Saturday Special - Shlemiel Crooks

We were given free tickets to Shlemiel Crooks for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Shlemiel Crooks

Where: Merkin Concert Hall
              Kaufman Music Center
              129 W. 67th St.
              New York, NY

This event took place on March 25, 2018

Me - Shlemiel Crooks was kind of cute. It was  a show about a couple of crooks who wanted to steal the Passover wine. I liked that there were a lot of cute little kids in it. There was one especially cute kid who played the ghost police. The songs were pleasant. However, I don't really remember them now. The dog was kind of annoying. He got on my nerves. I don't really like shows where people play animals. The acting and the singing were good. There wasn't really any dancing in this show. There was a very small set. The show was interesting. That was my favorite part about the show. The show was based on book. I had never heard of or read the book before. Young children would like this show. Over all, it was a very nice show.

Mom - In additon to their Hanukkah show, Merkin Concert Hall also presents a yearly Passover show. This year's show was Shlemiel Crooks. It was based on a book of the same name by Anna Olswanger. The plot which revolves around a couple of inept crooks who want to steal the passover wine is a really a little thin for a full length show, but the children in the audience really seemed to like it. The cast of the show was made up of regulars from Merkin Concert Hall's popular Broadway Playhouse series along with the Kaufman Kids, Kids from Kaufman Music Center's school.The kids were adorable as always  Benjamin Barham-Wiese and Sophia Chesler  particularly shined in their leading roles as Gertie and Berl, a young brother and sister at the center of the action. The show did not delve into holiday traditions as much as this year's Hanukkah show, Judy and the Macabees. However, like the Hannukah show, it did include a bunch of lively songs even if a bit less memorable than the songs in that show.  Although most of the songs were written for the show, Chicken Bone Man was previously written by Berl Oslwanger with additonal words and music by the songwriters of the show.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Funtivity Friday - Backwards Writing

It's fun to try writing backwards. You can even make a game out it. Each person can write a sentence or two backwards, and then trade papers and try to read what each other wrote. If you are really good at writing backwards and can actually write each letter itself backwards and not jut write the word backwards, when you look at the paper in the mirror the writing should appear the right way. We are not that good, however. Below are examples of our backwards writing:

How good are you at writing backwards?

Enjoy!

Tune in tomorrow for  a Saturday Special.

Theater Thursday - Grand Hotel and Rocktopia

We were given free tickets to Grand Hotel for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Grand Hotel

Where: City Center Encores!
             New York City Center
             131 W. 55th St.
             New York, NY

This   event took place from March 21-25, 2018

Me - Grand Hotel was a good show. It was about the guests at a big hotel in Berlin. It took place in the past not in present time.  I liked some of the music. The story was interesting. Even though, there were a lot of characters, it wasn't hard to keep track of the them. The actors were well cast and did a good job with their roles. The singing was nice. All of the voices were pretty. The dancing was really good! There was one couple that did a lot of duets. They were amazing! The show was really enjoyable. I pretty much liked everything about it. The show was meaningful to me because a cousin of ours produced it when it was originally on Broadway. However, that was before I was born though so I had never seen it before. I was very excited to see the show. I was not disappointed because it was even better than I expected it to be. Over all, it was a really entertaining show.

Mom- We recently had the opportunity to attend a performance of Grand Hotel. Grand Hotel was the second show in this year's 25th anniversary season of City Center's Encore series in which older musicals are brought back to the stage for brief runs. Despite its complicated path to Broadway, Grand Hotel is a show that ran from 1989 through 1992. It was nominated for 12 Tony Awards and won 5. The show is based on a 1932 non-musical Oscar winning movie which was in turn based on a book by Vicki Baum. It is about the goings on of the guests of a hotel in Berlin in the late 1920s. The show has quite a few main characters which may make it hard for some to keep track of the story although the plot is engaging. The songs are nice, but none of them really stand out. City Center Encore's production of the show was very appealing. The acting was good. Brandon Uranowitz, who had the thankless job of following the unforgettable Tony winning performance of Michael Jeter in the role of Otto Kringelein, was one of the standout performers in this production. His performance won't make you forget Jeter's though if you were lucky enough to have seen it.   The singing voices were all beautiful. The dancing especially that of Guadalupe Garcia and Junior Cervila as the Countess and the Gigolo was exceptional. All in all, it was a top-notch production.

The final show in this year's Encores! series will be Me & My Girl which will be performed from May 9-13. For more information or to order tickets to this show, visit www.nycitycenter.org/Home
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We were given free tickets to Rocktopia for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Rocktopia

Where: Broadway Theatre
            1681 Broadway
            New York, NY

When: Through April 29, 2018

Who: Recommended for Ages 13 and up 

Me - Rocktopia was a unique experience. There was not really a plot. There were just songs. They were not like typical Broadway songs. They were rock songs. I recognized a couple of the songs, but not that many. Some of them I had heard before on Glee. The singing was nice. They also had rock music playing before the show. I don't ever remember walking into the theater and hearing rock music before. It set the tone for what the show was going to be like. During the show, there was a mix of classical music that drifted into rock. However, there was much more rock than classical music though. The classical music was nice. I am not that into classical music though. I am not really that into rock music either. I usually prefer showtunes to classical music or rock. Even though the performances were good, I prefer shows with plots. 

