Fight Choreography - How to Throw a Punch

There's a lot of violence in Killer Joe, and while we don't want to give away anything, we do want people to see how a stage fight scene is put together - or at least part of a fight scene. In this video our Fight Choreographer, Andrew Pecoraro shows Denny Grizzle (Joe) and Julie Herber (Sharla) how to throw a punch.

Want to see the whole thing? Come see KILLER JOE!

Martin McDonagh

Martin McDonagh, playwright of MET's next mainstage production The Cripple of Inishmaan, has written some of the most unique and thought-provoking plays in recent theatre history. In addition to writing award-winning plays, McDonagh also writes and directs films.
Check out his bio and see the Trailer for his latest film, In Bruges.

Cripple of Inishmaan

MET's next mainstage production is Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishmaan. The play takes place on the island of Inishmaan, one of the Aran Islands. It's set in the mid 1930's, just after Ireland had won its rebellion against Great Britain and then suffered a civil war and then hit by the world depression.

Thinking it must be a mournful dirge of a play? Actually, you'll be laughing so hard it will hurt. A revisit of Syng's Playboy of the Western World, Cripple follows the story of a young man, Cripple Billy, who leaves his home but comes back changed by his experiences. But unlike Playboy, Cripple deals more with the the time before and after the life-changing experience. Which gives time to discover the eccentricities of Billy's neighbors, fellow island folk and the "aunties" who raised him. These Inishmaaners will entertain you with their odd outlook on life, dreams for the future, ignorance, cruelty and surprising heart.

- Mak Nichols

Stage Manager, Cripple of Inishmaan

Killer Joe Review #2

http://www.gazette.net/stories/022108/entenew151727_32376.shtml

Killer Joe Review

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/art_life/display_Entertainment_columnist.htm?StoryID=71221

Why "Killer Joe?"

We are an ensemble of 20+ artists. To select a season of plays we must come to a consensus. Here's our process: 

In August, at a weekly MET ensemble meeting, we start discussing the plays that each of us have been reading over the past six months or so, some classics, and a few musical selections.  Ensemble members then lobby other company members to read the plays that they are most passionate about.  Then, in late October or early November, we meet as an ensemble to create a "short list" -- between 12 and 20 plays, keeping in mind that we will want to select 1 musical, 1 original project, 1-2 dramas, and 2-3 comedies.

Those plays then get read by the company.  In late January or early February, we have a winter retreat for the company where those that have read all or most of the plays from the "short list" are polled.  We use the polling system to get information about which plays from the list stand out- then, as a group, we build a consensus by looking at all the plays and which plays will go together well in a season.

In January of 2007, one of our top "vote getters" was "Killer Joe" by Tracy Letts.  The only negatives from our company was "with the theme, nudity, and violence- can we actually do this play?"  We began discussing the season, and "Killer Joe" was, by far, the most exciting piece of theatre.  As a group, we realized that, artistically, we had no choice but to produce "Killer Joe" in the 2007-2008 season.  After the decision we all felt a sense of relief (that we came together as a group over a tough choice) and a sense of foreboding (in how our audience would react).

Now, here we stand, 13 months later.  "Killer Joe" has opened and the audience seems to be as excited about the choice as we are!  Opening weekend saw houses of 90% capacity and a standing ovation.  This weekend has seen a flood of e-mails from patrons and company members that talk about "courage" and "passion"- "exciting theatre" and doing "important work," "stepping our of our comfort zone" and doing the theatre that "rocks!"  On Saturday night, there was an unassuming guy- about 26 years old, sporting athletic apparel (team cap, team jacket, nylon jogging pants), after the show hanging around.  He was just beaming... smiling ... nodding his head ...  He saw me, came up, and just said "awesome, man, that was just great."  Now I wouldn't peg this guy as a regular "theatre goer."  And, my feeling is that he's not- but, he was struck.  This is a play where one can come in expecting some one thing, but the play grabs them in a totally different way.

This is the type of theatre- no- the type of social interaction, that I live for.  It's why I do theatre- you know why? Because that is what first grabbed about this artform- it was theatre that "kicked my ass."  Theatre that grabbed me by the throat and said "this ain't a movie- and this sure the hell ain't "Oklahoma!" I was hooked, and from the looks of it- this past weekend hooked a few more.

Killer Joe Show Photos

KILLER JOE is open!
Our Cast:
Ansel: Tad Janes
Chris: Matt Baughman
Dottie: Amy Easton
Sharla: Julie Herber
Joe: Denny Grizzle
Directed by Gené Fouché

"I don't have any money for you."

Chris and Ansel

© Joe Willams 2008

"You worry too much."

Sharla

© Joe Willams 2008

"I had a boyfriend, once."

Dottie and Sharla

© Misti Morningstar 2008

"Tell her, Ansel."

Ansel and Sharla

© Misti Morningstar 2008

"Let her change."

Chris, Ansel and Dottie

© Joe Willams 2008

"However much."

Sharla, Joe and Ansel

© Joe Willams 2008

"Whose is it?

Joe and Sharla

© Joe Willams 2008

"Sharla, are you ok?"

Ansel and Sharla

© Misti Morningstar 2008

Family Dinner

Chris, Joe, Sharla and Dottie

© Misti Morningstar 2008

"Take your seat, Joe."

Sharla, Chris, Joe and Ansel

© Misti Morningstar 2008

Fight! Fight!

Chris and Joe

© Joe Willams 2008

"Be cool, Dottie"

Dottie and Joe

© Misti Morningstar

We've received some great press on this show:

http://www.gazette.net/stories/020708/entenew180321_32385.shtml

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/art_life/display_ent.htm?StoryID=70918

RETRO PROM

MET's Annual Retro Prom is fast approaching! So save the date - Saturday, April 12, 2008 and start looking for that perfect retro-inspired prom get-up! Check out these photos from Retro prom 2007 for inspiration: