Abbie Fest Afterglow

Wild Dogs photo of Gavin Robinson (left) and Rich Cotovsky by Sid Branca. From Rich Cotovsky's Facebook page.

So my record of having attended every Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins theatre festival is still intact. I dropped by the Mary-Arrchie Theatre on Saturday and Sunday, catching productions by various local theatre groups. This was the first year I noticed people using smartphones. Some of the performers checked in on them in the waiting room just before going on; audience members took them out during the downtime between shows, and sometimes even during shows; and a few productions used them as props. Back in 1989, when the first Abbie Fest was held, no one would have been able to imagine such devices.

A lot of things about Abbie Fest have stayed the same over two decades though. Mary-Arrchie Theatre Director Rich Cotovsky effectively channels the spirit of the late Mr. Hoffman; people stay extremely late watching shows; and the various participants hang out together, swapping war stories and developing friendships. A lot of new groups are able to cut their teeth at Abbie Fest in a supportive atmosphere, even when their efforts are amateurish, bewildering, or just plain dull. That’s another aspect of the Abbie Fest: the quality varies from extremely good to the occasional - - well at least they tried. Often, the newcomers learn from the experience, and get better.

Cotovsky was sitting in the stairwell of the theatre, beside a young woman who took my $10 and handed me a day pass. He mentioned that he could use a nap (he hardly gets any sleep over the weekend) so I told him when I used to perform with the comedy group Famous In The Future, we had a running joke that he always scheduled one of his naps during our show. Cotovsky laughed and said, “That was no joke.” Teasing aside, it’s always fun to talk to him. I also ran into James Moeller and Carla Hayden from Black Forest, and Pat Über-Critic McDonald, who occasionally performs with them; Simone Jubyna from Citizen’s Relief (unfortunately they didn’t perform at Abbie Fest this year); and the members of Famous In The Future.

I'll fight the temptation to wish the group had crumbled following my departure in 2009, and acknowledge their show was good again this year. An opening bit about the sun wanting to quit her job of warming the galaxy was imaginative and fun, as were a Wizard Of Oz political parody and skit about a woman who hordes human beings. After having performed with Famous In The Future at Abbie Fest for 20 years, watching them from the audience felt like being Scrooge when the Ghost Of Christmas Future takes him to the stock exchange. Still, things change over the course of 20 years, and sometimes people move in different directions.

Black Forest performed a new show titled You Must Believe, which mixed Moeller’s live guitar playing, Hayden reciting of beat poetry, and both of them comically coming to terms with a mysterious beast lurking just outside their door. Other highlights included Ludamus doing a terrific job of bringing the Peter Barnes absurdist play Nobody Here But Us Chickens to life; the funny and on the mark acting in The Side Project’s performance of Mark Young’s The Billing Project; the high energy American Agency brought to Angela Bassett’s weird but fascinating American Agency; and the campy detective spoof of Jessica Wright’s Parrot Love, as performed by Tempting Fates.

Steve Evans of Trained Monkey Productions proved there’s still a place in this freewheeling festival for a well-delivered and droll monologue, with his My Life With The Shawnee, while Dandelion Arts mined the comic possibilities of Brooke Johnson and Dina Klahn’s look at modern dating, Lucky At Cards? Gavin Robinson and Rich Cotovsky carried on the Mary-Arrchie tradition of performing Matt Borczon’s Wild Dogs; once again making it both tense and funny.

This is in no way meant to be a comprehensive review. It's just a sample of the enjoyment to be found in attending a weekend festival sponsored by one of Chicago's more cutting-edge storefront theatres.

Abbie Fest XXIII Schedule For Sunday, August 21st

Logo from Revolution Theatre Company website.

Here’s the Sunday, August 21st schedule for Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XXIII, which is being held at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre this weekend. I added information I found through Internet research, or based on shows that I’ve seen in the past.

9:00 a.m. Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson adapted by Fred Husar -Theatre O Th Absurd Company Formerly with Dreadful Engines, Husar is another Abbie Fest regular who can be counted on for an interesting show. Here he’s adapted the infamous Rolling Stone scribe’s book for a funny, character-driven play.

9:15 a.m. TBA

10:00 a.m. Tai Chi with Daniel Guidara Guidara is a patient and knowledgeable instructor. An interesting way to kick off Day 3 of The Abbie Fest.

11:00 a.m. Sea Change by Leana Savoie and Paul Scudder - The Continuation Project

11:30 a.m. Wild Dogs by Matt Borczon - Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. This comedy/drama is a showcase for Rich Cotovsky’s in-your-face acting style. A deranged loner and an uptight businessman who was recently thrown out by his wife become uneasy allies after a bout of heavy drinking and fighting.

