Thursday, December 23, 2010

Best of 2010? Hooray for SEVEN SNAKES!!!


We got some good news today! The Chicago Tribune put the Chicago Mammals' production of SEVEN SNAKES on its Best of 2010 Fringe listing. Thanks to the Trib for supporting the Fringe scene. Thanks to the cast and crew of SEVEN SNAKES. This review highlights Erin Orr (and rightly so), but I can tell you that this ensemble as a whole was excellent, dedicated... just a dream cast and crew. And thank you Chicago audiences for supporting us with your attendence and friendship!

Monday, December 13, 2010

DREAM JOURNAL OF DOCTOR JEKYLL has its cast!

Thanks to everyone who auditioned!

Here's the cast and crew for

DREAM JOURNAL OF DOCTOR JEKYLL

Congratulations to -

Professor Oliver Mastodon Peale – Jason Adams
H.F. – Vincent Lacey
Dame Contrarian – Ashlee Edgemon
Sissy Contrarian - Anne Boyer
Henry Jekyll – Scott Barsotti
Edward Hyde – Gabe Garza
Mister Utterson – Justin Warren
Jekyll’s Mother – Skyler Schrempp
Eve – Sarah Scanlon
Hydest – Erin Myers

Also with Lindsey Dorcus

Sets – John Ross Wilson
Costumes – Heidi J. Warriner

Assistant Director – Warwick Johnson

Written Collaboratively by – Jason Adams, Scott Barsotti, Randall Colburn, Bob Fisher, Reina Hardy, Warwick Johnson, and Jeremy Menekseoglu

Conceived and Directed by Bob Fisher

Monday, November 15, 2010

Possible Cast of Characters for DREAM JOURNAL OF DOCTOR JEKYLL

Possible Cast (Character Names Subject to Change)

-Professor Antiquarian
-Assistant
-Jekyll
-Hyde
-Utterson
-Eve
-Madame Contrarian/Hydest (Performed by one actor/actress)
-Jekyll’s Father/Sister Contrarian (Performed by one actor/actress)

Character Descriptions

Professor Antiquarian – A collector of arcane and macabre memorabilia. A curator of sorts who seeks likeminded individuals with whom he can share the experience of reveling in mutual fascinations.

The Professor’s Assistant – Nowhere near as enthusiastic as the Professor regarding the subject matter of the macabre. But, he has been a trusted employee for a number of decades. The Assistant has earned the right to a small degree of obstinacy, but only so long as the tea is prepared just the way the Professor likes it.

Henry Jekyll – A Free-Thinker, A scientist, A Physician, An Entomologist, A seeker of truth, A man whose mission it is to eradicate the darkness from within the collective unconscious, or collective soul of the human race. Science is the key, but occasional dabbling with Mythology also occurs .

Edward Hyde – Could be anything. Perhaps the Schizophrenic sub persona of Jekyll. Perhaps the ego of a underdeveloped conjoined sibling. Perhaps a homosexual lover to Jekyll. Perhaps Jekyll himself completely surrendering to the impulse known as Id. An imaginary friend? A demon from hell toying with the Flesh that is Jekyll? Whereas Jekyll attempts to use science to cleanse humanity, Hyde would propose Magic and/or the Arts. Throughout the story, Hyde attempts many different mediums through which to work out and suppress that which is dark in mankind.

Mister Utterson – A longtime friend to the Jekyll Household ever since the days of the mysterious disappearing fetus. He has watched all his friends named Jekyll pass from this earth. He wants his young friend Henry Jekyll to outlive him. In order to do so, he has become quite the detective/busybody/surveyor of Henry. He wants what he thinks is best for Henry even if it is not what Henry appears to desire.

Jekyll’s Father – A man of science who loves reading mythology. A man who goes slightly mad after the death of his wife. He is obsessed with an insect that he found trapped in amber, a mosquito using its needle to pierce its own blood engorged abdomen. He dubs this oddity the Mosquito Ouroboros.

Hydest – The darkest part of Jekyll/Hyde personified.

Eve – When all attempts by Jekyll/Hyde at expunging darkness out of humanity seem to fail, they attempt to find solace in the arms of a woman named Eve. Instead every sliver of repressed fear, anxiety, fantasy, compulsion become manifest. Is Eve everything she appears to be to Jekyll and Hyde? Or is she just a beautiful woman who can not decide between the light and the dark? Victim or Villainess? To most men, Eve raises more questions than she answers. To most women, she is just another manifestation of the male gender’s problematic posture regarding anything feminine.

Madame Contrarian – One half of a conjoined twin. Madame has cast herself as the arch enemy of Professor Antiquarian. Believing him to be a charlatan, she does everything she can to discredit him and perceives herself to be in mortal combat with him. It doesn’t help that her conjoined twin, Sister Contrarian, is madly in love with the professor.

Sister Contrarian – Madly in love with the Professor but unable to repress the physical control of her conjoined twin, Madame Contrarian.

Monday, November 08, 2010

Thanks Again!



Hey Thanks again! This time from the Octogenarian Veterans!

Thank You Chicago



From the cast and crew... Thanks to our friends and audience!

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Dave Lykins



This guy is unstoppable!

Monday, November 01, 2010

Pictures From Skillet County

This is picture John Ross Wilson brought to our production meeting



This is what he made at the Zoo.





Put your hands together for John Ross Wilson.

