Author Archives: Thomas

About Thomas

Artistic Director of Waltzing Mechanics

Riding with Bob Pantalone

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We asked EL Stories X cast member Bob Pantalone to take the famous Pivot questionnaire.  Join him aboard our train every Saturday night at 11 p.m. through June 22nd.  Tickets at http://www.greenhousetheater.org/index.php/el-stories

1. What is your favorite word?
America!
2. What is your least favorite word?
Ohio.
3. What turns you on?
Artistic collaboration.
4. What turns you off?
Argument / debate.
5. What sound or noise do you love?
Collective laughter.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
Wrigleyville.
7. What is your favorite curse word?
Bitch (or “betch” if you feel like having fun with it).
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Sports broadcasting. TV or radio - it wouldn’t matter.
9. What profession would you not like to do?
Police officer. No doubt in my mind.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Welcome, Mr. Pantalone. For you, we will waive the cover charge.”

 

BOB PANTALONE is thrilled to rejoin the talented Mechanics for his second EL Stories ride after performing in the Transit Race edition last summer. Bob is a Michigan native and graduated with a B.A in acting from Central Michigan University. Since then, Bob has performed in a number of stellar productions at ComedySportz Chicago. Other local credits include Fairlane Theatre’s Sexual Perversity in Chicago (Bernie), Lasso’d Moon’s Almost Maine, and Red Star’s YO JOE! (Python Commander). Bob can also be found performing improv comedy all over this city. As always he would like to thank his circle of friends, his family, and his cat Jackson for the love and support!

Riding with Eli Kurtz

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We asked EL Stories X cast member Eli Kurtz to take the famous Pivot questionnaire.  Join him aboard our train every Saturday night at 11 p.m. through June 22nd.  Tickets at http://www.greenhousetheater.org/index.php/el-stories

1. What is your favorite word?
Etymology.  Words in general are really awesome.
2. What is your least favorite word?
No such thing.
3. What turns you on?
I am the biggest sucker for a nice nose.
4. What turns you off?
Pettiness.  Love is about moving forward.
5. What sound or noise do you love?
Wind in the trees.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
Small dogs.
7. What is your favorite curse word?
The Big One.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Gentleman Adventurer.
9. What profession would you not like to do?
Henchman.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Boy, is YOUR face red!”

 

ELI KURTZ graduated from the theatre program at Drury University in 2010. Since then, he appeared as Hamlet in Hamlet vs. Zombies: Something is Rotting in the State of Denmark (Best of Fringe at the 2011 San Francisco Fringe Festival) and Dr. Elias Todd in Teslacon III: A Trip to the Moon. Eli is a member of Jest Murder Mystery Company.  He is thrilled to make his Chicago stage debut with the cast and crew of EL Stories.

Riding with Charlie Wein

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We asked EL Stories X cast member Charlie Wein to take the famous Pivot questionnaire.  Join him aboard our train every Saturday night at 11 p.m. through June 22nd.  Tickets at http://www.greenhousetheater.org/index.php/el-stories

1. What is your favorite word?
I’m trying to bring back Keen and Swell.
2. What is your least favorite word?
Necessary.
3. What turns you on?
Confidence.
4. What turns you off?
Ageism.
5. What sound or noise do you love?
The various sounds my Playstation 3 makes.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
The sucking sound people make when they are trying to clean their teeth.
7. What is your favorite curse word?
Shite.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
In another life, I’m a private eye / concert violinist.
9. What profession would you not like to do?
I could never be a responsible pimp.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Welcome, to the city of atlantis!”

 

CHARLIE WEIN recently moved to Chicago after completing his B.A. in acting at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. Previous stage credits include Ste in Beautiful Thing (Pride Films & Plays), Peter in The Diary of Anne Frank, Randy Anderson in The Outsiders, Lonnie in A Dead Man’s Apartment, Wendel P. Bloyd in Spoon River, and Dante in the Pittsburgh premiere of Off-Color Remarks (for which he won an award for best supporting actor). Film credits include Warrior, All in a Nights Work, and The Dark Knight Rises.

