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    Showing posts with label Workshop Theater Company. Show all posts
    Showing posts with label Workshop Theater Company. Show all posts

  1. Time Travel By Rhonda Hansome

    Thursday, August 8, 2013

    Last night I forgot about looking for an apartment. Now in the harsh light of day, may I remind you I'm looking for a 1 bedroom apartment under $1000.00 a month. Stop laughing at me! I'm serious. I want my own little corner of the world for $900.00 a month.
    Not a roommate with a cat for for $950.00.
    Not a ROOM for $1200.00.  
    Not a shoe box size studio for $2000.00!!!
    But I digress... Last night I time traveled. 

    I have not bowled for a while. The last time was several years ago for my nephew's birthday. 
    With me and bowling, what I lack in skill, I make up for with enthusiasm!!!


    "How did I time travel?" you ask Dear Reader.  Amazing all three of you have that question.
    I time traveled last night when I bowled, drank, cheered and laughed 
    with a group of women from my past.  

    I was speechless when this "gaggle of goils" came to my Comedy Benefit in June.  

    I was so moved, that I promised myself to stay in touch with these women
     I'd spent year after school year with day by uniform wearing day.

    In spite of hating bowling, Rosann DeRupo won the bowling prize generously donated 
    to the Workshop Theater Comedy Benefit  by 
    When she bought her raffle she knew she'd win the bowling prize via her sainted father.
     May he rest in peace, because we had a great time!

    When we get together, magically we somehow become 
    Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School for Girls 

    "GIRLS!"
     For two hours we let cares and the years melt away. 

     It looks like we're going to make it a regular thing to enjoy each other's company. 
    Just the thought makes me giddy like, well, like a school girl. 
    We've found each other and I couldn't be happier. 
    Well, I could be happier if my hand, wrist, knee and ankle didn't ache from all the bowling fun.
    But I guess that's just the price of time travel!


    Rhonda Hansome is an actress, writer, stand-up comic and director.
    See a trailer of her documentary Drama Mamas The Film and support her right here!


    Posted by RHC at 10:55 AM | Labels: , , , , | 4 comments | |

  2. Wow, I thought I'd never get here!  Thank goodness this blog is on Pacific time... I usually write this days ahead, but last night I had a big show The Rhonda Hansome Comedy Workshop Theater Benefit. I'd booked the talent in April. I'd spent nearly two months just working on social media and PR for the show. What I did not do was write fifteen minutes of new material, which was the reason I wanted to do & tape the show; oh yes and raise funds for the Drama Desk nominated Workshop Theater Company.  What I did not expect to deal with was a bug bite gone wild. 
    Photo above should not be construed as the actual bug that bit me.  It is only a facsimile. 

    Last week a mosquito bit me near my knee.  With every day that passed the bite site itched and swelled.  By yesterday morning walking was difficult because my knee was almost football size. Ah yes, the familiar default swelling shape my oh so sensitive body prefers.  Why yesterday morning did I make an 8:30 visit to the clinic?  No need to discuss my health insurance at this time.  I don't want to depress you.  Suffice it to say my coverage entitles me to life saving health care at any local barber or butcher shop.  I made an early morning trip to the clinic and got a surprise: on Wednesdays my doctor is not on duty - surprise!

    I went home to work and do last minute promoting for the Comedy Benefit that evening.  As my knee continued to swell, I realized I had to make a choice, either go to the emergency room (a little known and never celebrated rung of Dante's Inferno) or go to the show I was  producing and directing and in which I was scheduled to host.
     I chose the show.



    It was a big to do for me because the evening was full of my funny friends from back in the day, or more like back in the decades.  Among this new crop of comedians I've befriended, I don't know any well enough to ask to perform a benefit for free.  So I went with old pals who came through like gang busters for me.  We SOLD OUT the Main Stage of the Workshop Theater Company - including a gaggle of gals from my Catholic high school, St. Virgin In The Bushes*.



