April 15, 2007

“Voltaic Vaudeville” Returning To
Arlington’s Regent Theatre
 By Popular Demand Saturday, May 5, 2007
For Two Shows Only
Brian Carpenter's Vaudeville Orchestra To Be Joined By Uncle Shoe, Bony Lil, Ben Matchstick, Valerie Thompson, Jason Escape, Miss Adventure, Karen Webb, Legacy Dancers, and Surfing in Nebraska

In a celebratory return to its roots as one of the Metro-Boston’s premiere early 20th Century playhouses, the Regent Theatre—“Arlington’s Show Place of Entertainment” since 1916—will present Voltaic Vaudeville, for two shows only on Saturday, May 5 at 3pm (family friendly matinee) and 8pm. These spectacular variety performances, from vintage to cutting-edge, will feature non-stop eye-popping entertainment—physical and stand-up comedy, incredible music, amazing tap dancing, bawdy burlesque, puppeteering, and much more from Boston’s underground performance circuit together with special guest artists from around the country.

BRIAN CARPENTER'S VAUDEVILLE ORCHESTRA is a 10-piece jazz orchestra that formed in Spring 2005 to record Carpenter's original film score for acclaimed animator Lorelei Pepi's cartoon musical Happy & Gay. In live shows the orchestra performs hot-house jazz in the spirit of vaudeville acts of 1920s Chicago and Harlem, Tin Pan Alley parlour songs, original bawdy-house burlesque grinds, and sideshow pieces for on-stage performers. They have shared the stage with several burlesque and sideshow performers including Miss Dirty Martini, Tyler Fyre, Todd Robbins, Molly Crabapple, and The Daredevil Chicken Club.

UNCLE SHOE (3pm and 8pm)  “Uncle Shoe has a manner of tuneful delivery that appeals to the delight of the most discerning audience.  His songs are at once boastful, humorous, opinionated and romantic. It is difficult to not find oneself immediately taken up and carried away on the infectious melodies that issue forth from his masterful banjo playing, hollers, & captivating voice."

BEN MATCHSTICK (3pm and 8pm)  Ben t. Matchstick has worked many years with Bread and Puppet in Glover Vermont and has toured nationally and internationally with toy theater companies, puppet operas, and street shows. Recently he has worked as the puppet director with Frank Galati and composer Michael Smith on the 2006 Victory Gardens Theater production of "The Snow Queen" in Chicago. He is also the director of "Hadestown" written by folk musician Anais Mitchell. Matchstick is the founder and tenured custodian of the Cardboard Teck Instantute in Montpelier, Vermont.

BONY LIL (3pm and 8pm)  Bony Lil frequents local venues as a stagehand.  On rare occasions she's afforded chances to show a few other skills around town. Most recently Zea Barker and Michael Pope (the designer/director team who've brought you music videos for the Dresden Dolls, Fluttr Effect and Ben Folds) afforded her the opportunity to strut her stuff in a duet of short films called Bony Lil's Creation & Distraction, which illustrate opposite ends of the creative process through a rich monochromatic blending of live-action and hand-drawn and stop-motion animation.

Valerie Thompson  Cello celebrity of the Boston- based band Fluttr Effect

JASON ESCAPE (3pm and 8pm)  Jason Escape knows how to interact and have fun with a crowd, all while tied and bound, desperately trying to escape.

MISS ADVENTURE (8pm)  When physical comedienne Jenny the Juggler comes out at night, you better watch out…

KARIN WEBB (3pm and 8pm) UnAmerika's Sweetheart (KARIN WEBB): Who knows which character will come visit tonight? From old ladies to perverse men, high femme to spaz-tastik, this skin-changing, sometimes clothes-shedding act will keep you riveted!

THE LEGACY DANCERS (3pm and 8pm)  A professional dance company made up of energetic and enthusiastic young dancers Ryan Casey, Nicole Chaput, and Kelly Rapp.

Surfing in Nebraska (3pm) This old -fashioned comedy duo has this to say about their act, “They say that vaudeville is a kind of lunch- counter art, but art is so vague and lunch is so real.”

Special pre- show shenanigans by The GRINDHOUSE MARIONETTES

Voltaic Vaudeville will be presented at the historic Regent Theatre on Saturday, May 5 at 3pm (family friendly matinee) and 8pm. Reserved seats are $10, $15, and $20. Located at 7 Medford Street (off Mass. Ave.) in Arlington Center, the Regent Theatre is MBTA and wheelchair accessible with free parking across the street. For tickets, directions, and more information call 781-646-4849 or visit www.regenttheatre.com