Midnight Insanity leaves Art Theater. Announces new Home.
The Fixxer
I really want you all to know that we as a cast, and I personally,
appreciate all of the good vibes and warm thoughts on our departure
from the Art theater. Most cast do not return from this kind of
departure and we had done it once already leaving the Balboa in 92.
A few years ago I approached the owner of the Art about the possibility
of him selling the theater, since I knew a new owner might have his own
ideas. I asked him to sell me the theater and let me rent the building.
Unfortunately, he wanted to sell it together as one, and that made it a
little out of reach, though he assured me that any sale would include
RHPS. It did. Except that the pending sale (if it goes through) would
have only included us until the prospective owner got zoning for a
concert venue.
As there are apartments next door, as well as no parking, that is not
likely but in the process of making the sale he asked me to move our
props out, and told us that we could not store them. This means we
would have had to rent a 26 foot truck weekly, and break the backs of
our cast loading in and out stuff that CAN NOT go in and out, so we
would have had to sacrifice some of our main props. In addition, he
wanted us to get our own insurance policy. He talked of raising ticket
prices, and if that did not cover the insurance we would have to foot
the bill. So, we were faced with having a watered down show, charging
more money and the possibility of being homeless if he got his zoning
change. We had to decide...keep performing and deal with it? Just
close the show and hope for the best?
Well, regardless of that we had to move stuff out that weekend, so we
did. Some of the stuff we had to destroy, and we did not have enough
storage for some of the things we need. We saved the props, though some
had to be disassembled to get them out...but things like the sleds that
we use to move props on and off the stage had to be destroyed. Some
things could not go back into the theater.
What a night. We had our last show at the Art on a Thursday night with
only three days notice. We drew almost 300 people. Some from our old
Balboa cast and some from other casts (Thanks for being there Sins and
AZ...that meant so much to us).
After the show, we worked and some audience members stayed until 7AM
watching and helping us tear down the 16x18 four foot high stage we
built in 1992...no permits, no architects, just cast members. Still,
that thing stood for almost 15 years, went through many resurfacings
and repaints, and we had to keep shimming underneath as the theater
floor kept sinking. We gave pieces of the stage away, and the audience
started having people sign their own little piece.
I was so disgusted at the amount of work it took to get our stuff out
that I spoke to the cast and they agreed that it's better to have no
home than jack up the price on a watered down show. I told them I would
rent the ballroom at the Seaport Marina when it was available and we
would have some shows there while we searched for another venue. I felt
we had to do something to keep the audience entertained, or risk losing
them altogether, so I made a deal for the rights to the film, as the
Art gave up their print, bought a digital projector and into the
ballroom we went.
We didn't have all of our props, but at least we were doing the show
on our own terms. We did not lose the Art as much as the Art lost us. I
visited a theater in the local mall...one at the promenade in downtown
Long Beach, met with Regal Edwards and called high school and junior
high auditoriums. Some I would have to wait until school came back in
session to speak to the people in charge. AUGUST 5 was our first
night at the Marina Seaport, and the question was: will the experiment
work?
I did not know if we would get 35 people or what, or how much of a
difference it would make to move to a hotel. How hard was it going to
be to sell tickets ourselves as well as run concessions selling candy
and soda and merchandise? How hot would it be? How about crowd control
while there is a dance club just downstairs with a bunch of drinking
going on? Well we got the room set up, made a makeshift dressing
area, (thank god the projector did the job) our people unloaded my van
and Suburban which still sits full of stuff. Other cast members arrived
with our regular show stuff stowed in cars and trucks.
Colleen made a new monitor board to get us by that looked like
something out of Caligari, and we let everyone in. We allowed extra
time for dancing (since it is Club Rocky) and we started the show. We
filled every seat and then some. Our audience was about ten percent
larger than we have been averaging this past year at the Art, and it
has been going well there. We did a little better than break even which
I consider a miracle, taking into account the hall rental, security and
fees for film rights.
The consensus was that the place worked really well. There is a balcony
overlooking the yachts at the back of the house where people could go
smoke...it was ample and people hung out and played cards and talked.
The audience inside was lively and lots of virgins came. We had wall to
wall virgins. Everyone had the greatest time. Many people said it felt
like a mini convention. So, we consider stage one of wandering in the
wilderness a success. Again...thank you to all who had so many kind
things to say and words of support. This Saturday we are doing a club
night at the hotel without the film...just dancing, weird videos, and a
three dollar cover to help offset the cost of the room.
Unfortunately, on August 19th the hall is reserved, so we are dark.
August 26th we have the hall reserved, and we were scheduled to do
another show at the Seaport...but our plans...are to be
changed..................
The Grunion Gazette, a local newspaper circulated in downtown Long
Beach, as well as various other newspapers, ran articles on their front
page. A man saw the article in the Grunion, and contacted the reporter
who gave him my information, and he called me for a meeting last
Saturday morning. He showed me a room with a professional stage that is
big enough to hold our normal audience. It has a beautiful proscenium
that arcs over the stage, and lovely velvet curtains and coliseum style
seats. He spoke of wondrous things, like concessions that include hot
food like pizza and hot dogs. He said we could do two shows a week, or
two shows a night, and that he would bring in more eople for the early
show. He hinted at a beer and wine reception before the show (we will
still not allow drunks). He took me to another nearby place that
looks like a football stadium and showed me where there is a company
building a huge arena type theater, with a monster rear projection
screen that we could use for our shows, sometimes or all the time. He
showed me indoor storage...acres and acres of indoor storage. And he
mentioned free parking, as far as the eye could see. It was a place
with cool breezes and breathtaking views, with freeway signs that take
you directly there, where there is so much to do and so much to see.
And all without ever leaving Long Beach.
