Trailer

Video by RYAN LOVE

Performer of the Week: Brandon Gibbons

Brandon is the Musical Director and one of the creative minds behind Hogwash. He's a tour de force in many ways. His musical genius lulls babies to sleep and sends images of rainbows and lollipops into the minds of children everywhere. His smile and personality is infectious and he makes even the most reluctant singer feel comfortable. He's admired far and wide for his true musical virtuoso and also as a fantastic improvisor. Let's hear what he has to say.

What was your favorite moment from the show so far?
We were performing a Friday Matinee show for the University Cooperative School and Kapka School here in Seattle. There were close to 75 kids in the audience. It was such a different energy than the Saturday shows which are usually a pretty even adult to child crowd. The amount of energy these kids have a ten in the morning is incredible. At one point during the show, the 'bad guys', Scotty B and Jon, were creeping around behind Lauren's character on stage and the kids started sreaming and pointing them out to her. She tried to 'not see them' but it quickly became clear that there was no way the kids were going to let them off the hook! At the moment Lauren turned around and caught them, the deafening screams ceased, and the story continued. This was a perfect example of how the kids really get to take the reigns at Hogwash. They know what they want to see, and we'd better show it to them, or else...!!

What do you enjoy most about Hogwash?
The true power of art and expression is something that is in danger of slipping away from the world we live in. With video games and the internet and instant-everything, skills in social interaction and creative self-expression, along with patience, focus, and the ability to experience just being, have become all but forgotten elements of life as it may have once been. By integrating art, music, drama, and storytelling into one experience, Hogwash reaches out to a wide audience of children and adults. Hogwash, to me, is a chance to layout a blanket of possibilities, to show people that it's okay to have an imagination of your own, to trust yourself and your ideas. It is a space in which everyone, the performers and the audience, can create without fear of judgement. I feel privileged to be a part of something that I truly belive has the power to make a difference in the world we live in.

When did you start performing?
I began playing violin in 4th grade. During my first year in the school orchestra I performed the duo piece with another violinist. I don't even remember what it was, but it was great! Then next year we were scheduled to do it again, and two days before the concert, my partner quit. My teacher told me it was already in the program and I would have to perform the piece solo. I was terrified! The day of the concert I convinced my mom I was sick and she called me out of school. I sat at home all day playing the piece I was supposed to be playing at the concert over and over again. I can honestly say, I think that was the last time I missed a performance. I played violin for another year or so before switching to guitar to be a rock star, close to 15 years ago!

Who do you admire?
I've been very lucky to have had some amazing teachers over the course of my artistic journey. They always seem to come at just the right moments. There is also my grandma, who is the most loving and compassionate person I've ever known. She's gone through so much in her life time but no matter what happens, she never has any ill will toward anyone. She is the incarnation of love and acceptence in it's purist form. I've always admired that and hope someday to reach that state of being, in this life or the next.

What is one of your most memorable moments performing?
Performing is for me, a very spiritual and personal experience. Art, be it in the form of music, dance, acting, painting, whatever...takes skill. Skill is something we can see and touch and practice. It also takes someting else. Something unnamable and undefinable. You know it once you've felt it and then it is all you're reaching for from that moment on. I can remember the first time I had the experience, and every time since, but for me, it is all one moment that I am striving to exist within.

Chicago Opening Day Photos

The William Parrot Story

Story and Illustration by William Erignac age 4 and 3/4



Once upon a time there was a parrot named Hogwash. Hogwash loved other Parrots. They were all named Hogwash because they were from Africa. But there was one parrot named William. The other parrots called him Hogwash. Hogwash flew away. He remembered his little creature friends and he sang a song to them.

"Lullaby, lullaby I love you my friends. I come from Africa.
I rode over the sea. I come with William Parrot and the other
Hogwash parrots"

At the end of the song the little creatures calpped their hands and said "Yeah! Let's count to four. One. Two. Three. Four. There's another exploria. Let's go there.

The End.

CHICAGO SHOWCASE

Hogwash Chicago opened this Saturday at the Bailiwick Arts Center Studio Theater.

Shows will run this coming Saturday and Sunday, April 28th and 29th at 2pm. The theater is located at 1229 W Belmont Avenue, Chicago Il 60657.

For more information visit hogwashtime.com. To make reservations call 773. 883. 1090 or email info@hogwashtime.com

Stay tuned for pictures and highlights!!

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Feature Article in the Chicago Tribune

Beth Franken wrote an article that featured Hogwash for the Chicago Tribune

TAKE YOUR SEAT AND BOND. 4 new children's shows that demonstrate why live-on-stage beats the glowing screen

SPECIAL REPORT: Girl Scouts of America Scream Their Way through Hogwash!

