Poison Apple Initiative

A while ago we did a play.

"It’s a play that aims high in addressing heady theological and cultural themes in a script by Bastion Carboni that also features satisfyingly immature jokes about Jesus and ball-punching. That makes for a lot of moving parts for a play where most of the actors don’t even leave their chairs, and that sort of ambition is satisfying to watch."
-The Austin Chronicle

"...a thoughtful production that benefits from its restraint and subtlety."
-CultureMap

And now it's finished.

Poison Apple Initiative is ecstatic to present the official premier of one of our most popular shows HOLIER THAN THOU, a play about a reality TV show where people compete for the powers of Jesus.

Here are some details:

When: June 20- July 6 (Thurs-Sat) @ 8pm
NO SHOW JULY 4TH. ADDED SHOW WEDS, JULY 3RD
Where: The Off Center (2211-A Hidalgo)
How much: $15
Get tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/399431

PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN THURSDAYS (and WEDNESDAY)
Reservations can be made by contacting poisonappleinitiative@gmail.com

FREE BEER FRIDAYS
Thanks to the ever-generous folks at St. Arnold's we'll be serving up a complimentary beer with ticket purchase (and valid ID) to the first 30 patrons on Fridays.

POST-SHOW SPECIAL EVENTS
JUNE 27- A reality tv-themed drag show hosted by luminary theatrics maven Althea Trix.

JULY 3- A smart-mouthed symposium on reality TV featuring local writers/ academics/ wise-asses (like the Moth, but here.)

And keep your eyes out for teaser videos, pertinent articles, photos, and more.

In radness,
PAI

"So you've got this group of guys, right, who've been emasculated basically their entire adolescence, didn't get a lot of dating mistakes out of the way, and never lost their attraction to masculinity. And you put them in this place with all this booze and drugs and make it so loud they can barely hear each other. What the fuck do you think is gonna happen?"

Poison Apple Initiative is making a loud play in a gay bar. Again.

We did this before: http://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/2013-04-12/an-obviously-foggot/

We're hella-stoked to present a limited encore run of AN OBVIOUSLY FOGGOT, a train wreck of found/ original text, mashed-up pop songs, and dance parties that asks, "When and how exactly does It Get Better?"

What happens when a haven is... a little less than safe?

DETAILS:
Where: CASTRO'S WAREHOUSE
When: MAY 23-26 and MAY 30- JUNE 2
How much: $10

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/385362

And in the meanwhile: check out video/ photos from the 1st run on our Facebook page.

Grant-writing is a pain-in-the-ass, not all that lucrative anymore, and certainly less fun than having a few drinks with fantastic people while other fantastic people play music. SO: instead of overloading on caffeine at 3am fretting over whether we've adequately "conveyed our over-arching mission" or whatever, Poison Apple Initiative is throwing a party.

You should come. There'll be bands, a show in the gallery, and an open bar.

THE BASICS:
WHEN: NOV. 10th, starting at 9pm.
WHERE: Wardenclyffe Gallery
(corner of Oak Springs and Springdale)
HOW MANY DOLLARS: $10

Featuring:

Musical Guests:
JAVELINA ( www.reverbnation.com/javelinaband )
THE CANS ( www.reverbnation.com/thecansusa )
THE IF ONLYS

OPEN BAR: Fireman's #4 and specialty cocktails configured by Core Member/ Bar Wizard Beth Perkins.

EAST, A GROUP SHOW in the Wardenclyffe Gallery space.

We'll see you there.

In Clashiness,
The PAI kids.

Poison Apple is stoked to announce the winner of September SLAM, Estevan Labrado, for his play "Observation". Details regarding the reading of his piece will be shortly forth-coming, as will details on the next round of SLAM.

Additionally: November 10th. Wardenclyffe. We're having a party. Save the date. We'll talk about it more later.

Alsoadditionally: PAI's first show of the season will take place during FronteraFest '13 in Jan/ Feb. Rad.

And, as always: if you do/ make awesome things, we'd love to talk about making them with you. Shoot us a line at poisonappleinitiative@gmail.com.

Hartdsz,
The PAI kids.

Here's the deal:

1. SLAM is back.

The bi-monthly new play competition where unrehearsed actors throw themselves into spankin'-new scripts fueled by cheap-as-hell beer (thank you, Real Ale) kicks off every Sunday this month @ 7.30 @ Wardenclyffe Gallery on the corner of Oak Springs and Springdale. Bring your fledgling scripts (5 minute sections), acting chops, and drinking livers, kids. We'll have opinionated fun.

For more detailed info, check out the "SLAM September" page on Facebook.

2. We're in the middle of pouring over scripts and configuring our 3rd season for optimum radness. More details forthcoming shortly, including pictures of the aftermath of any particularly heated debates.

