Neo-Daredevils

2010-02-17T00:33:00.000-08:00

It's 4 years later and we're making a comeback.

I'm slapping my dick against the keyboard.

2006-07-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

dfstgfgft ggdgdgtfhggfgftgvfgf

Let the flames begin

2006-07-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

We start Daredevils rehearsal in a week. Strap on your helmets.

Great Bloggin about Evel

2006-03-22T09:43:00.000-08:00

http://positiveapeindex.blogspot.com/2006/03/you-stay-classy-america.html

This blog is alive!

2006-03-20T12:48:00.000-08:00

Daredevils is back! Summer 2006: Theater on the Lake.

Just try not to crap yourself. Go ahead, try.

This Blog is Dead

2005-11-14T11:29:00.000-08:00

That is until Daredevils Re-opens.

DeaD DeaD this blog is dead.

If you're reading this it's probably because your a daredevil trying to re-live your glory days at the neofuturarium.

Welp, That's it...for now.

2005-11-02T12:33:00.000-08:00

We did our last show of the run on Saturday. I thought it was the best show ever. Thanks to all of our sponsors and people who helped us. And thanks to the fans. I'm sure the show will comeback in some for or another. If your interested in seeing it come back, or come to your town, let us know.

Love,
Dean Evans - Daredevil for life

BLOOD!

2005-10-21T13:37:00.000-07:00

I was informed today that my cup of Blood spilled all over the theater's refrigerator this week. Oh, Blood! How it vexes me so!

John

Extension Begins

2005-10-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

We start our first week of extension this weekend. Andrew came in and hung huge posters of our portraits (see posting below). We stare at them and think about how attacted to us we are. One of the performances will be video taped this weekend.

We've been having great shows.

2005-10-14T00:25:00.000-07:00

The show keeps getting better and better. More an more people are coming. We sold out last week and I suspect that will happen again this week.

This is fun.

Oh yeah.

2005-10-07T22:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a preview. Look at the previous entry so you can see them all.

Portraits

2005-10-07T22:21:00.000-07:00

The show has been getting better and better. Tonight was fun and very very competitive. We got some great wouds. I bled.

Andrew took great portraits of us.

http://streams.my-expressions.com

Then click on 'People' to see all of our portraits. Andrew is amaizing.

Love Dean

Daredevils Extends

2005-09-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

We have a hit on our hands. We've extended. Daredevils will run all the way through October. So bring your friends and watch the pain. We are documenting our welts, wounds, and bruises with a shotty poloroid.

More good reviews

2005-09-23T12:01:00.000-07:00

We got two more awesome reviews from Centerstage and Timeout.
We were also on the WGN morning show. It was a fun shoot even though it was at 7 in the morning. We shot 4 segments. We did the intro to the show, the piece refered to as "nails" and three mini stunts including The Watery Bike of Doom, Pushy push push trash and Welcome to High school all Skate. The show conitues to go well. If you havent seen it yet you better.

Here's the review from Centerstage:
Daredevils
The show packs a powerful and fun punch.
Dennis Mahoney September 19, 2005

Stunts! Action! Danger! Jackassery! Ah, some of my favorite words in the English language, and the best words to describe "Daredevils," now playing at the Neo-Futurarium. This high-charged display of testosterone spirit and pure energy by the five daredevils for which the show is named will have you laughing, cheering and even holding your breath.

With a flame painted floor and a '70s-era logo on the back wall, "Daredevils" opens with hilariously cliched fog machine effects as the daredevils are introduced to the strains of Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll (Part 2)", revealing their strength while zipping down their flight suits. Gymnastics, tumbling and shouting ensue, setting the tone of what is to come.

"Daredevils" is the creation of veteran Neo-Futurist Ryan Walters, who had little trouble recruiting four other actors to be in the show. This is revealed during individual interrogations by the deep-voiced light and sound designer Dan Broberg. Most jumped at the chance to take part, and didn't seem to mind the pain or injury incurred during rehearsals.

Look out when the daredevils roll out a cart full of props and tools. Which feat they perform is determined by spinning an arrow on a game wheel. One such game, "Welcome to High School: All Skate" features bare-chested daredevils whipping each other with wet towels. The "Water Bike of Doom" has an unlucky daredevil riding a toddler's bike while being pelted with water balloons.

Jackassery aside, there are some truly heartfelt moments about personal decision making, including an investigation of why people take risks and engage in mindless dares and stunts. In particular, Andy Bayiates discusses the perils of being both an asthmatic and a daredevil while doing laps across the stage. Throwing caution out the door, he even swallows a bowlful of spicy curry while his fellow daredevils dance to lively Indian music.

Because the games and stunts are mixed with scenes and individual narratives, the show sizzles from beginning to end. Just when you think you might have seen it all in the confines of this small theater, a daredevil rolls down a ramp in a barrel, walks on glass, crosses a tightrope or cannonballs himself across the stage.

