More MADELINE Accolades from Going To Tahiti Productions' Artististic Director

I feel the opposite of Groucho Marx when he said he wouldn't like to be a part of a club that would have him as a member.  What could be better than finding yourself in the company of wonderful, talented people?

To that point, Jessica Ammirati, producing artistic director of Going to Tahiti Productions, just posted one of the loveliest blog posts/reviews about Tongue in Cheek's spring production, The Mistakes Madeline Made.

Jess' post is entitled The Joys of Talented Friends... (chew on that cigar, Groucho), and here's an excerpt:

"As I'm coming to expect from TIC Theater, this dark comedy was a great evening of theater... filled with very funny/slightly surreal moments, which in and of itself was not much a surprise considering the playwright would go on to create and produce the Fox television show New Girl, starring Zooey Deschanel.  But what did surprise me was how moving the play managed to be in the midst of some "wackiness" and though I'm sure that was a factor of the writing, it was also due to the direction of Brock H. Hill and the work of the extraordinary cast."

High praise from someone as accomplished as Jess.  I can't wait to see her company's next production, Bella's Dream, a new play with dance, dreams and displacement by Dana Boll.  Set in current day and 1939, it contrasts the lives of a used car salesman in Florida and newlyweds Bella and Raymond's trek from their homeland of Poland to a displaced persons camp in Germany.  Bella's Dream runs for two weeks in June on the Lower East Side; tickets and more information at www.GoingToTahitiProductions.com.

So, to like-minded, talented friends, thank you for having me in your club and I look forward to when next we meet.

Samuel French recognizes TIC's production of OUR TOWN!

Some productions are so joy-filled that I wish we could do them again and again.  That's how Our Town was for me.  If I could direct and or act in any play for the rest of my life, it would be Thornton Wilder's study in small town life.  (Production companies and casting directors the world over, take note!  Our critically-acclaimed cast is ready, willing and able!)

Looking back fondly on Our Town

When mega play publisher Samuel French reached out to feature our production in their 75th anniversary celebration of Our Town, I was thrilled.

One of Maeghan Donohue's production photos is featured today on Samuel French’s Facebook page here and our photo will also be featured in a slideshow that will be posted to Samuel French's online magazine, [Breaking Character] on Friday!

Seeing Maeghan's striking production photo reminds me of our talented cast and crew, from gifted actors like Shelley Little (now starring in TIC's spring production of The Mistakes Madeline Made) and 15 other of the most lovely actors I have ever met, to my dedicated assistant director, Allison Lemel.  Our production also featured original music by my husband, composer Philip Rothman, which when I hear even now, my eyes well up a little.

Thank you to all who were a part of this production or who attended it... and to all future Our Town productions!

Plus One Premieres Tonight! (Runs Sun 4/7 & Mon 4/8 at 8 pm)

What an incredible start to our 2013 season: every single performance so far has sold out for The Mistakes Madeline Made and we got a rave review from Jon Sobel of Blog Critics, "...pitch-perfect performances ...results in not only the best Tongue in Cheek production I've experienced but the best comedy I've seen on stage so far this year."  Review

Tonight we premiere the spring 2013 Plus One Solo Show Festival at 8 pm!  The festival runs for two nights only, Sunday 4/7 and Monday 4/8 in the Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor, NYC. 

Tickets are $18 and we always sell out, so please buy ahead of time online at http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=SPR16 or by calling 212-868-4444.

One ticket grants you entry to see all four solo shows and musical guest.  The running time is 2 hours and there is a brief intermission between the second and third solo shows.

The festival features four fantastic solo shows about love, loss, and lessons learned:

St. Francis written and performed by Miranda Jonte
SBF written and performed by Jennifer Fisher
Cracks in a Concrete Heart by Joel Haberli
Inspiration Whore by Rachel Handler
and musical guest Todd Kramer

For more about these talented performers, visit www.tictheater.com.

The Ninth Plus One Festival Runs Sun 4/7-Mon 4/8

I am a huge fan of solo shows.  A few years ago, I studied with the amazing Matt Hoverman, whose Create Your Own Solo Show classes gave me a primer in creating solo shows with heart and focus.

Todd Kramer returns for our April 7 & 8, 2013 Plus One

So after writing and performing several one-woman shows and watching many other folks' striking stories, I founded the Plus One Solo Show Festival.  The format is simple: four 20-minute shows on a broad spectrum of topics heart-wrenching and humorous, and a singer/songwriter as a palate cleanser between the pieces. 

The festival always sells out and the audiences love it. 

