Conceptual background
Back in NYC, actors Brian Wallace (above, in mustache) and John Kinsherf (above, in sash) were in a stage production of "Arms and the Man" up in Queens. It was a studied poke at the follies of war and human nature, as George Bernard Shaw was always into that sort of thing.
But Brian and John had a lot of the same scenes offstage, and quickly found out that they cracked each other up. They often filled the time they should have been listening for their cues by pitching each other ideas that people should do, but never would. There was the one about recreating a wrestling match Grizzly Adams used to stage with various bears (John and Grizzly were both natives of Massachusetts). And then there was a premise about a college freshman's dorm room friendship with a notorious dictator.
Eventually they hit upon the idea that one day someone should just stage a "pre-show"-- that surprisingly coordinated effort when the house opens, but before the play starts. There would be no performance, but audiences would see a set, read a playbill, hear house music, etc. Then the lights would go down and we would all go home. The title, "Kinsherf's Coat," was settled upon because it seemed the perfect handle for a play that could be about anything. It also helped that John was wearing a coat at the time. That was probably about 90% of the inspiration.
Brian moved to California and John stayed back East. But the Hollywood Fringe seemed too good an opportunity to not indulge in a bit of artistic impulsivity. Brian figured that if one of us didn't do it, nobody else would. So here it goes.
But Brian and John had a lot of the same scenes offstage, and quickly found out that they cracked each other up. They often filled the time they should have been listening for their cues by pitching each other ideas that people should do, but never would. There was the one about recreating a wrestling match Grizzly Adams used to stage with various bears (John and Grizzly were both natives of Massachusetts). And then there was a premise about a college freshman's dorm room friendship with a notorious dictator.
Eventually they hit upon the idea that one day someone should just stage a "pre-show"-- that surprisingly coordinated effort when the house opens, but before the play starts. There would be no performance, but audiences would see a set, read a playbill, hear house music, etc. Then the lights would go down and we would all go home. The title, "Kinsherf's Coat," was settled upon because it seemed the perfect handle for a play that could be about anything. It also helped that John was wearing a coat at the time. That was probably about 90% of the inspiration.
Brian moved to California and John stayed back East. But the Hollywood Fringe seemed too good an opportunity to not indulge in a bit of artistic impulsivity. Brian figured that if one of us didn't do it, nobody else would. So here it goes.