Saturday, September 16, 2017

Harry Dean Stanton

Harry Dean Stanton is the film version of my own father; both in looks but more so, in their shared phlegmatic demeanor. Harry is like the Leonard Cohen of acting.
I will watch all of his movies again, starting with Paris, Texas. We lost Robin Williams then, Philip Seymour Hoffman. This one is equally as hard. Hang in there Chris Cooper and Willam Dafoe.

Monday, December 5, 2016

Inspired by Marcus Greil's REAL LIFE ROCK TOP 10

I have created my own with the direction to do so, by professor, Dwight Garner.



My Top Ten List from the past 4 decades



1.     Boys Don’t Cry (Movie) 1999 Written and directed by Kimberly Peirce and produced by Christine Vachon (Killer Films) includes a stellar cast such as then start-ups: Peter Sarsgaard and Brendan Sexton. Chloe Sevigny play’s the character of Teena’s (Hillary Swank) love interest and who was already an indie heartthrob and Harmony Korine’s muse, prior to Boys Don’t Cry. Lynard Skynard’s Tuesday’s Gone is truly a musical pairing masterpiece. It comes on while the gang are all in the car driving in the middle of nowhere drinking and smoking you can feel their youthful and wild high. It grows darker when they found out one of the friends is a pyromaniac, and maniacal. In all, am in pure amazement of the acting capabilities of the then unknown, Hillary Swank. Her raw talent in taking on such an intriguing and challenging and role moved me like no other, with the close exception of Deer Hunter viewed much earlier. Based on a true story, Swank plays the character of Teena, a transgender girl who lives as a male in a small town in North Dakota. We walk on eggshells with her praying she doesn’t get ‘found out’ because when she does, it will be violent and deadly. With my the tendency to gravitate towards dark stories with charged writing and performance, this film is one of the best films ever made because of Hillary Swank’s unmatched acting ability. Which leads me to a later, darker, and aligned film, Monster



2.     Monster (Movie) 2003 Written and directed by Patty Jenkins. Based on a true story of the first female, American serial killer, Aileen Wuornos. Aileen is played by the truly talented Charlize Theron and Selby her girlfriend, played by Christina Ricci. Deep sympathy is felt for Theron’s character who has endured such an unfortunate life without options, but when she begins tormenting and killing her john’s it becomes a horror movie. Taking of one of Hollywood’s most beautiful women and transforming her into an Aileen Wuornos look-alike that includes implementing a protruding mouth piece and chin, marking up her skin’s texture, and adding the brown contacts lenses is impressive. But its not the physical alteration that astounded me rather Charlie’s uncanny mimicking of Aileen herself: her mannerisms, voice, accent, intensity, and crazed eyes. It is an out of body experience to watch Charlize embody and own this character. I will speak little of the rest of the crew or cast, because this movie is all about the acting and portrayal of a hurt, damaged vengeful woman whose only option to make money is though prostitution. The best scene is when Aileen goes to the local roller skating rink and asks Christine’s character to dance, and Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing comes on. The timing and excitement is impeccable. She is so intense she makes you uncomfortable. She has the ability to take it far, and really make you join her on this rode to her inner turmoil and path to destruction.



3.     Boys Don’t Cry, Album by The Cure, 1979 And like the title of the film as aforementioned, another favorite worth mentioning is Boys Don’t Cry, the album by The Cure. One of my favorite bands growing up, this post-punk, new wave band’s album was recorded and released in 1979. Their next album would be even more magnificent, Standing on the Beach. But Boys Don’t Cry was my gateway to the rest of The Cure and similar bands. My cassette tape had been played to obsession that the tape frayed and eventually dissipated in the tape player of my 1970 VW bug. The B Sides to Standing on the Beach will always be in my top ten favorite albums because the sound is wonderful: beautiful, trippy, ethereal guitars and somber voice and (silly, love struck) lyrics of Robert Smith. It was the beginning of the black eyeliner and teased hair sensation as also seen with Echo and The Bunnymen, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Love + Rockets. The Cure’s beauty was more about the sound for me than the lyrics. My favorite band and lyricist was and still is, Morrissey of The Smiths. 



4.     There is a Light That Never Goes Out; The Smiths (Song) 1986
This was the first song I ever heard by The Smiths, which from that moment on, no other would ever compare after. This song is on The Queen is Dead album (1986). I remember as a solemn, skate-punk, Goth in 1987, MTV was playing on the background while doing homework and the kitchen table, and the sound overcame me. I stared at the green and pink video keeping my eyes glued, not to miss a second of the last four seconds to the bottom right and corner screen which displayed the song’s title, band’s name and name of album. The next day I went to Tower records in Philadelphia (not trusting our suburban mall’s music store to carry this album) I ended up buying that and another one of The Smiths’ album’s, Meat is Murder (1985) as well. By the end of that month I had collected every album they had made and became obsessed, a Smith-ophile. They were unbelievably talented for such young, smart, tainted, moody, snarky Brits. From Manchester like Joy Division and later, The Stone Roses and Oasis they come out of the lower/middle class. Johnny Mars’s 12-string guitar strums is so suited to his partner, singer, Steven Morrissey whose lyrics for a young lad of 19 years of age are truly impressive, so intelligent. He sings referencing poets, “Keats and Yeats are on your side, wile the love of Wilde is on mine.” He was a literature junky, making him a wonderful lyricist. The Smiths pull on your conscience as if you want to die, right there with him. 