Riding with Allison Sill

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We asked EL Stories X cast member Allison Sill to take the famous Pivot questionnaire.  Join her aboard our train every Saturday night at 11 p.m. through June 22nd.  Tickets at http://www.greenhousetheater.org/index.php/el-stories

1. What is your favorite word?
Precisely or indubious (especially when I can say it in a British dialect).
2. What is your least favorite word?
Any mispronunciations of the word milk (melk) or pillow (pellow).
3. What turns you on?
The right lighting added with confidence and some silliness.
4. What turns you off?
Pretentious people. Or Nickelback.
5. What sound or noise do you love?
Nature: birds chirping, thunderstorms, the hum of grasshoppers, a crackling bonfire… long walks on the beach…
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
A cat whining.
7. What is your favorite curse word?
It has to be fuck.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Probably vocal performance, singing opera. Too similar to what I already do?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
I would not like to be an accountant.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Here’s your script. Rehearsal starts tomorrow.”

 

ALLISON SILL is thrilled to be making her debut with the Waltzing Mechanics! Originally from Chicago, Allison is a proud graduate of Ball State University, where she received her B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. Past stage credits include Company (April), The Drowsy Chaperone (The Drowsy Chaperone), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena), and My Fair Lady (Mrs. Pearce; Eliza U/S). She would like to thank her family, friends, and teachers for their constant love, inspiration, and support.

Riding with Darnell Jordan

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We asked EL Stories X cast member Darnell Jordan to take the famous Pivot questionnaire.  Join him aboard our train every Saturday night at 11 p.m. through June 22nd.  Tickets at http://www.greenhousetheater.org/index.php/el-stories

1. What is your favorite word?
Success. (I love that this word has no box around it… everyone has their own opinion on what defines “success”)
2. What is your least favorite word?
Can’t. (get over yourself… at least TRY!)
3. What turns you on?
Great conversation. (you can be the most attractive person in the world, but if you have nothing interesting and profound to say… then BEAT IT! Lbvs)
4. What turns you off?
Sarcasm. (funny & witty when used in balance; plain annoying when overused)
5. What sound or noise do you love?
Silence. (sit in silence at least 15-30min per day… you will be amazed at how much more attentive you are in your life)
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
Gum popping. (It’s always someplace you are stuck at like a train, office, etc… WTF!)
7. What is your favorite curse word?
Muthafucka. (pronounced just how it’s spelled… provides a sharper effect, lol)
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Something with a lot of traveling and exploring the world.
9. What profession would you not like to do?
ANYTHING in Politics! (“Show-business” is cut-throat enough!)
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Well done, my son. You maximized all of the talents I have blessed you with… all while staying true to yourself, remaining sharp as a tack, and cooler than a polar bear’s toenail!”

 

DARNELL JORDAN makes his Chicago stage debut with Waltzing Mechanics in EL Stories. He looks forward to sharing this experience with eager audiences. TV credits include Gangland, American Greed, and Undercover. Film credits include Shine Baby Shine, Divorced Dudes, and eRacer. He trained at Act One Studios (Chicago) and Eastern Illinois University. Darnell sends deep gratitude to his family and friends for their consistent support and love.

Riding with Vanessa M. Buenger

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We asked EL Stories X cast member Vanessa M. Buenger to take the famous Pivot questionnaire.  Join her aboard our train every Saturday night at 11 p.m. through June 22nd.  Tickets at http://www.greenhousetheater.org/index.php/el-stories

