Repeat after me... "I'm a Tough Guy!"

click on image to enlarge

Rehearsal Photos - Katherine Swan in Devils Don't Forget

Come see why everyone has a crush on our Femme Fatale, Katherine Swan!

DEVILS DON'T FORGET opens Friday May 1st

Tickets are going fast! Call 866-593-4614 to make reservations!

Part 7 Meet the Cast of DEVILS DON'T FORGET - Adam Dodds and Anya Clingman

Adam Dodds

Anya Clingman

Adam Dodds is from Howard, Pennsylvania (if you check your road atlas it's right there in the centerfold...although some people would say the crack.). He spent some time telling ghost stories on the streets of New Orleans before coming to Chicago. Adam is a member of Halcyon Theatre where he'll be directing Fucking Parasites for the Alcyone Festival later this summer. Favorite Chicago roles include Wallace in Militant Language (Halcyon), Sir Kay in The People's Sword in the Stone, (Quest), and Moe in Infancy (Steep).

Anya Clingman has been creating theatre at a rate of about four shows a year since she was nine. She is an actor, writer, director, puppeteer, and sometime stage-manager. Past productions have included Kafka/Bullard’s The Trial, Dahl/Nolan’s James and the Giant Peach and The BFG, Mee/Murray’s Full Circle and NWaC’s own Episodical Trilogy. She has been doing original work at venues like Looptopia, The Subterarranean, Abbey’s Pub, The Empty Bottle, and The Inconvenience Threatre. She would like to thank the folks at The Right Brain Project, the Coletto-Kaplans and her enormously supportive loved ones for helping her get this far.

DEVILS DON'T FORGET!

Meet Katherine Swan

Meet Gabe Garza

Meet Don Hall

Meet Susan Myburgh

Meet Dennis Frymire

DEVILS DON'T FORGET

Performance Dates are as follows

May 1,2

May 8,9

May 15,16

May 22,23

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

RBP – Rorschach Space

4001 N. Ravenswood Ste 405

Chicago, IL 60613

Performances From May 1st thru May 16th suggested donations $15.00. May 22nd and May 23 will be closing weekend fundraisers. Tickets for May 22nd and May 23rd are $15.00 (post show party and drinks included)

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614 For more info check out chicagomammals.com, themammals.blogspot.com or just type Chicago Mammals into your facebook!!!

Part 6 Meet the Cast of DEVILS DON'T FORGET - Katherine Swan

Katherine Swan returned to Chicago in 2008 after spending several years in Montreal and Toronto. She is an ensemble member of The Artistic Home, where she recently appeared in Look Homeward Angel. Other credits include Three Sisters and Closer with GroundUp Theatre, The Dogs with Billy Goat Experiment, and Danny and the Deep Blue Sea and Cut to the Chase with Artistic Home. She is happy to have the opportunity to pay homage to her favorite author, the great Raymond Chandler.

Meet Katherine's cast mates in DEVILS DON'T FORGET!

Meet Nicolle Van Dyke

Meet Gabe Garza

Meet Don Hall

Meet Susan Myburgh

Meet Dennis Frymire

DEVILS DON'T FORGET

Performance Dates are as follows

May 1,2

May 8,9

May 15,16

May 22,23

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

RBP – Rorschach Space

4001 N. Ravenswood Ste 405

Chicago, IL 60613

Performances From May 1st thru May 16th suggested donations $15.00. May 22nd and May 23 will be closing weekend fundraisers. Tickets for May 22nd and May 23rd are $15.00 (post show party and drinks included)

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614 For more info check out chicagomammals.com, themammals.blogspot.com or just type Chicago Mammals into your facebook!!!

Part 5 Meet the Cast of DEVILS DON'T FORGET - Nicolle Van Dyke

Nicolle Van Dyke, no relation to Dick, is a graduate of Michigan State University (Go Spartans). She was last seen as Beatrice in the GreyZelda production of A View from the Bridge, for which she received a Jeff Nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama. She is a member of the Chicago Cabaret Professionals and loves to sing her lungs out, whether her neighbors like it or not. She looks forward to future endeavours with The Mammals and gives a shout out to Hank....ISH!

Meet Nicolle's cast mates in DEVILS DON'T FORGET!

Meet Gabe Garza
Meet Don Hall
Meet Susan Myburgh
Meet Dennis Frymire

DEVILS DON'T FORGET Performance Dates are as follows

May 1,2
May 8,9
May 15,16
May 22,23

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB
RBP – Rorschach Space
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste 405
Chicago, IL 60613

Performances From May 1st thru May 16th suggested donations $15.00. May 22nd and May 23 will be closing weekend fundraisers. Tickets for May 22nd and May 23rd are $15.00 (post show party and drinks included)

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614 For more info check out chicagomammals.com, themammals.blogspot.com or just type Chicago Mammals into your facebook!!!

