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    Stephen Woosley of MadLab Talks Theatre Roulette

    I recently got a chance to talk to Stephen Woosley from MadLab Theatre. After speaking with him, I learned about how diverse and unique MadLab is to the the community. Stephen discussed MadLab’s upcoming annual Theatre Roulette as well as other events MadLab has to offer.

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    1. To start off, could you sum up what MadLab Theatre is, for those of us who are unfamiliar?

    We are a downtown theatre and art gallery where you can always see something original, unique, and well done, whether it is theatre, music, film, improv, comedy, or art.

    2. MadLab will soon begin its annual Theatre Roulette, which is Columbus’s longest-running annual shorts festival. Tell us a little about Theatre Roulette and what is so special about the event.

    Theatre Roulette is our annual shorts festival we do every May. Usually, ten to 12 shows split up over 3 nights and then rotating for 4 weekends. So, on the different nights, you are getting a different set of shows. And, on the final day we perform all the shows. We call that day MadLab Christmas as it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

    What is special about it is not only its longevity, but also its diversity. You’re not gonna see 2 straight shows that are the same and its likely they won’t be like anything you’ve seen before. We often say about Roulette, if you don’t like this show, wait 5 minutes you’ll have something different in 10 minutes you’re gonna like. And if you do like this show, just wait til you see what’s next.

    3. Theatre Roulette has been growing every year for the past 10 years. How have things changed this year, from the past? What is it like to see such an event expand and improve every year?

    Last year, our time was limited for reading because of the work we were doing on moving into our new space, so we relied on local playwrights and playwrights whose work we had done previously. This year, we were back to taking submissions from everywhere. So, this will be the first “normal” Roulette in our new space.

    But, the expansion and improvement is on two levels. On the one hand, each year we now receive 700-1,000 submissions from playwrights and our audiences continue to grow. But, on a year by year basis, we can now look back at the amazing amount of talent that has participated over the years as writers, directors, actors, designers, etc.. Its an impressive body of work. And, for our own ensemble, it’s nice to look back and see the development and growth of our people over the years.

    4. What is MadLab looking for in Theatre Roulette submissions?

    Something unique. When you’re reading though hundreds of scripts, and over the years, we’ve been through thousands, there tends to be a sameness. So anything that goes off the beaten path will stand out especially if it offers a different kind of presentation. And that’s what we want a Roulette show to do. Of course, it also has to be well written. We don’t ask for much.

    5. Can you give us the the qualifications for performers who are interested in participating this year? What are auditions like?

    The standard qualifications are to be 18 or over. And I think that’s appropriate as with 10 different scripts and 10 different  directors, we are looking for all different types of people and people who are excited about theatre and performing at MadLab.

    Its mostly cold readings from the scripts. It’s a long day for the directors as they sit through 5-6 hours of auditioning and hearing the same script readings over and over. But, it is worth it for those moments when you think there is nothing new or interesting or funny that can be done with a scene and an actor finds a new way or does it in a way that makes you notice and you see that spark.

    6. What can audience members expect from the plays inside of Theatre Roulette? Is it strictly comedy?

    Not at all. We tend to be tilted towards comedy with the short format, but we always look to balance it out with dramas. And this year, perhaps more than any other since my first one in 2005, we may have the most even amount of comedy and drama and dramedy yet. But, yes, you will almost certainly get some laughs in any night of Roulette.

    7. MadLab also hosts its own art gallery. What is special about the MadLab gallery?

    I turned this one over to Melissa Bair, who has not only been a main cog with our Gallery for years, but our theatre as well: We are an all volunteer run independant gallery.

    “We cater to up and coming artists as well as up and coming art collectors by providing a teaching environment for artists and keeping price points low for patrons. We have an annual show themed off of a selection from the colorwheel, as well as an annual holiday photography show. We also have an annual competitive style improvised art(complete with a secret ingredient) show where patrons can see artists in the act of creation for our Iron Artist show.”

