The press just keeps coming....

They like us...

Reveling in relationships as much as undead antics, Wildclaw Theatre’s presentation of Scott T. Barsotti’s somber zombie drama ‘The Revenants’ contains a surprising emotional elasticity particularly for those anticipating nothing more than an all out limb flinging gore fest.

Episode #010 Arthur Machen's The Bowmen

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We are very pleased to announce WildClaw Theatre’s Blood Radio Podcast, episode #010.
In this episode we present our world premier audio presentation of Arthur Machen’s THE BOWMEN, read by WildClaw Artistic Director Charley Sherman, and produced by Scott Tallarida.
Also, do not miss our current production of THE REVENANTS, currently running at the Angel Island Theatre, 735 W. Sheridan, Chicago, Thursday through Sunday, industry and student discounts available, check us out at www.wildclawtheatre.com for more details.

Thinking of the Claw...

Just thinking about ya, Claw. Thanks for everything...

Horror Society's Freak of the Week

He's a Freak, he's a SuperFreak!

Many thanks to Mitch and the gang over at Horror Society for bestowing upon our own Dr. AC, Aaron Christensen, the illustrious honor of...FREAK OF THE WEEK.

Here's a little taste of our chat:

HS: What types of horror films are your favorites?

AC: Boy, that’s a tough question, Mitch! Isn’t it? You wouldn’t think it would be, but when you take horror as seriously as you and I do, you want to be accurate and honest, not give some crap-out answer like, “Slashers!” or “I love ‘em all.” It depends on my mental temperature of the day, to be perfectly honest. I really do have a passion for the genre as a whole, and so it’s hard to say that I prefer one subgenre over another. I love it when a film or filmmaker can bring something new to the table, especially in this “seen-it-all-before” climate. I recently saw a great little Brit horror flick called The Children written and directed by Tom Shankland (who also helmed last year’s The Killing Gene) and it simply knocked my socks off, because we’ve seen the “killer kids” thing before, yet the movie had my friend and I on the edge of our seats! Definitely check it out once it makes its way Stateside.

I also read a lot of horror reference books, so oftentimes that will shape what I’m in the mood for. I just polished off John Stell’s Psychos! Sickos! Sequels: Horror Films of the 1980s (highly recommended, by the way), so I’m dying to go back and revisit some some old favorites from that decade, as well as giving a second look to films that I might have dismissed upon their first viewing. I’m a big proponent of re-viewing because the old adage about “you can’t step in the same river twice” is so true when it comes to cinema. The movies don’t change but we do, and when we see a film again, we are looking at it with different eyes. It’s happened many a time where a picture that I couldn’t stand the first time around becomes a new favorite or I’ll be less impressed by a flick than I originally was. Again, it’s all part of being a good student.

HS: Are you a fan of the horror remake trend?

AC: Oh, is that ever a loaded question. No, of course not. It annoys the hell out of me that Hollywood is too scared to produce anything without some form of name recognition anymore, even if it’s something like the “in-name-only” remake of Prom Night. However, I will say that 2009 has turned out some halfway decent remakes already, in the form of My Bloody Valentine, The Last House on the Left and The Uninvited (the English-language remake of A Tale of Two Sisters), so this might be the year that remakes don’t suck.

But as we all know, these are the exceptions to the rule and I don’t think that any of these top the original films. It’s sad, because there is some really exciting stuff going on in the foreign and indie horror markets. If studios would put some marketing muscle behind those films, it would cost less than producing some soulless remake and I think they would find that theatrical audiences would respond favorably to these fresh ideas. But nobody’s willing to take those chances, so it all gets dumped to DVD; then it’s up to the brave and the persistent to discover them on their own. It’s really a tragedy...



To read the full interview, click on the link below. And feel free to wander around the Horror Society site to check out what Mitch and the H/S gang continue to serve up. It's a great site for horror fans everywhere, and especially those living in the Windy City!

Aaron "Dr. AC" Christensen - FREAK OF THE WEEK

REVENANTS director Anne Adams on Roxy Horror!!

Anne Adams, fearless director of WildClaw's critically acclaimed production of THE REVENANTS, sits down with the gals from Roxy Horror to talk about life in the theatre, facing your fears, and dealing with those gosh-darn zombies.

Here's the link: CLICK HERE

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.

Universal to remake VIDEODROME...sigh.

DEATH TO INTEGRITY...LONG LIVE THE NEW CASH!!!

From Variety.com:

Universal Pictures will remake the 1983 David Cronenberg-directed thriller "Videodrome," with Ehren Kruger set to write the script and produce with partner Daniel Bobker.

The producers tracked down the rights to Canadian distribution vet Rene Malo, who will be exec producer. Universal distributed the original and had first refusal on a remake, and the studio snapped up the opportunity.

The original "Videodrome" starred James Woods as the head of Civic TV Channel 83, who makes his station relevant by programming "Videodrome," a series that depicts torture and murder that transfixes viewers.

The new picture will modernize the concept, infuse it with the possibilities of nano-technology and blow it up into a large-scale sci-fi action thriller.
Cronenberg has no role in the film as yet. He is prepping for MGM "The Matarese Circle" as a starring vehicle for Tom Cruise and Denzel Washington. Since Cruise appears likely to next star in the DreamWorks drama "Motorcade" and Washington has committed to the Fox drama "Unstoppable," "Circle" doesn't appear likely to get under way until later this year or 2010.

Bobker/Kruger Films recently set the thriller "Dream House" at Morgan Creek and is producing, with Matthew Stillman, "The Keep" for Rogue. Kruger co-wrote the June 24 Paramount/DreamWorks release "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" with Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.

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)

Women In Horror

WildClaw enjoyed the oasis that was the Portage Theater amid the monsoon that struck Chicago on Saturday. We were there for Horror Society's Women In Horror filmfest. The Revenants' director, Anne Adams, promoted the hell out of her play to the delight of zombie fans at the event.


Aly Renee Greaves and Anne Adams

While there, we met the folks from Dark Rider Filmworks and the Dark Carnival filmfest.

Aly Renee Greaves and Anne Adams, both WildClaw company members, made some great contacts with Molotov Theatre's Tara Garwood from Washington, D.C.. Molotov Theatre is America's second oldest Grand Guignol theatre. Needless to say, these women of horror had a lot to talk about.


Tara, Laura, Aly, and Anne

We also got to see Aaron Christensen's The Revenant's trailer on the big screen along with Ryan Oliver's preview for his upcoming film, She-Bang. As always, a big thanks to Chicago's Horror society for being such great hosts.

She-Bang at the Portage Theatre

A quick aside from the love-fest that is The Revenants reviews:

Saw a sneak preview last night of a trailer that's going to be playing on the big screen at the Horror Society's "Women in Horror" event this Saturday at the Portage Theatre.

Y'all want to be there to see it. It's awesome.



It's a teaser for "She-Bang," a glorious, bloody, city-wide brawl among about twenty all-female gangs. Like "The Warriors" crossed with "The Big Doll House".

It's Ryan Oliver's baby. Yeah, that Ryan Oliver -- sick mind, FoWC, and Blood Jock extraordinaire for "Great God Pan" and "The Revenants". The trailer will be posted next week on his myspace page, along with tons of stills and on-set photography of some of the city's most beautiful and bad-ass ladies. Check it out.