Infernal Bridegroom Productions
Infernal Bridegroom Productions was a theater company located in Houston, Texas, formed in 1993 and dissolved in 2007. IBP garnered national attention when it was featured on the cover of American Theatre in September, 2002, for its original play, We Have Some Planes, by Brian Jucha, about the events of September 11. The theater's name is taken from a line in one of its first productions, In the Jungle of Cities by Bertolt Brecht. The line reads, "In my dreams I call him my infernal bridegroom." IBP produced over 60 plays, many of them world premieres.
About the company
The Houston Theater District is the second largest in the United States, after New York, New York, boasting theaters of all sizes, from the LORT Alley Theatre, to midsize theaters such as Stages Repertory Theatre and Main Street Theater, and small nomadic theaters such as .Infernal Bridegroom Productions ceased operations in July 2007 due to insurmountable financial difficulties.
Founded in 1993 by Jason Nodler, IBP produced 68 plays and was recognized locally and nationally for its provocative new work, its talented ensemble and its success in attracting non-traditional audiences. Nodler was artistic director until 2003 when he left to travel the country. Associate artistic director Anthony Barilla became artistic director until moving out of the country in 2007. Nodler returned to Houston to found The Catastrophic Theatre with Tamarie Cooper later in that year.
The company's 2006 world premiere rock opera Speeding Motorcycle, created by Nodler in collaboration with acclaimed artist and songwriter Daniel Johnston, received favorable coverage in The New York Times, Art in America, No Depression magazine, the Austin Chronicle and local media outlets. Past works also received positive coverage from American Theatre, Theatre Journal, Stage Directions and the Dallas Morning News.
IBP appeared regularly in the annual Houston Press "Best of Houston" issue, receiving awards for Best Theater Company, New Play, Original Show, Director, Actor, Actress, Set Design, Light Design, Costume Design, Special Effects, Christmas Show and Rock and Roll Theater. And the Houston Chronicle called IBP Houston's best experimental theater.
IBP enjoyed a large and loyal audience as well as regularly attracting out-of-towners that travelled to Houston specifically to see the company's work.
The company was acclaimed for its productions of rarely produced plays by Samuel Beckett, Eugène Ionesco, Bertolt Brecht, Georg Büchner, Jean Genet, Anton Chekhov, Sam Shepard and David Mamet and was the first to introduce Houston audiences to the works of playwrights Suzan-Lori Parks, Maria Irene Fornes, Sarah Kane, Heiner Müller, Wallace Shawn, Charles Mee, Richard Foreman, Mac Wellman and Bernard-Marie Koltès. IBP also attracted national attention for the theatrical premiere of A Soap Opera by Ray Davies and The Kinks and was lauded for its hit production of Broadway musical Guys and Dolls.
But IBP was perhaps best known for the new work it created. Highlights included Fucking A, commissioned by IBP and DiverseWorks Artspace and written and directed by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks; We Have Some Planes and Last Rites, conceived and directed by renowned theater artist Brian Jucha; Hide Town, commissioned by the NEA and TCG and written by Lisa D'Amour; Speeding Motorcycle, commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation and conceived and directed by IBP founding artistic director Jason Nodler in collaboration with Daniel Johnston and the IBP company; Nodler's original plays In the Under Thunderloo, King Ubu is King and Meatbar; company member Troy Schulze's Me-sci-ah, Jerry's World and Actual Air ; founding company member Tamarie Cooper's 20 Love Songs and the wildly popular Tamalalia series created and directed by Cooper.
Although IBP was in residence at the legendary punk club The Axiom for five years, it spent nine years as a homeless company, performing in warehouses, bars, restaurants, aboard a moving school bus, in an abandoned outdoor shopping center and occasionally in traditional theater spaces such as Stages Repertory Theatre and DiverseWorks.
Music composed and recorded by IBP's resident orchestra, under the direction of former artistic director Anthony Barilla, has enjoyed regular radio play on college stations around the country and on NPR's This American Life. The orchestra also recorded original music for IBP.
