"[Musing's] story, half Faustian and half "frog prince", transcends its cliches about the demands of a vocation through powerful images and strong acting" - New City Stage
THE HOUSE OF WEIRD DEATH:
Say your prayers as the Plague Doctor takes you captive in his house of American horrors. From the slithering muck of the Florida Everglades to the frozen silence of the Appalachian Mountains, The House of Weird Death is a morbid cycle of twisted tall tales. Whether it be the hungry moan of the Wendigo, or the axe wielding screech of Lizzie Borden, each story possesses a scent for blood that is pure Americana.
May 22 2008 - June 21 2008
Thursday - Saturday, 8PM
$12 students, $15 general
@The Cornservatory
4210 N Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL [map]
What People Said...
* A Metromix Theater Pick
[Rob] Matsushita's bracing mix of Charles Ludlam, John Waters, and Alfred Jarry is anchored by Amy Whittenberger's maniacally manicured performance as the "ax-whackin'" Lizzie. [The Lizzies is an] ingeniously cheap, vile, puerile half hour of nearly pure id. - Justin Hayford, The Chicago Reader
I was really scared... I showed up ten minutes late and when I came in the theater was pitch dark and I heard some dude screaming... the stories were scary, and intense, and the acting good overall. - Matt U
In Tympanic's second major stage set-up, House of Weird Death is successful at both creaping (sic) you out and making you laugh... Dan Caffrey is making his mark as a director and it's clear that his career is only at it's beginning and will move quickly. Check it out. There's no intermission, BUT there is a lot of fake blood, impressive costumes, and a theme song that makes Lizzie Borden funny and stragely loveable. - Lauren
THE STORIES:
- "Something Out There" by McKenzie Gerber (edited by Lorena Diaz)
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A once dormant Indian curse rears its head in a snowy mountain town. It is very much alive. And very hungry...Featuring:
Chris Acevedo / Thomas ParkerChristopher Acevedo received his B.A. in Acting from Florida State University. Previous credits in Chicago include Arftco's "Soon-To-Have-a-Witty-Title Christmas Spectacular" and Tympanic Theatre's premiere show, "Splintered Crosses". A company member of Tympanic Theatre, he is ecstatic to be in this creepy, creepy show with all of these creepy people!
Shane Hill / SheriffShane Hill escaped from an Afghanistan war-camp after fashioning a suit of armor out of spare parts. Unfortunately, a fellow inmate copied his idea and used up all of the Iron so he was forced to use what was left over from a shipment of "child-safe toys". After returning to his life of an alcoholic middle-class business man, Shane improved his escape suit and began a life of vigilantism. You have heard the whispers and now you know...Shane is Nerf Man.
Dave Singleton / Deputy HansonDave Singleton, a Columbia graduate, just wrapped a grad film. This is his last show in Chicago; he's leaving for Los Angeles to starve to death. If he makes it, he's driving his shitty '96 Ford Escort. Fuck Gas.
Jon Penick / Henry RagsdaleJon Penick recently moved to Chicago in January, and is ecstatic to be joining the Tympanic Theatre Company. While consisting of old high school friends and friends of new he alrady feels at home. Jon attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.
Elliott Fredland / Detective HanscombeElliott Fredland has been performing in Chicago for the past six years where he has appeared in independent films (including The Thirsting with Mickey Rooney and Get a Life) and stage productions. Stage roles include those in The Importance of Being Earnest (Rogue Theatre), Amadeus (Beverly Arts Center), The Elephant Man (the side project), The Mousetrap (North Lakeside Players), Dangerous (Shamelessboyz of London) and Frankenstein and Treasure Island (Theatre Hikes). He has appeared in several commercials, and in a previous millennium, he worked as a radio and television newscaster. Elliott is an ensemble member of the side project and serves on the Boards of Quest Theatre Ensemble and Bailiwick Repertory. Oddly enough, he was a math major. Go figure.
Kristi Szczepanek / Doctor FosterKristi Szczepanek recently graduated from Hope College with a degree in Theatre Performance. By day, she's a temp agency superhero; by night a forensic scientist bog person. Kristi is uber excited to be performing in her first show in Chicago. She's even more excited that the theatre is down the street from her house because she vehemently dislikes the CTA. Kristi is a rockstar coupon clipper, singseverywhere (she'll sing for you right now if you want. no, really....) and is a fan of greasy diners. - "Girl With The Green Ribbon" by Amy Whittenberger
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A Chicago politician comes face to face with a visitor from the past who's in the mood to play some extremely nasty games.Featuring:
Nicole Cobb-Oliver / NadiaNicole Cobb-Oliver is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago and is excited to work with Tympanic Theatre for the first time. Some her past performances have been Hazel in "The Vietnamization of New Jersey," Hester in "In the Blood", and Linda in "Piper". Living and working in Chicago has been a dream come true and she only hopes to continue her success.
Clifton Frei / JonathanClifton Frei is happy to be onstage with the Tympanic Theatre company for his first show in Chicago. Despite the constant screaming, he has been made to feel welcome by both cast and crew. Recently emigrated from Richmond VA where he enjoyed roles in and the production of many new works with Yellow House and Sycamore Rouge, especially as the D-D-D-DJ and Chorus for an adaptation of the Oresteia.
