Award-Winning Tour-de-Folk Operetta comes to Cincinnati Fringe Festival.
THERE AIN’T NO MORE! is a raw and authentic American folk music experience performed by solo-show newcomer Willi Carlisle and directed by Joseph Fletcher. This production is presented as a part of the 2018 Cincinnati Fringe Festival with performances at the Arts Academy.
An aged folksinger confronts the life he led, the legacy he will leave behind, and even death itself with five instruments, square-dance calls, and enough dirty jokes to make a beaver blush. The medication-addled musician relives lost love, his experience during the Vietnam War, years of political activism, and adventures into the American wilderness in this haunting, heartfelt hootenanny.
“Powerful…Both down-home and brainy, THERE AIN’T NO MORE! is worth seeking out.” (Roger Catlin, Washington Post)
“A poetic celebration of America’s original art form that is simultaneously ancient and avant-garde.” (Orlando Weekly)
“Warm eyes, fierce fingers and an even more intense stage presence … casual listeners might not be ready for the potency of [Willi Carlisle’s] performance.” (Creative Loafing Tampa)
THERE AIN’T NO MORE! addresses the fading and sometimes troubling legacy of American folk culture. Developed in collaboration between artist Willi Carlisle and director Joseph Fletcher, the play is the product of five years of research, down-home poetry, field recordings, music-mentorship, and folklore amidst the misty mountains of the Arkansas Ozarks.
Top Critic’s Choice as ‘BEST SHOW’ at the 2017 Orlando Fringe Festival. Awarded ‘OUTSTANDING NATIONAL ACT’ at 2017 St. Lou Fringe. Winner of “Singular Award” at the 2018 Sarasolo Festival.
Willi Carlisle is an “Ozark renaissance folklorist” who writes “brilliant, slice of life Americana.” (Sing Out! Magazine) A theatre artist, folksinger, poet, and square-dance caller, Willi received a BA from Knox College in Creative Writing and Performance Studies, and an MFA in Poetry at the University of Arkansas. His work has appeared in The Journal of American Folklore, The Midwest Review, and elsewhere. Willi is a co-leader of the Fayetteville Oldtime Music and Dance Society and a company member with the Artist’s Laboratory Theater. His debut EP, “Too Nice to Mean Much,” is available at www.willicarlisle.com along with additional show info.
Joseph Fletcher is a director, producer, and stage manager. Past directing credits include Purim-Schmutz, China the Whole Enchilada (NYC), The New Now, Las Posadas, Alley 38, War of the Worlds, The Pillowman, Candide, and The Sunshine Boys (Regional). In various capacities he has worked with the Walnut Street Theatre, Cirque Du Soleil, the National Tour of Chicago the Musical, The Signature Theatre, Prospect Theatre Company, Target Margin Theatre, Hippodrome State Theater, and Orlando Shakespeare Theatre and Orlando Opera. He is a founding member and artistic producer for the Artist’s Laboratory Theatre a nonprofit community based devised theatre company in Fayetteville, AR. He has a BFA in Theatre from the University of Central Florida.
THERE AIN’T NO MORE! has seven performance at the Art Academy (1212 Jackson St, Cincinnati, OH 45202) on May 31st at 8:30 pm, June 2nd at 8:30 pm, June 3rd at 6:30 pm, June 5th at 8:30 pm, June 6th at 6:30 pm, June 8th at 6:30 pm, and June 9th at 4:00 pm — Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at www.cincyfringe.com.
For hi-res images and audio go to: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/28u0ycu3lx1y0ql/AAB75fl9tSYBWKDQ89grG2ipa?dl=0
Bangor Daily News Interview with video:
https://vimeo.com/224535458
Listen to our Interview on NPR’s Arts and Letters:
http://ualrpublicradio.org/post/death-folksinger
Find out more about There Ain’t No More and Breaker/Fixer at www.willicarlisle.com, on Twitter/Instigram @WilliCarlisle, and Facebook @Breakerfixer.
ABOUT Cincy Fringe: 35 productions by artists and performance groups from near and far create this core component of Cincy Fringe programming, accounting for over 200 of this year’s record 250+ performances. Curated by over 40 of Cincinnati’s most passionate theatre professionals, journalists, and educators — along with some historical Fringe folk — the Primary Lineup features a gobsmacking variety of genres, styles, subject matters, and skill sets, ensuring that anyone and everyonecan find their perfect cup of tea. Cincy Fringe also includes visual art projects, musical guests, street performance, free public classes, nightly after parties at Know Theatre (which serves as Fringe HQ) and more! It’s a HUGE event in the Cincinnati arts community, gathering thousands of patrons to create a breathtaking community of artists and advocates. For more information: www.cincyfringe.com.
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