The Tours Move ON!

(In no particular order or completeness) Cast & Crew of Sorry -- That's Life: Brahim Arar - Technician - Eavan Brennan - Technicienne - Dominique Brunier - Musicienne - Pierre Byland - Actor & Director - Joseph Cunningham - Actor - Sylvie Falzone - Administratice - Vincent Gracieux - Actor - Fabien Granier - Producer - Frédéric Granier - Technician - Freddy Hayter - Scénographe & Technicienne - Kes Hayter - Set Construction - Paddy Hayter - Director & Actor - Bruno Hocquard - Sound Design - Maurice Horsthuis - Musician & Composer - Thierry Meslin - Technician - Pawel Paluch - Musician & Musician - Tim Pearce - Producer - Emilie Pecunia - Administratrice - Pascal-Ritchie Perot - Lighting Designer & Technical Director - Haka Haris Resic - Musician & Actor - Marieke Schnitker - Actrice - Florent Seffar - Technician - Hannah Sjodin - Création costumes - Mas Soegeng - Actor - Caroline Tigeot - Administratice - Azania Werdyn - Acrobate - Christophe Werdyn - Actor - Loreley Werdyn - Acrobate - Marie Werdyn - Actrice (... and Paddy's tractor)
After Amsterdam, Footsbarn is now enroute to our old stomping grounds in the Southwest corner of Great Britain:
Polzeath, Cornwall, United Kingdom
31 July at 19:30h - Sorry ! That's Life to 14 August at Carruan Farm Centre (in the Footsbarn Tent)

Mir Caravan 2010 -- Namur, Belgium
The Citadelle of Namur / Namur : Royal Theatre of Namur / Namur : City of Namur
August 5 to 15 Sponsored by: ICE Colectivo and the City of Namur
THE VILLAGE -- MIR CARAVAN 2010:
Theatre tents, theatre mobile, outdoor shows or under stars, the village MIR Caravan 2010 comes to life every day around different places, in an incomparable atmosphere of exchange and discovery. Situated in the heart of the village, the tent - bar welcomes mini-concerts and improvisations for unexpected surprises throughout the day and into the evenings … The village installed on the Esplanade of the Citadel and opens its doors every day, one hour before the first show, from August 6th.
(Days off on Monday 9th August and Tuesday 10th.) For 10 days, there are 15 different shows, 50 representations from the 11 companies of MIR Caravan.
My friends in Ton und Kischen Wandertheater are doing a workshop the first day at the Community Arts Centre. The brilliant Buchinger’s Boot Marionettes start Yaga's Fire on August 8.

Posters for Yaga's Fire at Avignon 2010

ALSO: George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars are touring in Europe starting this week. Via Shaunna Hall -- 1st stop Dorset, UK at Bestival, followed by Amsterdam, next to Paris, with 4 more dates in France ending in Lille.

Rod Goodall Directs "The Quare Land"

... The quick–fire banter between the two characters escalates into an epic finale as both try to reason each other into submission. The Quare Land examines motivation, greed and money in a very humorous, caustic and incisive way. John McManus’ play A Lock of Fierce Roars featured in the 2008 Druid Debuts. The Quare Land is his first full professional production.
Rod Goodall couldn't make Footsbarn's 35th Anniversary Celebration, because of his daughter's wedding, but Chris, one of "The Irish Girls," told me about his many activities in Galway. He was always an energetic man!

If you happen to be in Ireland soon -- check out the Galway Arts Festival and The Quare Land!

What about Amsterdam (besides Footsbarn at Theater Carre?)
Katie Duck's Improvisation Summer Course continues:

These events are performed by the student artists of the course under the direction of the artists/teachers listed below. All events take place at the Studio Seven Amsterdam at 21:00 for the exception of ... Agustin Bellushi July 30 (studio seven in the garden 18:00). One event will take place on the Wednesday August 18, performed by Duck Projects artists with the piece Criminal Mind. Entrance to all events is 3 Euros.

July 23-24 Performance: Sharon Smith (Director) Dancers: Kristin Hatleberg, Nayana Bhat, Anne Wilson, Stina Nilsson, Talya Epstein, Laura Witzleben, Luanda Carneiro Jacoel, Giselda Ranieri, Zakia el Abodi, Astarte Athanasiadou, Joel Fritzon, My Grönholdt,, Susana Salazar, Sheri Burt, Raakesh Sukesh. Musicians: Alfredo Genovesi (guitar and electronics), Santiago Botero Rodriguez (bass)

July 24-25 Workshop: Manuela Tessi, Alfredo Genovesi -- Lightness Weight

July 30 Agustin Bellushi

August 18 (Wednesday) Criminal Mind (Duck Projects) Direction Katie Duck / Dance Merel Roozen, Vincent Cacialano, Carla Bahal / Music Alfredo Genovesi / Video Ilaria Honsinger