Still want more? An energetic full audience participation game draws everyone in, and any wandering mind is quickly snapped back to attention.

Neo-Futurarium; 5143 N. Ashland; (773) 275-5255; $15 (pay what you can on Thursdays). Through October 15; 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday

We rock.

2005-09-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

Some reviews:

Neo-Futurists snap to it in 90 minutes of thoughtful crassness
By Nina Metz
Special to the Chicago Tribune

The Neo-Futurists can be quite cerebral. They are by no means snobby
about it, however, and that's a good thing because the troupe's newest
show, "Daredevils," demands a heaping dose of stupidity from its
performers.

Packed tight with antics that would give any rational-minded actor
pause, "Daredevils" manages to be a thinking man's "Jackass" — minus
the fecal obsession and sublimated homoerotic subtext.

Friends, this is raucous, good-time theater, a small-scale killer
spectacle that is likely to be the most entertaining 90 minutes of
juvenilia and self-reflection you'll see all year.

The cast of five, led by show creator Ryan Walters, trots out to the
fist-pumping sounds of Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll (Part 2),"
wearing identical jumpsuits and looking like a deranged pit crew, or
Devo circa "Whip It."

They execute cheerleader dance moves in formation (choreographed by
Genevra Gallo), and then a booming voice intones,
are-you-ready-to-rumble-style, "DAREDEVILS!" Talk about working your
audience into a lather

True to Neo-Futurist form, the actors here portray themselves. Each is
subjected to a Q&A that probes a masculine nerve: "Did girls like you
in high school?" and "Have you ever been beaten up?" It's a canny
exploration of why anyone — and it is surely not just men — takes
foolhardy risks.

The stunts themselves, picked at random from a kind of
wheel-of-misfortune, range from the seemingly harmless — squatting on
a plastic Fisher-Price pseudo-bike as it careers down a ramp — to the
ingeniously deranged — a cast member, shod in spiky high heels, walks
on the stomachs of his cohorts.

There is, of course, a difference between an act of courage and an act
of danger, and these thrill seekers address this with a cold-eyed
scrutiny, as well.

"Welcome to High School All-State" has the group stripping down and
snapping wet towels at one another as angry red welts sprout on many a
torso. "A daredevil always cleans up after himself," a cast member
cheerfully notes while moping up the water mess afterward.

Working on a set designed by Dan Broberg that brings to mind the
flaming Big Wheels logo from my youth, this is an exceptionally
well-matched ensemble. Dean Evans, with his wiry intensity and blond
Pee-Wee Herman looks, is a standout, as is Andy Bayiates, the droll,
self-designated asthma boy.

The whole shebang is directed by Halena Kays, a member of the
Hypocrites and artistic director of the comedy ensemble "That's Weird,
Grandma." Like a handful of other first-rate women directors in town —
including Amy Morton and Kate Buckley — she is a skilled,
pedal-to-the-metal artisan when it comes to testosterone-fueled
theater.

The male ego is in good hands.

Chicago Free Press

By Web Behrens

Contributing writer

If ever a show deserved an exclamation point in its title, this is it. But these “Daredevils” are confident enough in their capabilities that they don’t bother with such an attention-getting device. They save their heightened enthusiasm, and their interjections, for the stage.

Still, it’s easy to imagine a satisfied audience laughing and shaking their heads on the way out of the theater, recalling the crazy shit they’ve just seen. Walking on broken glass! Catapulting through the air! Eating super-spicy food while riding a unicycle! The result is 90 peculiarly entertaining minutes repeatedly punctuated by gasps, laughs and shouts.

And not just from the audience—from the five-man cast too. When spectators help randomly determine the next bout of wacky jack-assery, the guys occasionally shout, groan or curse. Especially if they’re about to end up on the receiving end of a whiffle-ball assault. During one madcap melee opening night—a wet-towel-snapping free-for-all, which manages to be funny, sexy and painful all at once—creator Ryan Walters exclaimed, “Isn’t that 30 seconds yet? Jeezus!” Priceless.

This being a Neo-Futurist take on a stunt show (partly inspired by the MTV shenanigans of Johnny Knoxville), the five writer-performer-knuckleheads do more than perform feats themselves. Under Halena Kays’ brisk direction—and with some sweet dance breaks choreographed by Genevra Gallo—they tell (or sing) the true stories of past daredevils, from Niagara Falls jumpers to risk-taking icons Harry Houdini and Evel Knievel. They also, of course, involve the audience—not just one or two folks, but everyone, in a tricky match of Simon Says. Good times.