Mom - If you enjoy both rock and classical music and you want to see them combined in a unique way, you may enjoy this show. If you are looking for a show with a story or any sort of plot, this is not it. This is basically a glorified concert. The voices are good and the songs should be recognizable to anyone who is familar with 1970s and 1980s music. There are samplings from operas and other classical compositions from time to time as well. However, this show tends to lean more heavily toward the rock side of the spectrum, although the New York Contemporary Symphony Orchestra and solo violinist, Mairead Nesbitt do play on every song along with the show's rock band. If you are a big fan of a particular band that was popular during the time period covered, don't expect to hear a lot of music from your favorite band. No band is represented by more than two songs in the show and only one or two even get that many songs. If you are a big fan of the band, Train, you will enjoy this show because their lead singer, Pat Monahan is a guest artist in the show and sings several songs including his own band's Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) even though the song is really outside the time period mostly covered by the show. In some performances, other guest singers will be appearing including Robin Zander of Cheap Trick. This is not a show for young children who probably could not sit through it. Older children who are particularly interested in rock and classical music might enjoy it. Over all, if you don't like the idea of a rock concert on Broadway than you probably would not enjoy this show, but if you do like the idea, than you might like the show. 

Rocktopia is playing through April 29 only. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://rocktopia.com/

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Funtivity Friday.

Photo credits: All Grand Hotel production photos by Joan Marcus
                       All Rocktopia production photos by Matthew Murphy

Where-To-Go Wednesday - New York Public Library Insider Access Tour

We were given a free New York Public Library Insider Access Tour for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: New York Public Library Insider Access Tour

Where: New York Library for the Performing Arts
            40 Lincoln Center Plaza
            New York, NY

Who: Teens and up

Me - The New York Public Library Insider Access Tour was fun. We got to places in the library where people don't usually go. We saw lots of files of theater related things. We also saw some models of sets from some shows. We also saw the room where they keep all the scripts. They are all blue, and they don't have names on them. They keep track of them by number. At the beginning of the tour we went into a room and they had scripts and pictures and some other objects related to different shows. I liked that we got to go places that people don't usually get to go on this tour. I have never gone on a tour like that before where you get to go behind the scenes at the library. The tour guide was nice and informative. People who are interested in theater or libraries would enjoy this tour.

Mom - The New York Public Library Insider Access Tour is led by Doug Reside, Curator of Theater at the New York Library of Performing Arts. It is interesting listening to him talk about the innerworkings of the library. You will get to go places that the public normally doesn't get to go on this tour. However, you won't actually get to see at a lot. The tour starts in one of the conference rooms. At that point of the tour, you will see the most artifacts that you will see at any point on the tour. On our tour we got to see things like an original script of The Sound of Music, pictures from the original production of Carousel, and a framed lock of hair from the actor Edwin Booth.* I am not sure if the artifacts are the same on every tour, but most likely they are not. After you leave the conference room and tour the areas of the library that are normally off limits to the public, you will not see a lot of artifacts. You will mostly see books and/or boxes on shelves and filing cabinets. You may get to see a few set models from different shows, but you can often see more set models and other artifacts  just by visiting one of the many comprehensive exhibits which are usually on display on the ground floor of the library. In recent years, these exhibits have included ones on Sesame Street, The Magic Flute, and Leonard Bernstein.  Last year's exhibit on the last 40 years of Broadway and  West End theatre included quite  a few set models as well as a many other assorted  theater related artifacts. The New York Public Library Insider Access Tour is definitely not a good tour for young children who would be bored and inclined to want to try to touch things. Teens who enjoy theater or are interested in knowing more about what goes on behind the scenes in the library might enjoy it, however. Over all, if you are looking for a tour where you will get to see a lot, this tour is not a good choice, but if you are interested in hearing interestings things about the Library of Performing Arts, you might enjoy this tour.

New York Public Library Insider Access Tours are available through Show-Score, for information or to sign up for a tour, visit www.show-score.com/experiences. For more information about Show-Score or to sign up for a free membership, visit www.show-score.com, You can also learn more about Show-Score in our previous post Twelve Reasons to Join Show-Score Now!

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

*On the New York Library Insider's Access Tour, you are allowed to photograph the artifacts you but you are asked not to share the photographs, which is why no pictures accompany this post. 

Tips for Tuesday - Misc. Sparkle Designs and Exergen TemporalScanner

We may have been given one or more of the below mentioned products for free for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here our own.

Me - Today I am recommending Sparkle Designs. They make necklaces related to movies, TV shows, Broadway shows, and books. They have a lot of different necklaces. The necklaces comes with little charms that are associated with the theme of the necklace.The main part of the necklace is a quote or phrase related to the the movie, show or whatever. An example is one necklace that is for the Broadway show, Anastasia says "Home Love Family" because that is a quote from the show. The charms are a little silver heart, an Eiffel Tower, and two little crystals that are different shades of purple. Those things are all related to the show Anastasia. The necklaces are pretty. They are well made. I have worn them a lot and they don't break. Also, it's cool that you can get a necklace related to something that you love, and there are so many different ones to choose from.

For more information, visit www.shopsparkledesigns.com.

Mom - Today I am recommending Exergen TemporalScanner. The Exergen TemporarlScanner is a really fast and easy to use thermometer. It is easy to use even for someone who has often had trouble figuring out how to use other thermometers. It is the home version of the same thermometer used in many professional medical settings. It is quick and comfortable and can even be used on a sleeping baby. It has an 8 temperature memory so you can track a fever over time. It has a soft light display that does not hurt the eyes. It can be set to measure temperature in either Farenheit or Celcius. It is a great addition to the medical supplies of any home. 

