Katrina, Karma, New Bradbeer, New Marco

DrillingNotes for September

First and foremost. I know you're hearing about this stuff from all sides
but we're a bridge for information so here you are:
TDC actress Jane Ray, has e-mailed us about an important opportunty to volunteer
to help Katrina victims find homes. It was a much longer e-mail that I can condense into a few vital words:
Help is still desperately needed. Your time can make a difference, even a little bit of it.
Check out the website and find a place where you can pitch in
www.KatrinaHomeDrive.Org
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Thanks for all the replies to our recent kudos received at the
New York Inovative Theatre Awards. Great mark for
everybody - let's hope they continue. If their first
awards were a sign of what's to come, very classy and well -done.
A real showcase for independent theatre producers throughout Manhattan
(*Note - Kirkwood Bromley of Inverse Theatre Company suggested
'off-off-Broadway' be replaced by 'independent' - he noted that indie films
don't call thmeselves 'off-off--hollywood')

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Suzanne Bradbeer has a new show going up
down at the Sanford Meisner featuring frequent
TDC actor, Andrew Lawton. Wonderful play -
catch it if you can. It won't be fif teen bucks to
see her new plays for much longer.

Set in Hell’s Kitchen, the play follows 22 years (1919-1941) of one family’s journey through war and peace, adolescence and adulthood, from the refuge of the city below which is “The Roof”.Running until October 1st, "The Roof" performs
Wed through Sat @8pm with matinees on Saturday at 2pm and
Sunday at 3pm.
Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by calling 212-592-3855.
Directed by Maggie Low and written by Suzanne Bradbeer, the play performs at
The Sanford Meisner Theatre, 164 11th Ave @22nd St.

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We've got another DrillingCompaNY-WORKOUT on October 1 from 1 to 4.
It's a suggested $5 donation for an afternoon of getting creative enrgy
in shape. Open to all theatricians - (actor/ writer/ director/designers,/musician)
led by Tom Demenkoff who's coming down from Cornell.
The Workout will be featured up at Cornell University this fall.
There are limited slots so be sure to RSVP to this e-mail if
you think you might join us!

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The Karma Cookie by P. Seth Bauer
is a new play we have workshopped
with 78th Street Theatre Lab.

Originally a short play for PAPER, it's now a full length
comedy of two cockney blokes searching for
the meaning of life. We've been working on the play for the last month
and will present it drom September 29-October 8 -
Thursday - Saturday at 8 pm.

212-414-7717 for Res
$10

directed by Eric Nightengale
featuring Phillip Douglas and Hamilton Clancy
with design by Kaylenne Koval-Bauer
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Photographer/sometimes TDC actor Fred Marco is offering a 10%
off deal to all TDC folks (that means you if
you're getting this e-mail).

Here's his new website:
http://www.fredmarcophotography.com/

A wonderful artist.

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REVENGE part 2 is coming in December 3-18
with new plays from P. Seth Bauer, Molly Rice, Kate McCamey, Sheri Graubert,
Nicholas Gray, Katherine Clark-Gray featuring the direction of Richard Harden, Nancy Chu,
Kate Moloy, Hamilton Clancy and more....
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Driller Evander Duck is appearing in a new play the Karen just
got a chance to see. She described it as outstanding
and thought we should let everyone we know hear about it!

FIFTY YEARS AFTER THE MURDER OF EMMETT TILL--TURTLE SHELL PRODUCTIONS HONORS HIS STORY BLUES FOR MISTER CHARLIE by James Baldwin Fifty years ago, the lynching of Emmett Till, a fourteen-year-old black child whose butchers walked free, opened the door to the Civil Rights Movement and justice for a persecuted population. As a tribute to the bravery of this child and his defenders, TURTLE SHELL PRODUCTIONS and its award winning team is proud to present a play inspired by and loosely based on this event which sought to give voice to Till and the many others whose voices were silenced and ignored by racism. It is as moving in 2005 as when it was first published in 1964. Blues for Mister Charlie, with its critique of social injustice and powerful depiction of how deeply the wounds of racism run, continues to speak to audiences. Produced by John W. Cooper
Directed by Brad Malow Set Design by Gino Ng Costumes by Meredith Neal
Lighting by Lance Darcy Musical Supervisor Gary Samuels
Guitarist Daniel Leanse
Cast: Marcia Berry, Michael Carlsen, Frances Chewning*, Brian Cooper*, Evander Duck, Jr.*, Mika Duncan*, Jason Drumwright, Mark Hairston, Zoey Martinson, Nia McGovern, Madalyn McKay, Matthew S. Morgan*, Bristol Pomeroy, W.D. Richardson, Jessica Taylor, Lloyd Watts, Page Hearn, Kamahl Palmer, and Justin Stevens. *Denotes AEA Members **Asst Director: Courtney Wagner, Asst. costume design: Megan Asbee
Production Asst.: Ephraim Abdelhak & Brenda Bell, Dramaturgy: Cassie Farrelly

