R.I.P Joel Markowitz
Co-author of Wiener Sausage: The Musical! Paul Mackie and I just recently learned of the passing away of one of our more positive reviewers from the 2008 Fringe Festival Production. Joel Markowitz, reviewer extraordinaire, has moved to the great beyond. See the original review below.
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Kate Nelson
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Wiener Sausage: The Musical! The lead actress, Kate Nelson, was featured in an extensive interview by DC Theater Scene, reprinted below.
Fringe Scene Stealers by Joel Markowitz July 15, 2008
Kate Nelson featured as Jo in Wiener Sausage: The Musical!
http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/07/15/fringe-scene-stealers/
Joel: Tell us about Wiener Sausage – The Musical.
Kate: On the surface, Wiener Sausage: The Musical! is a fun and silly parody of life, love, sex, politics and war, although I think that a deeper message resonates beneath it all. It portrays a corrupt world in which people in power are consumed by their appetites, whether they be for wealth, political power, sex…or sausage. In the end it has an uplifting message — that love conquers all and innocence will reemerge in the world.
Joel: Who is Jo?
Kate: Jo is a young, perpetually confused woman who is in search of a more exciting and meaningful life outside of her sheltered existence as a layaway clerk in a mega store in the Midwest. She was born with both male and female sex parts and, as an orphan, was raised in a broom closet at the mega store. When she is thrust into the real world, it proves to be a little overwhelming for her. An admirable aspect of this character, I think, is that she remains uncorrupted by the evils of society.
Joel: How much of Kate is in Jo and the way you play her?
Kate: I identify with the character more than I care to admit. She is a blind optimist with a heart of gold and the mental capacity of a toddler; however I think that I identify with her desire to see the world as it should be: a magical wonderland with Kool-Aid teardrops and happy leprechauns dancing about in fields of poppies. But, really, I think that it is easy to understand why this young, rather naive girl wishes for this perfect, fantastical existence in a world that is so full of corruption and greed. In this play, she represents the hope for a better, though maybe not brighter, future.
Joel: Tell us about your big number.
Kate: My big shining number is “The Best It Gets.” Before this moment, I had been summoned to DC for what I thought was an important position as a TV journalist, only to be tricked into exposing a scandal that helps the scheming warmongers quash a liberal anti-war effort. Meanwhile, I fall in love with a young Capitol Hill staffer named Johnny. At this point, I have just confessed to Johnny that I am partially brain damaged, and he discovers that I am a hermaphrodite – an anomaly that he also shares. He loves and accepts me for who I am. As we are about to share in true love’s kiss, he, along with all of my hopes and dreams, is taken away from me by two sinister-looking men in black. In “The Best It Gets” I ruminate over my former rosy views of the world and life versus the cold reality of the corrupt world that I am now discovering. At this moment, my dreams of a life of love, success, and happiness have been shattered, and I long for my former happiness in my ignorance as an orphan playing with make believe friends in a mega store broom closet.
Joel: Tell us about yourself.
Kate: When I was a young lass, I participated in all of the school plays and various workshops offered in the area. I also did a little community theater. I minored in theater at Tulane University (I actually may have been a credit or two shy of a complete minor, but it is good enough in my book). After I graduated and moved to Chicago, I performed at a local storefront theater, The Cornservatory, which specializes in shows featuring off-color humor. I have been taking a break from the theater world recently, but jumped right back into it with Wiener Sausage: The Musical! I hope to continue my acting career in Chicago and, potentially, DC in the future.
Joel: I met your Dad after the show. Is he your biggest fan?
Kate: My father is definitely one of my loudest fans. His hulking belly laugh can be heard a mile away. I think that both of my parents and my husband will always be my biggest fans.
Joel: What is the Chicago theatre community like?
Kate: I live and work in Chicago, but I’ve been commuting back and forth between Chicago and DC in order to participate in the show. It has been a fun journey and definitely worth the long security lines and flight delays. Of all the shows I have been in, this has been one of my favorites. The experimental nature of this production has really allowed me, and all the actors in the production, to develop our characters and really make them our own. Each performance is unique … and hilarious.