BTW Friday night is sold out. Less than 5 seats left closing night at the time of this posting!

A big thank you to everyone who came and who is coming this weekend!!!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Only 3 more chances to catch SEVEN SNAKES


Click on the image to enlarge

Saturday Oct 30th is SOLD OUT.
The 3 other remaining performances are all half sold.

Due to scheduling, we can not extend. So, please help us fill the seats for all remaining shows!

If you've seen the show, please tell your friends how fantastic and unique Seven Snakes is!

Thank you Chicago!!!!

Here's the info!

Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th - Standing Room Only!!!
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th - Almost Sold Out - Hurry!

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Coming Soon - DREAM JOURNAL OF DOCTOR JEKYLL


click to enlarge

Coming Spring 2011 - DREAM JOURNAL OF DOCTOR JEKYLL!!!

Right Now - SEVEN SNAKES!!! only 4 shows left!

Saturday Halloween Weekend is Sold Out! We have just a few tickets left for this Friday. Call 866-593-4614 for reservations!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Getting Ready for Spring 2011 but we still have something for you in 2010!


click to enlarge

But before that... see Seven Snakes before we close on November 6th!

Looks like we got everyone's individual trading cards up!!!

We'll still have some new trading cards on the way, but we now have the entire cast's individual cards up! You can click on the links below to see any cards for the cast you might have missed!

Here is the cast in order of appearance!!

Roy Gonzalez as THE MAN

Jim Hicks as AGENT V
Erin Orr as THE DAUGHTER
Don Hall as MAMMA
Ian Brown as PRIVATE RADAR
Matt Kahler as THE COLONEL
Adam Dodds as SGT ROBERT RINGO
Vincent Lacey as CORPORAL CHEESE GRITS
Shane Michael Murphy as PRIVATE TOADSUCK
Sean Ewert as MR HEY
Riso Straley as SEGUNDO
Bert Matias as Chupa Fuerte
Miguel Nunez as CUCHILLO
Mojo Albiar as ANGEL
Warwick Johnson as AGENT FIDO

Closing Soon!!!!

Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th - Standing Room Only!!!
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th - Almost Sold Out - Hurry!

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

Ian Brown as Radar in SEVEN SNAKES


click image to enlarge

We are selling out! Saturday Oct 30th is standing room only!
So call us!

Closing Soon!!!!

Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th - Standing Room Only
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

Monday, October 25, 2010

Don Hall as Mamma in SEVEN SNAKES


click image to enlarge

We are selling out! Saturday Oct 30th is standing room only!
So call us!

Closing Soon!!!!

Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th - Standing Room Only
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

Friday, October 22, 2010

Adam Dodds as Robert Ringo in SEVEN SNAKES!


click to enlarge image

We have been recommended by WGN, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Reader, New City, Timeout, ChicagoTheaterBlog, and more...

We are selling out! So call us!

Closing Soon!!!!

Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

Thursday, October 21, 2010

WGN! Chicago Magazine! Thank You from The Mammals

Thank you to WGN and Chicago Magazine for the thumbs up for SEVEN SNAKES!

Here's the link, go check it out!

P.S. Our Shows Halloween weekend are almost sold out! You got to get your tickets fast. Call 866-593-4614 for reservations!

Riso Straley as Segundo in SEVEN SNAKES




Closing Soon!!!!

Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

Sean Ewert as Mr Hey in SEVEN SNAKES


click on image to enlarge

Closing Soon!!!!

Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Jim Hicks as Agent V in SEVEN SNAKES


click on image to enlarge

Closing Soon!!!!

Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

SEVEN SNAKES is Recommended Again and Again and Again

SEVEN SNAKES is recommended again and again and again. There are only a few performances left. November 6th is closing night. This show can not be held over.

What the press is saying...

TIMEOUT CHICAGO says Somewhat Recommended "this sci-fi spaghetti Western set in a postapocalyptic future is some of the finest genre theater you’ll find—funny, visually striking, unexpected. For such a small space, the Mammals’ Ravenswood loft features a deep and dynamic playing area that’s used superbly. The large cast is well suited to the style, particularly Erin Elizabeth Orr as the forlorn young lover known as the Girl and Matt Kahler as the Colonel, a sort of Donald Rumsfeld–meets–Foghorn Leghorn villain. Throw in live music, guns, gruesome facial disfigurements and just about the best-ever birds-and-bees speech, and you’ve got the fixins for fine Western freakout."

CHICAGOTHEATERBLOG.COM give 3 out of 4 Stars "The play achieves the surreal state of 60s Westerns, parodying and doing homage to them at the same time. The priceless comic timing of the Colonel, Radar (Ian Brown), Sgt. Ringo (Adam Dodds), Corporal Cheese Grits (Vincent Lacey), Private Toadsuck (Shane Michael Murphy) and Mr. Hey (Sean Ewert) make lines like, “So, what about that drifter’s penis?” and “That is the art of camouflage, girly” ring hysterically and resonantly funny."

CHICAGO TRIBUNE give 3.5 out of 4 Stars "Rip-roaring but quiet when it needs to be, this new play finds a way to repurpose all those cinematic conventions for the stage — the violence, the suspense, the unsettling eroticism and mesquite-flavored dialogue. Fisher and his company (The Mammals) have been steadily working in and around various film genres for a while, and you can't argue with the results — the company might be one of the more exciting theater companies to emerge on the fringe scene in recent years."

