50 Plays - Opening Night June 16, 2011 8pm - updated 6/7/11

In case you were wondering why my blog updates have been rare, it's because I have been busy working on 50 Plays. It's this year's 365 Sketches. 50 directors, 50 casts, 50 ten minute(ish) plays. All at the Strawdog. Tickets can be purchased at Brown Paper Tickets.

Unlike 365 where I wrote a comedy sketch a day for a year, this has been about assembling 50 ten minute plays. Some have been previously produced. Most of them have been written for this event. Directors cast their piece, I met with them and asked them some questions, then I went off and wrote a piece with that cast and director in mind. It's a fun process and allowed me to confidently add things to a script and not worry about whether or not the director could find someone who played ukulele or juggled or roller skated.

Here's what's playing opening night. Still in the process of gathering information from the directors. Info like, who their cast is! Quite a task getting 50 directors to give you what you need in a timely fashion.

Here's the first five plays to be present at 50 Plays with my comments about them below. One piece, WRWR, has been split up into three parts.

We Reach With Radio (1) – director Brea Hayes - cast: Kai Young, Max Lapine

Cheddar Moon – director Danni Parpan - cast: Alex Marcus, Conor McCahill, Ike Holter, David Seeber

WRWR (2) – director Brea Hayes - cast: cast: Kai Young, Brendan Buckley

Baby Blue Sedan – director J. Cody Spellman - cast: Jonathan Wallace, Torian Miller, Ryan Hake. Special Thanks to David Woolley, Sam Hubbard, Kathryn Acosta

Sleeping Handsome – director Tyler Wilsey - cast: Danni Parpan, Joe Barlow

WRWR (3) – director Brea Hayes - cast: cast: Kai Young, Max Lapine, AJ Ware

Burka Betty – director Kyra Lewandowsky - cast: Dana Black. Special Thanks to Sally Akrawe (dialect help), Jennifer Kincaid (rehearsal space), John Pierson (wheelchair)

Directors' Bios

Brea Hayes is a very nice girl who sometimes directs plays and makes theater throughout the Chicago area. She is a graduate of the theater program at Columbia College Chicago. Her day job is at Court Theater. She is motivated by cupcakes and cute animals.

Danni Parpan is thrilled to be working on Joe Jane's 50 Plays! She graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2010 where she received her BA in Theater-acting. Danni directed for Joe Jane's 365 Sketches last year and has assistant directed several shows at Act One Studios under under the direction of Kimberly Senior and Steve Merle. She also assistant directed "Zombies Attack Chicago" with Anna Rose Epstein for NWaC and "Uncle Vanya" at Strawdog Theater Company under the direction of Kimberly Senior. Her acting credits include Ilse in "Spring Awakening", Hattie in "Laundry and Bourbon", Roberta in "Jack, or the Submission", Bree, in NWaC's "Corner Critics" and Mystical Mary in NWaC's first ever "Spooktaular". Special thanks to Joe Janes, Tyler Wilsey, NWaC, and Jack Bourgeois for letting me use his internet to write this in the middle of moving!

J. Cody Spellman is a Junior Directing Theatre Major at Columbia College. His previous works include assistant directing The Normal Heart, Equus, and Floyd Collins, where he also was the dramaturg. Right now he is directing a film with Postmark Productions, stage managing the Neapolitan Theatre Co's Off Chekhov Fest, and will be assisting Brian Posen on This Is Our Youth, as well as Dramaturg for Columbia's next mainstage show Splendora.

Tyler Veronica Wilsey is very excited to be directing something on her home turf. She was recently hired as the Production Manager for Strawdog's 24th season. She is also a graduate of Columbia College's Directing Program, and has worked as a stage manager for several companies around town. She hasn't gotten to write music in a hot minute, and had a great time working on the show. Love to the Fifis, Garbo, and Danni Lee.

Kyra Lewandowsky: Kyra met Joe while directing for WNEP’s Nighthawk Sandwich last year and is tickled to be working with him again on this awesome project. Previous directing credits include Verse Chorus Verse with Tympanic Theatre, Curse of the Starving Class with New Leaf Theatre, Polaroid Stories with Village Players Theatre as well as work with Rivendell Theatre, Teatro Vista, the side project, Griffin Theatre, Collaboraction, Infusion Theatre, Hobo Junction Productions, Appetite Theatre and 20 % Theatre.

Here are my notes about these pieces and why I think you should see this show.

We Reach With Radio was previously produced as part of 365 Sketches. WRWR is biographical about my days working at a local radio station when I was a year out of high school, but not yet in college. The scenes represented really happened. I cherish those days.

Cheddar Moon was previously produced for Columbia College's 24-Hour Plays festival and Chicago Dramatist's and The Second City Training Center's 10-Minute Play festival. Cheddar Moon is one of my all time favorite pieces. I wrote it a few years ago (2007?) for the Columbia College 24-Hour Plays Festival. It was the first festival I ever did of that nature and I was so happy with the results, I did more of them. It put me on the path that led to doing 365 Sketches, for sure.

