I started this blog with one daughter, kept it up with the other, to spend time together doing something we enjoyed.
However, things change and people evolve. My daughters are older, busier, and not as interested in writing.
From now on this blog will be mostly mom with occasional contributions from my daughters and maybe even my husband.
Nothing else will change. We'll still focus on sharing fun places to go, fun things to do, and more, and we would  still love to hear your views too

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Sunday Scoop Week of 7/1/18 - What's Happening This Week or Coming Up Soon

Upcoming at the Franklin Institute 
222 N. 20th St.
Philadelphia, PA 

Movie Nights in Game Masters and Game Masters Programming from Scratch Workshop

Tuesday July 3, 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Movie Nights in Game Masters
Movie & Exhibit in an Exclusive After Hours Event for Adults 21+

The Franklin Institute takes after hours to the next level this summer delivering nonstop gaming action with evenings designed exclusively for adults 21+.  Experience after-hours access to 100+ playable games featured within Game Masters: The Exhibition, plus immersive, hands-on programming, and a beer and wine cash bar—all designed around a fun adults-only environment. Celebrate the 36th anniversary of the classic gaming film Tron with a special screening as part of the event.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 

Saturday July 7, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Game Masters Presents Programing from Scratch
A Beginner's Workshop to Coding with Games

Future video game designers and developers--press start! The Franklin Institute is peeling back the interface to show the technology behind video game design and what it takes to develop and understand the scripts that run the games. 

Game on! In this coding adventure, aspiring innovators will develop early skills in using Scratch, the simple yet powerful programming language for children. Challenged to step into the shoes of game designers, guests will first build a game controller, then be introduced to the code that runs the game, and finally become game developers themselves and create their own version of the game. 

Ages 10-13

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.fi.edu/event/2018-07-07/game-masters-presents-programming-scratch
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FREE SUMMER MOVIES RETURN TO
STATE THEATRE NEW JERSEY
15  Livingston Ave.
New Brunswick, NJ

July 3, July10July 17July 24July 31August 7

State Theatre New Jersey is proud to announce the return of the Free Summer Movies Series.Movies featured in this year’s series include 1776 on July 3, Coco on July 10Despicable Me 3 on July 17The Lion King on July 24,The Great Muppet Caper on July 31, and Wonder on August 7. Showings for CocoDespicable Me 3The Lion KingThe Great Muppet Caper, and Wonder will be at 10:30am and 7pm. The movie 1776 will have a single showing at 7pm. Tickets are FREE. Groups of 20 or more, those planning a bus trip, or patrons requiring accessible seating, please call 732-246-7469 or reserve online: www.STNJ.org No reservations are required for groups under 20.

The entire series is free of charge to the community, offering young people the chance to enjoy these films, whether with their families, summer camps, or other groups. The movies will be shown at the historic State Theatre New Jersey, a 1921 movie palace that has become one of New Jersey’s premier venues for live performance. Moviegoers will enjoy an unparalleled experience. The State Theatre’s state-of-the-art HD digital cinema projection system includes a 46’ Stewart film screen, a Barco projector, and digital surround sound. In the 1,850-seat restored theater, audiences can sit downstairs or enjoy the view from up in the balcony, just as in the glory days of Hollywood.

For more information visit https://www.stnj.org/events
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TEVYE SERVED RAW
WITH THE TEVYE STORIES THEY
LEFT OUT OF THE MUSICAL
BY SHOLEM ALEICHEM
STARRING ALLEN LEWIS RICKMAN,
YELENA SHMULENSON AND SHANE BAKER
Off-Broadway Performances Begin July 5
At The Playroom Theatre

Find out what happens to the beloved characters in Fiddler on the Roof after the musical ends. TEVYE SERVED RAW is an evening of Sholem Aleichem material, with adaptations of his Tevye stories (“What, Me Worthy?” and “Get Thee Gone!”), scenes from his own long-unseen Yiddish stage version, and three of his purely comedic stories, newly adapted (“Strange Jews on a Train,” “The Yiddish Sisyphus” and “A Stepmother’s Trash-Talk”). 

A lot of TEVYE SERVED RAW is very funny. Some of it is not. But all of it is served up onstage in a form that’s very close to how he originally wrote it. This is not a Broadway musical version of the world most American Jews come from. This is the genuine article as written by the man called “the Jewish Mark Twain,” who was really there and wrote what he saw.

TEVYE SERVED RAW is set to begin performances July 5th, with the official Opening on Tuesday, July 17th at The Playroom Theater in the Heart of the Theatre District, 151 West 46 Street (just east of Seventh Ave.) for 18 performances only through August 14th.

Following the first performance on Thursday, July 5 at 7 pm, the playing schedule for TEVYE SERVED RAW will be Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays at 7 pm, and Thursday, July 12 at 3 & 7 pm. Tickets are $38 and are available through www.TevyeServedRaw.com or by calling 1-800-838-3006.
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Upcoming at TADA Youth Theater
15 W. 28th St
New York, NY

Golly Gee Whiz

Tuesdays – Thursdays at 12pm & 2pm
Fridays at 12pm
Saturdays at 2pm & 4pm

In this loving tribute to the classic Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland film musicals of the 30s and 40s, the residents of Happyville band together with the help of Mickey and Judy to put on a great show and re-establish Happyville as the bustling town that it once was.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.tadatheater.com/shows/buy-tickets
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Upcoming at iPlay America
110 Schank Rd.
Freehold, NJ

Fourth of July and Gypsy: A True Stevie Nicks Experience

Wednesday, July 4
Fourth of July                                                                                         
Start Time: 10:00 AM

Celebrate July 4th at iPlay America with their annual celebration! Get FREE Unlimited Rides all day with the purchase of a game card of $10 or higher! That’s FREE Unlimited rides on:

• Freedom Rider Spinning Coaster
• Kite Flyer
• Skyscraper
• iPA Speedway
• Spin Zone Bumper Cars
• Happy Swing
• Jump Around
• Dizzy Dragons
• Carousel

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 

Sunday, July 8                                                                                  
Gypsy – A True Stevie Nicks Experience                                          
Door Time: 4:00 PM – Start Time: 5:30 PM

Make plans now to see Gypsy-A True Stevie Nicks Experience. You will experience their magnetic stage presence, flowing skirts, shawls and platform boots! Gypsy-A True Stevie Nicks Experience will sail their way through a fantastic set of Stevie's greatest hits, playing to the audience as only Stevie can. They perform from the heart, which is evident as you watch them perform renditions of "Landslide," "Edge of Seventeen" to "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around." Enjoy a perfect night out and great musical performances with a delicious dinner buffet! Get your tickets TODAY!

