The Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company’s annual marathon showcase of emerging talent, which features a slew of local fringe theater and performance companies and solo artists, was founded in 1989 to honor the late anarchist author of Woodstock Nation and to commemorate the anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock music festival. “Abbie Hoffman Died for Our Sins XII” offers an almost constant flow of entertainment while seeking to foster a communal spirit among performers and audience (which may be enhanced by sleep deprivation). A sliding admission-price scale allows audiences to attend a specific show or to come and go throughout the weekend; there are convenience stores nearby for those in need of a snack, the theater is air-conditioned, and there’s indoor plumbing-so you don’t need to use port-a-potties. Participants include A Red Orchid Theatre, the Hypocrites, the Aardvark, the Factory Theater, Theatre Wyrzuc, the Fantod Theatre, solo artists Jennifer Biddle and Cleetus Friedman, and the jazz-rock band Milkbaby as well as Mary-Arrchie, whose own entries include the Abbiefest perennial Gas Mask 101, a nostalgic look at college life in the Vietnam war era, as well as its current production Breakdown and Out. At press time, several slots in the schedule (provided at the beginning of the week and subject to change) were assigned to that ever popular item “To be announced”; check with the theater for updated information. Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company, Angel Island, 731 W. Sheridan, 773-871-0442. August 18 through 20: Friday-Sunday, according to the schedule below. Tickets: $5 for a single admission (allows you to come in once and stay as long as you can take it (“no leaving for cigarette breaks or beer,” a press release warns); $10 for a one-day pass (allows you to come and go at will on a single day); $25 for a weekend pass (with in-out privileges) to the full festival.
The Man With the Flower in His Mouth
Cleetus Friedman’s program of character sketches and songs is drawn from his past one-man shows Don’t Burn My House and In Full Effect; the performance features a live DJ. “[When] it comes to hip-hop fandom, Friedman is about as hard-core as they get. [10 there’s one thing he’s entirely successful at, it’s making his appreciation of the music and culture burn brightly throughout his shows,” says Reader critic Nick Green. 8 PM.
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Gas Mask 101
Fantod’s resident playwright Guy Jackson offers the tale of “an accidental arsonist.” 11 PM.
To be announced
