Let’s do the time warp again, as the Mary-Arrchie Theatre commemorates the anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock festival with an annual theater and performance marathon named in honor of the author of Woodstock Nation. Seeking to stimulate a communal spirit (which may be enhanced by sleep deprivation), Mary-Arrchie’s Richard Cotovsky has organized the festival’s three days as a nearly nonstop procession of entertainment. Informality and spontaneity are the order of the day. Whether the same is true of punctuality remains to be seen; the schedule listed below, provided at the beginning of the week, may be subject to change and the whim of fate. Unofficial highlights to watch for include the theater companies changing sets–even though there’s no time allotted for that in the schedule–and periodic musical entertainment by guitarist Alex Blatt. Mary-Arrchie Theatre, Angel Island, 731 W. Sheridan, 871-0442. August 20 through 22: Friday-Sunday, according to the following schedule. $5 per admission; $10 for a one-day pass; $25 for a pass to the full festival.
Opening Ceremonies
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Diary of a Madman
Nikolay Gogol’s story about a nut case in czarist Russia is adapted and performed by Rush Pearson. Reviewing the show’s 1991 run at the Prop Theatre, Reader critic Jack Helbig said that Pearson “keeps us riveted to him, worrying about his fate even as he slips into a hilariously delusionary world.” 8 PM.
Starbug
This program of improv comedy is performed by Thanks for Coming. 11 PM.
Ernest Angst’s satire is performed by FathOMless. 12:10 AM.
