Amanda Rountree » solo work

Recipe for Writing a Show

amandarountree — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:09:29 +0000

Writing a show is:

1 part inspiration

1 part discipline

2 parts putting your insides on the page

1 part playing Scrabble on facebook

If you’re going to try to double that last one, you better double the whole damn recipe.

Some fruits of my labor comin’ up this Saturday….

amandarountree — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:07:13 +0000

I told a friend recently that I was writing my next one-woman show. She asked me about my process. I’m not really sure what my process is. I think I’m still figuring it out. I can tell you what my process feels like. It feels like my process is:

announce to everyone I’m writing my next show

sit down to write

notice dust on bookshelves

clean entire apartment

sit down to write

realize I haven’t eaten

go to store

buy interesting bulk items I’ve never tried before

clean out pretty jars and fill them with Himalayan Red Rice or Black Japonica Rice

spend hours playing around with new recipes

eat

sit down to write

call my mom ’cause it’s been a while since we talked

do dishes

sit down to write

gaze out the window at the park

go to the park

sit down to write

update blog

Surprisingly, I have actually gotten some writing done. In fact, I’ll be performing a short piece this Saturday with The Kates in Lincoln Square! You should come. Check out all of the funny folks who will be performing that night–hosted by Kelise Huff!

Kendra Stevens
Sapna Kumar
Bethany Remely
Cynthia Levin
Natalie Jose
Amanda Rountree
Rhea Butcher
Amy Sumpter

Process

amandarountree — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:29:53 +0000

So now that the holidays have tapered off a bit (the cards have stopped coming, my stocking dark chocolates have been eaten, and I’ve watched all of the corny Christmas movies available online), I’ve begun to finally buckle down and write my next show. It’s something that’s been floating around in my head for a few months now, but I really started typing stuff out this past week.

This also means that when sitting down to get some serious work done on my next show, I have gained heightened awareness of my surroundings. For example, there’s some dust in the corner behind that painting. And why have I gone so long in this world without taking the time to make a good, old-fashioned pot of homemade lentil soup? My books should be better organized. The blinds are crooked. There are some old emails I need to respond to. My afghans on my quilt rack aren’t folded the right way. I should clean the bathroom. I need to research and find that obscure quote from that one movie and post it to my friend’s wall. How long does it take spit to freeze when it’s this cold? My walls are too blank. I should hang more art. I should make more art, so that I can hang it. I love this song. You know what would be fun? I should come up with a little dance routine for this song. I need to learn Spanish.

Alright, so my floor has been swept and mopped. My stove is clean. My music selection has been organized. I even responded to those facebook inbox messages that I never look at. All I have to do now is write my show.

After I post a little update on my blog….

Over and Out

amandarountree — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 05:32:43 +0000

Whew!

The short run of The Good, the Bad, and the Monkey has come to a close. I am very grateful that it was a success! I’ve said (typed) it before, and I’ll say (type) it again…. A solo show can’t be done alone. It truly takes so many people supporting the performer to make it a success….. And I’m not just talking about the director, stage manager, house manager, etc…. In addition to these fantastic folks, a solo show could still not be done without an audience. I am so very grateful to all of the friends, colleagues, students, and also the folks I don’t know that came out to see this show. I’d like to also mention how thankful I am to all of the people who urged their friends and colleagues to see it.

I’m split right now between thoughts of touring Monkey again next year and writing a new solo show. Well, actually, it’s a three-way split. I also just want to go to sleep. The monkeys, it seems, have already made up their minds with what they’ll be doing in the near future…..

…perhaps I’ll join them.

One More Chance, Chicago!

amandarountree — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:16:32 +0000

We are nearing the end of my short, three-performance run of my show, The Good, the Bad, and the Monkey at Stage 773. I hope you’ll be able to make it out to this funny, unique show!

The Good, the Bad, and the Monkey (with Evan Jacover opening)
Written and performed by Amanda Rountree, directed by Jen Ellison
Stage 773′s Cabaret Theatre
1225 W. Belmont
Chicago
$12
Thursday, November 17 at 8:00 pm

Please click here to get your tickets online!

