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The Sophisticated Rogue -- ReviewPlays.com's Pick of the Week

rainey — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 23:00:46 GMT

The Sophisticated Rogue
Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre

Once again Zombie Joe confirms that it has its roots firmly planted in the theatre of the absurd - the horrific - the experimental - and in the process of exploring all these, brings a unique experience to its following.

You can't really talk about Zombie Joe's without mentioning Josh T. Ryan, an absolute genius in progress, who can create any character, any scenario, any situation with a mere twist of the face, a flip of the eyebrow or a turn of the mouth, and as The Sophisticated Rogue brings alive a character that deals with total madness with the aplomb of an insurance broker quoting actuary figures.

"How many five-year olds can I beat up?" is the opening premise, which Ryan quickly and logically expands to discuss the relative difference in his size and that of five-year olds - the strength factor and the intellect, the force of his kicks contrasted to those of a five-year old, finally settling on an average number of 185 five-year olds he can overpower. By the time Ryan finishes, you are convinced he can do it, though not sure why anyone would want to. The Rogue has some definite ideas about his existence, his direction and his motivations which he openly discusses with the writer who created him.

Author /Director William Norrett, who wrote this expository discourse is probably equally off-center, following up the Rogue with Bill, a zany writer who created the Sophisticated Rogue and now has trouble keeping the character under control. Michael Blomgren, who was a powerhouse in Zombie's previous Dostoevsky, once again teams up with Ryan as his nemesis, and the two create a world more askew than a house of mirrors.

There's more. Bill meets the lovely Delia (Candida Rodriguez) who introduces herself as an agent for characters who have been in books, plays and films, and is attempting to extend the existence of some of the more famous protagonists by placing them in other projects. The scary thing is that the players are so sincere, you almost begin to believe this is a good idea!

As Delia mentions that she would love to land Harry Potter as a client, because that would be a fantastic representation, she also sets up a set of rules that Bill can and cannot have his characters perform. In the process, she signs up The Rouge, who now filled with a sense of power, threatens to walk away from Bill's story.

Sprinkled with vignettes of Bill's experiences with other women, notably his shrink (Denise Devin), and previous girl-friends, the surrealistic encounters explain Bill's evolution to create the Sophisticated Rogue, while the rest of the characters give an insight into Bills thought process.

The small space, which Zombie reconfigures with each new show, sports a wall full of modern art pieces and an imposing mural of a pink and white tree on a black background. Within a space that's almost eight feet wide and about twenty feet long, the actors are almost completely surrounded by the audience on two sides as they build a world populated by fringe people behaving in what they believe to be a normal way.

Josh Ryan infuses the Rogue with an almost Chaplinesque romance, with demure aristocracy, a twirling cane and an intellectual voice that's in direct contrast to his Salvation Army like suit, while Michael Blomgren makes Bill out as a nervously unsure semi-successful author, struggling with his life and his characters, often blurring the line between them.

The eleven scenes whiz by in little more than one hour, and, as usual, bring roars of laughs, dozens of ooohs and loud sustained applause at the end

Other Zombie players who add to the madness include Renie Rivas, Anne Stinnett, Tracie Cisneros, Cynthia Convey, Jordana Berliner and Dina Buglione.

The Rogue will continue to charm until December 18, 2005.

Pick of the Week
ReviewPlays.com
http://reviewplays.com/zj-rogue.htm

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Holidays Kick Ass at ZJU

rainey — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 19:52:49 GMT

Dearest Friends of the Underground,

The Holidays are upon us!
So relax, kick back, take a deep breath, drink some eggnog, kiss under
the mistletoe, and join ZJU for our Super-Dooper Kick-Ass 2005 Holiday Season Spectacular!!

THE SOPHISTICATED ROGUE
The Great Josh T. Ryan, Michael Blomgren, Denise Devin & Tracie
Cisneros lead an all-star cast in The World Premiere of William Norrett's edgy romantic holiday comedy that's guaranteed to blow your mind!
Opening November 19th!!!
SATURDAYS at 8:30pm & SUNDAYS at 7:00pm, November 19, 20 & December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 & 18
Buy your tickets online at TheaterMania.com

CHRISTMAS FOR BUKOWSKI
A beautiful and very special holiday tribute to our very favorite, Charles
Bukowski, with original live musical performance of his written word,
spoken directly from our hearts to yours.
3 Performances Only! FRIDAYS at 8:30pm, December 2, 9 & 16

THE LEFT BEHIND
L.A.'s ONLY Progressive Politically Correct Comedy Improv Group, will
be featured at Zombie Joe's Underground for a special engagement of 3
awesome Thursday night shows at 8:30pm, December 1, 8 & 15

Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre Group is nominated for 18 Artistic Director Achievement Awards for 2005. Check out the nominations at www.ADA2005.homestead.com

ALL TICKETS for ALL PERFORMANCES, STILL ONLY 10 bucks!!!
Buy tix online using credit card online for THE SOPHISTICATED ROGUE

Make Your Reservations now! 24 Hour Reservation Hotline: 818-202-4120

Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre Group
4850 Lankershim Blvd. NoHo Arts District 91601

Thank you for your continued support through the holiday season!
See ya at the shows!

www.ZombieJoes.com
www.LimeCat.org

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ZJU gets 18 Noms! 2005 Artistic Director Achievement Awards

rainey — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 19:49:43 GMT

AWARDS at the Madrid Theatre on November 21st, 2005

18 Nominations for Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group and LimeCat Family Theatre

Production - Original Play – Drama:
DOSTOEVSKY’S NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND

Production – One Person Play or Musical:
COWABUNGA

Production – Evening of One Act Plays:
TIME TRAVEL

Director – Play – Comedy:
ZOMBIE JOE for Urban Death

Director - Musical:
RAINEY K. TAYLOR for Morrison Street Blue Room

Author – Original Play Comedy:
WILLIAM NORRETT for Time Travel

Ensemble Cast – Play:
URBAN DEATH

Lead Actor – Play – Comedy:
JOSH T. RYAN for Time Travel

Lead Actor – Play – Drama:
MICHAEL BLOMGREN for
Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground

Lead Actress – Play – Comedy:
RIE SHARKY for Time Travel

Supporting Actress – Play:
TRACIE CISNEROS for Blood of Macbeth

Supporting Actor – Play:
MATTHEW SKLAR for Blood of Macbeth

Sound Design:
RANDY LONG for Time Travel

Production – Children’s Show:
BUTTERFLY EARNS HER WINGS

Author – Children’s Show:
DENISE DEVIN, ZOMBIE JOE & CHRISTOPHER REINER for
Butterfly Earns Her Wings

Book, Music, Lyrics – Original Children’s Musical:
CHRISTOPHER REINER & DENISE DEVIN for
The Tortoise and the Hare Make a Holiday Wish

Actor – Children’s Show:
BRENNAN MARQUEZ for
The Tortoise and the Hare Make a Holiday Wish!

Actress – Children’s Show:
ALISON CARDOSO for Butterfly Earns Her Wings!

Congratulations to all the members of Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre Group and LimeCat Family Theatre!

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What was your first ZJU experience?

rainey — Fri, 23 Apr 2004 18:20:49 GMT

Mine was walking into a little back alley industrial garage in Reseda in June of 1997 and auditioning for Zombie Joe. Lots of blood, sweat, tears and nudity later, BLOOD OF MACBETH was born and became a huge success. I was initiated?

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Thoughts on the Underground...

rainey — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 23:49:05 GMT

So I'm a trained actor, right? I've been doing this thing since I was a little girl. I've gone to school, I've done the classes, I've won awards.

But I have to say... nothing has broken me open like ZJU. And I've seen it have the same effect on countless actors and artists that have gotten involved there in the almost 10 years I've been around it.

So a few thoughts on a dear home (in no particular order)...

A) We don't fuck around. This little company with a current house of about 50-70 (depending on if they're packed into the lobby as well) produces around 14 shows a year on average. Average rehearsal time is about 3 weeks, show run 2-5 weeks generally, and almost all of it is completely original material created by artist in and around the company. The way we survive is by producing material and collecting the same $10 a ticket we've always collected. We get no funding. We work our tails off and create some of the most ballsy theatre around.

B) No commercialism. No pre-show fundraising plugs, no merchandise (much to the dismay of some of the members of our loyal following who want ZJU t-shirts), no nada. Just a ten dollar bill at the door.

C) As little ego as I've ever seen in the theatre. There are no headshots in the lobby, no bios in the programs, no industry comps and no agent mailings. You want to see the show, you fork up the $10 like everyone else and have a blast. You want to showcase your talent? Pay for your agent's ticket and put their name on the reservation list.

D) The work's the thing.

E) We are a family of theatre warriors with open doors. You come, you work, you love or hate it and you leave or you stay. But if you're sincere and dedicated and love the art of theatre, you'll have a home at ZJU.

F) Artistic freedom. We can do (and do, and have done) anything there.

G) As an artist, working at ZJU will make you step up to the plate and walk your talk. I've seen endless "Hollywood Actors" walk in and think they've got this little theatre figured out, only to be knocked to their senses as they scramble to keep up. Best place to test your mettle...

More thoughts will come, I'm sure, but this is a start...

Rock on ZJU...

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Alice Works Wonderland

rainey — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 23:29:18 GMT

It's a ball y'all...
http://losangeles.tribe.net/listing/ALICE-WORKS-WONDERLAND-at-Zombie-Joes-Underground/los-angeles-ca/505d1f08-0108-43f5-8334-888a71d37879?nextpage=http%3A%2F%2Flosangeles.tribe.net%2Fhome%3Fr%3D10025&r=10025

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ARTICLE: ZJU, the Chups, and Ohio Students

rainey — Fri, 21 May 2004 20:53:37 GMT

http://www.nohoartsdistrict.com/business/index_feature_cc.htm

Hey all --
Check out this article about the tour of a group of Ohio high school students visiting Zombie Joe's Underground! They came to tour the NoHo Arts District, and their last stop was good ol' ZJU where they saw the last couple of hours of the 25-Hour Improv Marathon the Chups did in January. There was a Q&A afterward and the response was terrific!

I was actually there for this, and I have to say, it was very exciting and moving to see these young artists come into our very own Zombie Joe's Underground and have such a positive experience.

In case you can't get to the article, here's the quote from the Director of their theatre program:

Carrie Wishart, Central Crossing High School’s Theatre Director said, “Our time at NoHo was fabulous! Many of the students mentioned that NoHo was their favorite stop on our tour. I would have to agree. As a teacher, I want the tours my students take not only to be fun (which it was) but also very educational. The talk my students had with Zombie Joe's Underground actors and Zombie Joe himself was one of the most inspirational they have experienced. The actors, having been in process improv for 25 hours, spent another hour with us, giving advice and answering questions. Not only did it reiterate what I have been trying to teach my students, but by action, the actors showed resilience, commitment, and dedication to their craft. We were privileged to have been a part of such an extraordinary experience. We will definitely make NoHo a larger part of our tour to LA in the future.”

So cool!

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