Monkey Man
by Dana Block
March 26-28, 7:30 p.m.
MONKEY MAN
A One-Woman Show About Family, Schizophrenia And Being on the Road
Written and performed by Dana Block
March 26, 27, 28 @ 7:30PM
Dana Block and The Willowell Foundation, invite the public to “Monkey Man,” a one-woman show about her brother Marc who documented his descent into mental illness while hitchhiking thousands of miles cross country. Set in Dana’s family home of rural St. Joseph, Missouri, “Monkey Man” chronicles the devastating effect his illness had on her middle class, Jewish family. Unexpectedly funny, eccentric and deeply moving, “Monkey Man” illuminates the vulnerability of a family and a sister as they watch a dear son and brother fall over the edge.
The title “Monkey Man” comes from “a little stuffed monkey Marc carried around until the damned thing disintegrated,” says playwright and performer, Dana Block. “Growing up, Marc was a gut-splittin’, hell-raisin’ comedian of a kid. But when he became a teenager and schizophrenia set in, he went into a dark orbit, taking on the persona of “Highway Man”, his mission, in his own words, to “tell my stories to drivers, keep ‘em awake at night.” “Marc tried to reason his way out,” Dana says, “finding tunnels, underpasses and crosscuts, but nothing ever led him back home.”
A One-Woman Show About Family, Schizophrenia And Being on the Road
Written and performed by Dana Block
March 26, 27, 28 @ 7:30PM
Dana Block and The Willowell Foundation, invite the public to “Monkey Man,” a one-woman show about her brother Marc who documented his descent into mental illness while hitchhiking thousands of miles cross country. Set in Dana’s family home of rural St. Joseph, Missouri, “Monkey Man” chronicles the devastating effect his illness had on her middle class, Jewish family. Unexpectedly funny, eccentric and deeply moving, “Monkey Man” illuminates the vulnerability of a family and a sister as they watch a dear son and brother fall over the edge.
The title “Monkey Man” comes from “a little stuffed monkey Marc carried around until the damned thing disintegrated,” says playwright and performer, Dana Block. “Growing up, Marc was a gut-splittin’, hell-raisin’ comedian of a kid. But when he became a teenager and schizophrenia set in, he went into a dark orbit, taking on the persona of “Highway Man”, his mission, in his own words, to “tell my stories to drivers, keep ‘em awake at night.” “Marc tried to reason his way out,” Dana says, “finding tunnels, underpasses and crosscuts, but nothing ever led him back home.”
The title “Monkey Man” comes from “a little stuffed monkey Marc carried around until the damned thing disintegrated,” says playwright and performer, Dana Block. “Growing up, Marc was a gut-splittin’, hell-raisin’ comedian of a kid. But when he became a teenager and schizophrenia set in, he went into a dark orbit, taking on the persona of “Highway Man”, his mission, in his own words, to “tell my stories to drivers, keep ‘em awake at night.” “Marc tried to reason his way out,” Dana says, “finding tunnels, underpasses and crosscuts, but nothing ever led him back home.”
“Dana Block fill[s] the stage with movement, voice, sound-effects, and music... she tells the story with dance, sometimes with poetry, of her early life with her bohemian, theatrical, Jewish family in Missouri...Monologues explode like a bomb going off in slow motion. Ms. Block’s performance was brilliant,” – WILLIAM J. CATALDI, Hi Drama Cable, NYC 11/5/19.