12:00 p.m. Readings from Run Run Run by Jack Hoffman In the past, audience members have been asked to come onstage and take part in the readings.

12:30 p.m. Flagellating The Boss by Crystal Jackson and Nathalie Magri - Revolution Theatre Co. A trio of employees plot revenge against their abusive boss.

1:00 p.m. Little Ivory Fingers by Sid Branca - Red Room Intimate solo performance from Branca, who’s also involved with The Chicago Fringe Festival.

1:25 p.m. TBA

2:00 p.m. Sea Change by Leana Savoie and Paul Scudder - The Continuation Project

2:30 p.m. TBA

2:45 p.m. Death Party by Max Lapine - Death Party

3:05 p.m. TBA

3:15 p.m. Some Air, A Sneak Peek - Nothing Without a Company A preview of Anya Clingman’s musical based on an average people who fear they’re going nowhere in life.

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4:00 p.m. L’il Howlin Wolf Veteran blues singer takes a down and dirty approach to performing. Not for kids or the easily offended.

4:35 p.m. The Billing King by Mark Young - The Side Project

5:05 p.m. Parrot Love by Jessica Wright - Tempting Fates

6:00 p.m. Lack of Dis-illusion by Mitch Straeffer and Pepper Giese - Pepperkorn Productions

6:24 p.m. L’il Howlin Wolf Another quick shot of blues.

6:45 p.m. My Life With The Shawnee by Steve Evans - Trained Monkey Productions

7:17 p.m. American Agency byAlexandra Bassett - American Agency

8:00 p.m. TBA

9:00 p.m. Lucky At Cards? by Brooke Johnson and Dina Klahn - Dandelion Arts

9:50 p.m. Rover From Dover by Joe Janes - Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. Part of Janes’s (The Best Of) 50 Plays series of 10-minute plays which The Reader described as “by turns they are silly, bizarre, violent and provocative.”

10:10 p.m. Birdlace by Birdlace - Birdlace

10:30 p.m. Peter Pain and The Power by Joe Janes and The Power - The Power More from Janes's (The Best Of) 50 Plays series.

10:55 p.m. Dorkumentary by Tarleton/Dawn Production - Tarleton/Dawn Productions David Tarleton and Adria Dawn are the creators of this Internet comedy series. Not sure if they’re doing a live performance or presentation.

11:10 p.m. Gas Mask 101 by Arlene Cook-Mary - Arrchie Theatre Co. Cook’s comedic look at SUI students back in the Viet Nam era is traditionally the last play of each year’s Abbie Fest.

12:00 a.m. Closing Ceremonies featuring Richard Cotovsky as Abbie Hoffman In character as Hoffman, Cotovsky bids farewell to the audience for another year. The solemn but funny ritual often involves cast members from Mary-Arrchie and other groups as Hoffman is entombed to the strains of The Doors’ “The End.” Festival regulars view attending this finale as a badge of honor.

Let’s Go Out To The Abbie

Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XXIII, a virtually nonstop celebration of theater, performance art, and comedy, comes to the Mary-Arrchie Theatre this weekend. I first heard of Abbie Fest, as it's more commonly known, back in 1989 via a classified ad placed by the Mary-Arrchie in The Chicago Reader. The theatre was looking for performers to take part in a 20th anniversary celebration of the original Woodstock Festival. Having just formed the Famous In The Future comedy group with Lake Sirmon, Frank Carr, and Dave Drazin earlier that year, I jumped at the opportunity.

By the time the festival arrived, our den mother Sirmon had moved to another state. We soldiered on with new cast members and did a revue of comedy skits that was haphazard at best. But we loved the camaraderie among the performers, thought Mary-Arrchie Artistic Director Rich Cotovsky was a cool dude, and happily signed on for Abbie Fest II when it rolled around in 1990. Famous In The Future returned every year after that, growing more polished in our writing and performing. I left the group in 2009, but still never miss an Abbie Fest.

Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins carries on the Mary-Arrchie’s mission of establishing a spirit of cooperation among Chicago’s theater community, as well as giving new groups a chance to reach a larger audience. There’s a definite party atmosphere on Friday and Saturday nights, but be sure to also check out the fest during the less hectic hours, because there’s usually something interesting going on. Tickets are $10 for a single day, $25 for the weekend.

Here are the performances for Friday, August 19th. I added comments for the acts that I've seen in the past. As far as I know, this is the latest schedule released by the Mary-Arrchie. Changes have been made (note the new day for A Red Orchid Theatre) and there are still a fair amount of TBAs. Hopefully, that means even more acts will be joining in the festivities. Mary-Arrchie Theatre is located at 735 W. Sheridan Road. Call 773-871-0442 for additional information or check out the website.

