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

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Where-To-Go Wednesday - West Milford Museum


What: West Milford Museum

Where: 1477 Union Valley Road
             West Milford, NJ

Who: All ages




The West Milford Museum is dedicated not only to the history of the town of West Milford but to the history of the region its located in as well. In most ways, it's pretty typical of museums of this type which are devoted to a particular town and the surrounding area. However, there are a few exhibits that are especially interesting at this specific museum. The first is an exhibit regarding Cross Castle. Cross Castle was an actual castle that used to exist in West Milford. A man named Richard Cross had it built for his family in 1905. Parts of the Castle remained until 1988 when what was left of it was declared unsafe and whatever was left of the structure was torn down. For more about the history of Cross Castle and to see pictures of both the castle and the Cross family visit the museum.




The other particularly noteworthy exhibit at the West Milford Museum regards Jungle Habitat. Jungle Habitat was an animal safari that existed prior to the opening of Six Flag's Great Adventure's Wild Safari Drive-Thru which is located in Jackson, NJ, and has been open there since 1974, although it originally opened as just Great Adventure's Wild Safari, and it was not part of Six Flags. Jungle Habitat was open only from 1972 to 1976. It was a crazy place where, unlike at Great Adventure where animals like lions and tigers are kept behind fences, even the wildest of animals could walk right up to your car. The place was plagued with problems including neighbors complaining about the traffic it caused, rumors of escaped animals, and more. Once a man was even attacked by a lion at the Safari although it was shown in court that he had actually rolled down his window and taunted the lion while driving through despite strict rules that required all vehicle windows to remain up at all times. The West Milford Museum's Jungle Habitat exhibit is quite extensive and includes numerous artifacts which in addition to various souvenirs also include a worker's uniform and a Tiger Trail sign. They also have Jungle Habitat videos and old commercials available for viewing. 




The West Milford Museum is open on Saturdays from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Mask-wearing and social distancing are required. The museum is fully handicapped accessible as there are no steps to get in the building and the museum is only one floor. The museum does not have its own website, but you can get further information about the museum on the Township of West Milford's website at http://www.westmilford.org/cn/webpage.cfm?tpid=3979




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

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Giveaway: Win a $150 credit to Spend on EvgieNev Wall Decals!

This information is brought to you by EvgieNev Wall Decals. All opinions those of the giveaway host. 

EvgieNev Wall Decals wants to help you set up a nursery, decorate a toddler’s room, or any room in your house for the holidays! They create beautiful, high-quality, vinyl wall decals that can transform any room and they are very affordable! 

They get many 5-star reviews from their customers:

   

Terrific Tropical Heaven 

  "Made the nursery look like one from a magazine. All our friends and family can’t stop complementing it and ask if it’s painted on the walls. Looks incredible. Definitely recommend!" ~Jennifer  

Ocean Friends Wall Decals

"I am so, so thrilled that we bought this for my son's room. I just love to look at it and he loves to point out "Daddy shark and baby shark", and "jellyfish" and "monkey!" It was a little daunting to put it up with all the pieces, but it really isn't that difficult to do. My 6-year-old started helping me at some point and was pretty successful. I highly recommend this product and this shop! Everyone I've shown the wall has been very impressed." ~ Kelly  

Monkeys, Jaguar, Armadillo, Blue Macaw and Anteater

 

 

"I absolutely loved working with the designer! They were very friendly, and made sure everything was exactly the way I wanted it! I will definitely buy from them again!"  ~Whitney   
  • They can offer FREE test decal for you to practice on and EASY Step-by-step detailed instructions!
  • They can adjust the decal size larger or smaller and add additional colors. 
   

Enter for a chance to win $150 credit to spend on EvgieNev Wall Decal!!

