The Relationship Expert Workshops - December 2002

Two staged readings of Tom X. Chao's new musical, The Relationship Expert, were held on Dec. 3 and 9, 2002, at the St. Marks Theater in the East Village.   Audience feedback sessions were held after both readings.  Complimentary beverages (including a whole box of wine) were provided to the audience members.  During the heated debate, a fight nearly broke out in the audience during the audience feedback session after the Dec. 3 reading.

 Press release description: "Downtown veteran Tom X. Chao returns with his most ambitious project yet; a musical in which the titular character tries to help Tom find a relationship with a real live human female! The score features stick-in-your-head songs about human degradation, unendurable loneliness, and brief anonymous sexual encounters."
Featuring:
Ali Skye BENNET portrayed "The Assistant Director"
Abigail KATZ portrayed "Rachel Haimowitz"
Tom X. CHAO portrayed "Tom X. Chao"
and Peter BLOMQUIST is The Relationship Expert
(also featuring Mike Urdaneta as The Guy Who Reads The Stage Directions)

 A co-production of The Horse Trade Theater Group.

SORRY!  Pictures have been removed temporarily while a new home is found for them. 

 
  
The cast concludes singing "The Relationship Expert," the titular character's introductory song.  L to R: (seated) CHORUS MEMBER (Ali Skye Bennet), THE RELATIONSHIP EXPERT (Peter Blomquist), ANOTHER CHORUS MEMBER (Abigail Katz).  TOM X. CHAO (Tom X. Chao) kneels behind them on the rehearsal block.
 RACHEL HAIMOWITZ (Abilgail Katz) stands on the pedestal while TOM X. CHAO (right) and THE RELATIONSHIP EXPERT (Peter Blomquist, center) discuss how to properly worship her, the great object of their desire.  The Stage Directions Reader (Mike Urdaneta) and THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (Ali Skye Bennet) are seated at left.
 
  
During the finale (L to R, standing), THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (Ali Skye Bennet), THE RELATIONSHIP EXPERT (Peter Blomquist), and RACHEL HAIMOWITZ (Abilgail Katz) sing "This Song Sounds Familiar" to TOM (seated).  It is a song of angry invective against Tom.
 At the conclusion of the wildly impassioned "This Song Sounds Familiar," TOM leaps to his feet to sing the final lines: "This song sounds familiar/it was no surprise/that every dream I had/I  . . . failed . . . to . . . re-a-lize!"  THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (Ali Skye Bennet) accompanies at left.
 
  
The cast and crew of the December 9, 2002 workshop.  Clockwise from left: Ali Skye Bennet, Tom X. Chao, Peter Blomquist, Pat Greco (Sound and Lighting Board Operator), Mike Urdaneta (Stage Directions Reader), Abigail Katz.
 The cast and audience members enjoy complimentary beverages while discussing the many complexities of "The Relationship Expert."  Tom pretends to take notes at right.

Photos by Tim Nafus
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