The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium was formed in 2006 to present work from authors of the Theater of the Absurd for audiences in the Philadelphia area.

Our mission is to present and preserve classic and lesser-known works by authors from the loosely-defined "Theater of the Absurd" such as Eugene Ionesco, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter and Edward Albee; to provide artistic opportunities to actors, directors and designers interested in exploring their craft through this uniquely theatrical form; to expose modern theater-going audiences to absurdism and to develop new audiences for this work. We will present site-specific productions which recreate the time and place where these works were first introduced, mainly Paris in the 1950's and 1960's; particular emphasis will be on those works that incorporate physical comedy, clowning, vaudeville and music hall elements.

 

Tina Brock Producing Artistic Director

Tina Brock formed the IRC in 2006, and has directed seven of the eight IRC productions since its inception, including Eugène Ionesco's Foursome; The Leader, and Victims of Duty; Samuel Beckett's Ohio Impromptu; Catastrophe, and Come and Go; Edward Albee's The Sandbox. For Random Acts of Theater she directed Tennessee Williams' I Can't Imagine Tomorrow and A Perfect Analysis Given by a Parrot. As a freelance actress in Philadelphia and New York, she has appeared in theater, regional and national commercials, television and film. As an actress, theater credits include Luna Theater, Azuka Theater, Theatre Exile, Arden Theater Company, Philadelphia Theater Company, Act II Playhouse, and Bckseet Productions. Upcoming: The Reindeer Monologues (The Eight) in November and Nicky Silver's Raised in Captivity in April 2009 for Bckseet Productions. She has written, performed and directed two solo shows -- Tales from a White Hoe and The White Hoe Returns for Philly Fringe 2004 and 2005. Tina studied Journalism and Dance/Theater at University of Maryland and graduate studies in Psychology while working in various incarnations at PBS affiliate WHYY-TV12 in development, on-air fundraising and public relations. Over the past fifteen years, she has also worked as a freelance producer and writer, and as an associate producer on the NPR show, A Chef's Table with Jim Coleman. Television credits include the pilot season of the short-lived Ghost Stories; many years as an on-air spokesperson for PBS WHYY-TV12.

Bob Schmidt Production Manager

Bob Schmidt is a founding member of the IRC and has appeared in all nine IRC productions since the company's founding in 2006: Eugène Ionesco's Victims of Duty, The Leader, and Foursome; Christopher Durang's The Actor's Nightmare, Wanda's Visit, and Samuel Beckett's Catastrophe. One of his favorite roles was Clov in Hunger Theater's production of Beckett's Endgame. Most recently he appeared in Luna Theater Company's production of Israel Horwitz's Line, and the IRC fundraiser Raw Onion: America Speaks Out. Prior to returning to Philadelphia after attending Temple University, Bob spent nearly a decade in Los Angeles, during which time he visited the Craft Services table frequently while on break as Doogie Howser's stand-in.

Lee Pucklis Producing Associate

Lee Pucklis is a 25 year professional vet of the arts. He has acted and/or produced on and off Broadway, in regional and stock theatre, film and TV. His formal training came from Meisner, Strasberg, LeGallienne, and Lortel. Additional NY theatre work includes the general management and stage and production management functions at Lucille Lortel Productions, the Actors Studio, Union Square Theatre, American Place Theatre, and Circle Rep. Lee is a past member of the NY League of Theatre Producers, and also a former theatre program auditor for the New York State Council on the Arts. Presently, he is a board member of the IRC aiding in fundraising and production development.