For Immediate Release
New York--December 18, 2002
Press Contact: Tom X. Chao, (212) 674-4623

TOM X. CHAO TO HOST "THE NINE MUSES VARIETY SHOW"
For the first time ever, performance artist Tom X. Chao will take on an entirely new role--host of his own variety show at Surf Reality, Monday, January 13, 8:00 pm.  The theme of the show will be "The Nine Muses."  A line-up of downtown all-stars will attempt to represent the categories represented by the nine Greek muses of mythological renown.  Dance, comedy, tragedy, music and more will parade triumphantly upon the stage.  Scheduled performers include Michele Carlo (AKA Carmen Mofongo), Mort Milder, Faith Pilger (host of The Vim Variety Show), Noelle Romano & Becky Poole, Michael Schwartz, Jeff Ward, and Seth Madej.  The show will also feature the insane video "Franco and Billy, Part II" by Peter Blomquist and Jeff Wiens.  Tickets: five dollars.

The Nine Muses*
Calliope (Epic Poetry)
Clio (History)
Erato (Love Poetry)	
Euterpe (Music)
Melpomene (Tragedy)
Polyhymnia (Sacred Poetry)
Terpsichore (Dancing)
Thalia (Comedy)
Urania (Astronomy)
*Not to be confused with The Seven Liberal Arts

WHERE: Surf Reality, 172 Allen Street, 2nd floor (F to 2nd Avenue)
WHEN: Monday, January 13, 8:00 pm (ONE NIGHT ONLY)
ADMISSION: $5.00
BOX OFFICE TELEPHONE: (212) 673-4182
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom X. Chao
tom@tomxchao.com
http://www.tomxchao.com

BIO
TOM X. CHAO is a Resident Artist of the Horse Trade Theater Group and recently workshopped his new musical comedy, "The Relationship Expert" at The St. Marks Theater.  He has written, directed and performed works at Dixon Place, HERE, The Knitting Factory, P.S.122, on WBAI-FM, at the D.U.M.B.O. Art Under The Bridge, Pure Pop, American Living Room, and FringeNYC festivals.  He regularly appears at variety shows including Timsloft, The Carmen Mofongo Show, The Shark Show, and Modern Humorist Live.  Presently, Tom is readying his comedic science-fiction radio play, THE SCIENTISTS, for broadcast on WBAI-FM and is producing a video of an original song.

Tom holds a degree in Cinema Production from the University of Southern California, where he studied fiction with T. Coraghessan Boyle, Richard Yates, John Rechy and Hubert Selby. He went on to earn a Master's Degree from NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study.