5.     Over the Edge (Movie) 1979- Laden with Cheap Trip songs, this coming of age nostalgia, how can a suburban kid not love this B-grade film? The best musical part is when the song “Ooh Child” plays at the end when Carl, the protagonist good boy, turned bad, is hauled away in a bus with the rest of the juvenile delinquents, and his friends are running after him and waving. Oddly, the worst of the kids stay behind and the one with a pretty decent head on his shoulders gets sent away. In that moment you can see that pivotal point where he becomes a man, so to speak. He understands the weigh of the world and it’s consequences. I bask in its 70s/early 80s depiction of newly developed housing developments being built on dirt piles in the middle of nothing states in nothing places. It depicts American suburbia: the music, pre teens, danger, drugs and crushes the feathered hair, bobbed hair on the boys. They even show two of the kids, tripping on too much acid, and a drug deal along with a gun that is handled carelessly by the kids foreshadowing a death by gunshot. They were the kids I wanted so much to be like; bad kids with a chip on their shoulder about nothing, really. A typical revenge on parents for living in a safe, boring suburban environment. (Ah white people problems). This is a low-budget, no-name cast. Even to this day with the exception of Matt Dillon who was fourteen and his first role after being discovered at a Westchester, NY mall. 

6.     Psychedelic Furs, The Ghost in You (Song) 1984  From their fourth album, Mirror Moves (1984). I fell in love with the lead singer Richard Butler’s raspy, cigarette voice and tall, thin emaciated British frame. I was in love with British new wave: The Smiths, The Cure, Psychedelic Furs, Joy Division, Bauhaus. I couldn’t help but feel incredibly detached from America’s bland, vapid musical landscape. I remember sitting in the back of my best friend’s sister’s car when this song came on. Bing bing bing, bing ….bing bing… the tickling keys of a synth, then enters Richard,

“ A man in my shoes runs alight,
And all the papers lied tonight,
But falling over you,
Is the news of the day

I couldn’t understand a lick of what he was saying through his thick brogue, and still don’t understand its meaning. What I did understand was that it moved me unlike the poppy, hoppy keyboards of Howard Jones or Boy George. For those three minutes in the back seat I welcomed it’s soulful, echoing, dark, sinister sound to wash over me. I was only fourteen at the time, so I couldn’t compare the feeling to codeine or pot, but I knew I was under the influence. 



7.     Valley Girl, (Movie) 1983
Nick Cage is so dreamy in this 80’s movie that parallels to the likeness of Fast Times at Ridgemont High and all of the John Hughes films. The soundtrack alone is awesome which includes: Psychedelic Furs, The Sparks and Modern English. A very adorable valley girl, Julie (Deborah Foreman) totally, like, ya know, falls for a sexy, punk rock, bad boy Randy (Nick Cage). Their combined chemistry and innocence is palpable. Its funny, fun, sweet, and demonstrating the typical love story a preppy girl influenced by her friends and the bad boy, the anti-social mysterious guy, like blue collar, punk girl Molly Ringwald, and rich, preppy Andrew McCarthy in Pretty in Pink. Valley Girl is the valley, the mall, and bad eighties dancing in upper-middle income house parties. It’s everything you want in one.



8.     Harold and Maude (Movie) (1971) Directed by Hal Ashby, it stars Bud Court (Harold) and the lively, spritely, honest and alive; Ruth Gordon as Maude. The dichotomy between the young (and death obsessed) and the older (life obsessed) makes this a truly warming, funny, odd movie. But the sadness is amplified by the music accompaniment of Cat Stevens. The entire soundtrack is Cat. The upbeat ballads that seems to honor Maude’s inner motto of (life is good) with “If you want to Sing Out Sing out”, praising individualism. The gut-wrenching scene where Maude commits suicide, or rather, welcomes her death, (a goal of hers that on her 80th birthday she will sleep forever) Harold, her biggest, adorning fan rides his manmade hearse to the hospital to prevent her from dying. We hear Stevens growling, “Trouble”.
Trouble move away
I have seen your face
and it's too much for me today
with each line getting heightened to the next, when he really become audible,
I've seen your eyes
and I can see death's disguise
Hangin' on me
Hangin' on me

The song is so strong a lump hardens in the back of my throat. We see Harold’s hearse fly over a cliff. We think, he did it, the morbid kid commit suicide. The very next second he playing Sing Out on a ukulele. We see Maude’s influence on him and he wants to live.