    We had wall to wall laughs and a cornucopia of raffle prizes. It was a blast!

    While basking in our post show celebration my knee reminded me I had another early morning clinic visit in my future.  Once there at 9:30 AM, without an appointment, I knew I had to keep my cool and go with the flow.  I could not even register with out talking to the two nurses who told me I should have gone to the hospital emergency room yesterday with my tale of the expanding mosquito bite.  It only took a half hour to find out that even though my doctor was on duty, like a last minute flight to LA, she was overbooked.  I batted my eyelashes and pouted my lips.  Well what I really did was get humble as all get out, put my head down and look mournfully at my football knee.

    An hour later I was allowed to register for a different doctor.  Another half hour and my name was called.  No not to see the doctor, but I did get my vitals taken. Nice, I lost an eighth of a pound.  That bit of good news kept me civil, actually almost giddy, until an hour later when Dr. Paul saw me.  Yes, Dear Readers, it's only the mid point of the year and I've been prescribed antibiotics just about every month so far.  So I'm going to pick up my medication, sign a contract to tour with the musical Date Me, Do Me, Dump Me, come home and elevate my leg.

    Missed the great show last night?  Come see me this weekend.  I'm working with another old pal and a comic I've never met.  Come out to the show so you can guess which is which.


     See you soon enjoying the laughter!  I'll be the one popping antibiotics.

    Rhonda Hansome is a writer, actress, director, who does stand-up. 
    "Rhonda Hansome is one funny Negro."... Rhonda's Mother
    You can like her right here.

    *The real name is actually funnier: Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School for Girls.  Thanks for coming to the show ladies!  I wanted to cry from happiness but I'd finally gotten my make-up on straight & it's almost impossible to fix that stuff once you start blubbering all over your Fashion Fair & Maybelline.

    Posted by RHC at 1:30 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , | 3 comments | |

  3. So Dear Readers, for a long time now I’ve been looking for a way to fail upwards or at least sell out and cash in.  Reading about the recent Abercrombie & Fitch controversy, I may have found a way to do it and you can participate!

    Abercrombie & Fitch is under fire for their exclusionary vision of fashion.  They boast clothes in size double zeroes and extra smalls, with their largest ladies' pants a narrow ass size 10.  A&F CEO Mike Jefferies is clear about his target demographic and crows, "...cool looking people.  We don't market to anyone other than that."

    Well their last quarter profits have dropped precipitously, they’ve got a PR mess to deal with and I want to help them better their image, with me as their newest spokes model. Yes, they can diversify, and literally expand their sizing with me.




    Dear Reader, let A&F know you want me to represent a different face and shape of fashion forward thinking. Tell Abercrombie & Fitch to make Rhonda Hansome their bitch or spokes model, wording your choice.
     Abercrombie & Fitch Corporate Office & Headquarters  6301 Fitch Path New Albany OH 43054
      (614) 283-6500  @Abercrombie



    Then come see me do stand-up!


    Rhonda Hansome is an actress, writer, director.  See her do stand-up 7:30 PM Wed. June 12th with her pals Nancy Lombardo, Bob Greenberg, Angela Scott and Scott Blakeman at the Workshop Theater Comedy Benefit 312 W. 36th St. Main Stage.Tickets only $15.00! Call Ovation Tix 866-811-4111 

    Posted by RHC at 9:45 AM | Labels: , , , , | 5 comments | |


  4. I learned, unfortunately as a by–product of the devastation left by this week’s E4 tornado in Moore, a suburb south of Oklahoma City, that about 1000 tornadoes hit the United States every year.  

    With a 13 minute lead time there's not much you can do to protect yourself.  Just run for safety underground in, well, a storm cellar.


    Florida and Tornado Alley have a disproportionately high frequency of tornadoes. 

    The Gulf Coast has a relatively high frequency of tornadoes October through December.  Statistics say this “Dixie Alley” area, clocks more tornado deaths than Tornado Alley, due to the high number of, wait for it… 

    mobile homes. 