Venue: Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre - 5 W. 63rd Street
(Entrance on 64th)
Dates: last performances this weekend
Friday, September 23....8PM
*Saturday, September ...24....8PM
*Saturday, September 24....2PM MATINEES as well
Sunday, September 25 .....7PM
Closing: Monday, September 26....7PM
Tickets $15, Students $12, Groups of 10 or more $10
Ticket info: www.smartTix.com or 212-868-4444
Proceeds from September 20th performance will be donated to The Emmett Till Scholarship Foundation

More HONOR for HONOR

Last night at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in Greenwich Village TheDrillingCompany was 'honored' to have five nominations for the New York Innovative Theatre Awards. Fittingly three were in the same category - writers - for best original short script!

TheDrillingCompany artists received awards in two of the three categories in which they were nominated..

For Best Original Short Script, the nominees included:

Renee Flemings for LEGEND in Honor pt. 2
Edward Manning for TITUS LUCRTIUS CARUS in Honor Pt. 2
and P.Seth Bauer for FIRST TIME OUT OF BOUNDS in Honor pt 2

and P.Seth Bauer won the NY innovative Theatre Award for Best Original Short Script! His play will be published as part of the award.

Also

Michael Gnat was nominated for his performance in TITUS LUCRETIUS CARUS for Best Featured Actor and Maria McConville was nominated for Best Actress in a play for her role in FIRST TIME OUT OF BOUNDS .

Maria won the NY Innovative Theatre Award award for best performance by an actress!
The award was presented to MAria by the incomparabel Marian Seldes. What an honor!

TDC was proud to be so strongly represented. We send a congratulations to all of last night's nominees and winners and to all of the artists who made HONOR part 2 such a wonderful evening last fall.

Still An Emergency!!!

An Urgent Letter of Hope and Desperation
by Michael Moore

Friends,
Last week I closed my New York production office and sent my staff down to New Orleans to set up our own relief effort. I asked all of you to help me by sending food, materials and cash to the emergency relief center we helped set up on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain with the Veterans for Peace. We did this when the government was doing nothing and the Red Cross was still trying to get it together. Every day, every minute was critical. People were dying, poor people, black people, left like so much trash in the street. I wanted to find a way to get aid in there immediately.
I hooked up with the Vietnam veterans and Iraqi war vets (Veterans for Peace) who were organizing a guerilla, grass-roots relief effort. They were the same group that had set up Cindy Sheehan's camp in Crawford and now they had moved Camp Casey to Louisiana.
I have good news and horrible news to report. First, your response to my appeal letter was overwhelming. Within a few days, a half-million dollars was sent in through my website to fund our relief effort. This money was immediately used to buy generators, food, water, a mobile medical van, tents, satellite phones, etc.
Others of you began shipping supplies to our encampment. People in communities all over the country started organizing truck caravans to us in Louisiana. Twenty-two trucks from southern California alone have already arrived. A semi-truck from Chicago delivered ten tons of food. A group of friends in New Jersey got two 24 foot trucks, got their community to load them up with goods, and arrived in Covington tonight. Fifteen iMacs are inbound from California. One man gave us his pick-up truck and another donated truck is en route from Houston.
Your response to my appeal has been nothing short of miraculous. And it has saved many, many lives.
A number of you decided to just get in your cars and drive to our camp to volunteer to help. We now have had 150 volunteers here doing the work that needs to be done. Last night they unloaded twenty tons of food from a tractor trailer in under two hours. Each day more volunteers arrive. Everyone is sleeping on the ground or in tents. It is a remarkable sight. Thank you, all of you, for responding. I will never forget this outpouring of generosity to those forgotten by our own government.
My staff and the vets spend their 18-hour days delivering food and water throughout the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. What they have seen is appalling. I have asked them to post their daily diaries on my website (www.michaelmoore.com) along with accompanying photos and video so you can learn what is really going on. What the media is showing you is NOT the whole story. It is much, much worse and there is still little being done to bring help to those who need it.
Our group has visited many outlying towns and villages in Mississippi and Louisiana, places the Red Cross and FEMA haven't visited in over a week. Often our volunteers are the first relief any of these people have seen. They have no food, water or electricity. People die every day. There are no TV cameras recording this. They have started to report the spin and PR put out by the White House, the happy news that often isn't true ("Everyone gets 2,000 dollars!").
The truth is that there are dead bodies everywhere and no one is picking them up. My crew reports that in most areas there is no FEMA presence, and very little Red Cross. It's been over two weeks since the hurricane and there is simply not much being done. At this point, would you call this situation incompetence or a purposeful refusal to get real help down there?
That's why we decided not to wait. And we are so grateful to all of you who have joined us. The Veterans for Peace and my staff aren't leaving (and that's why we are hoping those of you who can't get to Covington will make it to the Veterans for Peace co-sponsored anti-war demonstration in DC on September 24: www.unitedforpeace.org.)
If you want to help, here's what we need in Covington right now:
Cleaning Supplies (glass cleaner, bleach, disinfectant, etc.)Aspirin and other basic over the counter drugs.Bottled WaterCanned GoodsHygiene SuppliesBaby Supplies - Baby Food Formula, diapers #4, #5, Wipes, PedialyteSterile GlovesBatteries - All kinds, from AA to watch and hearing aid batteries.Volunteers with trucks and carsSelf contained kitchens with generators, utensils, workers
Consider sending supplies in reusable containers. List the contents on the outside of the package so the folks in the warehouse can easily sort the items.
Clothes are not needed. If you go, keep in mind that you MUST be self-sufficient. Bring a tent and a sleeping bag. People are driving to Covington from across the country and often have extra room in their cars for you or for an extra box of supplies. For more information, go to the Veterans for Peace message board: www.vfproadtrips.org/katrina/.
Send supplies via UPS to:Veterans for PeaceOmni Storage74145 Hwy. 25Covington LA
Thanks again for funding and supporting our relief efforts. It has been a bright spot in this otherwise shameful month.
Yours,Michael Mooremike@michaelmoore.comwww.michaelmoore.com

