Warning: Tricks the Devil Taught Me- Page 3

[Robbie]

Posted: 8/3/11 at 10:33pm

These endorsements are coming from Tony or his BF Travis Acreman, an actor and/or stage hand. It's way too little, way too late. Not only is Tony Georges' reputation cancelling this show, this show is cancelling this show. It is pathetic.

Another painfully honest assessment of the show was posted earlier today:

http://wanorrisjr.blogspot.com/2011/08/billi-pods-report-card-on-tricks-devil.html

The show was given an "F" and here is a sample of the review:

"This was every bit as terrible as my theater-nut friends had said, and then some. It is puke-inducingly bad. Barf and double-barf!!

It has every southern/western cliché imaginable shouted by unlikeable and unbelievable characters. Profanity is spewed nonstop from almost all of the female characters. The story line, if there is one, is incomprehensible.

Billi Pod fled in abject horror at intermission. He would have left sooner but his seat was in the second row, dead center, so he was trapped. When he left he joined a stream of like-minded audience members heading out of the theater.

So folks in the metropolitan New York area - stay far away from this piece of egomaniacal [egomaniacal because the playwright is also the director] dog crap==>it is puke inducing!!"

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/3/11 at 10:43pm

Why do I care about the opinion of someone who speaks of themselves in their own blog in the third person?

And I can't care at all about someone who has just joined this forum in order to satisfy a grudge. TG may be all you say and more - but your relentless harassment of him makes me wonder. If you have a professional issue with the man, deal with it professionally. This is amateur hour, spamming message boards this way, and your screeds look like something the Westboro church would use.

Go away.

[Robbie]

Posted: 8/3/11 at 10:50pm

A "grudge" with Tony Georges? Are you serious?

Tony Georges received $1.4 million from people in Odessa, TX because we wanted some quality theatre. We got screwed. As best anyone can tell Tony took off with $300,000. People who thought they would get a tax deduction didn't because Tony (and his attorney Father) never filed any tax-returns. In fact, Tony NEVER accounted for ANY of the money. He had to be arrested twice in order to get performers and musicians paid. He left Odessa with more than $55,000 in unpaid debts.

He took advantage of everyone he could, including me - and I was only 16 years old.

You call this a "grudge?" Fu*k you. People got hurt and NOW - in your city Tricks The Devil Taught Me is about to implode. Tony is being investigated for not filing his show with the AG's office.

Grudge? You're an idiot. Are you on the payroll?

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/3/11 at 10:58pm

Is this show still running?

Yoohoo, Actor's Equity, anybody home? Updated On: 8/3/11 at 10:58 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/3/11 at 11:25pm

"You call this a "grudge?" Fu*k you."

Nice talk. I just googled "grudge", and this was the very first definition that popped up:

A persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult or injury

So yes, I'd say the word qualifies for your repetitive posts. I understand you're frustrated, and you may well have a case, but you're spamming this board, and attacking anyone who questions you. You have done that on the board previously with best12bars and myself, and just tonight in a pm to me in which you somehow came to the conclusion that I was not only working on the show but also orally servicing Mr Georges (though you were far more explicit) like a "stupid submissive queen" (your exact words). You're homophobic, unprofessional, and apparently haven't learned much since you were sixteen. You need to grow up. You're acting like a child.

eta: Just for the record - I haven't worked at the Minetta Lane in over two decades, never heard of Tony Georges except through your rants (way to get him publicity, kiddo!). I have zero interest in seeing this show - and I am anything but a submissive queen (not that there's anything wrong with that, though it seems to be an issue for you). You want people to side with you, it's usually a good idea to try not to attack them personally.




Updated On: 8/4/11 at 11:25 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/3/11 at 11:57pm

Ha. I love just about everything ghostlight2 has said. The Westboro comment was spot on, because that website about Tony Georges does look like something created by batsh*t crazy people.

This this thread is alternately hilarious and kind of gruesome. I do think that anyone who joined on 8/3/11 should probably best just be ignored - even though it's kind of fun to watch crazy people cross-posting bad links all over the internet.

[Robbie]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 12:31am

When I met Tony Georges I was only 16. I'm not a child anymore.

Tony Georges broke the law. People lost a lot of money. He never even provided an accounting or filed any tax returns. $1.4 million was unaccounted for.

You don't mind that? Cool. The NY Attorney General's office and Actors Equity is investigating and we are participating.

This show is about to be shut down.

People will lose (as best we can tell) about $480,000. Performers will be left stranded and left unpaid. Tony Georges and his BF Travis Acremen said the show "bonded" and they had enough money to make it to December. That wasn't true, either.

