Insomniak Presents "And Then There's Roy"

No, I'm not talking about former Allentown Mayor Roy Afflerbach, but a locally produced and written play. You can see it this weekend at Nazareth's cozy Insomniak Theatre. (60 S Main Street).

I've decided to become a foo-foo, throw on my beret and go. This is why. "This play includes severe language, strong sexual content, and partial nudity." That's what I'm talking about! Maybe it's about blogs.

Here are the nitty, gritty showtimes:

Friday, 2:00 pm
Saturday, 2:00 and 8:00 pm
Sunday, 2:00 pm

Tickets are $15, $12 if you have a student I.D. There are only 60 seats available, so call 484.597. 0351 if you want to make sure you get one.

According to a Facebook page, this play is about the meaning of life or something. Author Brandon Lay claims, "Film is my life. I've made a full length movie with some of my friends from college. Its 2 hours and 1 minute long, black and white. I write. I act. I watch movies. I like everything: bagels, wawa sandwiches, lingerie, white russians, and an occasional cigarette."

And hopefully, naked women.

Insomniak Theatre Will Awaken Sleepy Nazareth

As anyone who attended Saturday's Evening on Main Street could plainly see, Nazareth's Insomiak Theatre is now part of the borough landscape. Its home is at 60 South Main Street.

Here's its ambitious schedule through December.

Oct. 4 - Grand Opening Gala 6-10pm; food, cocktails & jazz (reserved tickets only).

Oct. 17, 18, 24 & 25 - Halloween Storytelling on Stage and pumpkin carving. 7-9pm.

Nov. 11-16 & 20-22 - Main Stage Show- BILOXI BLUES by Neil Simon; 8pm & 2pm.

Dec. 1-22 - Giving Tree Drive - proceeds for a needy family in our community.

Dec. 5,12,13,19 &, 20 - Polar Express Family Night - hop aboard the train for an interactive experience of this famous story. 7-9pm.

Dec. 14 & 21 - Caroling & Colonial Hospitality - carol through the centuries and lift your spirits for the season.

Nazareth's High Inspection Fees Bad for Business

At last night's Nazareth Borough Council meeting, both council members and the fourteen "civilians" attending were astonished to learn how much money is charged to get a small business up and going. If you set up shop and make some minor improvements, you can expect to pay a $719 fee to the borough engineer to make sure everything is up to code.

Most of that money, $650, goes right to Keller Consulting Engineers.

Last month, I told you that nonprofit Insomniak Theatre Company has finally found a home at the old Nazareth News Agency on Main Street. They've been hard at work, cleaning, scraping and painting the place. But to put in a handicapped-person bathroom, they had to shell out $719 for the "planning and review" costs.

This rule applies to any business coming to Nazareth, whether spending $500 or $50,000 in improvements. It makes no difference whether that business is a nonprofit, either. If improvements exceed $50,000, the "planning and review" cost goes up, too.

After hearing Insomniak's story, council member Tom Heckman quietly observed, "This could be detrimental to the business district."

D'you think?

Council members Cindy Werner ("I agree with Tom, I think it's high") and Larry Stoudt ("I have to agree") echoed Heckman's concern. But it's too late for Insomniak. That ship has sailed. "We can't change in the middle of the stream," was council prez Chiavaroli's Lincolnesque answer.

Insomniak member Erik Honsel was fine with that. Council will change the fees.

"So long as we help the next person."

That's what nonprofits do.

Wait 'till they get my Feng Shui bill!

Insomniaks Give Nazareth Arts Center; NDA Gives Nazareth a Headache

Last week, I told you that avant-garde Insomniak Theatre Company has finally found a home in Nazareth at the old Nazareth News Agency on Main Street. The Express Times has since confirmed that this thespian troupe signed a one year lease, effective September 1.

Late last night, I sat down with the Triumvirate behind the Insomniak - Nazareth resident and teacher Erik Honsel, Bushkill Township businessman Jim Buskirk and Upper Nazareth student Matt Meckes. Insomiaks all, they were guzzling coffee. I had a cup myself.

I asked why they do this. None of them makes a dime from it. These gentlemen, and they are gentlemen, believe the arts make us better people. Honsel is a teacher, Meckes a music student and Buskirk provides the business acumen. It's a nice combination.

They plan more than shows. "It's a fully functioning arts center," said Matt Meckes. Buskirk explained there will be dance lessons, art shows in the Spring, acting lessons in the Summer. In October, there will be pumpkin carvings and Halloween stories. In December, kids in their PJs will ride on the Polar Express. They'll even be served hot chocolate.