CHICAGO READER short listed and Highly Recommended says "full-throttle performances, live electric guitar music in the style of Ennio Morricone's Spaghetti Western soundtracks, and atmospheric visual and sound design mark this inventive, low-budget production as the work of artists with a distinctive, compelling, and decidedly freaky vision."

Closing Soon!!!!

Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

Fernando "Mojo" Albiar as Angel in SEVEN SNAKES

Time is running out to see the highly recommended SEVEN SNAKES!!!!


click on image to enlarge

Closing Soon!!!!

Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Bert Matias is Chupa Fuerte aka Dirty Ol' Snake!


click on image to enlarge

Other Digital Trading Cards! Click 'em and get 'em all!

From God's Mouth to My Ears
Cheese Grits & Falafel
Bumper Sticker Slogans
My Heart Quickens

Cold Blooded
Good Over Right
I'm Running The Show
I Don't Want To Devour You
I Ain't Easy

Closing Soon!!!!

Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Warwick Johnson as Agent Fido


click on image to enlarge

Other Digital Trading Cards! Click 'em and get 'em all!

From God's Mouth to My Ears
Cheese Grits & Falafel
Bumper Sticker Slogans
My Heart Quickens

Cold Blooded
Good Over Right
I'm Running The Show
I Don't Want To Devour You
I Ain't Easy

Closing Soon!!!!

Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

Monday, October 11, 2010

Vincent Lacey as Cheese Grits in SEVEN SNAKES!


Click on image to enlarge!

Starting this week, Seven Snakes is on Fridays and Saturdays!

Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

8pm - 20 Bucks

For reservations call 866-593-4614 or email us at themammals@gmail.com

Friday, October 08, 2010

New Seven Snakes Digital Trading Cards!

2 for 1 deal ends this weekend! Come See! Come See!


Click on image to enlarge!


Click on image to enlarge!

Want Tickets?

Remaining Shows!!!

Saturday Oct 9th
Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614
The Mammals explore performance works embracing themes of history, mythology, and destiny through the genres of science fiction, horror, and phantasmagoria.

(866) 593-4614 * email: themammals@gmail.com

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Colburn on Fisher... Fisher on Colburn

Yes... I know how that sounds. My theatre buddy Randall Colburn came and saw SEVEN SNAKES and I went to see his latest GHOSTBOX. We did a little write up review of each others pieces under the precondition that it could be 10 mins of stream of consciousness writing, and that I would let whatever Randall had to say go up on the blog unedited.

BTW this is Randall.

I was going to put a gun in hand with photoshop, but alas no time...

So here first are Randall's thoughts on the Mammals' show, followed up by my thoughts on his production with Infusion Theatre Company.

COLBURN on FISHER
seven snakes what the hell is wrong with you bob ps: I totes dug it and i seriously I want your mind and I want your gusto I’m too scared to do what you do what with the huge cast and gender bending and genre bending and breaking and stomping and honoring and slathering a smushed bloody heart all over the proceedings at the same time and erin orr killed it but I don’t like to see her yell and scream so much and matt kahler was my favorite that funeral march dude with the kid radio thing I don’t know what it’s called but I don’t think I've seen anything like it in chicago theater ever and isn't that what we want to do create things no one has seen or things that feel fresh and interesting and not stupid and lame and boring and derivative and i liked roy gonzales a lot in this show i liked him in meatlocker more but he had more lines then so maybe that's that but he seems to fit into your universe and don hall is awesome but i don't understand why he was playing a woman but does it matter not really i don't think and i don't think we needed him around after the first 20 minutes not that i didn't enjoy his performance but it's like how dexter's dad on the show dexter needed to leave the show after the second season because it's like what do you do with him now and i was offput at times by how nasty the va guys were and thought sean ewert was great in his death scene and i'm not just saying that because he's my facebook friend and the secret agent dudes added some texture to the play and i love the way you play with sound it sounds so cavernous and creates this really thick awesome atmosphere but i didn't get why they were there really the whole thing where they were speaking into erin's brain kinda lost me but i liked the way they looked in the universe you know a lot of people call theater experimental which is kind of a dumb word and i kind of hate talking about what is experimental and all that other bs because it's like just make good art you know make something that feels authentic and real and dangerous and daring and ballsy and it will feel different and we don't need to impose difference and what i dig about the mammals is that its less about imposing weirdness and more about fulfilling a vision and while im kind of the opposite in terms of indulgence i think its really important to have a company like the mammals doing stuff like this that can kinda blow peoples minds a bit even if they dont get it or dont like it or dont care about it its about eliciting a reaction and provoking a response and not just trying to be cute and cuddly and witty and i think theatre should be a deeply personal and intense experience where the artists are putting themselves out there putting themselves on the line and even though theres nothing really realistic which is a dumb word about your plays they feel deeply personal and i can tell you care about them and sometimes i feel like no one cares and those are the worst days and i liked the lecherous older snake but i thought it was sorta lame that all the snakes got killed by one va guy i was prepared for all of them to go off the hook and shit but maybe thats a genre thing im not as familiar with and i love the way you fuck with genre it might be my favorite thing about your work how you subvert genre and fuse them and create a little genre monster and it's like for everything i don't like there's something i like even more and they're not boring and they fuck with genre and archetypes and okay im done go see it dont be lame bye.


