OK, I have a confession to make. When former Fringe mistress Beth Marshall initially approached me to, er, resemble Andy Warhol in her latest theatrical endeavor Beatnik (which, gulp, is happening tonight), I was clearly drunk. Not even just my standard tipsy either, but blackout at Studio 54 with a spoon in my nose and my ass in the air kind of drunk, I think. At least, that's what I'd LIKE to think, seeing as I'm not heavy on the theater experience (not since that time in Godspell in 8th grade, really). Anwyay, as I've tried to explain the nature of the event that Beth had to remind me I had gleefully signed up for, people have looked at me cockeyed (not because of the wig, silly... this wig could USE a wig, if you catch my drift). Having attended precisely two rehearsals – so minimal is my "starring" role – I can tell you that it's not a play so much as an immersive "happening," a sort of salon type of experiential theater meant to engage the artists and audience in a time and space, only NOT A SPECIFIC TIME AND SPACE. It's the '60s, from front to back, featuring everyone from Janis Joplin to Goldie Hawn, with all sorts of beats and hippies and feminists interspersed. Oh, and it's at the Venue, so it's going to have a free-roaming appeal with booze included. FAR THE FUCK OUT, MAN!

To be clear, this is not an advertisement for myself or even necessarily a move I plan to be proud of in retrospect, but we didn't get to acknowledge it much in the paper, and – at least from where I'm standing – it looks like a night full of hard-working, wonderful people (who happen to be freaks) that you probably won't want to miss. It's barely about me at all, even. I'm not even sure why I'm there. But it is about Beth's continued CRAZY vision for this town, so I'm happy to support. (Also, Janine Klein is worth the price of admission alone). You can find tix over at Beth's site here. Things start grooving after 7 p.m. tonight with the show kicking in around 8 p.m. WOW.

Here's all the where's and whatfors:

BEATNIK marks the BMP debut at THE VENUE (511 Virginia St.) on Tues. Dec. 3rd, 2013. A unique, audience interactive 60?s themed, underground speak-easy event. Patrons will get a flashback experience full of all things groovy from the 60?s. Come hang with the BEATS, poets, freaks, geeks, dancers, hippies,songwriters, groupies, comics, activists, actors, advocates fans and artisans of the 60?s.  Enjoy a cocktail, while mingling around the Darth Knapik & Bonnie Sprung art gallery or having a one-of-a-kind beat poem written just for you by the poets of POETRY VENDING MACHINE or engaging in a political discussion or joining in a drum circle. Audience members can come dressed in 60?s attire and be as involved or uninvolved with pre-show mingle events as they desire.

Producing Artistic Direction by Beth Marshall

What: BEATNIK (A 60?s FlashBack ONE-NITE ONLY EVENT)

When: Tues. Dec. 3rd, 2013

Where: The Venue 511 Virginia Dr. Orlando, Fl.

Showtime: 7pm pre-show events/8pm main stage

Ticket Price: $20

(Raffles,Vendor Purchases/Cocktails not included in $20 price)

Recommended for adults. Minors will not be allowed in The Venue without a parent/guardian present.

To purchase advance tickets- visit BethMarshallPresents.com (Box Office at 7pm)-(Only 60 seats remaining)

Meet The Company-

Beth Marshall- Mama Beth (Aka Cass)

Anastasia Kurtiak-Assistant to Mama Beth (Cass)

Blue-Goldie Hawn

Alex Mrazek – Fabulous Gay Host

Janine Klein- Janis Joplin

Billy Manes-Andy Warhol

Tod Caviness- The Wise Beat

Samuel Butcher-The Beat King

Gabe Patrick- The Young Beat

Adrian LePeltier- The GodFather Proprietor

Jennifer Bonner- The Feminist Historian

Mike Deaven- Druggie Beatles Fan

Julie Snyder-Crazed Groupie

Andy Haynes- The Neurotic Young Writer

Darth Knapik- The Visual Artist Madman

Kat Moreno- The Feminist Political Activist

Cara Fullam- The Feminist Beat Poet

Brett P. Carson- The Bongo Beat

Madison Graham- The Deaf Flower Child

John DiDonna- The Phantom Writer

Erin Brenna Manin- 60’s Hippie Singer

Amanda Hughes- Flower Child Star Child

Will Hagaman- The Comic

Vita DeVoid- Burlesque Dancer

Tod & Christin Caviness- The Lovers Beat Dance Duo

Ted Campbell- Side Show Freak

VarieTEASE-Laugh-In

The Hippies

Amanda Hughes

Madison Graham

Erin Brenna Manin

Bella Muller

The Activists

Kat Moreno

Cara Fullam

John McDonald

Jennifer Bonner

The Groupies

Julie Snyder

MikeDeaven

The Beats

Rob Gee

Tod Caviness

Samuel Butcher

Gabe Patrick

Susan Woodbury

Kate LockWood

Momo Earle

THE CREW:

The Venue Staff

The BMP Crew

Darth Knapik- Set Design

Jay Ferrence- Production Stage Manager

Molly Walz- Costume Creative

Anastasia Kurtiak- Assistant Stage Manager

Blue & John Valines- Sound Design

Amy Hadley- Lighting Design

Kristen Wheeler- Photography

Shane Wheeler- Graphic Design

Front of House- Chris Foster & Theresa Rogers