#weedstavern

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Contestant #7: Scott Merchant - Collaboraction

1.       What makes Collaboraction so great, anyway? 

Collaboraction is a magical eclectic mass of organized chaos. In one room you can have a rental company installing a set for a musical, next door artists devise an experience design performance piece inspired by surrealist painters while in the room next to that there are company members cooking up the next docu-drama meant to inspire real social change in our city.

    2.       What is another local storefront you wish you were besties with and why? 

I have a crush on the House Theatre and I'm not going to keep it quiet any longer!! Please let me make sweet sweet theatre-magic with you.

    3.       What is your favorite thing about the Chicago theatre community?

Outside of the obvious things (best theatre in the world blah blah, artistic incubator, blah blah, Risk blah, danger blah blah) The community supports each other. If a show isn't selling well you can bet that the butts in the seats will be of other artists who you have paid the same respect to.

    4.       If we were to rummage through your storage space today, what might we find?

Astronaut helmets, things that glow, police tape, severed arms, shopping carts, pinatas, hospital beds and all the pieces of the dome of dance. 

    5.       If you could remount one show from the last 10(ish) years, what would it be?

The first show I saw in Chicago that blew my mind was "Argonautica," Lookingglass' story of Jason and the Argo by Mary Zimmerman. I would love to see Collaboraction's audience-immersive take on that mythical beast.

    6.       Have you ever stolen anything? Explain yourself.

I used to be a bit of a kleptomaniac, but only in places that could afford to lose it: major chain stores, etc. (I once managed to walk out of a Super Target with a dozen two-sided picture frames for Christmas presents)

    7.     What piece of advice would you like to share with the internet?

Dear internet: Choose to be the sail instead of the anchor, the generator instead of the drain, the light in the dark. Also take a soapbox when it's given to you, it's awesome up here!

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Click for more info on PG’s 4th Annual Karaoke Showdown - Weeds Tavern, 1555 N Dayton St - Sunday, August 24 - Doors at 6p

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Contestant #6: Tom Wells - Two Pence Theatre Co

1.     What makes Two Pence so great, anyway?

The thing that makes Two Pence unique in the Chicago community is that we produce Shakespeare, his contemporaries, as well as other artists whose curiosity about their inner experience guides them to voice works of art that shed light into all corners of the Human experience.

    2.       What is another local storefront you wish you were besties with and why?

The storefronts we are not already besties with that we wish we were are Wildclaw Theatre, Steep Theatre Company, and Dog and Pony Theatre Company.

    3.       What is your favorite thing about the Chicago theatre community?

My favorite thing about the Chicago Theatre community is that it’s the only place in the country where soooo many theatre companies compete for the same resources.

    4.       If we were to rummage through your storage space today, what might we find?

A bunch of full bottles of Beefeater, some shitty warm beer, about 15 bamboo poles, costume tubs, a full wicker basket picnic set, some swords, and some PVC lightsabers. And an ass-head - of course. (I do wish we had a pair of thick, wooly goat pants with a 16-inch phallus. You know, for parties, public events, etc.)

    5.       What is your favorite song to sing at karaoke?

“Hey Nonny, Nonny" by Anonymous. It’s an oldy, but a goody.

    6.       Have you ever stolen anything? Explain yourself.

Yes. Pink Floyd’s The Division Bell. From a lifeguard co-worker, while he was busy shaving his armpits and legs, when I was 18.  My explanation is that I was exploring the very human impulse of coveting other people’s shit.

    7.     What piece of advice would you like to share with the internet?

I only have questions, no advice.  Advice leads to “right” answers….

Do you think the internet is rewiring and physically changing the chemistry of your brain? And are you aware of how that change affects the way you feel?

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Click for more info on PG’s 4th Annual Karaoke Showdown - Weeds Tavern, 1555 N Dayton St - Sunday, August 24 - Doors at 6p

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Contestant #5: Elana Boulos - Jackalope Theatre Co

1.       What makes Jackalope so great, anyway?

Jackalope is made up of some rad kids with huge hearts, who are constantly trying to do better and be better for the theatre community, the City of Chicago, and each other. A family of 14 brothers and sisters who work together to create theatre we enjoy and stories we feel our audiences should hear.