2:00 p.m. Gather at Daley Plaza/3:00 p.m. March towards Angel Island 735 W. Sheridan Rd.

Mary-Arrchie Artistic Director Richard Cotovsky has always insisted the rally and march are essential elements of the festival’s counter-culture vibe. Free spirits who enjoy a long walk are welcome to throw on some vintage hippie threads and join in the fun.

7:00 p.m. Opening Ceremonies featuring Richard Cotovsky as Abbie Hoffman Cotovsky has been impersonating the late Yippie founder for over 20 years and always gets the festival off to a rousing start. Half the fun is watching the audience react to his rants and comic observations on the current political landscape.

7:15 p.m. The Rocking Horse Winner by Gay Shark Ensemble - Gay Shark Ensemble

7:30 p.m. Kevorkian Love Affair With The Infinite by Nick Hart - Sam Houston Theatre Collective

8:00 p.m. Diary of a Madman by Nikolai Gogol - Rush Pearson One of the must-see productions at this festival. Pearson can be both heartbreaking and hilarious as he chronicles the dementia of a 19th Century Russian civil servant, in Gogol’s critically acclaimed one-man play.

9:00 p.m. Buckminster Fuller Has A Gun! by Nick Hart - Giggling Pyramid Theatre Second play by Nick Hart on this evening.

9:30 p.m. MooseHumps 2.0 - A Choose Your Own Adventure Halloween Play by R. Alex Kliner and Bobby Libby - Lights Out Theatre Company

10:05 p.m. TBA

10:40 p.m. Gas Mask 101 by Arlene Cook - Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. An Abbie Fest perennial, this comedy about Southern Illinois University students in the Viet Nam era has plenty of laughs, but some poignant moments as well. Cotovsky always nails the role of Swami, the perpetually pot-smoking professional student, while the rest of the cast changes each year.

11:30 p.m. The Factory Presents - The Factory Theater One of the better-known groups involved in the festival, The Factory Theater always has something provocative and fun up its sleeves.

12:00 p.m. Step Aside by Broad Shoulders Productions - Broad Shoulders Productions

1:00 a.m. The Pleasures of Dining Alone by Maggie O’Keefe - Tiger Lips and Rice4Dayz

1:15 a.m. Fake It! The Chicago Theatre Game Show by Roshambo Theatre

2:10 a.m. Wild Dogs by Matt Borczon - Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. This drama/comedy is another showcase for Cotovsky’s in-your-face acting style. A deranged loner and an uptight businessman who was recently thrown out by his wife become uneasy allies after a bout of heavy drinking and fighting.

2:40 a.m. Adventure Time With Finn and Jake by Pendelton Ward and Jake Penzell - Dramageddon

3:25 a.m. TBA

4:00 a.m. TBA

5:00 a.m. Shop Talk - A Red Orchid Theatre The critically acclaimed A Red Orchid Theatre has made this time slot its home for several years at Abbie Fest, and its fans are dedicated enough to show up even at the crack of dawn.

6:00 a.m. through 8:00 a.m. TBA

Abbie (On Sheridan) Road

I used to be Famous. My comedy group back in 2002. Left to right: Karen Yashon, me, Guy Schingoethe, Desiree Burcum, and Frank Carr. Carr and Burcum are still in the group.

Now that the dust has settled after Pitchfork in Union Park, Paul McCartney in Wrigley Field, The Fest For Beatles Fans in Rosemont, and Lollapalooza in Grant Park (actually, there’s more mud than dust in Grant Park right now), Chicagoans might be seeking that next big event. For those with an interest in theater, comedy, and performance art, it could very well be Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XXIII. The three-day, virtually non-stop event is held each year by the Mary-Arrchie Theatre sometime around the anniversary of the original Woodstock festival. It’s coming up in less than two weeks, from August 19th to the 21st, with over 30 acts participating.

Mary-Archie Theatre’s Artistic Director Rich Cotovsky has been overseeing Abbie Fest, as it’s more commonly known, since its birth in 1989. He channels the spirit of Yippie leader Hoffman during a kickoff rally and march from the Daley Center at 2:00 PM on the first day of the fest, and returns to that persona for the opening ceremonies later that night, and the closing ceremonies on Sunday night. He can also be seen as Hoffman at other times throughout the weekend, and he’ll be on stage for Mary-Archie’s performances of Wild Dogs by Matt Borczon and Gas Mask 101 by Arlene Cook, as well as the late night audience participation gabfest Bitch With Rich.

