More Eggnog Fun

Check out the 'history and life behind that little frothy brew!' Yes, apparently there is some disagreement about where the name 'eggnog' came from. Was it derived from 'egg'n'grog' or 'egg in a noggin' or 'egg and grog in a noggin'?

Read the arguments and choose a side at the link above! And, come see 4 Eggnogs and an Apology this weekend!

The Fourth Eggnog

Low-Fat Eggnog

Ingredients:
6 cups skim milk
1 cup “Egg Beaters” (or similar)
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
2 teaspoons rum extract
sweetener or sugar, to taste (just remember that this is supposed to be a DIET recipe, and sugar has more calories than a sweetener)
2 x pinch nutmeg,
2 x pinch cinnamon, ground

Directions:
In a medium saucepan (or bowl, if you plan to use the microwave), heat the milk, Egg Beaters and sweetener or sugar. You’ll need to remember to stir continuously if you’re using the stove, and every minute if you’re using the microwave.
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Heat & stir until the mixture thickens slightly – enough that it can coat the back of a spoon. Stir in the vanilla essence, rum extract, one pinch of nutmeg & one pinch of cinnamon.
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Remove from heat (or microwave).Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the eggnog has cooled (at least 3 hours). Just prior to serving, ladle your yummy low fat eggnog into glasses, and garnish each with an extra little sprinkle of ground nutmeg & ground cinnamon.

The Third Eggnog

Eggless, Non-Alcoholic Eggnog (does it really count as Eggnog without the eggs and the liquor?)

Ingredients:
8 cups milk
1 3 oz package of French Vanilla Instant pudding
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp of nutmeg

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix the pudding with 1 cup of the milk. When pudding is formed, add in the remaining ingredients and mix well. Chill.

The Second Eggnog

Christmas Eggnog

Ingredients:
12 egg yolks
5 cloves, whole
4 cups milk
4 cups cream
3 cups light rum
1+ ¾ cups sugar
2+ ½ teaspoons vanilla essence
1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
¾ teaspoon nutmeg, ground

Directions:
In a saucepan over low heat, blend the milk, cinnamon, cloves and half a teaspoon of the vanilla essence. Keep stirring while mixture heats, and remove from heat just before boiling point.
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In a bowl, mix together the sugar with all those egg yolks. Make sure you whisk them well so that they're light and fluffy. Gently and a little at a time, pour in the milk mixture while continuing to whisk.
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Transfer mixture back into your saucepan over a medium heat while continuing to stir. Keep stirring until your eggnog mixture starts to resemble custard. Never let the mixture to reach boiling point!!
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Pour and strain the mixture into a jug, making sure to remove the cloves. Stand jug in the fridge for an hour or two. Gently stir in the cream, light rum, remaining vanilla and ground nutmeg.
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Put back into the fridge overnight. Serve in cups with a little extra ground nutmeg, cinnamon or baking cocoa sprinkled lightly on top.

The First Eggnog

The Comedy Pigs' original holiday sketch show, 4 Eggnogs and an Apology, opens on Friday, and to celebrate I'm going to share four eggnog recipes with you, one for each day until the opening. So, here is The First Eggnog:

Basic Eggnog
Ingredients:
4 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar, plus one tablespoon
1 pint whole milk
i cup heavy cream
3 ounces bourbon
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
4 egg whites

Directions:
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the 1/3 cup sugar and continue to beat until it is completely dissolved. Add the milk, cream, bourbon and nutmeg and stir to combine.
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Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat to soft peaks. With the mixer still running gradually add the 1 tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
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Whisk the egg whites into the mixture. Chill and serve.
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Cook's Note: For cooked eggnog, follow procedure below:
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the 1/3 cup sugar and continue to beat until it is completely dissolved. Set aside.
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In a medium saucepan, over high heat, combine the milk, heavy cream and nutmeg and bring just to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and gradually temper the hot mixture into the egg and sugar mixture. Then return everything to the pot and cook until the mixture reaches 160 degrees F. Remove from the heat, stir in the bourbon, pour into a medium mixing bowl, and set in the refrigerator to chill.
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In a medium mixing bowl, beat the egg whites to soft peaks. With the mixer running gradually add the 1 tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Whisk the egg whites into the chilled mixture.

9 o'clock Pigs!

The Comedy Pigs bring their hoglarity to the 9 o'clock hour! It's late night comedy for all those little piggies who can't stay up past 10:30pm.
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And for the first time, the show will feature an opening act - the improv troupe from McDaniel College - Danger Sauce!

The Comedy Pigs: Laura Stark, Tres Dillon, Paula Pitts, James McGarvey, Keith Summers, Anne Raugh, Denny Grizzle and Allison Lepelletier

Check out more details at the Comedy Pigs website or read the Gazette story.

Pigs!