Still An Emergency!!!

An Urgent Letter of Hope and Desperation
by Michael Moore

Friends,
Last week I closed my New York production office and sent my staff down to New Orleans to set up our own relief effort. I asked all of you to help me by sending food, materials and cash to the emergency relief center we helped set up on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain with the Veterans for Peace. We did this when the government was doing nothing and the Red Cross was still trying to get it together. Every day, every minute was critical. People were dying, poor people, black people, left like so much trash in the street. I wanted to find a way to get aid in there immediately.
I hooked up with the Vietnam veterans and Iraqi war vets (Veterans for Peace) who were organizing a guerilla, grass-roots relief effort. They were the same group that had set up Cindy Sheehan's camp in Crawford and now they had moved Camp Casey to Louisiana.
I have good news and horrible news to report. First, your response to my appeal letter was overwhelming. Within a few days, a half-million dollars was sent in through my website to fund our relief effort. This money was immediately used to buy generators, food, water, a mobile medical van, tents, satellite phones, etc.
Others of you began shipping supplies to our encampment. People in communities all over the country started organizing truck caravans to us in Louisiana. Twenty-two trucks from southern California alone have already arrived. A semi-truck from Chicago delivered ten tons of food. A group of friends in New Jersey got two 24 foot trucks, got their community to load them up with goods, and arrived in Covington tonight. Fifteen iMacs are inbound from California. One man gave us his pick-up truck and another donated truck is en route from Houston.
Your response to my appeal has been nothing short of miraculous. And it has saved many, many lives.
A number of you decided to just get in your cars and drive to our camp to volunteer to help. We now have had 150 volunteers here doing the work that needs to be done. Last night they unloaded twenty tons of food from a tractor trailer in under two hours. Each day more volunteers arrive. Everyone is sleeping on the ground or in tents. It is a remarkable sight. Thank you, all of you, for responding. I will never forget this outpouring of generosity to those forgotten by our own government.
My staff and the vets spend their 18-hour days delivering food and water throughout the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. What they have seen is appalling. I have asked them to post their daily diaries on my website (www.michaelmoore.com) along with accompanying photos and video so you can learn what is really going on. What the media is showing you is NOT the whole story. It is much, much worse and there is still little being done to bring help to those who need it.
Our group has visited many outlying towns and villages in Mississippi and Louisiana, places the Red Cross and FEMA haven't visited in over a week. Often our volunteers are the first relief any of these people have seen. They have no food, water or electricity. People die every day. There are no TV cameras recording this. They have started to report the spin and PR put out by the White House, the happy news that often isn't true ("Everyone gets 2,000 dollars!").
The truth is that there are dead bodies everywhere and no one is picking them up. My crew reports that in most areas there is no FEMA presence, and very little Red Cross. It's been over two weeks since the hurricane and there is simply not much being done. At this point, would you call this situation incompetence or a purposeful refusal to get real help down there?
That's why we decided not to wait. And we are so grateful to all of you who have joined us. The Veterans for Peace and my staff aren't leaving (and that's why we are hoping those of you who can't get to Covington will make it to the Veterans for Peace co-sponsored anti-war demonstration in DC on September 24: www.unitedforpeace.org.)
If you want to help, here's what we need in Covington right now:
Cleaning Supplies (glass cleaner, bleach, disinfectant, etc.)Aspirin and other basic over the counter drugs.Bottled WaterCanned GoodsHygiene SuppliesBaby Supplies - Baby Food Formula, diapers #4, #5, Wipes, PedialyteSterile GlovesBatteries - All kinds, from AA to watch and hearing aid batteries.Volunteers with trucks and carsSelf contained kitchens with generators, utensils, workers
Consider sending supplies in reusable containers. List the contents on the outside of the package so the folks in the warehouse can easily sort the items.
Clothes are not needed. If you go, keep in mind that you MUST be self-sufficient. Bring a tent and a sleeping bag. People are driving to Covington from across the country and often have extra room in their cars for you or for an extra box of supplies. For more information, go to the Veterans for Peace message board: www.vfproadtrips.org/katrina/.
Send supplies via UPS to:Veterans for PeaceOmni Storage74145 Hwy. 25Covington LA
Thanks again for funding and supporting our relief efforts. It has been a bright spot in this otherwise shameful month.
Yours,Michael Mooremike@michaelmoore.comwww.michaelmoore.com

