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, December 1, 2019

Sunday Scoop week of 12/1/19 - What's Happening This Week or Coming Up Soon

In This Week's Scoop

1) Upcoming at Lincoln Center
     Lincoln Center Moments, Atrium 360, LC Kids, Great Perfomers,
2) Upcoming at Merkin Hall
    Chloe Kiffer, Violin; St Lukes Chamber Ensemble, David Ippolito, Broadway Close Up
3) Upcoming at New York City Center
    Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
4) Upcoming at Classical Theatre of Harlem
    A Christmas Carol in Harlem
5) Upcoming at Historical Philadelphia
    Tippler's Tours Cheers and Beers
6) Upcoming at Citi Field
    Hello Panda Festival
7) Upcoming at BAMKids
    Raga Kids
8) Upcoming at iPlay America
     The Socials Tour, Breakfast with Santa, Kids Club Holiday Party, Holiday Craft & Shopping
9) Upcoming for Story Pirates
     Story Pirates After Dark and Story Pirates Creator Club Membership Program

PR Firm Roundup

10) News from Andrea Alton PR
     10A)  Epic's Neuro-Inclusive Adapation of Peter and the Star Catcher
     10B) In A Dark Dark House at A.R.T. /New York Theatres
11) News from JT Public Relations
      MsTrial at New World Stages
12) News from Karen Greco PR
       The Year of the Solar Eclipse  and International Human Rights Art Festival at The Wild Project
13) News from Richard Hillman PR
     13A) Rush Tickets Availble for Off Broadway Premiere of Confidence
     13B) Tickets Available for Directorfest 2020
     13C) Lorna Dallas Brings Stages Back to Birdland Theater
     13D) Houses on the Moon Presents The Santa Closet
14) News from Spin Cycle PR
      Unmaking Toulouse Lautrec Announces 5th Extension
15) News from Waldmania PR
        Laurie Berkner Holiday Shows Tarrytown, NY

1) Upcoming at Lincoln Center

 Lincoln Center Moments, Atrium 360, LC Kids, 
Great Perfomers, 

*FREE Wednesday, December 4 at 7:30 pm 
Atrium 360° & HBO Documentary Films 
Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements
 A deeply personal memoir about a deaf boy growing up, his deaf grandfather growing old, and Ludwig van Beethoven the year he was blindsided by deafness and wrote his iconic sonata. 
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 Thursday, December 5 at 7:30 pm 
Atrium 360° 
Jokes and Jazz with Sheila Anderson & Wali Collins 
Enjoy hilarious stand-up comedy in between sets by the talented Willerm Delisfort Trio. 
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 Saturday, December 7 at 11:00 am
LC Kids 
Paige Hernandez: Havana Hop
Meet young Yelia who visits her grandmother in Cuba and learns to add a salsa flavor to her own hip-hop style. The audience is invited to dance along at this dynamic participation play, Havana Hop: a children’s tale of culture and confidence, where multidisciplinary artist Paige Hernandez creates three generations of lively women and celebrates the joys of her multicultural heritage. Recommended for ages 2-5. 
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/Kids

Saturday, December 7 - Sunday, December 8 at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm 
LC Kids 
Music from the Sole 
Led by dancer-musician Leonardo Sandoval and bassist-composer Gregory Richardson, Music from the Sole seamlessly melds a tap performance with a big-band concert. These special holiday performances focus on the theme of togetherness and the joy that comes from sharing music and dance with the ones you love. Featuring original music and choreography, this show is guaranteed to keep audiences engaged. Music from the Sole’s holiday show was developed as part of Lincoln Center Education’s Family Music Residency. Launched in 2015, the program grows and diversifies the field of family music by supporting the development of new work for young audiences. Recommended for ages 5-11. 3 
Clark Studio Theater, 165 West 65th Street. 
TICKETS are $25 (Member Price $18) and are available by calling 212.721.6500, or visiting LincolnCenter.org/Kids

Sunday, December 8 at 11:00 am 
Great Performers 
Sunday Morning Coffee Concerts 
Rachel Barton Pine & Matthew Hagle 
The Chicago-based violinist Rachel Barton Pine makes her Lincoln Center debut with a program highlighting her passionate playing, her technical prowess, and her innate ability to connect to audiences with a joyous approach to music-making. An advocate of women composers and performers, Pine has long had Amy Beach’s Romance on her playlist: in addition to recording it for Cedille records in 2006 on an album dedicated to the late 19th-century violinist Maud Powell, she also performed it in 2005 at the annual spring recital presented by the justices of the Supreme Court. 
Walter Reade Theater, 165 West 65th Street. 
Tickets are $25 and are available by calling 212.721.6500, or visiting LincolnCenter.org/Great-Performers
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2) Upcoming at Merkin Hall
129 W. 67th St.
New York, NY

Chloe Kiffer, violin; St Lukes Chamber Ensemble, 
David Ippolito, Broadway Close Up

Tuesday December 3, 2:00 PM
Tuesday Matinees: Chloe Kiffer, violin

With Alexandre Moutouzkine, piano. Experience the energy and passion of some of today's most remarkable young classical performers at Tuesday Matinees! The spellbinding French violinist performs music by Pärt, Strauss, Stravinsky and Ravel.
Hear clarinetist Yoonah Kim's Oct 29 Tuesday Matinee broadcast on WWFM on Fri, Nov 22 at noon!