The last Friday of every month will be a night of jazz. I'll be there in a beret.

Of course, there will also be shows.

The Insomniaks are up and running with no taxpayer dollars, either. Not even a dime.

In the meantime, the newly formed "Nazareth Cultural and Arts Commission," has a rent-free lease to the borough's old municipal building. Its one accomplishment? A logo. And earlier this month, the Nazareth Downtown Association (NDA) proposed that the borough spend $30,000 to hire Taggart Associates as a grant writer. Taggart claimed it could get an "anchor building grant" to convert that mold-filled property into an arts center.

Funny thing. Borough Secretary Paul Kokolus knows a little about grant-writing himself. No building with under 10,000 square feet is entitled to a grant. Borough Council sent Taggart away.

It seems that the Insomniaks are doing fine on their own while the Arts Commission is napping and the NDA clamors for public assistance.

Insomiak Theatre Co. to Lease Nazareth News Agency

Two summers ago, Insomniak Theatre Company made its Nazareth debut with a modern rendition of Oedipus Rex at the park's amphitheatre, performed under the stars. Oedipus made a grand entrance in a military Hummer. The "priest" was a Channel 96 reporter.

Following that performance and a daylong "Greek Festival" for children, Insomniak thespians began work on an ambitious plan to acquire Nazareth's old municipal building (itself an old firehouse). Plans were drawn and a model was built, showing a small theatre with an art gallery at the entrance. Eric Honsel, Matt Meckes and James Buskirk, the Nazareth triumvirate behind Insomniak, approached contractors who agreed to make the necessary renovations at reduced rates.

Insomniak also joined the newly formed Nazareth Downtown Association (NDA), which kept the vision of converting the old municipal building onto a small arts center. It even formed some kind of arts commission, which has a rent-free lease to this empty firehouse. But about a year ago, Insomniak drifted away from NDA. Production manager and co-owner Erik Honsel tells us why. "'Backroom politics,' some narrow minded leadership, lack of support for Insomniak's input, and on one occasion, a hostile environment, were our reasons to withdraw support."

Friction obviously existed between Insomniak, on one side, and Ken and Karen Trionfo, who appear to be all that's left at NDA. That's another story.

As NDA lost members and volunteers, Insomniac kept plugging away, trying to find a home in Nazareth. Honsel, who is also a Nazareth teacher and member of the Nazareth Heritage Society, explains: "I firmly believe that strong arts programs equals strong communities. Besides the entertainment value, the arts can bring people together; the arts can make people aware of social issues; the arts can educate, illuminate and motivate. It is proven from town after town across our country that 'arts venues' and community oriented theatre groups generate income for surrounding and supporting businesses; towns have the potential to thrive in a strong performing arts environment."

Insomniak has finally found a home at the Nazareth News Agency, which has been empty since January. Instead of remaining empty, this nonprofit is already planning a play in September.

Photo Credit: Matt Meckes, Flickr

Insomniak Theatre - Nazareth's Best Kept Secret

Insomniak Theatre Company is Nazareth's best kept secret.

These dedicated thespians wowed Nazareth masses - including me - last summer with a modern adaptation of Oedipus Rex, performed under the stars. Oedipus made his grand entrance in a military Hummer, and the "priest" had morphed into a Channel 96 reporter.

Will they find a permanent home in Nazareth? Right now, the Nazareth natives behind Insomiak are trying to work something out with the Nazareth Downtown Association so they can acquire Nazareth's old municipal building (itself an old firehouse).

ASre they getting any help? According to a November comment from artistic director Matt Meckes, "The issue seems to be dead in the news and around town. What has come of a plan? Has a committee been selected to oversee the project? As you can tell this is a project that I feel very strongly about. ... Unfortunately the boro will not accept plans from my staff alone."

Permanent home or not, they're at it again.

This time, they'll be performing Nunsense II - The Second Coming. This show features five nuns at a catholic school, so it's bound to give me nightmares for weeks. If you're Jewish, Buddhist or what my father indelicately called a WASP (White Angle Saxon Prick), you'll enjoy the show.

Catholics, run for your lives!

Where: Holy Family Gym, 430 W. Center Street, Nazareth, PA (Where the hell else?)

When: February 22 & 23 @ 8 PM and February 23 & 24 @ 2 PM

Cost: $10 adults, $8 students and seniors, $1,000 bloggers. Call 610-703-7307.

All sorts of additional shows, from Stephen Sondheim's Assassins to Little Black Box Theatre, are being planned for this summer. If you or one of your children is interested in acting, email auditions@insomniaktheatre.com.