Two Paramedics First -Hand Account

>Hurricane Katrina-Our Experiences
by Larry Bradshaw, Lorrie Beth Slonsky

Two days after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, the Walgreen's store at the corner of Royal and Iberville streets remained locked. The dairy display case was clearly visible through the widows. It was now 48 hours without electricity, running water, plumbing. The milk, yogurt, and cheeses were beginning to spoil in the 90-degree heat. The owners and managers had locked up the food, water, pampers, and prescriptions and fled the City. Outside Walgreen's windows, residents and tourists> grew increasingly> >thirsty and hungry.

The much-promised federal, state and local aid never materialized and the windows at Walgreen's gave way to the looters. There was an alternative. The cops could have broken one small window and distributed the nuts, fruit juices, and bottle water in an organized and systematic manner. But they did not. Instead they spent hours playing cat and mouse, temporarily chasing away the looters.

We were finally airlifted out of New Orleans two days ago and arrived home yesterday (Saturday). We have yet to see any of the TV coverage or look at a newspaper. We are willing to guess that there were no video images or front-page pictures of European or affluent white tourists looting the Walgreen's in the French Quarter. We also suspect the media will have been inundated with "hero" images of the National Guard, the troops and the police struggling to help the "victims" of the Hurricane. What you will not see, but what we witnessed, were the real heroes and sheroes of the hurricane relief effort: the working class of New Orleans. The maintenance workers who used a fork lift to carry the sick and disabled. The engineers, who rigged, nurtured and kept the generators running. The electricians who improvised thick extension cords stretching over blocks to share the little electricity we had in order to free cars stuck on rooftop parking lots. Nurses who took over for mechanical ventilators and spent many hours on end manually forcing air into the lungs of unconscious patients> to keep them alive.> >Doormen who rescued folks stuck in elevators.> Refinery workers who broke> >into boat yards, "stealing" boats to rescue their> neighbors clinging to> >their roofs in flood waters. Mechanics who helped> hot-wire any car that> >could be found to ferry people out of the City. And> the food service> >workers who scoured the commercial kitchens> improvising communal meals for> >hundreds of those stranded.

Most of these workers had lost their homes, and had> not heard from members> >of their families, yet they stayed and provided the> only infrastructure for> >the 20% of New Orleans that was not under water.> >> >

On Day 2, there were approximately 500 of us left> in the hotels in the> >French Quarter. We were a mix of foreign tourists,> conference attendees> >like ourselves, and locals who had checked into> hotels for safety and> >shelter from Katrina. Some of us had cell phone> contact with family and> >friends outside of New Orleans. We were repeatedly> told that all sorts of> >resources including the National Guard and scores> of buses were pouring in> >to the City. The buses and the other resources must> have been invisible> >because none of us had seen them. We decided we had to save ourselves. So we pooled> our money and came up> >with $25,000 to have ten buses come and take us out of the City. Those who did not have the requisite $45.00 for a ticket were subsidized by those who did have extra money. We waited for 48 hours for the buses, spending the> last 12 hours standing outside, sharing the limited> water, food, and clothes we had. We created a priority boarding area for the sick, elderlyand new born babies. We waited late into the night> for the "imminent" arrival of the buses. The buses never arrived. We later learned that the minute the arrived to the City limits, they were commandeered by the military.