  • Open to residents worldwide but please note that if the winner is outside of the US or Canada, you will have to pay the difference in shipping. 
  • Giveaway ends: 4/14/2021 at 1159pm EST
  • The winner will have a $150 credit to spend at EvgieNev Wall Decals
         

Tips for Tuesday - Books: The Sweet Taste of Muscadines & Limited Series: The Undoing

We may have been given one or more complimentary copies for review purposes of any books and/or other products mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Books: The Sweet Taste of Muscadines

Today we are recommending The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry. After Lila's father died in the war everything changed, and she couldn't wait to grow up and leave her hometown. Now, she has returned for her mother's funeral and family secrets are revealed which changes everything she thought she knew about her childhood. Although this book starts out a little slow, it gets better as it goes along. No matter how dysfunctional you think your family is, they will probably seem perfectly normal compared to this family. However, their dysfunction makes this a very interesting story that will keep you wanting to read this very compelling family story.

Limited Series: The Undoing

Today we are recommending The Undoing. The Undoing is a six-part psychological thriller starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant. Jonathan and Grace Fraser seem to be the perfect couple with the perfect life. He is a pediatric oncologist, and she is a psychologist. Their tween son appears to be a happy well adjusted intelligent boy. Then, a tragedy occurs, and it turns out their lives are not nearly as perfect as they seemed. This very exciting series is chock full of twists and turns. It leaves you not knowing whom to root for and//or suspect from one minute to the next although it can be a little slow moving at times. The second and final episodes are definitely the most faced paced and exciting. The ending will definitely have you on the edge of your seat. 

The Undoing is available now digitally and/on DVD and Blu Ray from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

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

Monday, March 29, 2021

More Theater Monday*: Bump

We were given complimentary access to Bump for review puposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Bump

Where: Available to purchase as an audio play from L.A. Theatre Works  at  latw.org/digital-season

Who: 16 and Up

In 2006, inspired by his daughter's pregnancy, and after watching a video of a cork being removed from a bottle, Jorge Odon invented a device to assist in delivering a baby. His story was turned into the play, Bump. The show premiered Off-Broadway in 2018 and a new audio production of the show by L.A. Theatre Works is now available. L.A. Theatre Works is a leading producer of audio theater actively engaged in producing audio recordings of plays and making them accessible and affordable to individuals and schools.

Bump is quite an interesting story. Surprisingly, at the time of his invention, Jorge was neither a doctor nor a scientist. He was actually an auto mechanic. If you want to know how an auto mechanic came to invent a medical device, you'll have to listen to the show. The show is fairly quick and the whole thing only runs a little over an hour. It focuses not only on Jorge and his invention but also on the experience of pregnancy as a whole through the character of Jorge's daughter and her online support group. The subject is not dealt with in a heavy-handed way, and the show is very funny.  It will bring back memories to anyone who has ever experienced a pregnancy, but it can be enjoyed by anyone whether they've had a baby, experienced a pregnancy secondhand, or even just been a baby themselves.

Other shows available now in L.A. Theatre Works current season include The Thanksgiving Play, Life on Paper, and Extinction. Upcoming plays include No-No Boy and The Murder on the Links. Their vast catalogue also includes production like The Jungle, The Goodbye Girl, The Mountaintop and much more.

For more information or to purchase an audio visit https://latw.org/

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

*More Theater Monday is an occasional supplement to our regular Theater Thursday posts.  Additional theater-related posts can also be found in our periodic Still More Theater Saturday posts.

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Sunday Scoop Week of 3/28/21 Live and Virtual Events Coming Up This Week or Soon Thereafter and More

1) Anything Goes New Podcast Celebrates the History of Music Theater
2) Bette Davis Ain't For Sissises  Joins Broadway on Demand Lineup
3) Black Theatre United Releases Anthem: Track & Music Video Now Available
4) Broadway Profiles Show Spotlight Series Featuring Mean Girls Now Available
5) Emerson Resort & Spa in the Catskill Mountains Offers New Outdoor & Nature Inspired Activities
6) Emit Theater Presents La Cancion en la Tormenta 
7) The Fabulous Invalid Podcast Releases Episode on Ann Reinking
8) George Street Playhouse Season Continues With Fully Comiited Streaming Through 4/11
9) Little House on the Prarie Star in Nasty Nellie is an April Fool 4/1
10) Nai -Ni Chen Dance Company Announces the Bridge Virtual Dance Institute 3/29 - 4/2
11) Negative Liberty/Positive Liberty Continues Through 4/18
12) NYC Children's Theater Extends 2021 Virtual Performances 
13) R & H Goes Pop New Album and Vide Now Available
14) Rhode Island Youth Theatre  Virtual Choir Debuts Music Video for Original Song 
15) Sara and the Seed Musical Based on the Comic of Ryan Andrews Release Demo Album
16) Theater Resources Upcoming Community Gatherings Via Zoom 4/1 - 4/10
17) Walter Kerr Theater 100th Anniversary Digital Timeline Released 
18) The Wild Project Current Offerings