What “Daredevils” lacks is some deeper insight into the entire phenomenon of daredevilry. Why not hear more from the ensemble—Andy Bayiates, Anthony Courser, Dean Evans, John Pierson and Walters—when they talk about their own histories of risk-taking and their motivation for doing this show? “It’s fun” only just scratches the surface, while some provocative questions (inquiring about what makes them feel most like a man) point to a much deeper well.

Chicago Reader

No stunt coordinator is credited in the playbill, and the Neo-Futurists are hardly polished gymnasts, so it's not surprising that this show's feats tend more toward the contemplative than the spectacular. For a little over an hour, five charming rowdies demonstrate risky ventures great and small--eating highly spiced curry, for example--accompanied by biographical sketches of Knievel wannabes and philosophical discourses on the nature of reckless behavior. Ryan Walters's show needs some tightening; lengthy setups dilute the impact of genuinely difficult tricks like Dean Evans's barrel roll and John Pierson's underwater homage to the immortal Houdini. But Anthony Courser's thrilling long jump through a paper screen delivers all the heroic swagger expected of action-oriented entertainment. --Mary Shen Barnidge

We're Cool Guys

2005-09-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

Opening was great. We sold out big time. The audience loved the show. We got a standing ovation. (This is Dean). Then after the show I got really sick and I couldn't use my arm for a day. But I'm feeling better now. I made it across my tightwire. I was extra mega nervous because Ariele was in the audience and she taught me how to do it. So luckily I didnt shame her honor.

That's right! New Color Pics from Andrew.
http://www.rubymedia.com/DD_090705web/

Andrew is Amaizing.

On monday the Daredevils are going to be on TV. On WGN's morning show. Hard work... paying off. ahh.

Time to sit back and let the pussy roll in.

Dean

John's late update about his head

2005-09-07T09:51:00.000-07:00

Wow! I haven't written in a long time, and now opening is just a day away. I hurt myself pretty badly, and I never did figure out exactly what caused it. My guess is a combination of a few different extraordinary circumstance. First, I had taken on too many projects and was at wits end before I even started Daredevils. I was running 7 miles a day, riding my bike to and from rehearsal each day which is about 15 miles, plus the 30 minute workout out with my fellow Daredevils. Then of course I nearly drowned in the Ocean, which I think caused a delayed trama that began to surface during Too Much Light one night later when I stretched my body between two ladders. I have been doing this for awhile in Too Much Light..., a play called Fuck You, It's a Jungle Gym. I would go home each night with my neck a little stiff, but that last night I did it. I put the ladders too far apart and I don't think my spine liked me anymore. I think my spine and my muscles conspired that night to force me to take abreak. But there wasn't time. The next day in rehearsal I began working on my bis stunt, called "The Spider Crawl" I crashed myself into a side of one of the ramps and I must have jarred my head, because here I sit today, three weeks later, with some remaing tingling in my head and left knee.
I went to two different doctors, sat in the ER, and refused to pay 3,000 dollars for an MRI. I was just in the process of signing up for Insurance when this happened. so I am not covered for this Daredevil activity. I opted for the 300 dollar X-ray, a cheaper ball to get the injury doctor game started. My doctor only found some spasmed muscles. Under Heather Riordan's instruction I made an appointment with her Chiropractor, Neill Sussman. My doctor told me my body could probably not take the strain of a chiropractor so he told me to cancel the appointment. I worried, and really didn't know what to do, so I cancelled the appointment. I wasn't getting any better, so I said "what the hell" and I rescheduled the appointment. Sussman told me to bring in the x-rays. I went to meet this Sussman, he studied my x-rays with an intense nonchalance. He turned to me and said, "Your vertebrae (then he named the vertebrae but I can't remember those technical terms) is pressing against a nerve that goes up through your head, over your forehead and into the back of your eyes." And I said, "Well that's interesting, that is where all my tingling is coming from. He said one appointment could probably fix this. He nearly broke my neck, my god, that cracking business is frightening, especially when it is going on in your neck. A stranger takes your neck into is hands and jerks it and you crack, it's only a few steps away from Manslaughter, but with more pleasing results. I immediately fealt better, but not completely. He said to take it easy. Alas, I could not take it easy, becuase I am a Daredevil and am in the midst of the last stunt show or play that I ever plan on doing. It was a good carreer for me and very enjoyable, but from now on I have to leave Buster Keaton behind and learn a bit more from the safe Charlie Chaplin. Each day my head feels better and by the end of the night after the run throughs at the theater, I am back to squear one. EAch night I go to bed with a heating pad. I think this will continue until we can get this show on its feet and then I can take a few days off to heal.
All and all this has been one of the best shows that I have worked on, I just wish I wasn't feeling so much pain and apprehension, and now I can't do my Spider Crawl, but The Houdini trick is mighty frightening nonetheless. Upside down in a fish bowl, hanging from my toes. That will just have to be enough daredevil.

thanks for reading.

