Over Our Head Players will present their popular original comedy competition, the “2012 Snowdance® 10 Minute Comedy Festival.” These original comedies will be performed together by the OOHP Snowdance ensemble January 27 – February 26. Due to its popularity, OOHPs has added a fifth weekend and Thursday evening performances. All performances are at Sixth Street Theatre, 318 Sixth Street, Downtown Racine. At each performance, audience members can vote for their favorite individual comedy; the audience favorites win cash prizes. Reservations are available through the box office, (262)632-6802. Tickets are $13.50 and $15.50.
The Snowdance® 10 Minute Comedy Festival is a competition of original short comedies. In the ultimate interactive experience, the audience can vote for the production they enjoyed the most. The votes will be tallied throughout the festival run, and the Snowdance “Best in Snow” will be awarded after the final performance February 26th. A cash award of $300.00 goes to “Best in Snow”, with a $100.00 award going to both second and third place.
The Snowdance 10 Minute Comedy festival draws entrants and audiences from across the country, making Racine the home of the 10 minute comedy competition. A Snowdance record 260 scripts from 39 states and five foreign countries entered the competition; the Snowdance selection committee chose these to compete in production.
The winning titles and their authors:
The Gift of Rift by Evan Allgood, Alexandria, Virginia
A surprisingly frank couple breaks some news to their son…on Christmas morning.
And What a Damn Fine Morning It Is by Trace Crawford, Hilliard, Ohio
An early-morning flurry of conspicuous and competitive consumerism
DatenavTM by Gary J. Dooley, Hardingstone, Northants, UK
Graham utilizes the latest in dating technology to reach his destination.
The Zombie Aesthete by Alex Dremann, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Chalmers, a rotting corpse with taste and refinement, shares his gourmet brains with his wife and another couple.
Would You Like to Buy Some Cookies? by Helen T. May, Racine, Wisconsin
Two enthusiastic Sunflower Girls sell cookies and earn badges
Popular with the Tourists by Christopher Morse, Idyllwild, California
James’ first visit to New York is missing just one thing – a mugging.
The Right Stuff by Stephen Peirick, St. Louis, Missouri
Three women re-live the days and nights of waiting in line to buy concert tickets.
Strip Polka by Gretchen Elizabeth Smith, Dallas, Texas
A demonstration of the polka, the most romantic dance.
Open to Interpretation by Joe Thompson, Madison, Wisconsin
Mr. Hush, The World’s Greatest Mime, gives the performance of a lifetime.
Number Speak Man by Stanley Toledo, Richmond, California
Drama erupts during lunch at a café. Is the number up?
Snowdance has a unique energy that comes from the blend of theatre artistry and a commitment to fun, both on stage and for the audience. With an international reputation and submissions from literally around the world, OOHPs takes Snowdance and the commitment to producing original comedy seriously. In fact, Snowdance® was granted a registered trademark by the U.S. Patent Office. Directors, actors, and designers bring their vision to original material, shaping comedies that have never been performed before. But the key word is “comedy,” and the fun builds as the audience gets involved.
Artistic Director Rich Smith comments on the fusion of artistry and fun, “We have been fortunate to have so many talented and professional artists working on Snowdance each year – on stage and off stage. Everyone who works on Snowdance seems to take a special ownership in it. We all love working with each other. Plus, we all want the audiences’ votes, and there is a great energy created by that.” In addition to the competing scripts, Snowdance will once again feature OOHPs’ signature “hijinx.” Audiences look forward to OOHPs’ between show “hijinx” – the mini-sketches that provide transition between the entrants.
One unique festival feature is the ensemble approach. Actors play multiple roles, and some of them are also part of the directing team. The acting ensemble features Barbara Akey, John Adams, Patti Cleary, Melissa Hughes Ernest, Brianna Hubbard, Adam Krueger, Mona Lewis, Matt “Chuey” Rangel, Ron Schulz, Jim Selovich, and Rich Smith.
Diane Carlson, Sea Daniel, Rick Ditter, Cody A. Ernest, Brandy Harrell, Joseph Piirto, and Rich Smith share directing credit. The production staff also includes Emily Breiwick, John Adams, Janine Anderson, Claudia Bruce, Teri Christensen, Paula Ann Czechowicz, Marsha Ditter, Anna Clementi, Jerry Horton, Christopher Larson, Ryan Loberger, Joseph Piirto, Wendy Schulz, Jim Smith, and Tom Spraker.
The 2012 Snowdance® 10 Minute Comedy Festival runs five weekends January 27, 28, 29; February 3, 4, 5; 10, 11, 12; 17, 18, 19; and 24, 25, 26. It also runs Thursday February 2, 9, 16, and 23. Fridays are at 8:00; Saturdays are at 5:30 and 8:00; Sundays are at 2:30; and the special Thursday performances are at 7:00. Tickets are $15.50 on Fridays and Saturdays and $13.50 on Sundays and Thursdays. For reservations, please call the box office, (262)632-6802. Tickets can also be purchased on line at www.overourheadplayers.org. All performances are at Sixth Street Theatre, 318 Sixth Street, Downtown Racine. Advance reservations are recommended as performances sell out.
The 2012 Snowdance® 10 Minute Comedy Festival is sponsored by Minuteman Press.
Over Our Head Players is a non-profit organization in their 20th season; they operate the Sixth Street Theatre in downtown Racine. OOHPs has a commitment to original theatre. In addition to Snowdance, previous original works include Camp Nelson and sell-outs of It’s a Wonderful Lifeboat; “Original Ones”: Ode to Garlic, Waiting for the WeinermobileTM, and Big Shoes; Still Haven’t Found…; and Real Remembrances of the War in Vietnam. Their season will include ART and You’ve Got Hate Mail.
Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release issued by the Over Our Head Players.