“Through anecdotes, and a stellar air guitar performance… Dana introduces us to Marc’s quick wit and unfathomable creativity, even as his brain begins to pull him further away from reality … Block’s vivid and poetic language sings. It is a privilege to be let into her world… its gravity is gripping.” --LEIA SQUILLACE, All About Solo, 11/7/19
“Through anecdotes, and a stellar air guitar performance… Dana introduces us to Marc’s quick wit and unfathomable creativity, even as his brain begins to pull him further away from reality … Block’s vivid and poetic language sings. It is a privilege to be let into her world… its gravity is gripping.” --LEIA SQUILLACE, All About Solo, 11/7/19
Admission $15, Students $7.50
Mental Health Workers and Counselors 50% DISCOUNT
Reservations at Seven Days Tix. Pick up by 7:20 required
Produced by The Willowell Foundation @ Off Center For The Dramatic Arts
Mental Health Workers and Counselors 50% DISCOUNT
Reservations at Seven Days Tix. Pick up by 7:20 required
Produced by The Willowell Foundation @ Off Center For The Dramatic Arts
DANA BLOCK is a Vermont-based performer, actor and writer. She most recently performed “Monkey Man” Off-Broadway at The United Solo Festival on Theater Row, 2019. Previous NYC credits include her original one-woman show, “Queen Kong” at Theater Row, 2018. She has appeared extensively on regional stages including Chicago’s NorthLight Theater, Kentucky Shakespeare, Actor’s Shakespeare Project (Boston), Vermont Stage and Lost Nation Theater. She acted in Richard Foreman’s Indie Film, “Once Every Day,” (winner New York Times Critics Pick 2013). and has worked with Hanya Holm, Tina Packer and Michael Kahn. She was a member of the San Francisco based “LADIES AGAINST WOMEN,” one of the nation’s first feminist improv groups, appearing with Paul Krassner and opening for The Grateful Dead. She has an MFA in Classical Acting from George Washington University and has written and performed four one-woman shows and a full-length play and is on the faculty of the New England Young Writer’s Conference at Breadloaf.
PRODUCER: The Willowell Foundation is a nonprofit Foundation devoted to the consilience of Arts education and the environment, supporting Vermont-based and international artists in generating innovative programming for young people. It is also the home of the internationally-renowned Walden Project.
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MARCH 1 - 4, 2018
Stealing From Work: The Unbearable Whiteness of Being
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Thursday, March 1st - 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, March 2nd - 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3rd- 4:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 4th - 1:00 p.m and 4:00 p.m. Stealing from Work is back with a full show of brand new sketch comedy written by Angie Albeck and Marianne DiMascio. Join actors Marianne DiMascio, Alex Hudson, Jory Raphael, Amy Halpin Riley, and Geeda Searfoorce for a fast-paced evening of lunacy and lampoonery. Directed by Seth Jarvis, the actors deftly transform into a different set of extraordinary characters, alternately spoofing contemporary culture and the political issues of our time. With sound and video design by Jess Wilson, Stealing from Work’s production takes on familiar and new topics, all with a local flavor. Leave the kids at home. Stealing from Work is immature humor for mature audiences only. Tickets: *Tickets for Thursday, March 1st, are “pay what you can” and are only available at the door. For all other performances tickets are $15 |
March 5, 2018
Playmakers
Return of the monthly new work reading series
Playmakers returns to the Off Center!
The monthly new play reading event is back!
Come to the Off Center for the Dramatic Arts on Monday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. to hear new work!
Featuring a directed reading of Room Without a View by Emer Pond Feeney, produced by Kelly Jane Thomas & Xana Wolf.
(though donations to Off Center are always very welcome)
Can't make it this month?
Mark your calendar for the next rounds:
Monday, April 9
Monday, May 7
The monthly new play reading event is back!
Come to the Off Center for the Dramatic Arts on Monday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. to hear new work!
Featuring a directed reading of Room Without a View by Emer Pond Feeney, produced by Kelly Jane Thomas & Xana Wolf.
(though donations to Off Center are always very welcome)
Can't make it this month?
Mark your calendar for the next rounds:
Monday, April 9
Monday, May 7
March 8, 2018
Welcome dr. sketchy's to burlington
Grand opening event
Celebrate Dr. Sketchy's coming to Vermont at our Grand Opening event, Thursday, March 8
Dr. Sketchy's is life drawing with a twist - a 3-hour themed figure drawing session featuring gorgeous models (un)dressed in spectacular costumes! Being good at drawing does not matter: this "Anti-Art School" is open to everyone!
Presented with a classic Burlesque theme, our featured model is Burlington beauty *Merrique Hysterique!* Expect good music, wacky contests with sweet prizes, and party food and drinks!
Cash-only at the door - $12 / $10 with student ID. Ages 18+.
Bring your own drawing or painting supplies.
Dr. Sketchy's is life drawing with a twist - a 3-hour themed figure drawing session featuring gorgeous models (un)dressed in spectacular costumes! Being good at drawing does not matter: this "Anti-Art School" is open to everyone!
Presented with a classic Burlesque theme, our featured model is Burlington beauty *Merrique Hysterique!* Expect good music, wacky contests with sweet prizes, and party food and drinks!
Cash-only at the door - $12 / $10 with student ID. Ages 18+.
Bring your own drawing or painting supplies.