Regicides Raise Roof And Funds

Under a Saturday night sky swelling with the threat of thunderstorms, The Regicides performed to a rapt and enthusiastic audience at A Broken Umbrella Theatre’s current location on Blake Street with a bonus: they were treated to a preview of the theater’s new performance space in the making, and a pitch for assistance to help it come to fruition — all while eating, drinking, and making merry in the truest laugh-a-minute fashion.

446A Blake St. bustled with activity as attendees of ​“The Regicides: Working a New Corner” filed into the current space for the show and fundraiser for The Umbrella, a community hub and black box theater that was announced this past week across many news outlets, including the Independent. (Read our article about it here.) Saturday night’s celebration included snacks from Kettle King and Olmo, drinks from Black Hog Brewing, and laughs from the improv ensemble.

Artistic Director Ruben Ortiz started the festivities by arriving onstage dancing and clapping, egging the audience to clap along with him as he welcomed everyone and offered up some housekeeping information. Executive Director Ian Alderman then told the story of how The Regicides got their name, turning that story back to the crowd and saying, ​“you show up and give us support to survive.”

“We’re going to make an even bigger and better place to survive for the arts community,” he added. The audience responded with rousing applause and cheers.

The rest of the cast came out and were introduced. In addition to Ortiz and Alderman, that cast included Andrew Eliot, Hillary Hosier, Matt Gaffney, Jes Mack, Ryan Gardner, and Lou Mangini.

The first improv game — ​“First Line, Last Line” — offered the audience three pairs of scenes that let a pair of performers clap and jump in to take over, repeating the last phrase uttered. The audience was asked for a relationship, a location, and a worthy cause to raise money for. The answers received were Boris and Natasha, inside the Beluga whale tank, and, in the spirit of the evening, someone yelled out ​“Broken Umbrella,” though a different cause was used instead. 

The Regicides played a variety of games thanks to audience suggestions. ​“Pickleball” — an audience idea for an activity for which you might make $100,000 — had Alderman asking ​“where’s the pickles? At Katz’s? In my refrigerator?” The troupe also ended up with ​“clown workshop” for an event at a new building. Alderman and Ortiz took to tossing bags of kettle corn being made fresh throughout the night by Kettle King to the crowd who filled every seat and lined the wall, the near non stop laughter filling all of the spaces in between. 

But it was during the game ​“Freeze” — where Ortiz and Alderman performed a scene in a barbershop until someone else tapped in to create a new scene — that the fundraiser portion of the evening became an even bigger part of the night. A screen got rolled up behind the two, and behind that, Mangini and Gardner became Matt Masterson and John Johnson, two reporters announcing breaking news that included the ​“highly top-secret pitch deck” for the new Umbrella space that was ​“not so secret anymore.” Alderman and Ortiz, along with the reporters, then offered an extensive and entertaining slide show with colorful commentary, including a history of what the theater company had already generated in the arts community as well as what they hoped to bring about at the new space. Their business plan was also a part of it, which included making the space open to the entire New Haven arts community, not just the Regicides. 

“We are a family of artists, and we have made ourselves known in this city by transforming spaces,” said Alderman as the slide show displayed Broken Umbrella’s work in spaces that eventually became The State House and Music Haven, among others. Drawings of plans for the new location’s vision were also shared while Alderman and Ortiz explained further the plans to ​“create, cohabitate, and crosspollinate” with other organizations in town. 

One slide said ​“why is The Umbrella important and why isn’t it broken anymore?” Ortiz answered: ​“because we’re building bridges and we’re bringing people together under one umbrella.”

The reporters then stopped Ortiz, saying that he and Ian Alderman were ​“talking too much” and asked Rachel Alderman to come to the stage to also explain why The Umbrella was important (after Mangini as Masterson asked read the slide as ​“why is The Umbrella portant?”)

“We want to create a home for as many artists in New Haven and as many community members who have dreams and inspiration,” she said. ​“We want them all to come together. We want to make this place really special and comfortable. There are 52 weeks a year and we want to fill them all with your ideas.” 

She said she saw many creatives in the audience and asked those creatives to come talk to them with their ideas.

“If you’ve got a dream, we want you in our space,” she added.

The last slide encompassed it all, stating ​“everyone is welcome under The Umbrella.” Attendees were then directed to the QR codes on the back of each chair where they could donate any amount they wanted if they were so able.

The show continued on with another game called ​“Everyone in the Pool,” which saw each member of the group play a part in a skit about dog agility trials; however, Alderman announced that the weather was getting to a point where they would have to end after only one more game, as small flashes of lightning were seen over West Rock. The crowd clamored for one more after and received it. The Regicides received a standing ovation when it was all over. While some made their way out before the rain began, others stuck around to have more snacks and drinks, as well as take in the display of materials from the slide show that were now housed in the adjoining garage. 

Between the jokes and mentions of such New Haven institutions as West Rock, East Rock, and Tim Kane’s mustache, there was a serious sense of community that seemed to be the most important institution that the theater company was trying to celebrate and uphold. As those flashes of lightning got larger and closer, we all knew the rain would come and go, but The Umbrella would soon be there waiting for us if we needed it. 

Donations for The Umbrella are being accepted through Broken Umbrella Theater’s website.