Last week, Hogwash had some very special guests in swell Girl Scout vests! Troops came from the Girl Scout Totem Council Arts Partnership and filled the Hogwash theatre with their voices and great ideas. They dressed Jon and Jen in incredibly silly costumes and helped with ideas and even came on stage to be trees that granted wishes.

The story began with a pair of best friends painting pictures of mountain landscapes. After painting so many mountain paintings, they decided to travel to the other side of the mountain for more inspiration, even though Jen was very frightened of bears. Even seeing a stuffed teddy bear scared her, but she went on the adventure with her best friend anyway. On their journey, they encountered an angry bear. The other mountain critters suggested singing the bear a lullaby to get him to go to sleep. It worked, but the two best friends got in a fight and decided to go about different paths. Unbeknownst to them, Cruella DeVille, another aspiring artist, was following them. She was the one who got the bear to attack them. She wanted their ideas because she had artist’s block, and wanted all the inspiration for herself. She demanded that the bear capture the friends and bring them back to her. What she didn’t realize was that the forest critters would help Jon figure out what happened to Jen. They led them to Cruella DeVille’s secret cave. She was so mad; she started painting evil mustaches on all the forest critters. The two friends tricked Cruella to think that she was beautiful, which she was not, and convinced her to pose for a portrait. Instead she was attacked with stringy paint and became entangled and immobile. They made her realize that art is something everyone can create and that it’s not a contest on who is better at expressing themselves.

The Girl Scouts also helped out with providing a magical place such as Antarctica as the setting for the second story. There, Lucy worked at her Aunt’s penguin farms, cleaning up after smarmy penguins. She dreamt about going to a warmer, tropical place where she didn’t have to wear so many layers. Not that far away at the ice castle, a prince forced to wear girl’s dresses for the warmth, dreamt the same dream. He decided to hold a ball in order to find his travel companion on his trip to the sunny shores of Florida. Lucy’s evil Auntie hid Lucy’s invitation to the ball so she could get closer to the prince and take over the ice kingdom. Lucy was granted some wishes from magical trees so that she could make it to the ball. She found a disguise and was able to go unnoticed by her Auntie at the ball. The prince immediately was drawn to the strange stranger and already knew that he wanted to take her to Florida. The dance competition was a hit and even though the evil Auntie threw down some awesome moves, she could not beat Lucy’s amazing gymnastic style break-ice-dancing moves. The prince tore off his funny dress to reveal his intentions to take Lucy to Florida with him. Hizah!

Thanks Girl Scouts of America Totem Council! We hope you took what you learned from last weekend home and made up your own stories. We hope to see you on stage soon!

Performer of the Week: Lauren Domino

Lauren Domino dominates with dynamism and dignity. As a performer during the fall show and now the director, Lauren leads the group with a vast knowledge of children's theatre, improv and teaching experience. She's always looking out for the actors and always there to step in and perform when there's a need. She's hilarious, smart and an electric performer and director.

What was your favorite moment from the show so far?I think my favorite moment from the show was a music alone. When the bear came out of the cave, and the two girls fed him candy and an everlasting gobstopper, the bear's tummy was really upset. We had a guest trumpet player in the band that day, and he made a little "toot" sound just as the bear was complaining about his indigestion! It was so funny!!!! What do you enjoy most about Hogwash?I love that, as the Director, I just get to sit back, relax, and watch the show. It's such a fun show to watch, and the performers are terrific, so my job is easy! I also love that Hogwash is offering a different theatre experience to families than any other show in town. With this show, the kids get to drive the story, jump on their seats, boo at the bad guys, dance and sing in the isles . . . you wouldn't be allowed to do that at a standard theatre!

When did you start performing?Probably when I was about 4 years old! When I was a little girl, I was always rounding all the kids on the block up and making them be in plays that (of course) I wrote, directed, and starred in! But I didn't really start doing theatre until I got to high school and auditioned for a play. I fell in love with theatre at that moment, and I went onto study Drama at the UW.

Who do you admire?That's a hard one! There are so many people I admire . . . Of course,there are my parents who have always been supportive of my creative endeavors, and who have worked hard to provide wonderful opportunities to me. I also look up to Juliette Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts because she pioneered an organization that has given so many women a voice in this world, and the courage to pursue their goals.

What is one of your most memorable moments performing?In the Fall run of Hogwash, I was playing the manager of a hot dog stand at Safeco Field. When we apprehended the bad guys (who had been smashing hot dogs for no reason), I poured ketchup, mustard, and relish all over their head in front of the audience. Of course, it wasn't really ketchup, mustard, and relish, it was silly string, but it was still hilarious!

Pictures, Pictures...

A musical number



Listen kids...



Scotty B, working the crowd



They told her!