None of this is acceptable, by any standards. The theatre community SHOULD look out for each other.

I'm a musician and I'm trying to make it in LA. I don't ever want to meet another Tony Georges. I was only 16, I got used. THAT will never happen again.

I joined this Forum on July 20 to issue a warning. Tony's crew is posting everything from the last few days. Should we dismiss them - or help them? They are about to get screwed. It's okay if you don't care or simply try to dismiss this a "negative," but people want to trust who they work for. They want to know they are being told the truth. Is that asking too much?

Is any of this asking too ****ing much?

Tony Georges' past is being repeated. You don't have to care, I do.



Updated On: 8/4/11 at 12:31 AM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 12:47am

Okay, I'm in. What can I do to help?

[Robbie]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 12:56am

Phyllis,

Keep after Actors Equity, they have been slow to respond. I think the AG will close the show within a week, but it's hard to tell.

The cast and crew are (understandably) hoping that Tony has some real answers and some real money - he doesn't. He doesn't. They will begin to preserve their own reputations soon.

It's all an unfortunate mess. The Minetta Lane Theatre is partly responsible for not doing their homework. They should have checked Tony Georges history. Maybe they'll wake up and change the locks soon.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 1:59am

"When I met Tony Georges I was only 16. I'm not a child anymore."

But you're acting like one with your homophobic slurs and name-calling, implying that anyone who does not immediately jump to your call to arms is uncaring, by saying "You don't mind that? Cool." or "It's okay if you don't care or simply try to dismiss this a "negative" or "You don't have to care, I do.". And my favorite: "None of this is acceptable, by any standards. The theatre community SHOULD look out for each other " - as if we do not.

Will you, for the love of God, stop that kind of implication - and the name-calling? And the homophobia? I mean, what do you mean by this?: "Tony Georges and his BF Travis Acremen". That's the second time you've referred to Acremen as Georges BF, but earlier, you didn't seem to know who Acremen was - now he's Georges' BF? And you say that as though that's an insult. An aside: if I were you, I'd change your avatar. It makes it clear who you are, and much of what you've said here could be libelous. Also, it simply isn't wise to put yourself out there that way.

This is not just a black and white issue. We have only your word and a badly put together website (that you post over and over and over again), and you're making a lot of accusations that anyone has the right to question without being personally attacked by you. You have real anger issues.

You're overly obsessed with this, and handling this really, really badly. You got screwed by a producer - it happens. They do that sometimes. Adela Holzer (before your time. Google her) still owes me a couple thou. You know what I did? I filed reports like everyone else and she eventually went to jail. I chalked it up to a bad gig and moved on to the next show. If I knew someone who was thinking of working with her, I warned them, sure - but I didn't start a website, or spamming message boards (well, not that we had them, really), but most of all, I didn't spend the next five years obsessing about it.

Because that's what it is for you, now, right? Five years you're still going on about this? One-quarter of your life? Think about that. Life's too short. If you can't put him in jail, move on. Warn whoever you think you must, but get on with life, and stop spamming these boards. It makes you look crazy.

"The Minetta Lane Theatre is partly responsible for not doing their homework. They should have checked Tony Georges history. Maybe they'll wake up and change the locks soon. "

I can absolutely guarantee you that this guy doesn't have keys to the theater. Yet another ridiculous amateur statement. Good luck with your music.



Updated On: 8/4/11 at 01:59 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 7:13am

1) If you're trying to reach Actors' Equity, they have a website. They also have a phone number, and they're very easy to get in touch with. You don't have to leave messages for them on BWW. it's not a switchboard, and they will be very slow to respond. Probably, like, never.

2) Why do you keep linking to your own website as a source for all of your information? Do you have any other sources? If so, great, if not, you could be libel for slander if you can't prove what you're saying.

3) I hope for your sake you can prove it. I hope for our sake you go away. We're not a union grievance council. And your smear campaign is redundant. There's nothing we can do to help you, but there's plenty others can do if you can prove your case (and please don't link to your own website to do that now).

4) See you in church. Or court. And good luck with that.

Updated On: 8/4/11 at 07:13 AM

[Robbie]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 12:25pm

TO: Best12Bars and GhostLight2:

I appreciate your insight and again, I wasn't trying to attack anyone, including Tony Georges. All the background information is true and it comes from the Odessa American Newspaper and government documentation, including the IRS and the State of New York.

I'm not angry and I am working on my music career.

You are correct that this is something that "happened" to me (and many others in Odessa) but, my point is it is now HAPPENING again. That's the point, not what happened to me, that's in the past and will only be revisited if Tony Georges wants to dispute the facts.

