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

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Theater Thursday - Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella

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


What: Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella

Where: Papermill Playhouse
             22 Brookside Drive
             Milburn, NJ

Who:Recommended for Ages 4 and Up

When: Through December 29, 2019



Mom's view: This version of the classic Cinderella Story is more than just a great family-friendly show for the holiday season. While it is perfectly suitable for princess loving little ones, the book of the musical, which was updated by Douglass Carter Beane for the 2013 Broadway run of the show,  is full of humor and modern touches that makes it more entertaining for older children and adults as well. While the book has been changed, the excellent Rodgers and Hammerstein score remains intact. The score includes such memorable songs as In My Own Little Corner, Ten Minutes Ago and  Impossible; It's Possible. Ashley Blanchet makes a sweet and lovely Cinderella. The dances are lively, the costumes are beautiful. Above all the show is a great escape. It's so nice to be able leave the real world behind for a while  and be immersed in a world where fairy tales still come true and the Princess and the Prince always find each other and live happily ever after.



And that's Mom's view. For more information about Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella or to purchase tickets, visit https://papermill.org/show/cinderella/

Tune in Sunday for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Photo credits: All Cinderella production photos by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Broadway Snow Globes

What: Broadway Snow Globes

Where: Broadway Plaza
             Times Square
             Between 44th and 45th Street
             New York, NY

Who: All ages

When: Through December 26

Me & Mom - As if there aren't enough reasons to visit Time Square at any time of year and particularly during the holiday season, now there is a new attraction, Broadway Snow Globes. These four large scale snow globes represent shows that are currently playing on Broadway. They include the following:


Dear Evan Hansen



Wicked



The Lion King


 

  

Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations

 Whether you are a Broadway fan or not, and no matter what age you are, it is fun to go and see these giant snow globes.  The Broadway Snow Globes will be on display through December 26 only.

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

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Tips for Tuesday - Book: Postcards from Santa Claus & Misc: Welcome-a-Cure Mat

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


Books: Postcards from Santa Claus 

Mom - Today I am recommending Postcards from Santa Claus by Robert C. Hoffman. This fun holiday related book uses postcards to trace the history of Santa Claus and how the way his image has been portrayed has changed with the times. It is also full of other interesting facts about  Santa Claus and Christmas in general. It includes fascinating information regarding how the idea of Santa Claus developed, how other holiday traditions started, and much more. There is also a lot of fun trivia as well, such as, the name for Santa Claus in other languages, and a list of Santa Claus related movies. Famous holiday poems, including arguably the most famous of all, A Visit from Saint Nicholas, are also found in this book. The book is a really entertaining read and would be the perfect addition to anyone's holiday season.



Misc: Welcome-A-Cure Mat

Mom - Today I am recommending Welcome-A-Cure Mats by Carpet One Floor & Home.   This beautiful collection of  welcome mats is not only stylish and a great addition to anyone's home, but they support a good cause as well. Profits from their sale goes to support breast cancer research. The mats come in a wide variety of styles representing different locations on the globe and vary from very simple designs like the one above to much fancier more colorful ones like some of those below:

From the British Collection:


From the Mediterranean Collection:


From the Scandinvian Collection:


From the Asian Collection:


From the African Collection:


For more information or to order a Welcome-A-Cure mat of your own, visit www.carpetone.com/welcome-a-cure

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

Monday, November 25, 2019

A More Theater Monday Monthly Mashup for November, 2019 Maurice Hines Is Tappin Thru Life and Duet for Three

We may have been given complimentary tickets to one or more of the shows mentioned below for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.


What: Maurice Hines Is Tappin Thru Life

Where: NJPAC
             1 Center Street
             Newark, NJ

When: This event occured on Saturday November 23, 2019

Me: My topic for today is Maurice Hine Is Tappin Thru Life. It was a good show. He talked about his life and his brother Gregory and he sang  a bunch of songs that were related to people he knew or things that happend in his life. I liked the songs. I had heard some of them before including I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face, Lucky Be A Lady. Others I hadn't heard. I liked most of the songs a lot, and there were none that I really disliked. Some of the songs  were from Broadway shows. I appreciated that because I love Broadway show songs. There was also a lot of tap dancing in the show.  Maurice Hines tap danced even though he is 75 years old. That was really impressive. There were also two sets of twins that were in the recent production of the Tap Dance Kid at NJPAC who tap danced in this show as well. One pair of twins actually played Maurice and Gregory Hines on the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. They were all really talented. There were also an adult brother and sister who tap danced. They were really good too. The band was good as well. They were an all female jazz band. I don't think I ever saw an all female band before. All in all, even though I had never heard of Maurice or Gregory Hines before I had a really good time at Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life .

