Thursday, July 9, 2015
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Logan Square Thespian Society is staging a production of (working
title) A Most Heinous Happening in the Haymarket, an historical epic
about a bomb that exploded May 4th 1886 at a labor rally in Chicago which
resulted in America's first red scare, a show trial, and ultimately the hanging
of four men for the crime of conspiracy to commit murder; without ever
indicting the bomb-thrower. The play is set for a six week run (possibly
longer) starting in November (the anniversary of the hanging). In addition to a
whole slew of extras, both on stage and in the audience (to provoke the
theater-goers), the following roles are up for grabs. Note: These are all
actual people with much information available about them on the web. There are
a number of charcters with a line or two, where the actors will play multiple
roles. Aside from those parts, we are looking for the following characters, in
order of appearance:
George Engel - He has a mild and genial way; more like a waiter
in Wursthaus than an Anarchist toy maker and dedicated insurrectionist. He has
a lengthy, Quinn from Jaw's style, monologue and lines in a few other scenes.
Adolph Fischer - A radical with a rough background like the others.
He is heavily involved in the movement and is uncompromising about his beliefs.
His last words on the gallows; "this is the happiest day of my life.
Hurray for Anarchy!" Has lines in dialogue scenes and a monologue yet to
be written.
Police Superintendent Hickey - Hickey speaks in a brow-beating, officious,
insulting tone. He has one dialogue heavy scene.
Lucy Waller Parsons - A bold, beautiful, and fearless African-American
woman. Albert Parsons' wife. Has many scenes and has to have wide emotional
range. Pivotal character, who is at the plays heart.
Potter Palmer - Marshall Field's mentor and an older chap as of
1886. Has one dialogue scene yet is a powerful presence both in Chicago
business circles and at Thanksgiving dinner. has a dialogue scene.
Bertha Palmer - Potter Palmer's wife and significantly younger
than Potter. A bejeweled socialite in Chicago's highest circles. Has a dialogue
scene.
Samuel Fielden - Fielden described as affable, almost comic
figure, a likable awkward galoot. The bearded radical is the one who was
speaking on the wagon, in dusty work clothes, when the bomb was thrown. Has a
length monologue.
Mayor Carter Harrison - A robust, smooth, and well liked mayor, the glue
that holds the city together. Of Kentucky origin, the mayor dresses in silk
suits, sports a salt and peppered beard, and black slouch hat tipped rakishly.
He carries several dialogue scenes and a monologue.
Chief Inspector Bonfield - A large, powerful, resolute, ruthless man. Has
several dialogue scenes and a lengthy, George Patton style, monologue. The
business community's enforcer and one of the main antagonists. A man hell bent
on glory and fame who is eventually fired from the force, along with Schaack
for taking bribes and selling inmate's possessions.
Captain William Ward - An officer who preaches peace and defusing of
potentially volatile situations and is chastised for it by Inspector Bonfield.
A man who sides with Mayor Harrison and the immigrant classes.
Captain Michael Schaack - an eager up and comer in the Chicago Police
Department; Chief Inspector Bonfield's right hand man. A man who encouraged
other officers to 'stir the pot' and continue finding evidence of conspiracies
well after the predominant labor agitators of the city were arrested. Has two dialogue scene with more to be added
later.
Oscar Neebe - A middle of the road Anarchist who is convicted to
15 years hard labor because a few weapons found in his home and the infamous
'revenge' pamphlet. A stone hauler who ends up working for the same company on
the inside of prison.
Judge Joseph Gary - A stoic figure who helps Grinnell stack the
evidence and the case against the Anarchists. Has a dialogue scene at the
trial's opening and a yet to be written jury selection scene where he prods
potential jurors into saying they have no prejudice against the defendants,
when clearly they do.
Chief Prosecutor Grinnell - A pompous grandstanding lawyer who is absolutely
sure of the defendants guilt. Has a lengthy monologue at the trial's opening
and a short one at the Emergency Board of Trade Meeting.
Captain Black - The head defense attorney, a civil war veteran
and a man who has a lot to lose by defending the Anarchists. A man who rides an
emotional roller coaster of disbelief throughout the proceedings and clemency
campaign; a man who never gives up hope till the very end. He is the arbiter of
several dialogue scenes and has a sizable monologue.
Louis Lingg - The most radical of the Anarchists. He has a
angry monologue before being sentenced by the judge in which he concludes,
"I despise you, your laws, your force propped authority, hang me for
it!" Must speak German as his monologue is delivered in it, translated in
real time, and met with audible gasps.
Let us know if you might be interested in any of the above parts;
auditions will be held soon and sides sent well before hand. This is a 'living'
play.
Long Live the Social Revolution,
- The Executive Committee.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Ron Paul the Musical
I am a libertarian, and I believe I've earned that...
JUST AS RELEVANT NOW AS IT WAS THEN.....
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
March 3rd 2015 Election Results
I would like to sincerely thank all those brave souls who voted for me on Election Day. Our campaign had always been about ideas, big ideas, and you got that.
District 3 Semi-Official Results
Christian Anthony Horvath 771 34.1%
Candace Allen Nafissi 798 35.3%
Sam Kartounian 354 15.7%
Sandy Marchese 192 8.5%
Eric J. Coleman 145 6.4%
Total 2260 100%
By the way, a joke is half truth (that's what makes it funny).
I read an email this morning and it made my day, and for that matter it made the campaign...
Hello Eric,
Just wanted to tell you that as we walked into our polling place last night my husband shouted out, "Vote Coleman and end this shit show!"
So, even though I ripped you for using the word in a previous email, it obviously gained some traction with some people (like my husband). :)
Anyway..well run campaign and I'm sorry you weren't higher in the polls.
And if you have any t-shirts left, my husband would love one (obviously). Ha.
I hope we can meet you and buy you a beer one day.
Oh, and thanks for the mini-Constitution booklet!
![](https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif)
Lara Duke
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