John

DAREDEVILS FOUR SQUARE RULES

2005-09-06T00:09:00.000-07:00

DAREDEVILS FOUR SQAURE RULES

1. To serve you must bounce the ball once in your
square and then serve the ball underhanded into an
opponent's square in one motion.

2. The ball must bounce once in your square before
hitting it into another square.

3. The goal of the game is to become the server.

3. If the ball hits the set, back wall,audience,
ceiling, etc, and then bounces back into a square the
ball is considered fair and is still playable.

4. If the ball hits you before it bounces in your
square you are out.

5. If the ball is served to you and you are able to
hit the first person in line with the ball you
immediately become the server.

6. If there is disagreement about a line call, the
player of lowest status is out.

7. If the ball bounces in your square close to the
line it is fair for another player to reach in and hit
the ball out of your reach.

8. Any other fancy rules and variations are not in
effect until you become the server and announce a new
rule.

Tech tech tech

2005-09-05T21:37:00.000-07:00

Here is me working on my wig a while back. It's pretty much done now.And here are some pics of the set as the paint was drying.
We did tech today. Dan has a million light and sound cues.
We're adding finishing touches on the show. The show is looking better and better, I think it's going to rock. I hope the public is ready for it.
Here are some pics.

Flaming balls

2005-09-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

We haven't been updating lately I think because we've been rehearsing everyday for many hours. It's exhausting. Dan is painting right now. We're all tired from moving the big heavy ramps around, and working the pieces, and being in constant danger. We can actually run the show now. It would be cool to get some pictures.
Oh yeah, this is Dean. Blow me.

new pics

2005-08-31T15:34:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE

Chicago Jewish Theatre presents a concert version of "Kuni-Leml"

2005-08-31T13:00:00.000-07:00

Eric from circesteem called me yesterday to confirm some measurements so he could get started on the tight rope. It was going to be 3 1/2 feet tall. But I decided to make it only 3 feet tall. The taller it is the wider the base has to be. And I didnt want my head to be above the lights. I figure if I really need it to be taller someday I can put it ontop of something.
And we talked about length. He said he could definately make it longer but it would require getting a middle support bar custom engineered which would require more time and money, two things I dont have. So I had to go with the standard length which is a little over 10 feet. But thats ok two. Sometime down the road I could always have that piece engineered. I cant wait to see it. It will be completely raw unfinnished steel. Which is what I want.

Love, Dean.

Anthony's new pic

2005-08-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

Check out anthony's new pic. We were testing out the new canon. He actually made it over the border.

Deany B Update

2005-08-28T22:39:00.000-07:00

My wig is looking pretty neat. Yeah thats right, I wear wig in the show. You got a problem with that?

There's still some contoversy over the tight rope.

I'm having a stand alone unit built for cheaper than it cost to rig on. It's areal nice stand alone unit and Paul of Circesteem said I could borrow his for a couple nights for rehearsal until I get mine.

Yay!
Andrew was there again this saturday. I cant wait to see his new pics.

I'm the mystery Daredevil!

2005-08-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

Nobody shall know who I am. Ha ha!

New Pics

2005-08-25T09:55:00.000-07:00

Andrew's new pictures are awesome.

NEW PICS!!

Tried to Fast

2005-08-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

So I tried to do this master cleanse fast, I hadn't eaten in two days. I didn't feel too bad, mostly just tired. I had a lot of trouble with the workout and moving the ramps. Then Helena and Ryan both talk to me seperatly about my not eating. I totaly agreed with them that this was a bad week for me not to eat. So I'm eating again. Not that exciting but now you know.

Smoke (cough cough)

2005-08-24T20:42:00.000-07:00

Ryan just rode up the ramp on the bike. It totally made it. With a slightly longer runway and maybe starting off on a small downward incline I think he's going to catch some major air. Now if we can just secure the live shark, we're set. We're still trying to track down an anaconda.

We have an actuall "script", of sorts, now. It's neat to see the whole show on paper. Some things still may or may not be possible. I love working on a show that is beyond current capacity. It makes things so much more heightened and unpredictable. But the catch is, you can't be a pussy.

We are still seeking more sponsors. I really think this show is going to be well attended so if any of you Blog readin' folk are teetering on the edge, now is the time to claim your daredevil realestate before all the good spots are taken. The audience will want us so bad that if your name or logo is on us they will want you.

Andrew Collings was in rehearsal taking pictures tonight. I can't wait to see his pictures. He's officially sponsoring us. So, thats awesome.

Stuff is happening (Dean)

2005-08-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

I wrote the following as an email to the director. And then I realized that it would be a good blog entry (with some editing for tone):

Just keeping you updated.

I'm talking to the Flyhouse guy tommorow morning. I
emailed him and told him we're going into tech. So I'm talking with
him tommorow to see when they can do this thing.