For more information, visit  www.exergen.com.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Monthly Mash-up for March, 2018 Blankets and Mummenschanz

Me - My topic for this month is blankets. I like blankets. They are really soft and comfortable. I like blankets that are really really fluffy. My cat likes to steal blankets. She likes to sit on them and put her paws all over them. She has this expression on her face when she does it that is really funny. She especially likes my sister's blanket, but my sister gets really annoyed because it's her favorite blanket. My cats thinks it's hers though. I don't have a favorite blanket. I have this blanket that I got when I was little. It came with a stuffed animal and its has dogs on it. I don't really sleep with it anymore though. I just sleep with a big purple quilt unless I am really cold and need extra blankets. I just love blankets!
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We were given free tickets to Mummenschanz for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Mom - My topic for this month is Mummenschanz. We recently had the opportunity to see Mummenschanz at the State Theatre New Jersey. Mummenschanz is a Swiss mime troup that performs in masks and with a lot of props. They have been around since the 1970s and even played on Broadway. Their shows don't really have a plot but are really just a serious of sketches. However,  almost two hours is long for a show with no plot and no dialogue. If you like mime, you will love them. If you don't you probably won't. Although, the show is very creative and can be very funny at times, at other times it seems to drag.  The show is extremely family friendly, but I would recommend it more for younger children who are more likely to be entertained and amused by it than older children who are likely to be bored.  For more information about Mummenschanz, visit https://www.mummenschanz.com/3/. For more about upcoming shows and events at State Theatre New Jersey, visit https://www.stnj.org/events

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

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Week of 3/25/18 - What's Happening This Week or Coming Up Soon

Kidzsignment Kids Consignment Sale
Now Offers Express Tagging and Buy It Now

(1) Express Tagging

Have items to consign but no time to get them ready? Let one of their expert taggers do the work for you! They'll take your ready-to-consign-items and price, enter, tag and drop off OR they can do it ALL (hang, tag, prep, price, enter & drop off).

Here's How it Works.....

1. Register as a consignor 2. Select either Basic Tagging or Total Tagging HERE 3. Complete the online form HERE 4. One of their taggers will be be in touch ASAP*

* Limited availability for Express Tagging. Register now to secure a spot.

* Express Tagging consignors will be responsible for paying a supply fee and signing a tagging contract. The contract does NOT include Saturday pick up

(2) Buy It Now Option


Are you less interested in consigning but still want to clear the clutter and make some money? Try our ALL NEW program where we'll buy items outright! No prepping/tagging or drop off.

NOTE: At this time we are only accepting clothing size 2T-8 & large baby equipment (strollers, high chairs, pack n plays etc).

Here's How it Works.....

1. Read more and complete their form HERE (scroll down on page)
2. They'll be in touch set up an appointment to pick up your items
3. Within 3 days of pick up they'll email you with their offer
4. Accept payment or take back items

* Buy it now is a NON consigning arrangement. We can take only a limited number of clients

The next Kidzsignments Kids Consignments Sale will take place at Nex Level Sports Arena located at 426 Case Blvd., Flemington, NJ from April 12-14. For more information, visit www.kidzsignments.com.
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Ripley's Smash Dash

The New Exhibit at Ripley's Time Square

234 W. 42nd St. 

New York, NY

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square, one of the top NYC museums for kids, presents 

an ALL NEW interactive experience – Ripley’s SMASH DASH! It’s a crazy race against time.

Buttons will light up and buzz around you, and you only have seconds to turn them off. 

The more buttons you hit within the time limit the more points you earn! Compete 

against the clock or challenge a friend! Available with your Ripley’s admission.

For more information or to see a video demonstration, visit ripleysnewyork.com/ripleys-smash-dash-nyc-museums-for-kids.

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Upcoming at Merkin Concert Hall

Kaufman Music Center

129 W. 67th

New York, NY

Anthony Trionfo and 

Bent Knee & Mantra Percussion

Wednesday March 25, 11:00 AM

Young Concert Artists

Anthony Trionfo, flute

Winner of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award and From the Top Featured Alumni Performer, Anthony Trionfo performs works by Fauré, Bach, Jolivet, Ian Clark and Lowell Lieberman.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 

http://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/mch/event/young-concert-artists-anthony-trionfo-flute

Thursday March 26, 7:30 PM

Ecstatic Music Festival

Bent Knee & Mantra Percussion

The silo-smashing sextet Bent Knee joins forces with the visionary Mantra Percussion for new works expanding their already enormous scope and sound.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 

http://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/mch/event/ecstatic-music-festival-bent-knee-mantra-percussion.

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Upcoming at State Theatre New Jersey

15 Livingston Ave.

New Brunswick, NJ 

Sesame Street Live

"Let's Party"

Friday March 30 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM

Saturday March 31, 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM

Monday April 2, 10:30 AM & 2:30 PM

For more information or to purchase, visit 

www.stnj.org/event/sesame_street_live

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LISA DAVEY AND LESLIE KRITZER HOST

COMEDY SOIRÉE ON MARCH 31 AT THE DUPLEX

Featuring Aparna Nancherla, Chloe Hilliard, and Christi Chiello

All Proceeds Benefit She Should Run

Comedians Lisa Davey and Leslie Kritzer (Broadway’s Something Rotten, Legally Blonde, viral video “Taco Truck Invasion”) return to The Duplex Cabaret Theatre (61 Christopher St.) with their series Comedy Soirée on March 31, 2018 at 7pm.  The show will also feature Aparna Nancherla, Chloe Hilliard, and Christi Chiello. 

Comedy Soirée is a bi-monthly standup show featuring the funniest comedians in New York, with all proceeds from each show going to a different charity.  For this performance, proceeds will benefit She Should Run, a not for profit organization that encourages women to run for office in the United States.

