January 2, 2008

Press Inquiries
Ben Smith
ben@fortwilsonriot.com


(Minneapolis, MN)  Minneapolis theatre company Lamb Lays with Lion is proud to announce the encore presentation of Fort Wilson Riot Presents: Idigaragua in the spring of 2008.  This award winning "indie-rock opera" will return to the Bedlam Theatre for a very special encore presentation and will run in repertory with the world-premiere production of Massgraves, written for the stage by Jeremey Catterton.  As Artistic Director of Lamb Lays with Lion, Mr. Catterton will return to direct Idigaragua and Massgraves.  The productions will play nightly, alternating orders from one day to the next beginning April 3 through the 15 at the Bedlam Theater in Minneapolis.  Tickets may be purchased for each show independently or at a reduced price for the double feature.

Fort Wilson Riot Presents: Idigaragua premiered at the Bedlam Theatre to great critical acclaim and sold out crowds in September of 2007.  Conceived by local art-rock band Fort Wilson Riot and directed by Catterton, Idigaragua features dance, puppetry, film and live rock 'n' roll to fully visualize their concept album of the same title.  A five-part epic, Idigaragua relates a magical tale of one man's lifetime, from the mundane to the fantastic.  It speaks of intention, possibility, and choice, while all along accompanied by a mystical bird and its song, "Idigaragua . . . "

"Few bands can summon the creative stamina required for a project like Idigaragua.  Yet with their first full-length effort, local musicians Fort Wilson Riot have fearlessly thrown down a jewel-encrusted, multi-patterned, Technicolor gauntlet.  A nexus of dance, costume,  puppetry, film, theater, concept album, and live rock 'n' roll, Idigaragua is perhaps the most ambitious and imaginative debut release in indie-rock history," writes Christopher Matthew Jensen for City Pages.

"Massgraves…is a lot of bodies…or the end of religion... or possibly the mourning of our weak wrecked planet, as we gift it unto our children.  Massgraves is the story of how to properly put to bed everything we hold dear.  It is how we say goodbye to all that was good about life and striving.  The Requiem for all that we did not do, or simply the Prayer for all that we still hope to happen…which keeps us living.  Massgraves is a hiphop-beat ridden vision that peers through the art of performance to tell us the story of ourselves in a city, Nosferatu on the floor in a heap, and The Egyptian Book of the Dead in our sleep," from writer/director Jeremey Catterton

About Lamb Lays With Lion

Lamb Lays with Lion is a Twin Cities theatre company that produces challenging and original performances. Lamb Lays with Lion's creations experiment with different forms of performance and multi-media expression.  The intent is to create a challenging, enriching and entertaining  experience when the lights go down.  The Lamb Lays with Lion company includes: Cameron Brainard, Jeremey Catterton, Jesse Corder, Alexis Cuttance, Jayne Deis, Garrett Fitzgerald, Jake Lindgren, Katie Rose McLaughlin, Melissa Ann Murphy, Jacob Mullis, Dan O'Neil, Ashley Smith and Carl Swanson.

About Fort Wilson Riot

Fort Wilson Riot have been writing and performing together since 2005.  They have gone on to achieve critical success, earning the title of "Picked to Click" by the City Pages in 2005, being named "Best Live Band" by the Star Tribune in 2005 and finding their yet-unreleased epic, Idigaragua winning "Best Song" in the Star Tribune's year end poll in 2006.  In fall of 2007 their theatrical production of Idigaragua played to sold out crowds at the Bedlam Theatre.  The concept album of the same name went on to make "The Top 20 Local Albums" in addition to FWR being one of the "Favorite Live Acts" in the Star Tribune's year end poll in 2007.  They are in the process of preparing to tour the production in the CAFF (Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals).

About the Bedlam Theatre

For years the Bedlam's shows have been called "the gustiest, riskiest theater around . . . "  The Bedlam is located on the West Bank of Minneapolis at 1501 South 6th Street.



www.fortwilsonriot.com

July 16, 2007

Press Release

www.fortwilsonriot.com
For more information email:
idigaragua@gmail.com or
band@fortwilsonriot.com
or call 320.894.8487

Fort Wilson Riot Presents: Idigaragua
An Original Rock Opera
Performed at the Bedlam Theatre
Directed by Jeremey Catterton

 Preview performance September 6; Opening September 7;
Playing through September 16

 

Fort Wilson Riot is proud to present the premiere of Idigaragua, a brand new "indie-rock opera" at the Bedlam Theatre in Minneapolis this fall.  Directed by Jeremey Catterton, Idigaragua will showcase dance, puppetry, film and live rock and roll to fully visualize Fort Wilson Riot's new concept album of the same name to be released in mid-August (press packs coming soon!).