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 

Tuesday December 3, 7:30 PM
St Luke's Chamber Ensemble

This concert dedicated to Baroque music includes works by Vivaldi, Rameau, Telemann and more.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 

Sunday December 7, 7:30 PM
David Ippolito Somethingth Annual Concert

"That Guitar Man From Central Park" returns to Merkin Hall with the usual suspects for an evening of music and laughs, stories and thoughts and feelings. An annual New York City tradition.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 

Monday December 9, 7:30 PM
Tuesday December 8, 7:30 PM
Broadway Close Up: Transformations

Co-Presentation with One Day University
What does it mean to turn a story from one work of art to another? This evening of artistic transformations explores how books, plays, poems and movies get turned into musicals like WickedSouth Pacific, A Little Night Music and more.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 
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3) Upcoming at New York City Center
131 W. 55th St.
New York, NY

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

December 4, 2019 - January 5, 2020

The Ailey company is back at City Center this holiday season with a slate packed full of exciting premieres and enthralling classics. Catch brand-new work from Donald ByrdDarrell Grand Moultrie, and Resident Choreographer Jamar Roberts, as well as company premieres from Aszure BartonCamille A. Brown, and Merce Cunningham, and Ailey favorites like Revelations.   

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.nycitycenter.org/pdps/2019-2020/Alvin-Ailey.
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4) Upcoming at Classical Theatre 
of Harlem
City College Center for the Arts Aaron Davis Hall
Corner of 135th and Convent Ave.
New York, NY

 A Christmas Carol in Harlem

 The Classical Theatre of Harlem presents the second year of its holiday production, A Christmas Carol in Harlem, based on the timeless work by Charles Dickens. This year’s production is directed by Carl Cofield based on an adaptation by Shawn René Graham with new choreography by Tiffany Rea-Fisher (Artistic Director of Elisa Monte Dance). This season, the show moves into a three-quarter thrust theater, offering audiences a more intimate theater experience and allowing them to share in the spirit of the show. Cofield has re-imagined large portions of the work to fit this new space and to build on the festive themes throughout the play while allowing the drama of Scrooge’s past to unfold. This includes a new set, music pieces, projections, costumes and casting that establishes A Christmas Carol in Harlem as a modern addition to New York City’s annual holiday offerings.

Set in present-day Harlem, this holiday treasure is dramatized with CTH’s signature style of infusing classic works with an uptown flair. A Christmas Carol in Harlem places Ebenezer Scrooge as a real estate mogul who has made his fortune at the expense of others. Scrooge foregoes using his wealth to affect positive change within his Harlem community and instead lives a life of miserly solitude. That is, until three unexpected visitors arrive on Christmas Eve to show him the value of family and how cooperation can lead to a healthy, thriving and prosperous community. This family-friendly production includes original and classic holiday carols tinged with gospel, hip-hop, pop and R&B influences to celebrate the spirit of the season the Harlem way.

Recommended for all ages.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
A Christmas Carol in Harlem runs December 4-21, 2019 on Wednesday - Saturday at 7:30 PM with 11:00 AM matinees on Wednesdays, and 2:00 PM matinees on Saturdays and Sundays
Previews:  December 4-6, 2019
Opening Night:  Saturday, December 7, 2019
Closing Night: December 21, 2019

TICKETING INFORMATION
Tickets:  www.cthnyc.org

$35; $10 students/children/seniors
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5) Upcoming at Historic Philadelphia


Tippler's Tours Cheers and Beers

Thursday December 5 - December 26, 5:30 PM

It’s the most wonderful time… for a beer! Raise a glass of cheer on Once Upon A Nation’s Colonial pub crawl through Historic Philadelphia. It is 1777 and the British are occupying Philadelphia…will there be holiday celebrations during this tumultuous time? Step with us into the holiday season in charming Old City, circa 1777, whilst enjoying winter brews and festive libations. Stops include National Mechanics, Victoria Freehouse and City Tavern.

Departs from the Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street (unless otherwise noted)
$50 adults, $45 senior/military/student. (tastings & gratuity included, 21 and over with valid I.D.) Duration: 2 hours

For more information, visit http://historicphiladelphia.org/tipplers-tour
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6) Upcoming at Citi Field
41 Seaver Way
New York, NY

New York City will shine even brighter this winter with the
debut of the Hello Panda Festival (December 6, 2019 to January 26, 2020), the largest international lantern, food and arts extravaganza celebrating culture and diversity. Held at Citi Field and spanning 700,000 square feet, the multisensory event will showcase over 120 Instagrammable lantern exhibits, 60
international food vendors curated by The World’s Fare and numerous cultural arts experiences including live performances, modern art exhibits, a holiday market and traditional crafts. Produced by CPAA North America, this year’s festival will be the first of an ongoing annual holiday tradition at Citi Field, chosen for its location in the heart of Queens and its status as an iconic New York City landmark.

Ticket prices are: $22 -$28 (tax and service fees not included). 

For more information, visit www.hellopandafest.com

Below are details of Hello Panda’s main attractions:

The Lanterns Utilizing over 10 million lights and featuring various interactive elements, Hello Panda’s 120 massive lantern exhibits -- each handcrafted and hand painted by some of the world’s leading lantern artisans -- seamlessly blend tradition, innovation and creativity. The lantern festival will be comprised of six
different theme parks (Dream World, Holiday Wonderland, Discovery Zone, Interactive Music Zone, Sports World and Community Interactive Zone), each individually designed to deliver a distinct and immersive experience. Over 100 never-before-seen exhibits will be making their world premiere at the
festival. Highlights will include the world’s tallest Christmas tree lantern, life-sized dinosaurs and safari animals, an enormous fairy tale castle and a 98-foot-long light tunnel.

The Food Food will be a prominent feature at Hello Panda through its partnership with The World’s Fare, organizers of the largest and most diverse food and drink event in New York City. Their tastemakers will curate the festival’s tented and heated food pavilion, which will be comprised of 60 vendors representing different cuisines and cultures, offering a diverse selection of global culinary treats.

