Funtivity Friday - Art Projects - 4th of July Flags

Here is a fun project to create Independence Day flags.

What You Will Need

Cardboard
White paper
Red, white, blue and brown crayons
Glue
Glitter (optional)

Directions

1) Cut a rectangle from a piece of cardboard.

2) Color a big blue square in the top left corner of the rectangle with crayons .

3) Color 13 alternating red and white stripes on the rest of the rectangle starting with red and ending with red .

4) (Optional) Add the corresponding colored glitter to the red, white, and/or blue areas.

5) Make stars on the blue square using glue or small pieces of white paper.

6) Cut out a strip from the rest of the cardboard.

7) Color the strip brown.

8) Glue the strip to the left side of the flag so it hangs down below the flag like a handle.

What do you like to do on the 4th of July?

Enjoy!

Tune in Sunday for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Theater Thursday - Bella: An American Tall Tale

What: Bella: An American Tall Tale

Where: Playwrights Horizon Mainstage
             416 W. 42nd St.
             New York, NY

Who: Ages 13 and up

When: Through July 3, 2017

Me- Bella: An American Tall Tale was about a woman named Bella who was trying to escape because she did something to this man named Bonny Johnny.  It was a good show. It was very different from most shows I have seen. The plot was very different and the characters were very different and some of the songs. Not all of it was like things that would actually happen in real life.  It was a very fun show though and mostly upbeat. I liked the character of Bella. She had a very good imagination, and she was very nice. I liked the songs too, but I don't really remember them. The acting, singing, and dancing were all very good. Over all, it was an entertaining show.

Mom - Bella: An American Tall Tale is a western themed musical. It is a fun show about a larger than life heroine. It is full of quirky characters.  It is not a show for young children as much of the show revolves around the size of the main character's posterior. In fact, the songs include ones titled "Big Booty Tupelo Gal" and "One Ass to Another." The former is a rousing anthem which was the most memorable song of the show. The rest of the songs are mixed with some better than others. The show is well acted and well sung especially by Ashley D. Kelley as the feisty imaginative heroine. If you are more interested in strictly true to life shows, this may not be the show you are looking for. However, if you are interested in seeing something completely different, you may enjoy this show.

For more information or to purchase tickets go to
https://www.playwrightshorizons.org/shows/plays/bella/

Tune in tomorrow for Funtivity Friday.

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Barnegat Heritage Village

What: Barnegat Heritage Village

Where: East Bay Ave.

             Barnegat, NJ

Who: All ages

Me - The Barnegat Historical Society Heritage Village, wow! It was interesting. I liked learning about how the people lived a long time ago. Some cool things we saw there were an old bed that had ropes under it instead of a mattress, and an old doll house. They also had a small Victrola. My Dad has a bigger one.  The houses people lived in there were so small. I could touch the ceiling with my hand. At some parts my head could even touch the ceiling. I have seen some old houses before that were bigger though like when I was in Amish Country. At the Barnegat Heritage Village, they also had an old butcher shop and an old barber shop. I had never seen those before. They were interesting. In one of the houses, there was a room where they had a picture of all these old sea captains. The woman who was taking us on the tour actually lived in one of the old sea captain's houses.The whole Heritage Village was very small. It was a lot smaller than I thought it would be. However, it was still fun to learn about the history of Barnegat.*

*The above is a guest post by older sister, Melia.


Mom's view: If you live in or near the Jersey shore or if you visit there, and you like your history in small doses, Barnegat Heritage Village is perfect for you. The Village consists of four main buildings and three smaller structures. It includes a house known as the Lippincott-Faulkenburg House, a Barber Shop, another house known as the Edwards House, a Butcher Shop, a corn crib, a motel cabin and a three hole outhouse.  The buildings are quite packed together and the area is not really well marked so if you are not looking for you it will probably pass right by it. However, quite a lot of historical artifacts are contained within this small area and each of the four main buildings is loaded with them. The buildings are open to the public on the first Sunday of the month from 1 to 4 when tours are given by members of the Barnegat Historical Society. The tours are free and quite informative. Very young children or those with no interest in history or historical items would probably not enjoy the Barnegat Heritage Village. However, those who do have an interest in history particularly Barnegat and Ocean County history would love it.  For more information go to http://barnegathistoricalsociety.com/

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Theater Thursday.