9.     Cat Stevens (compilation of Songs) Trouble, Sing Out, Where do the Children Play, Father and Son, Oh Very Young. His musical career lasted from 1966-1970 before her converted to Islamism. Raised in London, by his Greek-orthodox Father and Swedish Baptist mother. He’d go on the roof of Dylan, Nina Simon, Lead Belly and Muddy Waters, were his major influences. I’m less interested in his past and more of his music and how he seems to have always been a peaceful sole and only sought happiness, and its rare to find someone that really owns and feels that enlightenment. He once was the music on my parents ‘ car radio with Moonshadow and Morning has Broken, and became something so much more to me later in life after I watched Harold and Maude, moving from the comforts of easy listening to a powerful singer/songwriter.


10.  Ethyl Methyl (band) 2016 I just heard this band this weekend when they opened for The Preoccupations (formally Viet Cong) at The Warsaw in Greenpoint, Brooklyn last night. They are on the 4AD label, so that speaks for itself. Their album, Oh Inhuman Spectacle is great, if you are seeking some somber, fall music. As soon as I heard the band begin and the heavy, dreamy guitars begin fill to the room, it was if these seemingly adolescent, pubescent band members were channeling The Cure's B Sides or the later days of the 90’s shoegaze, synth, Slowdive sound. The lead, small, hydrogenous male singer sounds like the Cocteau Twins, circa 1989. The Warsaw is an old polish entertainment venue with a bar and kitchen the size of a high school gym, decked out for prom. Albeit now it is a venue that is committed to hosting, obscure punk bands it continues to nourish the young millennials with homemade, pierogies, potatoes and slaw.

Monday, November 7, 2016

Today's state of mind.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Thursday, June 18, 2015

After the pinnacle passing of my generation with Michael Jackson's recent death, I, a product of the eighties, am feeling a harder hit with the passing of John Hughes.

As a pre-teen and now as an adult , I can still recite the entirety of "16 Candles". My first true love was a twosome. A cross between "Jake and Farmer Ted. Jake symbolizing man-godliness, and Ted, the attainable, he'll-grow-into-his-own crush. They were the id and ego of my female desires. Now Claire, was my girl, she was me until the false end when her lust is fulfilled. I mean don't we all dream of the hot senior leaving his HOT, but selfish and boring girlfriend for a mediocre looking gal?

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Monday, September 23, 2013

broad

A couple of oddities that took place this weekend in New York. Walking down 54th street after dinning with 2 girlfriends, a man walking behind me bumps into me as I stopped in the middle of walking, some that frustrates me immensely. Immediately without a second after almost knocking me says, “Hey Get over it It’s a street! It happens!” Um, mind you I have not even said anything to this man, when he fell into me and then yells at me? And if that isn’t bad enough my control button is turned off and I yell, “I didn’t even say anything ‘a-hole’”. Yes, I even censored my self to “a” -hole; he turns full circle back around and walks right up to me. Alarmed, I stand there but instead of hitting me, yells, “yo, check out the mouth on this broad!” Clearly not addressing anyone in particular. My friends and I just burst out laughing. One whom is originally from California, the other one, a gorgeous little southern bell from North Carolina giggles at the term ‘broad’ I on the other hand a transplant from Philadelphia isn’t as entertained and amused by such archaic eastern terminology, I still think it’s funny.

whilst in my laziness and my heading out the door to another state, the Upper West side, I leave you with this until I resume.

On Obama's Health Care Resolve

We must do our part in order for Obama's health care action to work for each one of us! If he is willing to create a system in which ALL Americans can benefit from, I will do my part in any way I can. The greed of insurance companies MUST come to an end, and the Dr's who abide by these insurance monsters' tactics. We need resolve ASAP! Insurance companies should be held accountable for death when they are indeed, responsible. Where are their morals?!

A physician called after the debate on C-Span and said a good way to help incentive is to have insurance companies lower their rates in order to compete for those headed to government-supplied insurance. I think that is a good initiative. They still get to be greedy and chase after money and Americans can receive health insurance that they can afford. So it is a win/win for all.

1975


My brother and I have been scanning tons of images from our 70's childhood as we are creating a video for our parents' 40th Wedding Anniversary. This is my and my brother's favorite photo.

Imagine That: Imagine That: Bridget O'Neill The Moth Slam Winner "Dues"

Imagine That: Imagine That: Bridget O'Neill The Moth Slam Winner "Dues"

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Upcoming Performances


Thursday, September 28th at 

RISK! Live at The PIT, NYC "Late Blooming" 

New York, NY

RISK!'s monthly NYC live storytelling show at the PIT. Featuring Kevin Allison, Bridget O'Neill, Steve Zimmer and Michele Carlo.
Venues: The PIT (People's Improv Theater)
Address: 123 East 24th Street, NYC 


Friday, August 10, 2012


Tonight! August 10th at 8.00 (doors open at 7.00)

Bridget O'Neill (The Moth) I Wanna Be Sedated/The Ramones
Hallie Haglund (The Daily Show) The River/Bruce Springsteen
SM Shrake (Story League) Papa Can You Hear Me/Barbra Streisand
Nat Cassidy (Songs of Love: A Theatrical Mixtape) Hurts So Good/John Cougar MellencampJill Marino (Mortified) Mandy/Barry Manilow

