THE EELWAX JESUS 3-D POP MUSIC SHOW Archives - Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University

FESTIVAL TIME

July 14, 2010/by Peggy McKowen

It is FESTIVAL TIME in Shepherdstown WV. Shepherdstown is the oldest town in West Virginia doing the newest plays in America. Visitors from across America are descending on this historic semi-rural town nestled in the foothills of the BlueRidge Mountains to experience Five new American plays in rotating Repertory. Our small town is alive with aggressive storytelling and creative rebellion. The pubs, restaurants, and shops are filled with conversation. People are talking-theater. Everywhere you go you hear the buzz of radical innovation. The tsunami of creative energy is thriving throughout the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Shepherdstown is the cultural gateway into West Virginia. And the people are talking…Theater critics are talking…

“A gas-masked figure tossing moon pies. A stuffed dachshund named Sarah Palin. A tap-dancing vagina. Those are just a few of the hallucinatory images that swim out of THE EELWAX JESUS 3-D POP MUSIC SHOW, the most memorable, if not the most satisfying, production at the 2010 Contemporary American Theater Festival. —THE WASHINGTON POST Wednesday, July 14, 2010

“If you long for the curious likes of Samuel Beckett’s WAITING FOR GODOT, or Tom Stoppard’s ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, you’re in for a treat…you’ll get an eye-popping evening with CATF’s world premiere offering of THE EELWAX JESUS 3-D POP MUSIC SHOW.”—THE HERALD MAIL July 13, 2010

“The 20th Anniversary of CATF appears to be the finest yet of the five play summer series.”—Bob Anthony, allartsreview4u.com

“INANA…Michele Lowe has written a well made thing. It’s a pleasure to watch a play go beyond what is expected.”—THE MONSTERRAT REVIEW

Yes people are talking…more later… I am looking forward to your comments.

Ed Herendeen

CHOP DOWN THE FORESTS

May 24, 2010/by Peggy McKowen

I want to share the lyrics to CHOP DOWN THE FORESTS from The World Premiere of THE EELWAX JESUS 3-D POP MUSIC SHOW by Max Baker and Lee Sellars:

IGNATZ

I’M NOT AFRAID OF ADMITTING

I’M JUST ANOTHER MONKEY ON THE EARTH

I’M ONE IN OVER 6 BILLION

SO WHAT I’VE GOT TO SAY

HAS PROBABLY BEEN HEARD

I’M NOT SO BLIND I CAN’T RECOGONIZE

WE’RE ALL PRETTY MUCH THE SAME

WE THINK WE’RE FREE BUT WE’RE HYPNOTIZED

BY THE PROPAGANDER IN OUR BRAINS

I’M SO WONDERFULLY SPECIAL AND I’M DIFFERENT

WIPE THAT NOTION FROM YOUR HEAD

BEING ALIVE IS SUFFICENT

BUT WE’RE ALL JUST SOON-TO-BE-DEADS

CHORUS

SO LET’S CHOP DOWN THE FORESTS

WHILE WE’RE AT IT

LET’S KILL AS MANY SPECIES AS WE CAN

LET’S DESTROY EVERYTHING THAT’S NATURAL AND

ALL…FOR THE GLORY OF MAN

IGNATZ

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FOR THE MONEY

GRAB AS MUCH OF IT AS YOU DESIRE

I BELIEVE BEING RICH WILL MAKE ME HAPPY

EVEN IF IT MAKES ME A LIAR

RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT ON THE ISSUES

JUSTIFYING EXCESS IN MY MIND

I CAN’T ESCAPE WHEN I WANT TO

IT’S STILL ILLEGAL TO GET HIGH

I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS CULTURE

ADVERTISING EVERTHING I NEED

THE SIMPSONS SELLING WHOPPERS ON THE TV

A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF OUR GREED

CHORUS

SO LET’S CHOP DOWN THE FORESTS

WHILE WE’RE AT IT

LET’S KILL AS MANY SPECIES AS WE CAN

LET’S DESTROY EVERYTHING THAT’S NATURAL AND

ALL…FOR THE GLORY OF MAN

IGNATZ

LET’S DIVIDE THE WORLD INTO COUNTRIES

LET’S GENETICALLY MODIFY OUR FOOD

LET’S START ANOTHER WAR ABOUT RELIGION

AND TELL EVERONE GOD IS GOOD

CHORUS

SO LET’S CHOP DOWN THE FORESTS WHILE WE’RE AT IT

LET’S KILL AS MANY SPECIES AS WE CAN

LET’S DESTROY EVERYTHING THAT’S NATURAL

AND ALL FOR THE GLORY OF MAN

If you want to listen to this song go to www.catf.org and click on the EELWAX JESUS graphic.

Ed Herendeen

EELWAX JESUS IS COMING

May 21, 2010/by Peggy McKowen

Max Baker and Lee Sellars have written an imaginative, entertaining and original ALTERNATIVE musical. It will blow your mind.

Some backstory: I have had the pleasure of working with Lee Sellars for over 12 years. We first worked together in 1998 on Tom Strelich’s new play-BAFO. We instantly connected and over the years we have developed an extraordinary artistic relationship. I have such fond memories of working with Lee. Most memorable productions include: COMPLEAT FEMALE STAGE BEAUTY by Jeffrey Hatcher; COYOTE ON A FENCE by Bruce Graham; SOMETHING IN THE AIR by Richard Dresser; THE PAVILION by Craig Wright; FLAG DAY by Lee Blessing; ROUNDING THIRD by Richard Dresser; and THE GOD OF HELL by Sam Shepard.

Our collaboration continues this summer with the World Premiere of THE EELWAX JESUS 3-D POP MUSIC SHOW. Lee wrote the music for this amazing new work and Max Baker wrote the Book and Lyrics. Lee introduced me to Max several years ago in New York. Max is an actor, director and playwright and he is directing EELWAX for us this summer. So we have all known each other for many years… and I am thrilled that Max and Lee are giving me the opportunity to produce the Premiere.

If you want to hear the intro song for THE EELWAX JESUS 3-d POP MUSIC SHOW go to our web site www.catf.org and click on the EELWAX graphic and take a listen. You can also hear more EELWAX JESUS songs on their web site www.eelwaxjesus.com

After you listen to the songs please share your comments with me. I am looking forward to introducing you to this new ALTERNATIVE THEATRICAL EVENT. Please invite your friends to join you in Shepherdstown to experience the wild imaginations of Baker and Sellars. Please share this blog with your adventurous friends.

Ed Herendeen