For more information about upcoming events at NJPAC, visit www.njpac.org



What: Duet for Three

Where: A.R.T. /New York Theatres
             Mezzanine Theatres
            502 W. 53rd St.
            New York, NY

When: This event occured on Thursday November 21 and Friday November 22

Mom - My topic for this month is Duet for Three. This show was part of AMAS Musical Theatre's yearly Dare to Be Different Festival. The show is about Kay Swift, the first woman to compose a musical that made it to Broadway. However, it mostly focuses on and the love triangle between Ms. Swift and her husband and writing partner, James Warburg and George Gershwin and not so much on Ms. Swift herself. The show was interesting because it illuminated a part of history which I and I am sure many other people were unfamiliar with. Although I had, of course,heard of George Gershwin before I had not heard of Kay Swift or James Warburg. As the first woman  to successfully compose a show for Broadway, Ms. Swift's name ought to be much more celebrated than it is. To me, the most interesting part of the show was not so much the love triangle, but the parts of the show where they talked about the writing process and how Swift and Warburg went about writing their songs. All of the songs in the musical were actually Kay Swift songs. I had never heard of any of them before nor had I heard of Swift and Warburg's show Fine and Dandy. Neither of these things took away from my enjoyment of the show, however. Seeing this show, definitely left me wanting to know more about this pioneering woman of the theater.

For more about AMAS Musical theatre, visit www.amasmusical.org.

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

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Sunday Scoop Week of 11/24/19 - What's Happening This Week or Coming Up Soon

In This Week's Scoop

1) NYCCT Presents My First Nutcracker Saturdays and Sundays Through December 22
2) Upcoming at Lincoln Center
    Great Performers, Atrium 360, Lincoln Center Moments
3) Upcoming at the Academy of Natural Sciences
    Wild Wizarding Weekend and More November 29 - December 1
4) Empire Outlets Shuttle Launches November 29
5) Upcoming at iPlay America
    Santa Arrives
6) Upcoming at BAMKids
    A Muppet Christmas Carol
7) Upcoming at Merkin Hall
    Gaby Moreno with LADAMA & Metropolis Ensemble: Spangled!
8) Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square December 2

PR Firm Roundup

9) News from BroadwayCon
    9A) Schedule Preview Released
   9B) Beetlejuice Panel Joins Mainstage Lineup
10) News from DDPR
      Emojiland Tickets on Sale Now
11) News from JT Public Relations
      11A) Fringe Encore Series Kicks Off  November 27 at Soho Playhouse
      11B) Dragons Love Tacos  and Other Stories November 30
12) News from Michelle Tabnick PR
      The Very Hungry Caterpillar Experience at South Street Seaport November 29 - December 29
13) News from Polk and Co.
      Randy Rainbow Releases Holiday Album on Broadway Records
14) News from Spin Cycle NYC
      Clare Barron to Lead Pataphysics at Flea Theater Applications Excepted Through December 1

1) NYCCT Presents My First Nutcracker
Theatre Row
410 W. 42nd St.
New York, NY

November 23rd- December 22nd, 2019
Saturdays and Sundays at 11am & 2pm  
Sensory Friendly Performances: Dec. 7th and 14th at 11am. 

My First Nutcracker
Adapted for young audiences by Barbara Zinn Krieger
Directed & Choreographed by Melissa Riker
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
New York City Children's Theater kicks off their 23rd season with a classic holiday story adapted for young audiences, My First Nutcracker. In this 50-minute production, fun filled holiday adventure, audiences will travel with Clara and the Prince  to a magical kingdom filled with delicious treats, dancing flowers, and a pesky mouse king.
My First Nutcracker is an introduction to the classic holiday story, directed and choreographed by Melissa Riker, Artistic Director of Kinesis Project, and written by Barbara Zinn Krieger. The all female creative team including: Set Designer– Sheryl Liu, Light Designer – Carolyn Wong, Costume Designer – Heather McDevitt Barton and Sound Designer– Megan Culle.

