This week’s edition of the Bindlestiff Open Stage had a terrific lineup of performers from all over the country. Usually presented at Dixon Place on the first Monday of every month, the Open Stage is now a weekly event on Mondays at 7:30 pm.
Bindlestiff co-founder Keith Nelson hosts the new ‘Quarantine Edition’ of the Variety Show
Ellie Steingraeber performed a wonderful routine (in her living room) which culminated with this hysterical ‘Hula-Hoop’ finale.
Zak McAllister and Stephen Doutt performed an assortment of unorthodox juggling routines in the kitchen including with toasters, skillets, toaster ovens, and electric mixers with oven gloves.
The second week of The Bindlestiff Open Stage Variety Show – Quarantine Edition was so much fun. Now we get to see all this great talent every Monday instead of waiting for a whole month. Of course, I miss the LIVE performance at Dixon Place but in the meantime, this is so special! Screengrabs are certainly not a good replacement for good quality camera files but we have to live with what we have at the moment. Here goes week #2!
Keith Nelson opened the show with his ‘Chinese yoyo‘ act. Here is the wonderful top spinning meditation. How long could you look at a top spinning?
Book Kennison juggled with a ceiling secured camera so the viewers had a curious angle to view his juggling routine. Original music and unique viewing angle.
Filling in for another act Michael Rosman performs a rather complicated stunt. Lighting a gasoline-soaked marshmallow that’s sitting on his shoe with his flaming ukelele and then kicking the marshmallow up to be caught by the Nutella spread on a graham cracker he is holding in his mouth. It all worked out well! Thanks for that Michael!
Tyler West is one of my favorite performers. He always gives his show 100% no matter what. Tonight he performed a ‘pantomime’ with an Eric Satie soundtrack. It was surreal and lovely. Great skills mixed with emotion and joy.
Cardone performed a wonderful array of great card manipulations. A master card trick magician (among other great magic skills) and ventriloquist.
Keith Nelson never stops amazing me with all of his skills. Always learning new routines and doing them so wonderfully. Here he balances 4 delicate glasses on a 3 layer pyramid.
Pinch and Squeal (Jason and Danielle Tilk) performed a lovely duet singing and playing the banjolele (cross between a ukulele and banjo) and accordion.
Coney Island Chris (Chris Alison) stunned the viewers with his strange ‘eating glass’ stunt. Chewing on a GE light bulb and swallowing the glass particles was both strange and funny. He claims to have learned his skills in a ‘How-to internet Sideshow course’.
The entire production of The Bindlestiff Open Stage Variety Show – Quarantine Edition depends on donations from the fans viewing the show. Here are the methods you can use to help make this wonderful tradition continue weekly during this quarantined time!
If YOU want to participate as a PERFORMER in this show contact Keith at the email address above. Always open to new acts from all over the world!
Elizabeth Munn performed a hysterical romp singing and dancing in her narrow hallway. Performing upside down on a chinning bar and all the time keeping up her song.
Here is Elizabeth in the last moments of her song!
Thanks to all of the folks that made this wonderful show possible!
Next Monday at 7:30pm! The show must go on no matter what!
Imagine a variety show on the set of a Twilight Zone Episode about a warehouse full of antique movie props….Awesome
Before the show the performing space is being set up.
A pillow for an audience member.
Josh Bisker readies the track lighting fixture before the audience arrives.
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SHOW TIME
Ellia and Josh Bisker get the show going by introducing the show.
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DALE SEEVER
Dale Seever begins his ‘spirit drawing’ session with a big easy chair and some spirits in hand.
Dale Seever holds up the ‘spirit drawing’ he did on the audience member.
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ZERO BOY
Zero Boy makes monster mayhem with his Sci-Fi Robot and Dinosaur love making scene.
More wonderfully insane stories told thru the vocal imagination of Zero Boy.
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ROB LOK
Rob Lok performs his manic madness on the audience.
Rob Lok performs an amazing handstand on 3 stacked chairs.
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PARIS
Paris (The Hip-Hop Juggler) spinning the red rings on his foot and hands.
Paris juggles five rings while kneeling on the floor. (Not enough ceiling height?)
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JOSH BISKER
Josh Bisker sings a lovely funny song for the audience at Superfun Variety Show
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DAVID BOYD
David Boyd performs card magic for the audience at Superfun Variety Show
David Boyd performs magic for onlooker Tanya Solomon who looks amazed.
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CARLA RHODES
Ventriloquist Carla Rhodes and Cecil Sinclair perform a hysterical set for the audience.
Cecil Sinclair sings a very funny song about Salt Water Toffee for the audience.
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ADAM KUCHLER
Adam Kuchler performs his wilding funny act for the audience.
While performing his wild act one of his swinging props lands in a precarious place.
Adam Kuchler realizes about his little mistake and feels the pain.
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BAD ADVICE
Right after the intermission the audience had a chance to ask questions which a select group of panelist would answer wtih “bad advice”.
Ellia Bisker sets up the table for the “Bad Advice” section of the show.
With Josh Bisker looking on, Cecil warms up to audience member panelist Mary Kelly Rayel.
Cecil loses his head during a heated fight between himself and Mary Kelly. Carla looks on!
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ELLIA BISKER
Ellie Bisker sings an original song from her Sweet Soubrette album.
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CHRIS GETHARD
Author of a new book titled A BAD IDEA I’M ABOUT TO DO. Chris invited an audience member (Austin Horse) onstage to liven up what he thought might be a slow performacne.
With Tazer in hand audience member Austin Horse proceeded to terrorize Chris.
(It was indeed a ‘bad idea that he did’)
While Chris Gethard reads his book he is constantly on the watch for Austin with the Tazer in his hand.
Chris Gethard almost gets ‘tazered’ by the hand picked Austin Horse.