The Abbie Fest features performances by some of the more adventurous players on the city’s theatrical scene; like The Factory Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, and The Plagiarists. Rush Pearson’s take on the Nicolai Gogol play, Diary Of A Madman is always riveting, even for those who’ve seen it before. My former comedy group, Famous In The Future, has another great time slot this year; they’ll be performing a yet-to-be-named skit and song revue at 7:15 PM on Saturday. Famous In The Future is the only group besides Mary-Arrchie that has been in every single Abbie Fest. This year they’re being followed by an original piece called You Must Believe by Black Forest, the off kilter but always engaging duo of James Moeller and Carla Hayden.

Speaking as someone who performed at 20 of the Abbie Fests, and who still has perfect attendance, I highly recommend this three-day extravaganza. Located in a second floor storefront theater at 735 W. Sheridan Road, it’s a whole lot smaller than some of Chicago’s better known events, but always a lot of fun. I’m hoping to have more detailed information about the various performances as Abbie gets closer. Tickets are $10 for a single day, and $25 for a weekend pass.

Time To Make Superior Donuts

It's all in the ingredients. Picture from Rich Cotovsky;s Facebook page.

When I first heard that Rich Cotovsky was heading to Washington D.C., I thought the Obama administration had made a swap with the Mary-Arrchie Theatre. Cotovsky would become the President’s new Chief of Staff and the wily Rahm Emanuel, having tricked everyone into thinking he was gunning to become the Mayor of Chicago, would actually snag the more prestigious position of being a theater’s Artistic Director.

Emanuel could reinvent the late night show Bitch With Rich as Bitch With Rahm, and he’d have plenty of time to grow a beard and long hair for next year’s Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins theater festival. Meanwhile, Cotovsky, a veteran of in-your-face plays like Wild Dogs, would test Barack Obama’s calm and cool demeanor by eating a Twinkie off the floor of the Oval Office.

Actually, Cotovsky’s going to Washington D.C. for three-months to join the cast of the critically-acclaimed Tracy Letts comedy Superior Donuts. It’s a high profile gig for a talented actor who will surely make the most of it. Mary-Arrchie will be giving Cotovsky a send off party tomorrow night at Justin’s Bar on Southport.

He’s generated a lot of good will at the theater, as well as among the countless performers who have taken part in Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins, an annual weekend celebration of drama, comedy, and music. (I know because I’m one of them.) So here’s a toast to Rich Cotovsky: Knock ‘em dead in Donuts.

Abbie Fest XXII: Alive & Kicking

Photo from The Plagiarists Facebook page shows Ryan Palmer on left; Gregory Peters on right.

As I arrived at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre a little after 3PM this past Saturday, Artistic Director Rich Cotovsky was getting psyched for his role as Rex in Matt Borczon’s short piece Wild Dogs. Cotovsky has performed in this two-man tragicomedy at every Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins festival since 1989, pretty much with a different co-star each time. Wild Dogs, a tale of a deranged loner who takes in a timid businessman who’s been tossed out by his wife, exudes an in-your-face attitude that’s well-suited to the Abbie Fest and the Mary-Arrchie itself. The theatre group has always aimed for a streetwise grittiness.

Cotovsky held up a package of Twinkies, much to the delight of the audience, and as Wild Dogs unfolded, he rewarded their enthusiasm by tearing it apart with his teeth. With whipped cream smeared across his nose and beard, he howled and scampered on all fours, before taking a massive swig of Mad Dog 20/20. The Abbie Fest was set up as theater in the round this year, and sitting so close to the action, I was able to appreciate the various comic nuances Cotovsky continues to bring to a role he has performed numerous times.

Abbie Fest likewise continues to entertain and surprise as it charges into its third decade. Longtime fans are familiar with the nonstop schedule that kicks off at 7PM on Friday and runs through late Sunday night; the eclectic mix of seasoned professionals and mistake-prone rookies tackling everything from Harold Pinter to an early hours talk show about oil; and above all, the sense of support within Chicago’s theatrical community. The artsy, dramatic ambience of the Abbie Fest’s earliest days has given way to a raucous party spirit, and there are a lot more comedy groups on the schedule now.

So there was something reassuringly old school about watching members of the Dandelion Arts Center performing A General Revue of Dorothy Parker’s Situation by Brooke Johnson and Dina Marie Klahn. It wasn’t clear if this was a straight up presentation of the witty Parker’s own words, or a work that was inspired by her. Either way, a likable cast breezed through clever scenes with well-crafted dialogue. No belly laughs, but definitely satisfying. Later that day, Lance Eliot Adams, who has been affiliated with Mary-Arrchie for several years, read from his own novel, A Voice I Heard.

