Tag: Scot Augustson

Penultimate Markheim

September 3, 2014
This coming Monday, September 8 at 8 pm, Sandbox Radio Live will be staging the live recording of the second to last episode of my noir angel radio serial Markheim at ACT in thrilling downtown Seattle. (You can listen to the next to next to last episode of Markheim here.) In addition to the cool angeological stylings of Markheim, we have some very hot numbers on the playlist. I’m particularly looking forward to:
- An original story from Steven Scher, formerly of KUOW,
- Cliff Mass dropping his weather wisdoms,
- Special musical guests Modern Angels,
- And not in the least leastly last, Scot Auguston taking a breather from his Cousin Katie serial to offer us another installation from his collection of forest animal detective stories. This one’s called “Taxi to Hell.”
The Holler. It’s where the forest dumps its undesirables. Creatures ruined by disappointment and drink. Lives piled high with regrets and best intentions. Somewhere in this thicket of crushed hope and destroyed dreams was a juvenile delinquent owl. Lost, afraid, possibly dangerous. First stop was to look up an old deer friend of mine, Jane Doe.

The Stranger calls Sandbox Radio Live “Crackling…electrifying…fresh, joyful and awesome.” So you gotta guess we’re at least one or two of those things.
Get your tickets here:
And now, a little teaser taste from the penultimate Markheim:

MARKHEIM: Take the money and run, flip.

FLIP: Where did you come from?

MARKHEIM: Where in hell do you think?

FLIP: Sheol.

MARKHEIM: Whatever you wanna call it.

FLIP: The garden was empty when I came in. I had to have seen you.

MARKHEIM: I can’t tell you what to see. I can tell you that you have to run. Far. Right now they say they hate the carpenter, but that will change. And when it does, they’ll turn on you. Take that money and go. Far.

FLIP: I have a knife, stranger.

MARKHEIM: Good, you’ll need it.
Posted at 11:12 AM in Audio Play, Markheim, Sandbox Artists Collective, Theatre | Comments (0)

Tags: Cliff Mass, Markheim, Modern Angels, Paul Mullin, Sandbox Radio Live, Scot Augustson, Steve Sher
Live Blogging Swing Time: Scot Augustson and Cousin Katie

June 16, 2014
I have known and loved Scot Augustson’s work as a playwright since I first saw one of his plays (about sex, of course) in the Seattle Fringe Festival in the mid 90’s. I have known the person, Scot, since the late 90’s, and I have known him well since the early Zeroes. To know Scot Augustson well is to, of course, love him, blahblahblah…but it is also to know that he nurses a secret, delightfully nasty side, which he does not necessarily share with mere acquaintances. With acquaintances, he’s a lot like Katie, title character in his ongoing serial “Cousin Katie” (brilliantly voiced by the incomparable Annette Toutonghi).
The plot of “Cousin Katie” contains all kinds of absurd turns, but it’s important to remember that the more absurd a particular plot point is, the more likely it is to have actually happened in Scot’s life.
Teaser highlights from “Cousin Katie”:
- A Cliff-Notes History of A-pod-ments in Seattle.
- “No smoking, but we haven’t made rules about vaping yet. It’s a gray area.
- A small-state/big-state between “Katie from Ketchikan” and “Rhonda from Rhode Island”.
- “Oh baby Jesus riding a pony in the circus parade!”
- “We in the pods have our own brand of justice.”
There are still a handful of seats left. Come on down and grab some.
Posted at 11:12 AM in Audio Play, Markheim, Sandbox Artists Collective, Theatre | Comments (0)

Tags: Cliff Mass, Markheim, Modern Angels, Paul Mullin, Sandbox Radio Live, Scot Augustson, Steve Sher
Writing is Liquid

June 11, 2014

I was tagged by Lola Lindle as next in line to share thoughts about writing for the #MyWritingProcess Blog Tour. This turned out to be fortuitous, since I was already noodling on an essay about writing and Lola’s kind nod served to light a fire under my ass to finish it. So hearty thanks to Lola Lindle, and all the writers who have participated in the tour so far.
Link-surfing back through the tour I found these four questions to which I assume I should address my remarks:

What am I working on?

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Why do I write what I do?

How does my writing process work?