Becky, Jen & Arthur

Performer of the Week: Nick Edwards

Nick has been apart of Hogwash since the beginning of the Seattle run last year. He's a very talented artist and performer, designing the posters and all the props onstage as well as painting faces before the show. He's made all the fantastic props that have helped develop the stories and enhanced the children's experience on stage. He's had to be able to think ahead and anticipate what will happen two to three scenes ahead of the actors. He's always thinking outside the box, making props that improve the dynamic between the actors and the audience. We're all very sad that last week was his last performance. We all wish him the best and know this will not be the last time Hogwash sees Nick Edwards. Farewell and best of luck! His craft and imagination will be missed by all.
What was your favorite moment from the show this week?
I dunno about last week, but one of my favorite moments ever was when we one of the suggestions we got "tiger," and I could tell Scottie B was going to come out as the tiger character in the next scene. Well as soon as I heard the word tiger I started making paper plates into tiger stripes (orange and black poster paint and some good ol' double stick tape). As soon as I put the stripes on Scottie, I knew they were not going to stay on. But he dashed across the stage a couple times, dropping a few stripes as he did. When he finally entered the scene he had about half of them left and they were falling off left and right. But then the scene turned into a story about helping the tiger find and keep all his stripes. I always love it when the players take the art for what it is, even it's limitations, and make it into something incredible and interesting to watch on stage.
What do you enjoy most about Hogwash?
I really like the role I play in the show. I get to do lots of little things that make a big difference to the story. It's also fun trying to figure what the improvisers on stage might need next and (more importantly) how to make it. My supplies, as varied as they are, require a bit of imagination and a bit of ingenuity to make it work. I've done a bit of improvising in my day but being the artist in Hogwash is unlike any sort of improvising I've ever done before.
When did you start performing?
I'd love to say it was in my first play in high school but regrettably there are hours and hours of footage of me as a young'un singing and playing and completely and totally, unabashedly mugging for the camera. No doubt about it, I was doomed from the beginning.
Who do you admire?
Toughie. It's difficult for me to choose one of the big names we all know and recognize. I think more so than that I'm inspired by the people I know or meet. Little moments of brilliance or dedication or passion. Those keep me going when it's rough. And the idea that maybe, just maybe I could one day be one of those to someone I know or meet.
What is one of your most memorable moments performing?
This happened during the first run but I remember Ian and one of the other players were good friends who loved roller coasters and hot dogs. They were going to enter an amusement park model contest but got into a fight and decided to work on their own. When the scene turned to Ian's workshop the model I made for him was basically a flat piece of foam core with a pipe cleaner sticking through it like a pole. I think it may also have had a piece of construction paper taped to it. He just sat there staring at the "model" and it was so sad and pathetic. But it was also a brilliant moment of pathos where we all understood how much those two friends needed each other as well as how important their friendship was.

Week Five Highlights

Miss Pumpkin's Flower shop just got a loyal customer out of Sparky, the world renowned juggler. Much like flowers, Miss Pumpkin and Sparky's fledgling friendship blossomed into a beautiful bond. Unfortunately, a no good flower shop opened up down the street and planned to ruin business for Miss Pumpkin by creating a giant, human-like flower monster for the upcoming flower convention. Miss Pumpkin was also planning on bringing her dancing and singing flowers to the convention. Flowers love showers in order to grow into singing and dancing flowers. Sparky did his best to help out yet was still unfulfilled. He loved to juggle and had not juggled in a long time. Coincidentally, the grand prize was a juggling set from Mr. BigTop at the flower convention. Miss Pumpkin's flowers learned a great dance from Sparky. At the convention, the dubious store owners from down the street had their flower monster dance. It wasn't very good at dancing and couldn't dance without being sprayed with water and failed to get the grand prize. Of course, Miss Pumpkin's flowers won and Sparky got his juggling kit! Hooray!

Lucy longed to use her magical powers but her parents wouldn't let her because she was too young. Her mean older brothers loved to rub it in that she couldn't use her powers...and also because she was so shorty short short short. They constantly made her make sandwiches for them even though they could poof! sandwiches in a second. It just so happened that old Merlin was getting younger over the years and was looking for a replacement to be in charge of his magic convention. (Down the street from the flower convention) Poor Lucy didn't know who to turn to. Her eccentric neighbor Ms. Macalroy, also happened to be a magical fairy, granted her the wish of being able to attend the magic convention without her parents knowing. Merlin decided that he would choose his successor by holding a sandwich making contest sans magic. Lucy had much experience making sandwiches without using magic, her brothers however, had no idea how to make a sandwich without magic. Lucy became Merlin's successor and her parent's were so impressed, they allowed her to use her magic and she could finally poof! her own sandwiches too.