1) CELEBRATE THE COLORFUL HISTORY OF MUSICAL THEATRE WITH THE NEW PODCAST

ANYTHING GOES
Award-winning producer and director, Paul Lazarus, in association with the Broadway Podcast Network, is pleased to announce the reissuing of his popular Anything Goes radio series as a new podcast.  ANYTHING GOES will be available weekly Monday, March 22nd, 2021 on Stephen Sondheim’s 91st birthday with his episode, exclusively from the Broadway Podcast Network and wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.  Find it now at BPN.FM/AnythingGoes.

ANYTHING GOES, produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus, is a celebration of the American musical theater – past, present, and future. Show-stopping conversations with composers, lyricists, book writers, performers, directors, orchestrators, and more.  The podcast is material sourced from Lazarus’ radio show by the same name which was broadcast in New York on WBAI-FM and nationally on NPR from 1978 - 1986. Hundreds of episodes focused on storytelling with music, featuring everyone from the then fiftiesh-year-old Stephen Sondheim to the young Alan Menken who, at the time, was working on Little Shop of Horrors.

The first ten episodes of ANYTHING GOES will include Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine discussing the creation of their Pulitzer-prize winning show, Sunday in the Park with George, tributes to the First Lady of Musical Comedy, Ethel Merman, Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Wicked), and Gretchen Cryer (I’m Getting My Act Together…), a visit with legendary book writer Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof), two-part programs devoted to Comden & Green and Kander & Ebb and a visit with the then little known composer/lyricist Craig Carnelia (Working, Is There Life After High School?). Throughout the season, host Paul Lazarus explores the dazzling history of the musical stage.

The series will feature many rare and popular recordings of songwriters singing their own songs, such as:  Jule Styne (Gypsy, Funny Girl) playing and singing the first song he ever wrote, “The Guy with the Polka Dotted Tie), Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Wicked) performing the very first song he ever wrote for a Broadway show, “Butterflies are Free,” Yip Harburg singing a cut song from The Wizard of Oz and Jones and Schmidt singing songs they wrote for The Fantasticks.

The Podcast is available on Apple/iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart, TuneIn, Deezer, Player.FM, Pocket Cast, Podcast Addict and everywhere else you listen to podcasts.

For more information, visit www.AnythingGoesPL.com and BPN.FM/AnythingGoes
*********************************************************************

2) Pandemic Streaming Hit Joins BroadwayOnDemand
BETTE DAVIS AIN’T FOR SISSIES
Launched March 26

Internationally acclaimed one woman show BETTE DAVIS AIN’T FOR SISSIES  has been one of the success stories of the pandemic era. Just before COVID lockdowns began, writer/performer Jessica Sherr was in negotiations for the official Off-Broadway debut of her touring show. Her first livestream of BETTE DAVIS AIN’T FOR SISSIES on April 3, 2020 via Facebook proved that there was interest in Davis and watching solo performances from home. Since then, Sherr performed the show live from her apartment countless times, attracting audiences from 24 states and 7 countries globally. She was even able to do nearly a dozen live performances in Central Park for small, socially distanced and masked audiences last summer.  Now, BroadwayOnDemand will stream a newly filmed production of BETTE DAVIS AIN’T FOR SISSIES beginning March 26.

In BETTE DAVIS AIN’T FOR SISSIES, Sherr channels 31-year old Bette Davis’ fight against the male-dominated studio system.  On the night of the 1939 Oscars, Bette Davis returns home knowing she's to lose Best Actress to Vivien Leigh's Scarlet O'Hara, because the press has leaked the winners.  Davis takes us on the bumpy ride of her tumultuous rise, as the tenacious actress fights her way through the studio system to the top. Witness Bette triumph over misogyny to win roles and compensation on par with her male counterparts. See what happens when someone who always wins...loses.

