An Effable Choreographer Draws Inspiration from Caracas, Venezuela

Choreographers' Canvas (On the Road) Part I:

A ridiculous modern/contempory dancer/choreographer/ex-ballerina turned musical theater triple threat and true artist, Sarah Bumgarner, knows what she wants...or does she?

While traversing the Americas for her "day job," Sarah seeks refuge from the everyday in finding news way of communication through dance. Sampled below is a solo she created for Effable Co-founder, Brad Landers, in an effort to portray the trials of the constant comfort flux while on tour and the ways in which we try to find relaxation in everchanging habitats. A work in progress: this is Sarah and Brad taking advantage of a gorgeous studio in the gym of their hotel in Caracas, Venezuela. Watch as Brad becomes progressively unclear of what the middle of the piece is ;).

Stay tuned for more to come from the collaborative dance minds of Sarah Bumgarner and Brad Landers....

psssssst, it goes a little something like; a (work in progress) movement piece in one act, involving both a narrative thread and many styles and forms of dance encapsulated in one jazz club on one timeless evening.

Effable's Own Jenny Anderson Takes Bushwick

So, after a much-needed post-show hiatus, we're back and rolling.

Updates:

1. This September's SCL: 20Nothings was an eff-ing SOLD OUT success, largely due to the contributions of roughly 3 dozen actors, assistants, volunteers, playwrights, directors, dancers, artists and choreographers, not to mention all the friends, family and donors. We were, and are, literally without words to express the thanks and enthusiasm. So, since we're out of words, click through and look at THESE PRETTY PICTURES FROM THE SHOW INSTEAD.

2. We've got new projects in the works!! More on that later.

3. Photographer and Effable Resident Artist Jenny Anderson, whose absolutely fantastic debut portrait series was ogled and adored as part of SLC: 20Nothings, was recently named one of the Top 25 hottest new photography talents to watch by Brooklyn-based gallery and art mecca 3rd Ward. We were going to blog all about how proud (and honored) we are to work with this immensely talented woman, and how much prouderer we were to see her art on the walls of a gallery we truly love.

But then Effable tech mastermind and real-life writer Zac Wilson beat us to it and made a video. 

So, without further ado, here's what went down with Jenny Anderson's big show, as scored by Lady Gaga (thanks Zac). Keep your eyes peeled for many Effable cameos amid the hipsteratti of Brooklyn: 

Come Party with Effable THIS SUNDAY (There's no work on Monday, remember?)

Natural cherry-infused vodka, ice slick covered bars, oh-so-flattering lighting, a parade of midtown cocktails at downtown-hole-in-the-wall prices and a private room full of pretty, Effable people mingling and cavorting?

Yes please.

Effable Arts has to thank the unreasonably sexy Vlada Bar and Lounge (331 West 51st Street, New York, NY, 10019) for welcoming EA for its CHERRY-POPPING PREMIERE PARTY, Sunday, September 6, 2009, kicking off at 9pm.

And you’re all invited.

Here’s the scoop:

(Directly following Part Two of Effable Arts’ Debut production Stop, Collaborate & Listen: 20Nothings)

What: THE EFFABLE ARTS CHERRY-POPPING PREMIERE PARTY

Where: Vlada Bar and Lounge (upstairs lounge)
331 West 51st Street
New York, NY, 10019

When: 9pm, September 6

Bonuses: * The Effable Cherry cocktail, designed by Vlada specifically for Effable Arts
* ALL Vlada’s house-infused, flavored vodkas for $5 (normally $8)
* ALL beers $5 (normally $6)

All you have to do is hit up Vlada (PS: Um, come see the show) and mention Effable at the door, then head upstairs to pop cherries with the rest of the EA entourage.

Is That A Riot in Your Pocket?

Here's a little behind-the-scenes goodness AND a video teaser to get you through humpday:

At Effable Arts, if the final product is half as good as the process was then we're really onto something...in our humble opinions.