Comedy Soirée plays The Duplex Cabaret Theatre on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at 7pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. A 2-drink minimum applies. Tickets can be purchased atwww.purplepass.com/soiree0331. 

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Upcoming at iPlay America

110 Schank Rd.

Freehold, NJ

Saturday March 31
Dead Serious MMA: Men of War Pro Grappling
Door Time: 5:00 PM – Start Time: 6:00 PM

Dead Serious Promotions, famed for its LIVE MMA shows, is putting on its first ever professional grappling event. Men of War is a professional submission grappling series that takes place at iPlay America's Warehouse 100. Top prospects in the Tristate area will be competing in this event! This is one show you do not want to miss. The card is stacked with some of the best submission artists in the world, so jump on those tickets.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 

https://www.iplayamerica.com/event/dead-serious-mma-men-war-pro-grappling.

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Broadway Backwards

Al Hirschfeld Theatre

302 W. 45th St.

New York, NY

Broadway Backwards  Gives Favorite Show Tunes a Starry Twist

Broadway's best talents return with love, compassion, action and gender-bending renditions of treasured show tunes at this year's Broadway Backwards. Join theatre's brightest stars on April 2, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in New York City as they perform your favorite Broadway hits. Tickets are selling fast. 

For more information to purchase tickets, visit tickets.broadwaycares.org
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Upcoming at Broadway Workshop

Musical Theatre Workshop with TONY AWARD WINNER Laura Benanti

Dates: Saturday, April 7th

Ages: 12 - 19

Time: 12:30pm - 2:30pm

Location: Ripley Grier Studios - 520 Eighth Ave - 16th Floor

Tuition: $175

LAURA BENANTI most recently starred in Meteor Shower opposite Amy Schumer on Broadway. Her other Broadway credits include: She Loves Me as Amalia, for which she received a 2016 Tony nomination. She took home a Tony for her performance as Louise in Gypsyopposite Patti LuPone; she was also nominated for the Broadway productions of Swing!, Into the Woods and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Benanti appeared in the Rockettes' New York Spring Spectacular. Her screen credits include Supergirl, Nashville, The Sound of Music LIVE!, The Playboy Club, Go On, Starved, Law and Order: SVU, Royal Pains, Eli Stone, The Big C and Elementary. She can regularly be seen on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Ms. Benanti, along with Broadway Workshop director Marc Tumminelli, will work with each student on audition technique and song interpretation in this special one day Master Class. We will focus on giving actors the opportunity to bring their audition and performance skills to the next level and how to better connect to their audition material. Students will break down their song material with one on one coaching in a class setting. Finally, students will have the opportunity to be part of a Q&A with Ms. Benanti and the Broadway Workshop team.

For more information or to reigster, visit 

campscui.active.com/orgs/BroadwayWorkshop

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TADA! YOUTH THEATER HOSTS WEEKLY SUMMER CAMPS

Registration is now open for future Broadway stars!

TADA! Youth Theater will host weekly summer camps for children, ages 4-12, from June 18-August 31. Participants will create and perform new musicals each week all summer long.  TADA!’s Summer Camps will take place in Manhattan at TADA!’s main location (15 West 28^th Street) and Simple Studios (134 West 29^th Street, 2^nd floor) in the Flatiron District, along with new locations in the Financial District (Pine Street School, 25 Pine Street) and DUMBO (Neutral Chaos, 247 Water Street). There are Week-Long Mini-Camps for youngsters, ages 4 and 5 years old, and Week-Long Camps, for 6-12 year olds.

Brand new to this year’s summer camps is the addition of 30 minutes of daily intensive training in voice, acting, and dance for children, ages 4-5 years old, and one hour of daily intensive training for children, ages 6-8 and 9-12.

For an additional fee of $10 per day, Early Drop-Off is available at TADA! at 8:30am. During this time, students will be offered a self-directed activity (coloring page, crossword, etc.) as staff set up for the day. Early Drop-off is only available at TADA!’s main location, 15 West 28th Street, and is not available for children ages 4 and 5.

Week-Long Mini-Camps for the Littlest Shining Stars

From June 18-August 31, Week-Long Mini-Camps are available for the littlest shining stars, ages 4 and 5. Through the guidance of TADA!’s Teaching Artists, who work off a specially selected fun theme for the week, these Broadway bound babies will create and perform a brand new, never before seen mini-musical, culminating in a special presentation every Friday.Mini-Camps are held Monday-Friday from 9am-1pm at Simple Studios (134 West 29th Street, 2nd floor). Select themes for the Week-Long Mini-Camps for participants ages four and five include: It's a MEOW-sical, Out of con-TROLL and Made with Glitter.

Week-Long Camps: 6-8 Year Olds Create a Mini-Musical

 Week-Long Camps for youth, ages 6-8, will be held June 18-August 31 at TADA! (15 West 28th Street). TADA! Teaching Artists inspire campers to create their own mini-musical based on a theme.  In just five days, they will write, rehearse, and perform their brand new musical for family and friends. Professional Teaching Artists will improve kids’ singing and dancing skills, making their performance one to remember! A final presentation will be held every Friday for all age groups. Crystal, 8, said "I had never been in a play, danced and sang before in front of a crowd. The TADA! Camp made me feel brave and confident."  Week-Long Camps for 6-8 year olds take place Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm. Select themes for the Week-Long Mini-Camps for participants ages 6-8 include: Theater is my Sport!, Emoji: The Musical and CRASH! POW! WAAM!

