'Women Fully Clothed' heading to downtown Springfield
October 29, 2011(As originally seen on MassLive by Cori Urban)
The live sketch comedy troupe of Robin Duke, Jayne Eastwood, Kathryn Greenwood and Teresa Pavlinek will be telling the naked truth about the joys, the challenges and the foibles of middle age when they bring "Women Fully Clothed" to Springfield's CityStage.
The Canadian actors write their own material, and "it just comes from our lives," Greenwood said in a recent interview. "It's so relatable."
And that's what she says makes the show a hit. "(Women) are all the same. We all have the same experiences. The only difference is (the four cast members) put it on stage."
"Women Fully Clothed" works not only because audiences can relate to the material, but also because the four actors genuinely like one another. "We really have a good time up there" on stage, Greenwood said. "It's a lot of energy and time, and if weren't a complete joy we wouldn't be doing it."
The Springfield show will mix sketches from the first "Women Fully Clothed" show and the second, "Older and Hotter." Asked which ones she thinks are funniest, Greenwood mentioned the one about low-cut jeans and the one about the psychic. But her list lengthened: the yoga scene, the one in which the empty nester decides to be a poet, the college roommates who meet years after graduation, the one about having problems retaining details. "I love it all," she enthused.
Tina M. D'Agostino, interim CityStage president, said this season a variety of comedies, stand up comedians, musical tributes and even a magician are being presented at CityStage. Combined with the Broadway tours and concerts at Symphony Hall, there's a wide selection of shows that appeal to a broad audience.
"We are very excited about 'Women Fully Clothed,'" she said. "It should provide smart and hilarious comedy about real life from four very talented women that have been in many films and on popular television shows."
Greenwood's credits include "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" and "Wind at My Back." She appeared on "The Mercer Report," "This Hour Has 22 Minutes," "The Ron James Show" and "The Royal Canadian Air Farce."
Eastwood got her start in performing after being cast in the Canadian film "Going Down the Road." She has appeared in such films as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," "Chicago" and "Hairspray."
Duke has been seen on "Saturday Night Live" and "SCTV" and in films like "Groundhog Day," "Multiplicity," "Stuart Smalley Saves His Family" and "Club Paradise."
Pavlinek is known for "The Jane Show" and "History Bites." She co-wrote and starred in her own half-hour TV special, "As I Was Saying," for The Comedy Network. Other television and film credits include "The Listener," "Overruled," "The Sean Cullen Show" and "Royal Canadian Air Farce."
All four women – called the funniest women in Canada – are "Second City" veterans and have received numerous awards or award nominations.
They've been working together on "Women Fully Clothed" for about seven years. "It has been going great guns since it all began," said Greenwood, a friendly, enthusiastic wife and mother of two children – ages nine and 11 – who works her performance schedule around her family.
The first block of the show's U.S. tour takes the foursome to New England. They've performed in Chicago and New York, but they're looking forward to visiting smaller cities and towns. "We love doing big cities like New York, Toronto and Montreal, but we like to go to towns and cities outside the big cities," Greenwood said. "It's such a privilege to see so many places and connect with so many people."
Asked when she realized she was funny, she said it wasn't so much that she realized she was funny as she realized other people were not. Coming from a family in which everyone has a good sense of humor, "I took it for granted everybody grew up laughing," she said. But when she got to high school, she realized there were a lot of serious people.
As an actor, Greenwood has often played comedic parts, and she never minds because comedy comes naturally to her. She's having fun, and she feels lucky to be able to laugh so much each day.
What makes her laugh? She makes herself laugh. "I laugh at myself all day, and the bonus is I get to write it down and use it" in the show, said the first winner of The Canadian Comedy Award for Female Improviser of the Year.
"Women Fully Clothed" is good comedy, she said, not the kind that is mean or the kind in which the laughs are at someone's expense. "We really don't do that. I don't like that. We look at ourselves and our lives and the absurdity of our own lives," she said. "We laugh at so many little things that happen."