The Arts Hello Panda will feature a broad range of cultural arts -- both traditional and modern -- through a regular series of live performances, galleries and a holiday market across six giant heated tent areas, making it the warmest outdoor event during the coldest season. Nightly music showcases will highlight local and international acts from different genres, including dance, Latin, pop and hip-hop while a collection of galleries will feature the breathtaking works of emerging artists from around the world. Additionally, visitors will be able to experience papercutting, sugar painting, embroidery, cotton candy art and more
through hands-on activities led by leading artist instructors.
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7)Upcoming at BAMKids
BAMcafe
30 Lafayette Ave.
Brooklyn, NY

Raga Kids

December 7, 10:30 AM & 2:00 PM
Ages 5-7

The Raga Kids concert will introduce kids and families to Indian classical music through interactive songs featuring Indian folk, Ragas, and original music. Kids and families will take part in the multilingual sing-along and learn about classical Indian instruments and the connection between Indian music and classics from the American kids' songbook. Families are welcome to come up 30 minutes before showtime for pre-concert activities.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.bam.org/kids/2019/raga-kids
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8) Upcoming at iPlay America
110 Schank Rd.
Freehold, NJ

The Socials Tour, Breakfast with Santa, Kids Club Holiday Party, Holiday Craft & Shopping

Saturday December 7, Start Time 4:00 PM End Time 7:00 PM
The Social Tours

Attend a social experience unlike any else. Enjoy the interactive and exciting concert, ask questions at the Q&A, and see some of your favorite influencers, including Cody and Zoe (ZODY)! Parent tickets must be purchased if you are planning to attend the event with your child.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit 

Sunday December 8, Start Time 9:30 AM Emd Time 1:00 PM
Breakfast with Santa

Join the our 5th Annual Breakfast with Santa event on Sunday, December 8th. While you’re eating a delicious hot breakfast buffet, Santa will walk around and greet guests at their tables and Miss Sheri will be performing live. Then, gather the whole family together to receive presents from the North Pole and take a picture with Santa Claus.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 

Sunday December 8, Start Time 1:00 PM End Time 3:00 PM
Kids Holiday Party - Free Event

Join us for a holiday celebration after our annual breakfast with Sana! This event is free for all members of the Kids Club. Activities include a performance with Miss Sher in City Square, free photos with Selfie Social, holiday crafts, free pictures with Santa, and more.



Sunday December 8, Start Time 10:00 AM End Time 3:00 PM
Holiday Craft & Shopping Bazaar

The Holiday Craft and Shopping Bazaar presented by CentralJersey.com will be at The Event Center at iPlay America on Sunday, December 8th. This will be a great opportunity to find holiday gifts the whole family can enjoy.



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9) Upcoming at Story Pirates

Story Pirates After Dark and 
Story Pirates Creator Club Membership Program

The Story Pirates AfterDark Show on December 7th
Benefits Literacy Programs in Schools

Saturday, December 7 at 8 pm (Doors at 7:30)
TADA Youth Theater
15 W. 28th Street, New York, NY 10001

Tickets are $20 each https://www.storypirates.com/buy-tickets/  and via EventBrite
Proceeds benefit Story Pirates Changemakers literacy programs.
Information: 347-878-6798  or info@storypirates.org
All ages event. An open bar is available to all ticket holders.

The Story Pirates have blown the minds of more than 500,000 kids across the country, but this show is for grown-ups. In this post-bedtime AfterDark show, NYC's funniest grown-up comedians and actors create a new sketch comedy show entirely based on stories written by kids. A full cast of Story Pirates will perform some of their "greatest hits" and will be taking ideas from the audience in an evening of improve, musical sketch comedy and hilarity. Find out why millions of kids--and their grownups-- follow Story Pirates via their#1 rated podcast, award-winning albums, and live performances in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and across the country. Story Pirates alums include Kristen Schaal, Bowen Yang, and Lauren Lapkus.

Ticket proceeds from this all-ages show will support Story Pirates Changemakers, helping bring quality arts education programming to students in shelters, foster care, and low income schools! Learn more at storypirates.org

Story Pirates Launch Creator Club for Kids

New subscription service for kids includes a magazine, prizes, insider access, and writing prompts
The Story Pirates launched a club for kids who love stories and want to share their creative works with the world. The Story Pirates Creator Club offers subscribers a host of exclusive gifts, insider offers and a limited-edition magazine featuring kid-created content. Information about the Creator Club is available at  Storypirates.com/create.
The perfect gift for young readers and writers, the Story Pirates Creator Club includes members-only digital content, a first listen to the upcoming Story Pirates album, discounts for Story Pirates merchandise, and VIP pre-sale access to performances. Members will receive a Creator Club exclusive t-shirt and writing notebook along with the first edition of Creator Club magazine in January. The magazine will feature original stories, comics and illustrations, curated by the writing experts at Story Pirates. The first 200 members to subscribe by December 6, 2019 will also get a personalized video message from Story Pirates podcast hosts Lee Overtree and Peter McNerney. These videos are guaranteed to arrive before the holidays, and the membership kits will be mailed in January.
A portion of the annual subscription price of $60 will be donated to literacy outreach programs for disadvantaged schools and community groups via Story Pirates Changemakers
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PR Firm Roundup

10) News from Andrea Alton

10A) EPIC Players Inclusion Company Presents a Neuro-Inclusive Adaptation of
Peter and the Starcatcher
December 6 – 15 at the Mainstage Theatre at HERE

EPIC Players Inclusion Company is proud to announce their final production of 2019, a neuro-inclusive adaptation of Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice. The production runs December 6 – 15 at HERE’s mainstage in SoHo. Opening night is slated for December 6.