By day 4 our hotels had run out of fuel and water.> Sanitation was> >dangerously abysmal. As the desperation and despair> increased, street crime> >as well as water levels began to rise. The hotels> turned us out and locked> >their doors, telling us that the "officials" told> us to report to the> >convention center to wait for more buses. As we> entered the center of the> >City, we finally encountered the National Guard.> The Guards told us we> >would not be allowed into the Superdome as the> City's primary shelter had> >descended into a humanitarian and health hellhole.> The guards further told> >us that the City's only other shelter, the> Convention Center, was also> >descending into chaos and squalor and that the> police were not allowing> >anyone else in. Quite naturally, we asked, "If we> can't go to the only 2> >shelters in the City, what was our alternative?"> The guards told us that> >that was our problem, and no they did not have> extra water to give to us.> >This would be the start of our numerous encounters> with callous and hostile> >"law enforcement".> >> >

We walked to the police command center at Harrah's> on Canal Street and> >were told the same thing, that we were on our own,> and no they did not have> >water to give us. We now numbered several hundred.> We held a mass meeting> >to decide a course of action. We agreed to camp> outside the police command> >post. We would be plainly visible to the media and> would constitute a> >highly visible embarrassment to the City officials.> The police told us that> >we could not stay. Regardless, we began to settle> in and set up camp. In> >short order, the police commander came across the> street to address our> >group. He told us he had a solution: we should walk> to the Pontchartrain> >Expressway and cross the greater New Orleans Bridge> where the police had> >buses lined up to take us out of the City. The> crowed cheered and began to> >move. We called everyone back and explained to the> commander that there had> >been lots of misinformation and wrong information> and was he sure that> >there were buses waiting for us. The commander> turned to the crowd and> >stated emphatically, "I swear to you that the buses> are there."> >> >We organized ourselves and the 200 of us set off> for the bridge with great> >excitement and hope. As we marched pasted the> convention center, many> >locals saw our determined and optimistic group and> asked where we were> >headed. We told them about the great news. Families> immediately grabbed> >their few belongings and quickly our numbers> doubled and then doubled> >again. Babies in strollers now joined us, people> using crutches, elderly> >clasping walkers and others people in wheelchairs.> We marched the 2-3 miles> >to the freeway and up the steep incline to the> Bridge. It now began to pour> >down rain, but it did not dampen our enthusiasm.> >> >