Whitney Valencia / MoniqueWhitney Valencia is stoked to have her Chicago debut in Tympanic's "House of Weird Death"! She's a recent graduate of Florida State University (Dec. 2007!!), and has just moved to the city. Other credits include Iris/Flamingo in Aristophanes' "The Birds", a mental patient in "Marat/Sade", and Miss Sally in our own Dan Caffrey's "Gator Skin". She loves knitting beside the fire and snuggling up with a good foreign film. But most importantly: she plays well with others and doesn't bite. - "Moss Lady" by Cameron Stuart
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Two friends' relationship is tested when they encounter a vicious swamp entity in the Florida Everglades. Girl scouts beware...Featuring:
Amanda Gregg / Moss LadyAmanda Gregg was most recently seen in Lincoln Square Theatre's staged reading "The Stress Watchers", Lifeline Theatre's "Crossing California", and in The Second City's Conservatory shows in the Skybox and the ETC stage. Her Chicago career has primarily been spent performing improvisation and comedy. Past theatre credits include Homicidal Hillbillies, State Fair, The Stronger, Machinal, A Lie of the Mind, Twelfth Night, and Antigone. Amanda has a BFA in Theatre Performance from Miami University in Ohio in 2001, and is delighted to eat your heart out as the swamp monster she always dreamed of becoming.
Brenda Scott / CrystalThis is Brenda Scott's debut with Tympanic Theatre, and Theatre in Chicago. Previous credits include Biloxi Blues, 'Dentity Crises, and several New Musical Projects at Florida State University. This fall, she plans on moving to NY where she will attend AMDA in an attempt to rise above being a professional waitress. Thank you to all, and keep an eye on the costumes - she helped w/those too!
Christine Weisenburger / TiffanyChristine Weisenburger has loved and been involved in theatre for many years. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago in May '07 receiving a Bachelor's in Arts Degree in theatre. Since then she has been involved in a number of productions including Tympanic Theater's last production Splintered Crosses. She hopes to continue her acting career here in Chicago possibly on the stages at Second City! - "The Lizzies" by Rob Matsushita
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The American sitcom is turned on its head when a studio audience is forced to watch a violent and disturbing television show about Lizzie Borden and her roommate...Lizzie Borden.Featuring:
Megan Gotz / Filmmaking Lizzie BordenMegan Gotz is a recent graduate from Florida State University. She has previously been seen in Tympanic's production of "Splintered Crosses". She learned everything she knows about acting from "She's All That". Be silent. Be still.
Amy Whittenberger / Axe Whackin' Lizzie BordenAmy Whittenberger moved to Chicago in 2006 after graduating from Florida State University with a B.A. in Theatre. She is the Co-Artistic Director of the Tympanic Theatre Company and her work was featured in their first two productions, Splintered Crosses and The House of Weird Death. Other credits include The Chicago Chronicles with the American Theatre Company, The Best Christmas Present Ever with The Side Project Theatre, Concrete Love in Chicago Dramatists Instant Playwright Series, Crowd Pleaser with The Barestage Theatre in California, and The Big Sign with The Renaissance Guild in Texas. The Big Sign is also currently being featured in Chicago in Point of Contention's Chaos Play Festival. Upcoming writing credits include Covenant Coffee, a web sitcom produced by "Just Say Yes" Entertainment and The New Play Development Workshop with the Women's Theatre Alliance. Amy is also a proud graduate of The Second City Conservatory and performs with her improv group, Trying Too Hard, every Sunday night at The Playground Theatre.
Nathan Cotter / VitoNot to overemphasize the influence of Schopenhauer's aesthetics (as is currently commonplace to the point of near obscenity when discussing any form of art) or to foolishly wander into a purely Auguste Comte positivism, but Nathan, free from the structures of German idealism and Neo-Confucianism, yet remaining circumspect not to fall into an Orwellian dystopia, is some dude in this show.
Michael Greco / Rockstar Lizzie BordenMichael Greco is way pumped to join this effervescent brood, and particularly to help originate these pieces in production. He has recently appeared in Richard III and Macbeth at Chase Park Theatre, Three Sisters at LiveWire Theatre, and Actors Workshop Theatre's upcoming "View from the Bridge." And buy him a drink -- For His Sake.... Cheers!
Steven Cohen / EleanorSteven M. Cohen has been living in Chicago for four years now. This is his second Tympanic show. He plans to buy a dog and name it Tiger, this summer. He loves the friends, teammates, co-workers, bosses and family. Dan said this character would be a stretch, but this is Steven's fourth Transvestite character.
Leanne Schmidt / PeggyHaving just moved from Madison, WI, "The Lizzies" marks Leanne Schmidt's first Chicago production. She holds a degree in theatre performance from Edgewood College. Favorite roles include: Rita in "Prelude to a Kiss," Echo in "Eleemosynary," and Helena in "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Amanda Besinger / Hot GirlAmanda Besinger from Hamilton College in Clinto, NY with a BA in Theatre and Philosophy. ince then, she has been keepin' it real and livin' the dream. You might have seen her taking classes at i.O. Chicago, the Annoyance Theatre, and theProfiles theatre. Or maybe you saw her as half of the improv duo Jomando or as Eleanor Roosevelt this year in the Chicago Sketchfest. Either way, she's happy you came to the show tonight. For reals. Love! - Presiding over the evening...
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The Doctor and his parrot have brought their roadshow to Chicago for you to enjoy. But, what else does this carnival of creepy have in store?
Paul E. Martinez / The Good DoctorPaul E. Martinez came to Chicago after graduating from Florida State University's School of Theatre in 2006 and is a recent graduate of Second City's Improv Conservatory. He has recently been seen in Splintered Crosses (Tympanic Theatre Company) and Los Desaparecidos (Babes With Blades) and has performed with improv ensembles Tymprov and Colorado Beautification Coalition.
Dan Pfleegor / The ParrotDan Pfleegor graduated from the University of Florida in 2006. Dan co-wrote "Folk Fire" which was a winner of the Chicago Dramatist Short Play Series. Dan performed improv with UF's Theater Strike Force for two years. This however is his stage debut.