And I got another sponsor from the Andersonville
Development Corporation.

I saw flexible aluminum vent tubing at home depot, 25
feet for $11.99. I couldn't pick any up because I
didnt have my wallet on me. But now we know it exists
in the world.

My personal goal is to get $200 dollars more in sponsorship.

I got all my wig supplies and it's coming along
nicely.

Maybe this email is all crap that should go on the
blog instead of in an email. Oh well, I just wanted
to tell somebody.

Dean

Tough times for Daredevils

2005-08-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

Hang in there.

Oh My Head

2005-08-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

Wow Folks, I'm hurt, and probably more than I have ever been. And the odd thing is I haven't a clue what to blame it on.
My head has been numb for six days and I am in the process of going to doctors and having xrays and mri's. And no one seems to know so far what is causing just my head to be tingling. It is hard to wake up with a tingling head, I just want to go back to sleep. They have ruled out severe things like Stroke and blood clots but that only makes me feel a bit better. And like I said, there is no one thing that I did in my over active life that I can blame it on. I can't say, "oh yeah, my head hitting that wall, that hurt!" I have been taking it more easy lately and all I can think is that it has been caused by all the stress of all the shows and exercising on my own and the constant bike rideing and running, and worrying, and forcing my body into odd shapes in TML. I have only guesses and no answers. I will probably have funnier posts soon, like about how I tried to explain what I am doing in Daredevils to the doctor in the ER. That was pretty funny. and how I panicked at rehearsal and said I have to go home and walking out and realizing I had no way home, so I just jumped on any bus and had to end up walking about three miles home, with my head numb. Luckily all my things in the show are pretty cemented, so this time off I have to take should be ok.

ps, I thought almost drowning might have something to do with the pain, but the doctor said unless I went unconscious under the water, he doesn't think so.

More later.

John

Technical Stuff

2005-08-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

Last night we worked on Anthony's launcher. Scary. We have to figure out a way to crank it back far enough to really launch him through the air. Heazy duty surgical tubing is neat.

We also broken a million beer bottles. It took forever and I think we're anloy half way done. I tried walking on it with shoes on and it was so scary. I'm having doubts, but I still feel pretty brave about it. Or rather... stupid about it. I could feel the glass smaching and it was loud and I dont know what I'm going to do.

I cant wait to test Ryan's motocycle tonight.

The New Postcard

2005-08-16T10:36:00.000-07:00

To spank to.

Tightwire closer still (Dean)

2005-08-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

I got the initial quote for the tightwire. You'll be happy to know that it's doable. But only if I can raise more money and most likely give up my pay for the show.

I was going to post the cost, but I didn't know if that would be bad and make the Flyhouse mad at me. I don't want to piss them off because to me they are awesome and they hold my future in the palm of their rough carpenter hands. I'm still talking to them about possible sponsorship. If anyone wants to make a donation to the cause of my tightwire, then email me and I'll tell you how much I need to raise. Once negotiations are through and I get a final cost I will post it.

Anthony one of the DD

2005-08-13T23:57:00.000-07:00

So I'm finally going to write something. It's 2:02 sunday morning I've been working on the opening song all night I have started over about 6 times, as of right now I love it. Now I have to put it to the rest of the cast I hope they like it too. I don't want to have to worry about this anymore my brain hurts and I still need to write more for the human arrow. I hope I don't die tomorrow. Or I guess this morning, I guess some guy has an idea about attaching garage door springs to launch me. I hope Ryan got another mattress.

And Finally, When The Urgings of the Little Shouting Pierson on My Shoulder Became Deafening...

2005-08-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

...I decided to blog.

I can tell no one knows this, but this is the most fun I've had working on a show at the Neo-Futurists. 43 Plays For 43 Presidents was pretty successful, but really sucked to work on. A 60 Minute History of Humankind was incredibly rewarding and didn't suck at all to work on, but as Ryan is learning, it's highly stressful to be at the reigns of a project while working for a company that provides little in the way of support.

So I'm a Daredevil and I'm enjoying it. But there's stuff going on in my life that keeps my head elsewhere most of the time. Trying to have a baby, getting ready to start another Day Job, or possibly move to Southern Illinois and start another one later in a place where it's hard to find work, or possibly stay here a year. Health insurance seems to weave its way in (and alarmingly often out of) every plan, and our plans change daily. I may even move out of town while I'm doing this show. I might stay at the Heart O' Chicago on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and then go back and forth to Carbondale during the week to be with my wife and dog.

But anyway, this show has been fun. Ryan is worried. I can't tell him not to be worried, though I've tried. Still, we're about on track. Every show I do, I can't ever imagine getting it done on time, and sometimes you're working on the set or something minutes before the audience comes in, like some makeover show on TLC. But everything works out in time for the reveal. So it goes.