Le Poisson Rouge/ The Gallery at LPR
158 Bleecker Street
New York, NY
Google Map


OFF THE RECORD Check out this month's Off the Record/ The Soundtrack Series:



Tuesday, June 26, 2012


Wednesday, June 27th at 8.00pm
It's just stories about things that are, you know, complex. 
Featuring:
DAVE HILL
(Tasteful Nudes)
SUSAN PIVER
(The Hard Questions)
JULIE KLAM
(Love at First Bark)
ISAAC OLIVER
(He Who Laughs: Or, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Intimacy)
BRIDGET O'NEILL
(Moth StorySLAM)

Creator, Producer + Host
BLAISE ALLYSEN KEARSLEY



Bridget O’Neill
A recovering photographer turned writer, performer and storyteller. Bridget hails from Cheesesteak County, otherwise known as Philadelphia, PA and is anchored in NY. She is the co-producer and correspondent to “Off the Record” for The Soundtrack Series; a music-themed storytelling show whose won many accolades in such publications and broadcast stations such as: NY Times, NY Time Out, NY, The New Yorker, NY1 and CBS. She performs regularly at The Moth and numerous storytelling and comedy venues throughout New York and beyond.

The Moth (StorySlam winner) - regularly
First Person Arts, Philadelphia, PA- regularly
Story League, Washington, DC
Real Characters
The Soundtrack Series- co Producer - regularly
The Next Chapter
BARE – (upcoming) July
RISK – (upcoming) September
Yum’s the Word
I Like You, Maude
The Bodega
Do What's in Your Heart
Connotations
Fireside Stories
Storytelling at Perch
AmeriCorps' Outreach Program
Purge
Shut Up

Performed all over NY, and the east coast including: The Pit, UCB, UCBeast

Sunday, April 22, 2012

THURSDAY APRIL 26, 201
THE SOUNDTRACK SERIES 
7:00pm @ Le Poisson Rouge

Dana Rossi - Host

Storytellers:
Sara Benincasa (Comedian, Writer, Author of Agorafabulous!)
Ted Travelstead (Co-author of SEX: Our Bodies, Our Junk! Mordechai in Children of the Corn II) Matt Archambault (Actor, Storyteller, Flux Theatre Ensemble)
April Salazar (Moth, Risk, Playgirl, SuperVegan, and The Story Collider Magazine)
David Crabb (2 time MothSlam champ, Host of Ask Me, co-producer of RISK!)
For more information, visit http://lepoissonrouge.com/events/view/3228

SUNDAY APRIL 29, 2012
STORY LEAGUE
8:00pm @ Busboys and Poets Washington, DC.

Winners of Judges' Favorite and Audience Favorite from our first 5 Story Contests will compete for a $250 cash prize and the title of Story League Champion. 
Story League Tournament: "Odd Jobs - Weird Things We've Done for Money"

HOST:         DOUG POWELL (Beery Burglar, Farmer, Comedian)
JUDGES:    GOWRI K. from BloomBars & Busboys and Poets
                    LIZ GREEN from First Person Arts in Philadelphia
                    CHRISTIAN HUNT from The Capital City Showcase
FEATURE: BRIDGET O'NEILL (Soundtrack Series, NYC)

http://www.facebook.com/events/191746910934915/
http://www.facebook.com/StoryLeague

MONDAY APRIL 30, 2012  
YUM’S THE WORD
7PM @ Le Poisson Rouge

Robin Gelfenbien- host

Storytellers:
Kevin Allison
Bridget O’Neill
Elicia Berger
Steve Heisler
We listed in this week’s FLAVORILL

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Madonnathon This Thursday 3/22 at 7pm @LPR



THE SOUNDTRACK SERIES

March Madness Madonnathon
celebrating the publication of Madonna & Me
Dana Rossi will be hosting and serenading, plus other excellent females revealing stories evoked by the madwoman herself.
Plus*** Stephanie Simon, the Arts Reporter with NY1's camera crew will be there to document us along with our own camera man Jeremy Mather will be layin' down some coverage of my irreverent questions. So Basically there will be a lot of cameras, so if you aren't shy: feather your hair, Bonnie Bell your lips come on out! Plus co producer, Lauren O'Connor the hard worker behind the scenes will be seen in all of her hotness, that little minx.
Show starts at 8:00 PM/Doors open at 7:00PM

Susan Shapiro
Laura Barcella
Gloria Feldt
Jamia Wilson
Kristin McGonigle
Jamie Beckman

Le Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker Street
New York, NY
Google Map
FREE

LIKE US on FB:
THE GALLERY AT lpr (LE POISSON ROGUE)

Monday, March 12, 2012

The Soundtrack Series - February.mov


February's Soundtrack Series' new "Off the Record" video. Video, sound and editing by filmmaker, Jeremy Mather.

"Off theRecord" correspondant is "Off her Rocker"

February's Soundtrack Series' new "Off the Record" video. Video, sound and editing by filmmaker, Jeremy Mather.

Friday, February 17, 2012

The Soundtrack Series in New York Times

The Soundtrack series http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifin this weekend's New York Times!

