ORIGINAL SOLO SHOWS:
THE VISITOR
The Visitor is a full length work-in-progress. Vanessa received an Individual Artist Support grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) in 2019 and a Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) grant in 2020 in support of the project. The Visitor had a partial showing during a residency at High Concept Labs in Chicago in December of 2019 and will have another partial showing at "The Lab," a monthly works-in-progress series.
THE GUEST LIST
See a teaser video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI63qJuQSig
What happens when no one shows up to the party? Who do you rely on then? The Guest List is a ten minute story told through the use of a puppet, an answering machine, and some party hats.
Running time approximately 10 minutes.
The Guest List was part of The International Puppet Theater Festival's Neighborhood Tour. It was also presented as part of Blair Thomas's open studio night in downtown Chicago and as part of Chicago's Physical Festival (Scratch Night) and a Chicago puppet cabaret called Nasty, Brutish, and Short.
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF TERRY
See teaser trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdKNHN4IvBk
The Life and Times of Terry is a whimsical multi-media journey of romance, parenthood, and success. A woman’s search for love has hilarious consequences told through clowning, puppetry, audience participation, drawings, photos and projections.
Running time approximately 15 minutes.
"The Life and Times of Terry" toured the US in the Le Tigre Tent in 2016. Terry's Chicago premier took place at Heels Over Head at the Improv Olympic (IO). Terry also performed at the International Puppetry Festival in Chicago, the LEAF Festival in Asheville, NC, and The National Puppetry Slam at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, GA.
YOUR BEST SELF
See a teaser video here:
Barb just wants to go to a leadership conference and be the woman she was meant to be. But can she stay awake long enough to find out what she needs to know in order to succeed? Does her subconcious life contain the real answers to her big life questions?
Running time approximately 13 minutes.
This humanette puppet/clown show was created in April of 2014 and was featured in Chicago at the International Puppetry Festival, The Actor’s Gymnasium, Loyola University, and The Chi-Town Clown Revue at Theater on the Lake. It toured nationally with the Le Tigre tent and was also seen at the LEAF Festival in Asheville, Puppets and Pasties in Brooklyn, the Puckin Fuppet Slam in Atlanta, Boobie Trap in LA, the Wham Bam Puppet Slam in Asheville, and the Toy Theater Festival at Open Eye Figure Theater in Minneapolis. An excerpt for "Your Best Self" was featured in the 2017 National Puppet Slam and at the DragonCon 2017 puppet slam in Atlanta.
NICE TRY
See a teaser video here:
http://youtu.be/dNdInnXYS8Y
Lonnie is an unusual clown who lives to please her favorite ill tempered, high standard doll. The doll demands performances and Lonnie is happy to oblige. But Lonnie's attempts at success increasingly disappoint her companion. How will she solve the problem and save herself? This twelve minute show features audience participation, puppetry, a snail, and murder.
Running time approximately 13 minutes.
"Nice Try" toured nationally with the Le Tigre Tent in 2013 as part of Tour De Fat and has appeared in Chicago at the International Puppetry Festival, The Chi-Town Clown Revue at Theater On the Lake, at the Hopleaf as part of Pivot Arts pop-up fest, at Loyola University as an opener for Kristina Isabelle's Dance Company, as part of Plucky Rosenthal's Variety Show, and as a part of the Chicago Home Theater Festival.
SISTERS
See a teaser Video here:
http://youtu.be/EfXfNraOGIc
This twelve minute show tells the story of Evelyn and her parasitic twin Bertrude. The “twins” have a touring act singing the classics. But eventually, they discover a doctor who will separate them. How will their careers continue now that they’re separated? Will they continue to tour their same tired routine? Or will they fight over Bertrude’s insistence on a hip-hop tour? Will Bertrude finally succumb to the seductive possibility of a solo career?
"Sisters" toured nationally with the Le Tigre Tent in 2012 as part of Tour De Fat and has appeared in Chicago at The Chi-Town Clown Revue at Theater On the Lake, at the Hopleaf as part of Pivot Arts pop-up fest, at Loyola University as an opener for Kristina Isabelle's Dance Company, as part of Plucky Rosenthal's Variety Show, and as a part of the Chicago Home Theater Festival.