Tarantula

Tarantula
Theater	The Institution Theater
Directed by	Sarah Marie Curry
Cast	Varies
Crew	Varies
Run	2015-Present

Tarantula is an organic improv show that includes improvised music.

Summary

TARANTULA is The Institution Theater's monthly 10pm show, playing every 2nd Saturday at 10pm as part of the Staple Show Series (a rotation of monthly shows in the 10pm Saturday time slot).

Summary

Tarantula is a "formless-form" show, in a similar vein as Todd Stashwick's Mayfly, or Chicago's JTS Brown Format. An eight legged cast of improvisors and musical guest arrive on the night of, in preparation to discover the show they are in as they are finishing it. TARANTULA has been called "dreamlike" "dynamic" and "what was THAT?" (but in a good way).

Press Blurb: Tarantula is a combination of improv and live music melding together in the most unique ways. The improvisers will use the stage and their own bodies like a canvas, a tapestry of emotions and perceptions. Unlike most improvised shows that tell a story in a narrative fashion, Tarantula will tell a story that is fragmentary and organic. You will relate to the weird and twisty rhythms of the show because you are HUMAN and it connects with you soul. Improvisers will move as one, create without structure and follows the beats and tempo that the musicians lay down for them in the moment.

Origin

The show is produced and/or curated (depending on your loose definition in a formless form thingy whats-it by Sarah Marie Curry, who originated the idea after a production meeting for The Staple Shows at The Institution Theater, wherein she was asked to create a long running show to reduce the strain of turning over multiple new productions at once. She was asked what she thought would be marketable, enduring and inspiring. She came up with TARANTULA instead. The name came from thinking of insects ("Mayfly") and that the cast is often made of eight improvisors, and the work they do endeavors to be beautiful and scary.

Cast

October 10th, 2015 Sarah Marie Curry Aspen Webster Heidi Rogers Wyatt Tall Brad Silman Adam Mengesha Michael Ferstenfeld

MUSICIAN Brent Baldwin

September 12th, 2015 Sarah Marie Curry Kristen Kurtis Kierstin Hettler Michael Ferstendfeld David Moses Fruchter Paul Wainwright Adam Mengesha Asaf Ronen Shannon McCormick

MUSICIAN Southpaw Jones

August 8th, 2015 Kierstin Hettler Courtney Hopkin Ashlee Medlin Aspen Webster Michael Ferstenfeld Jon Bolden Shannon McCormick Craig Kotfas

MUSICIAN Lindsay McKenna

July 11th, 2015 Brently Heilbron Kenny Madison Michael Ferstenfeld Brett Tribe Jordan Maxwell Courtney Hopkin Sarah Marie Curry Sam Schak Kierstin Hettler

MUSICIAN The Source Band

June 13th, 2015 Sarah Marie Curry Sam Freckles Schak Kierstin Cecelia Ruby Willmann Adam Mengesha Michael Joplin Quinn Buckner Asaf Ronen

MUSICIAN David Ronn

May 16th, 2015 Cat Drago Sarah Marie Curry Courtney Hopkin Jon Bolden Kareem Badr Michael Ferstendfeld Adam Mengesha Matt Needles

MUSICIAN Content Knowles

April 18th, 2015 Kiersten Hettler Ashley Nugent Sarah Marie Curry Kareem Badr Tom Booker Frank Netscher

MUSICIAN Ammon Taylor

March 21st, 2015 Adam Mengesha Michael Ferstenfeld Kareem Badr Courtney Hopkin Sam Schak Sarah Marie Curry Lisa Jackson

MUSICIANS Content Knowles

February 21st, 2015 Kareem Badr John Ratliff Clifton Highfield Ashley Nugent Heidi Penix Sarah Marie Curry Sam Schak

MUSICIANS Brently Heilbron

January 24th, 2015 Kareem Badr Asaf Ronen Arthur Simone Tom Booker Sarah Marie Curry Heidi Penix Halyn Erickson Sam Schak

MUSICIANS Ryan Hill Lindsey McGowen

Media

Photos

• Photoset by Peter Rogers of the 1/24/15 performance.
  • Photoset by Chad Wellington of the same show.
• Photoset by Steve Rogers of the 2/21/15 performance.
• Photoset by Heidi Rogers of the March 2015 show.
• Photoset by Michael Yew of the 4/18/15 performance.
• Photoset by Heidi Rogers of the May 2015 show.