As we approached the bridge, armed Gretna sheriffs> formed a line across> >the foot of the bridge. Before we were close enough> to speak, they began> >firing their weapons over our heads. This sent the> crowd fleeing in> >various directions. As the crowd scattered and> dissipated, a few of us> >inched forward and managed to engage some of the> sheriffs in conversation.> >We told them of our conversation with the police> commander and of the> >commander's assurances. The sheriffs informed us> there were no buses> >waiting. The commander had lied to us to get us to> move.> >> >We questioned why we couldn't cross the bridge> anyway, especially as there> >was little traffic on the 6-lane highway. They> responded that the West Bank> >was not going to become New Orleans and there would> be no Superdomes in> >their City. These were code words for if you are> poor and black, you are> >not crossing the Mississippi River and you were not> getting out of New> >Orleans.> >> >Our small group retreated back down Highway 90 to> seek shelter from the> >rain under an overpass. We debated our options and> in the end decided to> >build an encampment in the middle of the> Ponchartrain Expressway on the> >center divide, between the O'Keefe and> Tchoupitoulas exits. We reasoned we> >would be visible to everyone, we would have some> security being on an> >elevated freeway and we could wait and watch for> the arrival of the yet to> >be seen buses.> >> >All day long, we saw other families, individuals> and groups make the same> >trip up the incline in an attempt to cross the> bridge, only to be turned> >away. Some chased away with gunfire, others simply> told no, others to be> >verbally berated and humiliated. Thousands of New> Orleaners were prevented> >and prohibited from self-evacuating the City on> foot. Meanwhile, the only> >two City shelters sank further into squalor and> disrepair. The only way> >across the bridge was by vehicle. We saw workers> stealing trucks, buses,> >moving vans, semi-trucks and any car that could be> hotwired. All were> >packed with people trying to escape the misery New> Orleans had become.> >> >Our little encampment began to blossom. Someone> stole a water delivery> >truck and brought it up to us. Let's hear it for> looting! A mile or so down> >the freeway, an army truck lost a couple of pallets> of C-rations on a tight> >turn. We ferried the food back to our camp in> shopping carts. Now secure> >with the two necessities, food and water;> cooperation, community, and> >creativity flowered. We organized a clean up and> hung garbage bags from the> >rebar poles. We made beds from wood pallets and> cardboard. We designated a> >storm drain as the bathroom and the kids built an> elaborate enclosure for> >privacy out of plastic, broken umbrellas, and other> scraps. We even> >organized a food recycling system where individuals> could swap out parts of> >C-rations (applesauce for babies and candies for> kids!).> >> >This was a process we saw repeatedly in the> aftermath of Katrina. When> >individuals had to fight to find food or water, it> meant looking out for> >yourself only. You had to do whatever it took to> find water for your kids> >or food for your parents. When these basic needs> were met, people began to> >look out for each other, working together and> constructing a community.> >> >If the relief organizations had saturated the City> with food and water in> >the first 2 or 3 days, the desperation, the> frustration and the ugliness> >would not have set in.> >> >Flush with the necessities, we offered food and> water to passing families> >and individuals. Many decided to stay and join us.> Our encampment grew to> >80 or 90 people.> >> >From a woman with a battery powered radio we> learned that the media was> >talking about us. Up in full view on the freeway,> every relief and news> >organizations saw us on their way into the City.> Officials were being asked> >what they were going to do about all those families> living up on the> >freeway? The officials responded they were going to> take care of us. Some> >of us got a sinking feeling. "Taking care of us"> had an ominous tone to it.> >> >Unfortunately, our sinking feeling (along with the> sinking City) was> >correct. Just as dusk set in, a Gretna Sheriff> showed up, jumped out of his> >patrol vehicle, aimed his gun at our faces,> screaming, "Get off the fucking> >freeway". A helicopter arrived and used the wind> from its blades to blow> >away our flimsy structures. As we retreated, the> sheriff loaded up his> >truck with our food and water.> >> >Once again, at gunpoint, we were forced off the> freeway. All the law> >enforcement agencies appeared threatened when we> congregated or congealed> >into groups of 20 or more. In every congregation of> "victims" they saw> >"mob" or "riot". We felt safety in numbers. Our "we> must stay together" was> >impossible because the agencies would force us into> small atomized groups.> >> >In the pandemonium of having our camp raided and> destroyed, we scattered> >once again. Reduced to a small group of 8 people,> in the dark, we sought> >refuge in an abandoned school bus, under the> freeway on Cilo Street. We> >were hiding from possible criminal elements but> equally and definitely, we> >were hiding from the police and sheriffs with their> martial law, curfew and> >shoot-to-kill policies.> >> >The next days, our group of 8 walked most of the> day, made contact with> >New Orleans Fire Department and were eventually> airlifted out by an urban> >search and rescue team. We were dropped off near> the airport and managed to> >catch a ride with the National Guard. The two young> guardsmen apologized> >for the limited response of the Louisiana guards.> They explained that a> >large section of their unit was in Iraq and that> meant they were> >shorthanded and were unable to complete all the> tasks they were assigned.> >> >We arrived at the airport on the day a massive> airlift had begun. The> >airport had become another Superdome. We 8 were> caught in a press of> >humanity as flights were delayed for several hours> while George Bush landed> >briefly at the airport for a photo op. After being> evacuated on a coast> >guard cargo plane, we arrived in San Antonio,> Texas.> >> >There the humiliation and dehumanization of the> official relief effort> >continued. We were placed on buses and driven to a> large field where we> >were forced to sit for hours and hours. Some of the> buses did not have> >air-conditioners. In the dark, hundreds if us were> forced to share two> >filthy overflowing porta-potties. Those who managed> to make it out with any> >possessions (often a few belongings in tattered> plastic bags) we were> >subjected to two different dog-sniffing searches.> >> >Most of us had not eaten all day because our> C-rations had been> >confiscated at the airport because the rations set> off the metal detectors.> >Yet, no food had been provided to the men, women,> children, elderly,> >disabled as they sat for hours waiting to be> "medically screened" to make> >sure we were not carrying any communicable> diseases.> >> >This official treatment was in sharp contrast to> the warm, heart-felt> >reception given to us by the ordinary Texans. We> saw one airline worker> >give her shoes to someone who was barefoot.> Strangers on the street offered> >us money and toiletries with words of welcome.> Throughout, the official> >relief effort was callous, inept, and racist. There> was more suffering than> >need be. Lives were lost that did not need to be> lost.> >> >LARRY BRADSHAW, chief steward of the Paramedic> Chapter of SEIU Local 790> >in the Bay Area, and LORRIE BETH SLONSKY, a member> of the same chapter and> >editor of the Gurney Gazette. If you google> "paramedic conference new> >orleans" you'll get lots of stories about> paramedics from all over the> >country stranded in N.O. after the hurricane hit.

The Karma Cookie is on its Way

Press Contact: Billie Davis / 212-414-7717/ drillingcompany@aol.com

78th Street Theatre Lab and TheDrillingCompaNY
present a workshop of P. Seth Bauer's
The Karma Cookie

Is that fortune cookie a message? Does the Dalai Lama know why the chicken crossed the road? Two brothers attempt to follow the 'laws of the universe' in P.Seth Bauer's charming new absurdist comedy, THE KARMA COOKIE . Directed by Eric Nightengale and co-produced by 78th Street Theatre Lab and TheDrillingCompaNY at 78th Street Theatre Lab , where the play will be workshopped
September 29th-October 8th.