The creative team at EPIC, a neuro-inclusive theater company, helms this production where they continue to use the stage to elevate the talented voices of artists living with neuro-diversities such as autism. Featuring over a dozen actors portraying more than 100 unforgettable characters, this Peter and the Starcatcher shows the limitless possibilities of imagination and the power of inclusion that can bring a story to life. Associate Artistic Director Travis Burbee, directs.

Tony Award-winning Peter and the Starcatcher upends the century-old story of how a young orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores the depths of greed and despair; along with discovering who you are and the bonds of friendship and love.

When an orphan and his friends are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island, they know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, which contains a precious, otherworldly cargo. At sea, the orphans are discovered by a precocious young girl named Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training, who realizes that the trunk’s precious cargo is a magical substance so powerful that it must never fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken over by pirates – led by the fearsome Black Stache – the journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure for our unlikely heroes.

Tickets are $25 (general), $55 (VIP), and $65 (opening night reception) and are available at www.here.org/shows/peter-and-the-starcatcher. The opening night reception starts at 5:30 pm and includes an open bar and hors d'oeuvres. Running time: 90 minutes, plus intermission. Recommended for all ages.

Performances take place at HERE, 145 6th Avenue (between Dominick & Spring Street), New York City, NY 10013. Subways: C/E to Spring Street, 1 to Houston, N/R to Prince Street.

**
10B)Knife Edge Productions to present Neil LaBute’s
IN A DARK DARK HOUSE
December 6 – 21 at the Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theatre at A.R.T/New York Theatres

First New York Production Since 2007 off-Broadway Premiere

Neil LaBute's, In a Dark Dark House, runs December 6 - 21 at A.R.T/New York Theatres in Midtown Manhattan. Opening night is slated for December 10. The drama is being presented by Knife Edge Productions, the company's Resident Theatre Director, Sam Helfrich, directs.

Drew, who has been court-confined for observation at a psychiatry facility, calls his older brother Terry, to corroborate his claim of childhood sexual abuse, releasing barely-hidden animosities between the two. In a Dark Dark House tells a tale of sexual and emotional abuse and two estranged brothers who attempt to overcome it and understand the legacy of abuse, both inside and outside their family home.

Tickets are $25 (students/seniors/military) and $30 (general) and are available at www.knifeedgeproductions.com. Performances take place at A.R.T/New York Theatres, the Gural, 502 West 53rd Street (corner of 10th avenue), New York, NY 10019. Subways: A/C/E to 50th Street, A/B/C/D/1 to 59th Street. Running time: 90 minutes.
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11) News from JT Public Relations


MsTRIAL

Opening December 4, 2019
At NEW WORLD STAGES
MsTRIAL, written by Dep Kirkland and directed by Rick Andosca, will celebrate its opening on Wednesday, December 4, 2019, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Tickets are $49- $89 and can be purchased by visiting Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200
Internationally renowned trial lawyer John Paris plays to win, both in and out of court. For Karen Lukoff, John's young attractive associate, losing has never been an option either. Together, they are a litigation juggernaut.  After a major victory, the firm celebrates the win as hard as they fought for it. In the drunken morning hours, left alone, John and Karen collide in a high-octane moment that will cause everyone—including the audience—to question what they know about desire, consent, winning, and losing. 
Performances Schedule:
Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 7 pm; Friday at 8 pm
Saturday at 2 & 8 pm and Sunday at 3 and 7 pm
For more information, please visit, www.MsTRIALNYC.com

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12) News from Karen Greco PR

What's On At the Wild Project

December 3 - December 8
THE YEAR OF THE SOLAR ECLIPSE written & directed by Aileen Kyoko
Schedule: Tuesday - Wednesday at 7 pm; Thursday at 2 pm & 7 pm; Friday at  8 pm; Saturday at 2 pm & 8 pm; Sunday at 2 pm
Tickets: $30

The Year of the Solar Eclipse follows three women in a shocking year of love lost, love found and self-discovery.
 
When three best friends gather to watch the solar eclipse, they have no idea how their own lives are about to change. Angelina’s secret world of boundaries and control is threatened when she faces her true shadow- intimacy. Ivy’s life hits a crisis when she suddenly becomes single and is forced to relearn who she is without a partner. And Elle finally confronts her secret past and repressed emotions. Ultimately they are faced with the same question: to run from or let in their shadows.
 
With humor and heart, this provocative dramedy tells the tale of humans who are exploring all the light & shadow sides of themselves.

December 9 - December 15
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ART FESTIVAL
For performance details and schedules, visit ihraf.org
Tickets: $20
 
The International Human Rights Art Festival signature event is a week-long series of advocacy art and performances at the intersection of art, spirit and society.  As the Sufis say: "Words spoken from the mouth never get past the ears; but words spoken from the heart, enter the heart."   Over one hundred artists presenting over 40 performance events will speak loudly and clearly from their hearts!

All performances are at the Wild Project (195 E. 3rd Street, between Avenues A & B).
Tickets can be purchased online at www.thewildproject.org.
 
The Box Office opens one hour prior to curtain.
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13) News from Richard Hillman PR

13A) RUSH POLICY ANNOUNCED!
CHARLOTTE’S OFF BROADWAY
PRESENTS
THE OFF-BROADWAY PREMIERE OF
“CONFIDENCE (AND THE SPEECH)”
A NEW PLAY
WRITTEN BY SUSAN LAMBERT HATEM
DIRECTED BY HANNAH RYAN
THEATRE ONE AT THEATRE ROW
(410 WEST 42ND STREET- BETWEEN 9th & 10th AVENUES)
PERFORMANCES CONTINUE THROUGH DECEMBER 7, 2019
$20 TICKETS AT BOX OFFICE ONE HOUR PRIOR TO PERFORMANCE
Charlotte's Off Broadway (Anne Lambert, producer) announced today that rush tickets are now available for the remaining performances of the Off-Broadway premiere of Confidence (and The Speech), the new play, written by Susan Lambert Hatem and directed by Hannah Ryan (Hamilton, An American in Paris) which is playing a limited engagement at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street – between 9th & 10th Avenues). Previews began on November 14 and the show had an official opening on November 20, 2019. Performances will continue through December 7, 2019. Rush Tickets priced at $20 (cash only) are available at the Theatre Row box office (410 West 42nd Street) one (1) hour prior to performance.

