A One Man Show By Paul Boocock: "Boocock's House of Baseball" examines contemporary American politics through the vehicle of baseball. Dismayed over today's government for the few at the expense of many, Boocock turns to baseball for guidance because it is the final frontier of democracy; the rules still apply equally to all participants. Boocock's House of Baseball tells the redemptive stories of Derek Jeter, Reggie Jackson, Pete Rose, Jason Giambi, Darryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden -- not to mention the family-swapping Yankee pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich in a dynamic performance style that melds stand-up, movement based physical comedy, and monologues. It offers an optimistic alternative to the moral corruption that crowds today's headlines.
Boocock's House of Baseball reminds us of inspiring American attributes worth fighting for. Boocock's House of Baseball marks the second collaboration of director Mary Catherine Burke and performer Paul Boocock. Their first show together, BOOCOCK=VP, played to sold out houses at The American Living Room Series at HERE.
Jesse McKinley of The New York Times wrote, "Among the intriguing entries is BOOCOCK=VP, a political piece by Paul Boocock, a member of the wacky experimental troupe Elevator Repair Service." BOOCOCK=VP went on to be produced by The Ensemble Studio Theatre and ARSNOVA. A. R. Gurney called it, "Terrific work. Paul is a real artist. The baseball stuff was tremendous and the central vision of today's America was continually coherent and powerful."
Paul Boocock is a member of Elevator Repair Service and was in the comedy duo Premium Bob that performed at The Flea, The HBO workspace, The Kaufman and also had a development deal with ABC-TV. He can be seen in Hal Hartley's film Henry Fool, and Steven Schardt's Boutique. He is currently the voice of Dr. Jonas Venture in the Cartoon Network's Venture Bros. His previous work has been hailed: "Dashing and enigmatic," Emily Nunn - The New Yorker, and "Comedy (that) leaves you in stitches," Laurie Stone, Village Voice.
Director Mary Catherine Burke was a recipient of the 2003 Drama League's Fall Directing Fellowship, is a member of the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, and has directed new plays at Williamstown, The Hypothetical Theater Co., Theater for a New City, PSNBC, The Directors Co., The Fringe Festival, Vital Theatre Co., NYU and The Culture Project, as well as numerous Broadway and off Broadway assistant directing credits.