The ensemble of gay/equal rights piece "We Are the Pink Panthers" is not only comprised of talented (and beautiful) dancers, but smart, helpful, and gracious people. Choreographer Brad Landers waxed poetic about them and the process of working with Effable Arts, and we couldn't help but share the good vibes.

"I am utterly grateful to have this many talented people want to be and make themselves available to help me have a choreographic voice," Landers said. "It blows my mind."

We here at Effable like art when it's fun AND productive (novel, right?), so that goodness warmed our hearts, for reaaaaaaalz.

"We Are the Pink Panthers," inspired by the historic Stonewall Riots, is one of four dance pieces that will be showcased in the second evening of the two-part premiere show from Effable Arts:

"Stop, Collaborate & Listen: 20Nothings."

($15 @ door/call box office to reserve @ 917-576-4149)

http://www.effablearts.com/ for more info

"With this piece I really wanted to not only celebrate what the Stonewall Riots did for gay men and women but also send a positive message for the future of all human rights ' struggles." - choreographer Brad Landers

Check out this effin' sweet teaser from a recent rehearsal of the cast of

"We Are the Pink Panthers"

New Location for Cherries Jubilee!!!!

Due to some EFFIN' weather forecasts and the city of NY becoming Seattle this summer, we have moved indoors with the same (if not more) amount of fun!!!!

Here's the skinny:

2pm, downstairs @ 1 & 1 (corner of 1st St & 1st Ave) Visit http://www.oneandoneny.com/ for more info.

This promises to be the party to attend all weekend, complete with bathrooms, AC and a fully stocked bar upstairs!!! Bring $10 for food and any other treats (bars & sweet tea available for $2) and some cash for the bar: let's help out the amazing owner and staff of 1&1!

Can't wait to pop our cherries with y'all... ;)

Grub and Good Times: EA's Jubilee Fundraiser now @ 1&1!!!

LOOKING FOR A WAY TO STAY COOL THIS WEEKEND?

Pull out your banjos and gingham dresses, because Effable Arts has just the thing…our very first CHERRY JUBILEE!!!!

THIS Sunday, August 23, 2009, Effable Arts will inhabit the 1 & 1 @ 1st st/1st ave http://www.oneandoneny.com/ for homemade southern soul food, sweet tea, live music from crooners Jared Weiss and Phoebe Blue, henna tattooing and laughs.


We are asking for $10 per plate (Effable Arts is a non-profit organization, so this donation feeds both your belly and our creative souls) of amazing food, which includes fried chicken, creamy mac’n’cheese, savory funeral potatoes, summer vegetables, corn bread, sweet lemon bars and plenty of fresh Bing cherries, all lovingly prepared by actual southerners and award-winning Chef David Kaye (of Dinner du Jour, Joe and Maggie’s, Wegmans fame). It’s another $2 if you wanna get down on some homemade sweet tea…and trust us, you do.

All proceeds to benefit Effable Arts’ 1st Production: Stop/Collaborate & Listen: 20Nothings, which hits The Producer’s Club on West 44th Street September 5 (8pm) and 6 (7pm), 2009.

Can’t wait to see y’all!!!! Bring your friends, your Frisbees, your smiles and an appetite. This one is gonna be good.

* Plan on coming? Drop us a comment, or RSVP to effablearts@gmail.com so we know how much delcious grub to make! *

The Legend of William H. Macy, or, "Bill Made Us Do It"

Actually, it's not so much a legend as the truth, retold in a pithily written blog entry by rising wordsmith and 20Nothings Blog author Jessie Rosen.

The short version of the story: William H. Macy, of Fargo and Pleasantville and about two dozen other movies, plays and artistic ventures fame, told co-founder Kimberly Kaye how to start this company. He also told her to call him "Bill." (She was unable to do so.)

The longer version of the story is all laid out here, in Jessie Rosen's Effable Arts-themed blog entry. Thanks for that, Miss Rosen. (PS: We believe the 70's version of Ramen Noodles was Corn Flakes. Or, as per Miss Kaye's interview, CHEESE.)