Originally a short play penned for TheDrillingCompaNY's PAPER project, the play follows the exploits of Alistair and Barry. Their hilarious romp leads them from crypts in Westminister Abbey across the world through the maternity ward and back out again and their guides include a yellow kite and a choo-choo train. The workshop brings together two award winning companies that have been long associates, TheDrillingCompaNY, known best for its unique themed projects and 78th Street Theatre Lab, known for its history of developing new work and consistently recognized for excellence in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival .

Playwright P.Seth Bauer is nominated this year for New York Innovative Theatre's Outstanding Original Short Play for FIRST TIME OUT OF BOUNDS which was first penned for TheDrillingCompaNY's HONOR. In addition to THE KARMA COOKIE, Bauer's work includes IPHIGENIA, THE BURGLAR OF SUBURBIA, EARLY IN THE MOURNING and THE TIP . He is well known as a frequent contributor to the A Train Plays In New York his work has been presented by The New Group, Epic Theatre Center, The Lark, WorkShop Theatre Company, and Hypothetical Theatre among many others..

Director Eric Nightengale has been recognized with Edinburgh's Fringe First Award on several occasions (THE MAN IN THE FLYING LAWN CHAIR, David Mamet's THE WATER ENGINE, Paul Almman's WHAT IS THE FREQUENCY). The workshop features Hamilton Clancy, founder and artistic director of TheDrillingCompaNY and Phillip Douglas, an original DrillingCompaNY member.
Clancy has originated work by such notable authors as Will Eno, Brian Dykstra, and most recently, Neil Olson. . Phillip Douglas originated the role of Barry and has appeared in new work throughout the regions and NY, notably featured in both THE WATER ENGINE and WHAT IS THE FREQUENCY with Nightengale and 78th Street at the Edinburgh Fringe.
THE KARMA COOKIE will be workshopped at the 78th Street Theatre Lab, located at 236 West 78th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam) from September 29th through October 8th. Show times are Thursday-Saturday at 8pm. Tickets: $10.00. Reservations: 212-414-7717..




WHAT:
The Karma Cookie
By P.Seth Bauer
Directed by Eric Nightengale
Produced by 78th Street Theatre Lab and The DrillingCompaNY

SYNOPSIS:
Two working class British brothers go on a comic search for meaning
and destiny, following signs from a fortune cookie to a yellow kite.
85 minutes.

DIRECTOR:
Eric Nightengale

CAST:
Hamilton Clancy and Phillip Douglas


WHERE:
78th Street Theatre Lab
236 West 78th Street (btw. Broadway and Amsterdam)

WHEN:
September 29th-October 6th
Thursday-Saturday at 8pm

TICKETS:
$10.00
RESERVATIONS:
212-414-7717

SUBWAY INFO:
1 block south of the 1/9 at 79th Street

The Drilling Company Workourt Returns October 1 at 78th Street

The Workout
How do actors, writers, playwrights and other theatre persons - in a word - "theatricians"start gathering to exercise their craft? How do all these different disciplines begin to come together to form one discipline that is harmonious and open to all comers - a discipline that promotes both high quality artistry and high quality acceptance of others.

Enter The Workout.

Begun by TheDrillingCompaNY, well known for their theme based theatre projects, TheWorkout is an exercise of the voice, body, imagination and heart in one afternoon.
There's no charge, but a $5 donation is suggested and gratefully appreciated. TheWorkout exists for professional theatricians: writers, actors directors, technicians, designers -
those involved in the pursuit of the highest quality in theatre -to exercise their craft and get to know one another.
When:
The next workout is scheduled for
October 1 from 1 to 4.
Where:
the 78th Street Theate Lab
236 West 78th Street, between Broasdway and Amsterdam
New York, NY 10024
A block from the 79th Street subway stop on the #1 line.
Let us know you're coming.
e-mail:drillingcompany@aol.com

The Workout Returns October 1

The Workout
How do actors, writers, playwrights and other theatre persons - in a word - "theatricians"start gathering to exercise their craft? How do all these different disciplines begin to come together to form one discipline that is harmonious and open to all comers - a discipline that promotes both high quality artistry and high quality acceptance of others.Enter the Workout.
Begun by TheDrillingcompaNY, well known for their theme based theatre projects, TheWorkout is an exercise of the voice, body, imagination and heart in one afternoon.There's no charge, but $5 donation is suggested and gratefully appreciated. TheWorkout exists for professional theatricians: writers, actrs directors, technicians, designers -
those involved in the pursuit of the highest quality in theatre -to exercise their craft and get to know one another.
When:
The next workout is scheduled for
October 1st from 1 to 4.Where:
the 78th Street Theate Lab
236 West 78th Street
New York, NY 10024
1 block from the 79th Street stop on the 1.
Let us know you're coming
.e-mail drillingcompany@aol.com

August DRillNotes

Dear All,

We’ve been absent for a month or so due to technical difficulty – computers crashing, gas leaks – the walls have trembled. But we’re back with a load of info and instead of sending out twelve of these it seemed better send one
with everything in it. So enclosed is news about some things that are going on and some things that have happened and some things that are going to happen.