Conceived by local, award winning artists Fort Wilson Riot, Idigaragua initially got its name and inspiration from a short story by Paul Bowles.  In this five-part epic song, we follow an unnamed American journalist through an epic adventure beginning in a bar in a foreign land. The song relates a magical tale of one man's lifetime: from the mundane to the fantastic, it speaks of intentions, possibilities and choice. Throughout, a haunting voice follows our protagonist, "Idigaragua…." It is the bird: an observer, a judge, a mirror.  As former City Pages editor Dylan Hicks wrote, Idigaragua is "A five-part suite about globalization, Yankee arrogance, mystical birds, pirates, and more than can be here explained, with music sometimes reminiscent of Sondheim and Beethoven."

Originally written to be just another song, the story evolved into something much larger in scope. In over two years, Idigaragua grew into a five part "indie-rock opera," spanning an hour of tape.  Enter friend and collaborator Jeremey Catterton, returning to Minneapolis from London eager to produce a performance for the new project.  With the combined musical and theatrical visions of Fort Wilson Riot and Jeremey Catterton, Idigaragua brings together an innovative performance featuring a collage of the arts.

The artistic staff includes Jeremey Catterton (Director), Jacob Mullis (FWR), Amy Hager (FWR), Joe Goggins (FWR), Ben Smith (FWR), Alexis Cuttance (Stage Manager), Eva Signy (Production Designer), Melissa Killian (Art Design), Cameron Brainard (Lighting Designer), Jacob Grun (Sound Technician), Kevin Campbell (Video Production), John Meilner (Video Production), Brian Squillace (Set/Props/Puppet Design), Elizabeth Hara (Puppet Physics), Ryan Zirngibl (Sets/Props Co-Designer), Yael Gun (Production Crew), Jayne Deis (Production Crew) and Patty Hager (Production Crew).

The cast for Idigaragua includes Jesse Corder, Jayne Deis, Katie Rose McLaughlin, Melissa Anne Murphy, Dan O'Neil, and features Garrett Fitzgerald (journalist) and Fort Wilson Riot.+

About Fort Wilson Riot:
Fort Wilson Riot have been writing and performing together since 2005.  They have gone on to achieve critical success, earning the title of "Picked to Click" by the City Pages in 2005, being named "Best Live Band" by the Star Tribune in 2005 and finding their yet-unreleased epic Idigaragua winning "Best Song," in the Star Tribune's year end poll in 2006.

About Jeremey Catterton:
Jeremey Catterton lives and works in the U.S. and the U.K.  He is a co-founder and director for Collision Theatre in London.  Jeremey has written/directed The Birds [commissioned by Central St. Martins College of Design, London], The Holy Wars (with the bedside manner), Kind Eyes See So Far and Small Fry Big Mac [ISI Denpasar Bali, Indonesia].  He attended Middlesex University for his M.A. in Directing, and received his B.F.A. from The Guthrie Theatre/University of Minnesota.

About the Bedlam Theatre:
For years Bedlam's shows have been called "...the gutsiest, riskiest theater around.."  The Bedlam Theatre is located on the West Bank at 1501 S. 6^th Street, Minneapolis, MN.

Fort Wilson Riot Presents: Idigaragua
Music and Lyrics by: FORT WILSON RIOT
World Premiere directed by: JEREMEY CATTERTON

 
Preview:
September 6, 2007 @ 8:00 p.m.
Priced: (Pay-what-you-can)

PRESS OPENING:
September 7, 2007 @ 8:00 p.m.

Location:
Bedlam Theatre
1501 S. 6 ^th Street, on the West Bank
Minneapolis, MN

Tickets:
Priced at $12 General Admission
Bedlam Box Office
612.341.1038

Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.bedlamtheatre.org

Performance Schedule:
September 6, 2007 @    8:00 p.m .
September 7, 2007 @    8:00 p.m.
September 9, 2007 @    3:30 p.m.
September 10, 2007 @ 10:30 p.m.
September 13, 2007 @ 10:30 p.m.
September 14, 2007 @ 10:30 p.m.
September 15, 2007 @ 10:30 p.m.
September 16, 2007 @   3:30 p.m.
September 16, 2007 @   8:00 p.m.

 

Idigaragua [album]
Engineered by Rob Schlette in St. Paul
Produced by Fort Wilson Riot and Rob Schlette
Mastered by DBPlus in NYC
©2007 Fort Wilson Riot
 

 Track Listing

1. The Birds Turn Violent  (4:15)
2. The Geek of Ciegozia  (3:32)
3. A Debate, A Plank, A Plea  (4:35)
4. A Pillage Unparalleled  (4:30)
5. The Journalist's Lament (First Flight)  (2:49)
6. A Wordlessly Whispered Melody  (3:59)
7. The Bird Was Silent   (4:12)
8. A Gathering Noise  (2:29)
9. (Second Flight) Leap in the Water  (6:40)
10. A Shadow Ominous  (3:48)
11. An Imagined Civil State  (4:48)
12. What Was the Part I Played   (3:29)
13. A Distant Episode  (3:51)
14. A Conclusion of Sorts (The Rules We Follow)   (5:36)

www.fortwilsonriot.com

So, this is a bit tardy (I'm writing this at a meeting at the bedlam theatre---the space where Idigaragua will perform in September.)

