Today's something or other #29

Fantasy Football - the Musical? Yes, in fact, that is the name of the musical. In the time honoured tradition of sports-themed musicals such as Starlight Express comes Fantasy Football - the Musical?.

From the show's website:

Prior to the start of the '08-'09 NBA season, ESPN.com's "The Sports Guy" Bill Simmons and the "The Talented Mr. Roto" Matthew Berry announced their plans to organize a fantasy basketball league with eight fans. The application was simple: a one-paragraph email stating what you would do in order to get into this league. The applications, many of them hilarious, ran the gamut from the rights to name a first-born child to sob stories about how depressing it is to be a Seattle sports fan nowadays.

My application stated that I would write and compose an original piece of musical theater that paid homage to the fantasy culture, with Bill and Matthew as the main characters. The real Bill and Matthew spent a couple minutes on their podcast/XM radio show discussing the idea, pushing me through to the "final round." Ultimately, however, they decided to go with what they admitted had shades of affirmative action: one Seattle fan, one member of the US Military, one female fan, etc. My application was excluded on the grounds that they did not know me, and that it was entirely possible my musical would be an absolute train wreck. Fair enough, I suppose.

Well, having been locked out of the "SimmonBerry Fantasy League," my motivations changed. I no longer cared about joining the celebrity league. My aspirations instead became three-fold:
1. To create a piece of theater that would celebrate the world of sports fandom I am proud to be a part of
2. To invite sports fans who do not consider themselves "theater-goers" to a show they would legitimately be excited about
3. To introduce many in the theater world to the reasons why being a sports fan is just so fantastic

When people ask, "What's your show called?", the response is either mild confusion or wild excitement. I encourage people with either reaction to come and check it out. You'll have a good time. And there are gonna be hot chicks.

For more information go to Fantasy Football The Musical.

Point Break Live! Day

Well, this just proves that San Francisco is the coolest place on the planet*. The mayor has proclaimed April 11, 2008, to be "Point Break Live!" Day. What is "Point Break Live!", you ask? From what I've read it sounds like the greatest theatrical production this side of "Evil Dead: The Musical". Here's what their official website has to say:

"Point Break Live!" is the absurdist stage adaptation of the 1992 Keanu Reeves/Patrick Swayze extreme-sports blockbuster that tells the story of former College football star, Johnny Utah, in pursuit of the surfing, bank robbing, skydiving, bare-hand-fighting adrenaline-junkie-cum-Zen-master Bodhi Sattva.

(And here's the best part...)

The starring role of Johnny Utah is selected from the audience each night, and reads their entire script off of cue-cards. This method manages to capture the rawness of a Keanu Reeves performance even from those who generally think themselves incapable of acting. The fun starts immediately with the "screen test" wherein the volunteer Keanus (usually 5-15 men and women vie for the role) go through a grueling audition process. The part is then cast via applaus-o-meter.

"Point Break Live!" is presented by New Rock Theater Productions.

And, of course, here's some info on the greatest film of 1991, Point Break.

* Seattle deserves some props since that is where the show originated... but they didn't give the show its own day. Ha! Seattle, you got pwned by SF.

Bodhi, this is your wakeup call! I am an F...B... I... agent....

Canstage has a winner with The Clean House

It has been a while since I'd been to Canstage and much, much longer since I had season tickets. I received a free pair of tickets to the final preview of Canstage and thought I'd give it a go. My expectations were fairly low, so The Clean House was a wonderful surprise. It deals with serious subject matter in a touching and funny (very, very funny) manner. A thoroughly enjoyable theatre going experience.

The Clean House plays until March 8th at the Bluma Appel Theatre.

Best Valentine's Day Idea Ever!

The theatre is always a popular date event for couples, especially on days like Valentine's Day. Now, you may say, that you don't enjoy the theatre, that you find it stuffy, pretentious, boring, etc. Well, have I got something for you: Evil Dead: The Musical is back at the Diesel Playhouse. What says Happy Valentine's Day more than the splatter zone?? If there is more fun to be had at another musical I need to be going to see that show right now. I really can't recommend this show enough. It is one of the funniest things I've ever seen, and I'm not just talking about at the theatre. I laughed, I cried, it was much better than Cats... and I may, in fact, go see it again and again.

Suggested pre-theatre musical selection: My Bloody Valentine.