Other fun facts:

--"Bill" Macy wrote bad checks to a Chicago junk-yard thug in order to get seats for he and Mr. Mamet's first show, then called the thug from the safety of his home to beg the guy to wait until AFTER their show opened before breaking his legs. (The show recouped, Macy paid the thug, and all walked away unharmed.)

-- An early Macy and Mamet fundraiser: "We sold signs engraved with the names of people who made donations for $25 each, then put them on the back of each seat in the theater. Then, five years later, when the theater was doing very well, we ripped all the signs off and resold them for $500 a piece."

-- Seriously, American Buffalo was written because of a fight over a piece of cheese. (Somehow that story never gets old.)

DISCLAIMER: William H. Macy does not endorse unscrupulous behavior or fights over dairy as ongoing business practices.

This one's for you, Bill.

Be gentle, it's our first time

On August 3, 2009, Effable Arts gathered just a few of it's writers, actors, directors and supporters at One & One's private lounge for a reading of monologues and one-acts submitted for the upcoming show "Stop, Collaborate & Listen: 20-nothings." The goal: Make sure everything was stage-worthy before we start rehearsals. The verdict: Game on (with rewrites of course. They're the bane of a scribe's existence, but your audience will thank you later)! Pints were consumed, laughs echoed off exposed brick walls, tears were shed (at appropriate points) and pictures were taken (by rising photog star and Effable original Jenny Anderson, http://www.jennyanderson.org/) to prove we're not making any of this up:

John Cooper shows off comedic timing and a great set of gams. We recommend he audition for the Rockettes after his Effable career is over.

We're not sure what was up with the sunglasses. It was 9pm at night. In a windowless lounge. In a basement. But hey, everyone sure looks cool, don't they?

Billy Potvin: a vision in flannel, accessorized with razor-sharp wit.

Ever see a critical playwright watch their own work during the birthing phase? Look against that back wall. This is what we call "growing pains."

The final pieces from the reading will be performed as part of "Stop, Collaborate & Listen: 20Nothings" at The Producer's Club, 358 W. 44th Street, NY, NY, 10036 on September 5 at 8pm; an exhibition of Effable Arts' resident artist works will be presented in the lobby as well.

"Stop, Collaborate & Listen: 20Nothings" will continue with an evening of original choreography and song on September 6 at 7pm.

Mark your calendars. We'll post complete show information shortly.

Are You Effable?

You have reached the Official Blog of Effable Arts--congratulations.

Ha, you have no idea who we are, do you? It's okay, you can be honest. Come on...the truth will set you free. See, that wasn't so hard, was it?

Don't worry, we're not offended. The reason this blog is here is so you do know who we are. Or, more specifically, who we are, what we do, what we're up to, how we're doing it and how you can be involved.

So, a little bit about us:

Effable Arts is a bourgeoning performing arts company based in New York City. Founded by twentysomethings Brad Landers, Kimberly Kaye and Meredith Packer as an antidote to reality TV and jukebox musicals, our mission is simple: to provide a performance forum for the creative voices of today while developing a safe place for artists to hone their craft.

Our art collective is comprised of traditional theater artists—including actors, dancers, directors and choreographers—as well as writers, musicians, filmmakers and visual artists, all working in tandem to create while entertaining and provoking audiences. Effable Arts also provides a safe and constructive place for creative talents from across all mediums to hone their craft.

That's just a little, blog-worthy bit of info about us. Over the coming days, weeks, months and, hopefully, years, we'll be presenting everything from full theatrical productions to art exhibitions to readings and back again, as well as concerts, film screenings, poetry slams, dance offs and everything in between. Yeah, it's a lofty goal. But we've got a stable full of hungry, worthy talent repping all genres of art--and trust us, you want to see their work. Even better, the collective is growing by the day, so if you're an artist of any kind looking to show your work, get and give feedback, help support independent art or just grow professionally, get in touch with us. We're effablearts@gmail.com, and we love emails (they go so well with coffee).

So...are you effable?