Howdy to all our friends and neighbors in Pigland!
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Yes, it's true that I'm taking over as artistic director for the Pigs. But if you're thinking "coup d'etat", you couldn't be more wrong. Well, OK, I guess you could misspell it, and that would be a LITTLE more wrong. And you could mispronounce it - that would technically be even more wrong. You could also get the name of the troupe wrong, which would kind of make the entire thing completely unintelligible, and that would be a LOT more wrong, and also pointless.
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But I digress.
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Denny's been doing yeoman's work for us for the past few years, writing, performing and doing the director thing - and you MET regulars have been seeing him on the main stage on a pretty regular basis as well. So at our Piggy retreat this summer it was no surprise when Denny told us that he'd like to re-focus his considerable energies on performing and pass the directorship onto a fresh pair of hands. We talked about it a bit, and somewhere along the line I volunteered.
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Why, you ask? Well, why not?
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My first experience with the MET was as a student in one of the first adult improv classes the school offered. One thing led to another, as things are wont to do, and eventually I started writing for and ultimately performing with the Pigs. It's been a long strange trip. Along the way I took more classes at the MET and also at Comedy Sportz when they were down in Alexandria, as well as doing my own music-director thing in and around town.
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Short form improv has always been my first love, so the opportunity to rediscover it from the director's point of view is very exciting. I'll be spending a lot of time over the next few weeks snuggled up with various improv books and websites, collecting new games for us to play and looking for ways for the Comedy Pigs to polish up our show and expand our comfort zones - individually and collectively.
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This is building up to be a great season for the pigs - our third original sketch show production is just starting to take shape, we've got new blood in the group bringing new talents, new points of view and fresh enthusiasm to the party, and we're as energized by the recent MET growth spurt as everyone else around here is. I hope you'll join us for the ride!
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Bring sandwiches.
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-Anne Raugh 22 September 2008

Comedy Pigs open Baltimore Improv Festival!

The Comedy Pigs performed at the Baltimore Improv Festival on July 31st, to a packed house and a fabulous crowd!
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Hamming it up onstage before their set: Anne Raugh, Wendy Donigian, Paula Pitts, James McGarvey, Laura Stark, Tres Dillon & Allison Lepelletier. Photo by Jon Paul Duvall.

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Held at The Creative Alliance at The Patterson Theater, the festival is produced by the Baltimore Improv Group (BIG). A variety of local, regional, and nationally-known improv groups performed over the course of the weekend, and The Pigs had the fun spot of kicking off the festival's opening night!

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Wendy, James & Paula playing The Pig's new version of "Scene Styles". Photo by Mikael Johnson.
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Along for the ride were the Pig techies, Dan & Jon Paul, and #1 Pig Fan, Chuck!

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Ali, Tres, James & Anne sing a game of "Do-Wop" to finish off their set. Photo by Mikael Johnson.
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Also, if you have not checked out The Comedy Pig's myspace page recently, it has been updated with some new photos, and the 2008-09 season show dates!

"Cheesy Being Green"

There's a Run in My Ozone Layer Gazette Review!
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Mary Ellen Mitchell says the show is "...a homespun commentary on the state of the environment that is worth every dollar..."
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Read the whole thing here!

Summer at MET!

Although our main stage season is over....the work isn't! We're still keeping the theatre busy with great entertainment, educational programming...and of course, rehearsal!

The Comedy Pigs opened "There's a Run in My Ozone Layer" last weekend to a great opening night house. I must say it was great for me to sit in the audience and have nothing to do but laugh! You won't want to miss this show filled with silliness, some insanely funny characters and yes...a bit of "social conscientiousness". More Info

Karen Paone and myself are busy with Funcamp 2008, our summer theatre camp for kids (with assistance from Ashley Hall & TES intern Celia Lee). We finished up a great first session here at the theatre last weekend with our campers performing shows that they put together in 1-week! We're always amazed with what they are able to accomplish in such a short time. Karen's group of teens created an original ensemble piece (ala MET) called "The Beach". It was filled with inventiveness (including an awesome "jellyfish" movement piece w/ umbrellas dripping with streamers!) and just plain wacky and original scenes that these young artists created from their slightly warped teen minds!

My younger campers tackled a melodrama, "Penelope Pride of the Pickle Factory". They created some fantastic characters just perfect for "cheers and hisses". I had a slight crisis 1/2 before showtime, when my villain (being played marvelously by a delightful young actress) got just a tad bit nervous about portraying a male in front of a live audience and was considerably shaken....we solved the crisis by quickly turning her into a mean female, rather than male boss, changed her name, found a new costume/wig, sped through a few scenes with the young actors to adjust them to the shift and they all went on like pros! And other than the office sign on set that read "Jasper Grimwold" and not the newly acquired "Jasmine Grimwold"....I don't think the audience was the wiser.