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Upcoming at Broadway Workshop


Broadway Workshop's popular intensive for teenagers is back with TWO sessions this summer!


Ages: 13 - 19

Dates: July 30 - Aug. 3 (Session One)
DatesAug. 6 - Aug. 10 (Session Two)
Times: 10:00am - 4:30pm 
Location: Ripley Grier Studios - 305 W. 38th Street  
Tuition: $925  

EXCEL TEEN INTENSIVE is a program geared toward teens with a strong passion for the performing arts. Every student studies the three disciplines of musical theatre, but TEEN EXCEL also allows them to major in either ACTING or VOICE. SESSION 1 is a smaller group where students will only perform a solo piece in a final showcase for NYC industry professionals, as well as family and friends. SESSION 2 is a larger group of students who will perform solo and group pieces in a final showcase for NYC industry professionals, as well as family and friends.

Each day begins with a group warm up, students will then split up into smaller groups (by age) where they will have master classes in Song Interpretation/Musical Theatre Performance,Acting/Monologue preparation and Dance Master Classes making up their Core schedule. In addition to the Core classes, students will have special guest workshops with New York's top industry professionals! This fast-paced program will challenge each student and allow them to take the next big step in their training, while having an incredible time!

For more information or to register, visit 
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PR Firm Roundup

News from Karen 

What's On At the Wild Project

July 3
THE DRAG EXPLOSION created and hosted by Linda Simpson
Schedule: Tuesday at
8pm
Tickets: $10

Linda Simpson, a shining star of NYC’s drag scene for almost 30 years, is thrilled be back at The Wild Project with an encore presentation of her-storical slideshow The Drag Explosion on Tuesday, July 3rd, at8pm. Admission is $10.

All of the photos in The Drag Explosion were shot by Linda from the late 1980s to the mid ‘90s (back when it was rare to hobnob with a camera), and they reveal a golden age of NYC drag history. During this erathe drag scene remarkably transformed from an underground art form into a pop-culture phenomenon. The photos capture wild nightlife, queer activism, and all sorts of color characters as they joyfully pushed the boundaries of gender expression. An educational and entertaining her-story lesson!

July 8 at 7 PM
GASLIT a devised piece directed by Brenna Palughi
With Julia Crockett, Kimiye Corwin, Marianna Mcclellan, Niki Morrissette, Sarah Baskin
Tickets: $25 ($20 in advance)

gaslit is a devised piece inspired by the Greek prophetess, Cassandra, who was gifted with the power of prophecy by Apollo. When she refused his sexual advances, she was given a curse wherein nobody would believe her prophecies. Movement and text, myth and present day experiences are used to investigate how we have culturally neglected female emotional intelligence and intuition.

July 9 – July 22
FRESH FRUIT FESTIVAL
Produced by All Out Arts
Tickets: $18

The 16th consecutive festival of LGBT arts returns to The Wild Project! 

FRESH FRUIT FESTIVAL Week 1:  July 9 – 15

7/9 at 8pm7/13 at 6:30pm, 7/15 at 7pm    
PROPHESY by Karl Hinze
At the fraught intersection of religion and sexuality, the poetic language of the religious mystics is juxtaposed with the vernacular of horny teenage boys. The audience includes anyone who ever had a crush on a teacher, who has questioned the existence of God, or who survived a Catholic high school.

7/10 at 6pm7/14 at 4:30pm, 7/15 at 5pm   
THE SONG OF BERNADETTE by Maura Campbell
In this Award-winning story, a supernatural experiment yields the true meaning of forgiveness, and a lesson: love is more powerful and enduring than death. Queer identity, the grieving process, and magical realism, all figure in this tale of ultimate salvation.
 
7/10 at 8pm7/14 at 8:30pm, 7/15 at 3pm    
ALL MY LOVE, KATE by Joe Breen
 “I’ll Be Seeing You” (in all the old familiar places) was not just the resonant anthem for heterosexual couples in WW II, but resonated as well with Gay and Lesbian Americans left behind who often had no emotional support system in place. Who defines what patriotism really means? How do couples 
separatedby half a world keep body and soul together when one becomes a POW?

7/11 at 8:30pm7/15 at 1:30pm    
AN UNCOMMON CORE 
written and performed by  Abigail Swetz
Meet Abigail Swetz, bringing her
8th grade students safely through a heartbreaking year. Campus assaults, police brutality, homophobic violence, are defeated by the magic and power in her students’ own poetic words – words by students who bring hope for the future.

7/11 at 6pm, 7/12 at 8pm, 7/14 at 2pm
HALF ME, HALF YOU by Liane Grant
In 2017 America changed, and we all share the burden of inequality and injustice. What will this America look like in 2033?  In this play of ideas, IVF becomes a platform for a broader discussion about womanhood and whether it is defined by parenthood or not. 