Tips for Tuesday: Misc: Wordoku

Me - Today I am recommending Wordoku. Wordoku is a really fun game. It is played by making a four by four grid with letters face down. Then, you start a five minute timer, and you flip over the letters and start making words keeping them in a four by four grid. I like that you can play it a lot of times because it can be different every time. All in all, if you like word games, you would like this game.

Mom - Today I am also recommending Wordoku. Wordoku is like a cross between Sudoku and a crossword puzzle. The objective is to earn points by making words in a four by four grid. A more challenging version of the game can be played by using a five by five grid and additional letters like X and Z. The letters needed for the more challenging version are also included with the game. The game is easily portable because it comes with a little pouch to hold all the letter, and the simple scoreboard is easy to copy if you need to. The game can be played by as little as one person or as many as 6. It can be played by anyone old enough to make words out of letters. It is as much if not more about beating your own best score than about beating other people's which makes it a great game even for people of different ages. It is just a really challenging and fun game.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

Monthly Mash-up for June, 2017 - Hair Styling and The Theater That Movie Down the Block

My topic for this month is hair.  When you're little you can get away with any hairstyle because it looks cute. When you're older it's harder to pull off certain hairstyles. You can't wear your hair sticking straight up because it looks silly. You can't wear two ponytails because it makes you look like a five year old. I like long hair because it looks nice. However, it's harder to brush because there's a lot of it. Also, it takes longer to style. Like if you wanted to make a braid, it takes longer to braid because there is more hair. Also, it gets more knots. It also gets really frizzy when it's hot. It feels sweaty when your hair is on your neck when it's hot. Even if you put it up it still touches you and it still feels hot. Also, it fall down a lot when you put it up. Long hair is fun to play with though. You can also do a lot of fun hairstyles with long hair. However, it is easier to style someone else's hair than your own hair. You can't see in the back of your head, and it's hard to reach in the back of your head. All in all, hair styling can be fun, and it can also be annoying.

My topic for this month is  the theater that moved down the block. On 42nd Street in New York City, there is an AMC Movie Theater. However, this theater used to be a theater where stage shows were performed known as The Empire Theater. Prior to that it was a burlesque house called the Eltinge Theater and a number of famous actors and comedians played and may have gotten their starts there. Allegedly, it is also the place where Abbott and Costello first formed their famous partnership. The building still maintains some of the elements it had during the time when shows were presented there including the grand staircase. However, this building was not always situated at its present location. This building used to be located down the block. Back in 1998, it was decided that the theater needed to be moved approximately 170 feet down the road from where it was located  at that time so the theater was placed on rollers and literally pulled down the block. Making the move, even more entertaining, giant balloons of Abbott and Costello were attached to the building to make it appear as though, they were pulling the building down the street. So if you were in New York around that time, and you thought you saw Abbott and Costello moving a building down the street. you weren't crazy. It really happened.

And that's our view. What's on your mind?

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Sunday Scoop Week of 6/26 - What's Happening This Week or Soon Thereafter

AWARDS PRESENTATION TO BE BROADCAST

ON FACEBOOK LIVE!

Facebook.com/JimmyAwards

THE 2017 NATIONAL STUDENT SHOWCASE TO TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 26^TH

AT BROADWAY’S MINSKOFF THEATRE

Hosted by 2017 Tony Award^® Winner

BEN PLATT

Currently starring in Dear Evan Hansen

The ninth annual JIMMY^® AWARDS will be held on Monday, June 26^th at 7:30PM at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. 74 high school students from across America will compete for the Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor and Actress. Ceremony updates, Inspiring Teacher Award and the nominee award presentations will be streamed live on Facebook.

Viewers should go to the Jimmy Awards Facebook page, beginning at 7:15pm NYC time for a pre-show update. There will be a second update at approximately 8:30pm during intermission. Stay tuned to the Jimmy Awards Facebook page for exact timing of the Awards Presentation, and sign up to get notified when we are LIVE.

