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Impact's Bar Mitzvah 13th season continues with Melanie Marnich's haunting drama Tallgrass Gothic, which begins November 13. This is a dark, beautiful play that will chill you to your bones, perfect for the cold winter evenings that are about to be upon us. Tickets are on sale now. You saw what happened with the sold-out signs every night of Ching Chong Chinaman -- don't get left out in the cold.
What an amazing run. Out of 20 performances of Ching Chong Chinaman (two more than usual), only one didn't sell out. And why not? It's a great play with a fantastic cast, crew, and designers/director. Thanks to everyone who came out and made this Impact's biggest hit ever. Now the play is off to take Minneapolis by storm this February. We hope it's as successful for Mu as it was for us.
We're only four weeks into the new season, and I keep seeing signs that this is really Impact's year. New seats, a new door, a hit show... it's really frickin' awesome. But coolest of all, I think, is that we introduced season subscriptions this year, and 26 people have already signed up.
Read the whole thingImpact participated in Crowded Fire's second annual Chili Cookoff this weekend. Just like last year, we had a blast -- and we brought home an award.
Read the whole thingThe East Bay Express's review of Ching Chong Chinaman is out, and Sam Hurwitt gave us a rave as well: "Whip-smart and very funny, in a snappy production by Desdemona Chiang with a strong cast... Particularly clever is Yee's deft use of magical realism, as embodied by Pearl Wong in a multitude of roles... The journey's so thoroughly enjoyable that one's just sorry to see it end."
He then goes on to compare our show with Amy Tan's opera, currently playing across the bay, and concludes, "As Chinese-American family sagas go, give me the low-rent send-up in the pizzeria basement any day." Read the whole review.
There's no two ways about it -- this show is hot. For the second straight weekend, we've sold out every performance (ok, we were three seats shy of a sell-out Thursday night, but Friday and Saturday we turned away many people at the door).
What does this mean for you? Easy: make sure your ticket is waiting for you at the door by purchasing in advance.
Pat Craig of the Contra Costa Times has posted his review of Ching Chong Chinaman, and it's another rave! "Fresh, funny comedy... The Impact Theatre production does a wonderful job of taking the sensitive issue of ethnic identity and tearing it to shreds... The cast plays the script beautifully, with an understated sense of parody that makes the lines all the more hilarious... Director Desdemona Chiang has paced the play well and infused it with wildly funny sight gags — and with the help of the tech staff, has included some apt and funny surprises at almost every turn." Read the whole review, then get your tickets online so you guarantee your seats. We're turning lots of people away at the door this weekend -- don't be one of them!
Ken Bullock of the Berkeley Daily Planet has published his review of Ching Chong Chinaman, and it's 100% rave: "a wild ride -- fast, furious and very funny...on all levels, it’s an exhilarating send-up of that Yankee mock-up and fixation, Tradition." Read the whole review.
Once again we'll be competing in Crowded Fire's chili cookoff. Last year we took the "anything goes" category with Josh's North African ostrich chili. This year we're aiming to take it all. It's next Saturday, September 20, at the LGBT Center in SF. Come root for us and enjoy lots of awesome chili, plus live music and a really fun time. We had a blast last year -- we can't wait to do it again.
We're pleased to announce that Mina Morita has signed on to direct Tallgrass Gothic. Currently the Bret C. Harte directing intern at Berkeley Rep, Mina was the assistant director to Tony Taccone on the world premiere of Yellowjackets, which opened that company's 2008-09 season. Mina has also worked with Shotgun Players, the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, and Active Arts Theatre for Young Audiences. We're excited to have her on board to helm this delicate but powerful play.