Auditions!!!

The Mammals are holding general auditions for multiple projects during our 2009 season. We are looking for bold, energetic performers who are excited at the idea of creating new pieces to be premiered in 2009.

Where: 4001 N. Ravenswood Ave

( Ravenswood and Irving Park - East Side of the Metra Tracks) Suite 405
When: Sunday January 11th 12pm-5pm

To schedule a time call the Mammals at 866-593-4614 or email us at
themammals@gmail.com

What you'll need to bring -

Resume
Headshot
2 Prepared Contrasting Monologues,
Original Created Piece

Regarding your original created piece. The Mammals are excited about working with passionate individuals who consider themselves creative artists. We want to see what you like to create. This can be anything from a monologue you have written to design portfolio/ puppetry/ mask/ sculpture/ music /dance/ movement. We only ask that it be something you have worked on before arriving at the rehearsal. Feel free to share with us pieces you've created at improvisational workshops previously, but we prefer you not attempt to improvise an entirely new piece in front us.



Our 2009 season

Devils Don't Forget - April 2009
The Second Play in Bob Fisher's Noir Triptych

What would you do if you finally were able to forget all the sins of your past, but someone or something you can't quite identify is chasing you down trying to force you to remember? Devils Dont Forget takes all the genre elements of Noir and melds them with Lovecraftian villainy. Previously performed under the title "Save Me From Myself", the Chicago Reader said this play was "like Dario Argento putting flowers on the grave of Raymond Chandler."

Seven Snakes Workshop - Spring/Summer 2009

Described as Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome meets Romeo and Juliet, a story about a mysterious masked bandit who stumbles through a post apocalyptic desert into a abandoned veterans' hospital where the forsaken patients are certain he is their mortal enemy. The only remaining caretaker for the octogenarian military men is a girl raised at the hospital by her recently deceased mother, the last registered nurse assigned to this facility. The young girl must protect the mysterious masked man from the veterans' wrath, and in doing so falls in love. However, the old veterans aren't wholly wrong about the intent of this young enigmatic male. This workshop will be a collaborative approach to staging this Science Fiction Narrative over a number of weeks culminating in a private performance for friends and fellow artists.

The Meatlocker - Fall/Winter 2009

The Third Play in the Noir Triptych, this is the tale of a boxer haunted by demons from his past warning that if he goes down for the full ten count, even if it's a dive, he wont ever get back up. Every time the boxer steps on the mat, he is fighting for his life. The real trouble occurs when the boxer meets a bookie who wont take no for an answer to fix a fight. This story will be told by the Mammals in both graphic novel form as well as a stage production.

CLAY CONTINENT - The Conclusion of UTTERSON MEETS HYDE

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This panel concludes the scenario of Mr. Utterson meeting Edward Hyde.

Oct 19th we will begin the next scene - JEKYLL DISCOVERS SOMETHING DARK

More Clay Continent Webcomics!

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We've been busy on pre-production work for THE MEATLOCKER. As a result, we will have to alter our posting of panels for the Clay Continent Webcomic from every Sunday to every other Sunday. Starting in October, Clay Continent episodes will be posted on the first and third Sunday on each month. The next episode will be posted Sunday October 5th. Thank you all so much for reading. Please keep tuning it!!!

Clay Continent Scene Five Continues...

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CLAY CONTINENT - UTTERSON MEETS HYDE CONTINUES

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CLAY CONTINENT - UTTERSON MEETS HYDE continues...

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More Concept Art

Manny the Manager



Here's another shot of Benny the Bookie.



And the Meatlocker

Meet Benny the Bookie

Meet One of the Villians from The Meatlocker...
Benny the Bookie


Benny is being performed by Joe Janes...



who also happens to be a wonderful author of among other things WNEP's Metaluna. Closing weekend...See it...see it...see it!

Concept Art for The Meatlocker

Here is the first concept design for STITCH, another of the villians in our next big show THE MEATLOCKER.

Here is a description of the character...