Baby Blue Sedan is a world premiere. Baby Blue Sedan was written for actors from Columbia College that I enjoyed having as students. It's a thrill to have Ryan in the piece because I flunked him. He's talented, but abused the tardy/attendance policy. I felt bad about it. I'm glad he doesn't hold a grudge. Or he does, and he's going to take it out in this play. Worth seeing, either way.

Sleeping Handsome is a world premiere. It's a mini-musical and gender swap on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale.

Burka Betty is a world premiere.The evening ends with one of my favorite actresses, Dana Black, in Burka Betty. She worked with Don Hall and I on our Sketchfest show. She's as brilliant at comedy as she is drama. I took writing her piece very seriously. She plays an Iraqi woman who takes to the airwaves at night a la Tokyo Rose. There's more to her pain, but I don't want to spoil it.

UPDATE!!!

There is now a post-show event added to opening night of 50 Plays. The bulk of 50 Plays was written through meeting with directors and then casts and then writing a play with them in mind. Right after the first five plays, the audience is invited to stick around and watch Joe interview Jason Fleece and his cast before writing their 10 minute play which will go up two days later on Saturday, June 18th in the 8pm show. Good times.

Blog 20 Best Travel Destinations for Theater Buffs

Hey! I have been super busy finishing up the scripts for 50 Plays. Meanwhile, here's an interesting article by Emma Taylor on some of the best destinations for theater buffs. Just click on the link.

20 Best Travel Destinations for Theater Buffs

Hey! It's Michael Palin's Birthday!

And it's my birthday, too! I am in good company. Today is a popular date for birthdays as well as being Cinco de Mayo. And, just like those unfortunate folks whose birthdays fall on Christmas, I am often shafted on gifts. But at least everyone is partying, whacking piñatas with sticks and licking salt off the rims of goblets filled with tequila goodness.

I am now officially 5-0. I much prefer saying Five-Oh to fifty. Makes me sound like a cop.

People often tell me I look younger than I am. This is more due to lifestyle than genetics. Here's a picture of my brothers Bob and Don. Bob (the one with horns) is two years younger than me, Don (the terrified one) is two years older.



Yes, it's lifestyle over genetics. Here are 50 ways to keep young according to me.

1) Don't eat meat. I have been a vegany-vegetarian for over 20 years.

2) Don't use aftershave or cologne. I use moisturizer. Lots and lots of moisturizer. Kiss My Face olive oil-aloe is my favorite.

3) Challenge yourself creatively. Currently crafting 50 ten-minute plays that will all be performed at the Strawdog in June.

4) Laugh a lot. Fortunately, it's a part of my job.

5) Learn new things. Currently taking two class at Columbia College - U.S. History and Literature & Visual Culture. The Lit class has been very inspiring and helpful in writing and teaching satire. The U.S. History class has been eye-opening. And weird. It's the first time I've taken a history class that covered decades when I was alive!

6) Try new things. I'm going sky diving next week!

7) Listen to new music. Music that's new to you. Not current pop hits, unless you like that. People get stuck listening to the music they listened to in high school or college. I dig that, but I also like discovering new stuff I can jam to. Even if that new stuff is from the 50s.

8) Get a pet. From the shelter or take in a stray. Pets are fun. Playful. Cuddly. I have two cats that are funnier than I am.

9) Be passionate about something. I'm passionate about teaching and sketch comedy. I also care about the planet and try to do things that will make a difference.

10) Explore different routes. I hate ruts. I will try different ways to get to where I want to go.

11) Explore the city. Sometimes I'll pick a neighborhood and go.

12) Have good friends. People that wear you out and bring you down are not worth having in your life.

13) Know how to chill. I think it's important to be able to be comfortable alone as well as comfortable around people.

14) Go be around people. Don't be a hermit. You need to be around other people to help understand - and appreciate - who you are.

15) Be and have silly things. The book on my coffee table is a picture book called Roadside America. A tribute to trashy roadside atrocities. Great book to flip through to remind me how wonderful and ridiculous life is.

16) Eat well. It's not enough for me to just cut out animal products. I eat healthy whole foods as much as possible.

17) Sleep well. Compared to other people, I don't sleep a lot. Probably 5 - 6 hours on average. But I love to sleep. I get cozy. I relax. I dream. And make your bed! You'll sleep better just from that. Nothing worse than crawling into bed at night tired and the blankets are all tangled up.

18) Don't have kids. Okay - this is really just what has worked for me. It's not for everyone. But from seeing decades of family and friends pop out people, it puts miles on you. I know for me, something I spawned would be a 24/7 source of worry and concern.

19) Enjoy kids. Kids are great. Especially when they are not your own. Kids know how to play. I wish they had playgrounds for adults. The gym comes close, but I'd go more often if there was a jungle gym or monkey bars.

