Mikhail Fiksel wins this round: Theatre vs. Film

Check out this story in the New York Times about a new Dolby soundsystem called Atmos that will enhance the auditory experiences of movie-goers, commenting particularly on the potential for truly immersive horror films.

One quote that caught the attention of yours truly:
“You can imagine watching a scary movie, and it’s a scene when someone is hiding in a basement and there are footsteps on the floorboards above...The Atmos system will actually play that audio from above people in the theater.”


You don't say?  As anyone who saw WildClaw's 2009 production of THE REVENANTS will recall, Mikhail Fiksel beat these guys to punch by exquisitely designing and pulling off that exact described sound effect in Angel Island Theater!  Zombies right upstairs, people (and it scared the shit out of you).

Way ahead of his time, that guy.

In any case, I'm excited to experience Atmos firsthand.  Sounds like a great innovation.  What horror film would you want to re-experience with Atmos?  For me, it'd be Alien.

Scott T. Barsotti's JET BLACK CHEVROLET now running at the Prop Thtr

Scott T. Barsotti, WildClaw company member and author of THE REVENANTS, has a new creepy psychological drama on stage for your theatre-viewing pleasure. Insomnia, paranoia, agoraphobia. What's not to like?

The show is JET BLACK CHEVROLET, and it's pay-what-you-can. PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN! Be careful or you might get your eye gouged.

Curious Theatre Branch presents
IT COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE, Two Plays of Fall
JET BLACK CHEVROLET, Written by Scott T. Barsotti, Directed by Jeffrey Bivens
THE FLOWERS ARE DEAD, Written and Directed by Matt Rieger
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 7 pm
Through October 9, 2010
Prop Thtr, 3502 N Elston Ave, Chicago
$15 or pay-what-you-can
www.curioustheatrebranch.com

WildClaw Interviewed by Innsmouth Free Press, part III

Click here to read Innsmouth Free Press' interview with WildClaw's own Scott T. Barsotti, author of THE REVENANTS and one of WildClaw's newest members.

(Part 3 of 5)

The Revenants Is Over

Laura Hooper and Brian Amidei in The Revenants

We would like to thank everyone who came to our latest production, The Revenants by Scott T. Barsotti, as directed by Anne Adams. We will be posting many photos of the show later today. For those of you who tried to get tickets the last couple of weeks and found The Revenants to be sold out, please come see our future productions early. We want you to see our shows.

And thank you to Rich and everyone at Angel Island Theater for being such great hosts.

Four Revenants Performances Left

Laura Hooper as "Molly" in The Revenants
Photo by Kirstie Shanley

Do you love zombies?

Do you love Love?

Do you love zombie infestations, car crashes, blood-spattering headshots, Bozo, bloody biting, gun-fire, the song "Fly Me To The Moon", vomit, chainsaws, "Easy Rider", and getting eaten alive?

Then get your ass online and get your tickets to the most claustrophic, zombiest, bloody lovefest you'll see this side of Budapest.

Only four more performances of WildClaw's acclaimed zombie play, The Revenants, are left. When it's gone, you'll be slapping your head and saying, "What do you mean it's live and happens right in my lap? And when it's over, it's OVER? I can't see it?! Whadda ya mean I can't see it? Didn't you videotape it or something, I mean, it's two thousand and frickin' nine, man?" Nope. When it's gone, it's gone.

And hell, if one of the zombies gets loose and actually bites you, your ticket is free. Now - you can't beat that.

INDUSTRY NIGHT TONIGHT!

WildClaw Theatre's THE REVENANTS is having an industry night, tonight, Monday May 11th.

$10 tickets at the door, first come first served.

Hope to see you there.

Mom's get into THE REVENANTS today for half-price!

Happy Mothers Day!



We all have a mother, even the undead among us. In honor of our mothers, WildClaw is offering half-priced tickets to all Mom's on this Mothers day.

The show is at 3:00pm. Hope to see you there.

Discount tickets available to THE REVENANTS this weekend!

WildClaw Theatre's THE REVENANTS is offering discounts all weekend. Only three weeks left, tickets are selling fast, come out and see us soon!