Written and performed by Jessica Sherr (Blue Bloods, Annie, Claws), BETTE DAVIS AIN’T FOR SISSIES is directed by Karen Carpenter (Harry Townsend’s Last Stand, Love Loss and What I Wore).  Filmed live at the Mile Square Theater in Hoboken, NJ  in 2021, the all-female production team includes lighting by Minjoo Kim, music composed by Lillie Rebecca McDonough, hair and makeup by Loryn Pretorius, and wig by April Spain. Tickets are $21.45 each, available at www.BetteDavisAintForSissies.com. The streaming production of BETTE DAVIS AIN’T FOR SISSIES can be viewed on demand from through May 2.
*********************************************************************


3) BLACK THEATRE UNITED RELEASES THE NEW INSPIRING VIDEO AND SONG “STAND FOR CHANGE” IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE REPUBLIC RECORDS ACTION COMMITTEE (R2AC)

 

FEATURES PROMINENT BLACK THEATRE ARTISTS INCLUDING 

VANESSA WILLIAMS, AUDRA MCDONALD, BILLY PORTER, 

BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL AND MORE


Black Theatre United (BTU) releases the new song and video, “Stand for Change,” today in partnership with the Republic Records Action Committee (R2AC). The incredibly powerful and emotional song is brought to life by 13 acclaimed and award-winning veterans of the Broadway stage, and features BTU founding members Vanessa Williams, Billy Porter, Audra McDonald, Darius de Haas, Norm Lewis, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lillias White, Allyson Tucker, Michael McElroy, NaTasha Yvette Williams, LaChanze, Wendell Pierce, and Capathia Jenkins. Created as the theme song for BTU, 100% of net proceeds from the sale of the record will support the ongoing social justice efforts of the organization.

Stand for Change” was written by NYU professors Dave Schroeder (Director of MPAP) and Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer Phil Galdston (Director of Songwriting), and produced by Galdston, and Swagg R’Celious. The video is produced by HunterPark Productions partners Bethanie Schwartz and Lauren Tuttman in collaboration with producer Liz Curtis, directed by filmmaker Michael Cooke, and edited by Zeus Sepulveda. The song and video unite the shared racial equity and social justice missions of BTU to Unify, Advocate and Educate, and R2AC’s mission of Social Responsibility and Sustained Leadership. The partnership aims to not only call out and challenge racial inequity and inclusion for Black artists and behind-the scenes talent in the Broadway theater industry, but to galvanize communities to stand up for them throughout the country.

 

Listen to “Stand for Change”: HERE

Watch “Stand for Change”: HERE
*********************************************************************

4) BROADWAY PROFILES WITH TAMSEN FADAL


AMERICA’S FIRST WEEKLY


 NATIONAL BROADWAY NEWS T.V. SHOW


ANNOUNCES A NEW DIGITAL ONLY INSTALLMENT OF


 THE

 

BROADWAY PROFILES SHOW

SPOTLIGHT SERIES

HIGHLIGHTING SHOWS TOURING THE COUNTRY


NEW EPISODE TO HIGHLIGHT THE

TONY AWARD-NOMINATED BEST MUSICAL

MEAN GIRLS

 

IN CELEBRATION OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH


 

FEATURING


REGINA GEORGE OF THE NATIONAL TOUR


MARIAH ROSE FAITH

 

AND


TONY AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR


CASEY NICHOLAW

 

NOW AVAILABLE AT BROADWAYPROFILES.COM


Broadway Profiles with Tamsen Fadal” announced today that the latest episode of “Broadway Profiles Show Spotlight Series,” a special digital series that features nationally touring theatrical productions, will highlight the Tony Award-nominated Best Musical, Mean Girls. This new installment is now available at BroadwayProfiles.com.

