NOWtheatre's special benefit performance of "Signal to Noise" raised more
than $2,300 for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a non-profit
organization protecting the First Amendment rights of the comics
community. The stage play was written by Marc Rosenbush and Robert
Toombs, adapting the ground-breaking graphic novel by Neil Gaiman and
Dave McKean. The benefit performance took place on February 6 at
Chicago's Victory Gardens Theatre, with all proceeds supporting the CBLDF
and the NOWtheatre group.
"Signal to Noise" is the story a dying filmmaker, imagining the final
film he'll never live to produce. In the original graphic novel, the
story unfolds as an interior monologue accompanied by McKean's innovative
art. Toombs and Rosenbush, who also directs, have brought this
inward-looking story to life on the stage. Portrayed by veteran actor
William J. Norris, the filmmaker now converses with two close friends.
Their conversation is punctuated with scenes from the unfinished
screenplay, set on the final day of 999 A.D. As the characters in the
screenplay fear for the end of the world, the filmmaker must confront
both the blurring of reality and fantasy and his own mortality.
Paula Jasinski attended the performance but was unfamiliar with Gaiman's
work. "I thought it was very well done, very affecting, very intense,"
she said. "Anyone who's ever lost someone close to them could really
relate to the story. The end was especially powerful--a friend of mine
was weeping, and there were a lot of other people dabbing at their eyes.
It really deserved the standing ovation."
"What NOWtheatre has done works very well," said Gaiman following the
premiere. "Actors moving around is not the same as static images on the
page. The joy of media is that they're different." Gaiman introduced
the play, and also attended a small reception preceding the performance.
Held at the nearby Alumni Club, the reception was attended by fans,
retailers, journalists, and comic creators alike. Literary lion Gene
Wolfe made an appearance, as did a number of comics celebs, including
Alex Ross (Kingdom Come, Uncle Sam), Steve Darnall (Uncle Sam), Chris
Ware (ACME Novelty Library), Jill Thompson (Sandman, Scary Godmother),
and Ivan Brunetti (Schizo).
The performance and reception were organized to benefit the CBLDF and
NOWtheatre. Gaiman, of course, is one of the Fund's staunchest
supporters and one the most outspoken proponents of free expression in
comics. His fans certainly seem to share his enthusiasm. At the
reception, Gaiman fan Chris Withers presented the Fund with a check for
more than $650, collected two days earlier when Gaiman signed at
Chicago's Stars Our Destination.
Stars Our Destination and Chicago Comics took the lead in promoting the
event, along with Comix Revolution, Bucktown Comics, Comic Relief, Tenth
Planet, Comic Collector, Comics Galore, All American, and Graham Crackers
Comics. Dark Horse Comics, publisher of "Signal to Noise," was a key
sponsor of the benefit. "The amazing thing about this event," said CBLDF
executive director Chris Oarr, "was that we were able to put it all
together inside of three weeks. That's only thanks to Dark Horse and all
the Chicago area stores who paid for and distributed materials to get the
word out. Of course, I should also thank the legion of Neil's fans who
helped us spread the word on web-sites and newsgroups. This thing just
caught like wildfire."
"It was a very entertaining evening, all around" said Jim Mortensen,
owner of Comix Revolution. "It was for a good cause, and I got to see
some good friends. The whole event was well supported by the Chicago
comics community--it's refreshing to see so many people come out to
support the Fund."
"Signal to Noise" continues its run through March 14, with regular
performances Wednesdays through Sundays. Tickets are still available
from the Victory Gardens Theatre box-office by calling 1-773-871-3000.
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Chris Bleistein - Assistant Director
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
P.O. Box 693, Northampton, MA 01061
413-586-6967 Voice 413-582-9046 Fax
web: e-mail: cbldf@compuserve.com
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