I believe the theatre community has been sufficiently informed and they are responding. That is all I had hoped for.

Nothing on our website is speculation or innuendo, it has all been reported by the Odessa newspaper and government agencies. Tony Georges, through his attorney has been invited several time to dispute anything on our website - he has not done so.

The more important question is why Tony Georges (or anyone else associated with this show) hasn't provided any evidence or documentation that this show has sufficient funding?

It is fair to question Tony Georges and his reputation because he is the Producer and has made several representations about funding. Our research has found those assertions to be wholly false. If he had never left such a mess (and public record) in Odessa we wouldn't be discussing this.

He has some explaining to do, I've done mine. It's not a "smear campaign" it is simply the publication of relevant information.

Thank-you for your advice.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 12:51pm

Robbie, would you care to explain the homophobic remarks you made to ghostlight?

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 1:16pm

"The more important question is why Tony Georges (or anyone else associated with this show) hasn't provided any evidence or documentation that this show has sufficient funding?"

Why should he do that with you? We're all innocent in this country until proven guilty. He doesn't have to prove to you that he has funding. The burden of proof is on you that he doesn't and that he's doing something illegal now.

That's how it works.

If you can prove your claims, great. You'll get your revenge and he'll likely be brought up on charges. If you can't prove them, you may need a good litigation lawyer.

Updated On: 8/4/11 at 01:16 PM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 1:25pm

Stop baiting the young man on the homophobia whatever. It was my impression that he is gay himself, though I am unsure on that. BF can mean best friend, not only boyfriend, as in BFF. It was my impression he was using sarcasm because the actor/stage manager/air condition repairman seems so partial to the producer, coming on here and posting and all, and it seemed Robbie was trying to wake him up to check the facts and not be taken for a ride.

He may be trying to render a service to the community so why don't you check on his facts first.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 1:28pm

His website is likewise homophobic, saying the play "promotes homosexuality".

[Robbie]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 1:34pm

I didn't make any "homophobic" remarks. I'm not homophobic. I'm gay, Tony is gay, Travis is gay (see his blog) and as far as I know many people in the crew are gay. That isn't relevant or important to the subject matter.

TO Best12Bars: He didn't register his offering to raise money for Tricks and that alone is "illegal." He told a few potential investors he had a "waiver" from registration. There is no such thing as a waiver in New York.

Given the many questions raised by his documented behavior in Odessa, he has an obligation to reassure the cast, the crew and the public about his funding or lack thereof. He has not done so.

None of this is speculation. We used FOIA and filed complaints with several government agencies and gathered information - all relevant information.

Our website has had more traffic than the shows website. Sooner or later Tony Georges has to make a public statement and full disclosure. That may help save his show. If he continue to hide it will end his show.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 1:35pm

This thread is like the Jersey Shore of BWW. Snooki and J-WOWW wrote the letter, Sammi!

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 1:39pm

Good grief.

It says:

"Now, he has a new play called "Tricks The Devil Taught Me" that makes fun of the people of West Texas .... It makes fun of religion, divorce, alcohol abuse and promotes homosexuality. Cast members are supposed to be "West Texas stupid.""

I read that as just a descriptive of the play. Plenty of plays make fun of religion and promote homosexuality. "Promote" means generally to further the progress of, to support or actively encourage; also it can mean to give publicity so as to increase sales or public awareness.

There's nothing there that is anti-homosexual.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 1:39pm

Robbie, your website in no uncertain terms says the play promotes homosexuality and presents this as a bad thing:


"Many performers went unpaid and Tony Georges snuck out of town. Now, he has a new play called "Tricks The Devil Taught Me" that makes fun of the people of West Texas - the very people he screwed. It makes fun of religion, divorce, alcohol abuse and promotes homosexuality."

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 1:42pm

nomdeplume, are you SERIOUSLY claiming that the phrase "promotes homosexuality" has ever meant something pro-gay?

I'd love for you to present some examples.

Especially given what surrounds it ("It makes fun of religion, divorce, alcohol abuse"). Are those positive statements as well?

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 1:42pm

That's hyper-sensitive and reading something into it that isn't there.

I left the screwing part out because I see that as part of the general assertion of financial misdeeds made by Robbie.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 1:43pm

Nomdeplume, have your master cleanses finally taken their toll on your brain?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 1:44pm

Google the phrase "promotes homosexuality" and tell me how many of the first, oh, fifty hits are saying something positive about gay people.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 1:46pm

Yes, RT, I see those as descriptive and not offensive.

Gay shows often promote themselves as gay, why not.