Good comedy, she said, has to be based on something true: "If you're playing the truth and you're playing it for real, it's funny."
Greenwood spends her life finding humor in things. "I think I'm really fortunate. I can't imagine going through life any other way," she said.
People who have seen "Women Fully Clothed" have told her they haven't laughed so hard in years. "I think we're doing a good thing," making people laugh, she said. "We give them a chance to laugh at themselves."
Men can relate to the show too, she said. "We don't men bash. It's not just a female show. We don't want to scare men off with the title."
Women in North America tend to have a "weird, skewed perception of perfection" that is harmful, insidious and makes them feel inadequate, Greenwood said. "They waste money and energy on trying to be something they don't need to be."
But the "Women Fully Clothed" actors are "just normal, middle-aged women" who allow their audience members to laugh at themselves, and that makes them feel good.
Greenwood is happy because of the way she can see the humor in life. And her children have acquired that same outlook. "They make us laugh in such a way that I want to steal their material," she said. "Our kids don't have a day they don't laugh."
The Springfield show is "a guaranteed fun night out," she said, because the "Women Fully Clothed" women are "so much fun, so talented, such a joy to work with."
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WMAS FLASH MOB
Classic Albums Live to bring 'Thriller' to Symphony Hall
October 19, 2011(As originally seen on MassLive by Ray Kelly)
Craig Martin was driving back to Toronto from a gig in Montreal when late at night they picked up some American radio station, which was playing random songs from the Rolling Stones' album "Exile on Main St."
"I was blown away by how well the songs flowed together and thought it would be a good idea if we performed the whole side of one album of music," Martin said.
By the time the group of musicians arrived in Toronto, Martin had the blueprint for what is known today as Classic Albums Live, which brings its production of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album, featuring an ensemble of some 12 musicians and backup singers to Springfield's Symphony Hall on Friday night.
"As we arrived in Toronto I knew what had to be done, to recreate an entire album, note for note, cut for cut, with no cheesy costumes or bad impersonations," Martin said.
"I pitched the idea to the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto and we had our first show up and running in two months, and it was a sellout," he added about the performance of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon."
Martin said it's a "no brainer" when selecting albums to produce for Classic Albums Live.
"We select the ones that sold the most, that will draw the most people….some artists you will never be able to see and hear live," Martin said.
"Thriller," the best-selling album of all time, was the sixth solo album by Michael Jackson following the success of his previous album "Off the Wall." Seven of the album's nine songs were released as singles reaching top 10 positions on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Cementing Jackson as the "King of Pop," as he liked to call himself, "Thriller" went on to earn a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards in 1984, two years after its release.
In addition to hearing "Thriller" in its entirety – "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin,'" "Baby Be Mine," "The Girl Is Mine," "Thriller," "Beat It," "Billie Jean," "Human Nature," "P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing)" and "The Lady in My Life" – after a short break the band will return to perform a set of Michael Jackson's greatest hits.
"It's a wonderful part of the evening and allows the band to cut loose and go way, way back into his music," Martin said.
Since the birth of Classic Albums Live nine years ago, Martin has assembled a barrel full of the greatest classic rock albums to bring to the stage including "Sgt. Pepper" and "Abby Road" by the Beatles, "Let It Bleed" by the Rolling Stones, "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac, "LA Woman" by the Doors, "In Through the Out Door" by Led Zeppelin and a host of others.
As for future newer albums?
"It's funny, I just had a conversation with my mom the other day about that. She was wondering what other classic albums for younger kids will be coming up. And I'm not sure that those by Lady Gaga and Rihanna will endure. I think the real last classic album was 'American Idiot' by Green Day," Martin said.
"It's a challenge. Are their albums being made today that will become classics? Nothing made recently seems enduring, but I hope there will be some in the future."
