The Bigger Guns III: Revenge of the Apocalypse Again: An Action Comedy for the Stage Blog http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/ en Copyright 2007 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 13:23:28 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.31 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Check us out in the Media Thanks to the South Bend Tribune and the Goshen News for their previews of the show. We are ready for an audience... which is good, because we've got a big one!

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/check_us_out_in_the_media.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/check_us_out_in_the_media.php Fri, 20 Apr 2007 13:23:28 -0500 Noir
That's what I'm talking about. Great film-noir photo of the villain, Chain Daisysaw. I love it.

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/noir.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/noir.php Thu, 19 Apr 2007 01:16:50 -0500 More Action Photos See this link for more high-action photos, taken at our dress rehearsal last night by Hannah Gerig. Thanks Hannah!

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/more_action_photos.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/more_action_photos.php Tue, 17 Apr 2007 12:00:25 -0500 Whack-a-Mole Based upon some of the action in scene 20, I thought you all might be interested in this comic: http://www.pbfcomics.com/?cid=PBF216-Tournament.jpg#204.

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/whackamole.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/whackamole.php Fri, 13 Apr 2007 08:05:21 -0500 Merch Need some merch to get actioned up? Try this stuff on for size. With Mark's help on graphic design, I started a cafepress.com account so that you too can own your own t-shirt, coaster, or button with Michelle's iconic image stamped upon it.

jitcrunch.jpeg

So, point your browser toward http://www.cafepress.com/biggerguns/ and get in on the action! Oh yeah, happy 13th.

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/merch.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/merch.php Fri, 13 Apr 2007 07:48:42 -0500 aCTioN sHOts! Check out some rehearsal photos, taken by Jessica Hage during a real live action sequence. No wonder we're all exhausted. Go to the link above to see all of them, but here are a couple to get you started:

kick.jpg

beth%20hide.jpg
]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/action_shots.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/action_shots.php Wed, 11 Apr 2007 02:24:04 -0500 Too busy rehearsing to Blog What a hit-and-run show. It's coming along, and getting funnier every night, but I'm beat. I'm going to bed.

This cast kicks my ass. And everyone should be checking out Daisy Chainsaw and the Flash Mob on myspace. They rock.

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/too_busy_rehearsing_to_blog.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/too_busy_rehearsing_to_blog.php Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:58:53 -0500 Arc welding too dangerous: Let's try magnesium? Great post Mathew. I noticed that several cast members seem to have a different take on speaking. Lindsy has given herself several lines at this point, and Emily added a great one the other night.

Last night I was answering questions for the press release, and here's what I had to say about the cast:

Zowie. I never knew we had it in us. The cast has more energy than I have ever seen. They are crazy. I wouldn't go near them. They will chase you down. They can beat me up. They keep adding lines to the script. They are funnier than I am.

Yippee-Kai-Yay All Y'all.

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/arc_welding_too_dangerous_lets.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/arc_welding_too_dangerous_lets.php Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:03:55 -0500 The Life of an Extra When I initially expressed interest to be an extra/stunt person for this show, my feeling was that this would be an ideal opportunity to try out this theater stuff without having to memorize lines or anything like that. Plus I would presumably be fighting a lot with my good buddy and co-stunt person Jonathan Nafziger, so this would be an excuse to do what we normally do in front of people. Surely fun times were in store. Well let me just say that life has not been all easily-choreographed punches, speaking metaphorically (and literally). For starters, in this one scene, they have me milling around with a bunch of others, and during one rehearsal one of the characters didn't want to say her line, and though I could totally understand that (I mean, everyone you can get rid of is one you don't have to memorize, right?) Mr. Head Honcho Eric says, "okay, everyone but you get's that line." What?! That Means I have to speak! Three words I now have to memorize! Let me just say that it was after that rehearsal that I realized this show wasn't going to be just a walk in the park. I was right. Since then, for the sake of the show (or of comedic action in general) I have been called upon to learn to fall flat on my face, get stabbed with a pool noodle, brutally give someone a nuggie, run up and down stairs (forgot what they told you in grade school!), get chased and attacked by two bloody-thirsty karate kid clones, and hand large (fake) guns. Bigger guns, you might even call them. Life has not been easy. And yet somehow, there's that feeling of accomplishment at the end of each rehearsal that makes all the bumps, bruises and rug burns seem like nothing. I may be an extra... but I am so much more! Much like the pioneers headed out west on the Oregon Trail, I am a pioneer of experimental theater, traversing ground never covered... and relying heavily upon big guns. And if I die (pretend of course) along the way, it shall not have been in vain!