    8. Are there any memorable moments in past Theatre Roulette that really stand out?

    A few:

    * On the closing day in 2006, Andy Batt was performing in Coming Out of the Closet and ripped his pants during one of the many bits of physical comedy in the show. He was able to run off stage, change his pants and return to the stage and then when asked by the other character as written in the show “what happened?”, responded, “I changed my pants!” These things happen in theatre and seem to happen even more with Roulette.

    *One of my favorite dramatic pieces we have ever done is Cloudy, a real tearjerker, which was part of Roulette 2005. It closed one of the nights of the festival that year. I worked the booth and it was furn to tun on the lights afterward and see who was pretending to have something in their eye.

    * Closing day is always fun. MadLab doesn’t do matinees so many of us are there a lot earlier than usual. The showtimes are 2, 4, and 8. So, it is an all day event. But, it is fun for all the participants to be there. As well as the attendees, many of whom wait for that last day so they can see all the pieces at once.

    * I was in Family Portrait which closed the festival in 2007 and our Quintessential Roulette. Not only is it one of the best Roulette shows we have done, but to be on stage at the end of the festival with a great cast and a packed house is always fun. And then everyone associated with the festival comes up to bow. It’s a crowded emotional stage after months of work from script reading through auditions to closing night. This may be why the final bow is followed by what is usually the most raucous cast party of the year.

    9. What other performances can be expected from MadLab throughout 2011?

    MadLab has much more to come. Below are just the shows MadLab is putting on at the Lab. Other theatre companies putting up shows at the Lab this year include O.G. Productions, Raconteur Theatre Company, and an as yet unnamed theatre company doing Titus Andronicus.

    Jan 20-February 12: Love in The Time of Comedy :FFN brings its longform improv skills to the topic of love once again. Prepare to have you heart melted. Your funny bone on the other hand will explode.

    March 3-26: A Shadow in the Dark by Jared Latore — a bleak comedy concerning an influential children’s author who contends with the physical manifestations of his inner demons, which variously present themselves as doctors, ghosts, and lovers.

    July 16th – Volatility, our annual rocking fundraiser. This year with more rock, more theatre, more art, more good times and more $ to continue to upgrade our awesome new facility.

    October 6-29: The playwright is still playing with the title but this is undoubtedly the funniest comedy about bank robbers and the world of theatre ever. It’s like a mashup of Oceans 11 and the Vagina Monologues. But funny. No, hilarious.

    November 18-December 17: Divide and Conquer – MadLab doing what it does best. A competition and putting up new work that changes from week to week. We start out with 5 or 6 10 minutes plays on opening weekend. The audience votes one off and then the 4 or 5 that are left get another 10 minute chapter written for the next week. This process continues until we have 2 longer one-act plays and a winner is crowned.

    3in30, MadLab’s late night series continues into 2011. The series, which always features 3 shows in 30 minutes centered around a common theme, is slated for 5 more editions in 2011, most themes TBD:

    3in30 Home – 2/4 & 2/5
    3in30 Shadow – 3/18 & 3/19
    3in30 #3 – 5/20 & 5/21
    3in30 #4 – 10/21 & 10/22
    3in30 #5 – 12/2 & 12/3

    10. Anything else you would like to share?

    If you haven’t been to the Lab, Roulette is a great introduction, but please don’t feel the need to wait til May. We have plenty of great things going on that you can check out at madlab.net. And with our new location, we are close to a number of great restaurants like the Flatiron, Tip Top, Little Palace, Barrio, among others. So, you can truly make a night of it before and/or after the show.

    Jeremy Taylor is a contributing writer to Columbus Underground, focusing on all topics related to cinema, theatre and the arts. You can read more of Jeremy Taylor’s writing on his blog: Columbus Reel.

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    Jeremy Taylor
    Jeremy Taylorhttp://columbusreel.com
    Jeremy Taylor is a contributing writer to Columbus Underground, focusing on all topics related to cinema, theatre and the arts. You can read more of Jeremy Taylor’s writing on his blog: Columbus Reel.
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