20) Do yoga. Yoga helps you center yourself while stretching and strengthening.

21) Ride a bike. Go for walks. Use your body to get yourself places. Good exercise and it helps you connect with nature. There are a lot of trees and birds and squirrels in Chicago.

22) Read. Feed your head good books. Read all those books you were supposed to read in high school and college. I just read Jane Eyre. It's great.

23) Go see live performances. Chicago is rich with opportunities. I love to go to The Poetry Slam, Storytelling Evenings, The Paper Machete. Seeing people being smart and funny and and creative and vulnerable is enlightening and inspiring.

24) Go see live music. And get close enough to see the expression on the musician's faces. This is as true for a bar band as it is for the symphony. You'll see people in their zones, you'll see people mess up, you'll see people who have worked together for years communicate to one another non-verbally. It can be messy and exquisite.

25) Theater. Go see theater. Big theater and small theater. And, just like music, get as close as you can.

26) Have goals, personal and professional. And have friends you trust that you can share these goals with and know they will support you (kick you in the ass) to do them.

27) Share your heart.

28) Be open. Listen.

29) It's okay to have emotions. Not allowing yourself to express your anger or love will also age you quickly.

30) I cannot stress enough the value of botox.

31) I am kidding about 30.

32) Don't hide your age. You are what you are. And it is just a number and, as a society, we tack on way too much meaning on it. Shake it up.

33) Eat ice-cream naked. Alee Spadoni pointed out to me that I can be found in two different videos on-line eating ice-cream naked. To be clear, both were non-dairy and in one, I was at least wearing boxer briefs.

34) Be cool with technology. We're living in an amazing age of being able to carry a buh-jillion songs in the palm of a hand and being able to watch movies and TV shows at our convenience without having to return anything. We have the world at our fingertips and it's easier than ever to connect with someone.

35) Be messy. It's okay to make a mess or look a mess. If you workout, go for it, become a big sweaty mess. If it's raining out, jump in a mud puddle. Have a snowball fight.

36) Don't worry too much about what people think. They probably don't care or they are too busy worrying about what you think of them.

37) Wear comfortable shoes.

38) Dress in layers. Helps you deal with when it's too hot or too cold and it gives you more to work with while stripping for money.

39) Do crossword puzzles and play Scrabble. Helps you keep sharp as well as increase your vocabulary.

40) Take vitamins, but not too many. I currently take a men's multi-vitamin, cranberry pills (for the plumbing) and vitamin C (for the immune system.)

41) Give. Give to charitable organizations you dig when you can. And if you can't give time, give money.

42) Participate in your country, state, city and neighborhood. From supporting local businesses to voting. It gives you a sense of belonging.

43) Home is where you are and everyone's a peer, whether they're homeless or the president. We're all in this together.

44) Appreciate a good story. It bothers me when someone blanketly says "I hate sci-fi" or "I hate westerns." There are great stories out there they are missing out on.

45) Know what's going on in the world and question the info. Don't just drink the kool-aide of your favorite news source. Caution: doing this too much of this will drive you crazy and make you older.

46) Drink plenty of clean water.

47) Massages are important. Good for the muscles and bones.

48) Go to museums. Be curious about art and history.

49) Appreciate beauty. And find beauty in the people and things.

50) Dance! Even if you don't know how.

Happy Easter!

Jon Andrew Davis created “Ghostbusters vs. Jesus” for a 2009 gallery show at ArtWorks in Harrisonburg VA. The title of the show was Divine Comedy because it “uses humor to get people to think about religious authority and fundamentalism. ”

I've Thought About This...

Dates with Ever 1.5

Where I offend the state of Michigan.

I Believe...

...that, for a news junkie, I'm exhausted! Most draining is seeing how much pain and suffering is caused for the sake of increasing a profit margin - shoddy nuclear reactors, oil spills, etc. I may have to take a news break and just watch Comedy Central Celebrity Roasts all day.

...that, the Bible is an interesting work of literature wide open to interpretation possibly as an exercise in exploring faith. I'm cool with Jesus, but, dude, can you pull some of your peeps aside and tell them not to use the Bible to bolster their arguments against the things they are prejudiced against? Or, you know, just send a bolt of lightning Victoria Jackson's direction? We'll look the other way.

...that governments need to learn and grow as much as people need to learn and grow and cutting funds to education, arts and information is a great way to keep the light off.

...that your comedy sketch does not have to end on a laugh. I'd rather it ended in a way that makes sense than a joke that thwarts or has nothing to do with everything else leading up to it.

...that if you're going to do a podcast, do it the way Wood Sugars does. They care about quality and put a lot of time and energy into making sure their product is listenable, watchable and entertaining. Check out the interview/variety show they did with Ted Tremper and check out their first guest on the all-video Dates with Ever. He showed up thinking it was going to be all audio, thus the ball cap, 10 o'clock shadow, and funky body odor smell coming from your computer monitor.