August 20-21 Performances: Improvisation Summer Course -- Studio Seven Amsterdam Course artists

August 23-27 Collective Workshop: Orgelpark Amsterdam

Davey, Jango, Spain, and "Spumonie"

Early 1970's: "Tony Spumonie" Murchland in performance. Inset Upper Right -- Salvador Dali (1904-1989) in Figueras, Spain
When I first met the Friends Roadshow at the International Mime Festival in 1974, their letterhead listed companies in London, Paris, Amsterdam, and the USA. Jango told me a story of how their patron Salvador Dali (who was enamoured of the Art of Theatre at the time) saw them in Paris -- he was particularly impressed by the act where a man (Tony Murchland) blew Can Can slowly on the harmonica, then played faster, and faster, and faster -- until his very tall top hat exploded at the climax of the number.

Thanks to Davey Norkett, I was able to acquire a couple of photos of this legendary act. (At least it was legendary to ME!)
Jango also stepped up to add some names to the International Friends Roadshow satellite page, and I'll probably introduce myself to "Mr. Spumonie" soon via the internet -- I only saw him ONCE, performing in Michael Spaghetti's Circus at the first Festival of Fools in 1975, when there were Friends Roadshows in both Europe and Amerika. Somehow, it seems appropriate that he was the person who found and disarmed THE BOMB!

Davey called me on the phone earlier today, and said that he and a bunch of A'Dam Theatre veterans gathered together to see Footsbarn's Sorry, That's Life at Theater Carre last Wednesday, and they'll be socializing early next week -- GOOD TIMES!

Friends Roadshow "Won" The World Cup

International Friends Roadshow (in Amsterdam, Holland) circa 1973. We're ALL Schnozzes NOW!
Well, Jango Edwards lives in Spain, so he has bragging rights if he wants them. Davey Norkett, Gunga Purves, and Justin Hammer are in Holland, where the gin may be flowing for the opposite reason it was ordered. Helena Van Danzig was last spotted in France. Nola Rae is a C.B.E. -- she and Matthew Rideout are still residents of England. Lenny Kovner's in Australia. Dutch Ted Van Zutphen lives not too far away from old Friends Farm in Michigan. Ced Curtis is gigging in the wine country of Napa, and Michael Novotny works in Hollywood -- the group is so spread out most anyone could have had a chance to root for a winning team.
Condolences to African and South American fans -- except for South Africa, who hosted the tournament. The guys in Ladysmith Black Mambazo invited me to stay with them, but they made the same invitation to the WHOLE AUDIENCE.

George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars performed at their old home base of Detroit, Michigan on July 9, 2010. This is a digitized adaptation of an onstage pic by my colleague Caddy Carol.
(From Far Left) LaShonda "Sativa Diva" Clinton, Gene Anderson, Kim Manning, Quaze, and Carlos MacMurray. "Red Hot Mama" Manning re-appears in her roller-skating costume to fill a big gap, and then there's my friend Mike Hampton, plus MC/Singer Michael "Clip" Payne in the 'way back.

Happy Birthday USA & Life On THE ROAD

My friend Michael Hampton, and his REALLY LOUD Flying V guitar, starting P-Funk's Brussels, Belgium concert with the great instrumental Maggot Brain. (I spoke with him on the phone just before writing this post.) Travel safely, Michael!
Short eyewitness review of the concert pictured above:
On a hot summer day in Belgium a day before Garry's funeral the P-Funk played at an open air festival, capacity 28.000 people.
Words can not express the feeling we all got that day.....no tears, just keeping the Groovalliance alive.
They opened with Maggot Brain!!!
Playlist:
-Maggot Brain
-Cosmic Slop
-Red hot Momma
-P-Funk
-Flashlight
-Something Stank
-Dr. Feelgood
-Atomic Dog
-Give up the Funk
-Thumpasaurus people

RIP Garry....unbelievable....Unreal.....Un-clone-able

George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars Current Touring Schedule:

Jul 4 2010 5:00P Oxford Fairgrounds Oxford, ME (That's tonight!)
Jul 5 2010 8:00P Fest. Int’l De Jazz Montreal, Quebec, CA

(It's a HAIL of a drive between Quebec City and anywhere in Maine -- I've done it!)
Later Update: Good thing they weren't going there -- the road runs fairly straight to Montreal.

