Faces, Exhibit Z: Lots of Other People!

It's the day of the show, y'all! We've done the introductions and we're ready to put this bad boy on its feet, but before we do, one final thing needs to be said: lots and lots and lots and lots of thanks. Thanks to all of you who have continued to read this and play along with my Facebook and Twitter silliness, to all of you who plan on coming out to see what we've done with Part Two: Radio Silence, and to all of you who came out in support of Part One: subUrbia, whether or not you are able to make it again. Serious, serious thanks. I don't care how free it is, you are still devoting your time and energy and opinions to support the work we are doing with The Nine, and that is truly badass.

And extra, extra special thanks go out to the following for their assistance with Part Two: Radio Silence:

Nathan Robbel & The Right Brain Project
Ronan Marra, Joseph Stearns & Signal Ensemble Theatre
Matt Early & Gotta Groove Records
Oscar Salinas
Meredith Bell Alvarez
Stephanie Ehemann
Erin Fox
Erica Barnes
Lloyd Mulvey
Heather Cowper at www.heatheronhertravels.com

and last but not least, to Admiral Toot in the role of Fritz!

Thanks everyone -- now let's open this bitch!

Faces, Exhibit Y: Words & Music

Boy, this blog sure has been all Eiffel Tower/Peculiar Way all the time, hasn't it? Wasn't there a third piece to Radio Silence? A little something by a guy who goes by the name 'a Samuel Beckett? Well sure, enough, and here's the big reveal -- what you can expect when you show up all eager beaver-like!

Beckett's 'Words & Music' being about, y'know, words and music, and me not being someone who tends to create on that canvas, I plotted and planned and plotted and planned and here's what I came up with. I've been in touch with four Chicago musicians also tied into the theatre scene. I sent them a copy of the script and asked them for their interpretation. The only stipulation I made is that the text had to stay intact. Beyond that, anything and everything was fair game. The four (Elizabeth Bagby, Noah Ginex, Mike Przygoda, and Andrew Yearick) each came back with a recording of their own devising (and with remarkable variety between them!) for inclusion in this project. What I will be doing is introducing and presenting one of the four interpretations at each performance, setting a very different tone for the evening depending on which night you attend, sort of roulette of creativity for the first piece of the show! UPDATE: It's been confirmed that there will be an extra special guest recording played on the closing night performance. Details to be announced soon!

But no worries if you have a particular version you were dying to hear and those performances are already sold out -- we have also made up USB drives containing all four versions that will be available to the audience free of charge at each show. (That's right, you get all four versions AND a flash drive for free! It's because we love you.) So hey, without further ado, here are the four musicians participating, as well as the schedule of the pieces!

Elizabeth Bagby and all of the news that's fit to dish can be found here: www.eabagby.com.

Noah Ginex and most of the news that's fit to dish (plus maybe some that's not) can be found here: www.noahginex.com.

Mike Przygoda is a composer and multi-instrumentalist around Chicago. His biggest accomplishment in life has been getting his two favourite people in the world (Myles & Barry) in the same room at the same time for Words & Music. Thanks to Stephen, Anthony, Brian, and Seth for their unwitting assistance and Chuy and Bries for getting me involved.

Andrew Yearick is happy any time he can combine his acting and musical talents. Such was the case with his last show in which he played George Harrison in Signal Ensemble's "Aftermath". Andrew is the frontman for the art-rock band Athens, and is diligently working on his first full length album with the group, in addition to other musical and writing projects.

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And here's yer schedule!

Friday, May 6th: Elizabeth Bagby (artist in attendance!)

Saturday, May 7th: Andrew Yearick (artist in attendance!)

Sunday, May 8th: Mike Przygoda (artist in attendance!)

Monday, May 9th: Noah Ginex

Friday, May 13th: Noah Ginex (artist in attendance!)

Saturday, May 14th: Elizabeth Bagby

Sunday, May 15th: Andrew Yearick

Friday, May 20th: Mike Przygoda

Saturday, May 21st: ZOMG, a special guest TBA!

Hooray!!! Which one are you coming to see?

Faces, Exhibit X: The Usher/Friend 3

Remember way back when? When I introduced you to Meghan Reardon's Bridesmaid in Exhibit A? Well, little did you realize there was the *tiniest* bit of structure to this whole thing! Today we have our very last Radio Silence face, and in true bookend fashion, it's Nick Mikula as The Usher in The Eiffel Tower Wedding Party and Friend 3 in Peculiar Way.