On July 4, 1979 President Carter cancelled an important energy policy speech he was scheduled to give the next day and disappeared to Camp David. Ten days later, he emerged from his impromptu domestic summit and gave a new speech, the Crisis of Confidence speech, which many now view as unprecedented, farsighted and insightful. Others think it may have ultimately cost him the White House. Forty years later, college professor Cynthia Cooper is approached by a stranger, a young man, and asked to recall her time with the Carter Administration during the days before the now infamous “malaise” speech. If she is going to tell her story of that time, she is going to play the President. And the young man who wants to know her story? Well, he is going to play her. This unique cross-gender play explores the confidence of a president, a nation in chaos and women in politics.

The remaining performance schedule is: TONIGHT 11/26 at 7pm, 11/27 at 2pm, 11/29 at 8pm, 12/01 at 3pm, 12/02 at 7pm, 12/05 at 8pm and 12/07 at 8pm.

Tickets are priced $49-$69 ($89 premium) and can be purchased at www.confidenceandthespeech.com or at the Theatre Row Box Office (410 W. 42nd Street.
**
13B) THE DRAMA LEAGUE
ANNOUNCES LINEUP AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR

DIRECTORFEST 2020
JANUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 4, 2020
ALL-NEW PRODUCTIONS BY DIRECTORS
NJ AGWUNA, CHRISTIAN BAKALOV, CHIKA IKE, REBECCA MARZALEK-KELLY,
LINDSEY HOPE PEARLMAN, BEN RANDLE, AND HANNAH RYAN
ACCLAIMED DIRECTORS
KENNY LEON, REBECCA TAICHMAN AND
INTIMACY DIRECTOR CLAIRE WARDEN
TO HOLD SPECIAL EVENTS
NEW PRODUCTIONS INCLUDE PLAYS AND MUSICALS BY
MICHAEL JOHN LACHIUSA, MARCUS GARDLEY,
HAROLD PINTER, TINA HOWE, AND MORE

TICKETS ON SALE DECEMBER 3RD AT
WWW.DIRECTORFEST.ORG
The Drama League (Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Director Bevin Ross) announced today the 2020 line-up of DirectorFest: The 36th Annual Directors Festival, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing. For its 36th year, the festival will include six fully-staged productions, a showcase concert of a new musical, a town hall, and conversations with directors including 2017 Tony Award Winner Rebecca Taichman (Indecent), 2014 Tony Award Winner and 2010 Drama League Founders Award for Excellence in Directing Kenny Leon (A Soldier’s Play), and Intimacy Director Claire Warden (HBO’s Mrs. Fletcher).

Taking place over five weeks in venues across Manhattan, highlights of the festival include all-new stagings of Michael John LaChiusa’s Hello Again and Harold Pinter’s The Lover, revivals of rarely-seen works by Tina Howe (Appearances) and Marcus Gardley (The Sporting Life of Icarus Jones), a concert of songs from the new docu-play with music, Riot Song, by Matthew Dean Marsh and Oscar Lopez, and the North American premiere of Pure, created by Belgian director Christian Bakalov.

Chosen last spring from over 400 applicants, the directors leading the festival’s new productions this year -- NJ Agwuna, Chika Ike, Rebecca Marzalek-Kelly, Lindsey Hope Pearlman, Ben Randle, Hannah Ryan, and Mr. Bakalov -- recently completed their development programs as part of The Drama League Directors Project.

DirectorFest will take place January 10 - February 4, 2020 at various locations around NYC: The New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street), The Drama League Theater Center (32 Avenue of the Americas), LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (31-10 Thomson Avenue, Long Island City), and Joe’s Pub (425 Lafayette Street). Festival details are available at directorfest.org, or by calling (212) 244-9494. Industry/Theatre Professionals may request tickets by emailing DirectorFest@DramaLeague.org; tickets will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.

DIRECTORFEST 2020: THE 36th ANNUAL DIRECTORS FESTIVAL
Tickets Available December 3rd at www.directorfest.org
FESTIVAL PRODUCTIONS
Hello Again
Book, Music and Lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa
Directed by 2019 Drama League Leo Shull Musical Directing Fellow Ben Randle
Friday, January 10, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
The New Ohio Theatre

154 Christopher Street
$45 Premium Seating | $25 General Seating | $20 Drama League/SDC/AEA/DG Member
Michael John LaChiusa’s acclaimed musical retelling of Schnitzler’s La Ronde -- in which a circle of intimate encounters weave together across time and space, spanning a century of human experience -- receives a groundbreaking new revival in the hands of director Ben Randle. Just four actors tackle twenty characters in ten decades, exploring new possibilities in the intersections of gender, class, race, sexuality, and history. As the connections multiply and fracture before our eyes, Hello Again maps the chasm between power and intimacy, set to one of the most captivating scores of the modern era.
Pure
North American Premiere
Conceived and Directed By Christian Bakalov
Performances are for two individuals at a time, every 10 minutes:
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 16, 2020 - 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center