NEW! Week-Long Camps for 6-10 Year Olds in the Financial District & DUMBO

There are also special Week-long Camps for 6-10 year olds in TADA!’s new locations in the Financial District (Pine Street School, 25 Pine Street) and DUMBO (Neutral Chaos, 247 Water Street).  Week-Long Camps for 6-10 year olds take place Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm. Select themes and locations for these Week-Long Camps include: Rock & TROLL (DUMBO); Save the Drama for the Stage (Financial District); My cape is in the wash (Financial District); Glitz & Glamour (Financial District); #squadgoals (Financial District) and Theater is my Sport! (DUMBO).

Week-Long Camps: 9-12 Year Olds Showcase Their Talents 

Week-Long Camps are also available for children, ages 9-12. Campers will collaborate with professional Teaching Artists and express themselves through unique characters and original storytelling. Each week, they will write an original mini-musical to perform in front of a live audience in a final presentation every Friday.  Week-Long Camps for 9-12 year olds are held Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm at Simple Studios (July) and TADA! (August). Select themes for the Week-Long Mini-Camps for participants ages 9-12 include: I speak fluent showtunes, My cape is in the wash and I can't... I have rehearsal.

As a special treat, children who attend the following camps will receive a free ticket to TADA!’s Summer musical Golly Gee Whiz: July 9-13; July 16-20; July 12-27 and July 30-August 2.

One-Day Camps are also open for registration because when school is out, TADA! is in. Explore the world of acting, singing, and dancing in special 1-Day Camps that focus on core elements of musical theater including theater games, comedic improv, and dramatic play. Master cool dance moves and sing your heart out. Families are invited to watch the last 20 minutes of the day.

• Thursday, June 7- Can’t Keep Still
• Monday, June 11- Throw Some Shade On It
• Wednesday, June 13- Sticky City
• Thursday, June 14- BEACH ya’ to it!
• Friday, June 15- We did it!
• Monday, July 2- I call the shots!
• Tuesday, July 3- #fearless
• Thursday, July 5- World Turned Upside Down
• Friday, July 6- I can and I will! 

For more information, including costs, please visit http://www.tadatheater.com/education-programs/summer-camps.  A discount is available when multiple camps are booked. Visit TADA’s website for discount codes.

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PR Firm Roundup

DKC/O&M

THE THRILLING NEW BROADWAY PRODUCTION OF

MARK MEDOFF’S TONY AWARD^®-WINNING PLAY

“CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD”

ANNOUNCES STUDENT RUSH POLICY

PREVIEWING NOW

OPENING NIGHT SET FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11

AT BROADWAY’S STUDIO 54

#STARTLISTENING

Children of a Lesser God announced its student rush policy as the Tony Award®-winning play is now previewing at Studio 54 (254 West 54^thStreet) ahead of a Wednesday, April 11 official opening night.

Student rush tickets are available for that day's performances in-person at the Studio 54 box office starting at 10 AM Tuesday through Saturday and starting at noon on Sundays. Tickets are $32 (including service fees) and limit of one ticket per student ID.

One of the most indelible love stories of the modern age, Children of a Lesser God brings to life the passionate and personal connection between a teacher at a school for the deaf (Mr. Jackson) and the remarkable woman (Ms. Ridloff) he meets there.

Tickets for Children of a Lesser God can be purchased at telecharge.com, by calling 212-239-6200, or at the Studio 54 box office (254 West 54^th Street). For groups of 10 or more, contact Broadway Inbound at BroadwayInbound.com  or by calling 866-302-0995.

For more information, visit  www.childrenofalessergodbroadway.com

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BROADWAY REVIVAL OF

MARK MEDOFF’S TONY AWARD^®-WINNING PLAY

CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD

TO BE MOST ACCESSIBLE PLAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY

SUPERTITLES

SEAMLESSLY INCORPORATED INTO THE SCENIC DESIGN AT STUDIO 54

AT EVERY PERFORMANCE

CLOSED CAPTIONING

AVAILABLE VIA GALAPRO APP

AT EVERY PERFORMANCE

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

AVAILABLE AT SELECT PERFORMANCES

PERFORMANCES BEGIN MARCH 22

OPENING NIGHT SET FOR APRIL 11

AT BROADWAY’S STUDIO 54

#STARTLISTENING

Producer Hal Luftig announced that the first-ever Broadway revival of Children of a Lesser God would be the most accessible play in Broadway history with three ways audiences can enjoy the Tony Award®-winning play at Studio 54 (254 West 54^th Street).

At every performance, the production will feature supertitles, where the play’s text has been seamlessly incorporated into the show’s scenic design, allowing audiences to follow Mark Medoff’s ground-breaking script without detracting from the actors’ performances.

Additionally, every performance will feature closed captioning available through the GalaPro app which is available on Apple or Android devices. After downloading and creating an account, when audience members arrive at Studio 54, they can select Children of a Lesser God and the app will guide them through the setup process and allow them to stream captions easily. To download the app and for additional information, please visit: galaprompter.com/#galapro-app

Finally, at select performances of Children of a Lesser God, American Sign Language interpreters will be present. For dates and to buy tickets to the select performances, please visit childrenofalessergodbroadway.com/

Tickets can be purchased at telecharge.com, by calling 212-239-6200, or at the Studio 54 box office (254 West 54^th Street). For groups of 10 or more, contact Broadway Inbound atBroadwayInbound.com  or by calling 866-302-0995.