 

Broadway Profiles with Tamsen Fadal is back with an all-new Show Spotlight, and this month's episode is totally fetch! We're shinning a light on the 2018 Tony Award®-nominated Best Musical Mean Girls, and letting fans across the country know you can definitely sit with us when the tour goes back on the road this fall. Queen Bee of the National Tour, Mariah Rose Faith, discusses playing the iconic Regina George and what it's like bringing the show to a new city each week. Plus, the show's Tony®-nominated director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw describes collaborating with an all-star creative team including the hilarious Tina Fey.


For more information, visit www.broadwayprofiles.com.

*********************************************************************


5) Emerson Resort & Spa In the Catskill Mountains Offers New Outdoor & Nature Inspired Activities

Emerson Resort & Spa in the Catskill Mountains, located two hours north of NYC in the Hudson Valley and Ulster County,  is offering new nature-focused and outdoor activities that guests and the whole family can experience on and offsite as we head into the spring and summer seasons.

Highlights include but are not limited to:

 

·       Brookside Wander Project, Scavenger Hunts and/or Guided Nature Walks – In partnership with the Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative, the Emerson introduced the Brookside Wander Project where guests can learn about native plant species, pollinating meadows, streamside ecology and flood mitigation during an outdoor stroll through the Emerson’s Brookside Wander path. There are also fun activities including scavenger hunts for families, along with guided nature walks upon request.

·       Self-Guided Birding Booklet on The Ashokan Rail Trail – For aspiring bird enthusiasts, guests can take advantage of the Emerson’s self-guided birding booklet on the Ashokan Rail Trail which recently opened to the public and is open from sunrise to sunset, offering nearly 12 miles of watershed lands that was previously closed for over 100 years. Identify a diverse range of birds that are often spotted on the trail from Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Yellow Warblers, Buffleheads, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and more.

·       Catch & Release Fly-Fishing Experience – The Catskill Mountain streams offer some of the finest fishing in the Northeast and is also known for being the birthplace of American Fly Fishing. With the Esopus Creek in the Emerson’s backyard, guests can sign up for a guided fly-fishing experience with Catskill Mountain Angler licensed guide Mark Loete, who has over 20 years of fly-fishing experience.

·       Mason Jar Terrarium Workshop – Create your own self-sustaining ecosystem while learning about native plant species found on the Emerson grounds and bring home a DIY memento.

·       Take a Complimentary Bike Out for a Spin – Bikes are complimentary for all guests and available on a first come, first serve basis.

·       Plunge into the Pool – The Emerson will reopen its outdoor pool starting Memorial Day at reduced capacity.

·       Gather Around Streamside for a Nighttime Bonfire – Every Thursday to Monday nights (weather permitting), guests can enjoy bonfire by Esopus Creek along with s’mores kits available at the Front Desk.


In addition, the popular and nearby Rail Explorers will reopen for the season starting in May for pedal-powered rail bike fun and parents can also play a round of golf at Woodstock Golf Club or Wiltwyck Golf Club.

 
Throughout COVID-19, the Emerson Resort & Spa has implemented their ongoing Stay Safe Pledge, a detailed system of protocols designed to keep guests, staff, and the local community safe while providing the hospitality they are known for. Inspired by the resort’s location in the Catskills, as well as its namesake, poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, the luxury boutique hotel features 53 rooms and suites, a signature restaurant Woodnotes Grille that serves locally sourced produce from the Hudson Valley, a luxury destination Spadog-friendly amenities, the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope, and more.
*********************************************************************

6) EMIT THEATRE PRESENTS LA CANCIÓN EN LA TORMENTA, AN INTERACTIVE DIGITAL ORIGINAL PLAY FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES

Emit Theatre is thrilled to present LA CANCIÓN EN LA TORMENTA, an interactive original performance for young audiences and families, directed by Gianna Cioffi. La Canción en la Tormenta is a digital performance over Zoom that is part of Emit Theatre’s Play Along Series. The show will be performed in two episodes over the course of April 1 - April 10. Each episode will air twice, Thursdays at 7pm and Saturdays at 1pm. Tickets are free but must be reserved online at www.emittheatre.org to receive access information.

Audiences will be whisked away to El Yunque rainforest in Puerto Rico to help the tiny but mighty Coquí frog save the home she loves. Coqui’s home has been destroyed after the god Juracán has become upset and caused a wild storm to ravage the rainforest! This interactive quest is infused with Spanish language as well as Puerto Rican music and mythology. Children will learn important lessons about taking care of their environment and their feelings. 