So... now you know... go see my show SEVEN SNAKES!


and now...

FISHER on COLBURN
So many folks seemed to have gotten past god. But here it seems that you haven't. And to me that is refreshingly naked and raw in a way that opens one up to so much condescension. That is a risk that I don't see taken enough. But it is so private. Audacity of dread plus patience without menace. What the simplicity of the world holds for those who believe in demons. The differences between demons and ghosts and simple electrical surges. But I want to say that less is more here. And I wonder, were the ambiguities exorcised? Our did I just imprint my own spirits on the aural Rorschach.

Beckettian or Beckettesque (I like the later). Spoiler Alerts. Belief in something other than the material plane seems to be such a weird taboo in certain circles (and I think this Chicago Theater Circle is one of them). When the median is so atheistic, how do they digest your vision without looking down it? I guess we will see wont we? They can connect to the pain of a lost child... yes. They can focus on what is 'really' happening? But the characters' obsessions with the ethereal... can those who don't stay up late praying or talking to people who aren't 'in the room with you'... will they be moved? Or is it just 'make believe to the extreme' for them? Ghostbox made me think. That is wonderful. How sad it is to say how rarely I am forced to think like this in theatre.

Now the filmwork was both brilliant and well...a little too 'ring' for me. I liked the biblical quotes. I liked the way the frame widened at the end and saw everything on the beach. I liked the way the images were ghosts and in that way it didn't matter if ghosts were 'real'? Those images are impermanent and yet inescapable...seems like a ghost to me.

I like the light bulb, I like the electric shock at the mention of his name. I love your actress, I saw her in Curse of the Starving Class and her face is so expressive and endearing. The hope hurt me. I started shaking my head because I thought they were hurting themselves to much with hope. The play ends in hell but there is hope?

I don't know where your writing ends and the direction begins. It makes it hard for me to feel confidence in my commentary. I'll just assume everything belongs to you till I'm told differently.

The strength of the piece is its patience, but it is also its Achilles heel too. This piece to me is sort of a rebuttal to Sartre's too famous notion. Life is isolation. Hell is isolation. Other people are needed in order to escape this kind of hell.

I'm stopping now. I hope people tune their heart to the frequency this piece insists upon. That insistence is admirable. Maybe, I was right... perhaps Krapp does get the girl in the end?


Well, that's it. Go see Ghostbox (click here for info). And then go see SEVEN SNAKES!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Chicago Tribune gives SEVEN SNAKES 3.5 Stars!!!

"Fisher and his company (The Mammals) have been steadily working in and around various film genres for a while, and you can't argue with the results — the company might be one of the more exciting theater companies to emerge on the fringe scene in recent years."

Want Tickets?

Remaining Shows!!!

Saturday Oct 2nd
Saturday Oct 9th
Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614
The Mammals explore performance works embracing themes of history, mythology, and destiny through the genres of science fiction, horror, and phantasmagoria.

(866) 593-4614 * email: themammals@gmail.com

Another great review for SEVEN SNAKES!

3 out 4 stars from Chicago Theater Blog!

"The play achieves the surreal state of 60s Westerns, parodying and doing homage to them at the same time. The priceless comic timing of the Colonel, Radar (Ian Brown), Sgt. Ringo (Adam Dodds), Corporal Cheese Grits (Vincent Lacey), Private Toadsuck (Shane Michael Murphy) and Mr. Hey (Sean Ewert) make lines like, “So, what about that drifter’s penis?” and “That is the art of camouflage, girly” ring hysterically and resonantly funny."

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

I Don't Want to be Cold Blooded - New Digital Trading Card!


click on image to enlarge

The Mammals Theatre Company presents

SEVEN SNAKES

written and directed by Bob Fisher
The Mammals are proud to present SEVEN SNAKES, an apocalyptic western set 30 years from now in the remains of what was once The Arizona desert. A Young Woman must choose sides as a Group of Octogenarian Veterans of Foreign Desert Wars engage in a mythic battle with a team of mysterious masked gunslingers known as the Seven Snakes.

Performance Nights are
...
Saturday Sept 25th
Saturday Oct 2nd
Saturday Oct 9th
Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614
The Mammals explore performance works embracing themes of history, mythology, and destiny through the genres of science fiction, horror, and phantasmagoria.

(866) 593-4614 * email: themammals@gmail.com

New Digital Trading Card! Matt Kahler as The Colonel in SEVEN SNAKES!


click on image to enlarge

The Mammals Theatre Company presents

SEVEN SNAKES

written and directed by Bob Fisher
The Mammals are proud to present SEVEN SNAKES, an apocalyptic western set 30 years from now in the remains of what was once The Arizona desert. A Young Woman must choose sides as a Group of Octogenarian Veterans of Foreign Desert Wars engage in a mythic battle with a team of mysterious masked gunslingers known as the Seven Snakes.

Performance Nights are
...
Saturday Sept 25th
Saturday Oct 2nd
Saturday Oct 9th
Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614
The Mammals explore performance works embracing themes of history, mythology, and destiny through the genres of science fiction, horror, and phantasmagoria.

(866) 593-4614 * email: themammals@gmail.com

Monday, September 27, 2010

So far...so good! Seven Snakes is Highly Recommended twice!!

