(L-R) Bob Schmidt, Michael Dura, Tina Brock (front), Tomas Dura and David Stanger in Eugène Ionesco's Rhinoceros. Photo Credit: Johanna Austin (www.austinart.org)

On becoming a RHINOCEROS: Interview with director Tina Brock 

Tina Brock, writer, actor, founder and producing artistic director of the Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium (IRC) since 2006—Philadelphia’s only absurdist theatre company—holds degrees from the University of Maryland and West Chester University, works as a Standardized Patient Trainer at the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, and makes the impossible possible, year after year, with some of the most thought provoking and unusual productions.

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Kate Raines in THE BODY LAUTREC © Jacques-Jean Tiziou / www.jjtiziou.net”

Nudity or Crudity: a conversation with Mary Tuomanen about THE BODY LAUTREC

I asked Tuomanen, who directed the piece, to talk about The Body Lautrec. On extremely short notice, she agreed (“Aaron called me, said someone was upset about Lautrec and you wanted to ask me some questions.”) We talk about filth, exploitation, agency, and other uplifting stuff.

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John Bellomo and Renato Arcuri perform in Ombelico’s FLIM FLAM PHANTOM SHAM (Photo credit: Courtesy of Ombelico Mask Ensemble)

FLIM FLAM PHANTOM SHAM (Ombelico Mask Ensemble): Fringe Review 56

Ombelico’s latest al fresco offering, FLIM FLAM PHANTOM SHAM, is a delightful synthesis of traditional Commedia dell’Arte with current Philadelphia references, delivered in Italian and English—or Philly’s local version thereof!—which kept me in stitches throughout the entire all-ages show.

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Chris Davis plays Vronsky in ANNA K (Photo credit: Courtesy of the Artist)

Anna K (Chris Davis): 2014 Fringe Review 40.2

It would be fun to call ANNA K an irreverent romp through Tolstoy’s 1870s novel, Anna Karenina, but in fact playwright Chris Davis reverences the material in his own way. For all its comedy, and there’s plenty in his South Philly-style version, the play scans the storyline and retains underlying issues.

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THE ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, FORGET-ABOUT-IT, LAST NIGHT AT VON DAHM’S SPORTS BAR, WING HUT, AND KARAOKE PALACE (Actors International Theatre): Fringe Review 48

Some Fringe shows display great production values and artistic quality. VON DAHM’s isn’t one of those, but it’s still a joy.

View More THE ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, FORGET-ABOUT-IT, LAST NIGHT AT VON DAHM’S SPORTS BAR, WING HUT, AND KARAOKE PALACE (Actors International Theatre): Fringe Review 48