(more…)

Posted at 11:12 AM in Audio Play, Markheim, Sandbox Artists Collective, Theatre | Comments (0)

Tags: Cliff Mass, Markheim, Modern Angels, Paul Mullin, Sandbox Radio Live, Scot Augustson, Steve Sher
Spilling the B-Sides Beans

December 10, 2013

I’m going to tell you a secret and you’re going to thank me for it later.
There’s a lot to hate about the kind of entertainment that gets perpetrated this season, but Christmas: B-Sides & Rarities is not on that naughty list. Curated by Jim Jewell B-Sides has become the Seattle performance insiders’ insider holiday event: a super small, super secret, super bitter and dark (in the best sorts of ways) scrumptious “antidote to the overly cheery, relentlessly commercialized traditional Christmas fare.”
I started coming as an audience member a few years back, but Jim, in his questionable wisdom, asked me to participate in subsequent years. In fact, this time when he asked I pushed back and I asked if I could read some poetry and prose instead of the playwriting I’m better known for. Jim was kind enough to sort of shrug and say, “Sure. Whatever.” To honor his insouciant beneficence (I promise the poetry won’t be that insufferably overwrought), I have written two original pieces especially for the occasion. Next Monday I’ll be reading them for the very first time ever, along with other much more fabulous acts, such as:

– rock’n’roll from Joey Kline (formerly of The Squirrels and The Plaintiffs);

– “Magi” written by Jim Jewell and directed by Dan Tarker, featuring Jaryl Allen Draper, Fox Rain Matthews, and Madison Marie Rengli;

– “Yule Log” written by Dan Tarker and directed by Jim Jewell, featuring Megan Ahiers and Mark Fullerton;

– “Redneck” written and performed by Jennifer Neel, Paul Shipp and Joe Zavadil;

– buffoonery from UMO Ensemble vets Christine and Lyam White;

– magical, maniacal storytelling from the inimitable Jennifer Jasper

– ukelele mayhem from E-Ray and the LPs;

– and more from Scot Augustson, Kymberlee della Luce, John McKenna, and Colleen Roberston.

Tickets for this one-night-only event are $15 online or $18 at the door.
Get Tickets ahead at xmasbsides.brownpapertickets.com
B-Sides & Rarities receives marketing and logistical support from The 14/48 Projects, producers of 14/48: The World’s Quickest Theater Festival and Theater Anonymous, so 14/48 vets get $10 tickets online with the usual code.

Posted at 11:12 AM in Audio Play, Markheim, Sandbox Artists Collective, Theatre | Comments (0)

Tags: Cliff Mass, Markheim, Modern Angels, Paul Mullin, Sandbox Radio Live, Scot Augustson, Steve Sher
Sandbox Radio Live! Makes a Bold New Move

December 2, 2013

Sure bigger isn’t always better, and art doesn’t always thrive when it moves to a fancier-panted venue. I know I’d rather have seen the Beatles work the Cavern Club in Liverpool—or even better, one of the Hamburg dives they learned their chops in—rather than Shea Stadium, where even they couldn’t hear themselves play.
So there are inevitably doubters about Sandbox Radio LIVE’s move to the much larger venue of ACT’s Falls Theatre for its upcoming episode, January 13, 2004. But here’s the thing: for about three years running we have sold out every live taping of SBRL! that we have produced at West of Lenin, our perfectly cozy little venue in Fremont. That means there are people—lots of people—actually, that would like to experience the unique fun of witnessing the live recording of our podcasts who can’t, simply because we don’t have seats for them.
This move can help us reach more people with our unique live performance offering which is quite literally (old-school usage) different from anything you have ever seen, featuring some of Seattle’s finest actors performing brand new locally sourced material generated by some of Seattle’s finest playwrights and (ahem) former playwrights.
In short, this is the kind of bold artistic risk that deserves your reward. So how can you help? Just come! Click this link and order your tickets so that we can have friendly butts in every new seat we’re adding. Help us spread the fun of Sandbox Radio Live! Do it for the Beatles! (It’s what Pete Best and Stu Sutcliffe would’ve wanted.)
The details:

January 13, 2014 at 8:00pm

ACT’s Falls Theatre

Running Time: 2 hours (including an intermission)

The Food of Love includes new short audio plays from Seattle playwrights Vincent Delaney, Elizabeth Heffron, and Wayne Rawley, a fresh new episode of Paul Mullin’s noir-angel serial Markheim, the latest adventure of Scot Augustson’s hilarious Cousin Katie, special guest Jeopardy champ Ken Jennings, our fabulous live sfx, original music from Jose “Juicy” Gonzales and the Sandbox Radio Orchestra, and more surprises, all recorded in front of you, our “studio” audience.

Oh, and know that you can always enjoy the fun of Sandbox Radio, going back to our very first episode, by clicking below and downloading the podcasts:
Here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sandbox-radio-live/id452830642
Or here: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/sandbox-radio-live?refid=stpr
PS ! You can message me privately for a discount code which will save you 25% off your ticket price.