The awards presentation will include the student awards and speeches from this year’s Best Actress and Best Actor winners. Additionally, the inaugural Inspiring Teacher Award, presented by Wells Fargo, will be given to Brendan Jennings (Burbank, CA) and Larry Robinson (Monroe, NC) for the encouragement and inspiration that led their students to win the 2016 coveted Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor.

Student performers qualify to compete in the national program by winning top honors at regional high school musical theatre awards competitions presented by Broadway League member performing arts centers. Over 1,300 high schools and 50,000 students participate in these annual events. Since the inception of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA) in 2009, participating students have earned over $1,000,000 in university and conservatory scholarships. Several student participants have already been cast in Broadway, Touring and West End productions.

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Upcoming at Merkin Concert Hall:

International Youth Piano Competition

Kaufman Music Center

129 W. 67th St.

New York, NY

Tue, Jun 27, 2 pm

Winners' Concert
See the remarkably talented winners of the 2017 Kaufman Music Center International Youth Piano Competition perform at this FREE concert.

For more information click here

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Upcoming at The Franklin Institute:

Island Escape

222 N. 20th St.

Philadelphia, PA

Opening June 28

Ages 8+

Take a not-quite-three-hour tour to an island unlike any other!

Congratulations! You’ve won an exclusive invitation to the private island of an eccentric billionaire for a very special private event! But before you pack your bikini and sunscreen, beware: your host has very…unique plans for your special visit. Get ready for a fast and furious, goofy island adventure full of surprises, twists, and turns. In this laugh-out-loud 60-minute romp, your team will band together to complete your host’s series of increasingly off-beat challenges to earn your safe passage off the island.

Each player will have a role to fill, so pay close attention to your assignments—and be ready for anything!

For more information or to purchase tickets click here.

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Free Kids Concerts at  Madison Square Park

Madison Ave.

New York, NY

Thursdays from 10:30AM to 11:30AM

Location: Farragut Lawn

Rain Location: Farragut Monument

June 29 Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards

Featuring gypsy jazz, zydeco, swing, blues, and Dixieland, the rhythms of American folk music will celebrated by Jazzy Ash & The Leaping Lizards at this week’s Mad. Sq. Kids Concert. Their music encourages kids and their grown-ups to celebrate the musical heritage of the bayou, and dance and sing with no reservations.

For more information click here

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A Family Concert Featuring Songs about America, with

Red Yarn and The Deedle Deedle Dees

Shapeshifter Lab

18 Whitwell Place

Brooklyn, NY

Saturday, July 1 at 10:30 am

All Ages Are Welcome! Doors open at 10:00 AM

Brooklyn's own The Deedle Deedle Dees, known for their songs inspired by history, science, and folklore, team up with Portland, Oregon's Red Yarn for a family musical event celebrating America's birthday. Red Yarn's "critters" (the adorable puppets who co-star in his shows) will take the Deedle Deedle Dees in the Deep Woods to explore America's natural wonders -- and the Dees will take the critters and Red on a tour of the big city. Local children will be involved in the show, and the audience will be invited to sing along.

Red Yarn offers energetic performances and lush folk-rock recordings.The red-bearded bard and partner Ms. Jessie reinvigorate American folklore for younger generations. Red Yarn will bring his battered suitcase full of engaging puppets to perform  American folk favorites and new songs from his award-winning album of American music, Born in the Deep Woods.View Red Yarn's music videos, and learn more at redyarnproductions.com

This Deedle Deedle Dees are a cult band for families was founded in 2003 by songwriter/ educator Lloyd H. Miller. Lloyd lives in Brooklyn, where he’s known for his weekly sing-a-longs for families and his regular performances for adults and kids in care facilities and hospitals. 

Their latest album, Sing-a-long History, Vol II: The Rocket Went Up! features songs inspired by true stories from the history of science, discovery, and magic.

The band is known for their lively, highly interactive concerts. They’ve brought their “rock-n-roll classroom” to venues all over the country including Jalopy Theatre, Symphony Space, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Wolf Trap Performing Arts Center, the Clinton Presidential Library, Mass MoCA, and many many schools, libraries, and parks.

