The Fishtank Performance Studio Debuts A New Window Play at July's First Friday

The Fishtank is sending audiences outside to play! Fishtank Curator Heidi Van and collaborator Ingrid Andrea Guertsen team up for "53 Days & 52 Nights", an epic and cinematic clown story in the Fishtank’s storefront window, giving Kansas City audience a truly unique “theater al fresco” experience.

Featuring Heidi Van, Ingrid Andrea Guersten & Coleman Crenshaw, with live musical accompaniment by Fishtank Resident Peter Lawless and Daniel Eichenbaum. Directed by Fishtank Resident Damian Torres-Botello, produced by HYBRID: A Theatre Collective.

Running July 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 & 12 at 9pm in the windows** of the Fishtank Perfomance Studio. Donations accepted at the door $5-15.

**All window performances are 30 - 35 minutes in legnth.

Support this show by pledging to our fund drive and receive VIP seats.

This production is generously sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon, the New Theatre Restaurant, Birdies, the Fishtank Performance Studio and Digital Milk.

Digital Milk is a Kansas City based creative media collective providing our clients with unique, effective solutions to make noise in this competitive market. Defined by its trilogy of talent Digital Milk provides a full service audio and video production suite as well as in house motion graphics and design.... This allows us to create HD video and animation to use in social media, viral campaigns, web and television spots. Digital Milk services include: audio, video and graphic production, original music composition, creative services, corporate branding and identity campaigns, photography services, 3D imaging (CGI) and much more.

SUPPORT THE FISHTANK!

Prop 8 On Trial Receives Rocket Grant

Final selections have been made for the first recipients of Rocket Grants, a brand new funding opportunity available to artists who live within an 80-mile radius of downtown Kansas City. Rocket Grants are specifically intended to encourage work that is inventive and “under the radar”, and that engages or benefits an audience somewhere other than in a museum or art gallery. The long-term goal of the program is to not only encourage emerging and non-traditional art practices in the Kansas City region, but also to contribute to a thriving artists’ community.

"Prop 8 On Trial" is a multi-media performance examining the 2010 trial, Perry v. Schwarzenegger, challenging the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8 that banned same-sex marriage. A workshop of "Prop 8 On Trial" debuted at the Fishtank in February.

Watch for news about upcoming performances at the Fishtank in September 2010!

Photos from Friday night's Singer Songwriter Showcase

FIRST FRIDAY JUNE 4

The Fishtank introduces a new series for singer/songwriters showcasing their original music and the stories behind them. Hosted by series curator, Daniel Quin Shay and featuring his original music as well as Kyle Hatley and Michael Hilboldt.

Doors open at 8:30, show starts at 9.
Donations accepted $5-15
Sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon

FRINGE @ THE FISHTANK

The Fishtank Performance Studio will premiere Stephen Dolginoff's Thrill Me as part of the Kansas City Fringe Festival (kicking off on July 23). Starring Shea Coffman and Bryan LaFave as the thrill killers Leopold & Loeb, directors Jeff Church and Daniel Doss heat up the Fishtank with this chilling musical about the committing the perfect crime.

Read what Jeff says about the project:

"Kansas City born playwright Stephen Dolginoff's chamber musical gets killers Leopold and Loeb just right - sexy, through sick and fascinating. It's been performed all over the world and in various languages, but it needed to be done here in the playwright's home town. Heidi and I fell in love with the idea that a MUSICAL can be done in the intimate little Fishtank. And we have such powerhouse musical theater talent involved...Shea Coffman Kansas City who audiences will remember from the Unicorn's bare, and the Coterie's U:Bug:Me and Bryan LaFave, seen in Egads Theater Company's Dog Sees God, and the Unicorn's La Cage...imagine both of them under the accomplished musical direction of Daniel Doss."

AND, take a look at this Thrill Me photo shoot video with photographer Dusty Cunningham.

Sign up to attend at the Thrill Me event page on Facebook.

Happy Birthday Fishtank!

Onward Christian Soldiors, a new comedy by Jeremy Lillig

MAY 19 & 20 7:30pm
donations accepted $5-15

The Smith family are strict believers in their church of the Saved and Chosen of the Righteous Disciples of Jesus Christ, third revelation. However, one day the Smith's life is turned upside down. Their oldest son, Levi, comes home to visit from Worthington Bible College with his new "special friend," thus challenging the "norm" that the Smith's have grown accustomed to. Is this new visitor the work of the Devil? Or are they the second coming? Find out in this new satirical comedy by Jeremy M. Lillig.

Join The Doozers Theatre Project at the Fishtank Performance Studio May 19th or 20th at 7:30 p.m. for a staged reading of this hilarious new work. A donation of $5-$15 is greatly appreciated with all money going to help continue the mission of the Fishtank Performance studio.

Featuring:
Walter Coppage
Damian Torres-Botello
Philip Denver
Sabrina Henderson
Sam Cordes
Jay Martinez
Ashley Harp
Lucas Villanueva
and Alexa Washington

Ad Hoc Music Series

Vol. 4: The Diverse Composition Project - May 7, 2010 - 8pm

What happens when you combine one of the most talented jazz groups in the country with some the most innovative student composers in the midwest?

The Diverse Composition Project seeks to find out. The project strives for the eclectic.

This First Friday event will feature a concert by Kansas City-based jazz quintet Diverse performing a mixed set of their own original works and those of UMKC student composers. Expect a night of inventive music combining jazz, improvisation and contemporary compositon.

ALL FOR ONLY $5!

featuring DIVERSE:
Hermon Mehari - trumpet
Matt Chalk - sax
John Brewer - keys
Ben Leifer - bass
Ryan Lee - drums

playing compositions by UMKC composition students

Paul Shortt Invitational Performances: Musical Alter Ego Night!

Musical Alter Ego night. Various performers will perform music as there alter ego's, bringing you a mix of hip hop, electronic, noise and more. Performers will be:

Rhiannon Birdsall
Wm. Howell
Claytron
Unlord Drewcifer
and Financial Aid Collective!

Cost is $5 bucks. There will be FREE BEER! and PRIZES

Find out more about Paul Shortt here!

Margo May at the Fishtank

Friday, April 30 7pm
$10 gets you in AND a copy of the LP Summerof

"Margo May's first full-length, Summerof, carries on that spirit of bleached-out brightness, atop guitar chords that recall the fresh-faced innocence of Karen Peris and the shuffling lines out of Cat Power's songbook. Fleshed out with '70s-sounding keyboards and breathy backing vocals, May's songs evoke coy flirtations, California summers and suburban bliss."

- Elke Mermis, The Pitch, Kansas City