1. What is your favorite word?
Facetious – I have such history with this word. I was like 6 or 7 years old, and during a conversation with my mom she told me she was just being being facetious. When I asked her what it meant, I always wondered why she didn’t just say sarcastic. Then 10 years later, I took my SATs, and THERE IT WAS! That moment immediately came rushing back to my memory. So I’m pretty sure I got into college because my mom was fabulous enough to use  facetious instead of sarcastic.
2. What is your least favorite word?
Fine – “I’m fine” usually means you aren’t.  “You did fine” usually means you sucked, but no one wants to tell you. “I’ll be fine” means you’re gonna think about this forEVER, and it WILL get brought up again. “FINE!” ugh…we all know what that means. I just hate it. Worthless word.
3. What turns you on?
Humor. Sense of humor. I love to laugh! So make me laugh until my stomach hurts, and you have a friend for life.
4. What turns you off?
Lying. There is so much more power in truth.
5. What sound or noise do you love?
The overture to Porgy and Bess. As a child, my mom performed as Bess until I was about 4 years old. So, I grew up on the music from this opera. So, momma basically gave up that part of her life to raise me. When I was 19, she got the opportunity to tour as Bess again, and I drove to NC to see her, and I hadn’t heard that music played live for 15 years. It brought tears to my eyes, and I’ll never forget how it sounded. 4.5 years later, and it’s still fresh. Chills galore!
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
The sound of people chewing their food. I know it’s so pretentious of me, because I chew too. I just cant even take it though. I have to focus on something else.
7. What is your favorite curse word?
Fuck. Hands down. It is just so versatile.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Beyonce… does that count?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
Telemarketer. I just feel so bad for the amount of times a day those people get cursed out / hung up on / pranked. I’ve just heard some horror stories.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Good Job.”

 

VANESSA M. BUENGER is an alumna of Towson University, holding a B.S. in theatre. Having only been in Chicago since September, EL Stories is Vanessa’s debut production in the Windy City. Theatre credits include Dreamgirls with Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore, Violet and The Wild Party with Baltimore’s Teatro 101, and Miss Julie and The Piano Lesson with Towson University. Vanessa dedicates this performance to Mr. Robert F. Chew, her loving boyfriend, Anthony, and her parents for all of their love and support.

Riding with Tony DiPisa

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We asked EL Stories X cast member Tony DiPisa to take the famous Pivot questionnaire.  Join him aboard our train every Saturday night at 11 p.m. through June 22nd.  Tickets at http://www.greenhousetheater.org/index.php/el-stories

1. What is your favorite word?
Caoutchouc. It’s French for rubber. It’s just really fun to say.
2. What is your least favorite word?
Dogma. I don’t subscribe or believe in organized limitations or rules. This one word, which, means nothing to me, is allowed to make someone’s decisions for them and can never be changed? It’s antiquated and absurd. And it taints the word “dog” which is such an infinitely better word…
3. What turns you on?
Sense of humor and intelligence are the obvious answers… and I concur. But a more Tony-specific answer would be this: Punctuality and reliability… which is rarer than you would think. Flakiness doesn’t fly with me. I’m a Capricorn; this stuff matters to us. I promise.
4. What turns you off?
People who not only don’t listen, but also talk over you. Seriously, if you aren’t capable of dialogue or basic conversation skills by the time you’re an adult, then keep on walking.
5. What sound or noise do you love?
I love string instruments, either solo or supplementing a multi-instrument piece. Cello, violins, upright bass: all yes please. I’m a sucker for them.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
Construction… particularly drilling.  I assume this is a result of living in it for a majority of my residences.
7. What is your favorite curse word?
I don’t fucking swear, and this damn question pisses me off. You’re a bitch to ask by the way. But if I have to answer the question, then “heck.”
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Truthfully, other than performing, my secret second dream is to conceive and direct music videos. That, or be an undercover cop.
9. What profession would you not like to do?
To a lot of people, being an astronaut would be a dream come true, but not me. The idea of flying in space gives me massive anxiety. Ever seen 2001: A Space Odyssey? That HAL solidified my worst nightmares.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Finally, I get to do a duet with you.”

 

TONY DIPISA is thrilled to be working with Waltzing Mechanics on EL Stories. He holds a B.A. in theatre from Columbia College Chicago with a minor in Literature. He has worked with Theatre at the Center, City Lit Theatre, Circle Theatre, First Folio Oakbrook, Blackbird Theatre, and Theatre Bam among others. Favorite roles include Lance in The Altruists and Action in West Side Story. He is an Equity Member Candidate and is represented by Ambassador Talent. Many thanks to his family, Ashley, Nate, Colls, “Babs” and especially Waltzing Mechanics for this great opportunity to make CHICAGO theatre.