Visit the band at www.thedeedledeedledees.com.

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Patriot Tours Special 

July 4 One Day Only Tour

Experience NYC in 1776

To celebrate Independence Day this year Patriot Tours will conduct a tour that takes you through the events of 1776 in New York City.

Walk through these events:

• the arrival of Washington's and Howe's forces
• the reading of the Declaration of Independence
• Washington's headquarters
• The Battle of Brooklyn
• the first submarine
• Nathan Hale
• the Fall of NYC to the British, and much, much more

This tour will include stories not on the standard Revolutionary Era or Hamilton and Burr Tours!

This is a one day only event with limited ticket availability.

To purchase tickets click here

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PR Firm Roundup

News from DKC/O&M

BROADWAY STAGE ADAPTATION OF ORWELL’S

1984

ANNOUNCES

AGE RESTRICTION POLICY

THEATERGOERS BORN AFTER 2004

WILL NOT BE ADMITTED

Producers Sonia Friedman and Scott Rudin announced today that the Broadway Premiere of the new stage adaptation of George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984, will implement, effective immediately, an Age Restriction Policy: No theatergoers born after 2004 will be admitted to 1984.  Audience members must be age 13 years or older in order to enter the Hudson Theatre.  For tickets and info, visit http://www.revisedtruth.com/.

The Age Restriction policy is being implemented due to the intensity of the production, which includes several scenes that are graphic in nature and have disturbed younger patrons.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit  www.RevisedTruth.com 

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ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S ICONIC MUSICAL

CATS

WILL PLAY ITS FINAL PERFORMANCE ON BROADWAY

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017

A NEW CAST WILL CREATE MEMORIES FOR AUDIENCES AROUND THE U.S.

WHEN THE NATIONAL TOUR LAUNCHES IN PROVIDENCE, RI, IN JANUARY 2019

Producers The Shubert Organization and The Nederlander Organization announced that the first-ever Broadway revival of CATS will play its final performance at 8 PM on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 W 52^nd Street) after 16 previews and 593 regular performances. Preview performances of CATS began Thursday, July 14, 2016 followed by a Sunday, July 31, 2016 opening night.

The CATS National Tour will officially open at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, in January 2019 before traveling to additional cities throughout the country, including Chicago, Durham, and Los Angeles. The full tour schedule and other information will be announced shortly.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.catsthemusical.com/broadway/

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News from Michelle Tabnick PR

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) announces Radio Galaxy, the third and final show of the TRU Voices New Plays Reading Series, on Monday, June 26, 2017 at 7pm at Soho Playhouse, 15 Vandam Street, NYC.  A "Dollars and Sense" talkback on the future development of the presented works will be held after the performance, and the prominent industry panelists are now announced. Admission is free.  Please RSVP at least a day in advance (or much sooner) by calling 212/714-7628, or e-mailing TRUVoicesReservations@gmail.com.

Admission is free for everyone. But reservations are required. Please reserve at http://truonline.org/tru-voices (click for the show you wish to reserve), or call at least a day in advance for reservations: 212/714-7628, or e-mail TRUVoicesReservations@gmail.com.

TRU is currently accepting submissions for the 2018 TRU Voices Musicals Reading Series. For details, visit http://truonline.org/tru-voices-details-and-history/. Deadline for submissions will be in August 12  2017.

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News from Richard Hillman PR

SPECIAL SUMMER EXHIBITION
AT THE YORK THEATRE AT SAINT PETER'S

SCENIC DESIGNS BY JAMES MORGAN:
A RATHER RANDOM RETROSPECTIVE CELEBRATING 40+ YEARS
AT THE YORK THEATRE COMPANY AND ELSEWHERE

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Interim Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and the preservation of musical gems from the past, will present an exhibit of James Morgan's other career as a Scenic Designer with a retrospective look at over 40 years of his designs at The York Theatre Company at Theater at Saint Peter's (154 East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue; Lower Lobby).

The special exhibit of Mr. Morgan's designs is open to the public, and will be available for viewing through the summer. 

