The Zoo Project

DCTS' Pick of the Fringe

2009-07-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

We are so thankful for theatre lovers!
DC Theatre Scene has written some beautiful and inspiring words and we are so pleased to be a part of a dialogue of this caliber.

One Show Left!

2009-07-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

The Washington Examiner and Chris Klimek call Cover Me In Humanness one of 10 shows you won't want to miss this year at the Capital Fringe!

DCist review!

2009-07-15T13:03:00.000-07:00

Check it out: here.

hot art

2009-07-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

As found at Brightest Young Things.
Some fringe-goers with a stack of postcards. That's ours you see there! Artwork by the fantastic Aaron Gensler.

magic exposed, purged

2009-07-13T15:56:00.000-07:00

The magical first weekend of Fringe has come and gone - and we are lucky enough to have done 3 of our 5 shows already. Mt. Vernon Square has become a home away from home!

Personally, I'm getting a big kick out of watching the actors play in Redrum every night. The space feels rich with a past of its own and at the same time alive and fantastical. I couldn't ask for a more perfect location in which to bring this show to its first life. (And it has, we've come to realize, the most functional AC unit of any of the newly built festival spaces! -- if that's not an enticement I don't know what is!)

Thanks to everyone who has made it out already. And to those who haven't yet -- only 2 more shows in DC! The City Paper's Fringe and Purge has lovely things to say!

friendly fringeing

2009-07-12T19:04:00.000-07:00

One of the nicest things about the Fest this year is its centralization - the whole thing feels like summer camp! You are constantly running into audience members, DC theatre stalwarts, friends you've worked with in the past, out-of-towners with beaming buttons. We think it has dramatically upped the feeling of camaraderie at the Fringe, and that is a wonderful quality.

So in that spirit - here are the shows we've seen and hope to see!

Titus X: Go for loud loud LOUD punk rock passion, and the most energetic actors we've ever had the pleasure of sharing a space with. We have so much awe - the actors kick the crap out of this show.

May 39th/40th: A modern musing on love gone wrong...much of this show reminded us of our own little project, and we love seeing how other playwrights tackle the dilemma of connection. How do we manage to hold on to each other? Should we try? Also, a Middlebury shout-out to Lindsay Haynes, who does a stunning job in the lead.

Coo-Coo Cabaret: See our ballerina do double duty as a dancer with much freer feet. We can't wait to catch this next week! The reviews have been fantastic.

Annabel Lee: Old Lore did lovely work last year with original music and dance, and now they turn their talent to Poe. Some of their haunting imagery from last year's show still sticks in my head.

Skywriter: We like shows set in DC. We like young theatre companies who want to produce new work. We also like Jamie, the producer, who always has great hair.

There are so many more! We'll be sure to post updates. And get yourself down to Fringe! Ask the bartender at the Warehouse to make you an amaretto sour - he does 'em good and strong.

almost paradise

2009-07-09T21:02:00.001-07:00

We're riding high after an incredible opening tonight. It felt amazing to be able to kick off Fringe 09 as the first show of the Festival! Mad props to the Fringe staff who were plastering holes in the walls of Redrum right up until the last second, and still managed to throw a killer party. We ate cookies shaped like breasts and listened to some banjo stylings. It rocked.

A huge thank you is owed to everyone who came out and supported us today. We had a beautiful house filled with beautiful people and beautiful laughter. You - yes, you! - made all of our hard work suddenly make sense. And you didn't laugh when I dropped my mint and had to chase it across the stage. And you clapped real big. And we couldn't love you any more.

After all the networking tonight at Fort Fringe we have some great shows lined up to see, and we'll definitely be posting updates as we go. For now - Fringe 2009 is on! We can't wait for what comes next...

New York City Show!

2009-07-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

It is confirmed.
Cover Me In Humanness will be presented as a workshop/reading/adjusted performance as part of PTP's After Dark series at Atlantic Stage 2.
Sunday 19 July, 2009. 10:15pm. FREE.

we're bringing all our sticky dc heat to new york.

Happy Hour!

2009-07-07T06:28:00.000-07:00

JOIN US FOR A SHOW AND A FRINGE HAPPY HOUR!!!
5pm to 6:30 Wednesdays through Fridays during the Festvial
at the Baldacchino Gypsy Tent Bar at Ft. Fringe! (Right next door to our venue, Redrum!)
See the show at 5:00pm on Thursday or 5:45pm on Friday -- a bit of entertainment during happy hour!

The show is only 60 minutes long and then we can all get our Thursday happy hour on . ($2 select beers!)

What better way to start the weekend than with booze and Bacon!?

more murmurs

2009-07-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

The DC Examiner gave us a lovely little preview, with words by the dazzling Caitlin Dennis...

Check it out HERE!

brewing

2009-07-02T19:43:00.001-07:00

Thought we'd share a little glimpse of rehearsal!
The stunning Gwen Grastorf and Matt Pearson in a scene from cover me in humanness.

We were lucky enough to rehearse in this sun drenched, wonderland-esque room for one day last week. Look at that checkerboard floor!
Isn't it fascinating what a new space can do to a show?

ONE WEEK!

2009-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we were lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the new Fringe spaces...it's like a magical theatre fortress over there! A maze of old brick and crumbling tiles! There is so much going on and you can really sense the excitement building. It will be amazing to have all of the action bubbling up in such a tight space. The energy should be incredible.

Also of note: Our venue is called Redrum for a reason! Thick, blood red paint covers the floors and walls - it's unbelievable. It will definitely infuse the show with the tension we've been striving for.

One week till opening! If you haven't got your tickets yet, don't wait! We've been getting some great advance press (see below!) and you don't want to miss out...

peace and kevin bacon,
xo
ZOO.

flocking

2009-07-01T08:05:00.000-07:00

Check out this neat piece in DC's On Tap Magazine!

We are thrilled to be featured!

Everybody Cut

2009-06-29T19:44:00.000-07:00

Footloose - Kenny Loggins

Sneak Peek -- an Ode!

2009-06-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

it's all happening

2009-06-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

Tickets on sale today!

Visit the Fringe website or call 866.811.4111 to get 'em!

And check out the CapFringe's show guide online and let us know what you think by posting on our Fringe Book!

kicking off our sunday shoes

2009-06-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

Groovers,

As you can imagine, things have been pretty crazy here at the Zoo. Rehearsals are going full throttle and we are making some really exciting discoveries along the way.

We thought it was high time to introduce our other muse, one who might be a little more recognizable to you all...

Swoon. That hair. Those moves. Those acid wash jeans.

Bacon and our Ballerina are engaged in a pretty fierce dance-off right now. Winner gets bragging rights and three free rentals at Groovy Movies. We'll keep you posted...

introducing...

2009-06-10T10:55:00.000-07:00

Kristen Deane.
Caitlin Dennis.
Gwen Grastorf.
Cheryl Gnerlich.
Jake Jeppson.
Meghan Nesmith.
Kevin O'Reilly.
Matt Pearson.
April Whaley.
Kevin Bacon.

Rockers, each and every one.

Muse

2009-05-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

Cover Me In Humanness opens July 9, 2009 at Ft. Fringe's newly built Redrum.

And the good news is you can hang out with our muse (and her twin) anytime before that down at the National Gallery. She's not very chatty these days, I admit.

But give it time.

Announcing our Inaugural Production!

2009-05-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

Cover Me in Humanness by Jake Jeppson will be performed as part of the 2009 Capital Fringe Festival!
We are overjoyed to bring the Zoo to DC!