Riding with Katie Mazzini

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We asked EL Stories X cast member Katie Mazzini to take the famous Pivot questionnaire.  Join her aboard our train every Saturday night at 11 p.m. through June 22nd.  Tickets at http://www.greenhousetheater.org/index.php/el-stories

1. What is your favorite word?
“Vagabond” and “Citadel”.
2. What is your least favorite word?
Goober. Ew.
3. What turns you on?
Shakespeare.
4. What turns you off?
People/plants/animals that think they know everything. If you aren’t open to being surprised in life…. you’re boring.
5. What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of horses eating or running. Also, the noise that pointe shoes make in a ballet.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
The sound of babies crying does not wake any maternal instinct in me. It just makes me want to kill myself.
7. What is your favorite curse word?
It’s a tie between fuck and shit.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I’d love to be a travel journalist or have Anthony Bourdain’s job. Go around the world and experience cultures and people that are different from us. Acting is like the cheap way of doing this I guess…
9. What profession would you not like to do?
I’d never want to be a doctor.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Remember that time they did a really shitty job making all of the Harry Potter books into movies? Now you get to re-make them the way you want, and you can play any character that fits your fancy. Welcome to Heaven!”

KATIE MAZZINI hails from Carmel, Indiana. She graduated from Ball State University in 2012 with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. Since moving to Chicago, she’s appeared on stage in Three Sisters at Steppenwolf and Singin’ in the Rain at Drury Lane Oakbrook. She is very excited to be joining the cast of EL Stories this spring! Thanks to all my family and friends for their endless support!

Riding with Barry Irving

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We asked fellow Mechanic and EL Stories X cast member Barry Irving to take the famous Pivot questionnaire.  Join him aboard our train every Saturday night at 11 p.m. through June 22nd.  Tickets at http://www.greenhousetheater.org/index.php/el-stories

1. What is your favorite word?
Peace.
2. What is your least favorite word?
“Sec.” When typo’ed, it creates very awkward text conversations.
3. What turns you on?
Music.
4. What turns you off?
Bob Pantalone.
5. What sound or noise do you love?
Live drumming.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
A dog’s whine.
7. What is your favorite curse word?
I’ve a recently renewed affection for the F-word.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
A Superhero.
9. What profession would you not like to do?
Buckingham Palace Guard.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Welcome back, my child.”

BARRY IRVING has no idea how he ended up on this train, or where it’s even headed, but is nonetheless thrilled to be aboard again! Barry recently appeared in Over My Dead Body, also with the Waltzing Mechanics. Native to the Chicagoland area, Barry studied at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University before earning a B.A. in acting from Columbia College Chicago. Most of his favorite previous credits have EL Stories somewhere in the title. Thanks to the family for their undying support and to his fellow Mechanics for allowing him to stumble upon this gold mine.

Riding with Christine Worden

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We asked EL Stories X cast member Christine Worden to take the famous Pivot questionnaire.  Join her aboard our train every Saturday night at 11 p.m. through June 22nd.  Tickets at http://www.greenhousetheater.org/index.php/el-stories

1. What is your favorite word?
Effervescent.  It sounds like fizzy lemonade.
2. What is your least favorite word?
“Premium”… unless it’s pronounced with an Eastern European accent.
3. What turns you on?
Tall, skinny dudes with intelligence to match their nerd glasses.
4. What turns you off?
People who overindulge in just about anything.
5. What sound or noise do you love?
The “pfffft” sound of lighting a match.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
Vacuums.
7. What is your favorite curse word?
Cunt. Am I allowed to say that? Cunt.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
My dream alternative life would be to be a farmer/poet/environmental activist like Wendell Berry.
9. What profession would you not like to do?
Yeah, I’m gonna have to go with those factory workers in China who make all of the Apple products. That would be rough.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Christine! What are you doing in cat heaven!? Oh well, I guess you can stay.”

CHRISTINE WORDEN loves stories that are true and funny, which is why she is delighted to join the cast of EL Stories! A 2011 graduate of Hope College, she recently appeared in Fury Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Cold Basement Dramatics’ Secret Stash short play festival.  She also directed Steeping the Tea by Bill Daniel for Hobo Junction’s Hobo Robo 5: Hobos Across America short comedy festival.  Christine would like to thank her parents and the Hertels for their constant support, and of course, Ben, for everything.