The United States of Tamarie
Tamarie Cooper and friends

World Premiere

Ticket Price

We Suggest $35
More If You Have it
Less if you don't

Location

The Catastrophic Theatre
1117 East Frwy
Houston, Tx 77002

Performances

Jul 15, 2011 -
Aug 20, 2011

The Play

"The theatrical equivalent of a handmade gift"
- Everett Evans, Houston Chronicle

For 13 consecutive summers, Tamarie Cooper wowed Houston audiences 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. Without question, her original plays have been among the most wildly popular summer offerings. Tamarie’s shows truly are a unique, and uniquely Houstonian phenomenon. And Houston audiences have loved her for it.

"It’s not really summer in Houston without a freshly cooked-up musical from Tamarie Cooper"
- Nancy Wozny, Houston Arts Week

But last year was different. Tamarie took a time-out from this tremendous creative output to care for her newborn daughter, Rose. We can’t blame her for her choices, but it was a long, hot, and sad sad summer without the respite of a new Tamarie Cooper musical.

But now she’s back.

"Truly remarkable and engaging comedic writing"
- Buzz Belmont, Chron Commons

Over the years, Tamarie has taken on everything from love to camping, speakeasies, time travel, domesticity, neuroscience, and cocktail parties. This time she turns her comic attention on, well, us.

The United States of Tamarie is an unflinching look at the inherent absurdity of our modern national identity. Protest culture, patriotic machismo, education, international affairs, pop culture, religion, jazz, conspiracy theories, political deadlock, and american nostalgia are all skewered by Tamarie’s signature zany wit.

The United States of Tamarie was written by Patrick Reynolds and Tamarie Cooper with original music and lyrics by Tamarie Cooper, John Duboise, Joe Folladori, DeWitt Gravink, and Patrick Reynolds.

Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Tamarie Cooper with music and vocal direction by Miriam Daly.

Featuring Catastrophic company members Kyle Sturdivant, Walt Zipprian, Noel Bowers, Seán Patrick Judge and Karina Pal Montaño-Bowers joined by Christian Holmes, Richard Lyders, Elissa Levitt, Ivy Rush, Sara Jo Dunstan, Rebecca Randall, Dennis Draper, Abe Zapata, and Vinicia Smothers. Chris Bakos, Cathy Power, Kirk Suddreath, and Miriam Daly comprise the band.

And, of course, starring Tamarie Cooper.

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 tragedySpeeding Motorcycle (co-directed with Jason Nodler), Tamarie Cooper’s Field TripSmall Ball (co-directed with Jason Nodler), Tamarie’s Evening of Mistakes and RegretsRhinoceros (2017), TrevorTamarie for President (Greatest Hits, Volume 2), The University of TamarieA Very Tamarie ChristmasTamarie Cooper’s Old as Hell!Tamarie Cooper’s Doomsday RevueThe United States of TamarieTamarie Cooper’s Journey to the Center of my Brain (in 3D!)The Tamarie Cooper ShowTwenty Love SongsUncle VanyaTamalalia X: The Greatest Hits ShowTamalalia 9: Face Your FearsTamalalia 8: Tamarie Goes to HollywoodRhinoceros (2003), Tamalalia 7: The Love ShowTamarie’s Gin Jar JamboreeTamalalia 2000Tamalalia 4: The CampoutTamalalia 3: The Cocktail PartyTamalalia 2: The Bus ShowTamalalia! 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.

DEWITT GRAVINK is proud and happy to once again perform with The Catastrophic Theatre. Dewitt co-produced and appeared in the original Tamalalia! Infernal Bridegroom Productions: In the Under Thunderloo; In the Jungle of Cities; Rhinoceros; Marat/Sade; Samuel’s Major Problems; Waiting for Godot; Guys and Dolls; Tamalalia 2; Tamalalia 3; Tamalalia 4; Tamalalia 6, and Tamalalia 10. For Infernal Bridegroom, he also underwrote Twenty Love Songs. With Catastrophic he wrote lyrics for and appeared in The Tamarie Cooper Show, wrote lyrics for and appeared in TCS: Journey to the Center of My Brain, and wrote lyrics for The United States of Tamarie.

JOHN DUBOISE is a composer, arranger and mulit-instrumentalist (saxophone, clarinet, guitar). He has performed with a variety of theatre companies and musical groups over the past decade. Theatres include The Catastrophic Theatre, Infernal Bridegroom Productions, Bobbindoctrin Puppet Theatre, Theatre Illuminata and the University of Houston.

JOE FOLLADORI has done, and will continue to do so.

Photo Sets

Videos

"Like you're sitting at a party full of very funny people"
— Lee Williams, Houston Press
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