Meet Michael Bassett who plays Harry Hawk 09/22/2011
 Name: Michael Bassett Thoughts: Great group of energetic people working with a funny provocative text Book: Siddhartha by Herman Hesse Movie: Harold & Maude Favorite moment in Waiting for Guffman: On funding: "And I'll tell you why I can't put up with you people: because you're BASTARD people!" - Corky St. Clair Count Chocula, Frankenberry or Boo Berry? Flavored milk? Pass. To help bring the Chicago Premiere of Our Leading Lady to life, click here. Add Comment  Name: Michelle X Taylor Hometown: Chi Town Thoughts after first reading Our Leading Lady: SO much more hilarious hearing it out loud! Favorite book: Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner Favorite Movie: Breakfast Club Favorite moment in Waiting for Guffman: Any scene Parker Posey talks in :) Count Chocula, Frankenberry or Boo Berry: Oh Count Chocula all the way baby! To help fund the Chicago Premiere of Our Leading Lady make a donation here A few director thoughts 02/23/2011
When I told a friend I was directing Entertaining Mr. Sloane I referred to it as a black comedy. He blankly stared at me and said “Oh, like Family Matters and Good Times?” I quickly realized what he was thinking and tried to correct him. I brought up the film Heathers, Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal and numerous other references. He continues to stare at me so I began to tell him the plot of Sloane. He then, more confused than ever, looked at me and said ”And this is a comedy, right?” Entertaining Mr. Sloane is a tricky show. It’s hilarious yet very dark, poignant in some places and farcical in others. It deals with death, sexual repression, shattered dreams and society’s taboos. It makes you laugh as much as it makes you squirm. However, like all great comedy writing, we see images of ourselves. Who can’t relate to Kath’s need for love (and her desire to love). Ed’s frustration at having to live 2 completely different lives is still as timely today as when Orton first wrote it. And who doesn’t look at Sloane and, briefly, wish they had as much charm? I was fortunate enough to have assembled a cast who enthusiastically dove into their roles and made my directorial journey that much more exciting. Without exception, this is one of the most talented and hard working casts I have ever had to fortune of working with. So, as we end Project 891 Theatre Company’s 2nd season I invite you to come and help us entertain Mr Sloane...and know that it’s ok to laugh. Ron Popp Artistic Director Project 891 Theatre Company  Name: Gary Murpy Hometown: Chicago Years lived in Chicago Always Best theatrical experience : Bozo’s Circus Favorite play: Of Mice and Men Current Can't Miss TV show: Mass For Shut-Ins  Name: David Schaplowsky Hometown: Cincinnati, OH Years lived in Chicago: 13 years Best theatrical experience: besides meeting Cher, Sandy Dennis and Karen Black in Come Back to the 5 & Dime...... - whenever working with a strong ensemble group for a show. It is so safe to "lose" yourself in a character when you know you have each others back..." Favorite play: I have many "favorites"...but I could go with Brad Fraser's Poor Super Man or David Harrower's Blackbird Current Can't Miss TV show: Fringe or the original CSI Aaron Kirby plays the mysterious Mr. Sloane 01/24/2011
 Name: Aaron Kirby Hometown: Carrollton, TX Years lived in Chicago: 1.5 years Best theatrical experience: "All My Sons by Arthur Miller Favorite play: The Seagull by Anton Chekhov Current Can't Miss TV show: Breaking Bad  Name: Tracy Garrison Hometown: West Salem, Ill Years lived in Chicago: 17 years Best theatrical experience: Not to be wishy-washy, but my best theatrical experiences always involve true ensemble work. No divas please! Favorite play: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Current Can't Miss TV show: Boardwalk Empire After introducing to the general public the little-observed Southern Jewish culture in Driving Miss Daisy, playwright Alfred Uhry did himself one better by choosing an even more obscure setting for his 1997 play The Last Night of Ballyhoo. Also concerned with a Jewish family in the Atlanta of a bygone era, Ballyhoo's deeper exploration of the internal aspects of Southern Jewish culture and society still leaves much to the imagination. From Lala's description of the affair and Boo and Reba's debate as to its history, we get the sense of a singular grand occasion full of towering stairways and people sweeping each other onto and off of dance floors. The fictional Ballyhoo of the play isn't wrong by any measure, but after conducting my research I was surprised to discover what the details of the actual Atlanta Ballyhoo of 1939 were. What follow are a couple of news items from the The Southern Israelite, a weekly Jewish newspaper that ran in Atlanta until the 1980s. Needless to say, no one took me up on my suggestion to go with the historically accurate Wild West theme. --Neal Ryan Shaw Ballyhoo’s A-Coming, Boys, Lasso A Date Right Quick The Southern Israelite, Friday, December 15, 1939 Three rootin’ tootin’ affairs are scheduled for Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Dec. 23, 24 and 25, at the 1939 edition of Ballyhoo, outstanding events of the holiday season. The Standard Club will be the scene of the “Wild West” rodeo which will include dances to appeal to all tastes. Wild West costumes will be in order for the dance on Saturday night, Dec. 23, from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. Formal dress will be required on Sunday, Dec. 24, from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. and informality will reign at the tea dance on Monday, Dec. 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. The music of Bob Sylvester and Ogla Vernon will be featured at the three affairs. Jack Eisman, president of Ballyhoo, reminds socialites of the gay times had at previous Ballyhoo affairs and promises that the 1939 events will maintain the standard of entertainment set in previous years. Reservations can be made at the Standard Club or by addressing Henry Bloom, vice chairman, at post office box 4034, Atlanta. Lambert Schwartz, membership chairman, completes the committee in charge of the 1939 Ballyhoo. Ballyhoo Dances This Weekend The Southern Israelite, Friday, December 22, 1939 Ballyhoo comes to town this weekend with three dance affairs—the ninth annual schedule of similar functions—at the Standard Club. The “Wild West” informal dance will be held Saturday, Dec. 23, at 10 p.m., the formal will start at 11 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 24, and the wind-up tea dance will be at 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 25. Music will be furnished by Bob Sylvester and Olga Vernon. From advance sales, President Jack Eisman believes that the largest group ever to attend a set of Ballyhoo affairs will be present this year. Reservations can still be made at the Standard Club, however, he reports.  Name:Liz Hoffman Hometown: Grand Blanc, MI First play you were ever in:Played Red Riding Hood in a production of Little Red Riding Hood with my brownie troupe Role you are dying to play: I am currently dying to play Mae/Joe in Dirty Blonde Pop Culture Guilty Pleasure:Wow, I have so many....I would say my addiction to any show that's playing on Bravo. Favorite thing about Chicago:the fact that you can get just about any food/drink delivered to your house. best thing EVER.  Name: Jason Kellerman Hometown: Madison, WI First play you were ever in: The Secret Garden (Colin Craven, with my dad) Role you are dying to play: Hamlet. Pop Culture Guilty Pleasure: Too many video games. Favorite thing about Chicago: The weather. Ha. | The Project 891 Blog
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