Dick Van Dyke on Slapstick

Thanks to Drew Richardson, Dramatic Fool for pointing this out -- a hilarious mini-lecture about how slapstick is no longer funny, and then Mr. D.V.D. proceeds to schlap the shtick all over it. This is an object lesson in how to build a physical routine where the audience know what's coming, but they can't help themselves from laughing anyway.

Celebration Barn - Big Barn Spectacular, South Paris Maine.

The Celebration Barn, one of the great places to study during the summer, has all sorts of stuff going on performance-wise. Next week, it's the The Big Barn Family Show at 4 p.m. is a chance for kids of all ages to enjoy a great cast of favorite Barn performers. The 60-minute matinee at will feature physical comedy, amazing mime, and spectacular juggling to captivate the imagination of young audiences. Tickets are $12 all seats. The 4 pm show will feature: Randy Judkins, Jackie Reifer and Jon Saccone. The cast expands for The Big Barn Spectacular at 8 p.m. with knock-your-socks-off variety and a star-studded silent auction. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $20 and $16. The year's roster includes: * Karen Montanaro * Fritz Grobe * Michael Lane Trautman * Mike Miclon * Rick Adam * Amanda Huotari * Clare Vadaboncouer * Plus a wicked fun silent auction! Shows begin at 8:00 P.M. or 4:00 P.M. Doors open at 30 minutes before showtime. Seating is general admission. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling the Barn's box office at (207) 743-8452. The Barn has a lot of other great events going on for the rest of the summer too! Schedule is here (or look below): http://celebrationbarn.com/main/shows.html Find out more about the barn at http://www.celebrationbarn.com CELEBRATION BARN SUMMER SCHEDULE JULY 24-AUGUST 29 Friday, July 24, 8 p.m. Meet the Artists: Karen Montanaro Maine Arts Commission Fellowship recipient Karen Montanaro shares her unique approach to fusing mime, dance and improvisation, illustrated by work with her students. Tickets: $8 Saturday, July 25, 4 p.m. Big Barn Family Show! This 60-minute matinee is a chance for kids of all ages to enjoy a variety of favorite Celebration Barn performers! Tickets: All seats $12. Saturday, July 25, 8p.m. Special Event! BIG Barn Spectacular! 4th annual alumni show celebrates the spirit of the Barn with knock-your-socks-off variety and star-studded silent auction! Tickets: $20 adults, $16 seniors and students. Friday, August 7, 8 p.m. Meet the Artists: Fritz Grobe and Stephen Voltz of Eepybird.com Famous for their Diet Coke & Mentos and Sticky Note Experiments, the duo discuss their groundbreaking work in viral videos. Tickets: $8 Saturday, August 8, 8p.m. Marta Rainer in Unaccustomed to My Name. This outstanding one-woman show has received rave reviews across the U.S. and Europe. Tickets: $14 adults, $12 seniors, $8 students and kids Friday, August 14, 8 p.m. Meet the Artists: Avner the Eccentric and Julie Goell Avner the Eccentric and Julie Goell introduce the world of clowning and celebrate the comic art of succeeding in the face of failure, as they present new works from their Eccentric Performing students. Tickets: $8 Saturday, August 15, 8 p.m. Bill Bowers in It Goes Without Saying International mime sensation and broadway veteran presents his solo play. The NY Times called it, "Zestful and endearing... full of life." Tickets: $14 adults, $12 seniors, $8 students and kids. Friday, August 21, 8 p.m. Meet the Artists: Davis Robinson Davis Robinson, author of The Physical Comedy Handbook, Davis delves into how to develop funny, honest and imaginative theater. Tickets: $8 Saturday, August 22, 8 p.m. The Early Evening Show A wild night of comedy and surprises in this late-night talk-show spoof hosted by Mike Miclon, Jason Tardy and Matt Tardy! Tickets: $14 adults, $12 seniors, $8 students and kids. Friday, August 28, 8 p.m. Meet the Artists: Deborah Henson-Conant Grammy-nominated Deborah Henson-Conant explores the power of the performer behind the music, and hosts the work of her Performance for Musicians students. Tickets: $8 Saturday, August 29, 8 p.m. Special Event! Jazz Harpist: Deborah Henson-Conant Solo! This Grammy nominated wild woman of the harp is back by popular demand! Tickets: $20 adults, $16 seniors and students.

Bare Breasted Women Sword Fighting (DC in July)

Just got word that Dog and Pony DC (a company of female artists in DC) is putting on a show at the Capital Fringe in DC titled (you guessed it) Bare Breasted Women Sword Fighting. Want to guess what the show features? :o) First off-- great title for a fringe show-- this is a show that is going to sell out pretty much guaranteed, regardless of the quality of the show. But it's more than that- it's got a great promise as a concept-- that we can look beyond the titties to see a fantastic show of women doing the Errol Flynn thing with virtuosity. I saw a French mime woman a number of years ago who performed topless so that you could better see the dazzling muscles and work that she was doing. After the first few minutes of "Wow- nice tits!" you stop looking at the lascivious and start looking at the work. Now, I'm not sure if there ever stops being a lascivious quality to it, and the first few minutes I was most DECIDELY not looking at the work, but I love the idea of it, and I love the promise of this show. I have been planning a trip to DC to see some friends, and now I'm going to try to coincide it with this show. Who knows, maybe there's some other great fringe to see too! And there's also a blog about creating the show: http://bbwsf2009.blogspot.com/ Bare Breasted Women Sword Fighting is a vaudeville that unleashes the feminine mystique in a whirl of petticoats and a dazzling display of strength, swords, and skin. Behold brutal buxom beauties! Take in tantalizing ta-ta titans! Gaze longingly at the titillating, tangoing Bare Breasted Women Sword Fighting! (And, yes, this contains strong language and nudity.) conceived & directed by Lorraine Ressegger Performance schedule: July 16 @ 9pm; July 17 @ 10:30pm; July 18 @ 10:30pm; July 19 @ 8pm; July 22 @ 8pm; July 23 @ 8pm; July 24 @ 10:30pm; July 25 @ 10:30pm; July 26 @ 6pm. Tickets: $15. On sale June 22 at dogandponydc.com and capitalfringe.org.