31-10 Thomson Street, Long Island City
$45 Premium Seating | $25 General Seating | $20 Drama League/SDC/AEA/DG Members
How does physical sensation transform the way we experience our lives? Enter the jaw-dropping world of Pure, an immersive performance that considers the influence of imagination on our perception of reality. Guided through a walking experience across the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, oscillating between visual art, sound, touch, and performance, audience members will experience a surprising feast for the senses. After rapturous success during its recent European tour, Pure makes its North American debut at DirectorFest, welcoming American collaborators for the first time.
A Double-Bill:
The Sporting Life of Icarus Jones
by Marcus Gardley
Directed by 2019 Drama League Directing Fellow Chika Ike
and
The Drowning Girls
By Beth Graham, Charlie Tomlinson and Daniela Vlaskalic
Directed by 2019 Drama League Directing Fellow Rebecca Marzalek-Kelly
January 24, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.
January 25, 2020 at 2:00pm & 7:30 p.m.
The New Ohio Theatre

154 Christopher Street
$45 Premium Seating | $25 General Seating | $20 Drama League/SDC/AEA/DG Members
This evening of short plays probing the complexity of relationships begin with director Chika Ike’s staging of The Sporting Life of Icarus Jones by Marcus Gardley, whose work -- including The House That Will Not Stand (NYTW) and On The Levee (LCT) has made him “the heir to Garcia Lorca, Pirandello, and Tennessee Williams” (New Yorker). The Drowning Girls by Beth Graham, Charlie Tomlinson and Daniela Vlaskalic, directed by Rebecca Marzalek-Kelly, weaves fact and fantasy through London’s infamous “Brides in the Bath” murder case, where the killer’s victims -- his three newlywed wives -- finally get a chance to tell their side of the story.
A Double-Bill:
The Lover
by Harold Pinter
Directed by 2019 Drama League Directing Fellow NJ Agwuna
and
Appearances
By Tina Howe
Directed by 2019 Drama League Directing Fellow Lindsey Hope Pearlman
January 31, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 1 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
The New Ohio Theatre
154 Christopher Street
$45 Premium Seating | $25 General Seating | $20 Drama League/SDC/AEA/DG Members
Nothing is as it seems in this double-bill evening! The Lover, Harold Pinter’s playful and provocative exploration of modern marriage, is directed by NJ Agwuna, twisting the boundaries of temptation, fidelity, and judgement. Lindsey Hope Pearlman stages Tina Howe’s Appearances, a comic meditation on women and self-image in which the search for the perfect dress is eternal...and sometimes, a job for two! As a customer and a sales clerk form an uneasy alliance, they share their hopes, dreams, and a secret plan for a very important occasion.
Riot Song: The Concert
Songs from the work-in-progress by
directed by 2019 Drama League Director In Residence Hannah Ryan
February 4, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
Joe’s Pub

425 Lafayette Street
$45 Premium Seating | $25 General Seating | $20 Drama League/SDC/AEA/DG Members
Directed by Hannah Ryan (Resident Director, Hamilton), Riot Song is a thrilling new docu-play with music, recounting the tragedies and triumphs of New York’s LGBTQ community through the voices of those who witnessed them first-hand. Riot Song blends hours of interviews with real-life figures from Greenwich Village’s queer movement, interwomen with thrilling new gospel and R&B-infused songs by Matthew Dean Marsh (We’re Only Alive for a Short Period of Time at the Public Theater) and award-winning journalist/playwright Oscar Lopez.
THE DIRECTORS: IN CONVERSATION
IN CONVERSATION:
KENNY LEON
WITH THOMAS SCHUMACHER
January 27, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
The Drama League Theater Center


32 Avenue of the Americas
$45 Premium Seating | $25 General Seating | $20 Drama League/SDC/AEA/DG Members
With his Broadway productions of A Raisin in the Sun, Fences, Children of a Lesser God, The Mountaintop, Stick Fly, Gem of the Ocean, Radio Gold, Holler If You Hear Me, and this season’s revival of A Soldier’s Play, Kenny Leon has earned his reputation as one of the most influential directors of our age; his successful collaborations with Denzel Washington, Toni Morrison, Alicia Keys, Angela Bassett, and more prove he is an expert in the fine art of collaboration. In this intimate conversation with the President of Disney Theatrical Group, Thomas Schumacher, Mr. Leon will discuss his body of work and his thoughts on theater today.
IN CONVERSATION:
REBECCA TAICHMAN
January 28, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
The Drama League Theater Center


32 Avenue of the Americas
$45 Premium Seating | $25 General Seating | $20 Drama League/SDC/AEA/DG Members
Winner of the 2017 Tony Award for Direction of a Play, Rebecca Taichman has redefined directing and the intricate relationship between playwright and director. Her collaborations with Paula Vogel (Indecent), Jocelyn Bioh (School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play), Sarah Ruhl (The Oldest Boy, The Clean House), and Danai Gurira (Familiar) speak to her intimate connection to writers through her work. In this conversation, Ms. Taichman will share her thoughts about her career and the future of the field, as well as anecdotes from her rehearsals and productions.
IN CONVERSATION:
CLAIRE WARDEN
February 3, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
The Drama League Theater Center

32 Avenue of the Americas
$45 Premium Seating | $25 General Seating | $20 Drama League/SDC/AEA/DG Members
Claire Warden, the first intimacy director in history to be a part of Broadway production teams, will discuss the essential work of staging intimacy in a consent-based creative environment. Taking questions from the audience, Ms. Warden will discuss a range of topics, including the pillars of Intimacy Direction practice; the implementation of intimacy directors in theater, film, and television; and common misconceptions about their work. A must for any artist working in today’s entertainment industry!
IN CONVERSATION:
BEN RANDLE AND KEMAR JEWEL
WITH GABRIEL STELIAN-SHANKS
January 11, 2020
immediately following the 2:00 p.m. performance of Hello Again
The New Ohio Theatre