From the Chicago Reader, Highly Recommended review -

"full-throttle performances, live electric guitar music in the style of Ennio Morricone's Spaghetti Western soundtracks, and atmospheric visual and sound design mark this inventive, low-budget production as the work of artists with a distinctive, compelling, and decidedly freaky vision." click here to go to the review.

And from the New City, Recommended review -

"One wonders why he cast the eminently enjoyable and obviously male Hall in the strongest female role; drag doesn’t add to the character or story. But Orr brings enough pluck to stare down any testosterone imbalance. Kahler’s pomp spins out into fun menace. Adam Dodds, Vincent Lacey, Shane Michael Murphy and Sean Ewert are deliciously decrepit as the inhabitants of John Ross Wilson’s ghostly VA..." click here to go to the review.

Here's the info you need to see the show!

Remaining Performance Nights are
...
Saturday Oct 2nd
Saturday Oct 9th
Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614
The Mammals explore performance works embracing themes of history, mythology, and destiny through the genres of science fiction, horror, and phantasmagoria.

(866) 593-4614 * email: themammals@gmail.com

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

SEVEN SNAKES opens SAT SEPT 25th!


click on image to enlarge

The Mammals Theatre Company presents

SEVEN SNAKES

written and directed by Bob Fisher
The Mammals are proud to present SEVEN SNAKES, an apocalyptic western set 30 years from now in the remains of what was once The Arizona desert. A Young Woman must choose sides as a Group of Octogenarian Veterans of Foreign Desert Wars engage in a mythic battle with a team of mysterious masked gunslingers known as the Seven Snakes.

Performance Nights are
...
Saturday Sept 25th
Saturday Oct 2nd
Saturday Oct 9th
Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

Cast: Fernando Albiar, Ian Brown, Adam Dodds, Sean Ewert , Roy Gonzalez, Don Hall, Jim Hicks, Warwick Johnson, Matt Kahler, Vincent Lacey, Bert Matias, Shane Michael Murphy, Miguel Nunez, Erin Orr, Riso Straley

Asst Director: Juan Castaneda
Set Designer: John Ross Wilson
Costume & Make Up Design: Heidi Jade Warriner
Music: David Lykins

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613
Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614
The Mammals explore performance works embracing themes of history, mythology, and destiny through the genres of science fiction, horror, and phantasmagoria.

(866) 593-4614 * email: themammals@gmail.com

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Promise Me - Seven Snakes Trading Card


click to enlarge

Other Digital Trading Cards
Good Over Right
I'm Running The Show
I Don't Want To Devour You
I Ain't Easy

The Mammals are proud to present SEVEN SNAKES, an apocalyptic western set 30 years from now in the remains of what was once The Arizona desert.

A Young Woman must choose sides as a Group of Octogenarian Veterans of Foreign Desert Wars engage in a mythic battle with a team of mysterious masked gunslingers known as the Seven Snakes.

Performance Nights are
...
Saturday Sept 25th
Saturday Oct 2nd
Saturday Oct 9th
Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

8pm - 20 Bucks

4001 N Ravenswood Ave Suite B-1

Call 866-593-4614 for reservations!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Good Over Right - Seven Snakes Trading Card


Click image to enlarge

The Mammals are proud to present SEVEN SNAKES, an apocalyptic western set 30 years from now in the remains of what was once The Arizona desert.

A Young Woman must choose sides as a Group of Octogenarian Veterans of Foreign Desert Wars engage in a mythic battle with a team of mysterious masked gunslingers known as the Seven Snakes.

Performance Nights are
...
Saturday Sept 25th
Saturday Oct 2nd
Saturday Oct 9th
Friday Oct 15th
Saturdays Oct 16th
Friday Oct 22nd
Saturday Oct 23rd
Friday Oct 29th
Saturday Oct 30th
Friday November 5th
Saturday November 6th

8pm - 20 Bucks

4001 N Ravenswood Ave Suite B-1

Call 866-593-4614 for reservations!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Monday, August 09, 2010

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Friday, July 30, 2010

The Cast for SEVEN SNAKES!

The Man - Roy Gonzalez
The Daughter - Erin Orr
The Mother - Don Hall
The Colonel - Matt Kahler
Ringo - Adam Dodds
Cheese Grits - Vincent Lacey
Toadsuck - Shane Michael Murphy
Archibald - Sean Ewert
Radar - Ian Brown
Segundo - Riso Straley
Chupa Fuerte - Bert Matias
Cuchillo - Miguel Nunez
Angel - Fernando Albiar
Seis - Warwick Johnson
Agent V - Jim Hicks

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Seven Snakes Inspiration - 7

DJANGO!!!



Less style than Leone. More Grand Guignol.



More vivil depictions of violence to the protagonist.



A figure as cool or good looking as Eastwood, but no where nearly as stylishly shot. Eastwood plays a cool headed character than many would want emulate, but there is more story and therefore more to emotionally connect to with Django.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Leone's use of the frame as theatrical legs



There are all kinds of moments in a Leone film where he uses the frame of the image to hide something from the audience, but also from the characters within the frame. From a naturalistic point of view, it is incredulous. Image 2 men committing a robbery in a graveyard and a third man with a shovel sneaks up on them in broad daylight. Sir Christopher Frayling mentions that Leone's movies almost work better as 'theatre' and in this way he is right. Hey but it makes for great set up especially if you can buy it, and the truth is that if you've enjoyed the story up until this point, you either buy it or decide to surrender to it so that you can see the promised conflict.

