If you could present your show to just one person, who would it be and why?
That's easy -- Chen Wei-yih, a woman in Taiwan who has married herself at age 30 and then went on a solo honeymoon in Australia in October 2010, about 6 months after I had conceived my show on the other side of the world. You can find out more about her here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/22/taiwan-bridetobe-plans-we_n_772431.html#es_share_ended As the bride, I feel like I'm in charge of the guest list, and so I'm also going to invite one of my twitter followers -- a hypnotist from the UK who specializes in quelling pre-wedding jitters.
List 3 words that truly sum up your show.
Hilarious, high-energy and heart-string-pulling. Yes, I know, all those hyphens are cheating -- but when you're married to yourself you can get away with cheating.
What is the best way for theater-goers to stay informed about your latest productions?
Theatre goers can find me on facebook, or check out my website www.christelbartelse.com . In keeping with the wedding theme, I always leave a guestbook out on the table after my show, where guests can leave me their email or write me a note. Sometimes I even get a proposal!
How does fringe theater benefit you as a theater artist/performer?
What is most useful and liberating to me as an artist is the freedom. I get to choose what show i would like to create and write, i choose where i would like to go on tour, and i get to tinker with my show to keep improving it. I've added a tap number, had a song remixed, reordered scenes. If I was performing with someone else I'm sure I would drive them crazy.
Funniest line?
Some of the best lines come from my audience during the short improv parts of my show. I sometimes write these lines in afterward. One of my favorites is during the "bad date scene" in my show where my date said "I heard you tap dance, is that code word for lapdance?"
Where do you see yourself in a year’s time?
I would still love to do the Fringe for the next few years. I am looking forward to creating a new solo show, as well as potentially performing a two hander. I would also like to take my two shows CHAOTICA and ONEYmoon (A Honeymoon for One) to some larger festivals. I also teach physical theatre at a professional acting program at Humber College and sometime guest teach at Second City in Toronto, so its a challenge to manage all those projects at once.
Why IndyFringe?
I was invited to do DivaFest in Indianopolis in April 2011 with my show ONEYmoon. I had a great time, but only 3 shows. When a spot came open for an International Artist at the Fringe and I was asked if I wanted to return, without a second's hesitation I said "I do". The audiences here are so wonderful, the hospitality of the theatre community so warm. Plus, ONEymoon had just been nominated for a 2010 Canadian Comedy Award, so I felt confident that the show could continue to attract an audience. It wasn't just my mom who liked it.
For more information on this show, click here.
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