154 Christopher Street
FREE
Ben Randle, the 2019 Drama League Musical Directing Fellow, will discuss his production of Hello Again with his predecessor in the program, Kemar Jewel, who memorably created the first-ever African-American queer revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Marry Me A Little in DirectorFest last year. Sharing a passion for the reimagining of musicals as opportunities for underserved communities, Ben and Kemar will share their thoughts on the future of the form and take questions from the audience, alongside Drama League Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks.
IN CONVERSATION:
CHIKA IKE and REBECCA MARZALEK-KELLY
WITH NILAN JOHNSON
January 25, 2020
immediately following the 2pm performance of
The Sporting Life of Icarus Jones/The Drowning Girls
The New Ohio Theatre

154 Christopher Street
FREE
Reconstructing history and mythology in their double-bill of DirectorFest productions, directors Chika Ike and Rebecca Marzalek-Kelly will come together to discuss their plays, their paths through the American theater to date, and their experiences assisting Rachel Chavkin, Mike Donahue and other notable directors this season. Drama League Associate Artistic Director Nilan Johnson will take questions from the audience and facilitate the discussion.
IN CONVERSATION:
NJ AGWUNA and LINDSEY HOPE PEARLMAN
WITH NICOLE A. WATSON
February 1, 2020
immediately following the 2:00 p.m. performance of The Lover/Appearances
The New Ohio Theatre

154 Christopher Street
FREE
On the surface, the plays directed in DirectorFest by NJ Agwuna and Lindsey Hope Pearlman couldn’t be more different. In practice, however, these works are led by women with strong perspectives on the world these plays inhabit. Both will discuss in depth their approach to the work of these master playwrights, and how they reflect their ideas for 2020 and beyond. Joining them will be Drama League Board Member Nicole A. Watson, who appeared in DirectorFest 2013 and is now the Associate Artistic Director of Round House Theatre in Washington, D.C.
ASCENDING THE PIPELINE: A DIRECTORS’ TOWN HALL
Presented in Collaboration with Directors Gathering,
Stage Directors and Choreographers, and The SDC Foundation
Facilitators: Jill Harrison, Executive Director, Directors Gathering
Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Artistic Director, The Drama League
February 1 at 12:00 p.m.
The Drama League Theater Center

32 Avenue of the Americas
Open to all stage directors, artistic directors, and affiliated professionals
FREE, RSVP Required at directorfest@dramaleague.org
As the American Theatre experiences rapid change in the leadership of its institutions and theatrical productions, questions regarding the “pipeline” -- the way that directors move up the ladder of creative equity and leadership opportunity -- are demanding new answers and practices. Who is ascending the pipeline in 2020? How does the changing landscape affect directors and their work? What are the opportunities that exist now? This town hall meeting, open to stage directors to communally share their experiences, ideas, and hopes for the field, aims to demystify the process of growth and collectively plot a course into the future.


**
13C) AN ENCORE PERFORMANCE!
BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB
PRESENTS
LORNA DALLAS
“S T A G E S"
MUSICAL DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER DENNY
DIRECTED BY BARRY KLEINBORT
ONE NIGHT ONLY!
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 @ 7:00PM
THE BIRDLAND THEATER
315 WEST 44th STREET – NYC
Birdland Jazz Club will present vocalist Lorna Dallas in a one night only encore performance of Stages, the all new show she presented in February, at The Birdland Theater (315 West 44th Street) on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 @ 7:00 pm.

Last season, American born and West End favorite Lorna Dallas returned to the New York cabaret world after a twenty-year hiatus. 

This season, Ms. Dallas returned again to Birdland, premiering a sparkling new show, Stages, devised by her two long time collaborators, musical director Christopher Denny and director Barry Kleinbort. Stages refers to those theaters and nightclubs where Ms. Dallas displayed her formidable gifts as a singer and top tier interpreter of popular song, as well as to the formative stages in a life, stages that have taken her from a small town in Southern Illinois to the rarefied hothouse atmosphere of New Orleans and on to dazzling nights in the West End with Sammy Cahn and Dame Cleo Laine, culminating in Royal Command performances for Queen Elizabeth and the Royal family. The musical program is equally diverse, ranging from unforgettable standards and show tunes by Broadway’s greats to little known but equally worthy gems from both sides of the “pond.” In short, Stages **offers a treasure trove of glorious singing, intimate detail and heartfelt reminiscence. This is an encore performance.

Lorna Dallas Stages plays the Birdland Theater (315 West 44th Street) on Monday, February 11 @ 8:30pm. There is a $25 cover charge and a $10 food and beverage minimum. Tickets and information are available at www.birdlandjazz.com or by calling (212) 381-5080.


