May 31, 2017
For immediate release:
The Catastrophic Theatre
Presents
Tamarie’s Merry Evening of Mistakes and Regrets
By Tamarie Cooper, Ronnie Blaine, and friends
June 29-August 12, 2017
Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8pm
At The MATCH, 3400 Main Street
All tickets Pay-What-You-Can
Tamarie Cooper and friends are mixing up their usual musical formula, with a brand-new cabaret of sorts – filtered, of course, through Cooper's weird and wacky brain. Presented in Matchbox 3 with cabaret seating, Tamarie's Merry Evening of Mistakes and Regrets will take the audience on a wild ride featuring youthful folly, heartache, unfortunate bedfellows, blunders, errors in judgment, crushed dreams, a miserable clown, dying swans, Judy Garland covers, songs about bars and a sex act in a van with a lead singer of a hardcore band gone horribly wrong. Incorporating true stories and experiences, great and terrible times are brilliantly and hilariously brought to life by Tamarie and her talented motley crew: Ronnie Blaine, Greg Dean, Kyle Sturdivant, and company.
Tamarie’s Merry Evening of Mistakes and Regrets is the 20th installment of the Tamarie Cooper juggernaut. Since 1996, Tamarie has wowed Houston audiences almost every summer with an entirely original, full-scale, musical comedy extravaganza – filled to the brim with songs and gags and hi-jinx from some of Houston's funniest theatre artists. Tamarie's shows truly are a unique, and uniquely Houstonian, phenomenon. Get your tickets fast. This one always sells out in advance.
Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Tamarie Cooper. Assistant Director: Kyle Sturdivant. Book by Ronnie Blaine with additional material by Tamarie Cooper, Greg Dean, and Kyle Sturdivant. Original Music by Miriam Daly, John Dunn, and Joe Folladori. Lyrics by Tamarie Cooper, John Dunn, and Joe Folladori.
Featuring: Shanon Adame, Ronnie Blaine, Kelsey Busboom, Greg Cote, Greg Dean, John Dunn, Sara Jo Dunstan, Xzavien Hollins, Haley Hussey, Richard Lyders, Rebecca Randall, Rachel Rubin, Kyle Sturdivant, Abraham Zeus Zapata, and Walt Zipprian. And, of course, starring Tamarie Cooper.
Band: Brett Needham (bass), Kirk Suddreath (drums), Emily Wertanen (piano). Vocal direction by Adam Stout. Scenic design by Ryan McGettigan; lighting design by Mitchell Cronin; costume design by Tamarie Cooper, Pam Pellegrino, and Kelly Hancock; sound design by Bill Day and Tim Thomson; video design by Tim Thomson; prop design by Tina Montgomery. Stage management by Natalie Blumrick and Katharine Pugh.
"It wouldn't be summer in Houston without a crazy-quilt vaudeville from Tamarie Cooper and those Catastrophic troopers on a sublimely goofy warpath." – D.L. Groover, Houston Press
"As star, director, choreographer, and sharer of co-credits as writer, lyricist, costumer, Cooper is a wonder of the world….[She] has a robust physicality that is second to none, and she can do things to her face that almost seem impossible. In these comedy revues, she becomes a living cartoon." – D.L. Groover, Houston Press on A Very Tamarie Christmas
“The show moves at a million miles an hour jumping from one insane situation to the next… If you haven't seen a Tamarie show you're missing out on a Houston tradition and treasure, and this is the perfect place to start.” – Brett Cullum, Houston Broadway World on Tamarie for President (Greatest Hits, Vol. II)
“It's the don't miss hit of the summer!” – Nancy Wozny, Houston Arts & Culture on University of Tamarie
“The show is breathtakingly funny.” – Jim Tommaney, Houston Press on Tamarie Cooper’s Old as Hell
“Seriously, how does Tamarie Cooper not have her own HBO series?” – David Clarke, Broadway World on Tamarie Cooper’s DOOMSDAY REVUE (The Greatest Musical Ever)
“The freshest, funniest and most pertinent show you’ll encounter on any Houston stage this summer.” – Everett Evans, Houston Chronicle on The United States of Tamarie
TAMARIE COOPER has been performing her entire life. She is associate director of The Catastrophic Theatre, which she co-founded in 2007 with longtime collaborator and dear friend, Jason Nodler. Originally trained in dance, she began working in theatre at HSPVA and helped to found Infernal Bridegroom Productions in 1993, where she worked for fourteen years. She is a seasoned actor, director, designer, choreographer and occasional writer, best known for her original musicals, which enjoy highly successful runs and a cult-like following in Houston. Tamarie has been featured in national trade magazine Stage Directions and has received various "Best of Houston" awards from The Houston Press for her performances and original work. In addition to her original work, favorite roles/ productions include: Trevor (director), Song About Himself (Carol), Marie and Bruce (Marie), Fleaven (choreographer), Hide Town (Miss Iva), Medea (Medea), Rhinoceros (director), A Soap Opera (Andrea), We Have Some Planes, Fucking A (Hester), Happy Days (Winnie), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide).
RONNIE BLAINE has been an actor/director in the Houston theatre community for over 20 years, and he is excited to once again join the summer spectacle that is the Tamarie Cooper franchise. This is Ronnie's third consecutive Tamarie production and his second as writing partner. He also had the pleasure of working with Tamarie Cooper who directed him earlier this year in Catastrophic's production of Trevor. Ronnie attended The University of Houston School of Theatre and is a graduate of Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. A native Houstonian, Ronnie returned to his hometown in 2009 after spending five years in Los Angeles where he worked in television & film, becoming a member of the SAG – AFTRA Unions. Previously, Ronnie was a company member at Stages Repertory as well as Main Street Youth Theatres in Houston and is currently a resident Director/ Instructor for HITS Theatre in the Heights.
For more information about the production, visit catastrophictheatre.com or contact Tamarie Cooper at 713-522-2723 X4 or tamarie.cooper@catastrophictheatre.com
For tickets and venue information, visit matchouston.org or call The MATCH’s box office at 713-521-4533
Tickets to all performances are: Pay-What-You-Can • Suggested Price: $35 More If You Have It • Less if You Don’t