My work in the show is very personal and very explicit. I'm fascinated with the kind of daredevil who feels compelled to prove something to himself, who's not just out for attention. I liken them to people who actually play to win because they just really want to win for their own sake--proving to themselves that if they're going to be in the field, they're going to play as hard as they can. In my mind, I think that the difference between people who show up to the dance of life, and those who snottily insist that they refuse to show their faces anywhere The Electric Slide will be played, is analagous to the difference between people who play to win and the people who don't. And the people who play to win, remind me of the daredevils who take risks because they are compelled to test themselves.

It all started while watching some Olympic gymnastic event not so long ago. There was this coach on TV saying that he thought his gymnast had what it took to win the gold, but only if she was really "ready to win". I didn't know what he meant by ready to win for a few days but I couldn't get it out of my head because it felt important. Then it hit me:

I'm not ready to win. Anything.

If you give yourself to something, truly at 100%, and then fail to win that gold medal, it would be a profoundly disturbing look at the limits of your capabilities. As long as you can say to yourself "yeah, well, the Olympics are stupid anyway and that thing's just a hunk of metal on a ribbon", you're setting yourself up to lose, because really going for it and failing, would mean you weren't good enough to succeed.

And didn't I use the excuse at the top of this post that I've got a lot on my mind? I mentioned right away that I didn't think the guys would know how much fun I was having. That's because I'm not always there. Removing yourself from The Dance isn't a matter of concious choice as it is habit. I am rarely where I am. While walking, I am thinking of where I've been or where I'm going.

But when it comes to the live performing of this show, I think I'm ready to win. I'm ready to give it 100%, even if before and after the show my mind is elsewhere. And even if I come face to face with the limits of my abilities, I'm ready to be a daredevil.

-ANDY

The tightwire saga cont. (Dean)

2005-08-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

I'm glad John didnt die. But it really would have help our ticket sales.

I met with Mark from The Chicago Flyhouse. Rigging a tight rope in the space is easily acheivable. The Flyhouse does all this amazing rigging stuff. I'm sure a job like this is rinky dink to them. But he said he could do it easy. Mark was very profesional. He looked at the space. He's drawing up the quote. And it all depends on that quote. It would be so perfect because the wire would span the entire length of the stage. The audience wouldnt see anything but 1 single straight wire spanning the whole stage. And I would climb over the seats stage right; and walk all the way across. When I think about it I have to take a shit. My dream would be realized. I would be just like Phillipe walking between the twin towers. All of the obsesion and planning. But, it still might cost a million dollars.
Calling all people with money:
Help Dean achieve the impossible by sponsoring him and Daredevils. If I get enough money I will actually be able to rig an aestically perfect tightwire that spans the entire space.
Email him at deanoevans@yahoo.com if interested. Make checks payable to The Neo-Futurists.

Dear God,
Help me.
Amen

Dean

Short, some would say ironic, drowning story

2005-08-12T00:59:00.000-07:00

So, my themes developing are Glass and Water and their relation to fear, trust, and historical daredevils.
I take a few days vacation to visit my girlfriend in Massachusettes, who is freshly back from Russia.
Her family invites me to join them on a boat trip. Wow, that's great!
So, I'm having fun hanging with my girlfriend's sister's husband, who is also named John. John decides to swim back to the boat that has lowered its anchor about... I don't know 200 feet away from shore, and I say, "sure, I'll join you." Half way there I realize that this swim is quickly draining my energy, and the direction of the current is taking me farther away from the boat, and much farther from the shore. I lay on my back to float awhile, but the waves are so large that they crash over me, water and salt fill my mouth, and I start going down, down, down. I start dog paddeling but the mist from the wind fills the air and I can't breathe, I start going down, down, down. I call out to John and say, "Man, I can't make it!" He thinks I'm joking so I repeat, "Man, I can't make it! For Real!" He gets an odd look on his half submerged face, and tells me to calm down. He is doing a good job, he is a little older than me, and I easily see him as a older nurturing sibling, but I am still going down, down, down. Now I start really panicking, and begin reviewing all the stupid things I did in my life, I start wondering what my girlfriend's family is going to think if I drown, or live. I feel screwed either way. A smaller boat, used to bring people from the shore to the anchored boat passes by, and I yell "Help", and John thinking he is helping by boosting my confidence says, "No, It's all right, we'll be fine." And I yell, "No, he's wrong, I'm not fine! Get over here!" The small boat circles around me and I grab onto a handle on the front and the boat guy starts bringing me to the larger boat. I hang on tight to the handle, and I bump into it occasionaly, and then grab tighter. I later find out that, I could have been pulled under the boat and cut to shreds by the propelar. That would have been great!
So, I'm still alive, and my girlfriends family still appears to like me.
I came back to rehearsal today, and told the guys that I almost drowned. I relayed the story, and we all laughed.
They said, "That would have been wonderful, the Water Daredevil drowns." It may have been some good publicity, but I'm pretty sure that all parties involved are mostly happy that I am alive.