For more information, visit www.childrenofalessergodbroadway.com

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 ALL-STAR LINEUP SET FOR

MCC THEATER’S

ANNUAL GALA

MISCAST 2018

NEWLY ANNOUNCED PERFORMERS INCLUDE

JEREMY JORDAN, CAISSIE LEVY, VICTORIA CLARK,

ETHAN SLATER, GAVIN LEE, WESLEY TAYLOR

HONORING MCC ALUM & TONY AWARD^® WINNER

LAURIE METCALF

MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2018

AT HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey and William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) is thrilled to announce the additional performers to the all-star lineup set for their annual Miscast gala include: Tony Award^® nominee Jeremy Jordan (“Supergirl,” Newsies); Caissie Levy (Frozen); Tony Award^® winner Victoria Clark(The Light in the Piazza, Cinderella); and SpongeBob SquarePants’ Ethan Slater, Wesley Taylor (The Addams Family, Rock of Ages) and Tony Award^® nominee Gavin Lee (Mary Poppins).

Previously announced performers include: Grammy and Tony Award^® nominee Sara Bareilles; Tony Award^® winners Jayne Houdyshell and James Monroe Iglehart; Tony Award^® nominee Robert Fairchild; plus Hamilton star and reigning “Dancing With the Stars” champion Jordan Fisher, The Band’s Visit star Katrina Lenk, Once on This Island star Alex Newell, and the voice of Moana and from “Rise,” Auli’i Cravalho.

As previously announced, this year’s Miscast gala, an annual showstopper of the theater season, will honor Tony^® winning, 3-time Emmy^® winning, and Academy Award® nominated star of stage & screen and MCC alum Laurie Metcalf. MCC Theater will honor performer Amy León with the 2018 MCC Theater Youth Company Alumni Award. Miscast 2018 will be held Monday, May 26, 2018 atThe Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center (311 West 34^th Street).

Show-only mezzanine level tickets are on sale now at www.mcctheater.org/galamiscast.html. To purchase gala tickets, please contact Nick Vermane at (212) 727-7722, ext. 232 or via email atnvername@mcctheater.org. 

For additional information, please visit www.mcctheater.org/galamiscast.html

Proceeds from Miscast 2018 will support MCC Theater’s mission to develop and produce exciting work Off-Broadway, as well as its Youth Company and partnerships with New York City public high schools, and MCC’s literary development work with emerging playwrights. 

The schedule for the evening is as follows:

6:30 p.m.       Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres

7:30 p.m.       Dinner

9:00 p.m.       Miscast Revue

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News from Michelle Tabnick PR

Works & Process at the Guggenheim

presents

Nederlands Dans Theater

Sol León and Paul Lightfoot

Saturday, March 31, 2018 at 7:30pm

Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, presentsNederlands Dans Theater with work by house choreographers to the company Sol León and Paul Lightfoot on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at 7:30pm.

This performance offers behind-the-scenes access to the Nederlands Dans Theater's U.S. tour. Company dancers perform highlights from Sol León and Paul Lightfoot's Shoot the Moon (2006), with music by Philip Glass; andSingulière Odyssée (2017), featuring music by Max Richter. León and Lightfoot participate in a discussion moderated by New York City Baller principal dancer Tyler Angle.

TICKETS & VENUE

$45, $40 Guggenheim Members and Friends of Works & Process

Box Office (212) 423-3575 or worksandprocess.org

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

1071 Fifth Avenue, New York 

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News from Polk and Co.

BROADWAY RECORDS ANNOUNCES

ALEXIS MICHELLE: LOVEFOOL

Available Friday May 11

Available for Pre-Order Now

Broadway Records announced that Alexis Michelle: Lovefool will be released digitally and in stores on Friday, May 11, 2018. The album is currently available for pre-order at www.BroadwayRecords.com and Amazon.com.

Alexis Michelle, the unabashed Broadway queen of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 9, has arrived on Broadway… Records that is. With a surprising assortment of pop, rock and show tunes, Alexis and Broadway Records are releasing the drag artist’s debut album Lovefool.

Lovefool is produced by Brandon James Gwinn and Alex Michaels. Lovefool is being released just in time for DragCon LA, and will be available for purchase there.

Track List:

1. Beautiful 

2. Follow Your Heart 

3. Lovefool

4. Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair

5. Fool on the Hill 

6. Call Me 

7. You Can Always Count on Me

8. Simple/Good Thing Going

9. Ramblin’ Man 

10. Rainbow Connection

Alexis Michelle was most recently seen in the top five of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 9. The original “Subway Fish”, Alexis is a native New Yorker who, after winning So You Think You Can Drag, played weekly gigs at The Green Room and other NY nightlife venues, and post-Drag Race has sold out Feinstein’s/54 Below regularly with her solo shows “Alexis, I Am” and “It Takes a Woman”. She now tours internationally, and her antics can be seen on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by following @AlexisLives.

**

BROADWAY RECORDS ANNOUNCES

MY FAIR LADY (2018 BROADWAY CAST RECORDING

Available Now for Pre-Order

Broadway Records is proud to announce that the 2018 Broadway Cast Recording of Lincoln Center Theater’s new production of Lerner & Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY will be released on CD and digitally at most major music retailers on June 8, 2018. The album is currently available for pre-order at BroadwayRecords.com, Amazon.com and at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65^thStreet). Opening night for MY FAIR LADY, which is currently in previews, is Thursday, April 19.

Tickets to Lerner & Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY, priced from $87 to $187, are available at the Lincoln Center Theater box office, at telecharge.com, or by visiting www.MyFairLadyBway.com.  A limited number of tickets priced at $32 are available at every performance through LincTix, LCT’s program for 21 to 35 year olds.  For information and to enroll, visit LincTix.org.