All of Emit Theatre’s productions are built to be engaging for multiple ages and abilities and allow audiences to experience plays in their own ways. All audience members are encouraged to become active participants in the story. Fun for everyone, crafted for ages 4-8. Each episode runs approximately 20 minutes.​

All performances feature live CART captioning. Audio descriptions of characters are included in the performance dialogue. 

For more information visit www.emittheatre.org/accessibility.
*********************************************************************

7) BROADWAY’S PODCAST


THE FABULOUS INVALID

RELEASES EPIC

EPISODE ON ICON

 

WE GOT ANNIE:

ANN REINKING (1949 – 2020)

 

AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE LIFE AND WORK OF

BROADWAY AND DANCE LEGEND

 

FEATURING


CANDY BROWN, MARILU HENNER,


BEBE NEUWIRTH, AND MICHAEL BERRESSE

 

NOW AVAILABLE


Broadway’s podcast, The Fabulous Invalid, releases an epic episode this week, We Got Annie: Ann Reinking (1949 – 2020), celebrating Broadway and Dance legend, Ann Reinking. We Got Annie is now available. Listen and download HERE.


In We Got Annie: Ann Reinking, co-hosts Jamie DuMont and Robert

Russo continue their season-long theme of their “favorite things” by paying

tribute to the singular life and work of Broadway dancer, actor, choreographer, director, and Fosse muse Ann Reinking, who passed away in December 2020. In addition to sharing their own reflections on Ann’s remarkable career, Jamie and Rob are joined by Candy Brown (Pippin), Marilu Henner (Over Here!Chicago), Bebe Neuwirth (Sweet CharityChicago), and Michael Berresse (Chicago) who share their own intimate remembrances of their dear friend and colleague. We Got Annie is a celebration of one of Broadway’s greatest legends, the unique gifts of her talent, and the indelible impact she made upon theatre history.

 

New episodes, and the complete archive of episodes from Season One and Two of The Fabulous Invalid, are available on iTunes and Spotifyand everywhere one downloads podcasts.

*********************************************************************

8) George Street Playhouse Continues Season With Highly-Anticipated, FULLY COMMITTED Starring Award-Winning Actor Maulik Pancholy

 

FULLY COMMITTED Now Streaming Through April 11


Off the heels of Bad DatesGeorge Street Playhouse is back with FULLY COMMITTED. The smash hit comedy written by Becky Mode and directed by David Saint, stars Maulik Pancholy, award-winning actor, author and activist known for his roles on 30 Rock and hit series, Weeds. The virtual production will be available to stream through April 11th.

The hilarious one-act play features 40 diverse characters, all played by Pancholy, follows a day in the life of Sam, an out-of-work actor who mans a red‐hot reservation line at Manhattan’s trendiest restaurant that receives outrageous calls from high-maintenance patrons who will stop at nothing to secure a reservation. Coercion and bribes are just beginning! Amid the barrage of calls, Sam has to deal with non-stop harassment from the chef and his own personal problems. The question is, can he deal with it all?

 

Tickets are available for $33 per household at GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org 

*********************************************************************

9) Little House on The Prairie star Celebrates April Fool's Day with
NASTY NELLIE IS AN APRIL FOOL
Thursday, April 1 on StageIt

You would be a fool to miss former child star, outspoken activist, and TV Land Award winner ALISON ARNGRIM as she presents NASTY NELLIE IS AN APRIL FOOL, a special April Fool's Day themed edition of her critically acclaimed solo show Confessions of a Prairie B.i.t.c.h. Best known as TV's brattiest prankster, the acid-tongued, pre-Midol meanie Nellie Oleson from Little House on the Prairie, Alison Arngrim offers an uproarious blend of storytelling and stand-up about life as everyone's favorite toxic pre-teen brat, complete with petticoats and ringlets. Never afraid to dish the dirt on TV land, she lets all the secrets loose of Little House on the Prairie, verifies Hollywood gossip, reveals tales about her showbiz family, and much more. Fans are invited to ask questions and interact with one another as well. Running time is 30 minutes. May include language inappropriate for children under 13.

