Philly Oktoberfest……Yo! Prost!

Beer Hall Seating

Philly’s own Brauhaus Schmitz had an Oktoberfest this weekend. I met up with ATeam, G-Love, Kizzbot, and Wait, Wait, I Need to Pose  for beer, dancing, and overall hot mess times.

Brauhaus Beer Hall

The set up of the fest was doable overall. Good traffic patterns,  bathrooms and beer vendors spaced apart, and plenty of room to stand or sit.

I became a fan of Kristina tonight. Meet Kristina…..the porker.

Kristina

Photo Credit

Dancing

Ski Shot

Wait, Wait, I Need to Pose and Kizzbot

The fun thing about day festivals…is the chance to take a house party break and watch some TiVo!

House Party Break with Kizzbot, Wait, Wait, and ATeam

House Party Break with ATeam, G-Love, and Kizzbot

Prost!

I’m Kind-a Connected to an Almost Celebrity. I Love This Town

Philly, big city….small town.

Shooting Break

Over a year ago, I started production of a film series with Flat World Media Production  for a local hospital, A Day in the Life,  featuring my favorite South Philly guy, Frankie. We completed the series several months ago. The films have done really, really great, which you can’t ask for more. But something more did come along.

Frankie got sexy.

Sexy Single, that is. He is featured in the yearly reveal of Philly Sexy Singles. See his Philly.com spread HERE.

See him in action, below.

Crushing Cans and Taking Names

Panda and Big Owl

Crushing cans can be a lot of fun. I’m all for interactive games at the bar and Milkboy did not disappoint. Panda, Big Owl, and I headed out for happy hour. After ordering the Slyfox IPA, we headed over the much anticipated, “The  Crusher” hanging off the wall by the bar.

and THAT sir, made my night.

 

Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe Fest Volunteer Extravaganza: Les Ballets de-ci de-la

Boxer Dancing

Photo Credit

Show: Les Ballets de-ci de-la

Location: The Prince Theater

Job: Usher

Primary Responsibility: Guard the elevator and pass out programs.

Outcome: I was almost taken out, run over actually, by two VERY eager attendees…..but maintained ultimate control with simple hand gestures of reassurance.

Reward: Voucher credit for a Live Arts Show and the chance to watch the movie.  I realized I still do not appreciate dance as I should. Throughout the movie, I was thinking, “What the hell….????”

Tidbits of the Night:

1. Though the film was free and it was general admission, tickets were still sold

2. Another moment of “Philly: Big City, Small Town”. I saw a few familiar faces from previous shows

Next Up: Cashing out my vouchers to go see Pig Iron’s : Twelfth Night, Or What You Will

Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe Fest Volunteer Extravaganza: Red Rovers

Photo Credit

Show: Red Rovers

Location: Back to the old furniture warehouse in Northern Liberties

Job: Fire watch

My "Everyone stay calm. I'm in complete control" Look

Primary Responsibility: Watch for fire.

Be the beacon of safety, the light-ray of hope in a chaotic moment.

Should say...."Do Not Enter....without the smart guidence of me"

Outcome: Decent seat in the house and I got to potentially use a walkie-talkie and flashlight like Nancy Drew in book #23.

My View

You can’t deny a show that gets its audience involved and they stick around.

The Audience

Reward: a free show and a ticket credit for another Fringe show

Tidbits of the Night:

1. The rover was only designed to last for 90 Mars days

2. The show can not start until all Fire watch are present. L & I would shut the show down for entire festival.

Next up: Les Ballets de ci de la

Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe Fest Volunteer Extravaganza: Canyon

I was not able to participate in Lady M. I had to work. THAT’S how my show goes.

Show: Canyon

It all begins with the box. Rolling around, laying yellow tape.

Overheard at the show:

Girl 1: “There’s no method to that madness”

Girl 2: “No method is a method”

Location: Wilma Theater on the Avenue of the Arts

Photo Credit

Job: Ticket Seller. No Pseudonymous required. But am kickin it in my Holly Hobby dress

Primary responsibility: Will-Call. And to direct a woman with an infant and stroller to the back of the audience, because that is her only option.

Outcome: My ticket selling partner was Jul**. In true Philly fashion, she knew someone I knew, Justintime. A testament to my belief of Philly being a big city, but a small town.

Reward: I got to see a moving box lay yellow tape throughout the lobby and hit everything standing still.

Tidbits of the night

1. The Wilma has their light sponsored by PECO

2. It was opening night

3. The theater has won 39 Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theater, the most awards received by any company

Next up: Back to Red Rovers for Firewatch

Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe Fest Volunteer Extravaganza: Red Rovers

Show: Red Rovers

Location: Northern Liberties in an old furniture warehouse

Job: Ticket Seller, by the name of Susie Slavney. I was also part of the Welcoming Committee for the JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratories) Conference.

Primary responsibility: Greeted ‘conference’ attendees and directed them to “take a name badge”. This was little confusing to everyone, because no one’s name was on a badge. Obviously.

Outcome: People got their tickets and I realized, I still hate dealing with money.

Reward: I got to walk through Northern Liberties during a beautiful Sunday. (ticket sellers can not attend shows, but receive credits to attend other Fringe shows)

Tidbits of the night

1. At one point, the location was an operating warehouse while the festival was going on and everyone had to stand around the furniture because no one was allowed to sit on the antique pieces.

2. The show used to do yoga with the participants, now it’s still highly participatory….just no yoga

Next Show: Lady M

Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe Fest Volunteer Extravaganza: Elephant Room

Show: Elephant Room

Location: Play and Players

Job: Usher for the Balcony (uniform not required. But I would have been excited to wear one)

Photo Credit

Primary responsibilty: don’t let anyone fall off the upper balcony ledge  into the crowd below

Outcome: It’s all good.

Reward: FREE ticket and great seats.

Meet the Cast

Dennis Diamond:Mentalist

Daryl Hannah: Master of  Birds

Louie Magic: The Magic Man of Magic

Tidbits of the night

1. Play and Players is the oldest community theater in the US. They will celebrating 100 years this year.

2. The theater is also on the Philly Cross City Walk I did a few weeks ago.

3. The stage is set atop cinder blocks.

4. There’s a lovely surprise at the end of the show.

Next Show: Red Rovers

Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe Fest Volunteer Extravaganza

The secret way to get into the shows for Philadelphia Live Arts and Philly Fringe? 

Volunteer!

It’s THE best way to see what the yearly, two week event, offers. It will definitely offer some adventure, because you never know what you’ll be doing and where you’ll be doing it.

I’ve sat next to the exit door in a hall, ready to direct the audience to safety, only to have all the actors standing around me through multiple costume changes and nowhere for me to go and a loss of where to look. I’ve sat in a dark, abandoned CVS, watching someone in a bear hide crawl his way across the stage, directly to my feet, and “die”. I’ve sold tickets, ushered people into rows, across fields, and through multiple rooms while becoming part of the show.

This years fest, I’m hoping will be no different. I have signed up for multiple shows and looking forward to all of them.