From within the cigar smoke, STITCH begins to manifest. First we see one of his crutches within the light. It appears to be homemade, a concoction of pieces from a cane, a broom handle, and the butt of a rifle. The other crutch enters, it is similarly constructed. Finally STITCH drags himself into the light were we can see him. He is the ghost of an old cut man with a cheap stogie stabbed into his maw. His face and every part of his body is seriously scarred. As he drags himself around on crutches, it sounds like someone scrapping a shovel across the ground, as if his feet have been replaced with something metal, that can’t be seen under the cuff of his pant legs

Ron Kroll will be performing the role of STITCH.

CLAY CONTINENT and THE MEATLOCKER!!!

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Hey there Dear Readers!

Just a couple of Clay Continent panels this week. The reason is we've been super busy getting storyboards and conceptual art lined up for THE MEATLOCKER project...

here's another taste of concept art...

Ohhh man...

I hope you all are as excited to see THE MEATLOCKER comic book and stage play as much as we Mammals are excited to bring it too you.

So, next week we'll have more CLAY CONTINENT as well as more occasional concept art for THE MEATLOCKER!

The Meatlocker - Conceptual Art - AJ the Reporter

Here is one of our screen test shots of Mary Jo Bolduc. She is playing AJ the Reporter in the Mammals production/graphic novelization of
THE MEATLOCKER.

Here's a description of her character

She is in her autumn years, but she still has enough of a figure to let you know she use to be the kind of gal a flyboy would paint on a fuselage. Since she doesn’t have any grandkids to blow her dough on, she’s invested in a smart wardrobe. Dressed to impress, but still adhering to a classy, conservative taste. She can be a chameleon, talking out of the side of her mouth to a cabbie, rolling her r’s with the bullfighter, or crossing her t’s with the jetset.

Clay Continent - Scene Four - Utterson Meets Hyde

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Next Week... Scene Four continues

Sneak Peak at this Sunday's Episode of Clay Continent

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This Sunday Utterson meets Edward Hyde!!!

The Meatlocker - Conceptual Design - Benny the Bookie

Description of Benny the Bookie from the Script of THE MEATLOCKER.

BENNY is a balding back alley Napoleon with a Bronx accent, confident, cocky, seemingly easy going. He doesn’t notice or care that all the guys surrounding him got a good six inches and seventy five pounds on him. He wears a ratty sweat stained brown suit and tie. He has pinkie rings and a crushed fedora. Still, he wears them as if they were top and tails.

Joe Janes will be Benny the Bookie.

The Meatlocker - Conceptual Design - Manny the Manager

Manny the Manager...

MANNY is in his late fifties. A stocky bull dog of a man, his short sleeve shirt shows his well muscled, sparsely tattooed arms that could beat most any opponent at arm wrestling. But his aching back and soft bacon and burger fed belly mean he doesn’t have too much left when it comes to going toe to toe. His shirt unbuttoned showing the typical wife beater underneath. Time has had its way with MANNY. He wears glasses over an intelligent face full of wrinkles from too much frowning. Despite not having half as much spit and vinegar as he used to, his stance and demeanor belie his military training, and help him retain his well earned dignity.

Dave Lykins will be performing as Manny in the Graphic Novelization and hopefully the full production as well.

The Meatlocker - Conceptual Design - Rudy the Rhino

These are some of the first conceptual designs for Rudy the Rhino, one of the Villains in our next big Performance/Production.

Rudy is described in the playscript as...

RHINO... an ex-fighter who quit the mitts cause there was more money to be made as hired muscle. He is a dangerous, competent man. Even as he jokes those around him have trouble forgetting this. He has a full head of grey hair and his face appears as if chiseled in stone. He wears a grey suit, grey slacks, no jewelry. He is always rubbing his hands together, Those knuckles of his are always itchy.

Design wise, the most audacious thing about The Rhino is the upturned nose. This is an effect that is achievable for the Graphic novel, but more difficult with the live stage play. The great thing about the upturned nose is that the script's villains owe a debt the grotesque antagonists from Dick Tracy. Hence, if we can pull off the upturned nozzle it would be a nice visual touch.