Imagine my delight that we are now doing our NINTH installment of Plus One, running this weekend, Sunday April 7 and Monday April 8 at 8 pm at The Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios.  This time around, we feature solo show artists Miranda Jonte, Jennifer Fisher, Joel Haberli and Rachel Handler, with returning singer/songwriter Todd Kramer.

If you haven't gotten your ticket yet, please do.  We really do always sell out!  Tickets: $18 online http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=SPR16 or by calling 212-868-4444.

Q&A with Todd Kramer, singer/songwriter, Plus One Solo Show Fest (April 7&8)!

Our 2013 season has begun!

The Mistakes Madeline Made opened last night and runs for 6 more performances, April 4-6 and 10-13 (Tickets). During the dark nights of Madeline, we feature 4 solo shows and a singer/songwriter with our ninth Plus One Solo Show Festival, April 7-8 (Tickets).  All shows are $18, begin at 8 pm, and run at The Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios (244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor, NYC).

Todd questions his questioning soul.

We are truly lucky to be welcoming back to the Plus One stage our friend and singer/songwriter Todd Kramer.  We asked this talented Todd about who and what inspires him.

What inspires you to write your songs?
I'm inspired by the cliched stuff: mainly ex-girlfriends, personal experience, family, and did I say ex-girlfriends?

I'm self-analytical when I write.  I don't love to bash people (not that I haven't!), but mostly I like to bash myself and ask why the hell I let these things happen, and why do they happen?  A lot of songs come from lack of communication, the idea that if you could just say what's on your mind, you could avoid a lot of problems.  I even have a song called "We're Not Communicating."

What actor would play you in a movie about your life?
I grew up watching American Pie movies (not proud of it, but my friends and I used to be able to quote the first movie from start to finish).

I think I'd have to go with the self-loathing Jason Biggs.  Seems like a good fit.

Eh, I take that back: Clooney.  Definitely Clooney.

Who inspires you?
The other musicians in the city that I've come to know and befriend inspire me to sit down and write.  I've been lucky to meet so many talented folks here, and it's almost impossible to listen to them play and not want to go home and bury yourself in a notebook.  They're really the reason I've kept going.  I'm really very grateful for that.

Q&A with Rachel Handler, writer/performer, Plus One Solo Show Fest (April 7&8)!

Our 2013 season starts this week! Hurrah!

Starting Thursday, The Mistakes Madeline Made runs for 7 performances, April 4-6 and 10-13 (Tickets). During the dark nights of Madeline, we feature 4 solo shows and a singer/songwriter with our ninth Plus One Solo Show Festival, April 7-8 (Tickets).  All shows are $18, begin at 8 pm, and run at The Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios (244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor, NYC).

Bonjour, Inspiration Whore!

We sat down with the beautiful and bright Rachel Handler, to discuss her autobiographical solo show, Inspiration Whore.

What inspired you to write Inspiration Whore?
After I lost my leg, everyone told me I was an inspiration, but I didn't feel like one.  I felt like I just lost my leg.  So I wrote this piece about finding myself and finding that inspiring spark that others saw in me but that I didn't see for myself.

How did you come up with the title?
I had heard the term before and thought it applied perfectly to my story.  Every single day, ever since I lost my leg, at least one person tells me I'm an inspiration.  I like to inspire!  I am an inspiration whore!

If your solo show became a movie, who would play you?
I'd have Natalie Portman or Jennifer Lawrence play me.  They are both honest, audacious actresses... plus people tell me all the time that I look like Natalie Portman.

Q&A with Jennifer Fisher, writer/performer, Plus One Solo Show Fest (April 7&8)!

Our 2013 season starts this week! Hurrah!

Smart and scrumptious.

Starting Thursday, The Mistakes Madeline Made runs for 7 performances, April 4-6 and 10-13 (Tickets). During the dark nights of Madeline, we feature 4 solo shows and a singer/songwriter with our ninth Plus One Solo Show Festival, April 7-8 (Tickets).  All shows are $18, begin at 8 pm, and run at The Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios (244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor, NYC).

The first thing you realize when you meet Jennifer Fisher is that she is one smart, stylish woman.  Her piece, SBF, laments a series of interactions she has with men one rainy night in NYC, and she recalls it all with wry wit.

We asked this talented solo show artist a few questions about her process.

What is your writing and rehearsal process like?
The rehearsals dictated writing changes and I went back and forth.  My rehearsals are all about trying different approaches to make sure the audience sees me at my most free and impulsive.

If we made your solo show into a movie, who would you cast as you?
I'm can't think of a famous black actress who'd be willing to do this.  If she's out there, she's British.  And smart.