**

Announces 

ZACH ADKINS to assume the role of DMITRY

and

VICKI LEWIS to return to Broadway 

as COUNTESS LILY

Beginning Tuesday, March 27^th, Zach Adkins will assume the role of “Dmitry” and Vicki Lewis will join the company as “Countess Lily” in the hit Broadway musicalANASTASIA. Adkins is an original member of the Broadway company, currently appearing on stage at the Broadhurst Theatre in the ensemble. A perennial favorite, Lewis returns to the Broadway stage after starring in Chicago, Damn Yankees, and many more.

TICKETS:

Tickets range from $69 - $169. Premium tickets range from $199 - $352. For more information, visit www.anastasiabroadway.com or call 212-239-6200.   Every day, ten $42 tickets are available at the box office beginning at 10AM. The $42 tickets are first come, first serve.

Group tickets for ANASTASIA are also now on sale. Groups should contact www.broadwayinbound.com or

866-302-0995.

For more information, visit www.anastasiabroadway.com 

**

Roundabout Theatre Company

in association with Chocolate Factory Productions and Sonia Friedman Productions

presents

The Menier Chocolate Factory Production of

TRAVESTIES

Previews begin March 29, 2018

Official opening April 24, 2018

Limited Engagement through June 17, 2018 on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre

Travesties will begin preview performances on Thursday, March 29, 2018 and opens officially on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. This is a limited engagement through Sunday, June 17, 2018 at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42^nd Street).

 In 1917 Zurich, an artist – Tristan Tzara, a writer – James Joyce, and a revolutionary – Lenin, collide in a kaleidoscopic thrill-ride.

TICKET INFORMATION:

Tickets for Travesties are first made available to subscribers and donors. Whether you are interested in the best value or VIP experiences, Roundabout has a package option for you. Visit roundabouttheatre.org or call 212-719-1300 for more info. Sign up for Roundabout’s email club atroundabouttheatre.org to be notified when tickets go on sale to the public. For groups of 10 or more please call 212-719-9393 x 365 or emailgroupsales@roundabouttheatre.org.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Travesties will play Tuesday through Saturday evening at 8:00PM, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2:00PM and Sunday matinees at 3:00PM.

For my information, visit www.roundabouttheatre.org.

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THE DRAMA LEAGUE SPRING CHARITY AUCTION

WELCOMES

ALAN CUMMING, JESSIE MUELLER, WAYNE BRADY,

ANDREW RANNELLS, JESSE TYLER FERGUSON, CONDOLA RASHAD,

LEA SALONGA, MATTHEW BRODERICK, JELANI ALLADIN,

TAYLOR LOUDERMAN, CHILINA KENNEDY, NOMA DUMEZWENI

AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS PROVIDING VIP EXPERIENCES

                                                                                     

WWW.BIDDINGFORGOOD.COM/THEDRAMALEAGUE

The Drama League’s 2018 Spring Charity Auction has launched at www.biddingforgood.com/thedramaleague, featuring forty once-in-a-lifetime prize packages.  The impressive offerings include celebrity experiences with Alan Cumming (Legal Immigrant at Joe’s Pub), Jessie Mueller (Carousel), Lea Salonga (Once On This Island); Andrew Rannells (The Boys in The Band), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Log Cabin), Condola Rashad(Saint Joan), Wayne Brady (Kinky Boots), Matthew Broderick (The Seafarer); House Seats to the hottest shows on and off Broadway, like The Iceman Cometh, Escape to Margaritaville, Sweeney Todd, In & Of Itself and more!  Many premier theater companies across New York are participating as well, such as Atlantic Theater Company, New Ohio Theatre, Classic Stage Company, MCC, and New York Theatre Workshop.

• POST-SHOW MEET & GREET WITH ALAN CUMMING AT SAINT JOAN

Spend a night out at Joe’s Pub with two tickets to Alan Cumming’s limited engagement solo show Alan Cumming: Legal Immigrant and meet the actor!

                                                                                                                                              

• BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET WITH CONDOLA RASHAD AT SAINT JOAN

Take in an unforgettable night of theater with two tickets to Saint Joan, followed by a backstage meet-and-greet with the show’s star, Condola Rashad!

                                                                                                                                              

• BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET WITH JELANI ALLADIN AT FROZEN

This prize not only offers a pair of coveted tickets to Broadway’s Frozen, it also includes a chance to go backstage to meet the actor taking on the role of Kristoff, Jelani Alladin!

• BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET WITH NOMA DUMEZWENI AT HARRY POTTER

Win two house seats to a both parts of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, followed by a chance to meet the actress who originated the role of Hermione in London, Noma Dumezweni!

• BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET WITH MATTHEW BRODERICK AT THE SEAFARER

Enjoy two tickets to Irish Repertory Theatre’s production of The Seafarer, then have the opportunity to meet award-winning actor Matthew Broderick!

The auction concludes on Thursday, March 29, 2018.  Visit www.biddingforgood.com/thedramaleague to view additional items and place your bids.