Dana Rossi, Host and creator, Co Producers: Lauren O'Connor and Bridget O'Neill are happy as clams in the sand with no one digging. Come out while there is still some standing groom in the gallery of LPR.
Every last Thursday, 8 p.m., Le Poisson Rouge Gallery, 158 Bleecker Street, near Thompson Street, Greenwich Village; 212-505-3474, soundtrackseries.com

This Thursday February 23rd:

Ryan Andes
Barracuda
Heart

Jill Marino
Mr. Brightside
The Killers

Blaise Allysen Kearsley
Hard to Say I'm Sorry
Chicago

Alex Mann
Sympathy for the Devil
The Rolling Stones

Dave Hill
I Will Dare
The Replacements

Monday, February 13, 2012

"Off the Record" Soundtrack Series

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM31FO7Gvo8&context=C32eb942ADOEgsToPDskJJGDAKKNXvHPEQZFYeVmG-
Bridget O'Neill interviews audience members of the Soundtrack Series.
The Soundtrack Series is a live storytelling event based on music. On the fourth Thursday of every month at (Le) Poisson Rouge, host Dana Rossi invites five guest writers to get on the mic to tell the hilarious or heartwrenching stories they forever associate with a song from their past.
This month marks our 2 year anniversary! Can you say hell yeah! The amazing Dana Rossi started this show in modest Astoria, Queens and it grew rapidly making it’s way to LRP a year ago.
The Soundtrack Series is a live storytelling event based on music. On the fourth Thursday of every month at (Le) Poisson Rouge, host Dana Rossi invites five guest writers to get on the mic to tell the hilarious or heartwrenching stories they forever associate with a song from their past.
This month we have:
• Ryan Andes: Barracuda, Heart
• Jill Marino: Mr. Brightside, The Killers
• Blaise Allysen Kearsley: Hard to Say I'm Sorry, Chicago
• Alex Mann: Sympathy for the Devil, The Rolling Stones
• Dave Hill: I Will Dare, The Replacements

Le Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker Street
New York, NY

Monday, January 16, 2012

Bye Purge! and thank you all!


Purge! has come to an end. I want to focus on a few other endeavors and continue to tell stories at other shows, as well as happily continue co producing my favorite show: The Soundtrack series.

I want to thank each one of you for making Purge so special, every guest and every audience member.

Farewell Purge, till next time.
A big hug and kiss,
Bridge
But, you can find me telling stories at ASK ME this Wednesday (1/18) at NY Confidential on Saturday (1/21) and come to The Soundtrack Series the last Thursday (1/26) of this month.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

“Off the Record” Interviews Producer, The Soundtrack Series

"Offhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif the record"
I'm proud to mention that I am one of the co-Producers(“Off the Record” Interviews Producer)of the amazing, titillating, moving and grooving storytelling venues: The Soundtrack Series. Noted as by CBSNew York’s The 5 Best Things To Do In NYC (Tonight, Dec. 22) and a Time Out New York’s Critic Pick! Creator and Host: Dana Rossi, Producer: Lauren O’Connor, Sound Recording: Douglas MacKrell, Sound Design: Stephanie Cox-Williams, Sound Design: Jeanne Travis. See more About Us!

The Soundtrack Series is held at Gallery at LPR (le Poisson Rouge), the last Thursday of each month at 8pm. For tonight's show, and the last show of 2011 we have stories from Franz Nicolay, Cammi Climaco, Elna Baker, Matthew Callan and Jessica Halem based on songs from their pasts.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

PURGE! Monday December 19th @ 8:00pm


at Perch Cafe & Bar 365 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Steve Zimmer is an enthusiastic member of the story community. He is beloved for his willingness to help other storytellers with frank evaluations of their work, which he provides before, after and sometimes even during their performances. Yea, he’s pretty much the bomb! And never bombs;)

Katherine Wessling
’s stories have been heard at Moth Slams, the Next Chapter, You Went to College for That, WNYC, and published in the anthology ‘Have I Got a Guy for You,’ the magazines ‘Speak’ and ‘Swing’ and online at Bustedhalo.com. She’s also written for Marie Claire, Elle, CosmoGirl!, etc. Her book for young readers, ‘Backstage at a Movie Set,’ is kind of boring, but the historical section of the tome ‘Women’s Wear Daily: 100 Years, 100 Designers’ is surprisingly not. Katherine’s also an actor who appears in what the kids call ‘downtown theater pieces.’ This month, you can also see her as an abused wife on the just-released DVD, ‘Game Time,’ or as an uptight corporate executive in the corporate comedy series, ‘Cutting Edge.

Erin Barker is a writer and a copy editor who has worked with more than a hundred novels. (If you catch her after the show, she will gladly explain to you the difference between who and whom.) She is a producer/host of science storytelling show The Story Collider, as well as editor of its upcoming online magazine, and can be seen every first Tuesday of the month performing with her storytelling team, Mimsy, at the Pacific Standard. She is a recent Moth GrandSLAM champion.

