Thrillpeddlers has extended performances of their 6th annual Theatre of The Ridiculous Revival of the next Cockettes Musical, Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma, a new full-length, restored version of The Cockettes' 1971 musical sensation thru July 27, 2103 (an additional nine performances) (no performances weekend of July 4, 2013). This will be the final extension. Must close July 27, 2013. This is the 42nd Anniversary of the original production, produced as a Nocturnal Dream Show and performed at midnight at the Palace Theatre in Chinatown in SF. Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma celebrates the Cockettes' fascination (in the early 70s) with everything Art Deco.
Richer with age, the new book (based on the 1971 Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma outline) was rewritten by original Cockettes Pam Tent and Scrumbly Koldewynto realize all of the magic and fullness this genre deserves. The new production keeps the 4 songs from the 1971 production with lyrics by Link Martin and music by Scrumbly Koldewyn, and adding 18 new songs composed by Scrumbly Koldewyn, with lyrics by Scrumbly, with additional lyrics by Pam Tent and
Martin Worman, the new songs replace many of the Great American Songbook favorites used in the original Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma presentation. Three original Cockettes: Scrumbly Koldewyn, "Sweet Pam", and Rumi Missabu will perform in this production, bringing to life the whimsy and the madness that were the "all singing, all dancing, all cardboard" Cockettes. Not only were they among the core members of The Cockettes, but were in the first cast of Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma in 1971. The Cockettes became national media darlings and were invited to perform what became a tumultuous three week run in NYC. The Cockettes were a gender-bending theatrical troupe who originated many musicals, and also exerted a profound influence on the culture of our times, from the phenomenon of midnight movies to glitter rock stars and their outrageous fashions.
Truman Capote and
Rex Reed attended a San Francisco performance of Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma, and Reed wrote a glowing review in his nationally syndicated column, calling Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma "a landmark in the history of new, liberated theater..."
Truman Capote raved: "The Cockettes are where it's at!". http://tinyurl.com/an7seej
Excerpt from
Rex Reed 1971 review: "Next, what looked to my bloodshot eyes like the anvil chorus from "Aida" came down the aisle stepping over stoned bodies, dressed like flaming Christmas trees while a frantic Hollywood-type director raced about the stage screaming "Cut!" The entourage of lights and tinsel disappeared in to the wings and a heavily veiled Hedy Lamaar-type in a mink-dyed fox leaned over my shoulder and whispered, "This is a dream sequence." I hadn't seen anything yet. A topless pregnant
Betty Hutton in a tank suit, pearls and a
Carmen Miranda hat sang "I need a little hot dog on my roll" while the audience threw weenies on the stage. Before the song was finished, all her clothes were ripped off and the singer was seized, dragged to the floor still clinging to her microphone, and, as the British put it, "interfered with." The audience stood on their seats, whistling and shrieking approval. "This is the most outrageous thing I have ever witnessed," said
Truman Capote, roaring hilariously."
Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma has been extended by popular demand and RAVE reviews. The show runs Thurs. Fri. & Sat. at 8:00 pm from now thru - July 27, 2013 (no performances weekend of July 4, 2013.) 2013 dates for Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma are: June (Thurs., Fri. & Sat. 8pm) June 20, 21, 22 / 27, 28, 29; June (Thurs., Fri. & Sat. 8pm) July 11, 12, 13 / 18, 19, 20 / 25, 26, 27
The Hypnodrome is located at 575 10th St. in SF 94103. (Bryant & Division Sts.) Tickets are $30/ Gen. Admission or $35/ Front Row Seats, "Shock Boxes" and "Turkish Lounges**" available at
http://www.tinseltarts@brownpapertickets.com or calling 415/ 377- 4202.
Synopsis: Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma: Imagine watching a
Busby Berkeley movie on acid--then sit back and enjoy the trip! Fantasy and tinsel hitch a train ride with a temperamental actress and her ingénue as they travel from Hollywood to Broadway then back again in search of stardom and artistic relevance. Loaded with quirky show tunes this tangled plot is set against the economic and political backdrop of the turbulent 1930s where these tinsel tarts reach for the stars--and each other's wigs--while exploring the heights and depths of stage and screen in a struggle between selfish motivations and alternate realities.
Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma is directed by
Russell Blackwood and original Cockette and composer Scrumbly Koldewyn is the Musical Director - playing piano for all performances. Cockettes, Thrillpeddlers and San Francisco favorites will be featured in this revival, including: "Sweet Pam" Tent (Vedda Viper), Rumi Missaubu (Brenda Breakfast), Noah Haydon (Sally Snack), Birdie-Bob Watt and Dalton Goulette (The Mabelines), James Toczyl (Salvadore Deli),
Russell Blackwood (Madge The Magnificent),
Leigh Crow (The Queen of Mars), and others to flesh out a cast of 26. Technical credits include: Scenery by
James Blackwood, costumes by Alice Cunt, lights by Nicholas Torre, and choreography by Bonni Suval, Noah Haydon, D'Arcy Drollinger,
Cindy Goldfield, and John LeFan.
**About Seating: Pairs of patrons will surely enjoy Hypnodrome's Shock Box seats for two, which garnered SF Weekly's "Best of San Francisco 2008" for "Best Bonus Theater Experience." These themed seats include sumptuous Turkish Lounges, as well as private boxes including "Heaven and Hell,"The Pharaoh's Tomb," and "Padded Cell," which offer the same opportunity for illicit trysting that was once a feature of the Parisian Théâtre du Grand Guignol - with added special effects as a nod to the 1950's horror movie gimmicks of
William Castle.
Thrillpeddlers (
www.thrillpeddlers.com) have been performing their unique brand of horror and fetish theatre in SF since 1991. Under the direction of
Russell Blackwood, Thrillpeddlers are continuously engaged in translating, adapting and producing classic plays from the infamous repertoire of Le Théâtre du Grand Guignol and producing other works inspired by the Grand Guignol tradition. In 2008, Thrillpeddlers embraced another niche theatrical genre with the company's annual Theatre of the Ridiculous Revival. That same year they were invited to perform for NYC's HOWL Festival with their productions of
Charles Busch's THEODORA, SHE-BITCH OF BYZANTIUM,
Charles Ludlam's JACK IN THE BEANSTALK, and Link Martin and Scrumbly Koldewyn's PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI. Following this, a full production of PEARLS was mounted in SF in 2009 and ran for 22 months. In the summer of 2011 they revived another of Koldewyn's works, VICE PALACE. The hit show (which was revived Winter 2012 ) garnered the group's second trip to NYC to perform at the HOWL Festival which also included a special performance at NYC's Lincoln Center to celebrate the life and works of long time Koldewyn collaborator,
Martin Worman.
The company's SOMA performance venue, The Hypnodrome, is tailor-made for the specific needs of horror theatre, musical extravaganzas, and "lights-out" spook show spectacle. Inaugurating The Hypnodrome with WELCOME TO THE HYPNODROME in 2004, Thrillpeddlers have produced wildly popular Grand Guignol bills including BLOOD BUCKET BALLYHOO, FLAMING SIN, AUDACIOUS ARTEFACTS, KISS OF BLOOD and the 2012 hit, THE BRIDE OF DEATH. SHOCKTOBERFEST!!, Thrillpeddlers' annual pageant of terror and titillation, is now in its 13th year and has become a SF Halloween favorite. The company's production history includes the American premiere of Clive Barker's FRANKENSTEIN IN LOVE, MONDO ANDRONICUS (selected Best of the 1997 S.F. Fringe Festival), a double-bill of THE MEDIUM and A CRIME IN THE MADHOUSE (in Pretoria, South Africa). Thrillpeddlers has won the Guardian's "Best of the Bay" and, and back-to-back "Best of San Francisco" awards from SF Weekly. Thrillpeddlers Theatre Company received a coveted 2009 GOLDIE AWARD (Guardian Outstanding Local Discovery award) from the SF Bay Guardian! In 2010, 7 X 7 Magazine named Thrillpeddlers "BEST UNDERGROUND THEATRE COMPANY IN SF". They are also the purveyors of
www.GrandGuignol.com the most complete source of Grand Guignol info on the Net.
Pictured: Russell Balckwood (L) and cast in Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma. Photo Credit: Daniel Nicoletta.
