#fringe audio

1. Why should anybody see your show?

Well, it’s a radio show so I don’t know how much they’ll see, ha ha. I guess your imagination is what you’ll see. So you should “see” this show because a healthy imagination is one that is worked out regularly. It’s 20 minutes of silliness done seriously.

2. Why Atlanta?

Atlanta never ceases to find new ways to be interesting. An audio fringe festival is a great way to distinguish the Festival from others and gives out-of-towners like me a chance to be a part of Atlanta’s great art community.

3. What inspired you to create this?

I’ve become fascinated with fan fiction and shipping because it explores how people respond to popular culture, something I’ve been interested in academically and as a person of comedy. Abandon Ship! is a first step in working out some potential show ideas that go beyond just making fun of poorly written (but beautifully earnest) fan faction.

4. What’s your creative process for something like this? Are you approaching it differently b/c it’s a festival or is it just business as usual?

My creative process for this particular piece was 1) come up with an idea that involved a lot of people and was very ambitious technically, 2) break ankle, 3) come up with another idea and format that uses one of the very best performers I know, Wolfgang Stein to create an entire world with only a few characters, 4) Profit?

5. When people walk out of your show, they’re gonna be saying,”….

Oh, I hate that Declan!

6. Is this your first festival?

I had a piece in last year’s audio fringe called Within Earsight about a set of twin children who solved gruesome mysteries on their very own weekly radio show! I’m already thinking about next year because audio forces you to think about comedy and communication in a way that can lead to fun stuff.

7. If your show was an animal at the Atlanta Zoo, what would it be?

There’s a type of monkey called Wolf’s Guenons and since Abandon Ship! stars Wolf, that seems appropriate.

8. Will your show save mankind?

No, not at all. Not in any way possible.

9. Any Atlanta-based celebs you’re secretly (or not secretly) hoping will tune in?

Does Elton John still live there? Maybe he listens to it and forwards it to his friends at the Beeb?

Lois Reitzes would be awesome too. I’ve tried to describe her voice to non-ATLiens and she defies description.

Above: Looks foxier than she sounds

10. Random Atlanta Couple Who Doesn’t Ordinarily Go To These Sorts of Things (RACWDOGTTST, for short) wanders into your show blind. What happens to them? Are their minds blown? Are they freaked out? Are they seduced by your gentle artistry?

Maybe they look at the night sky a little differently. Maybe they wonder how a species that produces everything from The Cosby Show to Teletubbies to Eurovision is gonna look to “outsiders” should they ever find us. Maybe they get cupcakes. Maybe they’re just thankful for their “ship” they’re in.

11. Describe your show in three words.

Resistance = ill advised.

1. Why should anybody listen to your show?

A. Because we’ve had enough of Jack Sparrow.

2. Why Atlanta?

A. I hear that its call name is “Hot Lanta”. Who could resist?

3. What inspired you to create this?

A. I was teaching stage combat at the Burt Reynolds Institute. We wanted to create a promo video for the class so I asked the leading actress what character she would like to portray. She chose “Pirate”. As a playwright, I took the concept by the reins. There was a small scarecrow in one of the scenes as background so I brought in the word “Autumn” in the title.

4. What’s your creative process for something like this? Are you approaching it differently b/c it’s a festival or is it just business as usual?

A. Business as usual.

5. When people finish your show, they’re gonna be saying,”….

A. Autumn Wind is awesome. We need a Lady Pirate Captain. Seen enough Jack Sparrow. The writer has a twisted sense of humor but great story all the same. The production team did a super job too.

6. Is this your first festival?

No.

7. If your show was an animal at the Atlanta Zoo, what would it be?

A. a three legged Crocodile

8. Will your show save mankind?

A. No, but if anyone crosses paths with any Pirates they’ll know how to talk their lingo.

9. Any Atlanta-based celebs you’re secretly (or not secretly) hoping will tune in?

A. All of them.

10. Random Atlanta Couple Who Doesn’t Ordinarily Listen To These Sorts of Things (RACWDOLTTTST, for short) wanders into your show blind. What happens to them? Are their minds blown? Are they freaked out? Are they seduced by your gentle artistry?

A. One will say to the other “ Wow I never knew they we’re still making Radio drama. A Lady pirate Captain. Cool concept!

11.Describe your show in three words.