On August 26th 2006 at midnight, Midnight Insanity will be opening
their new home. From now on every Saturday we will be performing in the
Royal Theater aboard the Queen Mary.
See our website for directions, details and more. This is rapidly
unfolding on Wednesday afternoon. We should have all details up by
Friday if they are not there yet.
Thanks Bernie for betting on me. Taking you to Vegas with me : ) You
said on the ng that you took the under on 30 days and the 25th will be
29 days. Amy thanks for believing we would end up in a better place. We
could not have hoped for a better resolution than this.
God Save the Queen!
(Free MI T Shirt to best AP Queen line sent to
ma...@midnightinsanity.com)
Thanks for listening
Mark Tomaino
Geena Phillips
Congratulations, Mark. That is terrific news.
--
--
Well, whaddaya know? War WAS the answer, after all. Go figure.
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(The Excessively Parenthetical) Geena-- Worrier Princess
"Reciprocity... is the key to every relationship."
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minutes. The unfortunate corollary is that everyone will also appear in
a Freddie Prinze, Jr. movie for fifteen minutes."
--me
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--Tony Bourdain
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helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons,
but at the very least you need a beer."
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it's the best thing in the world."
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"The most preposterous notion that H. sapiens has ever dreamed up is
that the Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of all the Universes,
wants the saccharine adoration of His creatures, can be swayed by their
prayers, and becomes petulant if He does not receive this flattery. Yet
this absurd fantasy, without a shred of evidence to bolster it, pays all
the expenses of the oldest, largest, and least productive industry in
all history."
-- Robert Heinlein
a...@crazedimaginations.net
We will try to gather a group to get up to the Queen Mary very soon, it
sounds like so much fun. I again am sorry that we didn't make the last
Art show, I can imagine what a time it was. Day jobs and no ability to
take time off on short notice had to win out.
I'm wondering what the ship's ghosts will think...maybe they'll come
time warp too!
XOXOXOXOXO
Amy
Cast Director, Crazed Imaginations
San Diego
a...@crazedimaginations.net
AZRocky
As I've said repeatedly since the news of the Art losing MI broke, if
any cast is equipped to handle such a turn of events, it's Midnight
Insanity.
I'm glad I was able to make two of the last three shows at the Art and
I will treasure the memories of the dozen-and-a-half road trips I've
made there, not to mention cons, the Hollywood Bowl, etc.
But anything that lasts has to change, and just as I am preparing on a
new journey in my own ROCKY adventures, I know you will embrace the new
location on your own terms and exploit its strengths. (I wonder how the
legendary ghostly denizens of the Queen Mary will react? Might make for
a good episode of Coast to Coast AM...someone call Art Bell!)
Congratulations, and I can't wait to visit you guys at your new home.
And I even know where it is! (And it's closer to Roscoe's!)
Genuine Love
Matteo
www.AZRocky.com
Come As You Are
Mark M
Beach from years (and years) ago back during the days of The Dream
Police. This area has been very strong in the Rocky Horror Community
for a very long time. I am not only thrilled to hear about the
wonderful and very unique venue but that that things have worked out so
well for you. Congratulations. ( You gotta have a Titanic Theme Night
now. That would be so cool!)
BertSch...@aol.com
> > On August 26th 2006 at midnight, Midnight Insanity will be opening
> > their new home. From now on every Saturday we will be performing in the
> > Royal Theater aboard the Queen Mary.
> >
The Queen Mary? THE QUEEN MARY?!? How fucking cool is that?????????
It sucks to lose a home ( The NYC cast bounced around a lot over the
years, from the Waverly to the 8Th Street PLayhouse, to uptown and back
downtown, east side to west side etc, so I know what its like to be
homeless and then find a theater) but talk about taking a step up!!!!
No way will the Queen Mary ( or any other theater) be home the way it
was, however, this is certainly a step in the right direction! Other
casts get a mall theater, if lucky an independant, but..THE QUEEN
FUCKING MARY?? That kicks more ass and rules the world more than
something that kicks a LOTTA ass and rules a LOTTA worlds! Damn, that
is, like, I dunno...COOL!
Im glad you guys found such a unique home, and also so quickly. Hugs
and kisses and break a leg for a long and happy run, Midnight Insanity!
Bill " only Queens we have around here are walking around Greenwich
Village" Brennan
Sean Twomey
Damn.... And we thought we were cool when RKO moved into a theater called
the Castle... :-)
ST
"The Fixxer" <thef...@aol.com> wrote
MelissaY
Mark. Much continued success to you and your fine cast!!
Sue
That's awesome. Congrats to you Mark, and everyone at MI. We couldn't
be happier for you! I was excited about the Pirate con before, but
now???? AAARRRRRRRR Matey's!!!!!!! Ye be performing on a ghost ship
says I !!!!
Again, congratulations, you have all of our love and support.
Sue Smith
Cast Leader
Wild & Untamed Things
West Hills, CA
www.wildanduntamedthings.com
DrJohn
DrJohn
Mark I wish you all the luck in world! I've been saying it for
years,if RHPS is to survive it's got to adapt! Sounds great man!
DrJohn.
Indecent Exposure 85-95.
The Fixxer
asked us back. We thanked them for fifteen years as we loaded into the
Queen Mary and we begin rehearsals this Thursday.
drdimitri1@juno.com (National Jew of RHPS)
WOW! First getting the Queen Mary and THEN being asked to come back to
The Art? THAT is power! =)
This is why I love you guys at MI so much.
Congrats on all your endeavors at the new place, MI. I wish you all the
best and hope to be able to come visit sometime in the near future at
your new home!
~Marc Berman
Still the National Jew of RHPS
Riff-Frank-Rocky - Barely Legal
http://barelylegal.rhps.org