March 2- 17, 2007.

AVAILABLE FOR TOUR

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Beauty Is uses physical theater to explore the underlying emotional reasons people engage in selfdestructive behavior and to raise awareness about the dangers of crystal methamphetamine, known as "Tina" in gay communities across America. The ensemble production features a four-person cast and is an original work, written, scored and choreographed by Hotel Obligado ensemble members.

at Sister's Night Club

1320 Chancellor Street
Philadelphia, PA

Last March, Hotel Obligado began developing an ensemble-created production, which draws its inspiration from recent media coverage of skyrocketing rates of HIV transmission among gay men who use crystal methamphetamine or "Tina."

Read more here.

May 8th, 2006.

The first workshop of the Tina Project was at The William Way Community Center, as part of the 2006 Equality Forum.

November 3 - 12, 2005.

DOTTIE examined how people suffering from dementia perceive the world. Robin Marcotte used original music, mask performance, aerial work, and shadow dancing, to usher us into a mind overwhelmed by dementia. Looking into the layers of her different realities, we are moved by Dottie's resilience, touched by her perseverance and inspired by her determination to make sense of it all. The only thing that will be left is to wonder which reality is hers and which is ours.

Marcotte was inspired to create DOTTIE after uncovering the fascinating tales surrounding his own grandmother's quiet battle with dementia. While imaginary friends discovered in mirrors appear to her, she struggles to keep herself in a grounded normality. A shy and timid woman transformed by mental illness, she chases her memories until there is a new possibility for life.

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Feb 19th, 2005 - 8pm - One Night Only!

Get yer tickets to Hotel Obligado's fundraising event at the Prince!! Get 'em now. Get 'em while they're hot! ('cause baby, it's cold outside)

Imagine reuniting with your favorite Hotel Obligadians, your best boy and/or girl on your arm.You swoon to the croons of some of Philly's finest chanteuses and chanteurs while our bellhops and chambermaids keep the quarters hospitable. Meanwhile, the intermittently-costumed raffle mistress gives away some squeal-able gifts to their lucky winners and keeps you up to date on the exciting projects the Hotel has in the works.

You're not dreaming. You've made it to GUNG hO, a night of fundraising antics at the Prince Music Theatre's enchanting Black Box at 1412 Chestnut Street (at Broad) in Philadelphia on Saturday, February 19th at 8pm.

Hmm. Are you bored of directors? Meet the never-boring Peter DiForte, the newest member of our Board that evening. Peter will be proving to us that he is, indeed, a member of the oldest sequined profession; cabaret song-and-dance-man. Peter is a designer by day, but he will be lending us his gorgeous pipes for a few velvety moments.
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April 10th - 17th, 2004

In residency from April 10-17 at Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH
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Sept 10th - 21st, 2003

Returning from sold out houses at last year’s Philly Fringe Festival is CONTAGION, Hotel Obligado’s darkly comic tale of decadence gone awry. Experience it in its most recent phase at St. Stephen’s Theater, located in the heart of Philadelphia’s medical community. With masks created by the company and original music, CONTAGION promises an evening of eerie reflection and strange interludes that are indeed infectious.
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March 7th - April 20th, 2003

Created and Performed by Tim Cunningham, Amanda Haney & Jamie McLaren
Navigation Provided by Greg Maupin

When three clowns arrive to perform a musical trio for saw, banjo-ukulele, and a miniature violin, the world as we know it is literally turned upside-down. Knock-knock jokes are regurgitated into fire breathing arias. Jellybeans dictate pace. Bow hairs split sides. And the conductor loses his clothes (or almost)! Blending traditional Appalachian culture, slapstick comedy, and acrobatic "feets" of wonder [sic], TWANG explores three clowns’ attempts to find harmony onstage in spite of their comic failings. A musical clown show for all ages.

Hotel Obligado kicks off its 2003 season with the premiere of TWANG, an original musical clown show for all ages. Blending traditional Appalachian culture, slapstick comedy, and acrobatic "feets" of wonder [sic], TWANG explores three clowns’ attempts to find harmony onstage in spite of their comic failings.
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September 4th - 9th, 2002

Hotel O’s communicable dark comedy in its first phase. Inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's seminal work of decadence gone awry, the Masque of (the) Red Death, Hotel Obligado takes its first steps on a comic journey through the peculiar world of all things catching.

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February 14th - 17th, 2002

Tim Cunningham and Matthew Graham Smith in STRIP

An original play created and performed by Hotel Obligado members Tim Cunningham and Matthew Graham Smith.

STRIP is about two gallons of alcohol, a reunion between two old friends, the disrobing of their secrets, and the bodies of water in which they may have drowned.

Place: Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA, (Old City)

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A veritable who’s who of Philadelphia actors, dancers, and performance artists united for an evening of music, magic, movement, monologues, and mayhem! A great opportunity for people to sample, in one spectacular event, the rich and eclectic talents of the Philadelphia performing arts scene, while supporting a great cause!
Theatre Exile

On the penultimate night of Crescendo's reaction to the RPAK (the opening of Philadelphia's Kimmel Center), we opened for a Capoeira troupe. OK, what more can we say about people that enjoy spinning on their heads? They were so much fun to share a stage with that we had to challenge them to some good ol’ Capoeira sparring. We were so inspired by them, in fact, that we made them (and other lucky members of our audience) eat chocolate with a knife and fork while wearing mittens. I guess you had to be there. Kind of makes you wonder what's in store for our next show!

Hotel Obligado joyfully donated a random act of clowning to HAC, who's primary goal is to use the arts to help people have a better understanding of where they are in their own process of dealing with current events. The second purpose of the organization, as described by Philadelphia actor and playwright David Usner, "is the larger issue of promoting racial, ethnic, religious understanding and harmony." The Healing Arts Coalition is comprised of representatives from numerous arts, community service and educational institutions. Read an article about this unique event.

The antic-laden clowns of Hotel Obligado presented the Award for Outstanding Ensemble at the 2001 Barrymore Awards Ceremony held at the year at the Independence Seaport Museum at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia. If you want to know who received the award (or any other that evening, for that matter), click here!

Our Philadelphia debut was a boisterous and naughty romp through the eclectic theatrical styles of Commedia dell'Arte, tango and clown that played to sold-out houses at the 2001 Philadelphia Fringe Festival

Our 2001 Fringe Reviews