My First Nutcracker is best for ages 3 and up; Tickets start at $32.25 and available at: nycchildrenstheater.org/current-season.
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2) Upcoming at Lincoln Center

Tuesday, November 26 at 7:30 pm 
Great Performers 
Magdalena Kožená, mezzo-soprano 
Simon Rattle, piano 
The celebrated Czech mezzo-soprano and her husband, Sir Simon Rattle, in a rare appearance as a pianist, have assembled six outstanding instrumentalists from Berlin, London, and Bern to join them in for an eclectic program of chamber music with voice. Two of the works are from Kožená’s homeland: Janácek’s Rikadla, a cheerful cycle of nursery rhymes with instrumental accompaniment, and a selection of Dvorák’s playful Gypsy Songs arranged by Duncan Ward. 
Alice Tully Hall, 1941 Broadway. 
TICKETS start at $45 and are available by calling 212.721.6500, or visiting LincolnCenter.org/Great-Performers

*FREE Tuesday, November 26 at 7:30 pm 
David Rubenstein Atrium 
Atrium 360°: Dayramir Gonzalez & Habana enTRANCé 
A star in Cuba since his teen years, pianist Dayramir Gonzalez is now a New York resident with an international following, representing the young generation of Afro-Cuban jazz. Since winning Havana’s JoJazz Festival in 2004 and 2005, Gonzalez has gone from winning three Cubadisco Awards for his 2007 debut album Dayramir & Habana enTRANCé to performing with legends like Chucho and Bebo Valdés and headlining Carnegie Hall. Tonight, he’ll perform selections from his latest album, The Grand Concourse. Deemed “a tour de force” by DownBeat and “a masterpiece” by Latin Jazz Network, the dynamic album blends the pulse and mystique of New York with early 20th-century Cuban music and the rhythms and sensuality of Yoruba musical traditions. 
David Rubenstein Atrium, Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Streets. 
FREE Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For questions about accessibility or to request an accommodation, please contact access@lincolncenter.org or 212.875.5375. For more information, please visit LincolnCenter.org/Atrium.

*FREE Monday, December 2 at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm 
Lincoln Center Moments 
Benny Goodman and Beyond with Ken Peplowski 
Jazz at Lincoln Center presents world-renowned clarinetist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski in a new exploration inspired by the small group music of Benny Goodman. While Goodman is well known for leading one of the most swinging orchestras of the big band era, his small group recordings featured creative arrangements, showcased virtuosos on new, and famously integrated jazz on the concert stage years before Jackie Robinson integrated baseball. For this special concert, Ken and an all-star ensemble of New York’s top jazz artists infuse their own voices into this unique format. 
Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse, 165 West 65th Street. 
FREE This program is free of charge, but registration is required. Please contact access@lincolncenter.org or 212.875.5375. For more information, please visit LincolnCenter.org/Moments

*FREE Monday, December 2 at 7:00 pm 
Atrium 360° Strings N Skins: Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square Celebration
Founded in Brooklyn by Haitian vocalist and percussionist Okai Musik and Colombian vocalist, dancer, and Latin Grammy Award–winning violinist Luisa Bastidas, the band’s explosive drums, electrifying violin, guitar duels, and a bass will have you dancing the night away at this Winter’s Eve celebration. 
David Rubenstein Atrium, Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Streets. 2 
FREE Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For questions about accessibility or to request an accommodation, please contact access@lincolncenter.org or 212.875.5375. For more information, please visit LincolnCenter.org/Atrium.
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3) Upcoming at Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA


Wild Wizard Weekend


Friday November 29, 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday November 30 - December 1, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Explore the magical world of the Academy with a weekend of spellbinding, hands-on activities! Meet the Academy’s own fantastic beasts and learn about the real animals that inspire your favorite fantasy stories. Don't forget to stick around for Dragons After Dark, too!

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://ansp.org/programs-and-events/festivals/wild-wizarding-weekend.
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4)

NEW SHUTTLE MAKES IT EASIER AND MORE CONVENIENT TO GET FROM MIDTOWN TO EMPIRE OUTLETS FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING

Starting in November, Luxury Van and Bus Will Provide Low-Cost Shuttle Service Between Times Square and Staten Island Ferry Terminal in Lower Manhattan Available to Book through TripAdvisor Experiences

Launching on the biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday, Luxury Van and Bus will be running three roundtrip shuttles each day at 8:30 am, 10:00 am, and 11:30 am from Westin Times Square at 270 W 43rd Street. Beginning on November 29, shoppers can purchase tickets directly from TripAdvisor via its website.

The van, which holds 24 passengers, will drop passengers off at Whitehall Terminal in downtown Manhattan for easy connection to the Staten Island Ferry. Empire Outlets is located just steps from the St. George Ferry terminal.

