Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Fight Fest Announces Participating Shows

By Byrne Harrison

The Brick Theater will present Fight Fest: A celebration of Fight Theater December 2-22.

Fight Fest is a theater festival dedicated to showcasing the art of Stage Combat. Created in 2009 by The Brick (creators of The Kung Fu Importance of Being Earnest, The Ninja Cherry Orchard and Macbeth Without Words), Timothy Haskell (Nightmare, the haunted house sensation) and Abby Marcus and Qui Nguyen of Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company (Soul Samurai and Alice in Slasherland), Fight Fest returns in December 2010 beginning on December 2nd with a free preview cabaret.

Preview Cabaret

Fight Fest Preview Cabaret features scenes and battles from the upcoming festival followed by the opening night party.

Thu Dec 2 @ 9pm - FREE!

Small amount of reserved tickets for the cabaret will be reservable. First Come, First Served after those are gone.

Participating Shows:

Bandage
Written by Kit Bihum
Directed by Snehal Desai
Fight Directed by Stephanie Willing
www.wix.com/mzbihun/payaso

The story of the Payaso-Gumi (The Clown Yakuza) and the epic battle that ended the war and began the journey. The play incorporates storytelling, dance, stage combat and classical clowning to tell a fast-paced tale of grudges, battles and slapstick. Costumed to accurately portray the tribal history of Jesters, Harlequins, and Augustes, Bandage dares to ask the question -- “What happens when clowns go bad?”
65 minutes
Sat Dec 4 @ 10:30pm
Sun Dec 5 @ 8pm
Fri Dec 10 @ 8pm
Sun Dec 12 @ 5pm
Sat Dec 18 @ 6pm


Bethlehem or Bust: How the Three Kings Teamed Up to Deliver the World’s Very First Christmas Presents
Company: Piper McKenzie Productions
Written by Jeff Lewonczyk
Directed by Hope Cartelli
Fight Directed by Adam Swiderski and Alexis Black
www.pipermckenzie.com

Everyone knows about the Three Kings and their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, but not so many people know about the adventures they had on their way to the manger. Bethlehem or Bust, Piper McKenzie’s first-ever family show, envisions the Wise Men as swashbucklers on an action-packed journey where they need to brave all sorts of robbers, monsters, Roman soldiers – and the occasional shepherd – on their way to meet one of history’s most famous babies. (Great for kids age 7 and up!)
75 minutes
Sat Dec 11 @ 2pm
Sun Dec 12 @ 2pm
Wed Dec 15 @ 8pm
Fri Dec 17 @ 8pm
Sat Dec 18 @ 2pm
Sun Dec 19 @ 2pm


Dar and Matey's Christmas SpectaculARGH!
Written by Larry Pontius
Directed by Robert Ross Parker of Vampire Cowboys

Adventure! Daring! Romance! Pirates Dar and Matey brave the North Pole to rescue their friend, Professor Genius, from the torturous clutches of Old St. Nick, that bastard. Allying with an Eskimo Princess they fight their way through polar bears, the evil sidekick Tiny Tim, and finally, Santa Claus! A throw back to the Golden Age of Drama, where Pirates were Men, Bears were Women, and the Baddies were BAD. Prepare for some Yule Tide YEARGH!
45 minutes
Sat Dec 4 @ 8pm
Mon Dec 6 @ 8pm
Fri Dec 10 @ 10:30pm
Sun Dec 19 @ 5pm
Mon Dec 20 @ 8pm
Wed Dec 22 @ 8pm


Raising Cane: A Family Portrait
Company: Pub Mike Samantha
Written by Stephen Cedars
Directed by Stephen Cedars and Christina Latimer
Fight Directed by Stephen Heskett

In the tradition of early John Waters and Troma Films, Raising Cane: A Family Portrait follows the familial disfunctions of simpleton in-breeds who love nothing more than beating each others brain's out. Camp humor and grotesque combat combine to explore the question of whether we stick with family cause we love 'em or if we love 'em because we can't escape.
70 minutes
Sat Dec 4 @ 5pm
Thu Dec 9 @ 8pm
Sat Dec 11 @ 8pm
Tue Dec 14 @ 8pm
Sun Dec 19 @ 8pm


Rapier Wit!
Company: En Garde Entertainment
Written by Alexandra Hastings (inspired by Shakespeare)
Directed by Alexandra Hastings and David Dean Hastings
Fight Directed by David Dean Hastings
www.engardeentertainment.com

It is 1607, and women aren't allowed to perform on the English stage...seven swordswomen gather to illegally swashbuckle their way through Shakespeare's greatest tragedies--to hilarious end. These smoking hot babes are armed to the teeth with swords, daggers, quarterstaves, whips, and of course Rapier Wit! Throw in some singing, some wrestling, some gender-bending, and some audience participation--and you have one heck of a good time! Join our all female fight troupe The Vixens En Garde in a fast-paced fantastical tribute to the Bard of Avon. Rated R for Violence, Sexuality, & Shakespearean Swearing.
90 minutes
Fri Dec 3 @ 8pm
Sat Dec 4 @ 2pm
Sun Dec 5 @ 5pm
Tue Dec 7 @ 8pm
Mon Dec 13 @ 8pm
Fri Dec 17 @ 10:30pm


Shadow Boxing
Company: Lincoln Company
Written by James Gaddas
Directed by Donald Pulford
Fight Directed by Donald Pulford
te-in.facebook.com/group.php?gid=284936234957

A story of defiance in a quest for dignity and respect. The son of a boxer who couldn't win, Flynn is determined not to end up like his father. He becomes a successful fighter through utter dedication. But is his gruelling training merely an avoidance tactic? A crisis builds as he moves to the title fight and hurtles to a shattering conclusion. James Gaddas's hard-hitting play features an emotionally intense and highly physical performance from Jonny Collis-Scurll, labelled 'one to watch' by the Stage following his performance in Weepie at C venues during last year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
50 minutes
Wed Dec 8 @ 7pm
Sun Dec 12 @ 7:30pm
Thu Dec 16 @ 8pm
Sat Dec 18 @ 8pm
Tue Dec 21 @ 8pm


All Fight Fest shows will take place at The Brick (575 Metropolitan Avenue between Union and Lorimer, Brooklyn). Tickets ($15) may be purchased online at www.bricktheater.com or by calling Theatermania at 212-352-3101

Press from Fight Fest 2009
“I had a blast seeing the work of all of these companies. This was truly a successful venture by The Brick, and hopefully something they explore again. Stage combat is an unsung art form, truly a niche market. So, once a year, it would be nice to have a place where, regardless of context, everyone can feel like a badass.”
Katelyn Manfre Time Out New York

Read other press for last year’s festival here.

See last year’s lineup here.

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