2001 Tom X. Chao Public Appearances

In chronological order--oldest first.  All appearances take place by invitation unless otherwise specified.

Timsloft "Metallurgy" at Interart Annex

January 11-13, 2001
Thursday, January 11, 8PM, Friday, January 12 & Saturday, January 13 at 10:30PM
Interart Annex, 500 West 52nd Street, 2nd Floor (52nd St. @ 10th Ave.)
Performed: "Non-Violent Conflict Resolution Training Workshop"
Group show with numerous other performers.
(It was my first return to Timsloft after their long hiatus--I last performed with them in Fall 1996.)

Cornelia St. Cafe

February 6, 2001, 7 PM
29 Cornelia Street (between W. 4th & Bleecker)
New material debuted:
Read "Robert Fripp Told Us Not To" (a short story)
and performed 3 sketches
"She Should Have Signed Up For Matchmaker.com," "Naming the Vegetables," and "Jaded Individual"
with actress Masha Sapron
Other performers included Josephine Dorado & Gabe McKinley.
Curated by Minna Packer.

Dixon Place

309 East 26th Street (between First and Second Ave.)
February 7, 2001
Open Performance Night (non-invitational)
Read "Robert Fripp Told Us Not To" (a short story)

"2xTXC" -- Major Spring 2001 production

Russell Dobular, artistic director of the Horse Trade Theater group, suggested a revival of "Can't Get Started" from Fall 2000. He requested that I also alternate it with performances of "The Negative Energy Field" to present two shows in repertory.  This version of the NEF was similar to the 1999 HERE version.  I had retired it after the 1999 Fringe Festival, but there it was again, black cloth and all.

Two plays by Tom X. Chao, alternating Saturdays
"The Negative Energy Field"--Saturday, Jan. 27, and Feb. 10 & 24, extended to March 10, 10:30 PM
"Can't Get Started"--Saturday, Feb. 3 & 17, and March 3, extended to March 17*, 10:30 PM
CGS also extended to April 10 & 24, Tuesdays, 8 PM
St Marks Theater
94 St. Marks Place (between 1st Ave & Ave A)

Featuring Masha Sapron as "The Woman In A White Dress" in The Negative Energy Field
and Eve Kerrigan as "Sarah, the actress" in Can't Get Started

Crew:
Seth Madej, Dramaturge and Technical Director
Henry Bial, Dramaturge and Lighting Designer
Megan Martin, Light Board Operator

Publicity: Scott Stiffler
Postcard illustration: Jeff Wong

See the postcard by Jeff Wong.

See photo gallery. [UNDER CONSTRUCTION]

*post-show party took place in the theater, St. Pat's Day.


Asian-American Spotlight (Television)

Televised interview with Tom X. Chao
Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Channel 34, Time Warner Cable
Tuesday April 10 12:00 noon and Friday April 13 10:00 am
A full half-hour episode was devoted to an interview with Tom conducted by Ed Leung.
(The show aired again on May 15 without Tom's prior knowledge.)

The Shark Show

The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard St .
Tuesday, April 17, 9 pm
Performed "Let's Rob A Store Together," "Another Manifesto," and "Non-Violent Conflict Resolution Training Workshop."
Inaugural show produced by Gabe McKinley, Nick Stevens and their posse.

Carmen Mofongo's Rock and Roll Fantasies

Surf Reality, 172 Allen Street
Saturday, April 21, 10 pm
A variety show hosted by Carmen Mofongo (Michele Carlo)
Performed "Lower Your Standards" and "Culture Jamming!" songs (first ever performance out of theatrical context).

The Shark Show

The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard St .
Thursday, May 17th @ 9PM
Performed "She Should Have Signed Up For Matchmaker.com"
with actress Valerie Clift

Radio Noggin - "The Radio Noggin Summer!" (Online)

Online radio program (RealAudio format)
Debuted June 20 (Ongoing, Summer 2001)
Tom appeared as "Phil, The Talking Fish" in the segment "Phone Hog" (Weird Pet Sounds).
Produced, written, & directed by Seth Madej.
A production of Nickelodeon (Viacom) and Sesame Workshop.