Return trips will begin at 3:00 pm from Whitehall Terminal, departing at 3:00 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6:00 pm back to Westin Times Square. The trips will cost $25.00 per person for a round trip ticket, compared to the $30 average for a one-way for-hire-vehicle or taxicab fare. The price includes in-vehicle Wi-Fi, cell phone charging ports, water, and the ease of luxury transport, as the vans will make it easy for travelers to carry large volumes of holiday shopping back to their hotel. Travelers will also receive a custom, Holly Nichols-designed Empire Outlets shopping bag and access to Empire’s VIP coupon book worth $25.
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5) Upcoming at iPlay America
110 Schank Rd.
Freehold, NJ

Santa Arrives

November 30, Starts 11:00 AM End Time 1:00 PM
Celebrate the Arrival of Santa 
Free Event

Kick off the holiday season and celebrate the arrival of Santa at iPlay America. This event is free for all members of the Kids Club. Activities include free photos with Santa, Toy Drive, free holiday tattoos, and more. 

For more information or to sign up for for Kids Club www.iplayamerica.com/pricing/kids-club/kids-club-registration.
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6) Upcoming at BAMKids Matinees
Peter Jay Sharp Building
30 Lafayette Ave.
Brooklyn, NY

Muppet Christmas Carol

Sunday December 1, 2:00 PM

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 
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7) Upcoming at Merkin Hall
129 W. 67th St.

Ecstatic Music: 

Gaby Moreno with LADAMA & Metropolis Ensemble: "¡Spangled!"


Monday December 2, 7:30 PM

“A vivid montage of music of the Americas with irresistible spirit and universal appeal” (NPR). Moreno’s acclaimed new Nonesuch album with Van Dyke Parks celebrates the migration of song across the Americas, from bolero and bossa nova to elegiac ballads. Featuring cuatro player Jorge Glem.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/mch/event/gaby-moreno-with-ladama-spangled
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8) 20th Annual Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square- New York City’s Largest Holiday Festival

Broadway’s Ain’t Too Proud Star Jawan M. Jackson is ‘Very Proud’ to Emcee 

Thousands of New Yorkers and visitors will be able to see Jawan M. Jackson on the ‘Upper West Side’ of Broadway as the special guest emcee and host for the 20th annual Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square by the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District (BID) on Monday night, December 2nd. Jackson’s background as a former radio personality for Detroit’s top radio station combined with his sensational singing spirit make Jawan the perfect emcee and host to ring in the special 20th anniversary. Jackson will also perform and help light the Lincoln Square holiday tree. Previous Winter’s Eve emcee’s over the years include Broadway Star Billy Porter, Singer and Actor Justin Guarini, Singer Judy Collins and many others.

Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square is New York’s largest holiday festival produced by the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District (BID), featuring world-class musical performances, processional groups, dancing, strolling circus performers, face-painting, stilt-walkers, ice-sculpting, dozens of food tastings and other street festivities lining Broadway and the shops of this dynamic, cultural neighborhood from Columbus Circle to 70th St.

Winter’s Eve was created two decades ago by the Lincoln Square BID to kick off the holiday season by spreading cheer, while also promoting local businesses and restaurants. Twenty years later, Winter’s Eve has grown into a traditional New York City staple. For more information about Winter’s Eve, including upcoming performances, events and food tastings, please visit: www.WintersEve.nyc or call 212.581.3774.
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PR Firm Roundup

9) News from BroadwayCon

9A) BROADWAYCON LIFTS CURTAIN ON 2020 SCHEDULE PREVIEW
 THREE DAYS OF PANELS, MEETUPS, PERFORMANCES, AND MORE
IN BROADWAYCON’S FIFTH SHOWSTOPPING YEAR

