Cheerful Insanity: Chao & Katzberg in Repertory

"Penetrating the Space" cast and crew: Maia, C. J., Susan, & Kim

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Charlotte, TXC, & Amy after the final "Callous Cad" performance, Sunday, October 16, 2011.

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Two beautiful women picked up the Cheerful Insanity set and drove it away to DUMBO.

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Post-show debauchery

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New York Times review in full

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October 9, 2011

THEATER REVIEW | 'CHEERFUL INSANITY'

Support From a Love Sprite and Some Fractured Friends

By ANDY WEBSTER

Romantic and sexual trauma pervade “Cheerful Insanity: Chao and Katzberg in Repertory,” two plays of contrasting sensibilities at the Here Arts Center. Each barely an hour and running on different dates, they are both confessional in nature and intriguing.

The more linear is Tom X. Chao’s droll, ruminative and sometimes arch “Callous Cad.” Mr. Chao, playing himself, is agonizing over an affair. His friends on a video screen (a married seducer, a randy couple trumpeting their relationship) are not helping. Offering enlightenment is a Magical Being (the delightful Charlotte Pines of “Play Dead” as the spirit of love) and her Magical Assistant (Amy Virginia Buchanan). Ms. Pines’s irrepressible sprite is an enchanting foil to Mr. Chao’s petulant and tearful neurotic.

Kim Katzberg’s one-woman “Penetrating the Space” is a fractured gallery of personalities coming at you with such velocity that their words demand close attention. Her principal character is Jinny Jikkyl, a wide-eyed, high-strung actress wrestling with insecurity, lack of an agent and an incestuous past. Her support network, if you can call it that, includes a butch lighting designer who worships her and a dissipated former stripper giving glib advice at a suicide prevention hot line (Ms. Katzberg in drag queen mode).

At one point Jinny alludes to her father’s sexual assault; at another she dons a teeth-baring wolf mask; at yet another she lasciviously mounts a stuffed purple horse. Animated segments by Maia Cruz Palileo underscore Jinny’s dissociation. But for all its aggression and jagged textures, “Penetrating the Space” has a glowing, vulnerable, haunting center.

John Harlacher, who directed both shows, and Josh Iacovelli, on lights, display range and invention with minimal means.

John, Charlotte, Kim, and Amy during rehearsal

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CJ, John, & Susan debate some Cheerful Insanity staging.

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New York Times Review

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The New York Times has reviewed the two shows of "Cheerful Insanity: Chao & Katzberg in Repertory."

http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/10/10/theater/reviews/cheerful-insanity-here-arts-center-review.html?ref=theater

ONE WEEK LEFT!

The "Callous Cad" team and cast pause on tech day for a group photo.

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Beowulf, a great supporter of Callous Cad, outside HERE!

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Another Callous Cad rehearsal shot. Photo: Susan Fedynak

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John, Charlotte, & Tom rehearse "Callous Cad" at Theaterlab.

Three cool guys with black T-shirts build the Cheerful Insanity: Chao & Katzberg in Repertory set!

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Poster is up at HERE!

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Set designer Josh Iacovelli displays the Cheerful Insanity set! (Not the tarp, what's under it.)

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Photo credt: Juan Harlacosa

Rehearsals for Callous Cad Are Filled with Good Rapport and Warm Camaraderie

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Photo credit: Susan Fedynak.

The Cast of "Callous Cad" Celebrates Amy's Birthday During Rehearsal

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Photo credit: Juan Harlacosa

Cheerful Insanity in Time Out New York

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Look in the theater section in the back of the magazine for a picture of Kim and myself, along with our show listing.

http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture/theater/1968131/kim-katzberg-and-tom-x-chao-in-cheerful-insanity-chao-and-katzberg-in

And a snapshot of the actual magazine page is here (photo by Charlotte Pines): http://yfrog.com/mgp17jhj

The Callous Cad team!

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Still rehearsing away on Callous Cad!

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We had a fantastic daytime rehearsal for Callous Cad this morning. Boy, it feels different to rehearse early, when I have a lot of energy, and not at the end of a long work day when I'm drained.

We rehearsed with water in our various water-related props today, and I was completely soaked! Gotta keep rehearsing until we get that right.

Also, it was Amy's birthday, and TXC Heavy Industries sprang for some red velvet cupcakes for her, with candles, even. (Pictures to come.) Happy birthday to our Magical Assistant!
TXC

Rehearsal of Callous Cad: A moment frozen in time

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Charlotte (L) and Tom discuss the finer nuances of an exchange of dialogue as the director, John (R,) contemplates another topic.

NY Craft Beer Week is here, and I must rehearse!

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Good lord! NY Craft Beer Week is here, but I must focus and maintain discipline, not go out and enjoy many different craft ales! I must remain lucid and coherent, in order to rehearse the show properly! Oh, the sorrow!

http://www.nycbeerweek.com/

So, you go out and bend a few elbows for me. Meanwhile, Callous Cad is improving steadily!

Tom X. Chao

Charlotte (L) & Amy listen as John gives notes

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Having a great Callous Cad rehearsal!

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John (L) and Charlotte are enjoying the rehearsals with Tom X. Chao immensely!

INTRODUCING CHARLOTTE!

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Hi, all!

This is Charlotte Pines, Magical Being in Callous Cad, part of the Cheerful Insanity residency at HERE later this month.

I just want to tell you... it's gonna be amazing. Tom is nuts, John is nuts, Amy is nuts, I'm fairly certain Kim is nuts, I'm positive I'm nuts, and I can tell you right now that I mean that in the best, most wonderful, out-of-the-box way. You will love it - you will leave the theater thinking "That was f-ing awesome."

More Cheerful Insanity here.

More Callous Cad here.

KEEP CHECKING BACK, and buy your tickets already!

Catch you kids later! =)

Welcome, new visitors!

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Welcome to anyone arriving from CheerfulInsanityShows.com! This blog will feature news and information about Callous Cad and Penetrating the Space.

Press requests

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For full-resolution photos of Cheerful Insanity: Chao & Katzberg in Repertory, Penetrating the Space, or Callous Cad, please visit http://www.cheerfulinsanityshows.com.

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Kim Katzberg (L) and Tom X. Chao present "Cheerful Insanity: Chao and Katzberg in Repertory" at HERE Arts Center, Fall 2011. Photo credit: Marina Zamalin

Welcome to our temporary website!

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Keep checking CheerfulInsanityShows.com for information about Tom X. Chao's Callous Cad & Kim Katzberg's Penetrating the Space! Coming to HERE Arts Center September-October 2011.

Visit us at:

Callous Cad

http://here.org/shows/detail/734/

Penetrating the Space

http://here.org/shows/detail/735/

Tom X. Chao

Kim Katzberg

John Harlacher, Director (of both shows)