The Parenting Project with The Hoosier Dads
and Callie’s Tally
Phoenix Theatre
Through
Nov. 26
"Phoenix
Theatre’s stab at decoding modern parenting presents two independent
shows that examine the X’s and Y’s of parenthood from opposite sides
of the gender
divide.
At the Nov.
3 show, a trio of homegrown Hoosier comics, Brad Tassell, Dave Dugan
and former Ringling Brother’s clown Kevin Burke, collectively The
Hoosier Dads, delivered a heartfelt set of loosely-linked monologues
on the importance of kindness and patience in
fatherhood.
The warmth
of Tassell’s show opener, which includes an explanation of how a
late night trip to Walmart for condoms, candy, Vaseline and little
girl’s underpants might actually mean you are a good father, was
never matched by Dugan or Burke, but each of the three pieces are
strong enough to stand on their own. Dugan’s set borrowed heavily
from his stand-up routine, giving glancing attention to the actual
act of fatherhood and a deeper peek into the ludicrous things it may
cause you to
do.
Down home values pervaded this show, provided an
affirmation of who we are that blurred all political, social and
ideological lines."
Nuvo Magazine,
Steve Carr, November 8, 2006
Brad Tassell
has been doing comedy for 18 years. He's an author, a stand-up
comic, and a stay-at-home dad when he's not out on the road or doing
shows for Carnival Cruise Lines.
"Brad Tassell has an amazing ability to communicate
with children and adults alike, He cracks us all up!"
John Carney, talk show host, KMOX radio St. Louis
"(Brad) Works to be funny without being to
dirty...was great!" Mike Echmann,
Jackson, TN
"Brad is a fabulous entertainer. His show is
non-stop entertainment..." Roland Keiser,
Bloomington, IL
"During the excitement, curious onlookers crowded the
doorway to Tassell's perfromance..." Dori
Clemens South Bend Tribune
Dave Dugan in
addition to being a comic and voice-over actor, Dugan is a writer
and main character on the nationally syndicated radio program "The
Bob and Tom Show," heard locally on WRBR-FM (103.9).
"...an extremely fun and outrageously
funny program that kept everyone laughing."
Monroe County
"Dugan’s offbeat style with put-ons, impeccable
timing and imaginative angles won points with the
audience."
LOS ANGELES TIMES
"I
can’t thank you enough for the wonderful evening of
entertainment…you were marvelous!"
AMBASSADAIR
TRAVEL CLUB
"Burke and Dugan, both from Indianapolis, and
Tassell, who now lives in Santa Claus, Ind., are "three Indiana dads
who are half the time stay-at-home fathers and half the time on the
road," Tassell said.
Instead of talking about being drunk, about using
drugs or ruined relationships, the Hoosier Dads focus on what
they're doing right in their lives: their marriages and how being a
dad has changed them.
"We're not pushing negative stuff," Tassell said.
"Most people make fun of the fact that they have no willpower and
they're useless. We're doing the opposite."
Karyn Bonfiglio. South Bend Tribune
