Siobhan O.Loughlin News

"Everyone who just got out is really happy, and another group is getting ready to come in," Robin said to me. Robin is tall, and thin, with enormous blue eyes and a head full of curls. I was sitting on a small couch in a third floor recording studio in a gorgeous home, owned by my new friends, Phil and Marie, on the Isle of Man. I was also sweating-my bath water had previously been very hot,  and I nodded, while sipping a giant mason jar of water and wearing a big, plush white robe given to me by Robin's mother. 

That Uppity Theatre Company and The Drama Club Stl present the St. Louis premiere of BROKEN BONE BATHTUB, beginning today, June 2. Created and performed by Siobhan O'Loughlin, this performance piece highlights disability-temporary or ongoing, vulnerability, the female body, community, and innovative theatre.

That Uppity Theatre Company and The Drama Club Stl present the St. Louis premiere of BROKEN BONE BATHTUB.

This post is dedicated to my long-time French friend, whose name I still can't pronounce, Aurelien Buffet. Nine beautiful years ago, I left the USA for the first time to study abroad in the UK, and had several solo adventures discovering my homeland of Ireland. I journeyed to Cork. I stayed in a hostel. I met a sweet, shy, darling young Frenchman who did not speak much English, and I of course spoke zero French. He was a year younger than me (I being 19, and he being 18), and he was hoping to live in Cork long term and get a job and learn to speak English. I, with my pink hair and wide-eyed perspective, was absolutely impressed with my new friend. How brave he was, how strong he was, how scared he must be. So, I offered to help. I'd walk around with him and try to hand his CV out to the world. 

When I was in Minnesota, my friend Les Kurkendaal introduced me to a beautiful, spirited woman in a rockabilly dress. Her name was Chelley McClear. 

Her site-specific performance that has been touring private bathtubs in Japan, Ireland and throughout the US now plays New York.

It's no question that English people and American people have different sensibilities. Some might say that the English are more polite than Americans (who are not known to be especially mannerly) but then again, the English can be really painfully blunt. The United States, regardless, is a vast country with lots of different types of people in it. And so, for example, in Minnesota, there is this float-around-phrase called "Minnesota Nice" and it's paralleled with what I'd like to call the "English Embarrassed." 

After my time spent in Totnes, I bussed my body back up the northern way, this time to Brighton, where I had never ever been. My friend waiting for me at the stop is named Ben. Also affectionately known as  'Benny,' 'Scottish Ben,' (or 'Hot Scottish Ben' if you ask me personally). 

Eight years ago, I flew to the U.K. for the first time in my life. It was also the first time I left the country ever in my life, and the first time I ever lived in a place that wasn't in the state of Maryland. That place was a tiny town in south of England called Totnes. 

Minneapolis was the second US city I performed this show in, and it was also the first theatre festival I performed this show in. It's safe to say this was also the first bathtub show this theatre festival has ever had. 

It's honestly by circumstance that I decided to make LA the place for the US premiere of Broken Bone Bathtub. A long story, at that, but it will suffice to say this: 

?I was completely terrified. Thoughts in my head on the day of the show opening:

A glimpse at the artistry and talent of E'dena Hines.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Raleigh, Sacramento, St. Louis and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include an 'awesome' INTO THE WOODS at The Muny, PETER PAN at Music Circus, and BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY in Raleigh, just to name a few.

Bike accident. Broken bones. Busted. Bath time? Bummer. 

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Washington, DC, Chicago, St. Louis, Vancouver, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include DEAR EVAN HANSEN in DC, VANYA AND SONIA in Chicago, and The Muny's HOLIDAY INN, just to name a few.

Author and storyteller Tom Pryor's next CITY STORIES: STOOPS TO NUTS show is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10TH at 6:00 p.m. at the Cornelia Street Cafe in Manhattan.

Writers in Performance is a 12-week poetry, writing and performance workshop culminating in public presentations. Throughout the course of the workshop, ten talented actors, playwrights, poets and storytellers have explored writing exercises, theater games, improvisation, movement techniques, and ensemble work in a safe, creative environment on the topic of "Anticipation." Writers in Performance participants are diverse by design; not only in ethnicity, but by age, and experience as well, mixing professionals with students.

Writers in Performance is a 12-week poetry, writing and performance workshop culminating in public presentations. Throughout the course of the workshop, ten talented actors, playwrights, poets and storytellers have explored writing exercises, theater games, improvisation, movement techniques, and ensemble work in a safe, creative environment on the topic of "Anticipation." Writers in Performance participants are diverse by design; not only in ethnicity, but by age, and experience as well, mixing professionals with students.