Editor's note: perhaps Thandie Newton?

If your solo show were a baked good, what it would it be, and why?
A scone, because it's scrumptious.

Opening Night Sold Out; Load In Done!

This just in: our opening night of The Mistakes Madeline Made is sold out!  Holy cow and happy Tuesday!

On top of all that, the set is done.  I love Load In Day.

The Mistakes Madeline Made set is set!

Here's how the day has gone:

Director Brock H. Hill picked me up at 8:30 am this morning from my apartment on the UWS, weighing down his blue SUV with boxes from IKEA and Amazon.

At 9 am, we pulled up in front of our theater at Shetler Studios, a non-descript high rise on West 54th Street.  Allison Lemel, our assistant director, was waiting with caffeine and a smile.  We loaded the boxes into a freight elevator with the cast of The Godfather and pulled everything into the Bridge Theatre. 

Allison immediately got on a ladder to adjust the lights; I cleaned out the narrow dressing room and opened boxes.  We assembled 2 IKEA tables and rolling chairs in Pepto pink and then we taped off our upstage wall for painting.

By noon, nearly everything had found its place, and the paint was drying.  Time to take a break for the traditional load in day lunchtime meal of pad Thai and beer.

2 pm: back to finish setting up the desks and props, and then home for a quick cat nap.

3:33 pm: a text from Philip (husband and box office supervisor extraordinaire): Opening night is sold out!  Yeah!

So... time to lie down and get back on NYC time and get ready for our tech run through at 7 pm.

Tomorrow we have our final dress rehearsal and on Thursday we open.  Tickets have been selling like hotcakes, so get yours now!

Q&A with Joel Haberli, writer/performer, Plus One Solo Show Fest (April 7&8)!

Our 2013 season starts this week! Hurrah!

Starting Thursday, The Mistakes Madeline Made runs for 7 performances, April 4-6 and 10-13 (Tickets). During the dark nights of Madeline, we feature 4 solo shows and a singer/songwriter with our ninth Plus One Solo Show Festival, April 7-8 (Tickets).  All shows are $18, begin at 8 pm, and run at The Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios (244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor, NYC).

Joel Haberli is a heart breaker, literally and figuratively.  We sat him down and grilled him a little about his solo show, Cracks in a Concrete Heart.

Dishy Joel Dishes

Give me your best elevator speech about your solo show.
It's about a lifelong womanizer who faces a possibly life-altering health issue and wonders if there's a connection between his emotional and physical being.

What inspired you to write your piece?
My friend Jeanette Bonner took Matt Hoverman's "Create Your Own Solo Show" Class and I was so impressed by her show that I thought I'd give it a try.  I've been thinking about writing this story for some time... seeing her show was the kick in the pants I needed!

What's your writing/rehearsal process like?
Write, write, write... edit, edit, edit!  I always start at the beginning of what I've written and go through the whole thing trying to be objective about what works and what doesn't.  I'm a big believer in "tweaking."  Rehearsal involves memorizing it and then working with my director to try and make it more than what I envisioned.

Q&A with Miranda Jonte, writer/performer in Plus One Solo Show Fest (April 7&8)!

Our 2013 season starts this week! Hurrah!

Starting Thursday, The Mistakes Madeline Made runs for 7 performances, April 4-6 and 10-13 (Tickets). During the dark nights of Madeline, we feature 4 solo shows and a singer/songwriter with our ninth Plus One Solo Show Festival, April 7-8 (Tickets).  All shows are $18, begin at 8 pm, and run at The Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios (244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor, NYC).

Jaunty? Jonte!

We chatted with actor and playwright Miranda Jonte about her newest piece, St. Francis, an excerpt of which is premiering in our Plus One Festival this coming weekend.

Give me your best elevator speech about your show: who, what, where, when? 
St. Francis is about a veterinarian who runs a no-kill animal shelter in the Pacific Northwest which is in danger of shuttering. She's out of options, struggling to maintain her sobriety, and approaches a family member with whom she has a rocky history for financial help.

What inspired you to write your piece?
After my mom died, my family went through a great deal of turmoil. Relationships changed, alliances shifted. Bizarre things happened. I began to need to write a piece in order to deal with it. Thus, St. Francis was born.

How did you come up with your title? 
St. Francis is the patron saint of animals. The character is a woman whose mission is to save these animals, and she goes to great lengths and extremes to do so. It popped into my head at one point and I never had another idea for a title after that!

Editor's note: Miranda Jonte's funny and smart play about the mechanics of love, Greasemonkey, is transferring to Chicago later this year!  For more on that show, please visit www.greasemonkey.weebly.com.