7/12 at 6pm7/13 at 8:30pm7/14 at 6:30pm
PEACE CAMP ORG by Mariam Bazeed
In this true story from the Middle East, live music, puppetry, and satire are used to underscore the sometimes brutal, often humorous experiences which polarized campers - and audience -  may share. The politics of normalization are brought under a critical yet enlightening lens in this rarely seen glimpse of Middle Eastern childhood.  In English and Arabic
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News from Lincoln Center 


Tuesday, July 3 – at 6:00 pm
Midsummer Night Swing
Garba in the Park
Even if you are new to these energetic group dances from Gujarat in western India, you’ll quickly find your place on the dance floor during this spirited night of culture, community, and live music. Garba, with its repeating claps, twirls, and circular patterns, and raas, performed with sticks and rotating partners, are traditionally danced during the fall festival of Navratri and before weddings. Fun and social, they have been passionately embraced by young people across the Indian diaspora in recent years. Both are easy to learn, especially with our instructors and the Sa Dance Company on hand.
Damrosch Park, 62nd Street, bet. Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues
Tickets for individual events and passes can be purchased in advance at the David Geffen Hall Box Office or beginning at 5:30 pm on the night of the event at a box office in Damrosch Park. Tickets and passes can also be purchased through CenterCharge, 212.721.6500, or at MidsummerNightSwing.org.

Wednesday, July 4 – at 6:00 pm
Midsummer Night Swing
The Mambo Legends Orchestra
These former members of the Tito Puente Orchestra celebrate the USA’s birthday by reviving the golden age of Latin dance. Join your neighbors on Lincoln Center’s gorgeous open-air dance floor, set just nine blocks up from where the Palladium Ballroom broke down barriers and launched a mambo craze that stretched from sea to shining sea.
Damrosch Park, 62nd Street, bet. Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues
Tickets for individual events and passes can be purchased in advance at the David Geffen Hall Box Office or beginning at 5:30 pm on the night of the event at a box office in Damrosch Park. Tickets and passes can also be purchased through CenterCharge, 212.721.6500, or at MidsummerNightSwing.org.

Thursday, July 5 – at 6:00 pm
Midsummer Night Swing
Tanghetto
Club meets milonga when the popular Buenos Aires band Tanghetto takes over Damrosch Park for a night of new-wave tango. Bandoneon melodies and tango rhythms are folded into electronic beats and atmospheric lights, bringing a modern edge to the iconic Argentinian dance of seduction. It’s the perfect evening to take your first steps or level up your tango game.
Damrosch Park, 62nd Street, bet. Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues
Tickets for individual events and passes can be purchased in advance at the David Geffen Hall Box Office or beginning at 5:30 pm on the night of the event at a box office in Damrosch Park. Tickets and passes can also be purchased through CenterCharge, 212.721.6500, or at MidsummerNightSwing.org.

Thursday, July 5 - FREE - at 7:30 pm
Atrium 360°
France Rocks Festival: Mélissa Laveaux + Delgres
Now in its third year, the France Rocks Festival highlights the most cutting-edge French electro, jazz, world, contemporary, pop, and rock artists. Opening this soulful double-bill filled with Creole spirit is singer-songwriter and guitarist Mélissa Laveaux, who will fill the Atrium with her sunny, melody-driven music at the intersection of folk, indie pop, and blues. Born in Canada to Haitian parents and now based in France, Laveaux’s latest project explores her Creole ancestry adding Haitian kompa guitar, calypso, and soca to the mix and giving her rootsy sophistication a definitive—and delectable—Caribbean twist.
For the second part of the evening, Delgres, a French trio with Caribbean roots that travels the old route between Guadeloupe and New Orleans, takes the stage. Led by guitarist and vocalist Pascal Danae—who has performed alongside artists like Harry Belafonte, Neneh Cherry, Peter Gabriel, Gilberto Gil, Youssou N'Dour, and Ayo—Delgres gets people moving with their intoxicating blend of Creole music, West African rhythms, rock, and Delta blues.
Presented in collaboration with The Cultural Services of the French Embassy, Bureau Export, and the France Rocks Festival
David Rubenstein Atrium, Frieda and Roy Furman Stage (Broadway bet. 62nd & 63rd St.)
FREE Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, including program updates, visit LincolnCenter.org/Atrium.

Friday, July 6 – at 6:00 pm
Midsummer Night Swing
Naomi & Her Handsome Devils
Bandleader, velvet-voiced singer, and international Lindy hop champion Naomi Uyama knows how to do it. A favorite on the competition circuit, Naomi and her band—some of the most talented musicians in the traditional jazz scene today—cast their spell over the open-air dance floor and keep the party swinging all night long.
Damrosch Park, 62nd Street, bet. Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues
Tickets for individual events and passes can be purchased in advance at the David Geffen Hall Box Office or beginning at 5:30 pm on the night of the event at a box office in Damrosch Park. Tickets and passes can also be purchased through CenterCharge, 212.721.6500, or at MidsummerNightSwing.org.

Saturday, July 7 – at 6:00 pm
Midsummer Night Swing
Heybale
Heybale’s long-running Sunday night residency at Austin’s famous Continental Club is the stuff of Texas legend, and now the "country superstar quintet” (Austin Chronicle) brings its smoking brand of classic honky-tonk and roadhouse rockabilly to Damrosch Park. With members that have played with Buck Owens, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash, the band is beloved by everyone from tourists to celebrities, and especially dancers. Country shuffles, waltzes, and two-step are all on the menu for this big country night.
Damrosch Park, 62nd Street, bet. Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues
Tickets for individual events and passes can be purchased in advance at the David Geffen Hall Box Office or beginning at 5:30 pm on the night of the event at a box office in Damrosch Park. Tickets and passes can also be purchased through CenterCharge, 212.721.6500, or at MidsummerNightSwing.org.
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News from Michelle Tabnick PR

OPERA SARATOGA ANNOUNCES
DISCOVER!OPERA
 
NEW FREE TICKET PROGRAM FOR
HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS

Opera Saratoga announced DISCOVER!OPERA, a new program to introduce area high school and college students to opera by providing free tickets to select performances as part of the company's annual Summer Festival, as well as access to related programs. This summer, Opera Saratoga will provide free tickets to students for two performances through the DISCOVER!OPERA program.
College Students may sign up for free tickets to opening night of Opera Saratoga's double-bill on Saturday, June 30th, featuring the world premiere of Vinkensport, or The Finch Opera, and the American Premiere of Rocking Horse Winner. In Vinkensport, we enter the world of finch-sitting, where the cheating scandals are as rampant as the rivalries between contestants in a battle to see who has the most melodious bird in this cheeky and chirpy bittersweet comedy. After intermission, the world of thoroughbred racing takes the stage in Rocking Horse Winner, a modern adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's short story in which ayoung manbecomes dangerously obsessed with solving the bad luck of his family. His pursuit awakens a strange magic that enables him to predict which horses will win at the track. Prior to the performance, composers David T. Little and Gareth Williams, and librettists Royce Vavrek and Anna Chatterton, will participate in a Q&A, providing college students with the opportunity to meet four of the most exciting writers working in opera today.

High School Students may sign up for free tickets to the opening night of Opera Saratoga's new production of The Consul, on Saturday July 7th.This riveting thriller delivers a punch as powerful and timely as its subject matter - the struggle for freedom against oppression, and the maddening nature of unrelenting bureaucracy. Winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and New York Drama Critic's Circle Award when it first premiered on Broadway in 1950, The Consul's suspenseful and timely story surprises with several magical touches and is buoyed by a richly melodic score in which love, hope, and redemption all play their part.  As the national conversation has recently become increasingly focused on the plight of immigrants and refugees, the contemporary relevance of The Consul is easy to see.

One ticket is available per student, and a valid student ID is required. In addition to free student tickets, a special 30% discount code is available for parents who wish to share the Opera Saratoga experience with their children. Complete program details are available online.

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The Theater at the 14th 
 Street Y
Announces 2018-2019 Season: War & Peace
 
The Theater at the 14th 
 Street Y 
 
continues to honor the edgy, diverse, and rich history of innovative culture-making in the East Village with the 2018-2019 Season. The Season kicks-off on September 5, 2018 and runs through May 2019. All productions are chosen through a submission process and are co-presented by the Theater at the 14 
th Street Y. Hundreds of artists apply every year to join the programming and have artistic discourse over a chosen theme.

Highlights of the season include:

  • The World Premiere of Till We Meet Again, written by Glory Kadigan, directed by Tony Award nominee Tonya Pinkins and co-presented by Planet Connections.
  • Barry Levey's Hoaxocaust!,directed by Jeremy Gold Kronenberg, provides an exploration of Jewish identity if the Holocaust hadn't happened.(NYC Fringe Festival's 2014 Overall Excellence award winner)
  • The World Premiere of Jenn Freeman's evening-length piece ...it's time... Freemove Dance
  • LABA 2nd Stage production The Hearing exerpts actual hearing transcripts to follow the true story of a public teacher in Israel who leads a class discussion about the morality of the army.
  • The Baby Monitor, a crucial new play by David Stallings and directed by Antonio Miniño, explores same-sex parenting and cis family values in today's America.
  • Salesman之死 explores the intersection of Chinese, American and Chinese-American identities, from 1983, when Arthur Miller directed Death of a Salesman in Beijing, to the present day.
  • An extravagant musical performance from Berlin, TIFERET merges dance and theatrical conventions. 
2018-2019 Season:

Hoaxocaust!
Questing Beast Productions
September 5 - October 7
Written by Barry Levey, directed by Jeremy Gold Kronenberg
How would contemporary Jewish identity be changed if the Holocaust hadn't happened? Join Barry on an unbelievable, around the world adventure as he tracks down deniers on a journey to discover the shocking truth

The Other Day
Loretta Michael Productions
September 6-23
Written by Mark Jason Williams
A gay couple with substance abuse issues, a woman confronting her failing marriage, and a charming foreigner hiding a secret share an unexpected journey through love, addiction, loss, and redemption that will redefine their relationships, and themselves, in surprising ways. Winner of the Planet Connections Award for Outstanding Playwriting

Soldiers and Other Living Things
AAG Productions
September 27 - October 7
Written and directed by Michael Boyd
Set in the pre-"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" era of the Vietnam war, two wounded soldiers return home to confront issues of patriotism, survival, and the unspoken love they have for each other.

...it's time... Freemove Dance
October 11-14
Choreographed by Jenn Freeman, Original composition by Dani Markham
Dictated by a countdown clock, orchestrated by a live solo drummer (Dani Markham), and portrayed by five dancers, Jenn Freeman's world premiere evening length piece is about time. This dance is an abstraction of humanity and our relationship with "the clock"-how we as humans navigate the disconnect between what the clock demands and our otherwise natural progression.

The Hearing
LABA 2nd Stage
October 19 - November 4
Conceived by Renana Raz, directed by Ronit Muszkatblit
Taken from actual hearing transcripts, this true story follows Adam Verete, a public high school teacher in Israel who holds a class discussion about the morality of the army. Original concept creator Renana Raz will act as consultant on the Theater at the 14th Street Y's stage adaptation of her work.

The Not-So-Spooky Ghost*
October 20-21, 27-28
WonderSpark Puppets
Written and directed by Chad Williams
A timid ghost, his skeleton father and a mysterious scarecrow have lots of laughs in this all-ages show. The little ghost can't scare a soul to please his Big Bad Dad, but help is on the way as the audience and some friends scare up some fun fright. Hand puppet show in a traditional puppet booth.

Fox Fables*
November 3-4
WonderSpark Puppets
Written and directed by Chad Williams
This puppet adaptation of an Aesop's Fable is about a fox who loses his precious tail and with it his identity. He tries to be several other animals instead-with hilarious results- before realizing the moral lesson of this ancient story.

