The Perfect Storm- notes from Jill Summers, the author of In the Curious Hold of the Demeter: Count Orlock at Sea.

The Incurable Theater is proud to announce the full cast of this October's In the Curious Hold of the Demeter: Count Orlock at Sea. Damien Hinojosa, Emily Tamblyn, Travis Williams, and Jason Adams have been busy at work bringing the script to life in disturbing and hilarious ways under Jennifer Friedrich's direction. There have been some very interesting relationships developing between the human actors and the various puppet actors in the play, one of my favorities being a very complex mother-son bond being nurtured by Emily and our young Count Orlock in a bunraku puppetry style. There have also been some scandelous converstations overheard between the Count and his three un-dead bride rod puppets!
 
Other exciting news includes the arrival of the sure-to-be coveted Count Orlock mini-pins and the show's stunning poster, which was expertly illustrated by Chris Hefner and Damien, and designed by Susie Kirkwood. Watch for the poster around town and email us if you'd like to post one in your place of business.
 
In the next few days we will be announcing some very thrilling updates regarding the show's original music score - so stay tuned!

Unfortunately for all, our studio build shop is located in an old factory that has been built out with paper thin walls. This situation quite often leads to annoyance/confusion/excitement or horror depending on who is listening on which side of the wall.

Last night our neighbors might have heard conversations coming from our side of the wall regarding the following matters if they tried hard enough:

• what color the fake sculpy rotting teeth should be
• the opening ceremony of the Olympics and all its glory (Jennifer can't shut up about it)
• discussion of the man on the bus who cut off the head of his fellow passenger on the way to Canada?
• much squealing of cast members running around trying out the mini puppet body characters (see pics) and getting into tiny fist fights and tiny philosophical conversations
• what items we needed to replenish at the shop- this list included rubber ears, hair rollers,  Musky brand fishing line, fake cigars, quilt batting to make giant puppet bosoms, and more beer

....as you can see this is a very serious build.

 

Working on three shows at once, while working 'regular' full time jobs, and oh, having a new-ish baby is not always easy, but it's usually fun-ish!

Last night we cranked out some more of the set for the upcoming Millennium Park 'Puppet Adventures' gig we're doing on July 16th & 17th. There's nothing cuter than a miniature version of Wicker Park's 'Six Corners' lying on your studio floor! (the idea being the kids make a puppet and then take it on an 'adventure' to the various sets in Millennium Park that represent Chicago places)

The only thing missing is the upscale boutiques where you can buy a tee shirt for a few hundred bucks. Does anyone remember Wicker Park like, ten years ago?

Joy and our new friend Samantha also made some progress on the puppets for 'Black Pudding'- the trunk show we're creating in the hopes of doing some kid's gigs this summer. We'll be doing a one hour presentation with 30 minutes of performance and 30 minutes of puppet making. The idea is that when we leave the group will have have puppets, a stage (furnished by us) and a lesson plan to continue on with. So if you know anyone interested- hit us up!

Finally our little creep Orlock is coming to life! Damien is working on the sketches and will start creating the Bunraku style puppet that will become young Orlock- basically a life sized child version of the Count.

Exciting stuff!

 

It's hard to believe at this time last year we were finishing up closing the studio for a bit, feathering our nest, battling swollen ankles (me) making it through 'Manifest' and getting ready to meet our baby daughter!

Everyone says- 'it goes SO fast'. They are right. I've already taken for granted the way she could fall asleep on my shoulder, and nap for 20 hours a day, and be so tiny and complex. She still is, but getting bigger already, and stronger, and smarter. It's truly amazing.

We hope she likes puppets... And maybe someday will be the star of the show! But if not, that's ok too. It'd be great if she was good at math. Or could fix a car. Those things are really lacking in our little family life ;)

Happy Birthday to Vivian Esme Friedrich Hinojosa, we love you

Last night in the sweat of the studio we succeeded in turning mild mannered Damien into the sexy beast that is Count Orlock!

First attempts were made in working with the baldcap and latex ears, prosthetic teeth and make-up. We thought he looked quite hilarious but when Grandma Friedrich saw the pix she could only say "OH DEAR!" but in a very playful way of course....

We can see the challanges of this kind of get up for the fall run, but it will be totally worth it! Also we're going to experiment a little with applying the make-up and especially the eyebrow which I don't think we nailed yet.

In addition 80s 'Dynasty' style shoulder pads will be in effect y'all! Hellllzzz ya!

So we're now in production for three gigs- the Summer Family puppet activity at Millennium Park in July, a summer kids touring show ('Black Pudding' written by Jill Summers) and of course the '..Demeter' show for the fall at the Cultural Center. If you are local and a pal feel free to contact us about stopping by during build times at the shop- on Sundays 11-3pm and Monday 5-9pm. We won't be there this Sunday cuz it's Viv's birthday.

Stay in touch!

The Incurables

All About Us!
Through the exploration of traditional puppet and mask theater, the Incurable Theater enhances the artistic experiences of both adults and children in the Chicagoland area by creating intimate puppetry based performances that focus on storytelling.

Philosophy

Through the use of masks, puppetry and creative set design The Incurable Theater constructs a living canvas on which the triumphs and troubles of the human condition are painted in bold and daring strokes. Through word and action, image and emotion, music and imagination our story is brought to life. We are a theater of transformation and it is through the artistic illumination of the ordinary that we reveal the extraordinary beauty of our common human existence.

History

The Incurable Theater was founded by Damien Hinojosa and Jennifer Friedrich, in the summer of 2000. Both co-founders have worked extensively in the performing and visual arts fields.

Jennifer Friedrich is an Illinois Arts Council Fellow and is executive director of the Incurable Theater. She has been awarded several grants including several CAAP grants, and a NAP grant. She was an artist in residence at the Kunstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin, Germany where she lived for several years. She has also worked with the award winning Redmoon Theater as a builder and designer, and was director of their Children’s Company. Currently Jennifer teaches puppetry and is the producer of Manifest at Columbia College in Chicago.

Damien Hinojosa is a mask and puppet creator, as well as a woodworker and carpenter. He has worked with several theaters including ‘Redmoon Theater’, Jabberwocky theater and other. He has created several original works that have played at spaces such as ‘Women in the Director’s Chair Theater’ and ‘Links Hall’. Damien is a CAAP grant recipient and artistic director for the company.

Established as a non profit in 2002, the Incurable Theater’s primary focus is to create contemporary puppet theater for adult audiences in the Chicagoland area. The Incurable Theater debuted its first works at the Chicago Humanities Festival in 2002 for over 500 attendees. The Incurable Theater presented ‘Faust’ in puppet form at the opening celebration of Millennium Park, 2004.

There are over two dozen artists that make up the company. Company members include a scriptwriter, a costumer, sculptors, builders, actors, musicians, singers, and set designers. The Company strives to create community by collaborating with a variety of working artists and musicians on Incurable Theater productions.

More company member bios coming soon!.

For more info visit:

www.myspace.com/incurabletheater
www.incurabletheater.org