• SHOW DESCRIPTION

• CREW

• CURRENT PRESS RELEASE

• LIVE VIDEOS

• LIVE PROMO PHOTOS FOR PRINT/WEB

• LIVE PHOTO GALLERY

• PRESS

"The Continuing Story of Carla Rhodes" is a comedic rock opera featuring rock'n'roll ventriloquist Carla Rhodes. She's assisted by a cast of colorful characters she meets on the way from teenage frustration to artistic satisfaction. Not only will you be thrilled and delighted by ventriloquial feats and clever quips, but your socks will also be rocked by her backing band The Extravaganzas. Each episode of “The Continuing Story of Carla Rhodes” features a special guest, who will perform a full set after the show. “The Continuing Story Of Carla Rhodes” runs monthly at 8pm – September 12th, October 10th, November 7th and December 12th – at the gritty Lower East Side rock club, Arlene's Grocery.

"The Continuing Story of Carla Rhodes" follows the loose thread of Carla's journey from Kentucky ragamuffin to finessed East Village superstar. How did a lil' ol' ventriloquist from Kentucky befriend stuffed effigies of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards? Why is her hair so fabulous? Can she fend off Herschel Ragbottoms, an unsightly pigeon who lives under old newspapers in Tompkins Square Park? Will she surrender to Under Bed Alligator's fear-mongering and manipulation? Why does she hang with a cantankerous, salt water taffy obsessed 1920's gentleman named Cecil Sinclaire? Will she go against all odds, throw aside the nattering naysayers and achieve ventriloquial superstardom?

“The Continuing Story Of Carla Rhodes” debuted to a sold-out crowd at Arlene's Grocery in January 2010, followed by performances at Galapagos Art Space and Joe's Pub. Notable press quotes include:

• New York Magazine dubbed Carla as one of the "Ten New Comedians That Funny People Find Funny.”
  
  
• "In my view, Rhodes is the Savion Glover of vents, almost single-handedly injecting a notoriously uncool and backward-looking performance branch with a badly-needed kick in the ass. Don’t get me wrong; Carla is PLENTY old school — but she also has at least one of her dainty feet planted firmly in the current century, or at least the tail end of the last one (which is more than you can say about just about any other vent). Carla is, in short, a rock and roll ventriloquist." — Trav S.D., The Villager
  
  
• "Carla Rhodes isn’t your typical ventriloquist... She's intent on shaking up the norm..." - Backstage
  
  
• "Carla Rhodes and her shredding band, The Extravaganzas, tells her life story in a rock opera performed through crazy characters and wailing musical numbers." - The Lo-Down
  
  
• “'Rock and Roll ventriloquist' Carla Rhodes, on the other hand, is an act so unique that she’s really in a class all by herself. Here’s the best comparison I can think up: imagine if the lovechild of Shari Lewis and Mick Jagger was raised by David Bowie. Can you even wrap your head around that?" - NashvilleStandup.com
  
  
• "The Continuing Story of Carla Rhodes" at Joe's Pub (June 2010) was a critic's pick in Time Out's music section.

If you're looking for a unique evening unlike anything you've witnessed recently in the fading downtown scene, look no further... “The Continuing Story Of Carla Rhodes” has arrived!

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CAST & CREW

THE CONTINUING STORY OF CARLA RHODES.... Featuring ventriloquist CARLA RHODES, music by THE EXTRAVAGANZAS and special guests CECIL SINCLAIRE, MICK JAGGER, KEITH RICHARDS, UNDER BED ALLIGATOR and introducing... HERSCHEL RAGBOTTOMS.

THE EXTRAVAGANZAS

Joe Vincent (Drums)
Pemberton Roach (Bass)
Steve Dawson (Guitar)

AND...

B.A Miale (Live Keytar Projections)
Alissa Hunnicutt (Puppeteer)
Andrea Purcigliotti (Set Design)
John Bergdahl (poster design)
Jordan Bruner (Illustrated Scenic Backdrops)

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Current press release (August 2010) regarding monthly residency at Arlene's Grocery. PDF format.

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Scrumptious videos from our recent June 2010 show at Joe's Pub!
Click thumbnails to view full videos.

Teenage Lament	The Plight Of Cecil	The Graveyard Of Your Dreams

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HIGH RES, 300 DPI LIVE SHOTS FOR PRINT. PLEASE CREDIT PHOTOGRAPHER HANNA TORESSON.

Carla meets Cecil Sinclaire.

Welcome to New York City!

Pleadin' and croonin' with Under Bed Alligator.

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"CONTINUING STORY OF CARLA RHODES" PRESS AND CLIPPINGS

"Rock ventriloquist (yes, you heard me right) Carla Rhodes and her shredding band, The Extravaganzas, tells her life story in a rock opera performed through crazy characters and wailing musical numbers."

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"Quirky and comedic rock n' roll ventriloquy."

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Rock ‘n’ Roll Ventriloquist to Perform at Joe’s Pub...

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"Lastly, I would be remiss in my duty to humanity if I did not send you in the direction of Arlene’s Grocery on January 14, for that is the date one of my favorite neo-vaudevillians, ventriloquist Carla Rhodes is debuting her new full-length show, aptly named “The Continuing Story of Carla Rhodes.” In my view, Rhodes is the Savion Glover of vents, almost single-handedly injecting a notoriously uncool and backward-looking performance branch with a badly-needed kick in the ass. Don’t get me wrong; Carla is PLENTY old school — but she also has at least one of her dainty feet planted firmly in the current century, or at least the tail end of the last one (which is more than you can say about just about any other vent). Carla is, in short, a rock and roll ventriloquist. The current piece purports to tell her life story, but we won’t be stinted on bits with her favorite “partners”, including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and another dirty old Englishman, Cecil Sinclaire. She also promises to unveil her new rock band The Extravaganzas and a new character with the enticing name Herschel Ragbottoms. Unless I have pneumonia or a pulmonary embolism, I will be there."

— Trav S.D., The Villager

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TIME OUT

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NASHVILLESTANDUP.COM

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"Ventriloquist Carla Rhodes' Partner, Cecil the Dummy, Shares About His Dirty Job"

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