Independent Players – The Interview by Jean-Claude Van
Itallie
Independent Players gets their 1960s absurd stylings on again at this year’s Elgin Fringe. An intricate piece of theater depicting various states of being. It plays like a fever dream, a day in the life of sorts, where we keep on moving forward through all the chaos, joy and frustration. It is brilliantly executed by a dedicated ensemble of eight actors.
- SPH
Judah Leblang - One Man's Journey Through the Middle Ages
Leblang's autobiographical, contemplative monologue is the story of a lonely, gay man who realizes he is closer to the end of his life than the beginning. In episodic fashion he discusses his dreams and regrets, unending search for love, belated coming out, crippling anxiety attacks, the genesis of his performance career and fear of sucking, and his encroaching infirmities. With writerly detail worthy of NPR-like coverage, Leblang pays tribute to the beloved housekeeper and deaf uncle to whom he feels most strongly connected. Although he has not yet been able to make all the changes suggested by the self-knowledge gained from 20 years of therapy, Leblang remains hopeful and continues to live the examined life.
Jeremy Schaefer – Sportsball
In this broadly comic, autobiographical monologue Jeremy Schaefer enthusiastically recounts his early antipathy for sports and, after the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series win, carefully examines the mysteries of sports fandom in a scientific manner.
Randy Ross - The Chronic Single' s Handbook
Expert storytelling weaves throughout this multicontinent journey about a single man looking for a partner. Well told and engaging however diminished by a couple of unnecessary graphically recalled encounters. Not for children.
Luis Carreon – Strange Things Are Happening
Luis is a highly skilled performer who does a variety of close up, sleight of hand, mind reading, and comedy. A well paced show from a very engaging artist had the audience in his hands....
Independent Players gets their 1960s absurd stylings on again at this year’s Elgin Fringe. An intricate piece of theater depicting various states of being. It plays like a fever dream, a day in the life of sorts, where we keep on moving forward through all the chaos, joy and frustration. It is brilliantly executed by a dedicated ensemble of eight actors.
- SPH
Jeremy Schaefer – Sportsball
Schaefer returns to the same venue where he performed last year – a highlight of the fringe. This time, he’s talking about sports, breaking down why we follow our favorite teams, and what it means to be a fan. Schaefer lays out his argument about his feelings about sports and his lack of interest as a child. Then he shares with us his experiment to find out what this fandom is all about and at the end of his tale reveals a new perspective he didn’t see coming. You won’t find a more likeable performer who could probably talk about cutting the lawn and make it sound interesting and funny.
- SPH
Schaefer returns to the same venue where he performed last year – a highlight of the fringe. This time, he’s talking about sports, breaking down why we follow our favorite teams, and what it means to be a fan. Schaefer lays out his argument about his feelings about sports and his lack of interest as a child. Then he shares with us his experiment to find out what this fandom is all about and at the end of his tale reveals a new perspective he didn’t see coming. You won’t find a more likeable performer who could probably talk about cutting the lawn and make it sound interesting and funny.
- SPH
Jeffrey Roberts - The
Gay Uncle Explains it All to You
Jeffrey Roberts' autobiographical monologue is performed in a space crammed full of his brightly colored illustrations (on found surfaces such as newspapers, shopping bags and butcher paper) of a starry array of gay icons. A hoarder of pop culture, everyone's gay uncle delivers what seem to be messy stream-of-consciousness reminiscences about the pop culture and musical stars that appealed to a gay child.. But this straight-faced jokester also talks bravely about the gay liberation movement, the AIDS epidemic, and the pain of grieving the unstoppable, and too often unacknowledged, loss of loved ones. Roberts' imposing physical appearance belies his sentimental, resilient, optimistic nature and the performance concludes with a singalong leaving everyone feeling just a little bit fabulous.
-Richard Pahl Jeffrey Roberts' autobiographical monologue is performed in a space crammed full of his brightly colored illustrations (on found surfaces such as newspapers, shopping bags and butcher paper) of a starry array of gay icons. A hoarder of pop culture, everyone's gay uncle delivers what seem to be messy stream-of-consciousness reminiscences about the pop culture and musical stars that appealed to a gay child.. But this straight-faced jokester also talks bravely about the gay liberation movement, the AIDS epidemic, and the pain of grieving the unstoppable, and too often unacknowledged, loss of loved ones. Roberts' imposing physical appearance belies his sentimental, resilient, optimistic nature and the performance concludes with a singalong leaving everyone feeling just a little bit fabulous.
Judah Leblang - One Man's Journey Through the Middle Ages
Leblang's autobiographical, contemplative monologue is the story of a lonely, gay man who realizes he is closer to the end of his life than the beginning. In episodic fashion he discusses his dreams and regrets, unending search for love, belated coming out, crippling anxiety attacks, the genesis of his performance career and fear of sucking, and his encroaching infirmities. With writerly detail worthy of NPR-like coverage, Leblang pays tribute to the beloved housekeeper and deaf uncle to whom he feels most strongly connected. Although he has not yet been able to make all the changes suggested by the self-knowledge gained from 20 years of therapy, Leblang remains hopeful and continues to live the examined life.
Jeremy Schaefer – Sportsball
In this broadly comic, autobiographical monologue Jeremy Schaefer enthusiastically recounts his early antipathy for sports and, after the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series win, carefully examines the mysteries of sports fandom in a scientific manner.
Randy Ross - The Chronic Single' s Handbook
Expert storytelling weaves throughout this multicontinent journey about a single man looking for a partner. Well told and engaging however diminished by a couple of unnecessary graphically recalled encounters. Not for children.
Luis Carreon – Strange Things Are Happening
Luis is a highly skilled performer who does a variety of close up, sleight of hand, mind reading, and comedy. A well paced show from a very engaging artist had the audience in his hands....
-Ross
Memoriam
Development - Oh my Gods
A well written and performed look into human belief systems held at the monthly Deity roster meeting. This humorous and irreverent peice explores and challenges why we believe what we believe. With God, Zeus, Mother Earth, and several other gods debating the finer points of what and how humans came to understand and interpret what's been put into their lives with regard to common religious systems.
-RossA well written and performed look into human belief systems held at the monthly Deity roster meeting. This humorous and irreverent peice explores and challenges why we believe what we believe. With God, Zeus, Mother Earth, and several other gods debating the finer points of what and how humans came to understand and interpret what's been put into their lives with regard to common religious systems.