Chicago has a wonderful young and vibrant theater community. There is a lot of experimental theater there, which is great. There are countless little storefront theaters that house small theater companies. Most of them are BYOB, too, so that is an added bonus. Improv comedy is also a big part of the theater scene here.
Fringe Scene Stealers by Joel Markowitz July 15, 2008
Kate Nelson featured as Jo in Wiener Sausage: The Musical!
http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/07/15/fringe-scene-stealers/
Joel: Tell us about Wiener Sausage – The Musical.
Kate: On the surface, Wiener Sausage: The Musical! is a fun and silly parody of life, love, sex, politics and war, although I think that a deeper message resonates beneath it all. It portrays a corrupt world in which people in power are consumed by their appetites, whether they be for wealth, political power, sex…or sausage. In the end it has an uplifting message — that love conquers all and innocence will reemerge in the world.
Joel: Who is Jo?
Kate: Jo is a young, perpetually confused woman who is in search of a more exciting and meaningful life outside of her sheltered existence as a layaway clerk in a mega store in the Midwest. She was born with both male and female sex parts and, as an orphan, was raised in a broom closet at the mega store. When she is thrust into the real world, it proves to be a little overwhelming for her. An admirable aspect of this character, I think, is that she remains uncorrupted by the evils of society.
Joel: How much of Kate is in Jo and the way you play her?
Kate: I identify with the character more than I care to admit. She is a blind optimist with a heart of gold and the mental capacity of a toddler; however I think that I identify with her desire to see the world as it should be: a magical wonderland with Kool-Aid teardrops and happy leprechauns dancing about in fields of poppies. But, really, I think that it is easy to understand why this young, rather naive girl wishes for this perfect, fantastical existence in a world that is so full of corruption and greed. In this play, she represents the hope for a better, though maybe not brighter, future.
Joel: Tell us about your big number.
Kate: My big shining number is “The Best It Gets.” Before this moment, I had been summoned to DC for what I thought was an important position as a TV journalist, only to be tricked into exposing a scandal that helps the scheming warmongers quash a liberal anti-war effort. Meanwhile, I fall in love with a young Capitol Hill staffer named Johnny. At this point, I have just confessed to Johnny that I am partially brain damaged, and he discovers that I am a hermaphrodite – an anomaly that he also shares. He loves and accepts me for who I am. As we are about to share in true love’s kiss, he, along with all of my hopes and dreams, is taken away from me by two sinister-looking men in black. In “The Best It Gets” I ruminate over my former rosy views of the world and life versus the cold reality of the corrupt world that I am now discovering. At this moment, my dreams of a life of love, success, and happiness have been shattered, and I long for my former happiness in my ignorance as an orphan playing with make believe friends in a mega store broom closet.
Joel: Tell us about yourself.
Kate: When I was a young lass, I participated in all of the school plays and various workshops offered in the area. I also did a little community theater. I minored in theater at Tulane University (I actually may have been a credit or two shy of a complete minor, but it is good enough in my book). After I graduated and moved to Chicago, I performed at a local storefront theater, The Cornservatory, which specializes in shows featuring off-color humor. I have been taking a break from the theater world recently, but jumped right back into it with Wiener Sausage: The Musical! I hope to continue my acting career in Chicago and, potentially, DC in the future.
Joel: I met your Dad after the show. Is he your biggest fan?
Kate: My father is definitely one of my loudest fans. His hulking belly laugh can be heard a mile away. I think that both of my parents and my husband will always be my biggest fans.
Joel: What is the Chicago theatre community like?
Kate: I live and work in Chicago, but I’ve been commuting back and forth between Chicago and DC in order to participate in the show. It has been a fun journey and definitely worth the long security lines and flight delays. Of all the shows I have been in, this has been one of my favorites. The experimental nature of this production has really allowed me, and all the actors in the production, to develop our characters and really make them our own. Each performance is unique … and hilarious.
Chicago has a wonderful young and vibrant theater community. There is a lot of experimental theater there, which is great. There are countless little storefront theaters that house small theater companies. Most of them are BYOB, too, so that is an added bonus. Improv comedy is also a big part of the theater scene here.
