Originally created in April 1998, Funkopolis' 3 STORIES TO THE GROUND trasnformed the true-life mystery surrounding jazz trumpeter Chet Baker's tragic death into a passionately fierce exploration of failure, fame, and the repercussions of love and art. A jazzified trip into the the kaleidoscopic worlds of dimly-lit nightlife and lounge-inspired fantasy, it's a magical, atmospheric look at the difficult price of being an artist in America.

Baltimore Theatre Project
Baltimore, Maryland USA
April 23 - May 10, 1998
1998 New York International Fringe Festival
Present Company Theatorium
New York City, USA
August 1998
Trane McCoy Garlic Jones
Michaela Michelle de Leon
The Mixologist Damion Clark
The Siren Shannon Maddox
The People in their Lives Tim Brown

For the New York City performances:
Michaela Gail Okunski Brown

Director Gabriel Shanks
Playwrights Gabriel Shanks and Denise A. Gantt
Assistant Director Tim Brown
Stage Manager Natalya Brusilovsky
Still Photography Jose Villarrubia
Production Photography C. Richard Gillespie
Costume Design Shannon Maddox with Gabriel Shanks and Damion Clark
Sound Design Natalya Brusilovsky, Joe Castor, and Jay Herzog
Vocal Coach Stan Brown
Jazz Historian Joe Castor
Hair Design Perry A. Steele
Original Music Felicity Kendall
Theatre Project Honor For Outstanding Vision In The Theatre

Theatre Project Honor For Outstanding Scenic Design - Craig A. Young
First Baltimore Production ever selected for the New York International Fringe Festival
  • Conceived by Gabriel Shanks, other titles considered for the piece were "The Chet Baker Project", "Diminished Seventh" and "Amsterdam".
  • The production was visually inspired by the famous photos of 50's era jazz musicians by William Claxton, the album covers of Decca and Blue Note Records of the period, and the mid-90's fashion advertising of clothier BeBe.
  • When in development, "Amsterdam" was a semi-finalist and alternate for the Sundance Theatre Lab.
  • Originally planned as a musical of sorts, production was radically altered when it was cast with five tremendous actors -- none of whom could sing the difficult music required.
  • Production created a New York sensation when, with no dressing room available prior to performances, hair designer Perry Steele created his amazing hair sculptures on the sidewalk, stunning the passerby of the Lower East Side.
The Funkopolis logo graphic used by the company as its brand is actually an outtake of the first photo shoot of 3 STORIES by noted artist Jose Villarrubia, who snapped the photo during a break. The bejewled hand on actor Garlic Jones' face is that of Damion Clark. The photo was taken in January 1998 in a freezing cold space with no heat...which no doubt gives the shirtless Garlic such an air of mystery.

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