BroadwayCon has unveiled a first look at its programming schedule for BroadwayCon 2020. The BroadwayCon 2020 schedule features three days packed with events curated with Broadway’s biggest fans, performers, and creators in mind. BroadwayCon celebrates its fifth year in 2020, returning to the New York Hilton Midtown on Friday, January 24 through Sunday, January 26. Tickets are on sale now at BroadwayCon.com/register.
This first preview of the schedule features over 80 hours of original programming, with more than 100 hours to be added in the coming weeks. BroadwayCon will host fan-led meetups for everyone from members of the LGBTQIA+ community to fans of the biggest Broadway shows, Show Spotlights featuring the cast and creative teams of shows currently running on Broadway, and much more. BroadwayCon will also offer the unique chance to catch a First Look at some of the most talked-about shows on Broadway in the upcoming season on Friday, January 24. 
Autograph and photograph experiences are free of charge at BroadwayCon and available through a lottery system. For more information about the Autograph and Photograph Lottery, please visit BroadwayCon.com/autophoto.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 24
BroadwayCon 2020 First Look
2:30–4:00 PM
It's where Denée Benton played Natasha for the very first time. It's where Corey Cott and Laura Osnes introduced us to Bandstand and where we first heard Jenn Colella sing "Me and the Sky." Where we met the cast of The Prom and where Anaïs Mitchell herself sang songs from Hadestown. There've been a lot of firsts at the BroadwayCon First Look, but that's the whole point! Get an early glimpse of what's opening soon and witness performances from shows playing now across New York!

Beyond Broadway: The Pleasure and Promise of Musical Theatre Across America
1:45–2:45 PM
Join author Stacy Wolf in a lively conversation about the lifeblood of Broadway: local musical theatre! For her book, Beyond Broadway: The Pleasure and Promise of Musical Theatre Across America, Wolf visited theaters from Maine to California and interviewed 200+ practitioners, spectators, and administrators. Wolf will share stories from her travels about musical theatre’s enduring power as a joyful activity that touches millions of lives.

BroadwayCon Jukebox
9:15-10:15 PM
You know your favorite dreamcasts? Those songs you're itching to hear your favorite artist sing? Now's your chance to vote on what our incredible Broadway performers will sing for you. But there is a catch; these are not musical theatre songs, but what they'd choose to sing along to when they find a jukebox.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25
Camille A. Brown: In Conversation
12:30–1:30 PM
Join celebrated Tony-nominated choreographer Camille A. Brown (Once On This Island, Jesus Christ Superstar Live, Choir Boy) as she is interviewed by psychologist Alisa Hurwitz, PsyD (aka, Dr. Drama) about the psychology and sociology of her work. The discussion will explore how Ms. Brown utilizes her dancers to reclaim the narrative, how she uses dance to express both individual internal struggles and the impact of social forces, and why it’s important to tell Black stories.

SIX Beginner Dance Workshop
2:00–3:30 PM
Learn a dance from the hit new musical SIX in this exclusive dance workshop.
Pre-registration required. Learn more at BroadwayCon.com/workshops.

BroadwayCon Blizzard Party Line
6:45-7:45 PM
In 2016, stranded in the middle of one of New York City's largest blizzards in history, we started calling everyone who couldn't make it to BroadwayCon. Now, it's a BroadwayCon Tradition! We've called Patti LuPone, Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Sara Bareilles, the list goes on and on. We'll call our fanciest friends and see what they're up to in the hour before curtain during the annual BroadwayCon Blizzard Party Line.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26
What Does Diversity in Theatre Actually Mean?
10:00-11:00 AM
Creating diversity within the theatre industry is more complicated than it looks on paper. In this panel, Devanand Janki hosts a discussion about the crucial need to give new works from diverse voices the opportunity to be developed and put in the spotlight. Focusing on what diversity actually looks and feels like in the theatre community, Devanand and his fellow panelists will discuss what it takes to create diverse theatre and why it is important for underrepresented communities.

An Accompanist Will Be Provided
12:30–1:30 PM
There is no debate that the accompanist is one of the most important players in the audition process. A performer’s interactions with them can contribute to an audition that lands them a dream role. This panel will feature accompanists who have played at multiple different types of auditions and can provide insight into how to best to communicate in the seconds you have with them.

BroadwayCon Cosplay Contest
3:00-4:00 PM
Come watch BroadwayCon attendees strut their stuff and compete for the title of "Best Costume" during the annual BroadwayCon Cosplay Contest!

The BroadwayCon 2020 Schedule can be found at BroadwayCon.com/schedule. Additional programming will be announced at a later date and is subject to change. 

The BroadwayCon 2020 Special Guest lineup can be found at BroadwayCon.com/guests. Additional guests will be announced at a later date.

About BroadwayCon
BroadwayCon is theatre’s answer to comic-con, tailor made for fans. From January 24-26, 2020, join some of Broadway’s biggest fans, performers, and creators from classic and current shows as we gather at the Hilton Midtown to perform, discuss, debate, and celebrate theatre. BroadwayCon 2020 will feature panels, performances, interviews, workshops, singalongs, and more, all packed into an epic three-day weekend. Past panels have included previews from upcoming Broadway shows, conversations with the casts and creatives of this season’s hits, and discussions featuring the industry’s top producers and designers, not to mention the giant Opening Celebration and nighttime fun and games. BroadwayCon is produced by Mischief Management. 