John

I'm obsessed.

2005-08-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

I saw a guy stealing a bike yesterday and I wasnt very daredevily. He was scary, but he didnt mess with me because I puffed up my chest a clenched my jaw when I walked passed him. I totally busted him. I was kind of hoping for some confrontation. But there wasnt any. Amber's bike got stolen less than a week ago. And he was wearing a FBI shirt. As if people will think this dirt bag is actually an FBI agent who leaggally confiscating this bike for national security. Then he pretended to ride on it it like it was his. While still holding his huge steel clippers, while the SUV that took off when I walked by probably drove around the block. I'm mad at that guy.

I found this picture of this kid and now I'm obsessed with it. The picture is how I feel like in this show. Cold, slightly embarrassed, and on the spot and if I can just get my mind off of those things for one second during the show I might just live out a fantasy.

I'm meeting with a guy from the Chicago Flyhouse tommorow. If he cant help me, then I'll be a tightpipe walker. But not just any tightpipe walker, the worlds greatest tightpipe walker.

Hey someone should post our awesome photos up here. They are awesome.

Ryan's First Blog Entry of All Times

2005-08-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

Okay. I've never writen a post to a blog before, and am nervous about it. i write plays for Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, and this whole crazy Daredevils show was my idea to do. But, writing to a blog. I don't know about that.

So, we are all working on this show trying to do stunts and acrobatics and stuff that we weren't able to do when we started talking about the show in June. I thought it would be great if we got five guys together with the challenge of pulling off stuff that we had learned how to do over the summer, with the real risk of failure on stage.

Did you look at these pictures yet? They are great!
http://www.rubymedia.com/NeoDareDevils/dare073105web

but the thing about failure and risk and all that junk is that it is freaking terryfying. And now that it is getting down to the wire (today is August 10, 2005, we've got less than a month to pull it all together) maybe the real risk is trying to pull off the show in the first place.

(sometimes when i am not sure how to spell a word i will type what i think might be the correct spelling into a search engine, and then laugh when, "did you mean: terrifying?" pops up.)

In a way you just try and throw the craziest people you know in a room for a couple of months and hope for the best.

Thanks for reading Ryan's First Blog entry of All Times. It might be the last of all times, or not.

(this blogging thing seems a little dougie howser to me. cue music, and quirky neighbor friend crawling in through window.)

(i mean, "did you mean: doogie howser?")

Why all the parentheses?

Ryan

okay here goes, I am going to click Publish Post.

Nobody else will blog beside Me and John.

2005-08-09T22:36:00.000-07:00

I started working on a wig today. It's coming along nicely.

I found a really funny website about walking on glass. They have a mantra to say before you do it. I think I'll say it in the show.

I have a key.
I may do anything I want.
My body is elastic and flexible.
I give all of my pain, illness and discomfort to the glass.

http://www.lifeevents.org/walking-barefoot-on-broken-glass.htm

I'm tired and mad. Let me just say, if I end up covered head to toe in $300 worth of logos and ads and end up walking on a $15 metal pole from home depot, looking like a chump, because that's all the money and resources available to me... I'm gonna be pissed.

www.deanevans.net
Dean

Your Logo on a RAMP or JUMPSUIT

2005-08-04T01:02:00.000-07:00

Hey a quick note before I launch into a donation opportunity.
Last night I stayed up late drinking white wine and surfing the net for stuntmen and escape artists, and I found some information based on a hunch I had about Houdini. I can't say what it is, but this info helped me to relate a few of the random pieces I had going in the show about Amazin Joe from Fresno and my own propensity towards hurting myself, and hurting myself worse when my body says stop, and I keep going.

Anyway here is a way to help the Daredevils:

Hello everybody. I am writing as a representative of the Neo-Futurist Daredevils. We are in rehearsals for our daredevil, jackassery, sideshow, gymnastic extravaganza.

In an attempt not to have to cut corners on what our show needs in order to make it the best we can, we are offering a cool way for people to donate money to the cause. Like the style of sports stars, stuntmen, racecar drivers, etc. We are decorating our ramp and our costumes with paid advertising and names of persoanl donators.

The money accumulated will help pay for the flight suits, our ramps, a vehicle we have to construct to shoot Anthony, of the Monkeyes, across the stage unharmed like a human cannonball, we also have to purchase a mini bike or mini-scooter for Ryan, and we have to construct a portable tight wire for Dean, a large fish tank for John to dunk his head in and nightly we have to pay for the hottest curry in town for Andy.

So for those of you interested contact any of the Daredevils and we will give you details.

