Tamarie Cooper: Journey to the Center of My Brain in 3Dby Tamarie Cooper and Friends
World Premiere
Performances
Jul 29, 2009 -
Aug 29, 2009
"Emily Dickinson begins one of her poems with the words, 'I dropped my brain.' Good thing it wasn’t Tamarie Cooper’s brain, which is jammed, crammed, even manned, with everything from three matching Gilligans to an audience-humping id. There’s also a self-control with a drinking problem. And that’s just the first half."- Nancy Wozny, Dancehunter Magazine
Cast & Personnel
Director
Music Direction
Choreography
Cast
- Daniel Adame
- Julie Boneau
- Noel Bowers
- Jeremy Carlson
- Tamarie Cooper
- Sara Jo Dunstan
- DeWitt Gravink
- Christian Holmes
- Seán Patrick Judge
- Richard Lyders
- Karina Pal Montaño-Bowers
- Rebecca Randall
- Kyle Sturdivant
- Walt Zipprian
Band
Scenic Design
Costume Design
Lighting Design
Video Design
Sound Design
Prop Design
Hair & Wigs
Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Booth Crew
Deck Crew
The Play
It’s not really summer in Houston without a freshly cooked-up musical from Cooper. This year the Catastrophic Theatre has teamed with Stages Repertory Theatre to present The Tamarie Cooper Show, Journey to the Center of My Brain (in 3D!), which is bound to get you out of any and all summer funks. The premise is straightforward: Tamarie is preggers and needs to figure herself out before the arrival of Tamarie Jr. She gets some help from a late night purchase, “Self hypnosis made easy.” Unfortunately, the package arrives with only part two, so we start the show somewhere mid-brain. As you might guess, Cooper’s brain is one busy, densely populated place. Endorphins are played by a group of mangy cheerleaders, adrenalin has an anger problem, and don’t even think about messing with the female hormones.The Playwrights
TAMARIE COOPER
Tamarie has been performing her entire life. She co-founded The Catastrophic Theatre 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, with over 80 production credits with IBP and The Catastrophic Theatre. Tamarie is 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, named “Best Actress” in Outsmart Magazine‘s annual Gayest and Greatest Readers’ Choice Awards and has received various “Best of Houston” awards from The Houston Press for her performances and original work. Directing credits: Tragedy: a tragedy, Speeding Motorcycle (co-directed with Jason Nodler), Tamarie Cooper’s Field Trip, Small Ball (co-directed with Jason Nodler), Tamarie’s Evening of Mistakes and Regrets, Rhinoceros (2017), Trevor, Tamarie for President (Greatest Hits, Volume 2), The University of Tamarie, A Very Tamarie Christmas, Tamarie Cooper’s Old as Hell!, Tamarie Cooper’s Doomsday Revue, The United States of Tamarie, Tamarie Cooper’s Journey to the Center of my Brain (in 3D!), The Tamarie Cooper Show, Twenty Love Songs, Uncle Vanya, Tamalalia X: The Greatest Hits Show, Tamalalia 9: Face Your Fears, Tamalalia 8: Tamarie Goes to Hollywood, Rhinoceros (2003), Tamalalia 7: The Love Show, Tamarie’s Gin Jar Jamboree, Tamalalia 2000, Tamalalia 4: The Campout, Tamalalia 3: The Cocktail Party, Tamalalia 2: The Bus Show, Tamalalia! Favorite Roles: Baby Screams Miracle (Carol), Toast (Beatrice), Small Ball (Female Reporter), Leap and the Net Will Appear (Simon), Song About Himself (Carol), Marie and Bruce (Marie), Hide Town (Miss Iva), Medea (Medea), A Soap Opera (Andrea), We Have Some Planes, Fucking A (Hester), Happy Days (Winnie), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide). A huge and hearty thanks to this wonderful cast for jumping right in to this new format and to Miriam, Joe, Erin, Kyle, Alli, Brett, Mara, and Kirk for all the wonderful songs and to Patrick for writing my show not once, but twice this year (I will always laugh at your jokes). I love you all!
PATRICK REYNOLDS Patrick is a graduate of the Second City Writing Program in Chicago and holds a B.A. in History from the University of Houston. He co-wrote Tamarie Goes to Hollywood with Paul Locklear. He wrote the book for Tamarie Cooper: Journey to the Center of My Brain in 3-D!, The United States Of Tamarie: An All-American Revue (Made in China), Tamarie Cooper’s Doomsday Revue (The Greatest Musical Ever!), Tamarie Cooper’s Old as Hell, The University of Tamarie, A Very Tamarie Christmas, and The Tamarie Cooper Show: Field Trip! Additional credits for the Catastrophic Theatre include the St. Arnold’s Brewery promos.
In the Media
Brain Drain Entertains
August 3, 2009 |
Houston Arts Week
| Nancy Wozny
Tamarie Cooper applies scientific spin to musical
July 31, 2009 |
Houston Chronicle
| Everett Evans
TAMARIE COOPER GIVES US A LOOK INSIDE HER BRAIN
July 28, 2009 |
29-95
| Nancy Wozny
Tamarie Cooper invites you to get in her head
July 27, 2009 |
Houston Chronicle
| Everett Evans