November 10 and November 17

amandarountree — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:12:03 +0000

There are only two more chances to see this show! If you only see one solo-show with sock monkeys this year, make sure it’s this one!

The Good, the Bad, and the Monkey
Written and performed by Amanda Rountree, directed by Jen Ellison
Stage 773′s Cabaret Theatre
1225 W. Belmont
Chicago
$12
Thursdays, November 10 & 17 at 8:00 pm

This week, Jet Eveleth opens!

Evan Jacover is the opening act on the 17th!

Click here to purchase your tickets online!

Two More Chicago Monkey Appearances!

amandarountree — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:09:02 +0000

Last night’s show was great! The folks at Stage 773 are delightful, Kelsie Huff’s opening act was stellar, and the audience was terrific. It’s always fun to hear people’s take on the show after seeing it. It’s admittedly not your run-of-the-mill solo show. Because there are three sock-monkeys whose dialogue the audience “fills in” in their minds, one audience member mentioned to me last night that “It didn’t even feel like a one-woman show!” I love that the voices in my head have begun to inhabit other people’s heads. Heh, heh… Please check out one of the next two shows!

And the opening acts continue to be fantastic! Check out Jet Eveleth on the 10th or Evan Jacover on the 11th.

The two biggest misconceptions about this show (from folks who haven’t seen it) are that it’s a puppet show or that it’s a male-bashing show. Nope on both accounts. I don’t speak for the sock monkeys–I just react to ‘em. And if I’m making fun of anyone in this show, it’s myself. So, come out and see it, why don’t you? You’ll be glad you did. (Ooo, I’m getting good at this marketing thing. While I’m on roll, please “like” my fan page.) Thanks!

The Good, the Bad, and the Monkey returns to Chi-Town!

amandarountree — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:25:21 +0000

The monkeys are back! And this time, they’re bringing opening acts!

You’ve only got three chances to see the monkeys in action at Stage 773′s Cabaret (1225 W. Belmont). We’ll be there the first three Thursdays in November at 8pm.

And each night brings you a different opening act!

November 3: Kelsie Huff

November 10: Jet Eveleth

November 17: Evan Jacover

Click here to get your tickets! Hope to see you at the show!

The Good, The Bad, and The Monkey
Singlehood, Dating, and the Search for Something Real

Amanda Rountree takes a hilarious–and at times, heartbreaking–look at the cycles of relationships and the myths that we tell ourselves about finding a soul mate…..using sock monkeys.

The Good, the Bad, and the Monkey
Written and performed by Amanda Rountree, directed by Jen Ellison
Stage 773′s Cabaret Theatre
1225 W. Belmont
Chicago
$12
November 3, 10, & 17 at 8:00 pm

Monkey Promo Video

amandarountree — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:55:53 +0000

Here’s a little teaser for my show that’s coming up in November. There are only three performances….and I’m hoping to pack the houses each night. Please share this video and spread the word about the show!

Thanks!

Do you like me?

amandarountree — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:32:08 +0000

At the risk of sounding either narcissistic or needy (or both), I have created a fan page on facebook. I did not create a fan page for something I myself am a fan of–say, The Muppets, Jane Austen, or sliding around on hardwood floors in my socks. No, I created a fan page for Amanda Rountree. Um, yeah. Myself. Just the thought of it sounds kooky.

But, I’ve gotta promote my one-woman show (among other projects) and this is an easy (and free) way to do it. Well, it’s relatively free. All it costs is just a little bit of my dignity. You see, when you create a fan page on facebook, the guide leads you through little steps–one being, “suggest to friends.” So essentially, with one click, I send out a little post to many of my friends, family members, and colleagues that reads, “Amanda Rountree suggests that you like Amanda Rountree.”

Yep.

And since you automatically become a fan of the fan page you create, I’m sure that somewhere on my “facebook newsfeed,” it reads, “Amanda Rountree likes Amanda Rountree.”

Yep.

There’s a show in this, methinks.

Speaking of shows, wanna know when my next one is coming up? Please click this link to “like me” on facebook and you can find out!

That wasn’t at all embarrassing.

Sigh.