A member of United Scenic Artists, Mr. Morgan's recent designs include Cagney (York Theatre Company and Westside Theatre); Finian's Rainbow (Irish Rep); The Mousetrap (Cape Playhouse); Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Peterborough Players, NH Theatre Award-Best Scenic Design); Marry Harry, Closer Than Ever, Storyville, and Inventing Mary Martin (York Theatre Company); and Spamalot (Geva). Other designs of his represented in the exhibit include York's Pacific Overtures (1984), No Way To Treat A Lady (Drama Desk nomination, 1977), Sweeney Todd (York's production at Circle in the Square,1989; Drama Desk nomination), the Irish Rep's Pigtown (Hewes Design Award, 2003) and Caldwell Theatre Company's Falsettoland (Carbonell Award).  He has numerous graphic design and directing credits, as well.

For additional information, please visit www.yorktheatre.org<http://www.yorktheatre.org/>.

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And that's the scoop. If you have information regarding upcoming shows or events in the NY/NJ/PA area you would like considered for inclusion in a future Sunday Scoop post, please contact us through our contact page.

Tune in tomorrow for another Talking Topic.

Funtivity Friday - Paper Cup Pyramids

Have you ever tried to build a pyramid out of paper cups? We have. It's not so easy. Just when you think you are getting somewhere it all comes crashing down.  However, Aurella perservered and was finally able to build a successful paper cup pyramid approximately 24 cups high. She also built a smaller one of 4 cups high.  See picture below:

What would you or have you ever tried to make a pyramid out of?

Enjoy!

Tune in Sunday for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Theater Thursday- On Your Feet and War Paint

What: On Your Feet

Where: Marquis Theatre
             1501 Broadway
             Floor 14
             New York, NY

Who: Ages 10 and up

Me -  I recently got to see On Your Feet. We were in New York, and we had some extra time so we entered the Hamilton digital lottery. Of course, we didn't win. However, some of the show lotteries were still not over then so we entered the On Your Feet digital lottery, and we actually won. We were so excited! We never won a Broadway show digital lottery before although actually the only digital Broadway show lottery we ever entered before was Hamilton, but we entered that one a few different times. On Your Feet is a really good show. My Mom had seen it before but I hadn't. It is about Gloria and Emilio Estefan. I liked the music. I really liked a lot of the songs. I was familiar with the songs before I went to the show. Some of them I still don't know as well and some of them I didn't know well before I saw the show. The acting and singing and dancing in the show were all excellent!  I pretty much liked all the characters in the show. I didn't have a favorite. The story was interesting. I knew a little about Gloria and Emilio Estefan before I went to the show but not a lot. I liked learning about their lives. It was very fascinating. I liked the way the show ended with a mini concert and they all sang. All in all, it was very enjoyable show, and I would highly suggest seeing it if you have the opportunity before it closes on August 20.

For more information about On Your Feet or to purchase tickets visit www.onyourfeetmusical.com

And that's Aurella's view. For Mom's view of On Your Feet  go here
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What: War Paint

Where: Nederlander Theatre
             208 W. 41 St.
            New York, NY

Who: Teens and Up

Mom's view: The best thing about War Paint is that it is the opportunity to see two of American's finest stage actresses, Patti Lupone and Christine Ebersole strutting their stuff. Lupone plays Helena Rubenstein and Ebersole plays Elizabeth Arden in this tale of the two famous warring cosmetic titans. Neither actress disappoints. Their acting and singing are both wonderful. The supporting cast especially Douglass Sills and John Dossett are good too. The sets are interesting and the costumes are beautiful. The show is not the most interesting, however, and the songs are not very memorable. The show is not very historically accurate either. While in reality  allegedly the two woman never met, for purposes of the show, several scenes have been contrived to make it at least appear as if the two women were at the same place at the same time.  It is definitely not a show for young children who would be bored. However, older children who are particular fans of the theater might appreciate the chance to see these two fine actresses. All in all this is definitely a show that is worth seeing for its cast.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.warpaintmusical.com

Tune in tomorrow for Funtivity Friday.

Photo credits: All On Your Feet photos by Matthew Murphy
                     All War Paint photos by Joan Marcus