Karen and I are now down at the lovely Carroll Arts Center in Westminster doing a 2-week session there. And then we head back up to MET for our final session at the theatre. Exhausting as it is, it's so great being with all these enthusiastic young performers. They get a chance not only to explore acting, but theatrical design elements as well. Today at camp we did costume sketches that the kids designed. They were just great. I have a terrific Sweeney Todd costume designed by a 11 year old boy, a really original forest princess, and a fanciful and clever teapot/Mrs Potts design to name a few...and these kids are under 12! Like I said, they never cease to amaze me.

Last week, I also started rehearsals for "Runaways". I'm so thrilled to be working on this project. We have assembled a multi-talented cast of 20-some young performers to tackle this challenging piece by Elizabeth Swados. We began choreography rehearsals with choreography. The music in the show is wonderful, touching, fun and at times unexpected. I can't wait to get into the meat of staging the show. It's raw and honest. I told the cast that it was going to be really challenging to create this world of runaway children....they're all so sweet..... and bathed. Tapping into the world of loneliness, isolation, fear and danger is going to be a great exploration for all of us! Click here for more info. I'll keep you posted on our progress. Until then........see you at the MET!
Julie

There's a Run in My Ozone Layer

The Comedy Pigs' original sketch show, "There's A Run In My Ozone Layer" opens this weekend! Coming off the success of their wacky original Christmas show "Wreck The Halls", this fast paced romp features classic Comedy Pig humor. Lampooning the hottest topic of the day, The Comedy Pigs take an irreverent look at the Green Movement through their crazy characters, songs and improv comedy. Enjoy the rehearsal photos!

Lydia watches as Anne Raugh & Tres Dillon play the $25,000Eco-Pyramid, with host, James!

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The Pigs began working on "Ozone" in April. First, they tossed around theme ideas then sat down to write sketches over the next two months. Finally, when everyone's work was submitted, a script was compiled,and rehearsals began in June.

James McGarvey gives Lydia Hadfield a beat down

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Working from a script of their own material allowed the Pigs to be loose and play around with their characters and dialogue during rehearsals, tweaking the funny and making new discoveries with each run-thru.

Laura Stark, Clayton Myers and James on the children's TVshow, "Michael Recycle"

Now, under the directionof Denny Grizzle and the stage managing expertise of Carey Rausch, the performers are adding the finishing polish, getting ready for their debut this weekend!

Clay and Laura welcome Regina Michele (Tres) to Hot Topic. "Okaaaaay?"

"There's A Run In My Ozone Layer" opens July 11th at 8:00 pm and runs every Friday and Saturday night through August 8th. Rated PG-13. Tickets are just $15. At that price, it's cheaper than a gallon of gas!

Allison Lepelletier brings back the snarky old lady, with Franky Orr (a.k.a. The Recycler!)

Buy tickets by calling the MET Box Office at 301-694-4744 or purchase tickets online!

The Ladies of "Naughty Night Out" (James, Lydia, Laura & Tres)

Want even more Comedy Pigs? Check out their MySpace page!

James "The Godfather" McGarvey, with Clay and Laura

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Even more?? View Comedy Pigs video here!

Tres, Clay & Franky at the club

Julie Herber and Jon Paul Duvall sand the "cake" from Company after ripping everything off

Sorry Joann!

Jon Paul painting the set around 5am

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And look for James and former Comedy Pig Rona Mensah discussing"Ozone" and 15 years of The Comedy Pigs on Channel 10's "Artscape"around starting July 17th.

Comedy Pigs Update

The Comedy Pigs' APRIL'S FOOLS (April 5th and 19th) shows were a success, thanks to a great and energetic house on both nights. The first act of the shows was stuffed with short form improv games, jousting the audience with quick wit and great characters. The second act was a medium form improv set, dubbed "Post-its", a style of long form that's long been a Comedy Pig special. "Post-its" makes use of audience suggestions on (you guessed it) post-its, creating inter-connected scenes offering the performers and the audience a little more time to explore whatever the moment might bring - and that's the fun of improv!

Besides these two shows, the month of April also brought the Pigs two new members: Laura Stark and Tres Dillon. Yes! Two new ladies will be added to the Pigs line-up. They are both very different performers and will bring a refreshing energy to the stage. The Comedy Pigs welcome the new ladies to the troupe!

The Pigs are also busy workshopping and rehearsing new games for their June shows (June 7th & 14th @ 10:30pm), and are knee-deep in writing sessions for their original summer sketch show which runs July 11th thru August 8th, culminating on August 9th with The Comedy Pigs' 15th Anniversary Show. We're old, y'all! Keep an eye out for more info!
Check out the Pigs MySpace!

If you weren't able to make it out last month, enjoy our April 5th show vicariously through the pictures below! (Photo credits: Jon Paul Duvall)

Anne Raugh , Ali Lepelletier & James McGarvey riding the improv bus in "International Transit"

"Moving Parts" with Paula Pitts and James being manipulated by audience volunteers

James & Anne during a scene from "Post-its"

More "Post-its" fun