Master Works: The Museum of Bad Art Plays
March-April 2011: Gorilla Tango Theater, Chicago, IL
Commedia Beauregard has teamed up with the Museum of Bad Art to take six works of art from their permanent collection and translated them into short plays. Fulfilling the mission of Commedia Beauregard to translate not only from language to language, but from one art form to another, six playwrights each wrote a 12-minute play that tells the story of, or behind, one of the paintings from the MOBA collection. Four local directors have taken those plays and are bringing them to the Gorilla Tango Theatre stage!
The Master Works series has been a huge hit for Commedia Beauregard in the Twin Cities for the last two years. This production marks the second time we've teamed with MOBA to bring Bad Art to life as part of that series. Three of the plays in this production are help over from the 2009 MN production (including a play by Bill Corbett, writer and the voice of "Crow" on Mystery Science Theater 3000). The other three are brand-spanking new from Chicago playwrights. The new plays are by Ellen Cribbs, Andy Grigg, and Randall Colburn. Awesome plays from awesome local talent! And the three returning plays are all by award-winning playwrights, too!
Dates & Times
March 27, 2011 @ 7 p.m. -- Buy Tickets Now!
April 3, 2011 @ 7 p.m. -- Buy Tickets Now!
April 10, 2011 @ 7 p.m. -- Buy Tickets Now!
The Plays
Two Left Feet by Matthew A. Everett*
Directed by John Morrison
Based on the painting "My Left Foot"
Jamie: Stacie Hauenstein
Taylor: Logan Black
Third: Aaron Spencer
The Disturbing Chair by Bill Corbett
Directed by Jamie Bragg
Based on the painting "Lulli, Fowl, and Gravestone"
Frieda: Ali Delianides
Lulli: Susan Myburgh
Disappointment by Ellen Cribbs
Directed by Christopher O. Kidder
Based on the painting "Disappointment"
Ali: Megan Green
Jeff: Zach Livingston
He Was A Friend of Mine by Andy Grigg
Directed by John Morrison
Based on the painting "He Was A Friend of Mine"
Cat: Kevin Alves
Dog: Phil Zimmermann
Costumes by Ann Sonneville
Gina's Demons by Nick Ryan**
Directed by Brittany Westfall
Based on the painting "Gina's Demons"
Gina: Emily Robinson
Nurse/Demon #1: Sara Wolfson
Exterminator/Demon #2: Ricky Staffieri
Dr. Sentiment: Lindsay Kitt Wiebe
Dr. Wellwell: Logan Black
Skeletons by Randall Colburn
Directed by Christopher O. Kidder
Based on the painting "The Scientist"
Girl: Megan Green
Puppeteer: Alison Faraj
Awards
Two awards are given to the participating playwrights and directors based on audience feedback. "Best Translation" is awarded to the play that best captured the essence of it's subject painting. "Audience Favorite" is the play most liked by the audience members. The awards will be announced the Wednesday after the closing performance of Master Works: The Museum of Bad Art Plays.
Reviews & Other Press
FROM The 2011 CHICAGO Production of Master Works: The Museum of Bad Art Plays:
Vocalo.org -- Friday Funday | From Bad Art to Good Plays
I Know Chicago -- Meet Chicago's Newest Theater Company...
FROM The 2009 TWIN CITIES Production of Master Works: The Museum of Bad Art Plays:
Twin Cities Daily Planet -- Shameless Plug of the Day: "Master Works: The Museum of Bad Art Plays"
Off Center -- The Museum of Bad Art's Michael Frank
Twin Cities Daily Planet -- Theater: "Master Works" at the BLB: Bad Art, Good Plays
Lavender Magazine -- On The Townsend
I would go back just to hear the description of the “hideous” chair.
Melissa Slachetka, Twin Cities Daily Planet
Click Here for Full Review
*Winner - "Audience Favorite", 2009 Twin Cities Production
** Winner - "Best Translation", 2009 Twin Cities Production