1. Why should anybody listen to your show?

The Procreation Parade is unlike any other theater experience. This production is an intimate and interactive experience that has the ability to change lives.

2. Why Atlanta?

Atlanta is where The Artizen Company was birthed, and Atlanta is fertile ground for our interactive style of theater.

3. What inspired you to create this?

The Artizen Company Co-founder Tae Eady initiated the idea for a larger work currently being developed called, I’m Pregnant! And I Don't Know Who The Momma Is!, which will premier spring of 2015. This project uses her personal experience with childbirth, her training as a Doula, and antidotal material to explore pregnancy and birth. The Procreation Parade: Kuzaa grew out of The Artizen Company’s research and development of this larger work.

4. What’s your creative process for something like this? Are you approaching it differently b/c it’s a festival or is it just business as usual?

The Artizen Company’s standard creative process is a combination of research and workshop. The Procreation Parade was created in this same manner; however, it was specifically designed for a festival atmosphere.

5. When people listen to your show, they’re gonna be saying,”….

These are some quotes from people who have seen our work, “Compelling,” “Intriguing,” “Powerful,” “Unexpected,” “Real,” “Moving,”and “Profound.”

6. Is this your first festival?

No

7. If your show was an animal at the Atlanta Zoo, what would it be?

Our show would be the Sumatran Tiger because it will sneak up on you and you will not know what captured you! By the time you realize what has happened, it will be too late.

8. Will your show save mankind?

The Artizen Company strives to maintain historical accuracy when possible; therefore, the information that can be taken away for our production can in fact save lives.

So, yes!

9. Any Atlanta-based celebs you’re secretly (or not secretly) hoping will tune in?

The Artizen Company’s audience is so diverse and eclectic, we want every person in Atlanta to show up, but Ted Turner or any other celeb that could become The Artizen Company patron saint are definitely welcome. LOL!

10. Random Atlanta Couple Who Doesn’t Ordinarily Listen To These Sorts of Things (RACWDOLTTTST, for short) wanders into your show blind. What happens to them? Are their minds blown? Are they freaked out? Are they seduced by your gentle artistry?

All of the above!

11. Describe your show in three words.

(Editors note: to err is human and, as humans, we accidentally sent the live theatre version of this questionnaire to the audio artists. Oh no! Ah well, it is not the end of the world. Most of the audio artists just answered it without being smartmouths, but most artists are not our buddies at Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium. We dig their smartmouthery so we're keeping it as-is, so you can feel our shame.)

1. Why should anybody see your show?

They should HEAR our show on Atlanta Fringe AUDIO because we promise they will laugh. They also don’t even have to leave the house or car. They could listen on a walk or in a bar, at the pool or on the way to school. Ain’t it cool?

2. Why Atlanta?

We were invited last year, found some new fans, and are returning with a new show.

3. What inspired you to create this?

Our goal at Small Fish Radio is to provide portable theatre for the ear, FOR FREE, using an old-time radio format that features brand new work by emerging writers.

We curate three shows a year AND YOU CAN LISTEN FOR FREE. This particular show was created in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago and was recorded live that same week, in Chicago, at Chicago Dramatists.

4. What’s your creative process for something like this? Are you approaching it differently b/c it’s a festival or is it just business as usual?

For the Atlanta Fringe Audio Festival we try to keep the show tight and offer up the best portions so listeners can get a taste of what we do. After the Festival, listeners can find the entire live recording complete with additional plays and our serialized piece on iTunes or on our website, www.smallfishradio.com. Of course, our previous work is available on iTunes and our website.

5. When people walk out of your show, they’re gonna be saying,”….

After they hear our show they’re going to be saying … what a bunch of lunatics, that was awesome, what kind of mushrooms are they eating, and where can we hear more?

6. Is this your first festival?

No, we were part of last year’s Atlanta Fringe Audio Festival, and we’ve also recorded live at the Chicago Fringe Festival.

7. If your show was an animal at the Atlanta Zoo, what would it be?

It would be the penguins. Comic, dramatic, and tipsy. And FYI – you can listen to our show on your Smartphone while watching the penguins at the zoo because our show goes with you.

8. Will your show save mankind?

Don’t all shows save mankind a little bit?

9. HELL TO THE YES. Any Atlanta-based celebs you’re secretly (or not secretly) hoping will show up?

We hope they will all listen to our Fringe Audio Show in their penthouses, on their yachts, and private jets—or while watching their pet penguins.

