Here's a highlight reel of my theatre company's work over the last two years. Our next show opens March 19. www.catastrophictheatre.com for info. <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/quasEh8lCH8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/quasEh8lCH8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>
Pretty harsh, but thanks for watching it. Would love to know what others think. That is, if anyone else is willing to waste 3-5 minutes of their lives.
Always good stuff Batman. I love Walt Z and Tamarie, I can't believe I missed The Strangerer, looks like it would be right up my alley.
I thought it was pretty humorous. Also, I drove through town this weekend and saw that you're located next to Diverseworks? Is that right? We used to see some bands play in that building way back when, but I think it was called the Artist's Warehouse or something like that. Anyway, not a bad job on the video, and looking forward to finally seeing one of your shows this year.
You're staging a revival of a play by the team behind My Dinner With Andre? ---- Yes. (I'm still kicking myself for missing your Daniel Johnston show a few years back.)
No, that's my friend Walt. He's playing Ann Coulter in that picture. I think he's a dead ringer for her. Thanks for the kind words, guys.
A few years ago I was at SXSW and this studio head from Matador Records was raving to me about this play about Daniel Johnston. I didn't know it at the time that it was your very own production. Do you have a team of writers, or just one person writes most of the plays? How long does it take you to conjure up a story line and then bring it to production? Just wondering as I'm fascinated by those who work in the live arts and entertainment industry.
^^ Apparently there was a sequel that we also missed a few months back (shows me for visiting here intermittently) lately, and the introverted Johnston got pissed off and left after being catcalled to sing for the audience. http://www.catastrophictheatre.com/scrape/video <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q5tkSyKz_6U&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q5tkSyKz_6U&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object> Thanks a lot, audience member jerk. --- Batman, from the video above, from which writer/play does the exchange ending in, "I am not Richard; I am Tom, and Tom likes a special bag of things," come from? A lot can be said for the actor's delivery, but there's a great lyrical quality to that line.
We have several writers. I created and directed the Daniel Johnston plays. I didn't really write them as much as arrange them from his material. Those plays were very quick to construct. I created a draft of each in a few weeks and then changed them both a lot during the rehearsal process. We rehearsed Speeding Motorcycle (the one the Matador guy must have seen) for three weeks for the Houston production and six weeks when we did it in Austin. The follow-up, Life is Happy and Sad, rehearsed for about two months and went through extensive revisions right up to opening night.
The Richard/Tom line is from Hunter Gatherers, a very funny play and a big hit for us. We're reviving it this summer. Daniel wasn't actually pissed in that clip. He's just very shy. And he can't play his songs from memory. He needs his notebook, which he didn't bring to the play. A couple minutes later he sat down with the cast and crew (and a few of his close friends) for a Q&A with the audience. You can view the whole thing at www.catastrophictheatre.com if you're interested. He has some pretty funny lines in it, if my memory's right.
p.s. to aghast, go to our website and sign up for our mailing list and you'll never miss a Daniel Johnston play again (there will be more). You might also be interested in the rock opera we're creating with Black Francis. It premieres later this year.
We're the theatre company in residence at Diverseworks. We do about 3 out of 5 shows a year there. If you make it out to a show, be sure to introduce yourself. I love meeting Clutchfans.
Cool stuff Batman. Can't wait for the Bluefinger Rock Opera. If you talk to Frank tell him he needs to play Houston more often.
thanks for the tip! i also do not want to miss the next daniel johnston play. the video was AWESOME by the way.
Really enjoyed watching the clips, Batman. Add me to the list of those who would have loved The Strangerer. If you do a road show in Austin, sometime in the future, be sure and give us a heads up. I think you've done it before, but I had to miss it. I'll be sure to check the website to see if you have a play running the next time I'm in Houston and see if I can make it. If I introduce myself, do you think we can avoid a fistfight?