    2.       What is another local storefront you wish you were besties with and why?

Well, I'd say we're definitely from the same gene pool as the Inconvenience, especially since we share a member (Gus Menary). But if I could be besties with any storefront theatre in Chicago it would be the Neo-Futurists because their shows blow me away and make me feel things I never knew I could feel before.

    3.       What is your favorite thing about the Chicago theatre community?

The heart, patience, passion and TALENT that goes into everything we do. Also the sense of support amongst the community is something I've never experienced in any other theatre city I've lived in.

    4.       Where does your company most like to hangout and be friends?

Three of our company members share a house that is two blocks away from our spaces in Edgewater. Their house is called "the Mansion" and it definitely deserves that name because there is always an exceedingly large amount of wealth to be shared under this roof. It might not be wealth in the form of materialistic things, but whenever you need anything - you'll find it here. 

  We also hang out at Moody's Pub on Broadway, which is right across the street from our space at the Broadway Armory. And, of course, our favorite neighborhood dive, Ollie's where we often run into the Steep folks!

    5.       If we were to rummage through your storage space today, what might we find?

Considering we inherited three LARGE rooms full of junk when the Chicago Park District allowed us to move into the Broadway Armory, you'd find anything from 3 out of tune pianos, to about 12 broken treadmills, to a child's barbie car. One day we'll figure out what to do with it all, or just throw it away.

    6.       What is your favorite song to sing at karaoke?

My go-to is normally "It's All Coming Back to Me" by Celine Dion that I sing as a duet with my best friend, Jack.  I am honoring the 3 minute rule for the first round though, and will therefor not be singing this 5 minute long favorite at the Showdown.

    7.       Where does your mind go when you're bored?

When I'm bored, I think a lot about Beyonce and Jay-Z, how I should call my parents more often, wondering if I'll ever be able to afford a car, making sure my to-do lists are finished, and if all else fail I check instagram until something else happens. 

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Click for more info on PG’s 4th Annual Karaoke Showdown - Weeds Tavern, 1555 N Dayton St - Sunday, August 24 - Doors at 6p

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Contestant #3: Darci Nalepa - Black Box Acting

1.       What makes Black Box Acting so great, anyway?

Black Box is like a gym for artists to come and work out. They get to sweat and build muscles in our classrooms that will make them fearless artists in the industry. We teach artists how to work hard and be fearless. I think it gives a lot of people ownership over what they have control over in the industry, which is pretty damn great in my book. 

    2.       What is another local storefront you wish you were besties with and why?

  I think we're becoming besties with the Cuban coffee shop next to our home on North Avenue. That's a storefront, right? But seriously, we get to work with actors from a variety of theatre companies all over town. It's awesome to see the Black Box Community supporting each others work at Chicago storefronts. 

    3.       What is your favorite thing about the Chicago theatre community?

  The support and enthusiasm our community has for each others work. I think that's really special. Chicago is always rooting for it's own and that's amazing to see and be a part of. 

    4.       If we were to rummage through your storage space today, what might we find?

  If you know what "activity" is then you know you would find lots of kid scissors, tape, glitter, ripped sheets, poster board, tooth picks and tea lights. It's such a blurry line between what we do and what kindergartners bring to their first day of school...except for the sheets, toothpicks and tea lights. Maybe. 

    5.       If you could remount one show from the last 10(ish) years, what would it be?

  I will always say "August: Osage County". It was magical to see it's first run at Steppenwolf and know that something huge just happened and the audience was witness to it. 

    6.       Where does your mind go when you're bored?

  Cheese. What kind of cheese I want in that exact moment and the things I would do for it. 

    7.     What piece of advice would you like to share with the internet?

  Do something that scares you. But don't get put on the News for it. 

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Click for more info on PG’s 4th Annual Karaoke Showdown - Weeds Tavern, 1555 N Dayton St - Sunday, August 24 - Doors at 6p