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William Burke

Playwright

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Comfort Dogs

Press:

The notion of integrating dog and human performers is terrific, and the canine songs — composed by Shane Chapman in shambling roots-rock style and played by the cast — are groovy.-The New York Times

Full Review: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/02/theater/review-comfort-dogs-explores-the-solace-of-communing-with-canines.html

The text feels in tune with the performance of the humans – uncertain, halting, non-ironic, a little mysterious [in] William Burke’s new play, Comfort Dogs: Live from the Pink House, comfortably exists somewhere between a scruffy theater event, a live music concert, and a dog park. While the five human performers hoist guitars and basses, sing into microphones, retrieve and recite the contents of sealed letters that have been distributed to random audience members, and lap bourbon out of a bowl, the three canine participants have an easier go of it; they’re simply existing in the space, howling along with the music when the spirit moves them, dozing next to an audience member on one of the couches, sniffing the other audience members, and occasionally trotting nervously into the playing space, looking around pensively, and then returning to find solace in whichever audience member is kind enough to reach out and pet them (most seem compelled to do so)-Culturebot

Full Review: http://www.culturebot.org/2015/03/23407/howl-will-you/

Interview with DNA: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150227/clinton-hill/dog-actors-take-stage-alongside-human-counterparts-clinton-hill-musical

A shout out from woofipedia (yes this is real): http://www.woofipedia.com/articles/comfort-dogs-shine-on-stage-in-new-play

Set in the skeleton of a pink hurricane-torn house a band of dogs walk around of the inside and try to make sense of humankind's need for comfort as they read letters from the audience asking for solace   An ensemble of musicians and live dogs will howl, scotch and poop their way through an evening as the inadvertently ask the question: Who nurtures the nurturer?

Featuring Julia Sirna-Frest, Paul Ketchum, Andrew Butler, Shane Chapman and Electra Weston.

set design by Carolyn Mraz
costume design by Enver Chakartash
light design by Megan Lang
stage managed by Nic Adams

produced by John Del Gaudio

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