-Matthew Rody, extra and stunt person

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/the_life_of_an_extra.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/the_life_of_an_extra.php Thu, 05 Apr 2007 09:56:26 -0500 Action Evening Tonight rocked. Designs are coming together. Ben's getting the furniture and climbing walls. Emily's getting fedoras and boots and a turquoise karate suit. We've got super soakers and drum sets and blow torches practically falling from the sky (well, or at least from the homes of Jessica Hage and Sarah Jensen).

Thanks to Courtney Papa we had a great meal with full cast, crew and some board members, and enjoyed some very funny stories.

We spent much of the evening running and hitting and not-quite-hitting and falling safely (usually) and climbing and sneaking up on people and poking people in the eyes and swiping their feet out from under them and laughing a lot.

And thanks to Mark Hershberger (and Ben J for posting them), we have hot, rockin graphics on our web, and will soon have some super sweet posters you'll start seeing around town. We also have a myspace account for Daisy Chainsaw and the Flashmob, which will be expanding as we are able to expand it - so check it out. Thanks to Sondra Eby Eisenstat for getting our photo and bio posted.

Hot. This stuff is hot. And I'm having a blast.

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/action_evening.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/04/action_evening.php Wed, 04 Apr 2007 00:39:06 -0500 Wow So we're taking off - and with a vengeance! It's been really great to see this project coming together, and I'm excited about the people we have involved. Here's a full cast list (I'll post the designer/production team list later, once a couple other things are finalized).

What I love about this project is the playfulness and laughter than comes out in people when they hear the words "action" and "comedy." Can't wait to see where the next three and a half weeks take us...

Clarence X / Killer - Emily Swora
Daisy Chainsaw / Chain Daisysaw - Michelle Milne
Harry P. Zeitgeist / Mayor Kauffman - Ben Jacobs
Goon One - Beth Glick
Goon Two - Andrew Landis
Sally - Lindsy Glick
Political Ranter - Cisco Ramirez
Reporters - Kimberlee Rohrer and an audience member
Someone - Courtney Papa
Voice - Sarah Jensen

Stunt Team:
Jon Nafziger
Mathew Rody
Lindsy Glick

Daisy Chainsaw and the Flashmob (the band):
Jessica Baldanzi (bass)
Sondra Eby Eisenstat (percussion)
Emily Swora (keyboards)
Michelle Milne (guitar/lead vocals)

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/03/wow.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/03/wow.php Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:04:49 -0500 what will it be like? After the first rehearsal (destroy-through, rather) I've come to this conclusion: by "action comedy" they mean 1.) there will be a lot of action. hard-core action. and some--most? of it comedic. 2.) it will be funny. a comedy, if you will.
who knew?

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/03/what_will_it_be_like.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/03/what_will_it_be_like.php Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:20:42 -0500 Bigger Guns Photoshoot Big things are happening at New World Arts. Though the blog doesn't indicate it, we've been having meets, rehearsals, the whole wazoo. In case you haven't heard, Bigger Guns III now features a punk band, Daisy Chainsaw and the Flashmob. I heard some of their recordings. They sound appropriately angry.

We had a photoshoot on Saturday. You can find the fruits of our labor here.

Action.jpg

In this photo-from left to right-Emily Swora (Clarence X, the X is for Xena), Michelle Milne (Daisy Chainsaw), and Ben Jacobs (Harry P. Zeitgeist). Photo by Charles Bontrager. Special thanks to Deneen Studios for use of their space.

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/03/bigger_guns_photoshoot.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/03/bigger_guns_photoshoot.php Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:06:18 -0500 Great Short to check out Here is a movie in the words of the director, producer, and lead actor "is The Marine with no budget." A great campy movie that was produced and shot locally. If the link doesn't work go to youtube and search for Mission Wolf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTbWeHloRJA

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/03/great_short_to_check_out.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/03/great_short_to_check_out.php Thu, 22 Mar 2007 22:16:11 -0500 The MacGuffin We've been working out plot details, trying to get a script out on paper, and there has been a lot of discussion about the focus of the piece and the style of action movies.

Today I was doing my usual reading of the tech and design blog Signal vs. Noise from 37 Signals (also the developers on Backpack, which we use for internal communication at NWA). I found this very interesting little piece that talks about how several film makers go about the same process - with the concept of the MacGuffin - the object everyone is after that drives the action.

check it out.»

Keep it simple - and even vague - but always important. Let the audience fill in the details. I like it.

]]> http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/01/the_macguffin.php http://blog.newworldarts.org/theactioncomedy/2007/01/the_macguffin.php Wed, 17 Jan 2007 09:37:15 -0500