For more information, please visit www.BroadwayCon.com.
**
9B) BEETLEJUICE 
JOINS BROADWAYCON 2020 MAINSTAGE LINEUP

SPOTLIGHT SESSION SATURDAY, JANUARY 25
BroadwayCon announced that BEETLEJUICE has joined the MainStage lineup at BroadwayCon 2020. As part of MainStage programming, the BEETLEJUICE Spotlight session will feature members of the cast on Saturday, January 25, 2020
For more information, please visit www.BroadwayCon.com.
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10) News from DDPR
Tickets Now on Sale for Limited
Off Broadway Run of Emojiland

PREVIEWS BEGIN THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020
OFFICIAL OPENING NIGHT SET FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2020

AT THE DUKE ON 42ND STREET FOR 8 WEEKS ONLY


Tickets are now on sale for EMOJILAND The Musical and are available for purchase online at Dukeon42.org; by phone at 646-223-3010; or in person at The Duke on 42nd Street at 229 West 42nd Street (Tuesdays-Fridays 4-7 and Saturdays 12-6). The production will have a limited Off-Broadway run Thursday, January 9, 2020 through Sunday, March 8, 2020 at The Duke on 42nd Street in New 42nd Street Studios (229 West 42nd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues). Emojiland The Musical garnered 12 nominations and 5 wins at the 2018 NYMF Awards and was a 2018 Richard Rodgers Award Finalist.


Not to be confused with, and very much unlike The Emoji MovieEmojiland is an electric ensemble piece about a diverse community of archetypes who take one another at face value: a smiling face dealing with depression; a princess who doesn’t want a prince; a skull dying for deletion; a nerd face too smart for his own good; a face with sunglasses who can’t see past his own reflection; and a police officer and construction worker who just want to work together. When a software update threatens to destroy life as they know it, Emojiland faces the most fundamental questions a society – and a heart – can face: Who are we? And who matters?


Performances of EMOJILAND will be Tuesdays – Saturdays at 8pm, Saturdays & Sundays at 2pm, and Sundays at 7pm.


Visit Emojiland.com for more info and updates.

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11) News from JT Public Relations

11A) SOHO PLAYHOUSE
Kicks-Off its 
2019 FRINGE ENCORE SERIES
With Four Bad Ass Shows Including 
Anya Anastasia: The Executioners
Police Cops: Bad Ass Be Thy Name
Orpheus and Eurydice
Dandy Darkly's All Aboard!

All Featured Performances at the Encore Series are Competing for 
An Extended Six Week Run at the SoHo Playhouse


November 27, 2019 – January 18, 2020 


SoHo Playhouse 
Darren Lee Cole, producing artistic director of the not-for-profit, SoHo Playhouse and associate producer Matthew Quinn are proud to kick-off this year’s Encore Series with a quartet of kick-ass shows including Anya Anastasia: The Executioners, Police Cops: Bad Ass Be Thy Name, Orpheus and Eurydice and Dandy Darkly's All Aboard! among the 18 productions featured this year. 


In addition to getting New York debuts, each production is competing for Best of the Fest which includes  coveted extended six-week run. The winners are voted on by a committee of theatre professionals and will be announced at the end of the festival.  The run will take place during the spring season.    


The first four to kick off the season include: 
ANYA ANASTASIA: THE EXECUTIONERS written/directed by Anya Anastasia McNicol-Windram

Featuring Anya Anastasia McNicol-Windram & Gareth Chin.Award-winning Australian musical-comedy maverick Anya Anastasia brandishes her razor-sharp satirical wit, gleefully attacking and dismembering the perils of the modern world, bringing a fierce and provocative new breed of contemporary comedy cabaret to the stage. The Executioners is a digitally enhanced millennial neo-cabaret laying naked the truth of technological overindulgence, sensory overload, and combatting our growing helplessness in the face of big issues. This is social and political satire at its most musically sublime as Anya and Gareth tackle the big issues armed with all manner of artillery; from swords to sitars, a degree in classical piano, soaring vocals, kung fu, deadly yoga moves, and virtuosic ukulele. 

