Daily Show Correspondent Dan Bakkedahl Comes to Cal Shakes

So, my old college roomate is coming to town - so come see him if you can.

For 3 years we lived together - one of those years was in a very small room with a third roomate and two cats - later was in a place that resembled the "Honeycomb Hideout" - and so we named it that. He's coming next Friday to shake hands, kiss babys and even get some prom photos taken with audience members...I'm serious...here's the blurby blurb.

Fans of The Daily Show—mark your calendars for Friday, September 1, when Cal Shakes will host a special reception for Daily Show Correspondent Dan Bakkedahl at 6:30pm before the 8:00pm performance of The Merchant of Venice. Bakkedahl, who studied theater in college alongside Cal Shakes Associate Artistic Director Sean Daniels, is on the Theater’s Advisory Council, and is working to help introduce new patrons and donors to Cal Shakes as part of the New Generations program. New Generations efforts include our “Young & Cheap” discount tickets for people age 30 and under; our Ambassador program, which recruits and empowers college students and young professionals to help spread the word about Cal Shakes; and upgrades to our website, including message boards, artist blogs, and podcasts.

Last month, an e-mail message from Bakkedahl was sent to Cal Shakes’ “Whippersnappers” (patrons who had previously purchased “Young & Cheap” tickets) to inform them of a unique challenge. Thanks to the generosity of several anonymous donors, any donations made through the end of the season by patrons under the age of 35 will be matched dollar for dollar (up to $10,000). Bakkedahl wrote, “What a great way to prove that those of us under 35 actually care about our communities, our theaters, and our good times together.” We agree.

Join Bakkedahl, the Whippersnappers, and other Daily Show fans at the reception at 6:30pm at the Bruns Amphitheater. The event is free for all Merchant of Venice ticketholders, and $10 for others. To RSVP, call Elizabeth Schrey at 510.548.3422 x101 or email eschrey@calshakes.org.

Cal Shakes Loves The Photoshop

For opening nights we always honor one staff member and name a drink after them - also since Brigid Canning is leaving us to go to work at a fancy fancy winery in Napa - we named a drink after her at the recent Shinidg. Behold the ridiculous photo-shopping that was done for each drink.

Sweet Python Message

In 2000, I directed a show that was written by Graham Chapman of Monty Python – well, sorta, he started it and then died, so he never got around to finishing it – so, we consulted with John Cleese and Michael Palin on exactly what to do with this…lack of an ending. As we got closer to production, I asked each of them for some thoughts for the program – Michael called me, and in my worst moment of cell phone snobbery, I didn’t answer – though the result is the following message – which through the magic of the internet I can now share with you.

It’s the single greatest message ever left on my phone - or maybe any phone anywhere.

Michael Palin's Sweet Sweet Message

such sweet thunder

So, we had our first Sweet Thunder workshop – it’s EARLY still in the process – but two things that have greatly affected the writing of the show came up over and over again – we discovered an article about homeless kids in Miami who believed they were in the midst of a war between devils and angels – when the kids disappeared they believed that devils had come to take them – and if one of them was killed, it was that they were caught in the cross-fire of this war. Fascinating that they created their own mythology to deal with where they were.

Also, after one of our workshops at LYRIC, one of the kids called Roberto (in NY) and asked him if he could stay with him in New York when he came to visit – after politely saying no, Roberto began to think about what it would have meant if he had said yes – and between those two events – that’s where he found his opening scene of the show.