Posted at 11:12 AM in Audio Play, Markheim, Sandbox Artists Collective, Theatre | Comments (0)

Tags: Cliff Mass, Markheim, Modern Angels, Paul Mullin, Sandbox Radio Live, Scot Augustson, Steve Sher
Falling Behind on Sandbox Radio Live

July 10, 2013
I am here to assuage your guilt for falling behind on Sandbox Radio Live, because the sad fact is I too have been slacking. Of course, in my defense, I have caught every single show live in the theatre, just as you can and should catch the upcoming Episode 9: The Naked Truth on Monday, July 29 at West of Lenin in Fremont (tickets available here). I also usually listen to the podcast recording of each show as soon as it comes out. This time, however, between SOAPFest and vacation, I only got around to it yesterday. It’s brilliant; stocked full of goodies like:
- Susan Corzatte, my recent SOAPFest cast-mate, reading poems by Dorothy Parker.
- Another episode of “Cousin Katie” by Scot Augustson (featuring special guests Cliff Mass and Nancy Pearl! Favorite book recommendation: “Try The Pussy Brushers of Bristol”.)
- Another all new super-fun, super-hard-rocking blues original from Charles Leggett. Listen to the tart, exquisite interactions of lead and back-up singers.
- Then of course there’s my latest Markheim episode. Read along with the script below the fold. (Didge has joined the Seattle Super Hero scene, and Markheim’s realizing that the renegade clockwork’s more complex that he first thought.)
- And absolutely do not miss, my very favorite of all these favorites, Wayne Rawley’s blast from everyone’s middle school past, “Portable 5 & the First Day of the Rest of Our Lives”.
Give the podcast a listen!
Get your tix for the upcoming live show!
And get caught up on the amazing original awesome sauce that is Sandbox Radio Live!
(more…)
Posted at 11:12 AM in Audio Play, Markheim, Sandbox Artists Collective, Theatre | Comments (0)

Tags: Cliff Mass, Markheim, Modern Angels, Paul Mullin, Sandbox Radio Live, Scot Augustson, Steve Sher
Local TV Gives Local Theatre a Glance

June 12, 2013

I have not been on television since my brief, ill-fated appearance on Romper Room in Baltimore, circa 1972. Miss Sally was asking the circle of kids what their favorite drink was and when she got to me, I said, “Whiskey”. Even Mr. Do-Bee looked shocked. (In my defense, my dad had once given me a sip and I wasn’t as horrified by the taste as everyone expected me to be.) When the broadcast was done, my mom yanked me out of WBAL’s studio so fast I thought she was going to dislocate my shoulder. Oddly, I was not asked back.
Happily, last week I made my triumphant return, along with Amy Love, to talk about Sandbox One-Act Play Festival (or SOAPFest, as the kids are calling it.) The festival opens tomorrow night and runs for only this weekend. It features brand new plays by Scot Augustson, Emily Conberre, Elizabeth Heffron and myself , presented by some of Seattle’s very best directors, designers, technicians and actors.
Now that Amy and I are tv stars, tickets to the three night run are unlikely to last long. I recommend getting some while the getting is good. (Order tickets here.)
And if you’re wracking your brain for a gift to bring to celebrate these world premieres, just remember: whiskey’s still my favorite drink

Posted at 11:12 AM in Audio Play, Markheim, Sandbox Artists Collective, Theatre | Comments (0)

Tags: Cliff Mass, Markheim, Modern Angels, Paul Mullin, Sandbox Radio Live, Scot Augustson, Steve Sher
The SOAP Poster!

May 8, 2013

I have said it before: one of the most exciting moments for this playwright is when the posters for a world premiere drop into circulation. Something about it says, “Yup, this is happening all right.” And I really love this one for SOAPFest. (Thanks to Sean Williams of Gigantic Planet for the evocative design.)
I plan on writing more later about why this upcoming festival of short world premiere plays is particularly special for me, but for now, let me simply share SOAPFest’s press release below the fold so you can have all of that important information now.
Remember, SOAPFest is three nights only in a small venue. Tickets are on sale here, now! So . . . you know what to do.
(more…)

Posted at 11:12 AM in Audio Play, Markheim, Sandbox Artists Collective, Theatre | Comments (0)

Tags: Cliff Mass, Markheim, Modern Angels, Paul Mullin, Sandbox Radio Live, Scot Augustson, Steve Sher
And the Celebrity Guests will be . . .

April 26, 2013

I am cleared for PR take-off by my fearless producer, Leslie Law, and can now confirm that our special Seattle Celebrity guest stars for Sandbox Radio Live! 8 : Fools Rush In, one night only, this coming Monday, are . . .
. . . Nancy Pearl and Cliff Mass!
NOW will you get your tix?