Right now a 25 Dollar donation will get your name or a company logo onto one of our jumpsuits. (the simpler the logo the better. or if you have it on a piece of fabric like a shirt that can be worked with easily.) A 50 Dollar donation will get your name or company logo painted onto our ramp. There may be smaller ways of accepting names and companies for a lesser donation of around 15 Bucks, but I don't have an anwer for that yet, but I doubt we will refuse the funds. Also each Jumpsuit, six in all, will primarily feature one company or
personal sponsor, with a large logo. This 50 Donation will go directly to the paying of the suit. All the other 25 dollar donations for the suits will be smaller logos on sleaves, torso, and legs. We all think it is a great idea, and think it is a wonderful and also funny way to let our friends support us. It would be nice to get confirmation within the next couple of weeks, but quite frankly we'll probably take them up and through the run, if you are one of those late donator people.

Thank you in advance.

Also we have a site if you are interested in keeping up with the progress of the show.
www.neodaredevils.com

Please forward this to any interested parties and give them my e-mail address.
thanks

John Pierson
The Neo-Daredevils
jrp@hopeandnonthings.com

Dean here.

2005-08-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

Andrews picture are awesome. When he was taking them I wa slike "Man, I betcha this looks boring". But they look neat.
I practiced yesterday on a wire at the midnight circus space with Ariele's instruction. I was so much better. I made it all the way across the wire many times. I have to really work on staying forward, moving forward, flopping my arms and wrists, keeping my arms above my head, keeping my torso stiff, sliding my foot out and staying low. And it really helps when I take big steps and really lunge forward. I used ballet slippers, so this time my feet didnt hurt so bad, and I could practice for longer. I can wait to do it again. I'm addicted. I love it because it feels like I'm doing something impossible. My mind is saying this cant happen it wont work. But there I am walking back and forth on a bouncy thin little wire. I love it. I want to be able walk backwards and eventually lay down on my back. And then for my grand finale I'll bring some girl up on the wire with me and have sex with her up there.

I was thinking for my first part about coming out in high heels. My stunts seem to involve allot of walking. Origianlly I wanted to do the entire show in drag. So the high heels thing is only natural. Cant wait for rehearsal tonight. I like the new work out, the four square, and I get to practice walking on my pipe. This is going to be a fun show. I hope I dont punture my kidney and die before the run is over.

You other guys better start blogging... Ryan!

DAREDEVIL PICTURES

2005-08-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

http://www.rubymedia.com/NeoDareDevils/dare073105web

Hey we had a photographer, Andy Collings, come to rhearsal a couple of days ago and he took some great photos and played a great game of Four Square with us. These pictures are of Ryan trying to work out a ramp jump with a minibigwheel. Pictures of a estreme workout our athletic trainer friend Heather Riordan worked out for us. Boy am I hurty all over!! And pictures of Dean practiving his balance on a pipe, and Anthony devising ways for his human cannonball, and Ryan and I jumping around on our newly built ramps.

check them out

http://www.rubymedia.com/NeoDareDevils/dare073105web

Dean Update

2005-07-28T10:02:00.000-07:00

I've never blogged about anything. Fuckity fuck fuck shit ass dick pussy cock cunt. Now that I got that out of the way.

I tried walking on a pipe last night. It worked suprisingly well. The pipe bounced and bended as I walked on it like a wire. I liked that. But when I was done the pipe was bent a smidge. I still want the pipe to be my last resort. I really really really want a wire. I'm just a wee bit sore. Heather taught us some great stuff. Last night. It was really hard stuff. I cant wait to see what doing that stuff everyday will do to my body. I need to start making my wig. Next week I will learn how to walk on glass.

Two days ago I got pissed off in my apt and smashed some dishes. There was glass on the floor and I didnt clean it up. I just walked on it for a whole day. I thought it was so neat. I didnt get cut or anything. It made me feel so much better. I love the idea. I love sharp things. Mostly glass. Sharp metal is gross and scares me. I would never ever want to be stabbed, but I'll rake a broken bottle across my face anyday.

John Update

2005-07-27T16:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I want to incorporate water and glass into my daredevil study. I started this idea because I tend to not drink enough water, so I thought that well... now I will try drinking too much water. But I don't think my bladder will be able to handle that onstage for an hour and a half, while also jumping around and climbing over the audience, and pouring buckets of water on myself and slapping people silly. Also I am fascinated by a guy name Joe in California who buried himself in a glass coffin. He craved fame, and yet he didn't take the precautions needed to do the stunt. People have died before doing stunts, but this was severly unplanned and his friends and family told him it wouldn't work. He invited press and friends and talked about his fame-to-be, and he died. He suffocated.

Daredevils in rehearsal

2005-07-17T12:06:00.000-07:00

Hey folks, soon we will post thought on our rehearsal process, our stupid stunts and the difficult talents we are trying to teach ourselves.

Wish us luck.

-Daredevils