3. We want to meet you. If you do neat stuff and would like to do it with us, shoot us a line. We're always stoked to meet new actors, designers, playwrights, stage managers, and anyone else who shoves a sock in the mouths of people who think theatre is just Shakespeare and musicals.

Best,
The PAI kids.

Independence Day be damned, July 2012 now marks the first ever Austin SLAM! We, the PAI kids, in order to form a more perfect art-o-sphere and like provide exposure to theater artists in an effort to create a constant dialogue between the makers and their audience...yea, well, we're just really REALLY amazed by the support and participation of our playwrights, judges and enthusiastic patrons! As brave participants in the innaugural event, you are officially bestowed with the highest level of BAMFdom currently known to the universe. (This universe.)

In case you missed it, our finals ended in a tie, with both Estevan Labrado and Katherine Craft obtaining the highest scores from the judges. Thus the vote went to the audience and though it was close, Katherine Craft was declared winner of the first ever SLAM for her short play "Her Little Prince". As winner, a collection of her short plays, including "Her Little Prince", will be presented at a staged reading at the end of August. Look for deets to come very soon!

The truth is evident. The work we saw this past month is just a sampling of the incredible work to come in future SLAMS. Check out the pics from our July SLAM, and be sure to catch the reading of our first winning playwright's collection of short plays in late August. We pick back up for a whole 'nother round of SLAM this September with Real Ale providing a locally crafted selection of beers! If our forefathers were alive they would totally encourage your participation. Just sayin.

-The PAI kids

And P.S. All our sincerest thanks and gratitude to Wardenclyffe Gallery and St. Arnold's Brewing Company for helping make SLAM stellar. And boozy.

“Sometimes you need a place to be sick.”

In an unnamed, familiar suburban housing division the kids are fixated on an online horror video game. As the sirens get louder and things go missing, their parents begin to realize that the game isn’t quarantined behind the computer screen.

Poison Apple Initiative and The Vestige Group are hella-stoke-jazzed to present the regional premiere of Blackburn Award-winning playwright Jennifer Haley’s pitch-dark allegorical play. That involves zombies.

Featuring Michael Kranes, Cassadie Petersen, Olivia Frierson, and Zac Carr.
Stage Managed by Lana Marks. Set/ props design by Mallory McKenney, costume design by Haydee Antunano, and lighting/publicity design by Geoffrey Aaron Douglas.

BRASS TACK DEETS:

When: July 12-28 @ 8pm
(Thurs-Sat with additional Wednesday performances July 18 & 25)
Where: The Blue Theatre (916 Springdale)

How Much: Sliding Scale $12-$20.
Pay-What-You-Can Wednesdays.
$10 Thursdays.
Tickets on sale now at www.brownpapertickets.com

So, updates:

1. Poison Apple Initiative is stoked to bring you all the Texas premier of Jennifer Haley's "Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom" from July 12-28 at the Blue Theatre (916 Springdale). It's about a suburban housing development where the kids are addicted to an online horror video game. As the sirens get louder and things go missing, the parents begin to realize that the game isn't quarantined behind the screen.

2. In July we'll also be initiating (pun inevitable) our first ancillary program! SLAM (kinda like the poetry kind but with plays) will be hitting Wardenclyffe Gallery (1101 Springdale) the first 4 Sundays in July. Actors and playwrights interested in getting more information can email us at poisonappleinitiative@gmail.com

3.PAI is one of the first wave of Austin theatre companies to receive a Creative Fund subsidy grant. Congrats to our fellow grantees and thanks again to CF for making philanthropy attractive.

4. Congrats to Sam Mercer for scoring Best Lead Actor honors at the Austin Critics Table awards for his turn in the world premier of Jakob Holder's "Housebreaking".

Ladies and Gentleman, the time has come! This year's FronteraFest is upon us and Poison Apple Initiative is stoked to the point of spasm to present our production of "Holier Than Thou" by Bastion Carboni, Directed by Bethany Perkins.

Comprised of confessionals and interviews recorded before and after the expiration of a non-disclosure agreement, "Holier Than Thou" centers around a reality TV competition in which contestants vie for the powers of Jesus. A dark comedy about what we want, why we want it, and how wanting it maybe isn't such a great idea.

Featuring the exceptionally kick-ass talents of Kacy Todd, Spencer Driggers, Devyn Ray, Austin Alexander, Ariane Powell, Joshua Baker and Melanie Conrad. Cameo appearances by Aaron Alexander, Kelli Bland, Jen Brown, Juston Street and Bastion Carboni.

Thursday - Jan 26th - 9:00PM
Saturday - Jan 28th - 5:30PM
Tuesday - Jan 31st - 9:00PM
Saturday - Feb 4th - 8:15PM

To purchase tickets or make reservations please visit http://hydeparktheater.org and look for the FronteraFest Long Fringe links. Got questions? Send us a message at poisonappleinitiative@gmail.com.

May the power of Christ compel your ass to the theater!

-The PAI gang