In this scene, Eastwood sneaks up on Wallach in the same fashion that Van Cleef does both of them. Then later Leone askes us to believe that Eastwood sets up a noose only a few feet from Wallach, but again since Eastwood is out of frame, we don't see him, so neither does Wallach.

Convenient. But what the hell! Hey you work with what you got. There are lessons to be learned here for those of us with limited resource and space!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Seven Snakes Inspiration - 5



Most of us know all about Sergio Leone, but what about Sergio Corbucci? Not nearly the stylist that Leone was, Corbucci took his dark cowboy tales to even more powerful heights of violence than Leone had. Remember that when the Spaghetti West begun, Americans were getting their western fix from TV and rarely saw a gun fired and the wound it made within the same frame.

The violent images being used by the Italians, and Corbucci specifically, had an effect on audiences that would be hard to replicate in cinema. But we aren't doing cinema. We are telling stories for the stage and that gives us an opportunity to impact people the same way those inventive and provocative Italians once did. The embed above is just a few still images with the theme song. It seems to me after listening to this that they had to be going for an elvis sort of sound, but... the tune is kind of catchy and It grows on you quickly (me at least).

The character of Django is actually more compelling and endearing than any of the variations of the "Man with no Name". Whereas Eastwood makes for a cooler more stylized anti-hero, the motivations and pathos of Django matter more emotionally. There is real catharsis to Franco Nero's character that never really occurs to Eastwood in the Dollars Trilogy.

Seven Snakes Inspiration - 6



OK, this is like heart stopping exciting for me! I have a huge art man crush on Paul Pope, and when I saw that he actually put pen to paper and drew the character Harmonica from Once Upon A Time in West... well lets just say I would spend everything in pockets to get this on my wall.

Music has power in the Westerns of Sergio Leone. The use of the harmonica in Once Upon a Time in the West, and the use of the musical time piece in For A Few Dollars More. I'm hoping to capture something similar in Seven Snakes with the use of the Flute. Reminder to myself - Talk to the awesome David Lykins about this ASAP.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Everything you might want to know about SEVEN SNAKES auditions on July 17th

Seven Snakes Synopsis - Part Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Part The Searchers, Part Naked Lunch, Part Romeo and Juliet, Part Beauty and Beast. SEVEN SNAKES is an apocalyptic western set 30 years from now in the remains of what was once The Arizona desert. A Young Woman must choose sides as a Group of Octogenarian Veterans of Foreign Desert Wars engage in a mythic battle with a team of mysterious masked gunslingers known as the Seven Snakes.

Important Production Dates -

Rehearsals start August 1st
Previews start Sept 18th
The Show Runs Fridays and Saturdays thru November 13th

Auditions are 1-6pm on July 17th at Zoo Studios, located at 4001 N. Ravenswood Ave Suite b-1

Cast of Characters - Click here for Character descriptions

What about the Mammals? Who are they?
- The Mammals Mission: The Mammals explore performance works embracing themes of history, mythology, and destiny through the genres of science fiction, horror, and phantasmagoria.

If you have further questions, please email us at themammals at gmail dot com.

Please no agents. This is a non-equity audition call.

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Seven Snakes Production Journal #2

Saturday I get to hear the latest version of Seven Snakes out loud. It has been quite a while since I've heard actors speak these lines. It was the very first Mammal artistic activity when we moved into our recent digs, the Zoo Studio. In order to beat the heat (we are waiting out summer before we start production again), my good friend, Don Hall, has offered to let me have the reading at his place.

I was hoping to have an ending tagged on by now. I'm very close, but as of Saturday, there will be various endings in my head, but none yet on he final page of the script. Some might wonder what is the good of having this reading without having a fully finished draft. For me, most of the scripts I write have been generated in this sort of fashion.

I kind of like doing it this way. I like hearing folks opinions of the direction a script is going in before they know how I'll end it. It is a great way to see how the first half or two thirds of a story is setting up expectation. It is also a great way to shape language and style. Sometimes hearing a scene out loud helps me discover a necessary adjustment that has to happen before I can even conceive of a subsequent scene.

I like to think of it as sculpting a script. When do you decide it's time to hear your words out loud?

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Seven Snakes Production Journal #1

The script is coming along. There are some incredibly wild moments in it that I can't wait to see onstage. This Saturday we will have a read thru of the working script. Next Saturday we will have auditions. Then August 1st we begin rehearsals. I am excited, but also I am anxious. I should find comfort in that the feelings like butterflies don't seem to go away. It means that it still matters to me. This play represents brand me territory for the Mammals. We are having our way with the mythology of the West. Right now, we are sort in a Lewis and Clark frame of mind filled with adrenaline due to the thrill of the adventure, but also just a short distance from throwing up from all the excitement.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Seven Snakes - The Characters Thus Far (This Script is still in development)

In order of appearance

Donkeyface - A nomadic entrepreneur and survivalist who runs his own delivery service out here in Skillet County. He used to have a wagon and a team of donkeys to drive it, but since hard time have hit the Skillet about a decade ago, his delivery service has had to sustain some unexpected downsizing. He is at least 50. Any man with that much mileage on his face and body who aint at least 50 would sure be a sorry sight in the eyes anyone. Wizened, Shaggy, Horny.