10. Random Atlanta Couple Who Doesn’t Ordinarily Go To These Sorts of Things (RACWDOGTTST, for short) wanders into your show blind. What happens to them? Are their minds blown? Are they freaked out? Are they seduced by your gentle artistry?

All of the above PLUS they become addicted to our particular brand of radio theatre.

11. Describe your show in three words.

1. Why should anybody listen to your show?

Because this is an audio program on the web and not a theatrical performance, you can experience my show while at your desk at work. That’s right: instead of paying to see a show, you get paid to listen! It’s simple: just set it playing in the background, put on some ear-goggles, stare at a spreadsheet like you’re doing something, and thrill to humorous tales of slapsticky violence and the entertaining use of curse words. Middle-schoolers get beaten up. Ducks evaporate. Kraftwerk gets name-checked by a resentful drum machine. There’s an original score. It’s pretty rad.

Or, if your boss is watching you too closely, you can experience my show from the comfort of your own home. Open up a second browser window for porn. Do another one for an eBay auction you’re following. You do you. I just want you to be happy, buddy.

2. Why Atlanta?

I can’t legally leave the city limits for a while. I don’t want to talk about it.

3. What inspired you to create this?

Looking back on the content of this show, I clearly had some baggage to unpack. I mean, my original title was “Fun with Resentment and Obsession.” From latent junior-high embarrassment to run-ins with bullies to frustrations with my own marginal competence as a musician, I think I was able to deal with some of that by getting it onto the page. (Sorry. I don’t mean to sound like the guy from Smashing Pumpkins or something here. I’m slightly more self-aware than that, I hope.) And having the opportunity to perform, record, and score it for Fringe Audio allowed me to do some things that I couldn’t really get across in print. Especially the piece about the angry drum machine. I mean, typing out drum sounds phonetically just looks like nonsense.

4. What’s your creative process for something like this? Are you approaching it differently b/c it’s a festival or is it just business as usual?

All of the pieces in this show were written to be performed live, so on a base level, the storytelling was a familiar process. But, making the studio segments richer for the headphone experience was new for me. My day-job is in TV, so obviously there are some parallels, but I’m usually not working with my own voice and music. Making it all square-up with the way I heard it in my head was a challenge, especially with my tendency to self-critique. There was a lot of re-recording involved, and I spent way too much time making music I never ended up using. No doubt, I will retain these valuable lessons up until the point that I try this again, whereupon I will forget everything and do the whole self-lacerating trial-and- error process again.

5. When people finish listening to your show, they’re gonna be saying,”….

“I’ll bet that dork was so old by the time he lost his virginity.”

6. Is this your first festival?

I took top honors in the action-figure film-festival at the national GI Joe Convention one year, if that counts.

7. It totally does! If your show was an animal at the Atlanta Zoo, what would it be?

Definitely a panda, because since my audio piece is submitted, my work is done, so I can just laze about while massive crowds clamor to get a glimpse of how cute I am but then just end up talking about how I’m lazy and really like bamboo.

8. Will your show save mankind?

My show will lecture you about using outmoded, sexist terms such as “mankind” like it was a second-semester sophomore in a Women’s Studies course. Then it would move on to a preachy harangue about veganism before excusing itself to a candlelight vigil on the quad to stop something or the other. Or, possibly start. It will probably involve someone walking around with tape over their mouth, so something about repression or censorship, maybe? It’s so hard to keep track. Sounds like an awesome time, though, right? What was the question again?

9. Any Atlanta-based celebs you’re secretly (or not secretly) hoping will tune in?

I recorded a lot of 80s-style synth music to score one of the pieces, so I guess I secretly hope Outkast will sample it.

10. Random Atlanta Couple Who Doesn’t Ordinarily Listen To These Sorts of Things (RACWDOLTTTST, for short) wanders into your show blind. What happens to them? Are their minds blown? Are they freaked out? Are they seduced by your gentle artistry?

I like to think they’ll make out in the back row because of the explicit sexual content that I’ve embedded subliminally in the part of the Duckbusters segment where I talk about Huey Lewis. But, really, when you just say “Huey Lewis,” who’s not going to want to get it on just a little bit, anyway?

11. Describe your show in three words.