I call this one "A Break"

I will commence postulating on missions and righteousness and Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates in due time.

But for now, ICT deserves just the smallest of breathers. We took one on Wednesday night at Four Moon Tavern. Here are some photos from the event for you to enjoy.


I call this one "Herr Director Proudly Presents Kevin and Carlos, the Debutante."

I call this one "John Wilson is Not as Severe as He Appears."

I call this one "Three Angry Young Women and a Candyland Purse."

I call this one "Andy's Nostrils."

Simplicity is Key

I am an American Idol junkie. I love it, and you can just shut up about that. Go David Archuletta! I watched Idol Gives Back last night while Craig slept on the couch. While Teri Hatcher was a complete embarrassment to herself, I found Annie Lennox and Carrie Underwood's performances heart-wrenching. It was a reminder to me of how provocative and profound artistic expression can be.

It is easy during tech week to get swept up into the details, the schedule, the budget, all the paperwork of art. But watching these two performances was a real joy for me. I don't even necessarily mean that they performed so well that they inspired me to give or to examine my moral obligations to other communities not so blessed as mine. While that is an amazing feat to accomplish with a song, it was their humility and openness that got me.

Celebrity in America is completely fucked up. The whole premise of Idol Gives Back is totally grotesque to begin with. "Hey. I am a really famous person with a lot of money and power. So, I will go on TV and tell people what their moral obligations are and that they should give money. And because I am pretty and really frenetic (Slow down Fergie. Give Heart a little room, woman!), America will get really excited and call in and do just what I say!" This is what it has come to: Wrestling Champions, singers, dancers, actors and whatever Paula Abdul is supposed to be are acting as my moral compass.

The simplicity of Annie Lennox and Carrie Underwood stood out to me. The other performers gyrated and flung themselves to and fro and seemed to be prostituting themselves. For a worthy cause, but prostitution nonetheless. Annie and Carrie stood out from the rest for me. They moved me deeply by descending from the throne of celebrity and becoming true artists. They joined the human race and sang with passion, simplicity and honesty. Their performances gave me a deeper understanding of the world and my place in it. What a gift! In the busy-ness and business of running a non-profit theater, it is easy to forget the power of the arts.

Featuring Infamous Commonwealth Theatre

Well, I started off typing out some shallow thoughts on the whole "mission" conundrum that non-profit organizations face. And I thought to myself, "Self, this is not exciting, and it's not making you very happy. Write a blog entry that amuses you in the hopes that it will amuse others." And then my other self, the one that responds to self one said, "OK, self!"

Every month, ICT has a featured member on the website. This month it is Paul Joseph.

And so, I have decided that, for tonight, Infamous Commonwealth Theatre is a person. On behalf of that person, I am playing the 7 Questions game.

Q: What is your most vivid memory of childhood?

A: Winning the academic decathalon in 6th grade.

Q: What is your favorite vice?

A: Holding really long meetings.

Q: What is the first show you were ever in, and what was the experience like?

A: I was in a production of Star Spangled Girl by Neil Simon. I thought that it lacked depth and I vowed from that point on to never participate in another theatrical experience that didn't involve one of the following things: copious amounts of drinking, rape, incest, or death. I am currently reexamining my commitment to this vow.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you face as an artist in Chicago?

A: People asking me how I got my name.

Q: What is the best smell in the world?

A: Genevieve Thompson

Q: What aspect of the season topic Righteousness is most interesting to you?

A: That when people say it, I imagine the sea turtle from Finding Nemo shouting "Righteous! Righteous!"

Q: How would you describe your dream home?

A: Um. A theatre.