Performances: Wed, November 27 at 7:00 PM (press); Fri, November 29 at 9:00 PM (press);  Sat, November 30 at 5:00: PM; Sun, December 1 3:00: PM; on, December 2 at 7:00: PM; and Tue, December 3 at 7:00: PM

BADASS BE THY NAME created by Police Cops
Hot off the back of total sell-out runs at Edinburgh Fringe 2016, 2017, 2018 and Soho Theatre, London; multi-award-winning company Police Cops bring you their latest comedy blockbuster: Badass Be Thy Name. Gritty northern town: 1999. A kitchen sink drama turns into a vampire-slaying horror epic. Complete with a 90s rave soundtrack, supercharged physical comedy and more vampires that you can shake a stake at.

Performances: Sat, November 30 at 7:00: PM (press) Mon, December 2 at 9:00 PM (press); Wed, December 4 at 9:00 PM; Thu, December 5 at 9:00 PM; Fri, December 6 at 9:00 PM; Sat, December 7 at 7:00 PM; Sun, December 8 at 7:00 PM and Tue, December 10 at 9:00 PM. 

DANDY DARKLY’S ALL ABOARD! Written by and starring Dandy Darkly, directed by Ian Bjorklund.

Preeminent American storyteller Dandy Darkly makes his Off-Broadway debut with his political, hysterical hour of sugary sweet satire. Dandy Darkly's latest is a Georgia ghost story told by the survivors of that tragic Halloween night — from the little boy chased by the phantoms that haunt her as an adult to the cruel Colonel buried in his bunker, tinkering with his toys. Dandy Darkly's All Aboard! is an uprooting of Deep South shame alongside searing social commentary and Southern Gothic grotesquery: redneck robots, spider gods, beauty shops and inbred redneck freaks to create an utterly unique storytelling experience.

Performances: Fri, December 6 at 7 PM (press); Sat, December 7 at 9 PM (press); Sun, December 8 at 7 at PM; Mon, December 9 at 7 PM Tue, December 10 at 9 PM; Thu, December 12 at 9 PM; Sat, December 14 at 11 PM and Mon, December 16 at 7 at PM

ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE is co-written by Phil Grainger, co-written/ directed by Alex Flanagan Wright 

Dave is stood at the bar, Bruce Springsteen on the stereo. Eurydice 5 years old holding a Superman costume.   Internationally Award-Winning UK the makers, The Flanagan Collective & Gobbledigook Theatre, bring a modern retelling of an ancient myth for a North American Premiere. Wound from soaring, heart-pounding live music and searing spoken word, ORPHEUS & EURYDICE is a show for anyone who has fallen in love, and for anyone who has lost it. 

Performances Wed, December 4 at 7 PM;  Thu, December 5 at 7 PM; Fri, December 6 at 7 PM; Sat, December 7 at 7 PM; Sun, December 8 at 3 PM & 7 PM; Wed, December 11 at 7PM; Thu, December 12 at 7 PM; Fri, December 13 at 7 PM; December 14 at 7 PM; Sun, December 15 at 3PM & 7PM; Sun, December 15 at 7 PM; Wed, December 18 at 7 PM; Thu, December 19 at 7 PM; Fri, December 20 at 7 PM; Sat, December 21 at 7 PM; Sun, December 22 at 3 PM and Sun, December 22 at 7 PM 
The Soho Playhouse’s Fringe Encore Series will begin on November 27 and run through January 18. The SoHo Playhouse is located at 15 Vandam Street. Individual tickets are $39 and can be purchased by visiting FringeEncoreSeries.com.  Fringe Encore Series ticket packages include 3 Shows for $59 plus fees (normally $117); 5 Shows for $95 plus fees (normally $195) and a Super Fan Unlimited Pass for every show in the Encore Series $149 plus fees (normally $546).
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11B) TheaterWorksUSA will Return to 
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
This Season with 
DRAGONS LOVE TACOS & OTHER STORIES 
Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 11 am

TheaterWorksUSA is partnering with BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center once again to bring their high-quality family entertainment to New York City. The partnership will begin on November 30, 2019 at 11:00 AM with the musical adaptation of Dragons Love Tacos & Other Stories. BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center (199 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007) are $30 (General Admission) and can be purchased by visiting Tribecapac.org or by calling (212) 220-1460. 
When Papa can’t get his chicken to sleep, he must improvise a series of bedtime stories! The result is a musical revue of five beloved contemporary children's books including Dragons Love Tacos, Interrupting Chicken, Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa School Days, The Dot, and Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride, which have been adapted into short musicals by some of today’s most exciting musical theater writers: Brendon Milburn, Janet Allard, Sam Salmond, Mark Sonnenblick, Ben Wexler, Joe Kinosian, Marcus Stevens, and Brian Lowdermilk. The show was originally directed by Marcus Stevens and originally choreographed by Wendy Seyb with scenic design by Brian Dudkiewicz, costume design by Dustin Cross, and orchestrations by Mike Pettry. Tour direction and choreography by Steven Cardona with music direction by Julianne B. Merrill. Cast includes Matt Beary, Teresa Bolocan, Maya Musial, Kaylee Robinson, and Andreas Schmidt; stage manager is Rafi Levavy. 