**
13D) HOUSES ON THE MOON THEATER COMPANY
PRESENTS
“THE SANTA CLOSET”
AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE ACCLAIMED SOLO PLAY
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING OUT
WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY JEFFREY SOLOMON
DIRECTED BY JOE BRANCATO
LIMITED ENGAGEMENT DECEMBER 3 - 22, 2019
AT TEATRO CIRCULO (64 EAST 4TH STREET)
OPENING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5 AT 7 PM
Houses on the Moon Theater Company (Emily Joy Weiner, Co-Founder & Artistic Director; Kevin Connor, Managing Director) proudly presents The Santa Closet, written and performed by Jeffrey Solomon and directed by Joe Brancato (Daniel’s Husband). The Santa Closet is an updated version of Mr. Solomon’s acclaimed solo play Santa Claus is Coming Out, which premiered Off-Broadway in 2009. On the 10th anniversary of that production, this new version reflects the advances and nuances in our understanding of LGBTQ lives and remains as timely 10 years later as when it first broke ground.
The Santa Closet will have its premiere at Teatro Círculo Theater (64 East 4th Street in the East Village, NYC), performing a limited engagement from Tuesday, December 3 – Sunday, December 22, 2019. The Press Opening is Thursday, December 5th at 7 pm.
In The Santa Closet, little Gary's gender atypical gift request, sent to the North Pole, is denied. A series of subsequent heart-felt letters from the child nudge Santa Claus out of the closet … right into the center of a heated culture war. Jeffrey Solomon, a theatrical documentarian in the mold of Anna Deveare Smith, lovingly sends up the form, purporting to have interviewed – and portraying – all the key players in the scandal known as “Santa-Gate.”
The Santa Closet was inspired by the debate about discussing LGBTQ issues with children. Originally titled Santa Claus is Coming Out, the solo play debuted Off-Broadway in 2009 at The Kirk on Theatre Row. The New York Times called the play "A delightful surprise. This isn't a clumsy parody, but a sensitive, imaginative tale that really is about a boy's realization that he is different. Mr. Solomon portrays an amazing range of characters, all of them beautifully." Out magazine and Broadway World called the play “brilliant” and "hilarious." The play had an acclaimed run the following year at The Diversionary in San Diego and has been performed seasonally in theaters across the country – such as The Celebration Theatre and Theatre Asylum & Lab in Los Angeles, and The Theatre Project in Baltimore – since.
This production of The Santa Closet is the premiere of an updated version of the play. Says Mr. Solomon, “There have been great advances in LGBTQ rights and increased visibility in the past decade, and this is now reflected in the play. However, in many ways, discussing queer issues with children in much of the country is taboo. And of course, as of yet, there are still no queer main characters on any show or movie for young children. The Santa Closet imagines what would happen if this conversation was forced upon us, by literally having it come down our chimneys.”
The Santa Closet will play the following performance schedule: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm, Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 2 pm and 8 pm, and Sundays at 3 pm. (additional performance on Tuesday, December 3 at 7 pm).
Tickets are priced at $35 with Special Reserved Seating available at $55. Tickets may be purchased online at www.housesonthemoon.org. Student Rush: $20 cash-only at the door prior to performance, ID required, subject to availability. For Groups of 10+, contact groups@housesonthemoon.org.
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14) News from Spin Cycle NYC

Environmental Drama About Legendary Artist
Announces 5th Extension & Added December Dates

UNMAKING TOULOUSE-LAUTREC
Now through February 5, 2020 at Madame X

Bated Breath Theatre Company announces a fifth extension of their acclaimed immersive, environmental production UNMAKING TOULOUSE-LAUTREC, selected as one of the 11 “best immersive plays and interactive theatrical experiences on Broadway and beyond” by Time Out. Performances will now continue through February 5, 2020 on a new performances schedule at Madame X in Manhattan’s historic Greenwich Village, where performances began on May 8. Additional performances on December 6, 7 & 14 have also been added.

UNMAKING TOULOUSE-LAUTREC invites you to discover the bohemian world of the Belle Epoque with Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec—artist, aristocrat and all-around 19th Century bad boy. Dive into the underbelly of old Paris as you drink innovative house-made cocktails, lounge in a totally immersive Parisian-style salon, and rub shoulders with the dancers, prostitutes and outcasts that inspired the most enticing, elegant and provocative art depicting the decadence and sexuality of post-impressionist France.

UNMAKING TOULOUSE-LAUTREC runs Wednesdays  at 7pm & 9pm through January 8, 2020 with special added performances on Friday, November 22 at 6:30pm & 8pm.  (Please note: there will be no performances on Nov. 27 for Thanksgiving, Dec. 25 for Christmas or Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day.) Running time is 60 minutes. Madame X is located at 94 West Houston Street, between LaGuardia Place and Thompson Street -- accessible from the B,D,F,M trains at Broadway/Lafayette.  You must be 21+ to attend. Tickets are $40 - $55 and include one complimentary beverage. Tickets are available at www.unmakinglautrecplay.com.
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15) News from Waldmania 

The Laurie Berkner Band in a Holiday Celebration Concert!
WHEN: 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Saturday, December 7, 2019
WHERE: Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main St., Tarrytown, NY 10591

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Best-selling children's recording artist and preschool television favorite Laurie Berkner invites everyone to share the spirit of the season with The Laurie Berkner Band at two festive holiday concerts on Saturday, December 7 at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main St., Tarrytown, NY.

The Laurie Berkner Band's Tarrytown concerts will feature such traditional, secular songs as "Jingle Bells" and "Frosty the Snowman," plus originals from Laurie's well-loved album, A Laurie Berkner Christmas, like "Santa's Coming to My House Tonight." Laurie and the band will pay tribute to Hanukkah with "Candle Chase" and "The Dreidel Song." They'll also perform an array of Laurie's greatest hits, such as "We Are The Dinosaurs," "Victor Vito," and "Pig On Her Head," along with tunes from Laurie's new album, Waiting for the Elevator. Kids should plan to bring their dancing shoes and a stuffed animal (for their heads), and Laurie hopes everyone will join in the holiday spirit and sing along!

TICKETS: $35, plus applicable fees. VIP tickets $100*, plus applicable fees.
A limited number of $100 VIP tickets are available.
TO CHARGE BY PHONE: 877-840-0457
TO PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE: Visit www.tarrytownmusichall.org.
*VIP tickets include priority seating and a meet and greet/photo opportunity with Laurie and the band.
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And that's the scoop. Tune in Monday for More Theater Monday.

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