Posted at 11:12 AM in Audio Play, Markheim, Sandbox Artists Collective, Theatre | Comments (0)

Tags: Cliff Mass, Markheim, Modern Angels, Paul Mullin, Sandbox Radio Live, Scot Augustson, Steve Sher
A Few Things Wonderful about “Something Wicked…”

January 8, 2013

You’re not crazy. You’re just overdue. There hasn’t been a new episode of Sandbox Radio Live! in over three months!
Relax.
Episode Seven: Eye of the Beholder is on its way, packed with the sort of goodies you’ve grown accustomed to: plays by Elizabeth Heffron and Vincent Delaney, music by Jose Gonzales and the astounding Sandbox Radio Orchestra, my own noir-angel detective series, Markheim (word has it Sam’s due for a drop in), all tied together by Leslie Law’s expert, effervescent direction. Plus you can expect some brand new stuff like a poem by Elizabeth Austen read live by the author, or a brand new comic serial by Scot Augustson set in Seattle. (You’ll want to order your tix quick, since we always sell out.)
But before we get to all that, I need to make up for a deleterious omission. With all the crazyness of the holiday season, plus world premiering my first full-length play in four years, Ballard House Duet, I neglected my self-appointed duty of telling you the things I love about the previous episode of Sandbox Radio Live! – Something Wicked This Way (available for download here.)
“Backscatter” by Vincent Delaney
Vince never disappoints with his sharp suspenseful writing, but this turn at modern horror would make Rod Sterling go goggle-eyed. All props to the Sandbox Radio sound fx team. Give a listen and tell me they don’t make it sound exactly like an airport. (This brings up a larger fascination for me when listening to these podcasts: how the live audience participates in and fuels the recording. There’s this extraordinary recursively looping sensation as you listen to them listening to you listen to the show in the future.) My favorite character in this one had to be Big Stu. Somehow Eric Ray Anderson manages to add 300 pounds through the sheer suggestive power of his voice.
“The Back of the 358 – #7” by Paul Mullin
Not much I want to say about these since I wrote them, except maybe that Kathryn Van Meter utterly nails the drunk chick. Oh, and also, the likelihood that there will be any new pieces in this vein is slim, given how King County Metro’s elimination of the Free Ride Zone has completely flattened the floridly diverse ecosystem that was once the back of the #358.
“Muscle Memory” by Omar Willey
This chillingly smooth and nasty pastoral will captivate you into a skin-crawling reverie.
“Quinceñera of the Damned” by Scot Augustson
What do you get when Mexican kitsch culture collides with Austrian Alpine snobbery in a fairytale context? Something you can be pretty sure Scot Augustson conceived. Favorite line (impeccably delivered by the peerless Annette Toutonghi): “Gunter will think I’m a crazy clown gypsy whore.”
“The Back of the 358 – #8″ by Paul Mullin
It’s never not unnerving to have to relive my #358 adventures as staged by some of Seattle’s finest actors.
“Here it Comes” by Charles Leggett with the Sandbox Radio Orchestra
Chuck and friends rock another original blues number, this time folding some astro-physics in, cuz… ya know… Chuck rolls like that.
“The Back of the 358 #9” by Paul Mullin
Please tell me this trip is almost over. If this woman punches or pukes on me, I’m gonna be highly irked. (Favorite line {which I can say in modesty because I overheard it}: “At least in jail I get three meals a day and someone to love me.”)
“The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe
No one intones the American classics like Richard Ziman. And his sweet spot is Poe.
“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” by Paul Dukas, arranged by Bruce Monroe
A mind-crackingly original arrangement: the kind of blastingly cool cut you can only get at Sandbox Radio.
“Markheim – Episode 6” by Paul Mullin
Per custom, I’m including the script for this below the fold.
“The Back of the 358 #10” by Paul Mullin
So long shirtless drunk chick! May you find the peace that eludes your every semi-lucid thought.
“Shadow of Agnes” by Emily Conbere
I raved about Emily’s first Sandbox Radio outing, “Sound Thieves” here, but who knows? She could’ve fluked her debut success. She didn’t. This piece seals the deal and is quite possibly one of the creepiest short pieces I’ve ever heard.
Again, don’t take my word for it. Go to the podcast and listen. And then get your tickets to our brand new show, available here through Brown Paper Tickets.
(more…)

Posted at 11:12 AM in Audio Play, Markheim, Sandbox Artists Collective, Theatre | Comments (0)

Tags: Cliff Mass, Markheim, Modern Angels, Paul Mullin, Sandbox Radio Live, Scot Augustson, Steve Sher