A darkly comic look at America's obsession with "reality" TV in LCCC's "Our House"

Laramie County Community College presents the play "Our House" Fri, Apr 22, and Saturday, April 23, 7:30-9 p.m., in the LCCC Playhouse.

"Our House" is a scathing new comedy that takes on a media-obsessed culture intent on turning even the most sobering crisis into sexy entertainment. The show takes a darkly comic look at America’s obsession with "reality" television. When reality collides with reality TV, we find ourselves front and center in a drama that holds the nation riveted.

Mature audiences only. Produced through special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. 

Following the April 22 performance, a panel discussion with the cast, director and faculty members will be held. Join us for light refreshments and an exploration of the issues in this new and important play.boxoffice@lccc.wy.edu

Call for entries: Tolentino (Italy) Biennial of Art Humor

The town council of Tolentino in Italy is proposing and organising the 26th International Biennial of Art Humour, which this year will take place between 21 July and 2 October 2011.

The Biennial is open to artists from all over the world, each of which can participate in the “City of Tolentino International Prize” dedicated to satire art. Each entry consists of a maximum of 3 unpublished and original works, of any size, technique and form of visual art.

The theme for the 2011 Biennial is: “Twentieth century Art.”

The last entry date for the competition is 31 May 2011, by which date the works of art must be registered with the Secretary for the 26th International Biennial of Art Humour, Piazza della Libertà, 3 – 62029 TOLENTINO (Italy).

FMI: www.biennaleumorismo.org or +39 733.901365, info@biennaleumorismo.org

The Second City presents "Fair & Unbalanced" Jan. 15 in Jackson

The Second City comedy improv troupe presents "Fair & Unbalanced" on Jan. 15, 8 p.m., in the Arts Center Theatre in Jackson.

Reserved seating: $25 Adult, $20 Students & Seniors, $15 Children

Event Info:

Over fifty years of funny! Starting in 1959 with Alan Alda and Ed Asner to today's Steve Carell and Tina Fey, legendary comedians and actors have begun their careers on the stage of The Second City, the legendary comedy theater improv troupe from Chicago.

This year's tour, "Fair & Unbalanced", takes unbridled comic pleasure in the foibles of our politicians, celebrities and even our significant others. No instutution escapes the satiric eye the The Second City- from the blowhards of the Beltway to the Hollywood elite. Ripped from the stages of The Second City's legendary theatres in Chicago and Toronto, "Fair & Unbalanced" is a hilarious ride through present day America.

"N*GGER WETB*CK CH*NK: The Race Show" comes to UW Jan 20

On Thursday, January 20, "N*GGER WETB*CK CH*NK: The Race Show" comes to the University of Wyoming Arts and Sciences Auditorium

"A very funny play, and a very important one as well."Travis Smiley, NPR

Called "jaw-dropping . . . infectious . . . explosive . . . inspiring" by the LA Times, this original play, written, directed, and acted by three UCLA grads, is a hilarious look at the impact these three racial slurs have had on their lives, and on our culture. N*W*C, as it calls itself, argues that "we must talk about these words to create change: we have the right to use them, because they have been used against us. But our use is going somewhere new." Weaving together ensemble work, monologues, slam poetry, and stand-up comedy, N*W*C has expanded the genre of populist theater, so that "what you'll experience," they say, "won't feel like any theater you've seen before, but you're still going to love it. Maybe even a little more. . . . And we hope you laugh you're a** off too." Sold out last time: this time, A&S.

General Public $27 /Students & Seniors $23.

FMI: http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/culturalprograms/info.asp?p=26331

Spirit of Coyote tells tale of Ernestine Shuswap

From a University of Wyoming press release:

The University of Wyoming Department of Theatre and Dance continues its 2010-2011 production season with "Ernestine Shuswap Gets Her Trout." Tomson Highway's sly and dark comedy depicts four First Nations women as they prepare for the 1910 visit of the Canadian prime minister to their traditional lands.

Directed by Professor of Theatre Rebecca Hilliker, "Ernestine Shuswap Gets Her Trout," runs Oct. 26-30 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center Studio Theatre. Tickets cost $14 for the public, $11 for senior citizens and $7 for students. For tickets and information, call (307) 766-6666 or go online at www.uwyo.edu/finearts .

A post-show discussion will be held in conjunction with the performance Thursday, Oct. 28.

Drawing directly from the Laurier Memorial, a deposition signed by 14 chiefs of the Thompson River Valley, "Ernestine Shuswap Gets Her Trout" is a vivid and gripping examination of the cultural genocide of the Shuswap Nation of British Columbia. Celebrated playwright and novelist Tomson Highway is widely recognized for his tremendous contribution to the development of Aboriginal theater in both Canada and around the world. In 1994, he was inducted into the Order of Canada, the first Aboriginal writer to be so honored.