Miguel De Leon
is a twentysomething who owns a dog and lives in Park Slope. He likes crosswords, Italian wine, and Legos. He tells stories. He is also a large part of the MIMSY team! Which is an improv based Storytelling Mimsy is a storytelling show in Brooklyn. One of it’s kind! He was also manager at Momofuku!

Caitlin Brodnick
is also a part of the MIMSY team, and wonderful, delightful storyteller and person.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

PURGE! Monday, November 21st @ 8pm


design: Chauncey O'Neill
Perch cafe & Bar 365 5th Ave. Brooklyn, NY

Selena Coppock Leslie Goshko Robin Gelfenbien Becky Flaum Dawn Fraser

Leslie Goshko
Manhattan Monologue Slam Champion, recipient of the New York Fringe Excellence Award, host of Sideshow Goshko (Time Out New York "Critics' Pick") http://www.ohmygoshko.com/

Dawn J. Fraser
humorist, performer and storyteller. Writer for the sketch comedy show AMERICAN CANDY, UCB, PIT, Coordinator of the Harvardwood Comedy Writing Program The Moth, Ask Me Stories and RISK!

Becky Flaum
Writer and storyteller. Host of ‘My Bad’ Solo show "Hopeless Romantic Comedy" at the PIT.

Selena Coppock
Standup + Sketch Comedian, Writer, + Storyteller (Moth winner)
Author of "THE NEW RULES FOR BLONDES" a collection of essays celebrating and subverting the blonde stereotype (Fall 2012).
McSweeney's, the Collared Sheep, and Rock Bottom Stories
Morning Show with Mike and Juliet (FOX), TheApiary.com, ComedySmack.com, CollegeHumor.com, PMSports.com, + 6 comedy festivals!

Robin Gelfenbien
comedy writer, storyteller, solo show, “My Salvation Has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey,” The Moth, The Liar Show, HEEB Storytelling and RISK! “Yum’s the Word,” that features her homemade ice cream cakes. Robin is currently working on a memoir based on her solo show.

Bridget O'Neill Host
Fireside Stories, Storytelling at Perch, First Person Arts, AmeriCorps' Outreach Program, Mimsy, The Bodega, Do What's in Your Heart, The Soundtrack series and The Next Chapter. UCB

Webster Dictionary defines "Purge" as, to remove (impurities and other elements) by or as if by cleansing and isn’t that what storytelling really is? By storytelling we relinquish our inhibitions, we throw-up our past. Storytelling is a confessional booth with an audience in my catholic association.

Perch Café, a small, intimate, quaint café with a designated area for live shows nestled in the heart of Park Slope. Home to many storytelling venues such as: The Story Collider, Mimsy, The Standard Issues, My Bad, and others. Drink specials, and food is available. Bring your video cam, or recorder.

Monday, October 24, 2011

PURGE! Monday, October 24th @ 8:00


PURGE! SHARON SPELL, MICHELE CARLO, JEFFERSON, NISSE GREENBERG, AMY KLEIN

Webster Dictionary defines "Purge" as, to remove (impurities and other elements) by or as if by cleansing and isn’t that what storytelling really is? By storytelling we relinquish our inhibitions, we throw-up our past. Storytelling is a confessional booth with an audience in my catholic association.

Perch Café, a small, intimate, quaint café with a designated area for live shows nestled in the heart of Park Slope. Home to many storytelling venues such as: The Story Collider, Mimsy, The Standard Issues, My Bad, and others. Drink specials, and food is available. Bring your video cam, or recorder.

SHARON M SPELL - Although her training and background geared her for a life of sitting alone in a studio inhaling paint fumes, southern-born fashion plate Sharon Spell longed for a life before an audience. She moved to New York City from Hattiesburg, Mississippi (via Pittsburgh, PA) after earning a BFA in Painting and Drawing. It wasn't long after that she dove headfirst into comedy performances, spouting abstract expressionist humor that everyone can relate to. She's recently merged her two passions by drawing portraits of her fellow performers while they're on stage. She also produces and hosts Shrink, a weekly comedy variety show at Luca Lounge (LES), and Queereoke at Metropolitan Bar (Williamsburg).

MICHELLE CARLO is a writer/performer who has lived in four of the five boroughs of NYC and remembers when a slice of pizza cost fifty cents. She has been published in Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood’s Lost & Found: Stories From New York, Chicken Soup For The Latino Soul and SMITH magazine, and told her stories everywhere a person can tell stories in NYC—including the MOTH’s GrandSlams and Mainstage. Her memoir Fish Out Of Agua: My life on neither side of the (subway) tracks was published by Citadel Press in August 2010. www.michelecarlo.com

NISSE GREENBERG is the host and co-producer of Drawn Out Storytelling and one half of the comedy duo Rachel and the Elf. Check out nissegreenberg.com - he's mildly attractive.

AMY KLEIN - Writer, Storyteller, warrior, and new bride

JEFFERSON - parent and pervert and storyteller.