Mother - late 40's a free thinker who took a job working as an RN at the Skillet County Veteran's Administration Hospital because when the hard times hit, there weren't much else to choose from. A single mother. She has recently been afflicted with some sort of disease from which there is no cure. She is planning for her last days. She is ornery, perhaps having bigger balls then any of the old octogenarian veterans with whom she is charged to treat. Her daughter often refers to her as half woman/half cactus. She is rough and tough. The only person who ever sees a softer side would be her daughter, but even then that soft side might only be a dream.

Daughter - Our protagonist. Just barely 17, she is her Mother's Daughter. Not as tough, but she has an edge when you piss her off. She cares about this world, because it is the only world she has even known. Her Mother's death thrusts her whole way of life into chaos. Having lived most of her life out here on the Skillet, until the events of her story unfold, she has never seen a young man anywhere except on TV. It is this fact that helps explain all her confusion about the Man she encounters. She knows a little something about the birds and the bees, and she is used to the attentions of men, since she is the only target for the Octogenarians to aim their libidos towards.

The Judge - Leader of the Octogenarian Veterans. An Ancient yet potent military man. Extremely conservative in all aspects except for his dress and his taste in military equipment. He has an almost unquestionable authority over the other veterans at the Skillet County Veteran's Admin Hospital. He is into badges and medals and has been awarded many, some by the armed forces, some self awarded since the hard times hit and communication with the military establishment has been shoddy at best. He envisions himself as a protector of the citizenry and the American way. When severely confronted and offended he can and does become quite dangerous. His inflexibility becomes psychotic. The ultimate wingnut.

Sicko the Judge's Second Banana - Another Octogenarian Veteran. Probably more akin to a teabagger, birther, minuteman, ex rodeo clown. Sicko is xenophobic, foul mouthed, racist, and unrepentant. Whereas the Judge always attempts to maintain a dignified poise, Sicko has no problem expressing his most abhorrent and scatological prejudices. He is everything that is dumb and inevitable about the western style baddie/second banana villain.

The Man - A tall young dark skinned man reminiscent of Clint Eastwood. A variation on the man in black. He is the first of the seven snakes.

Mr. Hey - The sole surviving conscientious objector when the Judge calls for vengeance in the second act. Mr. Hey pays dearly, but he also gives his footlocker key and with it his hidden arsenal to the Daughter before he passes.

The Fourth Brother - A violent bandit who wants to avenge the death or his family, as well as punish the Man for his recent betrayals to the cause. A fundamentalist in the most frightening sense.

Agent R - Government Intelligence Agent. Sunglasses. Ear bud. Suit, Tie, Apron when necessary.

Agent T - Government Intelligence Agent. Sunglasses. Ear bud. Suit, Tie, Apron when necessary. A little more cautious than Agent R

The Fifth Brother - Kidnapped, Waterboarded, put through the same paces that those at Abu Grahib and Guantanamo were put through.

Various Octogenarian Veterans, as well as The Second, Third, Sixth, and Seventh Brother (double casting here is probable)

Friday, June 25, 2010

Seven Snakes - Inspiration Two

One of my artistic heroes, Guy Maddin, talks about having a space to create. He fills this space with pictures that inspire him to want to tell stories. I'm going to do that a little bit here at the blog in relation to the Mammals' new show SEVEN SNAKES






Who is the JUDGE in SEVEN SNAKES?

Every western needs its baddie, and our head baddie is an Octogenarian Veteran nicknamed the Judge. I was trying to remember what inspired this character. Combing through Google images, I found these images and I couldn't resist the visual comparisons.

It is an established stereotype in art and literature, the high ranking military man whose sense of duty,dogma, tradition becomes corrupted by xenophobia and hubris resulting in potentially catastrophic displays of power. Sometimes it isn't a military figure, but it appears to almost always be a patriarchal presence. For instance a statesman, law officer, high ranking administrator.

They are our elders, but they are not our fathers. We should not mistake their compassion of convenience with anything approaching paternal concern, even if they themselves make that same mistake.

Self proclaimed Abrahams that always see themselves as heroes regardless what darkness they enable, they insist we perform the role of Issac. They lift the sword slow in anticipation of the divine throat clearing itself in warning.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Seven Snakes - Inspiration One



One of my artistic heroes, Guy Maddin, talks about having a space to create. He fills this space with pictures that inspire him to want to tell stories. I'm going to do that a little bit here at the blog.

This shot from Once Upon a Time In The West inspires me. So many of the images from this movie burned themselves into my brain, and from those borrowed visuals some how SEVEN SNAKES slowly percolated in my mind.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

We want you to be a part of our next show - SEVEN SNAKES!


The Mammals are holding auditions on July 24th for our next production called SEVEN SNAKES. Part Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Part The Searchers, Part Naked Lunch, Part Romeo and Juliet, Part Beauty and Beast. That's a lot of parts!

SEVEN SNAKES is an apocalyptic western set 30 years from now in the remains of what was once The Arizona desert.

A Young Woman must choose sides as a Group of Octogenarian Veterans of Foreign Desert Wars engage in a mythic battle with a team of mysterious masked gunslingers known as the Seven Snakes.

The Mammals are currently looking for actors of Latino, Arabic, or Native American descent to audition for the team of gunslingers.

The Mammals are also looking for Men of all ages and types to audition for the roles of the Octogenarian Veterans.

This will be a huge ensemble piece in the spirit of Sergio Leone and Sam Peckinpah.