And if any of the info seems too last minute, let's just say we have no control over New York power outtages.

Without further……
************************************************************************
Go See

There are two DrillingCompaNY artists with wonderful shows at
The New York International Fringe Festival.

First Dana Slamp started writing a play for our BOTH project , now two years ago, and
couldn't stop writing. The result was a full length: The Importance of Marrying Wells.
It has Slamp's signature wit, a classic turned on its head a little but just right so we can see it all brand new. She's veteran DrillingCompany director Nancy Chu at the helm
(Nancy directed last summer's 2G and most recently Ms. Santos' Medea for Revenge)
and sound design by Michael Graetzer who has captured so many of our shows with fantastic sound design it would be too many to list.
They are in the big theatre for the Fringe. Great cast! The Lucille Lortel
121 Christopher Street
Friday the 19th at 9:45pm
Saturday the 20th at 12 noon
Sunday the 21st at 5pm
Monday the 22nd at 7pm
www. whoiswells.com
212-279-4488
***********************************************************************
Okay only three performances remain but The Cross is extremely worth your attention.
Toby Wherry and Laura Strausfeld have teamed up as actor and director.
You may remember their unforgettable version of Rodes Fishburne's Gaggle for PAPER TheLateEdition, again two years ago.

Truly one of the most engaging actors we've had the pleasure of working with,
Toby is well known to anyone who has seen shows produced by
78th Street Theatre Lab ( like Kenneth What is the Frequency or Man in the Flying Lawn Chair or Mamet's The Frog Prince) . The Lab is also a producer on this one. Don't miss this really amazing work if you can help it. Toby takes the acting moment many of us have experienced - if you've ever worked as an extra - and turns it into a fantastic journey of self-discovery. It's a great hour of theatre. Here's the info:


The Cross by Toby Wherry
13th Street Repertory Company
50 West 13th Street
Friday 19 at 3:30
Saturday 20 at 5:45
Wedenesday the 24th at 8:00
for reservations call that fringe number - 212-279-4488.
go to thes page t read the blurb on the show:
http://www.fringenyc.org/basic_page.asp?ltr=C

************************************************************************
Gotta Brag!

Because of our furious summer activity and the above crash, I haven't had an opportunity to announce our FIVE NOMINATIONS for excellence in Off-Off Broadway Theatre which is being recognized by Off-Off-Broadaway's newest friend,
the New York Innovative Theatre Awards. With FIVE NOMINATIONS, The DrillingCompany was one of the most lauded companies - all for HONOR part two ( which was the only show we produced that was eligible for consideration),

Renne Flermings - Outstanding Original Short Play, "Legend"
P. Seth Bauer - Outstanding Original Short Play, "First Time Out of Bounds"
Edward Manning - Outstanding Original Short Play, "Titus Lucretius Carus"

Maria McConville - Outstanding Performance by an Actress, in P. Seth Bauer's
"First Time Out of Bounds"

Michael Gant - Best Supporting Performance by and Actor, im Edward Manning's Titus Lucretius Carus.

The awards are on September 19, 2005. For TDC, we've already decided for us it's a three way tie for Outstanding Original Short Play.


New Drillers

Actor David Sinkus (PAPER) and his wife Beth have welcomed a son, John Sinkus in to the big experiemnt, while LAurent Nahon (Dealers, HONOR pt. 2 "Pec") and wife Francine have hit double euphoria with the birth of their TWIN sons.

Coming this fall

P.Seth Bauer's The Karma Cookie (workshop production with 78th Street Theatre Lab)

The Workout returns October 1.

C.Denby Swanson's Atomic Farmgirl (reading)

REVENGE part 2 Dec3 - 18 with new plays by

Molly Rice Brenner
Kate McCamey
Nicholas Gray
Katherine Clark Gray
Rodes Fishburne
Robin Rice Lichtig
Sheri Graubert
and more......

Did you know?

DrillingCompany playwright and actor, Bruce Faulk's "Wally and the Chosen Few", first presented in BOTH was being turned into a short film this summer featuring the writer and , Dana Slamp, and Karen Kitz.

Frequent DrillingCompany contributor Kerry Logan has just completed a final cut on his first feature film, TRUE MEN, written and directed by himself with a co-story credit going to Hamilton Clancy. Film will premiere in Los Angeles this fall.

Andrew Lawton's film company Thursday Films has completed a cut of
KUWAIT by Vincent Delaney, originally a short play for TheDrillingCompany's SERVICE and now a short film and full length play . The film features
Andrew in the lead role.

Madelaine and George, Rodes Fishburne's new Revenge play , was alos featured this summer at the Strawberry One -Act Festival - it made it onto the second round but had to withdraw because of an actor