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Dragons love all sorts of tacos—except spicy ones! When a boy throws his new dragon friends a spicy salsa taco party, red-hot trouble ensues.
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
It’s bedtime for the little red chicken. Papa is going to read her a story, but the chicken can’t help interrupting. Will the chicken ever get to sleep?
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
A story about the creative spirit in all of us. Vashti can’t draw. When her teacher says, “Just make a mark and see where it takes you,” Vashti discovers she is an artist, after all.
Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride by Kate DiCamillo, Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Mercy, a porcine wonder, and Mr. Watson go for a ride every Saturday in Mr. Watson’s automobile. But one Saturday, guess who winds up behind the wheel?
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa School Days by Erica Silverman, painted by Betsy Lewin
Yee Haw! Cowgirl Kate and her loyal horse Cocoa are the perfect pair. They do everything together until school is in session—and horses are not allowed!
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://tribecapac.org
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12) News from Michelle Tabnick PR
South Street Seaport Museum
presents
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show Experience
November 29 - December 29, 2019
FIVE WEEKS ONLY!

The South Street Seaport Museum presents The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Show Experience, a fun-filled hour-long experience complete with an interactive puppet show, activities, and the opportunity to take a picture with The Very Hungry Caterpillar, from November 29 through December 29, 2019 with three performances on select dates at 10am, 11:30am, and 1pm at the Melville Gallery at 213 Water Street, NYC. Tickets are $25 (children under one are $5 with accompanying paid adult ticket) and are available via the Museum website at www.seaportmuseum.org/hungrycaterpillar or directly from OvationTix at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/1020990.
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13) News from Polk and Co.

Randy Rainbow Debut Album 
Hey, Gurl It's Christmas
on Broadway Records

Randy Rainbow’s debut album Hey Gurl, It’s Christmas!released by Broadway Records (Van Dean, President), debuted in the number one spot on Billboard’s Comedy Album Chart. The album marks the first entry from Broadway Records in the Comedy Album charts. Hey Gurl, It’s Christmas!is currently available for order at BroadwayRecords.com and is available digitally everywhere music is sold.

Track Listing:
1. Hey Gurl, It’s Christmas!
2. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (featuring Kathy Griffin and Alan Cumming)
3. Merry Christmas Darling / What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? (featuring Norm Lewis)
4. Trump’s Favorite Things
5. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (featuring Lorna Luft)
6. The Christmas Movie Medley
7. Make Someone Happy
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14) News from Spin Cycle NYC

Clare Barron to Lead a Pataphysics
Playwriting Workshop 
at The Flea Theater

The Flea Theater announces Pulitzer Prize Finalist Clare Barron (Dance Nation) to lead a Pataphysics Playwriting Workshop in February 2020. Pataphysics Playwriting Workshops are an intimate, intensive opportunity for writers to create new work and explore new ways of writing under the guidance of master playwrights. Barron’s Pataphysics Workshop will be held February 1, 2, 8, and 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Flea Theater. Applications are being accepted through December 1, 2019.

The Pataphysics workshops are led by master playwrights who are known not only for a distinct and groundbreaking body of work, but also for their abilities as teachers. The workshops are structured around the idea that whatever is most immediately interesting to a teacher will make for the most engaging class. Each workshop is geared toward generating new material and new ideas through writing experiments, readings, and interesting conversations. They’re an opportunity for writers, emerging and experienced, to challenge their own assumptions using strange muscles and surprising parts of the brain. Previous master playwrights include Paula Vogel, Mac Wellman, Erik Ehn, María Irene Fornés, Chuck Mee, and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. The Flea is delighted to add Clare Barron to this illustrious group of writing practitioners.  

To apply, participants should submit an application online at www.theflea.org/for-artists/pataphysics

The cost of each workshop is $275. Partial scholarships are available based on need.  
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And that's the scoop. Tune in tomorrow for the Monthly Mashup.