If you would like to schedule an audition or ask questions, then email us at themammals at gmail dot com.

Please share this audition notice with any actors who you think might be interested!

Rehearsals Start August 1st
The Show Previews Sept 18th and opens Sept 25th running Fridays and Saturdays thru November 6th

Sunday, June 06, 2010

What's Next?

So, MEATLOCKER is now the past. The Mammals are going to set aside Noir for now and get ready for our first foray into the Western. Coming soon - SEVEN SNAKES

Friday, April 30, 2010

MEATLOCKER closes soon. Only 5 chances left!

The MEATLOCKER is just about down for the final count! Only 5 performances left! If you're even thinking about missing it, you should read the positive word about thus far!

"this may be his most confident, accessible work, as well as the best cast he’s assembled as a whole; these factors funnel neatly into a knockout first act that’d match up well against the cream of Chicago’s storefront crop." -

4/5 Stars TIMEOUT CHICAGO


"The cast is, to a man (and one woman), muscular and exceptional...a ripping narrative with a grotesquely lovely ending. No other writer in Chicago has the unique facility with words as Fisher does and the very language of The Meatlocker elevates these blood and sweat soaked pugs to classic character status. His very specific muse allows him to create theater like no one else has ever seen and in a town with so much goddamn theater that is so goddamned good, offering a truly distinct voice is remarkable. Like Clifford Odets with a hard-on for Tales of the Crypt." -

Recommended - AWG Chicago


"it's easy to get sucked into the sharp-elbowed wit and grit of The Meatlocker... the surprisingly tragic heart of Fisher's weird tale might just knock you sideways." -

3/4 stars CHICAGO TRIBUNE


"The best thing about The Mammals shows is that they’re distinctive; the spooky tension, dark laughs and heartbreaking trauma let you know whose show you’re watching. Bob Fisher’s phantasmagoric sensibility makes a unique mark on the theater scene; few companies can claim that...The cast is up to the task. Goss’ doomed struggle tugs at the heart; Dodds is the very picture of an eternal tormentor. Roy Gonzalez’ oily bookie makes you want to shower and Vinny Lacey’s sportscaster steals the scene every time he opens his mouth. Their basement space is perfect for this nightmare, a bleak cocoon for the unthinkable." -

Recommended - NEWCITY




Only five shows left! Friday and Saturdays at 8pm through May 14th
4001 N Ravenswood Ste B-1
corner of Irving Park and Ravenswood
call 866-593-4614 for reservations

This show will close on Friday May 14th!

Monday, April 26, 2010

You Can't Break A Bone In That Body!


Click on image to enlarge

Getting things lined up to start up the MEATLOCKER graphic novel. This is a project we've been dreaming about for a over a year now. The success thus far of our stage production of THE MEATLOCKER has reinvigorated our energies to get back at this graphic novelization.

It is a long process, but you don't have to wait for the comic book. You can see THE MEATLOCKER right now.

Call us for reservations 866-593-4614!

Timeout Chicago Weighs In 4 out 5 stars!

Alright! Here's the link

http://chicago.timeout.com/articles/theater/85148/the-meatlocker-at-the-mammals-theater-review

The Angry White Guy Weighs In on THE MEATLOCKER

http://donhall.blogspot.com/2010/04/theater-review-meatlocker.html

Friday, April 23, 2010

3 Stars from the Chicago Tribune!


This show took longer to find its stride with me, in part because its roots are more realist than I've come to expect from Fisher (who incorporated brain implants and rapacious alien queens in the earlier plays), but it's lingered in my mind more than the other two...That kind of beaten-up beauty isn't for everyone, but the surprisingly tragic heart of Fisher's weird tale might just knock you sideways.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/events/ct-ott-0423-on-the-fringe-20100423,0,1726888.story

Mugshot #8 - The Spectral Cut Man Known as Stitch


Click image to enlarge

Adam Dodds play Stitch. Want more of Adam? Click here

More Mugshots!!!
Dave Goss as the Meatlocker
David Lykins as Manny the Manager
Roy Gonzalez as Benny the Bookie
Gabe Garza as Rudy the Rhino

Nicolle Van Dyke as AJ
Fred Mowery as The Ref
Gene Van Dyke as Danny's Mother

Vinny Lacey as Radio Howard

THE MEATLOCKER

Remaining Performance Dates are as follows

Friday April 23rd
Saturday April 24th
Friday April 30th
Saturday May 1st
Friday May 7th
Saturday May 8th
Friday May 14th

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB
Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613

Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

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

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Mugshots #7 and #8


Click to enlarge

Gene Van Dyke as Danny's Mother. For more Gene, click here.


Click to enlarge

Fred Mowery as The Ref. For more Fred, click here.

THE MEATLOCKER

Remaining Performance Dates are as follows

Friday April 23rd
Saturday April 24th
Friday April 30th
Saturday May 1st
Friday May 7th
Saturday May 8th
Friday May 14th

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB
Zoo Studio
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste B-1
Chicago, IL 60613

Suggested donation $20.00.

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

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

More Mugshots!!!
Dave Goss as the Meatlocker
David Lykins as Manny the Manager
Roy Gonzalez as Benny the Bookie
Gabe Garza as Rudy the Rhino

Nicolle Van Dyke as AJ
Fred Mowery as The Ref
Gene Van Dyke as Danny's Mother

Vinny Lacey as Radio Howard