NASTY NELLIE IS AN APRIL FOOL will be presented live at StageIt.com on Thursday, April 1 at 8pm EST / 5pm PST. Tickets are $10, available at www.SpinCycleNYC.com.
*********************************************************************

10) NAI-NI CHEN DANCE COMPANY
Announces
The Bridge
Virtual Dance Institute
 of boundary-breaking dance experiences
Free One-Hour Company Class on Zoom
Open to All Dancers at an Intermediate to Advanced Level
March 29-April 2, 2021

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company has established a new dance institute through Zoom, The Bridge.  The Institute’s aim is to bring together dancers, choreographers and directors around the world to experience the master teachers of color whose practices are embedded in the community and are focused on advancing the art of dance that transform the personal, environmental and metaphysical spaces. Interested dancers can join the class by registering on Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company’s website: http://nainichen.org/company-class.

As a virtual dance institute, The Bridge will invite world renowned as well as up and coming dancers and choreographer to come to guest teach the class. Advanced/Intermediate level professional or pre-professional dancers who are looking to explore beyond their own boundaries and looking for new dance experiences are encouraged to participate. The core program is based on Nai-Ni Chen’s Kinetic Spiral, which is a cross-cultural dance vocabulary that integrates the Chinese martial arts philosophy in TaiChi with contemporary dance practices she studied in America. Guest artists will cover a wide range of folk and classical dance styles.

The Bridge Class schedule are as follows: 
Week of 3/29/2021
Monday Yuka Notsuka (Kinetic Spiral)
Tuesday Juana Cala (Flamenco: Rhythm and Movement) at 11am
Wednesday Nai-Ni Chen (Kinetic Spiral) at 11am
Thursday Andrij Cybyk (Ukrainian Dance) at 11am
Friday Greta Campo (Kinetic Spiral) at 11am
*********************************************************************

11) the american vicarious 
in collaboration with The Invisible Dog Art Center present

NEGATIVE LIBERTY / POSITIVE LIBERTY
a socially distanced performance installation
Now through April 18 at The Invisible Dog Art Center, Brooklyn

Following-up on their most recent collaboration, Static Apnea 2020, the american vicarious and The Invisible Dog Arts Center proudly present the world premiere of Negative Liberty / Positive Liberty, a karaoke-based performance installation inspired by the events of January 6, 2021.

Negative Liberty / Positive Liberty asks a single viewer, in an 8-minute performance, to lend their voice to an artistic distillation of Isaiah Berlin’s 1958 lecture, Two Concepts of Liberty. In this lecture Berlin argues that when concepts of liberty are used rhetorically to control and repress individuals in the name of liberty itself - it will inevitably lead to violent conflict.

NEGATIVE LIBERTY / POSITIVE LIBERTY runs through April 18, 2021, Thursday through Saturday from 1pm – 7pm and Sundays from 1pm to 5pm at The Invisible Dog Art Center 51 Bergen Street in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.  Tickets are free. Reservations for specific entry times can be made at theamericanvicarious.org. Walk ups will be accommodated as entry times are available.
*********************************************************************
12) NYC Children's Theater Extends 2021 
Virtual Performances 
New York City Children's Theater (NYCCT) continues through the pandemic to provide critically-acclaimed and engaging family theater and education programming and now will extend their spring 2021 productions including:

Same, Same, But Different 

Streaming March - May 2021 

45 Minutes | Best for ages 5-10 ; Available on NYCCT’s Website with Live Special Events 


Performances began earlier this month of Same, Same, But, Different, an adaptation from Barbara Zinn Krieger and Maximillian Gill of the award-winning book by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw, written for and produced on Zoom! Same, Same but Different follows El, who lives in America, and Kailash, who lives in India, as they become pen pals. When they begin exchanging stories and pictures about their different lives, they quickly learn that although their worlds might be an ocean apart, they are quite similar. 