"'Ernestine Shuswap' is one of the most compelling plays about social issues that I have seen in a long while," said Hilliker. "It's really a poignant piece, and it raises issues that we really need to talk about in this country."

Written in the spirit of Coyote, in "Trickster language," the women argue, joke, rant and grieve together, the hysterically comic spilling over into the unutterably tragic and back again.

"It's ironic that in the U.S. we talk about other countries needing to own up to cultural and literal genocide, and the results of colonialism, but we still deny these realities in our own history," noted Hilliker.

"We think that these conversations are over, but they've never really happened. Plays like ‘Ernestine' can help to bridge that gap," she added.

Photo: Noelia Antweiler, left, and Brittany Byers perform in the University of Wyoming production "Ernestine Shuswap Gets Her Trout." Performances at the Fine Arts Studio Theatre will be Oct. 26-30 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 31 at 2 p.m.

Dear Mr. Vonnegut: "You have no talent and we suggest you give up writing"

The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library will open this fall in Indianapolis. It will be part library and part museum, containing memorabilia from Vonnegut's life, signed first editions of his books and copies of the many rejection letters he received from publishers:

Vonnegut's eldest daughter, Edie Vonnegut, said her father loved libraries and would have wanted visitors to learn about his perseverance in the face of dismissive publishers. Among the items she's loaning the library are some of his rejection letters.

"We have boxes of rejection letters, letters saying 'You have no talent and we suggest you give up writing,'" she said. "He did not have an easy time of it, and I think for anyone who wants to be writer, it will be important for them to see how tough it was for him."

FMI: http://www.vonnegutlibrary.com/

Ozy's "Good Riddance Winter" show

From the Ozymandian Theater's Facebook page:

Are you ready for an evening of pure sophistication and deep meaningful culture while sipping on expensive wine that nobody can pronounce? Does a night of sharing your favorite poetry and discussing modern art give you a serious case of "The Giddies"?

If your answer to any of those questions was "yes" than we wish you the best of luck...

For everyone else we are excited to announce that Ozymandian Theater is back with a brand new and all original sketch and improv comedy show!

Our show, "Good Riddance Winter," will run on May 28th, 29th, and June 4th and 5th at The Mary Godfrey Playhouse (on the corner of Windmill and Pershing, next to East High School in Cheyenne). The show starts at 7:30 p.m. The cost of tickets are $12.00 for adults and $10.00 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the door at 7:00 P.M. or purchased on our website: http://www.ozytheater.com/

As always, our show is rated PG-13.

Proceeds from these shows will provide for two $500 college scholarships. We are proud to be offering this scholarship for a third year.

Every ticket holder may enter the name a Cheyenne High School graduating senior into a raffle. Winning tickets will be drawn at the end of our shows on May 29th and June 5th. The winner need not be present to win.

Both lucky seniors will receive a check for $500 upon proof of college enrollment for the 2010 fall semester.

As always we are thankful for the Cheyenne Little Theater Players for their support and help in putting on these shows that benefit Cheyenne! For more info on all the amazing things happening at the CLTP please visit http://www.cheyennelittletheatre.org/

Don't miss The Ultra-Amazing Ozymandian Improv Show March 6 at the Atlas

From a press release:

Tell your funny bone that it is about to get slapped in its smug boney face!

Ozmandian Theater is back with an all new improv show coming your way on March 6th! This show will be all improvised so that means we will be making it up as we go along. We promise you a night of comedy that will not leave a carbon footprint. Unless of course, you want us to leave one...and if that is the case we will be giving a full bottle of hairspray for each audience member so they can spray it into the ozone right after the show. Take that ozone!

This show is part of The Cheyenne Little Theater Player's "Saturday Nights Live at The Atlas." The cost of the show is $5 for students and $8 for adults. The proceeds will benefit the restoration of the Historic Atlas Theater. As always our shows are rated PG-13.

If that is not enough to plant you in our audience here is an extra bonus: Ozymandian Theater is excited to announce that they will be joined on stage by the awesome East High School Improv Club. Come and support the next generation of comedy as they hit the stage with Ozy!

So here are the details:

Ozymandian Improv Show (with special guests from the EHS Improv Club).

This show is part of CLTP's "Saturday Nights Live at The Atlas"@ The Historic Atlas Theater (211 W. Lincolnway)March 6 @ 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7). Ticket Price is $8 for adults and $5 for students.

The show is rated PG-13

This is a ONE NIGHT ONLY PERFORMANCE.

As always we can purchase tickets online or learn more about Ozymandian Theater at our brand new website:http://www.ozytheater.com/

For more information on all the cool things happening at the CLTP, visit http://www.cheyennelittletheatre.org/