The production meeting was great. It was preliminary, inclusive, and inspiring. We've put together a team of fundraisers and publicity who will devise a plan for action and sponsors. We've got deadlines set, and a meeting scheduled for the 13th and we'll keep on rocking this way and get this show in yo ears and bucks towards the bill.

Also, in the meeting we've set a deadline and I've asked all the designers to rake through the text and the show, and compile a list of essential properties and set items, that we will synthesize and ultimately ship off to Eva to have a think and start with a preliminary over-arching designs for the show, puppets, costumes, etc.
By the by, Eva is ever so stoked to design this, and may bring one of her assistants from London as well. (all working for free!) She'll be here late in July, and I've urged to begin communicating with all of the productions staff involved to share ideas and find some cynergy.

NEXT!!!! The first rehearsal.

So, the next evening we had a first rehearsal at my place where the Cast heard the album for the first time. However, before that commenced we warmed up playing with a text that will be in the Bedlam Theatre's 10minute Play Festival.
Then, we got down to it....we cleared some space and just DANCED!!! Back to front, they experienced the Album in its entirity. We explored many forms of dance and experimented with how they reacted to the music, as well as imagining the actual journey of the characters through the story. I video taped all of it, and will be inspired by many improvisations and it may already be worked into the choreography of the show.

I'm off to look at costumes now. sorry so short.

peace out.

-JC & FWR

so, we're a crowd.

Yesterday, may 20th, we held our meet and greet at the sound gallery next to the wonderful strip club whispers...I say wonderful because I can only surmise. But what a location, eh? (Thanks Jacob & Nick for letting us use your space.)

All were involved, Ben and Alexis were on walkie talkies ushering people upstairs. Mullis and Amy and Amanda brought/made goodies had by all. What wonderful sustenance. Patty Hager was there, camera in hand, documenting it all, and what an inspiring time it was.

The meet 'n greet began with the band and myself speaking about the project, as an overview and our goals, and basically what the song/performance is about. Better yet what it means to us. I could see the lust in people's eyes, and lots of smiles and nods and we were all getting more and more jazzed about what we want to go down. To me, it felt more like a 60's art collective, doing games, and pot lucking, more than it felt like an audition.
There was a lot of love in that room and that is what is going to carry this puppy to its glorious finish.

After the meet n' greet we played some warm up games, everyone's favorite Ogres, Wizards and Dwarves and then we had an "Animal Kingdom Showcase" where everyone in the workshop performed with their special object/animal a glorious epic story ranging from a french film noir love tale performed by a coffe bag & a bic lighter, to a memorable ballet between a pair of headphones and a head lamp. Even, speilberg's (curse that name) E.T. made an appearance with his ever-loving Elliot.

After that rousing escapade, Sara Jacobs busted out the moves! Thank you so much for really grabbing the reins on that one, Sara...She had swiftly developed a couple phrases of choreography and then taught them to the workshoping souls that will now make up the cast of Idigaragua. Not only that, but everone got a taste of the song as they danced to separate sections of the music.

For myself, and the band, It sure was exciting to finally see a group of performers dancing to the song. It was one of those "this is really happening!" moments.

So that was all fun and dandy, and we had a great time. Alexis, our glorious stage manager, by now, or shortly, will contact everyone who auditioned, as well as our growing production team.

Next week we'll begin meeting to plan our Guerilla performances. As well as, have a meeting between our fundraising team and production team to start developing strategies.

And finally, (thanks again Grun) we've been introduced to a young video artist that I think has great potential and will really enhance some aspects of the performance.

so that's that. ta ta for now. and everyone keep your ears to the ground cuz this thunder's comin fast.

peace.

-JC & FWR

Hell, I'll write something today.


So this is the pre-production blog for Fort Wilson Riot's Idigargua. And here's the run down of what we're up to.

Today, Icelandic Theater and Television designer Eva Signy Berger has asked me to confirm dates for Idigaragua so she can book her tickets. She plans to fly from London and oversee most of the construction during the rehearsal process. Over the summer, she is liasing with me over designs for sets, and puppets, and THE BIRD.

Speaking of the bird, wonderful environmentally conscious architect Brian Squillace, is currently experimenting with ideas and fabrics and is in his lab building a better bird puppet we will use for the performance.


Oh, just let you know...friday Morning I'm meeting with Becky "Booty" Olson (hopefully), sara jacobs, and Linnea Mohn at Maria's cafe to talk about movement and dancing. For the audition, as well as the show etc.



Oh, and my Amanda is going to bake some cookies or something, Jacob said he'll make his yummy vegan banana-oatmeal muffins for Sunday's MEET 'N GREET audition/workshop.

Also, I heard back from Vince, the sound gallery care taker...he says the owner is trying to find a permanent lease, so we may not be able to rehearse there in august. That means we're still shopping for rehearsal space in august.

Gosh, there is so much more to that Joe Public may not know...but all in due time.

This is a big beast and it's gaining speed. Cover your hair and your eyes, and make sure the women and children are inside.

I guess this is kinda the beginning of a blog, huh?

peace

-JC & FWR