Your host, BRIDGET O'NEILL hails from Cheesesteak County, otherwise known as Philadelphia, or Scrapple, PA. A Mothslam winner, she performs regularly at The Moth, and other storytelling venues throughout NY. She studied at the UCB Theater. Her work has been published in publications and blogs. Her book of documenting her substance-laden days is forthcoming. Performances include: Fireside Stories, Storytelling at Perch, First Person Arts, AmeriCorps' Outreach Program, Mimsy, The Bodega, Do What's in Your Heart, The Soundtrack series and The Next Chapter. http://www.photoballads.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

People on Ludes Should not Drive!


Me, goth on qualudes at a Ministry concert circa 1990 on THE SOUNDTRACK SERIES PODCAST right now!!!!LISTEN!!!!:)http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
THE SOUNDTRACK SERIES

I had the pure pleasure of telling my Soundtrack Series story that Dana Rossi hosts each moth at Le Poisson Rogue in NYC

In case you forgot the lyrics-

Just like a car crash, just like a knife
My favorite weapon is the look in your eyes
You ran out of lies!

You ran out of life!
You ran out of lies!
Get out of my life!

And I'm chewing on glass and tasting my fingers
I'm not the one who's run out of lies, lies!
You ran out of life!
You ran out of time!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

PURGE! Monday September 19th 8:00 @ Perch cafe/bar in Brooklyn


Cammi Climaco is a visual artist, storyteller and performance artist. Her work has been exhibited internationally. She has performed in art galleries, storytelling and stand up shows. She has been on Told!, Story Collider, and Risk!. Cammi teaches at Pratt Institute of Art.

Steven Berkowitz is a writer, storyteller and propagandist. A MothSLAM winner. The Liar Show, Told and The Story Collider. He produces and hosts Stories at the Shore in Belmar, N.J. Steven is also a storycoach with the MothSHOP community outreach program.

Ryan Paulson has performed his solo shows "Pentecostal Wisconsin" and "I'm Uncomfortable" across the US, Canada, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. You can follow him on Twitter, where he goes by @HuskyBoyRyan.

Dave Ritz is an actor, performer and storyteller.He recently starred in the independent feature film "86Fatboy" and many local storytelling shows including The Moth StorySLAM. He also is a food enthusiast and an unemployed waiter. Dave can tell you where to find the hottest new dining establishments in NYC because he is a licensed NYC Sightseeing Guide. He can also tell you where to find salmonella and mouse droppings because he holds a NYC Food Protection Certificate. SeeDave in the film "86Fatboy" openfilm.com/videos/fatboy

Johanna Clearfield is a blogger for the Park Slope Patch (http://www.parkslope.patch.com/), Moth storyteller and DEC-licensed wildlife rehabilitator. She posts political blather on http://pleasetellmeyouarejoking.com/ and is organizing an all-species revolt on http://www.humanerevolution.org/. Her non-fiction novel, I FOUND OUT, A memoir of Sex Cults & the 70s – is soon to be released.
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Bridget O’Neill host of Purge performs regularly at The Moth, and other storytelling venues throughout NY. She studied at the UCB Theater. Her work has been published in publications and blogs. She is currently writing her memoir highlighting her self- inflicted shenanigans from her early years. The Moth, StorySlam winner, Fireside Stories, Storytelling at Perch, First Person Arts, AmeriCorps' Outreach Program, Mimsy, The Bodega, Do What's in Your Heart, UCB Theater. Come see me perform at The Soundtrack series and The Next Chapter next week!

Plus* Special musical act

Webster Dictionary defines "Purge" as, to remove (impurities and other elements) by or as if by cleansing and isn’t that what storytelling really is? By storytelling we relinquish our inhibitions, we throw-up our past. Storytelling is a confessional booth with an audience in my catholic association.

Perch Café, a small, intimate, quaint café with a designated area for live shows nestled in the heart of Park Slope. Home to many storytelling venues such as: The Story Collider, Mimsy, The Standard Issues, My Bad, and others. Drink specials, and food is available. Bring your video cam, or recorder.

See you there, beer in hand!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

PURGE! Monday August 22 @ 8: 00 pm at Perch Cafe Where were you during the BlackOut in 2003?





Monday August 22 @ 8:00 pm at Perch Cafe & Bar 365 5th Ave. Brooklyn, NY



4 storytellers will share with you where they were and what took place. Come out and relieve the night or experience it for the first time with drink specials; The Bodega (Nanagasset beer in a bag) and no ATM, (gin and green liquor) and Food Gone Bad (mudslides)



Seth Lind hosts Told, a monthly storytelling show at Under St. Marks Theater. He also performs longform improv comedy with the group Thank You, Robot, and is production manager for the public radio program This American Life.



Adam Wade
is a 17 time storyslam winner at the moth as well as a 2 time grandslam winner. He makes his internet home at Adamwade.com. He also hosts and performs on his own show: Adam Wade from New Hampsire.



Ophira Eisenberg
has been selected as one of New York Magazine's Top 10 Comics, appeared on Comedy Central, VH-1, Fox, E! Channel and The Joy Behar Show. Her writing has been published in four anthologies including I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comics and Heeb's collectionSex, Drugs & Gefilte Fish. She's appeared at the Montreal Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Comedy Festival plus is a monthly contributor to US Magazine's Fashion Police and a regular host for The Moth. Her debut CD "AS IS" is heard regularly on Sirius Raw Dog Comedy.