Tonight only, we are offering half-priced tickets to THE REVENANTS, at the door only, first come first served, with the code words...



With the codewords "WALKING DEAD." Tonight only.

This Sunday only, all mothers get in for $10! Bring your Mom to the Zombie Show for Mothers Day!

And, if that weren't enough, Monday night is industry night, all tickets $10, at the door, first come first served.

Hope to see you there

Strawdog Theatre's RED NOSES is a freaking great time!

I had the pleasure this past Sunday night to attend a performance of Strawdog Theatre's RED NOSES. Now, I know that honestly, self preservation dictates that I use this valuable blog space to plug for our production, Scott T. Barsotti's THE REVENANTS, currently running at 935 W. Sheridan. But, really, I need to take a moment here...

First of all, we here at WildClaw love Strawdog. We really do. We probably would not have made it this far without their generosity and support. Seeing as Aly Greaves is both, we are almost family. In-laws I guess. And, secondly, they are currently our neighbors, what with being at 3829 N. Broadway, a mere shamble away, easy access even for a zombie...

Thirdly, however...this show, RED NOSES, rocks. And I do not use that term lightly. Now, of course, a show dealing with death, plague, pestilence, and man's quest for and denial of humanity, perhaps it appeals to me right now, but, regardless...

The two hours and fifteen minutes I spent in the Strawdog Theatre space watching RED NOSES were the most enjoyable two hours and fifteen minutes I have spent in a theatre in years. It was the most fun I have had seeing a play about death and disease, ever. Ever.

There are too many highlights for my aged and drug addled zombie brain to list, but I will attempt a meager smattering. First and foremost, WildClaw's very own Aly Greaves' costumes are perfect. From the casual dress, through the cardinal and the pope right to Master Pestilence...they are perfect. Carmine "Duffy's Big Break" Grisolia, Shannon Hoag, John Moran, and Rob "Butterpants" McLean ought to start a band. I would definitely make a point of seeing that gig. Stephen Taylor, Anderson "Little Body" Lawfer, Eric "They are going to roast me on the 15th" Roach, and Kyle Hamman are hilarious, and Sarah Goeden is heartbreaking. I haven't even mentioned the malformed twins, the self-abuse, the infectious plague, the ravens, and...did I see zombies? Oh, and I cannot leave out the anchor of the show, John "F@#%stick" Ferrick.

I do not get super enthusiastic about shows that often. This one however, is a must see.

I have a great idea. Buy tickets to see THE REVENANTS Sunday matinee, and tickets to RED NOSES Sunday evening performance. In between go across the street and have some food and a margarita at El Mariachi. That might just be the perfect day of theatre, ever, in the history of the world. Just make sure to bring quarters for the meters.

The Revenants Opening Night Party

On April 20th, WildClaw Theatre opened it's third full production with Scott T. Barsotti's The Revenants. Directed by WildClaw company member Anne Adams, this "relationship drama - with zombies" features Brian Amidei, Ryan Patrick Dolan, Laura Hooper and Jenny Strubin. These are pictures from the Opening Night party.


Scott T. Barsotti (The Revenants writer) and Anne Adams (The Revenants director)


(r) Ryan Patrick Dolan (Gary in The Revenants)


(m) Jen Strubin (Karen in The Revenants), (r) Laura Hooper (Molly in The Revenants)


(l) David O'Brien (Asst Set Designer) (m) Coye Vega (Asst. Stage Manager), (r) Brian Amidei (Joe in The Revenants)


(m) Paul Foster (Lighting Designer)




(m) Charley Sherman (WildClaw Artistic Director)

And it begins...

Here we go.

Theatre Review by Venus Zarris

Sound Designer Mikhail Fiksel remarkably front-loads this production with the most bone chilling opening sound edit that I have ever experienced in a play.

Set Designer Charlie Athanas and Lighting Designer Paul Foster make perfect use of the perfect space at Angel Island Theatre.

Brian Amidei (Joe) and Laura Hooper (Molly) are more than convincing as the famished undead, rather they are amazingly frightening. Together they deliver remarkable non-verbal performances that transcend the zombie cliché to create a very present sense of danger, sadness and dread.

If you love horror and/or unusual theater, The Revenants should not be missed.