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Zombies invade downtown Springfield as motorists, pedestrians scratch their heads
**BE SURE TO VISIT THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THE FLASH MOB**
October 17, 2011
(As originally seen on MassLive by Conor Berry)
SPRINGFIELD — The walking dead staggered and heaved their way through rush-hour traffic Monday afternoon as they descended on the former federal building at 1550 Main St., where their lurching movements suddenly transformed into fluid dance moves that would have made the King of Pop proud.
The zombies, spattered with fake blood and sporting dark rings under their hollow eyes, were part of a promotional campaign for an upcoming live performance of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album at Symphony Hall. And they looked very much alive as they strutted their stuff on the public plaza in front of the federal building, catching the attention of pedestrians and motorists alike.
Curious onlookers stopped in their tracks to watch as a zombie flash mob materialized around 5 p.m. on the plaza, where the throbbing beat of "Thriller" blared from a PA system and alchemized the bedraggled creatures' jerky movements into smooth dance steps. thriller dance.
"It was awesome," said Moe Martinez, of Moe's "Bad to the Bone" Hot Dogs fame.
Martinez, a New York City native who long ago relocated to Springfield, said he was taken aback by the zombie attack.
"I wasn't expecting it," he said, still managing to serve his customers despite the presence of bloodthirsty zombies.
"I like the way they came up the block," he said.
One zombie dancer was downright upbeat as she talked about the "flash" event.
"This was our first one," said Noel St. Jean, an instructor with the Artistic Dance Conservatory of East Longmeadow.
Symphony Hall officials contacted the Shaker Road conservatory to help promote Friday's performance of Jackson's seminal 1984 album by Classic Albums Live, which takes classic rock and pop albums and recreates them live on stage — note for note, cut for cut.
Zombies invade downtown Springfield to promote "Thriller" at Symphony Hall Zombies invade downtown Springfield to promote "Thriller" at Symphony Hall The "flash mob" materialized just after 5 p.m. Monday. Watch video
"This is our first time doing this," Bevan Brunelle, marketing manager for CityStage and Symphony Hall, said as she watched the zombies mimic the famous dance sequence from Jackson's award-winning "Thriller" video.
Around 40 dancers from the Artistic Dance Conservatory took part in the zombie flash mob, which attracted at least 100 onlookers.
"I've danced all my life," said St. Jean, whose ghoulish zombie makeup didn't even run despite the high-energy performance.
If Michael Jackson doesn't do it for you, Brunelle says Classic Albums Live will return to Symphony Hall in February for a performance of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon."
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Something "thrilling" happened on Main Street in downtown Springfield yesterday! Check out these pictures from the THRILLER FLASH MOB.
Posted by CityStage on October 18, 2011;
Flash Mob occured on October 17, 2011
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'Thriller' Flash Mob takes over downtown Springfield
October 17, 2011(As originally seen on WGGB by Shannon Hegy)
**BE SURE TO VISIT THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THE FLASH MOB**
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) — On Monday afternoon, the sights and sounds of downtown Springfield got a little spooky.
"It was kind of scary," said Moe Martinez. "People started coming from all ends of the block."
"They all came from every direction," said Kaylee Martinez.
Dressed as zombies, members of the Kinetic State Youth Ensemble filled Main Street along with the unforgettable tune of Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
It was all an elaborate attempt by Springfield Symphony Hall to promote the show, "Classic Albums Live: Michael Jackson's Thriller" this Friday night at 8p.m.
Judging by how many people stopped in their tracks to watch this frightening flash mob — the stunt worked.
As the dancers performed the classic moves from The King of Pop's famous music video in front of the old Federal Court House, the crowd just couldn't get enough.
"We were driving down Main Street," said Donna Ruell. "I had my two granddaughters and I was pointing to the left saying 'look, look,' so I decided to find a parking space and we came over to watch and see what was going on."
It was a first for Symphony Hall, a first for the Kinetic State Youth Ensemble, and likely a first for the majority of onlookers, but one thing's for sure, it was the perfect way to kick off the Halloween season.