There is mention made of Rhino's nose in the playscript. Actually, his nose is the reason from his nickname. No one has been able to break it. His nose bone, nor any of bone. In all his time in the ring and performing as a heavy for various bookies and underground business associates, he has never sustained a broken bone. There is even a tale told how back in the day another boxer broken his knuckles against Rhino's nose in the ring.

Don Hall will be standing in as Rudy the Rhino for the Graphic Novelization of The Meatlocker. Don has also been a part of the developmental process since the play's conception, namely enacting the part of Rudy the Rhino at all our previous read thrus.

CLAY CONTINENT - SCENE THREE - MORE FROM DR JEKYLL

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The Next Scene - UTTERSON MEETS HYDE
will be posted in 2 weeks.

All this week and next, we will be posting
conceptual art and updates for both CLAY CONTINENT as well as
our next upcoming project THE MEATLOCKER

Clay Continent - Scene Three - Meet Dr. Jekyll

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Next Week: More From Dr. Jekyll

Thank you

To all of you who have been reading and supporting the new webcomic version of Clay Continent...a big big Thank You.

Your support has convinced us that expanding into various mediums while continuing the pursuit of theatrical endeavors is a worthwhile effort.

Very soon, we'll be getting everything in order to start sharing more with you all about the Mammals next big thing... The Meatlocker a joint graphic novel and performance which will be in full swing 2009.

So, if you have enjoyed one of our previous productions, appreciate the new online graphic novelizations then please tell others about The Mammals and share our blog with them. And keep those "cards and letters" coming. Your positive feedback inspires us to keep at it!

And if our artistic creations interest you and you'd like to participate, please email us.

Thank You
Thank You and
Thank You Again

Sneak Peak at Next Sunday's Comic

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A sneak peak at next Sunday's comic - Meet Dr Henry Jekyll .

Check Back here on Sunday for the full episode, or subscribe to the Mammals' blog and never miss webcomic!

Clay Continent - Scene Two Concludes

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Next Week : Meet Dr. Henry Jekyll

Next Installment of Clay Continent?

Hello Readers.

I hope you are enjoying the graphic novelization of Clay Continent. Due to a blogging vacation, the next installment of Clay Continent will be posted here on July 6th.

We are so glad that many of you have expressed your enthusiasm for this project. Transferring an artistic creation from one medium to another is a huge task, a labor of love actually. However, I am also a novice at the creation of sequential art. So, I thank you loyal readers for your patience.

So, once again...installments of Clay Continent will resume next Sunday July 6th.

Clay Continent - Scene Two Continues - Hyde Game Continues

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Next Week - More Hyde on Feline Action

Sneak Peak of Sunday's Webcomic

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A sneak peak at next Sunday's comic - Hyde's Game Continues. Check Back here on Sunday for the full episode, or subscribe to the Mammals' blog and never miss webcomic!

Clay Continent - Scene Two - Hyde Wants To Play a Game

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Next Week - Hyde's Game Continues

Clay Continent - Scene One - An Audience with Mr. Utterson

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Next Sunday - Hyde Wants to Play a Game

Clay Continent - Overture - Dramatis Persona

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Next Sunday - An Audience with Mr. Utterson

Next Week - Clay Continent Begins Again!!!

On Sunday June 1st The Mammals will present the first installment of their Graphic Novelization - Clay Continent.

Constructed using photography from the Chicago production as its source, the Clay Continent graphic novelization will star the following Chicago performers in the roles they performed for the recent revival.

Don Hall


as Mr. Utterson




Dave Goss


as Mr. Edward Hyde


Jen Ellison


as Dr. Henry Jekyll


Serial installments will be posted here at themammals.blogspot.com every Sunday.

This is a new approach for our company and your feedback and encouragement are greatly appreciated.

If this endeavor proves to be a success, this will be become a regular feature here at themammals.blogspot.com.

The Mammals Mission: The Mammals explore performance works embracing themes of history, mythology, and destiny through the genres of science fiction, horror, and phantasmagoria.