shocked as you are.

In honor of Nosedive turning 10, the company is kicking off its 10th anniversary season with a fundraising gala event (which is a fancy way of saying "variety show and party where you drink all you want") at the Brick Theater on Tuesday, March 9.

Tickets are $20 at the door. Proceeds go towards financing our 10th anniversary flagship production, The Little One, a new vampire saga by James Comtois and directed by Pete Boisvert.

In addition to drinking heavily and waxing nostalgic, Nosedive has rounded up some of its crazy-talented pals over the years to offer an evening of socializing and variety acts, including:

New Short Works By
Jeff Lewonczyk
Qui Nguyen
Mac Rogers
Crystal Skillman

A Short Film By Bryan Enk

The Epic Poetry Stylings of Brian Silliman

Burlesque by the lovely and libido-inspiring Mme. Renee Rosebud

And (as the kids say) MORE!

Hosted by Bastard Keith

Tuesday, March 9th at 8 p.m.!

At the Brick Theater on 575 Metropolitan Ave. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

(Between Lorimer Street and Union Ave.)
G L trains to Lorimer Street/Metropolitan Ave.

Doors at 7:30 p.m., Show at 8 p.m., Party thereafter

$20, All You Can Drink

www.nosediveproductions.com

From the Nosedive Archives: Sonnet For Pete

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the opening of Nosedive's first show, Monkeys, which went up February 16-26, 2000, Pete is uploading a new videos from our past exploits each day on our Web site.

Since we have no video or photos of our first play, Monkeys, we're posting a seemingly random hodgepodge of performance videos and backstage shenanigans.

Since Pete and the rest of the A.V. club at Nosedive Central actually posted a couple videos over the weekend, we've got two featured videos for today (and two tomorrow). I know: You're Welcome.

This video is of Mr. Brian Silliman performing one of his many brilliant poems at our 2006 "Good Night, and Get Laid" fundraiser. I don't think I've seen this since the show itself. Watching this again made me laugh. Well, hey. Brian's a funny guy.

Nosedive Archives: Sonnet For Pete from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

Wondering where his sonnet is,

James "Huffy Strumpet" Comtois

From the Nosedive Archives: What Will Our Fearless Nervous-Boy Do?

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the opening of Nosedive's first show, Monkeys, which went up February 16-26, 2000, Pete is uploading a new videos from our past exploits each day on our Web site.

Since we have no video or photos of our first play, Monkeys, we're posting a seemingly random hodgepodge of performance videos and backstage shenanigans.

Today's featured video is another scene from our 2006 show, The Adventures of Nervous-Boy, featuring Mac Rogers and Kid Sistois.

Little fun fact: the monologue that Nervous-Boy gushes to Emily in this scene is the one featured in this book.

Okay, so I'm not sure how fun that is, but it is true, and therefore a fact.

Anyway, enjoy:

Nosedive Archives: What Will Our Fearless Nervous-Boy Do? from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

Always blurting,

James "Inappropriate" Comtois

From the Nosedive Archives: The Video With...Oh, God Dammit, Guys!

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the opening of Nosedive's first show, Monkeys, which went up February 16-26, 2000, Pete is uploading a new videos from our past exploits each day on our Web site.

Since we have no video or photos of our first play, Monkeys, we're posting a seemingly random hodgepodge of performance videos and backstage shenanigans.

Today's featured video is...oh. Right.

This video.

Sigh...

From our 2006 Good Night, And Get Laid fundraising show. Featuring Yours Truly. No more introduction - or analysis - is necessary.

Nosedive Archives: Scandalous from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

Always partaking in fat person minstrelry,

James "I've Lost Some Weight Since" Comtois

From the Nosedive Archives: "I Like Weed"

Continuing with posting archived footage from Nosedive's past, here's another one from the archives: a brief clip from our February 2003 play, Two Parties. The handsome fellow in this scene is Patrick Shearer.

In this scene, he plays Scooter, a drug dealer who likes to party with kids several years younger than him. He's basically the creepy college dropout that would show up at your high school parties because one of the girls in your class was banging him.

I think this clip requires a bit more explanation than most. I actually haven't seen the video for this production, and although had a lot of fun at the time, haven't given it much thought to this show since. Watching this clip again, I'm reminded why. This is far from my best work.

Two Parties, a play about a bunch of young folks throwing an impromptu party while the host's parents are gone, is a really awkward and heavy-handed script, which recycles a lot of (heavy-handed) ideas I'd already played around with in earlier scripts.

So yes, watching this clip for the first time (thus seeing a piece of this show for the first time) in seven years, I winced during most of it. No offense to Mr. Shearer here (or the rest of the cast), I think he and the rest of the cast does a fine job with what they've been given to work with. I'm just thinking of my dunderheaded and amateurish writing.

The show, which enjoyed a month-long run at the 78th Street Theatre Lab, ended up being one of our more profitable shows. Yes, it made money. Go figure.

Despite its awkwardness, it's still fun (for me, anyway) to watch a (substantially younger) Piddimus engaging in the silliness I typed up. And watching it again, I did enjoy being reminded of the "kids in the clubhouse getting away with murder" vibe that Nosedive had back then.

Anyway, see for yourself.

Nosedive Archives: I Like Weed from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

Mildly ambivalent about weed,

James "The Older Guy At The Party" Comtois

From the Nosedive Archives: Yustin and Silliman After Hours

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the opening of Nosedive's first show, Monkeys, which went up February 16-26, 2000, Pete is uploading a new videos from our past exploits each day on our Web site.

Since we have no video or photos of our first play, Monkeys, we're posting a seemingly random hodgepodge of performance videos and backstage shenanigans.

Today's featured video is one of the latter. From our 2007 fundraising show, Just Say Nosedive, we have Nosedive vets Christopher Yustin (left) and Brian Silliman (right) riffing on each other backstage. True, this is the equivalent of watching home movies from some family that's not yours, but hey, it's been 10 years and we're waxing nostalgic. Indulge us a little.

Nosedive Archives: Yustin and Silliman After Hours from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

Promising to put the seat down,

James "Bathroom Liar" Comtois

February 16-26: Blasts From the Past

From February 16-26, 2000, two assholes put on a play.

Nosedive Productions celebrates the 10 year anniversary of the original run of it's premiere production, Monkeys, which opened 10 years ago today.

From February 16-26, a new video from the archives will be posted on the Web site and this site.

They'll be pretty random and out of my hands (Pete, Ben and Marc, I think, are in charge of the video archives), but each day we'll be posting some blast from our past.

Today: The Caveman Fight from our 2006 production of The Adventures of Nervous-Boy.

Nosedive Archives: The Caveman Fight from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

Already feeling senile,

James "Confused Grampa" Comtois