Twitter Terror

We know that you either love or hate Twitter (unless you're among the few who don't know what Twitter is). However, the Chicago Mammals do have a twitter feed for all srelated to our performances, auditions, artwork, and occasional recommendations for cool things to see and do in Chicago. Check it out at http://twitter.com/themammals

Part 4 Meet the Cast of DEVILS DON'T FORGET - Gabe Garza

This is Gabriel Garza's first time working with the Mammals. He is thrilled to work with such a wonderful group of artists. Artistic Director Bob Fisher and Gabe worked together in various WNEP projects including RAW and Soiree Dada Blinde Esse Hoppe.

Check out some of Gabe's castmates

Meet Don Hall

Meet Susan Myburgh

Meet Dennis Frymire

DEVILS DON'T FORGET Performance Dates are as follows

May 1,2

May 8,9

May 15,16

May 22,23

All performances are at 8pm – BYOB

RBP – Rorschach Space

4001 N. Ravenswood Ste 405

Chicago, IL 60613

Performances From May 1st thru May 16th suggested donations $15.00. May 22nd and May 23 will be closing weekend fundraisers. Tickets for May 22nd and May 23rd are $15.00 (post show party and drinks included)

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614 For more info check out chicagomammals.com, themammals.blogspot.com or just type Chicago Mammals into your facebook!!!

Meet the Cast of DEVILS DON'T FORGET - Don Hall

What can be said about Don Hall that hasn't already been uttered through clenched teeth!? Don Hall is the Events Coordinator for Chicago Public Radio and the Audience Services cat for NPR’s prolific game show "Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!"

Don is a producer, director, and writer of Chicago Off-Loop Theater and the Founding Director of Chicago's prolific WNEP Theater. Every now and again, Don can be seen performing on a Chicago stage or teaching advanced improvisational technique.

He is also an angry liberal and a dissatisfied artist.

Visit the blog - An Angry White Guy in Chicago (http://www.donhall.blogspot.com/) - for daily updates about his skewed view of Chicago theater, the fetid world of politics and the planet in general. It isn’t pretty, so enter at your own risk.

He also happens to be one of the most villainous bad guys the Chicago Storefront Scene has ever spawned. Don plays UDO the heavy in DEVILS DONT FORGET. Come on out and hiss at him!

Check out some of Don's castmates

Meet Susan Myburgh
Meet Dennis Frymire

DEVILS DON'T FORGET

Performance Dates are as follows

May 1,2
May 8,9
May 15,16
May 22,23


All performances are at 8pm – BYOB
RBP – Rorschach Space
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste 405
Chicago, IL 60613

Performances From May 1st thru May 16th suggested donations $15.00. May 22nd and May 23 will be closing weekend fundraisers. Tickets for May 22nd and May 23rd are $15.00 (post show party and drinks included)

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

For more info check out chicagomammals.com, themammals.blogspot.com or just type Chicago Mammals into your facebook!!!

Meet the cast of DEVILS DON'T FORGET - Susan Myburgh

Susan Myburgh moved to Chicago in 2008 after graduating with a B.A. in Theatre from Florida State University. She is a company member of Tympanic Theatre, where she directed Gregor and the Squonk and Morality Play. Her short play The Elf King will be featured in their upcoming Fall festival of new work. As an actress, she has appeared in LEA: A Nightmare with Gorilla Tango, the Women’s Theatre Alliance showcase, and the upcoming Ride Down Mount Morgan with Redtwist.

Come see Susan play the ingenue aka Girl One in DEVILS DON'T FORGET

Performance Dates are as follows

May 1,2
May 8,9
May 15,16
May 22,23


All performances are at 8pm – BYOB
RBP – Rorschach Space
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste 405
Chicago, IL 60613

Performances From May 1st thru May 16th suggested donations $15.00. May 22nd and May 23 will be closing weekend fundraisers. Tickets for May 22nd and May 23rd are $15.00 (post show party and drinks included)

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

For more info check out chicagomammals.com, themammals.blogspot.com or just type Chicago Mammals into your facebook!!!

Meet the Cast of DEVILS DON'T FORGET - Dennis Frymire

Dennis Frymire plays BUSTER in DEVILS DON'T FORGET

Dennis moved to Chicago back in 2006 to take funny classes at I.O. and Annoyance and the like. He only does the occasional two-person improv show now, but since moving to the Windy City, he's acted with Wildclaw Theater, LiveWire Chicago, WNEP, Hubris Productions, and has directed for Theatre Momentum. Beyond his artistic pursuits, Dennis is also studying clinical massage therapy at The Soma Institute, and will be a licensed therapist in early 2010. Dennis also has a website Carmi Neighborhood Watch.