And just like that (and by 'like that', I mean over several weeks of perusal), you've met our Radio Silence cast and crew! Aren't they every bit as lovely as I said? But just you wait -- there are two days until opening ANNNNND two more letters in the alphabet. We're not quite done yet! Stick around, y'all!
























"Nick Mikula is proud to be working with The Nine! A graduate of Illinois State University's Acting Program, he was last seen in Halfshut at the Right Brain Project and has worked with Chicago Shakespeare, Signal Ensemble, Ka-Tet, the Abbie Hoffman Festivals at Mary Arrchie, Gift, Greasy Joan, and New Leaf Theatre. Also, he can be seen performing with the improv groups Octavarius and Sam Hill. Nick would like thank his parents, Caroline, and John for all their support."

Faces, Exhibit W: The Lighting Designer

Will you look at how far we've come? We're already on letter 'W' -- that's, like, almost to the end of the alphabet! We're not quite done yet, though; there's a couple of very important people who still haven't been introduced, one of which is Michael C. Smith, our tried and true lighting designer. It ain't easy lighting insanity with near zero space and near zero equipment. Unless Mike's on the job. 'Cuz he makes it look like a snap. (But, believe you me, it's not. He just makes it look that way. He's good like that.) (He doesn't, however, have a picture for his blog post. He's also covert like that.)

"Michael C. Smith is thrilled to be working on Radio Silence. He has designed the last two Right Brain Project showsHalfshut and My Filthy Hunt, and will be working with them again in the summer for The Archivist. Michael graduated from Knox College where he primarily focused in theatrical lighting design. He is also an artistic associate with Brain Surgeon Theatre where he is their resident lighting designer. He has worked with several professional theater companies in the Chicago area including Vitalist, and Point of Contention."

Faces, Exhibit V: The Director

That's right, I get to have a face, too. We've got one more Retro Monday to give you, and I'm the other guy still around in this piece, so it's my turn! So, here you are -- for anyone who's been wondering what goofball has been behind these things, here's your answer. This goofball:
























"Bries Vannon is the creator and director of The Nine, but he's assuming you already knew that. Elswehere, he is an ensemble member with Signal Ensemble Theatre, where he also serves as Literary Manager, and a company member with WNEP Theater. An actor and director about town, Bries has also worked with companies such as Mary-Arrchie, The Right Brain Project, the side project, and The Building Stage. Next up (aside from Part Three of The Nine), Bries will be directing the Chicago premiere of Sheila Callaghan's We Are Not These Hands for The Right Brain Project this fall. Bries is also an avid culture junkie and always wants to give you his latest music, art, and internet recommendations. So be careful."

Faces, Exhibit U: Mason

Second up in the Peculiar Way double feature is fearless leader Michael Dice, Jr. Mike is playing Mason, the astronaut at the axis of the piece. (Mason, you'll notice, has been given a character name. This is because he's in every scene. j/k, but only kinda j/k.) Mike also has the challenge of acting as though he's an astronaut, which if you were ever five years old seems like a dream, but is actually really not all that easy. Space is a serious place, doncha know...

"As the weird guy in the bathroom, Michael Dice, Jr. bared all last summer in the Mary Arrchie production of Cherrywood. A newcomer to the Chicago stage, Dice has spent the last six years as a writer and development director for Chicago Dance Crash. He loves ice cream, The Stone Roses, silent movies, pro wrestling, and Indian girls with British accents that are only ticklish on the right side of their body."

Faces, Exhibit T: Friend 2

So, we missed out on our faces updates over the weekend because of all the busy days and late nights of tech going into previews, but believe me when I say it was all worth it -- the show is in great shape and couldn't be more ready for opening night this Friday! Normally I'd be all lax and say we can just catch up on those two days later, but if I'm gonna get everyone's face in before opening, I need that time, so we've got three faces for you today -- a Peculiar Way double-feature to cover the weekend and the very last Retro Monday!

First up in our Peculiar Way callback, it's Rudy Galvan as Friend 2. That's right, Rudy has the thankless job of playing a generic numbered character. Don't be fooled, though, Friend 2 is nothing like Third Tree from the Left; the only thing generic about this is the title of the role. Hit it, Rudy!
























"Rudy is very happy to be working on Radio Silence. He is currently a Junior at Columbia College Chicago where he is pursuing his BA in Acting. He is also an intern at Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. where he has appeared in Cherrywood and Gas Mask 101. Big ups to Bries for this great oppurtunity, and love to his always supporting family and friends."