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'Late Nite Catechism' returns to CityStage
October 8, 2011(As originally seen on
MassLive by Keith O'Connor)"Why come to an audience participation show if you don't want to play?"
That's the message Sister – played by actress Mary Zentmyer – has for those attending "Late Nite Catechism" during its five-day run at CityStage in Springfield. Those, that is, who don't want to go up on stage, but are eager to nudge their friend or relative sitting next to them to take part.
"By the way, it's just Sister," said Zentmyer, her common answer for anyone wondering what her full name might be.
"You fill in my name with the nun I make you think of," she tells people.
When defining her spiritual character, Zentmyer called Sister "a strict, no nonsense type of gal."
"She's kind and never mean spirited. Sister has to be strict because she has 52 kids in her class. The jokes are all in light-hearted fun and there is no profanity, it's a clean show," said Zentmyer.
The audience is part of Sister's class where the nun of your dreams, or perhaps nightmares for some, brings her class back to the good ol' days of the Latin Mass and meatless Fridays, and that not so good 12-inch ruler that slammed many Catholic school students across the knuckles.
IF YOU GO
Event: "Late Night Catechism"
When: Wednesday through Oct. 16
Where: CityStage, Springfield
Cost: $36 and $40.50
For more info: Call (413) 788-7033
or visit www.symphonyhall.com
And all of the audience participation begins at the start of the show.
"The ushers, who I call my hall monitors, get to have payback time for those patrons coming in late. They have to apologize for disrupting the class and are asked to give a buck for the pagan baby fund," said Zentmyer.
"If I see someone chewing gum in my class, they may have to come up on stage and apologize and put it on their nose. And, for real hooligans who may have had a couple drinks before class, they may have to come up and sit in the circle of silence," she added.
There will also be "pop quizzes" during the show, when class members with the right answer will get a prize – glow in the dark rosary beads or laminated holy cards, "think baseball cards," said Zentmyer.
Zentmyer, who has performed as Sister several times at CityStage in different versions of the play, said she is "happy to return to the East Coast, which is very Catholic."
But you don't have to be Catholic to enjoy the play.
"Lutherans and Methodists love the play and participate, but they just don't get some of the Catholic jokes," said Zentmyer.
The star of the one-woman show, who is decked out in full nun regalia from head to toe, said the show is "really good" for the over-50 crowd who can remember the days when nuns ruled the hallways and classrooms of elementary and high schools in every state of the country.
"It's the nostalgic factor, the flashback factor to a happier time when we used pencils and chalk, there was no email and technology was simpler," said Zentmyer.
When authors Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan created the hit comedy in 1993, they never realized that one day their little comedy would go on to become the longest continuously running show in Chicago history and the longest one-character comedy in off-Broadway history.
Zentmyer was one of the first actresses to learn "Late Nite Catechism" in Chicago, where she has performed the role extensively. She has also been on a national tour and had her off-Broadway debut in "Late Nite Catechism" appropriately at the Theater at St. Luke's in New York.
Raised Catholic, Zentmyer, whose mother was Irish, attended Catholic school on the northeast side of Chicago where she was taught by the Sisters of St. Francis.
"Sadly, my school closed like many other Catholic schools today," Zentmyer said. "My theory is that the Catholic Church lost free labor to run their schools. Nuns took a vow of poverty and when the nuns were running the schools, they didn't pay them."
And speaking of the "almighty" dollar, audience members, whether Catholic or otherwise, will be kindly asked to pay their dues before exiting the building.
"After the show, I will be standing at the back of the auditorium, just like you would see a priest standing at the back of church after Mass. And I'll have a basket to put money in that one of the 'hall monitors' will likely be holding for me," said Zentmyer.
Since 1993, the creators and cast of "Late Nite Catechism" have collected more than $2 million dollars to support the retirement fund for sisters.
"It makes many feel good to give back to these ladies, many of whom dedicated their entire lives to teaching and to the church," she said.
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