Also appeared in the July  25 show, as the internal monologue voice of Darby.

The Shark Show

Tuesday, June 26 @ 9 PM
The Slipper Room
167 Orchard Street, corner of Stanton & Orchard
Performed "Cannot Be Denied" and "Now" songs (first public performance).

Modern Humorist presents "The Great Bezos Barbecue Bash"

Monday, July 16, noon
B Bar & Grill, aka Bowery Bar
40 E 4th St. (at The Bowery)
An event created by Modern Humorist sponsored by Amazon.com
(Private party--not open to the public)
Tom participated in "Make Jeff Bezos Laugh"
Performed "Non-Violent Conflict Resolution Training Workshop."

The Shark Show

Tuesday, July 31, 9 pm
The Slipper Room
167 Orchard Street
Special "Halloween" theme show
Performed the 2001 version of "How to Invoke Pan," co-authored with Craig Heimbichner

"Hero Worship" - a benefit for the Widows and Orphans Fund of the NYPD and FDNY

Produced by DANSE MACABRE/HORSE TRADE/MOUNTEBANKS
Tuesday, October 2, 8 pm - midnight
The Red Room (other venues included The Kraine and St. Marks Theater)
84 E. 4th St., Third Floor
Tom participated in "Trav S. D. Presents the Lower East Side All-Stars' Old-Timey Vaudeville Benefit and Tribute"
hosted by Trav S. D.  "With dozens of NY Independent Theater Superstars!"
Performed the song "Now" around 11:30 pm.  (A microphone was supposed to have been provided, but wasn't.)
Other performers included David Jenness and Faith Pilger, among dozens of others.

"Tom Chao's Sketch Comedy Troupe" - see a photo here

A massive undertaking with a huge cast and a mind-boggling MUSICAL finale.  Please join us as we address the problem of unfunny comedy groups.

Featuring THE ANGRY FUCKERS: Ms. V CLIFT, Mr. J HARLACHER, Ms. S HARRIS, Ms. D KEHOE, Ms. J LUSK, Ms. H MASON, Mr. M URDANETA , & Ms. V WEISS

DUMBO* Art Under the Bridge Festival
October 20-21, 2001
Saturday and Sunday, 4 pm
DUMBO Theater Exchange, 20 Jay St. (Plymouth/John), Brooklyn, New York
F to York Street (first Brooklyn stop)
Admission FREE!
See the official site: http://www.dumboartscenter.org/ for directions and a map
*DUMBO = "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass" district
An encore performance of Tom Chao's Sketch Comedy Troupe:
The Cornelia St. Café (West Village)
29 Cornelia Street, NYC 10014
Tuesday, Nov. 6, 6:30 pm (special early starting time)
$10 + one drink minimum
See http://www.corneliastreetcafe.com/ for directions and a map
Also appearing: Carolina Mancuso

A truncated version was performed at The Shark Show at The Slipper Room
Wednesday, November 14.
167 Orchard Street @ Stanton (Lower East Side)

The Carmen Mofongo Show

Tom joins that irrepressible host, Carmen Mofongo, in an evening of comedy.
November 17 - "See Me, Eat Me" [Tom performed "She Should Have Signed Up For Matchmaker.com" with Jessica Lusk.]
December 15 - "Carmen Mofongo's Coquito Christmas 2001" [Tom read "Faintly Acknowledging The Holidays."]
Saturdays, 10 pm
Surf Reality | $10 | See her official site here.

"The Scientists" - a live performance of a radio play - major Fall 2001 production - see photos here

A science-fiction comedy--not a celebration of Tom's personal failures!
Featuring Tom X. Chao, Susanna Harris, Mike Urdaneta , Vivien Weiss, & Mark McClain Wilson
Surf Reality
172 Allen Street, 2nd floor (1/2 block below Stanton)
November 20, 27, December 4, 11
Tuesdays, 8 pm
$10 • Reservations (212) 673-4182
Radio comedy inspired by The Firesign Theatre.

See postcard illustration by Jeff Wong.

Hear an radio interview with Tom Chao and Mike Urdaneta on WBAI-FM.

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