Bridget O’Neill
host of Purge is recovering photographer turned writer and performer. She hails from Cheesesteak County, otherwise known as Philadelphia, or Scrapple, PA. She performs regularly at The Moth, and other storytelling venues throughout NY. She studied at the UCB Theater. Her work has been published in publications and blogs. She is currently writing her humble, hilarious, no-holds-bar memoir highlighting her self- inflicted shenanigans from her early years. The Moth, Fireside Stories, Storytelling at Perch, First Person Arts, AmeriCorps' Outreach Program, Mimsy, The Bodega, Do What's in Your Heart, UCB Theater



Plus* Special musical act



Webster Dictionary defines "Purge" as, to remove (impurities and other elements) by or as if by cleansing and isn’t that what storytelling really is? By storytelling we relinquish our inhibitions, we throw-up our past. Storytelling is a confessional booth with an audience in my catholic association.



Perch Café, a small, intimate, quaint café with a designated area for live shows nestled in the heart of Park Slope. Home to many storytelling venues such as: The Story Collider, Mimsy, The Standard Issues, My Bad, and others. Drink specials, and food is available. Bring your video cam, or recorder.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

PURGE! 2nd show Monday July 25th





David Crabb
is the co-producer of Kevin Allison’s RISK! and a producer/co-host of Ask Me Stories (www.askmestories.com) David is a member of Axis Theatre Company (www.axiscompany.org) and has appeared onstage in "A Glance at New York" (Edinburgh Fringe & NYC), "Down There" and the "Hospital" series. David is a multiple MothSlam winner and... is currently working on his one-person show "Bad Kid," set to open this November. www.davidcrabb.net



Dana Rossi
is the creator and host of the Soundtrack Series, a night of stories based on songs that happens every month (like, say, this Thursday) at Le Poisson Rouge. She has written for NY Press, Time Out NY, The Retroist, and is a regular contributor to InDigest. An essay of hers will appear in the upcoming anthology Madonna & Me, which will be published by Soft Skull Press in March 2012.



Alyssa Pinsker
is a writer, stand up comic, storyteller and teacher living in Brooklyn. {As the child of a Yeshiva fleeing Bronx bred dad and anti-religious Ukranian Catholic immigrant mom,she became a spiritual seeking world traveler who's dated hipster Hassids, turbaned Sikhs, skirt-wearing Keralite Muslims, WASPS and Jews all for "material". }She is currently working on an anti-Eat, Pray, Love memoir, and has written for the Huffington Post, Time Out NY, New York Post, The Daily News, Bust Magazine, The Frisky, The Forward, Generation J, and Interfaith Family. She has also appeared in the MOTH, How I learned series, Freerange non-fiction, the Franklin Park Reading series and New York Confidential,Standard Issues and more.



Cautionary Tale teller "Uncle Frank" of the Moth unleashes his alter ego one man Ed Sullivan Show for a comedic retro look at highlights from the 50's and 60's.



Your host, Bridget is recovering photographer turned writer and performer. She hails from Cheese steak County, otherwise known as Philadelphia, or Scrapple, PA. She performs regularly at The Moth, and other storytelling venues throughout NY. She studied at the UCB Theater. Her work has been published in publications and blogs. She is currently writing her humble, hilarious, no-holds-bar memoir highlighting her self- inflicted shenanigans from her early years.



The Moth, Fireside Stories, Storytelling at Perch, First Person Arts, AmeriCorps' Outreach Program, Mimsy, The Bodega, Do What's in Your Heart, UCB Theater



Tuesday, June 7, 2011

PURGE! New Show, New Host


Monday June 27th 8pm
PURGE
Perch Cafe
(formally hosted by the salty host, Nisse Greenberg under Storytelling at Perch)
356 5th Avenue Brooklyn, NY
hosted by Bridget O'Neill

The theme will always center around the name of the show, Purge.
Webster Dictionary defines "Purge" as, to remove (impurities and other elements) by or as if by cleansing and isn’t that what storytelling really is? By storytelling we relinquish our inhibitions, we throw-up our past. Storytelling is a confessional booth with an audience in my catholic association.

The theme is open as necessary: purging/cleaning out your unwanted junk from your home or office, ridding oneself of an annoying friend, a facebook friend, a bad relationship, or even breaking a habit. You may have had a colonic, have suffered from bulimia. No story is too bold for this show. Bodily functions is a story’s warm blanky and are encouraged.

Perch Café, a small, intimate, quaint café with a designated area for live shows nestled in the heart of Park Slope. Home to many storytelling venues such as: The Story Collider, Mimsy, The Standard Issues, My Bad, and others. Drink specials, and food is available. Bring your video cam, or recorder.

If you would like to be considered for for an upcoming show, please write me at:
perchstorytelling@gmail.com or send me messages on my facebook page.
Purge is the 4th Monday of each month.