Layer the Walls*
November 7-11
Created by Liz Parker & Rachel Sullivan
Directed by Spica Wobbe
Set within a tenement that is about to be torn down and whose interior is plastered with 40 layers, this show uses masks, toy-theater techniques and puppets designed by Spica Wobbe to imagine the proud and perilous histories of the building's Italian, Jewish and Irish occupants. Ages 7+.

DRUNK
LABA: A Laboratory for Jewish Culture
November 17
LABA, the international incubator of Jewish art and culture, invites you to DRUNK: a wine-soaked celebration of new art inspired by ancient texts. Feast, sip, and study, at our annual event, DRUNK.

#Nasty Women, A Night of Female Resistance ComedyComedyistheresistance.com
November 12, 2018January 28April 15May 20, 2019
Curated by Laura Beatrix Newmark
Following the Women's March and in light of the #MeToo, Time's Up, #NeverAgain movements, we provide a forum for female comedians that empowers all through laughter, camaraderie and tangible activism tools.

The Baby Monitor
Different Translation
November 29 - December 16
Written by David Stallings, directed by Antonio Miniño
When Claire's concerns over the welfare of her two-year old nephew are dangerously validated, she begins to question the family's principals and ability to parent. A crucial new play, exploring same-sex parenting and cis family values in today's America.

The Fantastical Dangerous Journey of Q*
Rebel Playhouse
December 1-16
Written by Ric Averill, music by Dax Dupuy, Directed & choreographed by Sarah Sutliff, Music direction by Christina Bottley
Q, an upper elementary student struggling with gender and identity issues, faces the daily difficulties of preoccupied parents, bullying peers, and communication with challenging teachers... but with a bag of tricks everyday objects grow and are endowed with powers that allow Q to face larger than life threats head on! This new hour long musical features song, dance, and puppetry.

Waiting for Godot in Yiddish
New Yiddish Rep
December 21, 2018 - January 27, 2019
Written by Samuel Beckett The language of the play is dark and often humorous, commenting upon the absurd situation of humanity which expects and hopes, despite evidence to the contrary that someone-God, a hero, a messiah-will arrive and resolve our existential questions.

Till We Meet Again
Planet Connections Theatre Festivity
January 11-26
Written by Glory Kadigan, directed by Tonya Pinkins
Lost in memories of when he served as a surgeon in Guadalcanal during World War II, Robert faces the regrets of his youth with the help of his granddaughter.
 
LABAlive Series
LABA: A Laboratory for Jewish Culture
February 2April 18, May 25
Experience excerpts of new works in progress presented by the 14th Street Y's LABA Fellows devising new work around the theme "Life & Death."

Salesman 之死
Gung Ho Projects, LABA 2nd Stage
February 8-24
Co-Conceived by Jeremy Tiang and Michael Leibenluft, Written by Jeremy Tiang, directed by Michael Leibenluft
In 1983, Arthur Miller went to Beijing to direct Death of a Salesman-in Mandarin. Salesman之死 explores the intersection of Chinese, American and Chinese-American identities, from that moment to the present day. What happens to the American dream when it is translated and transposed? In Mandarin and English with subtitles.

A Celebration of Deborah JowittFrom the Horse's Mouth
March 21-24
As one of the dance fields most respected critics and writers, FTHM celebrates the life and accomplishments of Deborah Jowitt and her story of endurance and love for the art form.

The SinlessNew Roman Theatre Group
March 28 - April 7
Written by Judah Skoff, Producing Director Rebecca Deistsch Skoff
Annabelle and Tuvia are a happily married Orthodox Jewish couple living the life of their dreams. But what will they do when God isn't watching?

ValentinaBallet Nepantla
April 10-14
Artistic Directors: Andrea Guajardo & Martin Rodriguez,
Conducted by Latin GRAMMY® winner Felipe Fournier
Valentina tells stories of struggles and triumph. By fusing contemporary ballet with traditional Mexican folkloric dance, Valentina explores the spaces between love and hate, hope and despair, and war and peace.

/we/
MICHIYAYA Dance
April 25-28
Artistic Directors Anya Clarke and Mitsuko Verdery present the world premiere of /wē/, a collective study on gender identity featuring their seven dance artists with live sound by slowdanger. /wē/ rids the binary, embraces the inner self and builds without walls.
 
Friendly's Fire Rising Sun
Performance Company
May 3-19
Written by John Patrick Bray, directed by Anna Hogan
The award-winning Rising Sun Performance Company presents the New York Premiere of an homage to Western movies and He-Man action figures. Friendly's Fire shows us what lengths a man will go to preserve his friend's sanity, and to remember his brother, who died in service to our county.

Old Turtle and the Broken Truth*
Rebel Playhouse
May 4-19
Written by Catherine Bush, music by Dax Dupuy, Directed & choreographed by Sarah Sutliff
Based on the Children's Book by Douglas Wood, In Old Turtle and the Broken Truth, a truth falls like a star from the sky and breaks into two pieces. When the villagers discover only half of the truth, it causes so many problems that Little One, a brave young girl, decides to search for the missing half. With the help of Old Turtle, and many animal friends, Little One is able to mend the broken truth and make it whole again creating a better world for everyone.

TIFERET
LABA 2nd Stage
May 29 - June 2
Music composition by Amir Shpilman, Designed by Yair Kira Straight from Berlin, a new music performance that merges theatrical conventions and dance into one seething evening. The extravagant show carries audiences through multiple sonorous fields, and tells a mystical story in the most sensual ways.
 
*Theater for Young Adults

Full Season Tickets and detailed information on shows available at www.14streety.org/tickets.

$14@14Y Flex Pass
Subscribe to the 14th Street Y and save with Flex Pass. For $42, choose any three shows from the upcoming season at https://14streety.secure.force.com/ticket#details_a0S36000007O40PEAS.