    At any time, one or more of these storm prone areas is in desperate need of long term relief, like victims of 
    North East Super FrankenStorm 

     They are still piecing back together literally shattered lives.
    I find it hard to believe that 67 members of the 
    House of Representatives 
    voted "no" to assisting people who were left powerless 
    and homeless by hurricane Sandy in November 2012. 

    Were these politicians really representing their constituents with that "NO" vote?


    Justin Amash (R-MI)              Andy Barr (R-KY)                 Dan Benishek (R-MI)

    Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI)         Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)      Jim Bridenstine (R-OK)

    Mo Brooks (R-AL)                 Paul Broun (R-GA)                Steve Chabot (R-OH)

    Doug Collins (R-GA)             Mike Conaway (R-TX)           Tom Cotton (R-AR)

    Steve Daines (R-MT)              Ron DeSantis (R-FL)             Scott DesJarlais (R-TN)

    Sean Duffy (R-WI)                 Jeff Duncan (R-SC)                Jimmy Duncan (R-TN)

    Stephen Fincher (R-TN)         John Fleming (R-LA)              Bill Flores (R-TX)

    Virginia Foxx (R-NC)             Trent Franks (R-AZ)              Louie Gohmert (R-TX)

    Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)           Paul Gosar (R-AZ)                 Trey Gowdy (R-SC)

    Tom Graves (R-GA)               Sam Graves (R-MO)              Andrew Harris (R-MD)

    George Holding (R-NC)         Richard Hudson (R-NC)        Tim Huelskamp (R-KS)

    Randy Hultgren (R-IL)           Lynn Jenkins (R-KS)              Jim Jordan (R-OH)

    Doug Lamborn (R-CO)          Kenny Marchant (R-TX)        Thomas Massie (R-KY)

    Tom McClintock (R-CA)        Mark Meadows (R-NC)       Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)

    Mick Mulvaney (R-SC)          Randy Neugebauer (R-TX)    Steven Palazzo (R-MS)

    Steve Pearce (R-NM)              Scott Perry (R-PA)               Tom Petri (R-WI)

    Mike Pompeo (R-KS)             Tom Price (R-GA)                Phil Roe (R-TN)      
       
    Todd Rokita (R-IN)                Keith Rothfus (R-PA)            Ed Royce (R-CA)

    Paul Ryan (R-WI)                   Matt Salmon (R-AZ)              David Schweikert (R-AZ)

    Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI)      Marlin Stutzman (R-IN)          Mac Thornberry (R-TX)

    Randy Weber (R-TX)             Brad Wenstrup (R-OH)        Roger Williams (R-TX)

    Joe Wilson (R-SC)                  Rob Woodall (R-GA)             Kevin Yoder (R-KS)

                                                    Ted Yoho (R-FL)


    Please leave your comment below.


    Rhonda Hansome is a writer, director, actress and social media dilettante.  See her do stand-up with her pals:  Scott Blakeman, Nancy Lombardo, Angela Scott and Bob Greenberg 

    7:30 PM Wed.  June 12, 2013

    WorkShop Theater Comedy Benefit

    312 West 36th St. 4th fl   
      
    Info & Tickets HERE or call Ovation Tix 866-811-4111

    Posted by RHC at 5:30 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 comments | |

  5. The Night Circus by Rhonda Hansome

    Thursday, January 24, 2013

    The Night Circus

     Spread the sawdust, cue the calliope and open the tent!  Thus begins the basic bread of international spectacle: the circus and its controversy.  I’m not talking about the heart stopping perils of the high-wire or the vociferous debate about performing animals.  I’m talking about the age old disagreement regarding the absolute foundation of the entertainment… CLOWNS!
                                                               
    Some people use the term as a pejorative.  “You, are so (choose one: stupid, crazy, foolish) - you  clown! “This is serious.  Stop clowning around!”  “Pay her no mind, she’s just a clown!

