VAUDE_VISUALS

Mark Lonergan knows how to make great shows! His last production was a terrific hit. ROOM 17B.

His company PARALLEL EXIT has been making great shows for quite a few years now. So it is no surprise that when he puts together a variety show it is wonderful!

Tonight’s show wasn’t any exception.

Mark Lonergan introduces the first act of the evening.

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ERIC WRIGHT and KATRINA DENNY

A puppet performance with different disciplines used.

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COMPANY SoGoNo

Choreography by Tanya Calamoneri

A humorous dance piece about birds.

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Carol Sirugo with Jonathan Kaplan

A very funny dance piece about relationships!

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Honey Goodenough

A precious teddy bear and his coming of age outside the box.

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KEVIN C. CARR

A clown and his relationships. Wonderful physical humor.

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PARALLEL EXIT – DAPPER TAP TRIO

Derek Roland – Brent McBeth – Danny Gardner

Talented tap dancers and physical comedians as well!

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MICHAEL KARAS

Michael Karas has amazing juggling skills and comedic timing to go along with it.

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HONEY GOODENOUGH and MARTA MOZELLE MACROSTIE

A fun collaboration involving plastic manipulated objects, food products and a human being.

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PARALLEL EXIT NEEDS YOUR HELP!

The funding for Parallel Exit’s theatre performances has been cut drastically.

Help them out with any donation you can give. Click here.

Mark Longergan is tipping the hat for your helpful donation.

He deserves whatever you can give. A wonderful presenter of great variety.

Make sure you see one of Parallel Exit’s next shows!

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ALL PHOTOGRAPHS ARE COPYRIGHT © 2011 Jim Moore

Joel Jeske relaxing (I guess?) with his standard cup of coffee.

Joel backstage in his costume ready for the NY Downtown Clown Revue.

Joel in the highly successful and very funny show ROOM 17B.

I talked to Joel a year ago about meeting up for a photo session to begin this project. We finally got to it today in April 2011.

Joel Jeske is one of the funniest men around. And not just when he is performing! I have seen and worked with him on quite a few shows/projects including the recent Parallel Exit show ROOM 17B and we did a book together on Clown. His stage persona is so strong and funny that the audience always remembers him after the shows are over. I had the pleasure to photograph him at my home. . One of his other performing projects is the family show Hey Ya Brothers with Christoper Lueck.

If you want to laugh a lot – I suggest you take your friends, kids, aunts and uncles to see JOEL perform where ever he is appearing!

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Photographing the ingenious comedy (which is the creation of Joel Jeske and Mike Dobson) of ROOM 17B was so much fun. A series of surreal, comedic, absurd vignettes. I had a chance to ask the Director Mark Lonergan about his inspiration for creating the show and  the process.

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“The inspiration for ROOM 17B goes back to a show we did at 59E59 Theaters in 2007 called CUT TO THE CHASE.  One of the reviews for the show challenged us to take some daring leaps and explore new avenues with our work.  With that gauntlet thrown down, we began discussing how to inject contemporary material into a vaudevillian format – purposely pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone.”

(left to right) Mike Dobson, Danny Gardner, Joel Jeske, Brent McBeth

“Mike Dobson and Joel Jeske, the authors of the show, began developing some ideas that we explored over a weekend at the Kraine Theater in 2009.  At the heart of these ideas was a group of businessmen putting on a bizarre and interactive presentation.  As we continued to work on the material, our set and lighting designer Maruti Evans ran with the business presentation idea and came up with the perfect setting for the show – a surreal office of floor-to-ceiling filing cabinets.”

Danny Gardner and Joel Jeske

“With Maruti’s design in place, the concept evolved into what we have today – a long-forgotten room in a huge office building in which all the props and costumes appear from the file drawers.  The result is a cross between Buster Keaton, Monty Python, and Tim & Eric – surreal, funny, physical, and modern – and hopefully, a great night of theatre.”

Joel Jeske and Danny Gardner in a surreal office moment.

Brent McBeth taking a seriously uneasy note.

Joel Jeske in absurdly wild pose while being introduced.

I recommend this show to anyone who wants to laugh and  be entertained by 4 wonderfully hysterical performers.

Written by Mike Dobson and Joel Jeske .

Directed by Mark Lonergan.

Original Music by Mike Dobosn

Choreography by Danny Gardner and Brent McBeth.

Set and Lighting by Maruti Evans

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Get more information and tickets here.

Mark Lonergan knows how to put together a good ‘variety show‘. He has  produced quite a few MOVE IT shows in the past plus his usual calendar of shows gives him a good ‘edge’ over the competition.

This MOVE IT show included some amazingly talented physical/variety performers.

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Starting the show off was a delightful “Oddotorium Puppet Freak Show”. Performed by J. E. Cross.

A pupppet  ’Coney Island’ type side show with the barker and the ‘main attraction.

J.E. Cross and The Cosmic Bicycle Theatre

J. E. Cross and his COSMIC BICYCLE THEATRE presented a beautiful “Puppet Freak Show”.

A very innovative puppet theatre company garnered with much attention which it surely deserves!

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The next act to perform was juggler/dancer Jen Slaw.

Combing the best movement with the grace of a beautiful juggler she made her work look effortless and charming.

Her act was simple, stunning, lyrical and and she is very talented.

Jen Slaw with Clubs

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One of producer Mark Lonergan’s favorite performers and  collaborator on some of Parallel Exit’s best shows is a charmingly gifted funny man Joel Jeske.

His stage presence is hysterical and he played the audience well with his JOEL JESKE TRIO.

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Book Kennison is one of my favorite unique comedic juggling acts.

He is a young man wit lots of talent and abilities.

Keep your eyes out for ‘Book Kennison‘. He is a rising star in the variety scene.

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Shana Solomon’s Phastasamic Physical Theatre

Performing their interpretation of Akira Kurosawa‘s film RAN

The six member company made use of corporeal talent and  unique physical discipline to interpret the essence of the film on stage without hardly any words and no scenery.

A great actor uses these skills before adding the voice.

I was very moved with the creative work that went into this piece.

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A playful duet James and JF came on stage walking cardboard dogs.

The piece was set in the future and included plenty of verbal banter and visual gags.

The comedy duet James and JF consist of  Emily James and Ishah Janssen-Faith.

Inventive, wild, sexy and off the wall funny!

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The Final performer for the evening was one of my favorite clowns. Chris Allison performing his wacky “CONEY ISLAND CHRIS“.

This act is so curious. He proclaims to have learned how to perform  ’sideshow’ feats in an online class.

What happens to him in front of the audience as he attempts to show off his new found skills can only be described as ‘hysterical’.

He was one of the finalist on “AMERICA’S GOT TALENT” and just returned from Germany where he performed in a revue of ‘Newcomers’ with all international artists.

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The evening would not be complete without a chat with the audience by Mark Lonergan.

SUPPORT THE VARIETY ARTS!

He knows how to make it happen. It is up to you…the audience to support it!

Watch out for the next MOVE IT show. They are SOLD OUT fast!

For additional information about Mark Longergan and/or Parallel Exit contact: Parallel Exit

(This is not a complete description of the show. Many of the performers did another turn.

I covered the parts I had room for!)

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS © 2010 Jim Moore