**
South Street Seaport Museum
presents Free Fridays
July 6, 2018 - September 7, 2018 from 3pm - 7pm
Every Friday

The South Street Seaport Museum announces Free Fridays, with free admission to theMuseum every Friday from July 6, 2018 - September 22, 2018 from 3pm-7pm at 12 Fulton Street, NYC.

Join the South Street Seaport Museum for a summer of Free Fridays presented by The Howard Hughes Corporation! Every Friday beginningJuly 6, between 3-7pm the Seaport Museum will offer free admission to its exhibitions and historic ships!

Please e-mail info@seany.org for more information.

GETTING TO THE MUSEUM
By subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, Z to Fulton Street station
Bus: M15, M15-SBS to Fulton Street. 
Downtown Connection to Pearl Street and Fulton Street.

*As the museum is located in an historic district please contact the museum regarding accessibility needs prior to visiting.
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News from Polk and Co.

New Block of Tickets on Sale for The Band's Visit

Due to popular demand following the historic Tony Award wins on June 10—The Band’s Visit is tied as the third most Tony-winning show in history, and is one of only three shows to receive the “Big Six” (Best Musical, Actor, Actress, Direction, Book & Score)—producers announced that a new block of tickets is now on sale through Sunday, June 30, 2019.

After a mix-up at the border, an Egyptian Police Band is sent to a remote village in the middle of the Israeli desert. With no bus until morning and no hotel in sight, these unlikely travelers are taken in by the locals. Under the spell of the desert sky, their lives become intertwined in the most unexpected ways. THE BAND’S VISIT celebrates the deeply human ways music, longing and laughter can connect us all.

Ticket Information
Tickets ($49 – $169, including the $2 facility fee) are available at telecharge.com, 212.239.6200, or at the Barrymore Theatre box office (243 West 47th Street). For groups of 10 or moreplease contact Broadway Inbound at broadwayinbound.com or 866.302.0995.

Performance Schedule
The performance schedule for THE BAND’S VISIT isTuesday – Thursday at 7pm; Friday & Saturday at 8pm; with matinees at 2pm on Wednesday & SaturdaySundayat 3pm.

For more information, visit TheBandsVisitMusical.com

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BROADWAY UNITED Theater Artists Release WE ARE THE WORLD Music Video


YAEL SILVER, ROBIN CARUS AND VAN DEAN
ANNOUNCE ALL-STAR ROSTER OF THEATER ARTISTS FOR WE ARE THE WORLD MUSIC VIDEO RELEASE

Participating artists include (in alphabetical order): Christy Altomare, Kelli Barrett, Andrew Burns, Nikki Renee Daniels, Jordan Donica, Rachel Eskenazi-Gold, Justin Guarini, Derek Klena, Jeff Kready, Sydney Lucas, Beth Malone, Lesli Margherita, Constantine Maroulis, Bebe Neuwirth, Orfeh, George Psomas, Anthony Rapp, Courtney Reed, Chita Rivera, Kate Rockwell, Jarrod Spector, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ephraim Sykes, Jenna Ushkowitz and Ben Vereen.

Kids Chorus includes: Paige Brady, Ava Briglia, Courtney Chu, Tori Feinstein, Sophie Gennusa, James Ignacio, Luka Kain, Jake Lucas, Eliza Holland Madore, Mehret Marsh, Cayen Martin, Aliyah Mastin, Willow McCarthy, Rileigh McDonald, Callia Muhammad, Julian Rivera-Summerville, Mimi Ryder, Milly Shapiro, Ava Ulloa, Alexandra Vlachos, Aviva Winick, Rocco Wu, Timothy Yang and Kasey Youme Lee.

#BroadwayUnited

Yael Silver (Tony-winning producer Once On This Island), Robin Carus and Van Dean (Broadway Records, President) today released “We Are The World,” a music video featuring an all-star roster of theater artists and calling for healing and unity in the world today.


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Second Stage Theater Rescheduled Previews for
Young Jean Lee’s STRAIGHT WHITE MEN
began June 30 at 8pm


Second Stage Theater has postponed the start of previews of Young Jean Lee’s STRAIGHT WHITE MEN, directed by Anna D. Shapiro, to accommodate additional rehearsal time for new cast member Denis Arndt.  Mr. Arndt joined the company earlier this week. 

Originally scheduled to begin previews on Friday, June 29, the production started preview performances on Saturday, June 30 at 8pm instead.  Opening night for the production remains Monday, July 23.

It’s Christmas Eve, and Ed has gathered his three adult sons to celebrate with matching pajamas, trash talking, and Chinese takeout. But when a question they can’t answer interrupts their holiday cheer, they are forced to confront their own identities. Obie Award-winning playwright Young Jean Lee takes a hilariously ruthless look at the classic American father-son drama. This is one white Christmas like you’ve never seen before.

STRAIGHT WHITE MEN is currently available as part of a 6-show package for $395. To purchase or for more information, visit 2ST.com or call Second Stage Subscriber Services at 212-246-4422.

Single tickets for STRAIGHT WHITE MEN are available via Telecharge at 212-239-6200 or Telecharge.com.

A limited number of 30 under 30 tickets are also available via telechargeoffers.com using code 30UNDER30 for people ages 30 and under with proper identification.

For more information, visit www.2ST.com
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News from Richard Hillman PR

THE HOMEBODIES ARE AT IT AGAIN!
SEASON TWO RECENTLY PREMIERED ON HUFFPOST QUEER VOICES!