Plays performed
1993
In the Under Thunderloo by Jason Nodler1994
In the Jungle of Cities by Bertolt BrechtRhinoceros by Eugène Ionesco1995
The Balcony by Jean GenetEndgame by Samuel BeckettMarat/Sade by Peter WeissMUD by Maria Irene Fornes1996
Othello by William ShakespeareSuicide in B Flat by Sam ShepardSamuel's Major Problems by Richard Foreman Woyzeck by George BüchnerGuys and Dolls by Frank Loesser / Abe BurrowsEddie Goes to Poetry City by Richard ForemanThe Future is in Eggs by Eugène Ionesco1997
The Cherry Orchard by Anton ChekhovWaiting for Godot by Samuel BeckettTamalalia 2! by Tamarie CooperQuartet by Heiner MüllerCowboy Mouth by Sam Shepard and Patti SmithCamino Real by Tennessee WilliamsLast Rites by Brian Jucha1998
Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht / Kurt WeillIn The Jungle of Cities by Bertolt BrechtTamalalia 3: The Cocktail Party by Tamarie CooperHarm's Way by Mac WellmanKing Ubu is King by Jason Nodler1999
Marie and Bruce by Wallace ShawnTamalalia 4: The Campout by Tamarie CooperRoberto Zucco by Bernard-Marie KoltèsEdmond by David Mamet2000
Fucking A by Suzan-Lori ParksTamalalia 2000: The Time Machine by Tamarie CooperThe Danube by Maria Irene FornesHappy Days by Samuel Beckett2001
Action and Chicago by Sam ShepardTamalalia 6 by Tamarie CooperMUD by Maria Irene Fornes2002
In the Under Thunderloo by Jason NodlerWe Have Some Planes by Brian JuchaTamalalia 7: The Love Show by Tamarie CooperPhaedra's Love by Sarah KaneA Soap Opera by The Kinks2003
Actual Air adapted from the poetry of David Berman by Troy SchulzeThe Noblest of Drugs by Joel OrrMeat/BAR by Jason NodlerTamalalia 8 by Tamarie CooperJerry's World adapted from the radio programs of Joe Frank by Troy SchulzeRhinoceros by Eugène Ionesco2004
Symphony of Rats by Richard ForemanThe Hotel Play by Wallace ShawnTamalalia 9 by Tamarie CooperTrappakeepa & Girth And Topical by Lindsay Kayser: a co-production with Gypsy Baby TheaterMe-sci-ah by Troy SchulzeBAAL by Bertolt Brecht2005
Me-sci-ah by Troy SchulzeMedea by Euripides, adapted by Charlie ScottNight Just Before the Forests by Bernard-Marie KoltèsTamalalia X: The Greatest Hits Show by Tamarie CooperWhat You've Done by Aaron Landsman: a co-production with DiverseWorks Artspace and Project Row HousesFull Circle by Charles L. Mee2006
Uncle Vanya by Anton ChekhovDaniel Johnston's Speeding Motorcycle by Jason Nodler with music by Daniel JohnstonMicroscope Maintenance & Repair by Lindsay KayserDaniel Johnston's Speeding Motorcycle by Jason Nodler with music by Daniel Johnston Hide Town by Lisa D'Amour2007
365 Days/365 Plays by Suzan Lori-Parks20 Love Songs by Tamarie CooperAwards
2000
Houston Press: Best Designer: Devlin Browning, for EdmondHouston Press: Best Director: Jason Nodler for EdmondHouston Press: Best Christmas Show: ''Edmond''2001
Houston Press: Best Designer: Steven K. Barnett for ''The Danube''2002
Houston Press: Best Director: Brian Jucha for We Have Some PlanesHouston Press: Best Actress : Tamarie CooperHouston Press: Best Actor : Troy SchulzeHouston Press: Best Original Show: ''We Have Some Planes''2003
Houston Press: Best Rock and Roll Theater: ''A Soap Opera''2004
- Houston Chronicle: Best Experimental TheaterHouston Press: Best Set Design: Symphony of RatsHouston Press: Best Original Show: '' Jerry's World''
2005
- Houston Chronicle: Best Rebel with a Cause: Troy SchulzeHouston Press: Best Original Show: Tamalalia X: The Greatest Hist ShowHouston Press: Best Performance Space: The AxiomHouston Press: Best Director: Charlie Scott for MedeaHouston Press: Best Production: ''Medea''