    There are some poor souls scarred for life from an early childhood experience.  The trauma could have involved an unwieldy seltzer bottle, a surprising cascade of confetti or just a frightening mile-wide smile.  The common denominator, you ask?  In every case a big nose, brightly painted, floppy shoe wearing, overzealous clown.  Clowns you either love them or hate them.

    One ambitious summer I studied clowning. Through no fault fault of the instructor, I failed juggling, unicycle
    riding and whoopee cushion.  I admit my attention was divided, as I was also in a mime intensive at the time. 

                           Okay write your own joke here.  I’ll blog about mimes some other time. 

    Clowns fascinate me.  And tomorrow night, because Mister and Missus Clown (aka Mike Smith Rivera and Kelly Anne Burns) have invited me to perform, I get the honor of mixing it up with a gaggle of clowns in 
    The Night Circus.  

    Join me and a cluster of clowns in a spectacular evening of vaudeville entertainment including the music of Sir Richard Kent Green, the Fool School Academy players* and a dance party after the show!  
    10 PM Saturday January 26, Workshop Theater Company, 312 West 35th St. 4th fl.

    Reserve your ticket here and look for me after the show.  I’m the one with the big feet – really, I'm size 11!

    *Margo HAMBONE Hammond, Missus Cordelia Clown, Claire PEPPERMINT PATSY Patterson, Stephania Diana CURLY BURLY Shramm, Richard Kent CRUMP Green


    Posted by RHC at 8:00 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , | 4 comments | |

  6. Unknown Country by Rhonda Hansome

    Thursday, January 17, 2013


                                                                 Unknown Country

     or Fancy Meeting You Here!

    Writing this from the main deck of Holland America’s M/S Westerdam, I am traveling south west to Cozumel.  Looking at the green-blue glorious water, I think what could be better than this?
                                                                             
    The limited phone and internet access is a blissful break in my restless Pavlovian routine of grabbing and scanning an electronic device every time a bell chimes.  The food is delicious and everywhere as is the music on this Smooth Jazz Cruise.  I have no recourse but to comply with the required agenda of eat, drink and be merry as I’m entertained by a continuous roster of musical headliners jamming, jazzing and rocking the boat all day and night. 

     Our seafaring talent reads like a Who’s Who of the smooth jazz genre.  George Benson, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Angie Stone, Rick Braun, Andre Berry and Bob James are just some of the magnanimous tune masters calling the shots as we swing and sway to the Caribbean.  What could be better than this? 
    Last night Richard Elliot blessed the stage and then burned it down with his sax.  He’s a musical magician who transformed the showroom into a melodious Mt. Olympus and in a 6° of separation situation wait for it… 
                                                                                    
    I’m in his entourage!  Well it’s really just relaxing with Richard (when he’s not wailing on stage) and getting to know his family members I'd never met like George & Vivian. 
     

     As surprising as it frequently seems, it really is a “small world.”  Well that’s what it felt like when George & Vivian said they were from Newfoundland. 

    Just prior to boarding the M/S Westerdam I was eyeball deep in preparation and rehearsal for the Fri. Jan. 25th presentation I'm directing in, the Unknown Country play reading series at the Workshop Theater Company in NYC.  Oil and Water by Robert Chafe is the soul touching true story of the rescue of the lone black survivor of the 1942 USS Truxton shipwreck off the coast of wait for it… Newfoundland.  

    Embarking on the Westerdam I thought I’d left the churning waters and dangerous hulking cliffs of Newfoundland behind.  Even though the incident happened way before they were born, George and Vivian Smith’s vivid retelling of their historic local legend put the world of Chafe’s powerful play right at hand. The treacherous bluffs, the violent snowstorm, the hundreds dead and the townspeople determined to save the oil caked survivors freezing along their shoreline.  