BROADWAY’S WESLEY TAYLOR AND ALEX WYSE
RETURN WITH SEASON TWO OF
THE AWARD-WINNING INDIE SERIES
 “INDOOR BOYS”

RETURNING CAST INCLUDES
FRANKIE GRANDEMICHAEL TACCONIAND PATRIKA DARBO

NEW CAST MEMBERS INCLUDE
CAROLEE CARMELLO, VEANNE COX,
WITH KYLE HARRIS, LILLI COOPER, ISAAC POWELL,
KRYSTA RODRIGUEZ, RANA ROY AND MICHAEL KOSTROFF

Executive Producers Jim Kierstead (Kinky Boots, Waitress) and Michael Kushner, and producers Jack Sharkey and Tye Blue, proudly announce the return of the Indie Award-winning series “Indoor Boys” created, directed, and starring Broadway’s Wesley Taylor (SpongeBob SquarePants; NBC’s “SMASH”) and Alex Wyse (Spring Awakening; Marvel’s “Iron Fist”).  With a total of eight new chapters, Season Two premiered on Monday, June 25, 2018 on HuffPost Queer Voices, with two episodes released each Monday for 4 weeks. Episodes are available on Vimeo: Episode 9 at https://vimeo.com/267743168and Episode 10 at https://vimeo.com/268181878

Season Two will introduce 3-time Tony Award-nominee Carolee Carmello as Nate’s mother, Ellen, and Obie and Drama Desk Award Winner Veanne Cox as Luke’s mother, Lenora, with Krysta RodriguezKyle HarrisLilli CooperIsaac PowellRana Roy, and Michael Kostroff.

Season Two will introduce 3-time Tony Award-nominee Carolee Carmello as Nate’s mother, Ellen, and Obie and Drama Desk Award Winner Veanne Cox as Luke’s mother, Lenora, with Krysta RodriguezKyle HarrisLilli CooperIsaac PowellRana Roy, and Michael Kostroff.
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LA MAMA, THE 2018 TONY AWARD WINNING THEATRE,
ANNOUNCES ITS 57TH  SEASON
PRESENTING OVER 50 PREMIERE PRODUCTIONS

On the heels of having won the 2018 Regional Theater Tony Award at the June 8 Tony Awards celebration in New York City, LA MAMA Experimental Theatre Club (ETC) announces its 57th season of productions, according to Mia Yoo, the company’s artistic director.  The season includes over 50 U.S., NYC and world premiere productions.  The season’s offerings will take place at the Ellen Stewart Theatre and The Downstairs (66 E. 4 St.), and at La MaMa Galleria (47 Great Jones Street) in the East Village.

On the heels of having won the 2018 Regional Theater Tony Award at the June 8 Tony Awards celebration in New York City, LA MAMA Experimental Theatre Club (ETC) announces its 57th season of productions, according to Mia Yoo, the company’s artistic director.  The season includes over 50 U.S., NYC and world premiere productions.  The season’s offerings will take place at the Ellen Stewart Theatre and The Downstairs (66 E. 4 St.), and at La MaMa Galleria (47 Great Jones Street) in the East Village.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS BELOW

LA MAMA’s 57th season will have its official kick off on September 25 with a ground-breaking for the company’s first-ever capital campaign project:  the renovation of LA MAMA’s first home in the iconic, landmarked building at 74A East 4 St.  The renovation project – titled “Restore A Building/Remake a World” – will result in a dramatic overhaul of the legendary space where the company’s late, beloved founder Ellen Stewart established La MaMa ETC along with a wild and woolly band of theater artists – from Sam Shepard, Danny DeVito and Better Midler to Patti Smith, Tom O’Horgan, Elizabeth Swados, et.al. – primed to test the norms of traditional Western theatre, thus giving birth to the off-off-Broadway movement in the 1960’s. 

For four weeks (November 1 – 25, 2018), La MaMa’s Puppet Series presents work from artists around the world including Germany, Brazil, Netherlands, Japan, Colombia, China, Belgium, and the USA. This festival highlights interdisciplinary works from female artists while examining contemporary issues of cultural identity, Black Lives Matter, the refugee crisis in Europe, and the disability experience.  The festival will also feature family events, the annual Puppet Slam, La MaMa Coffeehouse Chronicles and Jump Start, a weekend of works in progress.

La MaMa has named Mike Gorman its 2018-2019 Playwright in Residence.  In addition to presenting his play Chasing the New White Whale this fall, La MaMa will present a season of workshops and play readings lead by Mr. Gorman, who will also spearhead a cohort of young playwrights and theater makers in examining unconventional plays from La MaMa’s Archive.

57th Season Highlights Include:

THE AЯTS.  Sponsored By Nobody’s, THE AЯTS investigates the origins of the National Endowment for the Arts, then contrasts this history within America’s contemporary realities of public funding of the arts. Written & Directed by Kevin Doyle (World Premiere: September 13 - 30, 2018)

KINK HAÜSPhiladelphia's Gunnar Montana creates KINK HAÜS, a brutal underground nightclub depicting the wild, powerful, and sometimes hilarious sexual journey inside us all.  Leave your inhibitions at home.  Presented in association with Howl Arts. (New York Premiere: September 20 – October 7, 2018)

WILDFLOWERS. Coalescing Maureen Fleming’s uniquely choreographed form of interdisciplinary visual theater Wildflowers, a feminine genesis, is a sensuous celebration of the feminine archetype, inspired by the lush symbolism of Irish poet William Butler Yeats. In a series of vision poems, Wildflowers features live music by Irish composer/violinist Colm Mac Con Iomaire and Uillean piper James Mahon with pianist Bruce Brubaker performing the music of Philip Glass. (World Premiere; Presented in partnership with Irish Arts CenterOctober 18 - 1, 2018)

CHASING THE NEW WHITE WHALE.  In an epic delusion following a fateful encounter with heroin, legendary New England fishing captain Robby Foerster becomes “Ahab” as he attempts to kill the “New White Whale” in La MaMa’s 20180-2019 Playwright in Residence Mike Gorman’s Chasing the New White Whale, directed by Arthur Adair. (November 22 – December 9, 2018)