Black Forest Theatre founding members James Moeller and Carla Hayden have been gracing the Abbie Fest with their off-kilter charm for several years now. Their latest piece, The Dogstar Rages, was penned by Moeller, and displayed his usual fascination with clever word play and quirky characters.

Existential Crisis, a duo comprised of Matt Peterson and Mike Cherry, poked fun at various conventions of theater and sketch comedy, like banging into each other during a blackout, or jumbling various elements of Shakespeare. They finished with a funny but poignant bit about a guy who’s devastated to learn that his hero from back in their high school days wasn’t the sexual stud his overblown reputation made him out to be.

Journalistic integrity should prevent me from reviewing a performance by Famous In The Future, the group I spent 20 years writing and performing with, but what the hell, this is a blog. FIF used clever dialogue and imaginative costumes in a funny opening bit that mashed Alice In Wonderland with the current Tea Party movement. Long time member Desiree Burcum’s original song exploring how America embraces mediocrity scored some major hits on current celebrities. A sketch about two mountain climbers debating whether they should save the life of a circus clown who had fallen into a ravine was laugh out loud funny, especially for those of us familiar with founding member Frank Carr’s pathological fear of clowns.

A.S.S. IV by The Plagiarists once again featured the hysterically funny Gregory Peters portraying a pompous professor introducing the works of an obscure (purely fictional) playwright. The revue bounced between rapid fire eloquence to can-you believe-we’re-actually-doing-this-onstage gross-outs, with the highly polished cast somehow holding the insanity together. At this point it was after 10 o’clock, and the huge crowd that had gathered in the Mary-Arrchie’s storefront venue on Sheridan Road made it impossible for audience members sitting toward the back to see much of what was taking place. But there was a positive vibe in the air, and for those of us who have been coming every year since Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins I, it was great to see this freewheeling celebration still going strong.

Revolution For The Thrill Of It

Graphic taken from 2010 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Fest t shirt. These t shirts will be on sale at the Fest.

You might see a small band of rebels in the Daley Center tomorrow afternoon, but it won’t be a scene being filmed for Transformers 3. The guy with the megaphone and unruly hair is Mary-Arrchie Theatre Artistic Director Rich Cotovsky, and his devoted followers are actors. They’ll march northward until they reach the Mary-Arrchie Theatre at the corner of Broadway and Sheridan Road. Yep, Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XXII has arrived. The virtually nonstop three-day celebration of theatre, performance art, comedy, and music will once again exude a freewheeling 1960s vibe that kicks off with an Opening Ceremony that features Cotovsky channeling the spirit of Hoffman.

As usual, some big players on the local scene are involved; like A Red Orchid Theatre doing Oil Talk, Rush Pearson doing Gogol’s Diary Of A Madman, The Factory Theater doing The Popeye Chronicles, and The Factory Theater Alumni doing The Mystery Of Pink Floyd. Unfortunately the Mary-Arrchie Theatre itself won’t be performing its current hit Cherrywood, (it’s been extended through August 28th) as part of Abbie Fest, but the group will be performing Wild Dogs and Gas Mask 101.

Over the years, Citizens’ Relief, Rare Terra, Theatre O’ Th Absurd, The Plagiarists, and Bruised Orange Theatre have put up interesting shows, so they should be worth checking out this time around. Several other performances look promising. Part of the fun at Abbie Fest is never knowing what to expect. In addition to showcasing a wealth of local talent Abbie Fest also provides a supportive atmosphere in which new groups can get their feet wet.

I took part in this annual ritual for 20 years as a member of the Famous In The Future comedy group, and have too many fond memories to go into here. My old mates are still active, and this year, they’ll be offering a revue of scripted material called Famous In The Future in 3D. Longtime cast member Desiree Burcum, who has an obsession with puppets, warned on Facebook that some puppets will be involved with this year’s production. Founding member Frank Carr is the only individual other than Cotovsky, who has performed in every single Abbie Fest. Famous In The Future in 3D is slated for 7:00PM Saturday night.

A few hours earlier, James Moeller and Carla Hayden of Black Forest Theatre will perform The Dog Star Rages at 4:45PM. Moeller has been talking up the original 30-minute piece, which also features Maurice Cleary, on his JimmyDumps/SunnyJimmy blog and it sounds like another winner from the always offbeat but genial Black Forest Theatre.

Abbie Fest XXII is a great place to hang out all weekend for inventive and imaginative performances, and a fun way for the theater community to come together. Mary-Arrchie Theatre is located at 735 W. Sheridan Road, just off the intersection of Broadway and Sheridan. (773-871-0442)