Jul 7 2010 8:00P Hampton Beach Casino Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, US
Jul 8 2010 8:00P Northern Lights Clifton Park, New York, US
Jul 9 2010 8:00P Chene Park Amphitheatre Detroit, Michigan, US
Jul 10 2010 6:00P All Good Music Festival Masontown, West Virginia, US
Jul 12 2010 8:00P M.L.K. JR. Concert Series Brooklyn, New York, US
Jul 14 2010 8:00P Bottle and Cork Dewey Beach, Delaware, US
Jul 15 2010 8:00P Alive At 5 Stamford, Connecticut, US
Jul 16 2010 8:00P Starland Ballroom Sayreville, New Jersey, US
Jul 17 2010 8:00P Trump Taj Mahal Arena Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
Jul 23 2010 8:00P Verizon Wireless Theater Houston, TX

Here's where it gets jet-lag CRAY-ZEE!
Jul 31 2010 8:00P Paradiso Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
(But then they maybe get a day or two off)

Aug 4 2010 La Plage Paris, FRANCE
Aug 5 2010 Sete Theatre de la Mer Montpellier, FRANCE
Aug 6 2010 Festival, Antibes, France
Aug 7 2010 Les Escal St. Nazire Festival, Nantes, France

Back in the USA, but all the way to the West Coast, see jet-lag above:
Aug 13 2010 8:00P San Jose Jazz Fest San Jose, Ca

A week later:
Aug 21 2010 10:00P Mississippi Coliseum Jackson, MS
Aug 28 2010 9:00P Chaifetz Arena St. Louis, MO
Sep 11 2010 9:00P City Hall Main Stage Hampton, Va

A lighter P-Funk moment -- fellow cyber-correspondent "Thumpasaurus" holds the amps steady while Carlos (Sir Nose) McMurray drives the ladies insane with his dancing last month:



Oh yeah, thanks to Nina Cheney -- If you're closer to Chicago, try to hear the Eric Boeren Quartet -- tonight at 10:00PM for Sunday Transmission series held at The Hungry Brain, 2319 W Belmont Avenue -- Eric Boeren - cornet; Michael Moore - reeds; Wilbert De Joode - bass; Han Bennink - drums

July Is Off To A Sprinting Start in Amsterdam (and Chicago)!

Duck Projects: KIDNAP
A music/dance/film Duck Projects event
July 2-3 Friday and Saturday studio seven Amsterdam 21:00 3 Euros entrance Direction Katie Duck / Music direction Alfredo Genovesi / Film Ilaria Honsinger Dancers: Lee Miri, Kristin Hatleberg, Nayana Bhat, Anne Wilson, Stina Nilsson, Talya Epstein, Laura Witzleben, Luanda Carneiro Jacoel, Giselda Ranieri, Zakia el Abodi, Astarte Athanasiadou, Joel Fritzon, My Grönholdt, Samara Escudero Hernández, Susana Salazar, Sheri Burt Musicians: Alfredo Genovesi (guitar and electronics), Tony Spina (drums), Krista Martynes (clarinets), Santiago Botero Rodriguez (bass)
The digital collage above is from Ilaria Honsinger's Travel video, which is part of the piece. The text below is from Katie's Website, with Ilaria's video and the music too:

A Kidnap I am awake Wakefulness challenged to move. Sleepless slithering past the tongue with a toss of awakening sugar coated efforts. More dry than juicy.
A solo in 2 parts
Film: Travel
Video mix. Speedy chillies winded in a race covered with Bilbao. A sudden appearance of organic figures mysteriously enters the pallet and speaks a tasteless language.
Music: Twin Peeky Souffle: Darkly roasted and sweetened events, coming to fruition every so often. Complete with flies in the soup & bad dreams, Alfredo serves up this mixed dish best with just a little hint of eggy paranoia.

Do any Troupers remember Justin Hammer -- Karen Bishop-Hammer's amazing son? (Besides you, Davy, of course!) His band is performing next week:
JUSTIN HAMMER BAND (live) at Schuim, the same place Davy played recently.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 9:00pm -- 12:00am
Spuistraat 189 Amsterdam,Netherlands. phone:020-6389357

HI FANS -- WE WILL BE PLAYING (LIVE) EVERY TUESDAY at Schuim ... till we go on tour much love ...

Inset: Justin Hammer, as sketched by M.E. in 1974. Main photo: The Justin Hammer Band 2010.

NEW! (Thanks to Nina Cheney)
The Emerging Improvisers Organization Presents:
Eric Boeren Quartet -- Sunday, July 4th 2010 10:00PM
Eric Boeren - cornet
Michael Moore - reeds
Wilbert De Joode - bass
Han Bennink - drums

The Emerging Improvisers Organization, based in Chicago, is a not-for-profit group dedicated to nurturing creativity, experimentation and artistic growth among the city's jazz musicians. Toward this end, we sponsor, organize, and promote live events that showcase local and nationally known talent representing a wide spectrum of jazz styles.

Most prominent of the group's efforts is the Sunday Transmission series held at The Hungry Brain: A Chicago "neighborhood" bar situated at 2319 W Belmont Ave, open every day except Mondays. The Transmission Series happens on Sundays at 10PM
Each week, the series presents jazz artists from Chicago and beyond, reflecting styles that range from improvised folk to free jazz. (Periodically, The Emerging Improvisers Organization stages live performances at other venues in the city.)