The 2018 Spring Charity Auction will raise funds to support programs including the educational training programs of The Drama League Directors Project.  The award-winning initiative, which began in 1982 and whose alumni now number over 300, has been instrumental in launching the careers of Tony^® Award winners Rebecca Taichman (Indecent), Christopher Ashley (Come From Away), Sam Gold (Fun Home), Diane Paulus (Waitress), Pam MacKinnon (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), Michael Mayer (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), and John Rando (On The Town); Tony Award nominees Mark Brokaw (Heisenberg), Moritz von Steulpnagel (Present Laughter) and Alex Timbers (Joan of Arc); Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812), West Hyler (Cirque du Soleil: Paramour); and OBIE and Emmy winners Lear deBessonet, R.J. Cutler, Tony Phelan and Anne Kaufmann, to name a few.  ‘Drama League Directors’ have been honored with Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Obie, Peabody, Drama Desk, GLAAD, Drama League, New York Drama Critics Circle, Outer Critics, Evening Standard, Lucille Lortel, Bessie, Princess Grace, Garland, Drama-Logue, Barrymore, Helen Hayes, Elliot Norton, and Joseph Jefferson Awards, and have directed films and plays that received Academy Award nominations and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

**

THE STING

A NEW MUSICAL

BASED ON THE UNIVERSAL PICTURES FILM, ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY BY DAVID S. WARD

BOOK BY BOB MARTIN,

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY MARK HOLLMANN & GREG KOTIS WITH HARRY CONNICK, JR.

CHOREOGRAPHED BY WARREN CARLYLE

DIRECTED BY JOHN RANDO

FEATURING

PETER BENSON, HARRY CONNICK, JR, JANET DACAL, CHRISTOPHER GURR,  J. HARRISON GHEE,

TOM HEWITT, RICHARD KLINE, KEVYN MORROW, KATE SHINDLE, ROBERT WUHL

PERFORMANCES BEGIN MARCH 29, 2018

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT THROUGH APRIL 29, 2018

AT PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE

OPENING NIGHT IS SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 2018, AT 7:00PM

The Broadway-bound engagement of The Sting begins performances on Thursday, March 29, 2018, for a limited engagement through Sunday, April 29, 2018, at Paper Mill Playhouse (22 Brookside Drive) in Millburn, NJ.  Opening Night is Sunday April 8, 2018.

Chicago. 1936. Get ready to enter a smoke-filled world of cons and capers, where nothing is what it seems and no one is who they appear to be. Based on the 1973 Academy Award-winning film, The Stingtells the tale of a pair of con men, small town grifter Johnny Hooker and big-time hustler Henry Gondorff (Harry Connick, Jr.), who plot to bring down the city’s most corrupt racketeer.  The Sting takes you back to an era where jazz reigns, the stakes are high, and the dice are always loaded.

The Sting will be performed eight times a week, Wednesday through Sunday. The performance schedule is Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 1:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 1:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now starting at $34. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted. Groups of 10 or more can receive up to a 40% discount on tickets and should call 973.315.1680. Students may order $23 rush tickets over the phone or in person at the Paper Mill Playhouse box office on the day of the performance. 

Accessibility Performances for The Sting

Paper Mill Playhouse, a leader in accessibility, will offer audio-described performances for The Sting on Sunday, April 22, at 1:30pm and Saturday, April 28, at 1:30pm. Prior to these performances atnoon, the theater will offer free sensory seminars. Sensory seminars offer an opportunity for patrons with vision loss to hear a live, in-depth description of the production elements of the show and hands-on interaction with key sets, props, and costumes.  There will be a sign-interpreted and open-captioned performance on Sunday, April 29, at 7:00pm.

Free Audience Enrichment Activities for The Sting

Conversation Club: Join us Thursday evenings, March 29, April 5, 12 or 19, one hour before curtain for an informal, informative gathering. You'll learn more about the performance you're about to see.

The Director's Viewpoint: One hour before curtain at 6:00pm on Wednesday, April 4, we host a pre-show discussion in the Renee Foosaner Art Gallery.

Q&A with the Cast: After the matinee on Saturday, April 28, stick around for a lively Q&A with cast members directly following the performance.

For additional information, please visit www.papermill.org.

**

AMAS MUSICAL THEATRE

TO CELEBRATE 49th ANNIVERSARY AT GALA BENEFIT CONCERT

JAY BINDER, MICKI GRANT, LEONID PORETSKY, MD

TO BE HONORED WITH THE 2018 ROSIE AWARD

“NO FOOLIN: A MUSICAL CONFECTION”

DIRECTED BY STUART ROSS & JONATHAN CERULLO

A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY “THE ACADEMY TEENS”

 TONY AWARD NOMINEE NORM LEWIS IS HONORARY CHAIR

TWO-TIME TONY AWARD NOMINEE BRAD OSCAR IS MASTER OF CEREMONIES

BARUCH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2018

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer), New York City’s award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, will celebrate its 49^th Anniversary at its annual Gala Benefit on Monday, April 2, 2018 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is Tony Award-nominated actor/singer and 2016 Rosie Award-winner Norm Lewis.  Two-time Tony Award-nominee Brad Oscar will be Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

The gala evening will begin at 6:00pm with a champagne reception and silent auction. At 7:00pm, students of the Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy, Amas’ flagship education program, will present a sneak peek of their upcoming spring production of Jesus Christ Superstar, followed by “No Foolin: A Musical Confection,” directed by Stuart Ross and Jonathan Cerullo and featuring award-winning performances by Brenda Braxton, Tina Fabrique, Jeremiah James, N’Kenge, and Aneesh Sheth, among other Broadway talent. The evening will culminate in the presentation of “The Rosie Award,” this year bestowed upon Broadway casting director, producer and director Jay Binder, Tony-nominated composer and lyricist Micki Grant and Leonid Poretsky, MD, a leading endocrinologist and founder of the Friedman Transgender Health & Wellness Program at Lenox Hill Hospital. A scholarship in the name of Amas founder Rosetta LeNoire will also be given to a college-bound student attending the Amas Teen Academy.

Tickets are $500 and $250, plus a limited number of show-only $150 seats are available and can be purchased online at www.amasmusical.org, or by calling (212) 563-2565. More information atwww.amasmusical.org. 

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And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for this month's Monthly Mashup.