If you think Dennis is a good looking guy, then you should definitely come see him in his underwear at DEVILS DON'T FORGET! (wink)

Performance Dates are as follows

May 1,2
May 8,9
May 15,16
May 22,23


All performances are at 8pm – BYOB
RBP – Rorschach Space
4001 N. Ravenswood Ste 405
Chicago, IL 60613

Performances From May 1st thru May 16th suggested donations $15.00. May 22nd and May 23 will be closing weekend fundraisers. Tickets for May 22nd and May 23rd are $15.00 (post show party and drinks included)

Reservations can be made by calling 866-593-4614

For more info check out chicagomammals.com, themammals.blogspot.com or just type Chicago Mammals into your facebook!!!

Load In for DEVILS DON'T FORGET begins

Well, we are about to load in this weekend for DEVILS DONT FORGET. It seems that we just started rehearsals yesterday (I know that everybody always feels that way at this point, but still I can't escape truisms).

Lights, Sound, Set, costumes... they are all coming in during the next 2 weeks. I am already feeling the little sense of wanting to hold on to it before it is all over.

We've assembled a fantastic cast, and I hope to talk a little bit about them over the next 2 weeks leading to that first curtain.

It is my hope that all of you in the Chicago Storefront Community will consider coming out to see DEVILS DON'T FORGET. I think we've got something very special here... oh and it runs for 4 weeks only!

Please consider subscribing to our blog themammals.blogspot.com or joining as a fan at our facebook page (just goto facebook and type in "Chicago Mammals").

All the best

Bob Fisher

Amnesia - A favorite device of Noir

BUSTER - What do you know about Amnesia?
GIRL TWO - I know it's adventurous

DEVILS DON'T FORGET is about amnesia. When it comes to memory loss there are all kinds of terminology both factual and fictional. The Mammals want to know what is your favorite film, novel, short story, pop song that has to due with memory loss! Tell us in the comments or email us at themammals@gmail.com.

Or you can goto our facebook page and put it on the wall!

Rehearsal Photos

Photo by Brian Seitel

From Scene Five of Devils Don't Forget

Udo (Don Hall) terrorizes Buster (Dennis Frymire) while Dumdum (Gabe Garza) holds him back.

A Little bit of History

The Mammals Archived website is back online.

The Archives can be found here.

www.chicagomammals.com/history.htm

postscript - links are now fixed. Thanks for the heads up Tony.

I Want You To Subscribe

2009 is going to be the busiest year yet for The Mammals. In order to get all the latest about our upcoming productions, workshops, and graphic novels please be sure to subscribe to this blog.

Just move you mouse over to the right and click on the words "Subscribe Now".
BTW that picture above is one of the rough cut images we're currently working on for our MEATLOCKER Graphic Novel. You may recognize that actor as Don Hall from WNEP.

The online version of the MEATLOCKER novelization will begin summer of 2009. The full stage production as well as full graphic novel will be available Winter 2009.

Thank you for supporting storefront theatre in Chicago and for visiting the Mammals.

SAVE THE DATE!!!

The Mammals are proud to present

DEVILS DON'T FORGET

part of the Mammals' NOIR TRIPTYCH

by Bob Fisher

May 1st thru May 23rd

Fridays and Saturdays
at 8:00pm

Presented at the RBP Rorschach, located at 4001 N. Ravenswood at the intersection of Irving Park & Ravenswood on the Northeast side of the Metra tracks.

More info regarding ticket reservations coming soon!!!

DEVILS DON'T FORGET gets a cast

The Mammals are proud to announce the cast of their next Production DEVILS DONT FORGET

The cast will include Dennis Frymire, Susan Myburgh, Don Hall, Gabe Garza, Nicolle Van Dyke, Katherine Swan, Anya Clingman, and Henri J Dugas IV

DEVILS DONT FORGET opens May 1st!!!

More info soon!

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

click on image/panel to enlarge

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!

click on image/panel to enlarge

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...

click on image/panel to enlarge

CLAY CONTINENT - UTTERSON MEETS HYDE CONTINUES

Click on image/panel to enlarge

CLAY CONTINENT - UTTERSON MEETS HYDE continues...

Click on image/panel to enlarge

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!!!

click on image/panel to enlarge

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

click on image/panel to enlarge

Next Week... Scene Four continues

Sneak Peak at this Sunday's Episode of Clay Continent

click on image to enlarge

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

Click on image/panel to enlarge

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

Click on panel/image to enlarge

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

click on image to enlarge

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

Click on image/panel to enlarge

Next Week : Meet Dr. Henry Jekyll