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APAP SHOWCASING ARTIST - 2009

Jesus In Montana: Adventures in a Doomsday Cult

"Five stars! A devastatingly significant work, a scintillating sense of humor, a magnificent turn of phrase and a way with a punchline that is jaw-dropping. You must see Jesus in Montana." - Montreal Gazette

In the early 90s, writer/performer Barry Smith found himself in a bizarre doomsday cult, living in the basement of a man who claimed to be the return of Jesus. After a few years of earnestly following "Jesus in Montana," Smith grew disillusioned (and tired of waiting for the oft-promised Apocalypse) and left the cult.

Then he wrote a comedy about it!

This absolutely true, multi-media, award-winning comedy offers an irreverent glimpse into the world of religious fanaticism from one who's been there and back. With pictures! Using his signature "Modern Monologue" style, Smith uses projected photos, old audio, home movies and hilariously simplistic graphs to further explain how one gets into--and out of--such a bizarre situation.

Winner of the 2005 New York International Fringe Festival Outstanding Solo Show Award, JESUS IN MONTANA is a timely and revealing comedy about a young man's personal road trip to discover Truth, spiritual fulfillment and ultimately, himself.

"Smith's delivery is fantastic--he's quick, dryly comical, and most importantly, authentic." - CBC Winnipeg

"Smith is most definitely a traditional humorist in the same vein as David Sedaris or Garrison Keillor. This piece is hilarious and a must-see piece of work." - nytheatre.com

Other Programs:

 "American Squatter"

 "American Squatter"

"A show that reinvents the solo confessional memoir," says the Edmonton Journal. AMERICAN SQUATTER is an autobiographical multi-media comedy about a year spent living in a "squat," an abandoned building, in London, and all that led up to it.

 

Born and raised in Mississippi, writer/performer Barry Smith moved to California at 14 to live with his obsessively clean and orderly father. When it came time to be a rebellious teen, Smith chose the most unclean and disorderly things that mid-80s Southern California had to offer; punk rock, skateboarding, upsetting hair styles and lots of "consciousness expansion." His quest for identity eventually found him in his early twenties living in filthy abandoned buildings in London. An AMERICAN SQUATTER.

 

Smith unfurls his coming of age tale of conflicted adolescence with his signature comedic, multi-media style; using old family video, audio tapes, photos and personal memorabilia to create an engaging "Modern Monologue." AMERICAN SQUATTER uses humor to explore our culture's need for rebellion as a pathway to finding one's own place in the world.

 

This multi-media, award-winning comedy keeps the Internet Generation engaged and entertained in this deeply personal and broadly relatable message, speaking to anyone who's ever been a rebel without a cause.

 

"Five stars! What sets this production apart is not only Smith's sharp wit, but his ability to channel laughter's deeper cathartic powers." - The Hour (Montreal)

 "Me, My Stuff, and I" A Multimedia Comedy about Defining Your Life with Meaning, Not Stuff" - Barry Smith

 "Me, My Stuff, and I" A Multimedia Comedy about Defining Your Life with Meaning, Not Stuff" - Barry Smith

"Who saves this stuff?"

That's the question at the heart of BARRY SMITH'S ME, MY STUFF, AND I, a multi-media, solo, autobiographical comedy about...stuff.

Writer/performer Barry Smith is certainly one who "saves this stuff," and has from a very early age. Traumatized by an early housecleaning mishap--his mother disposed of his impressive collection of first grade "See Spot run" scribblings-Smith vowed to never throw anything away again. The young Smith began documenting every detail of his existence, determined to understand himself and his place in the world by chronicling his life through ... stuff.

BARRY SMITH'S ME, MY STUFF, AND I is a disturbingly funny and inspiring multi-media comedy about our relationship with "stuff." Universally relatable (who doesn't have stuff?), the show examines how we attempt to hold on to our memories as a way of defining ourselves. "Both hilarious and poignant," says The Vancouver Province, "this show will make you think about your own life in entirely new ways."

"Think Spalding Gray and David Sedaris with a whole lot a audio and visual aids." The Aspen Times

 "Write Now!"

 "Write Now!"

There's a huge difference between writing and talking about writing. Veteran newspaper humor columnist and performer Barry Smith offers WRITE NOW!, a snappy, fast, fun and quirky alternative to the traditional "Writer's Group." Instead of poring over something they've already written, Barry's highly popular workshop actually gets participants writing. Expect to blast through deadline anxiety and writer's block during this 2 1/2 - 3 hour proactive, non-critiqued workshop. You will even remember how much fun it is to write! For up to 25 participants of all writing abilities and experience.

 "The Ongoing Story of Your Life: A “Time-Capsule” Approach to Journaling"

 "The Ongoing Story of Your Life: A “Time-Capsule” Approach to Journaling"

Are you someone who thinks you have to go on vacation to collect souvenirs? Each day plenty of “artistic raw materials” passes through our lives: flyers, junk mail, grocery receipts, parking tickets, and to do lists. Each one of these items is a tiny reminder of the current state of our lives. This fun, hands-on workshop will explore the concept of creating daily, personal works of art using the stuff you might otherwise have thrown away. By focusing our attention to the overlooked details of our daily lives we learn to celebrate the fact that today is a full, rich, unique day in the ongoing story of our lives.

 

Participants should bring a journal (new or the one they are currently using) as well as a pile of “stuff” saved from the previous weeks - all the non-organic tidbits you would probably throw away, just save it up in an envelope and bring it to this workshop. The more stuff the better!

 

About Barry Smith

Employing a unique mix of comedy, monologue and multi-media, as well as a lifetime of bizarre experience, Barry Smith "reinvents the solo confessional memoir," says the Edmonton Journal. "Think David Sedaris and Spalding Gray with a whole lot of audio and visual aids," says The Aspen Times.

Barry Smith's first solo show, "Jesus in Montana: Adventures in a Doomsday Cult," made a stunning debut, winning Outstanding Solo Show at the 2005 New York International Fringe Festival and later Best of Fest at the 2007 Winnipeg Fringe. His second solo comedy, "American Squatter," won multiple awards and critical acclaim throughout North America, and Smith's latest work, "Me, My Stuff, and I," continues to tour the U.S. and Canada following its debut at the Montreal International Fringe Festival.

In addition to live performance, Barry Smith has been writing his weekly humor column, "Irrelativity," for The Aspen Times for 15 years, entertaining his readers with adventures in pursuit of the obvious, the irreverent and the absurd. Smith has also written and directed a number of short comedy films, released a radio sketch comedy CD, published (against all advice) a book of poetry and churned out some breathtaking to do lists.

Hailed by New York Magazine as "an energetic and versatile raconteur," Barry Smith lives and writes in Aspen, Colorado. More at www.barrysmith.com.