Actor's Gang, the theater company started many moons ago by actor Tim Robbins, is currently hosting the killer-as-can-be WTF?! Festival at Culver City's Ivy Substation through the first week of December. While we missed our crush Sarah Silverman shooting off her mouth last night, the next few days alone of WTF?!'s art/social showcase will give ticket holders the chance to witness Metal Gods Tenacious D play a live set with Silverman on Saturday, the Kunstler gals preview and discuss a film on their civil rights lawyer father on Tuesday, and a screening of The Aristocrats lead by joker Paul Provenza on Wednesday.
Tenacious D, by Moses Namkung via Flickr
That's simply the tip of the spear, though. There is something mind-blowing almost every night of WTF?! over the next few months (Wizard of Oz mixed with Dark Side, Serj Tankian, Gore Vidal, film screenings, Tom Morello with Shooter Jennings), and you can find out wtf else is going on by viewing the full schedule here.
So, we had a chance to shoot Mr. Robbins, a personal hero of our writer here, a couple of questions about what the flying F is new with Actor's Gang and WTF?! Festival. And though we were dying for some dirt on demon spawns Jack Black and Kyle Gass, who worked in Actor's Gang's early days, or at least for a real response to what Tim's favorite taco in L.A. is, those answers veered toward vague, while we got good insight into how a theater company thrives in L.A. Without further yakking, we are pleased to introduce TACO readers to Mr. Tim Robbins, and Tim to TACO, in a Q&A, below.
Robbins with Gore Vidal, who will speak as part of WTF?! Festival in November
TACO: Sounds like a lot is going on at Actor's Gang over the next few months. What are you really excited about?
TIM: I'm most excited that new audiences are coming to the Actors Gang Theater; people that don't usually see live theater are discovering the Actors Gang.
TACO: Did Jack Black ever hold a sword or did KG ever play a tree? We're dying to know what The Tenacious D fellas were like back in the day.
TIM: Great actors, both.
TACO: Theater in L.A. can be a tough sell to people. What do you think is the secret to longevity?
TIM: Doing the work. Doing theater, not showcases. Taking risks. And having a thick skin.
TACO: Any special way you would tell the famous and ribald Aristocrats joke?
TIM: Criminally offensive.
TACO: You're one of the few public voices who really take a stand for what they believe. Any advice for the rest of us?
TIM: No advice. Just read, listen, dance once in a while, and free yourself from electronics as much as possible.
TACO: Most importantly, what is your favorite place to eat tacos or Mexican food in L.A?
TIM: Wherever Maria cooks it.