ZOMBIE ASIAN MOMS by Kate Rigg and Lyris Hung, the duo who perform as Slanty Eyed Mama return to La MaMa with this mashup of comedy, hip hop, spoken word, video installation and oral history unearthing the legends and lore, insane rituals and indefatigable parenting practices of Asian Mom-ness.  Music by Slanty Eyed Mama and comedy by Kate Rigg. (World Premiere: December 2018)

TERRA MIA.  Italy’s Ondadurto Teatro bring Terra Mia to La MaMa, an irreverent look at the exodus of a prospective human race seeking a future elsewhere.  The quest for an identity that can be completely invented unfolds as a game of carnage in a physical and visual spectacle that packs an emotional punch. Marco Paciotti and Elena Sbardella direct.  (New York Premiere: December 13 - 16, 2018)

GREY ROCK.  In 1969 a young man in a small West Bank Village watches the Americans land on the moon. Shouldn't Palestine, land of prophets, also have a stake in the moon? Remote Theatre Project’s GREY ROCK is written and directed by Amir Nizar Zuabi, and created with actors from Palestine.   Post-performance talk-backs after each show will be live-streamed on interactive platforms with Palestinian communities worldwide. (World Premiere: January 2019)

CITY OF NO ILLUSIONS.  A funeral home at the edge of our country, a borderland between the living and the dead, becomes a refuge for two asylum seekers. A new work from the multiple OBIE award-winning Talking Band: written and directed by Paul Zimet, with music by Ellen Maddow. (World Premiere: February 2019)

55 SHADES OF GAY is a fictional story about the first gay marriage in Kosovo, which as of now has not taken place. The play follows a same-sex couple applying for a marriage license in a homophobic provincial town. Written by Jeton Neziraj, the play delves into what it means to be young and gay in this new nation where despite laws legalizing gay marriage, coming out as gay is a perilous choice. (New York Premiere: March 2019)

NOW MY HAND IS READY FOR MY HEART: INTIMATE HISTORIES.  Nicky Paraiso’s deep exploration of an artist's life, investigating aging, identity, sexuality, class and race and a celebration of a particular artistic community as it grows older and continues to make work, both individually and with each other. Esteemed choreographer/dancers Jonathan Gonzalez, Lance Gries, Jon Kinzel, Jodi Melnick & Vicky Shick collaborate and perform with Nicky. (World Premiere: March 2019)


STONEWALL 50 CELEBRATION PERFORMANCES



GLOBAL GAY.  The U.S. premiere of Global Gay dramatizes the plight of queer people around the world as they claim their human rights in the face of authoritarian regimes and homophobic cultural norms. Paris-based director and designer Salvino Raco have crafted a provocative narrative that challenges audiences to abandon their complacency and squarely confront the issues faced by many millions of LGBTQ people outside of Europe and North America.  (New York Premiere: June 2019)

THE BEARDED LADIES CABARET IN MY DINNER WITH DITO: A HOW TO BE QUEER CABARET.  Dito Van Reigersberg (Martha Graham Cracker), K. Elizabeth Stevens and John Jarboe delve heel first into gay iconography, exploring and exploding subjective stereotypes of what it means to be gay. Expect drag, table dancing, power ballads, gender deconstruction, and more. (World Premiere: June 2019)

LA MAMA’S SQUIRTS: NEW VOICE IN QUEER PERFORMANCE: La MaMa curates some of the most exciting voices from New York City’s queer performance world, across the generations to pose questions, honor legacies and ignite the present.

The 57th Season also includes FOLLOWING THE MILKY WAY by Yara Arts Group, PRISM (presented as part of the Protoype Festival)DYING IN BOULDER a new play by Linda Faigao-Hall, as well as the annual favorites like INDIAN MARKET AND SOCIAL, East Village Dance’s THE SHELL-SHOCKED NUT and the contemporary dance festival, La MaMa Moves!  Additional programming will be announced throughout the season.

MEMBERSHIPS. La MaMa continues its popular Experimental Theatre Club Memberships, offering $10 Tickets to all shows and other perks to members for the full season. Memberships start at $57.

La MaMa’s wildly popular family series LA MAMA KIDS returns this season with a line-up of productions and workshops from artists including family shows and workshops throughout the season by artists such as Jane Catherine Shaw, Federico Restrepo, Potri Ranka Manis and CultureHub. 

La MaMa’s COFFEEHOUSE CHRONICLES, the Saturday afternoon educational performance series exploring the history and development of Off-Off Broadway, continues this season.

CULTUREHUB the art and technology incubator, founded by La MaMa and Seoul Institute of the Arts, return with their CoLab series, an intensive educational summer program offered to local teens. As well as ARTCADE CON, an interactive exhibit of independent video game art; and distance workshops.

POETRY ELECTRIC La MaMa’s popular poetry reading series will return this season with timely words and solo performances with a focus on equality, justice, diversity, inclusion, and acceptance.
La MaMa’s ongoing EXPERIMENTS PLAY READING SERIES, returns this season. Experiments: 19, entitled “Class Acts” will present new works inspired by classical texts. Each month, we will select an up-and-coming playwright who has re-imagined Shakespeare, a Greek tragedy or any number of classical texts to create a new, vibrant work that speaks to us today. 

LA MAMA ARCHIVES. La MaMa Archives continues to expand access to archival video footage that document the work performed on La MaMa stages. The digital collection can be accessed at http://catalog.lamama.org.  This season, La MaMa offers public tours of the La MaMa Archives the first Thursday of every month.        For more information visit www.lamama.org/programs/archives    

For more information about La MaMa’s 57th season, visit http://lamama.org/

Tickets for all shows through January 2019 go on sale July 1, 2018, including La MaMa 10@$10 tickets for all performances. 
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And that's the Scoop. Tune in tomorrow for another Talking Topic.

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