President Bush, Secretary Rumsfeld, Vice President Chaney and Republican National Committee Chairman on the offensive to convince the nation to stay the course…It is put up or shut down day for the Iranians…The Iranians say shut up, we’re doing what we have to do…General Casey says 12 to 18 months the Iraq army should be ready to stand up, but we still can’t stand down…and much more…Plus new Fat Man episode…Click Here To Download Or On Air To Stream

Abbreviated programming today: News…Donald Rumsfeld rants calling war critics stupid diplomatically…Former Gen. Wesley Clark fights back…Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., is president, CEO, and founder of the Center for Security Policy — “a small think tank funded mainly by US defense contractors, … says a draft may be needed if things don’t improve soon and more Fat Man classic radio.
Click Here To Download Or On Air To Stream

It’s Black Box Theater Wednesday again and the word this week is Galapagos. The Galapagos art space located at 70 North 6th St. in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, home to a black box theater concept, dedicated but not limited to what could be described as experimental theater, spiked the punch Monday night as they fielded team after team of clever and multi talented performers engaging in twisted puppetry entertainment to the delight of myself and a collegiate age plus audience that fill the room.

As per their program materials, Punch; the city’s only consistent puppet slam can be seen the last Monday of every month starting at 8:00 pm. The show runs non stop fun and raucous interaction between the audience and a dry witted comic on a drum and cymbal as he encourages the already primed crowd to get more beer from the generous bartender at their modestly price bar between acts.

While I have been to many performances where alcohol would have been the missing ingredient to an adequate performance, these creative, outer dimensional, thought processing entertainers, enjoying the experience as much as their spectators, needed not prime their loyal followers with the devils spirits, for each act brought a connection to the story telling that would captivate and conquer even the staunchest of critics who’d otherwise snub puppetry as a true theatrical art form.

I was most impressed with the lead Punch and Judy-like act, violence included and enhanced, much to my enjoyment, telling the story of some clown trying to earn enough dough the marry the king’s daughter, gets a gig as a merchant of kick ass. For a fee, he will beat you or a friend down. By the way, he also offers gift certificates for his services. The skit is so funny, I can’t remember if the clown ever actually hooks up with princess but that could have been a result of my second margarita from the generous bartender.

The Galapagos art space is open seven days a week with a diverse menu of acts, including film shorts, comedy, burlesque, music and more. The price of admission is as modest as the bar; at a mere five bucks for this show and no more that ten for most others. For more info and a complete schedule of events Click Here to enter their site.
The is a Cool Guy recommendation

Katrina, The Stink One Year After The Storm:
Michael Brown says” I will take the fall for the president, but not for Michael Chertoff…Chertoff says Brownie was nowhere to be found when needed…Ray Nagin says “I could have other words than hole in the ground…Don Powell says feds is spending the dough and keeping an eye on fraud and more…New Fat Man Episode The nightmare murder…
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It’s Black Box Theater Wednesday again, and as promised,we are following up on last week’s podcast recommendation of the Seattle based theatrical production company, Circus Contraption’s Grand American Traveling Dime Museum.

This three ring circus, absent two rings, can best be described as a classic, over the top foray into a time, long ago when funds were tight, attention spans long and fun seeker’s eyes were filled with excitement and expectation of entertainment that came along only once in a great while.

With a multi talented cast, that are seemingly interchangeable in their contributions to this performance art form (and by the way, the best show of it’s kind to hit our town in a long time,) the cast spared no effort or energy to engage their audience with act after act of song, dance, music, juggling, breathtaking acrobatics, mime art, slight of hand, erotica, comedy and audience participation. Oh, did I forget to mention great jokes and crisp, slick, and the fresh delivery of them?

From the opening number to the closing bottle blowing musical finish, the show never ceases to thrill and delight its spectators.

The writing is solid, the direction is flawless, the set design is creative, while the show maintains an energy level that continues to climb until the final spotlight dimming. In short, Circus Contraption’s Grand American Traveling Dime Museum is a must see for sore eyes.

While you still have time to catch these seasoned professionals perfecting their craft, I would not recommend procrastinating because they only come to New York once a year and all of the shows seem to get sold out rather quickly. So don’t dilly dally.
Here is what you need to know:
The Place

Theatre for the New City
155 first Ave NYC
East Village
It Opened on
August 12, 2006
It Closes on
September 23, 2006
The Shows
Wed – Sun at 8pm
The Cost
$15 – $30 The Contact Number
212-352-3101
The Cast
Lara Paxton, David Crellin, Greg Adair, J. Vito Albanese, Evelyn Bittner, Sari Breznau, Colin Ernst, Kevin Hinshaw, Jenny Iacobucci, Drew Keriakedes, Matt Manges, Kari Podgorski, Terry Podgorski, Jason Williams
The Kick Ass Music
Colin Ernst, Kevin Hinshaw

Lee Says C-IT Soon