    Vivian had read lots about The Pollux and The Truxton.  She recounted how her countrymen living at that time had never seen a person of color before and in removing the oil, tried to scrub the black off Lanier Phillips.  
                                                                                    
                                                                                         
    George and Vivian had seen numerous TV interviews with Lanier and his rescuers on his multiple return trips to the area.  George in his youth was in a band and the folk song, The Ballad of The Truxton and The Pollux, was requested and sung at almost every gig.  It feels like Kismet.  What could be better than this? 

    You Dear Reader, experiencing the wind and snow danger, the life and death struggle, the Oil and Water of the Truxton’s demise and the rescue of Lanier Phillips.  FREE with your reservation.
    One night only  -  8 PM Fri. Jan. 25th  -
    Workshop Theater Company 312 W. 36th St. 4th fl  

    Make your FREE reservation here and join me as my theater alter-ego, Passion, directs Oil and Water.  Until then for me it is music, food and laughs with the super star comic on board, Alonzo Bodden.  
    What could be better that this?

    Well, since you asked… opening for any of these music acts or telling my jokes on a cruise line.  Call me.
    RhondaHansome.com  @RhondaHansome 

    Posted by RHC at 1:20 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 comments | |

  7. It's Your Time by Rhonda Hansome

    Thursday, January 3, 2013






                                                                                                                         


                                                                                                                         



    It's Your Time

    2013 is galloping away like a perp from an old lady push-in.
    I missed all the comedy holiday parties and spent innumerable hours this  week mentally re-creating party by party the competitive banter, and alcohol infused groping.  And that's just what I wanted to do to the club managers, bookers and industry machers.  Speaking of influential, note to Jeffrey Gurian: it's a shanda what I did to you in my mind this week!

    What else did I do this week? I saw two great period movies.  Lincoln and Django Unchained.  Lincoln and Django are period movies, because, like a period they are full of pain and blood.  I was so into the movie Lincoln, I totally missed recognizing Private Harold Green was played by one of my favorite actors,
                                                                        Colman Domingo

     Colman Domingo  
    He's a writer, singer, dancer, actor, and all around phenomenal talent.  Ever since I first saw him at the Public Theater in Passing Strange, Colman has been on my bucket list to direct (because I'm a serious award winning theater director* when not on a comedy mic cracking wise) but I'd settle for acting with him on a sitcom or police procedural show.  Colman, call me!

         When he first appeared on screen in Django, Samuel Jackson scared the crap out of me.  In his tour de force performance he channels the infamous Boondocks animated character...

                    Uncle Ruckus      

        Django Unchained, what can I say that can't be said with buckets of bullets and blood?  I laughed, I cried, I gasped and guffawed.through this wild ride sprung from the mind of Quentin Tarantino.  I just don't understand the shock at racial epithets, the surprise at historical inaccuracy, and the controversy regarding the unfettered violence.  For crying out loud! Well there was a lot of that in the movie too, but it IS a Quentin Tarantino flick,  Django is a stylized piece offering a cornucopia of his signature Tarantino excesses. You don't go to the hardware store for cotton balls!

    Things are pretty crazy these days, the fiscal cliff,  mass shootings, subway deaths and worst of all, my social media addiction.
                                                                       That monkey on my back has ramped up to crystal meth proportions, minus the slenderizing weight loss. Email, my gateway drug, satisfied me for more than a decade.  Then I toyed with facebook and chipped linkedin.  Now I mainline twitter and just this week sniffed tumblr. Who knows what's next, podcasts, vlogging? There's no end to it!!!

    So Dear Reader** if you, like me, need electronic platform rehab, or feel your life is a Tarantino movie I offer the following...


    I hope that helps.  See you next week!


    * 8 PM Fri. Jan. 25th  FREE presentation of Oil and Water  by Robert Chafe I'm directing in Unknown Country at the Workshop Theater Company 312 W. 36th St. 4th fl

    ** I'd like to thank my three loyal readers for their support during my first year of blogging.  If you are addicted turn on a buddy.

    Posted by RHC at 3:10 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 comments | |