The Traveler 

Streaming April  - May 2021 

50 Minutes | Best for ages 3-8 Available on NYCCT’s Website with Live Special Events


And this spring, join don't miss a filmed presentation of our hit show The Traveler, a love letter to modern-day immigrants who travel thousands of miles in search of a new home and community. From the imaginations of celebrated mime Bill Bowers and director Andrew Frank, comes a silent and whimsical tale of one man's journey to find a new home. The Traveler debuted in-person at Theater Row in 2020, pre-pandemic.

*********************************************************************



13) CRAFT RECORDINGS AND CONCORD THEATRICALS



RELEASE NEW ALBUM


R&H GOES POP!


AVAILABLE HERE

 


ALONG WITH NEW MUSIC VIDEO FEATURING


ANDY MIENTUS


AND HIS SULTRY TAKE ON 


“SOME ENCHANTED EVENING”


AVAILABLE HERE

 


ALBUM FEATURES BROADWAY’S BEST, INCLUDING


KATRINA LENK, JEREMY JORDAN, ALI STROKER,


GAVIN CREEL, ARIANA DEBOSE, JELANI ALLADIN

,

ASHLEY PARK, SANTINO FONTANA, AND MORE

 

Craft Recordings and Concord Theatricals are proud to announce the digital release of the R&H Goes Pop! album. Featuring contemporary takes on timeless Rodgers & Hammerstein classics, the full album can be streamed and downloaded HERE

To celebrate, a new music video featuring Andy Mientus (CW’s “The Flash,” NBC’s “Smash”) performing a new take on “Some Enchanted Evening” was released today. The video, shot in 2019, was directed by two-time Tony Award® nominee Michael Arden, and also features Dyllón Burnside (FX’s “Pose”), John Cameron Mitchell, and Michael McElroy.

Watch the music video on the Rodgers & Hammerstein YouTube channel HERE.

R&H Goes Pop! features the brightest Broadway stars performing and honoring the Rodgers & Hammerstein catalog with unique and inventive takes, ranging from pop and rock to R&B and country. The 15-track album features reinterpreted takes on iconic songs from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s hit Broadway musicals.

Album Track List:

1.     “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” – performed by Jeremy Jordan

2.     “Shall We Dance?” – performed by Ariana DeBose

3.     “Some Enchanted Evening” – performed by Andy Mientus

4.     “It Feels Good” – performed by Lilli Cooper

5.     “Something Wonderful” – performed by Gavin Creel

6.     “Lonely Room” – performed by Rebecca Naomi Jones

7.     “This Nearly Was Mine” – performed by Ryan McCartan

8.     “The Next Ten Minutes Ago” – performed by Jeremy Jordan & Laura Osnes
A mashup of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Ten Minutes Ago” and Jason Robert Brown’s “The Next Ten Minutes” from The Last Five Years

9.     “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top” – performed by Ali Stroker

10.   “Younger Than Springtime” – performed by Derek Klena

11.   “Something Good” – performed by Katrina Lenk

12.   “We Kiss in a Shadow” – performed by Jelani Alladin & Matt Doyle

13.   “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?” – performed by Santino Fontana

14.   “Do-Re-Mi” – performed by Ashley Park

15.   “The Sweetest Sounds” – performed by Kyle Selig 

*********************************************************************

14) RHODE ISLAND YOUTH THEATRE VIRTUAL CHOIR DEBUTS MUSIC VIDEO FOR ORIGINAL SONG

GUIDE ME HOME


SONG  WRITTEN AS TRIBUTE TO THE PERFORMING ARTS COMMUNITY AND AN EXPRESSION OF THE PANDEMIC’S IMPACT ON TEENS.


Rhode Island Youth Theatre Virtual Choir (RIYT) recently debuted its music video for an original song “Guide Me Home,'' composed by three teens for the company’s Ghost Light Project.  The song was written as a tribute to the performing arts community and an expression of how this pandemic has impacted teens. To view the video, please click here.
*********************************************************************

15) SARAH AND THE SEED

RELEASES DEMO RECORDING

BASED ON THE COMIC BY RYAN ANDREWS


FEATURING BROADWAY ACTORS 

NATALIE CHARLE ELLIS, CASSIE OKENKA, BADIA FARHA, ALAN H. GREEN AND MANY MORE

 

Following up from a fall 2019 first reading at the Jerry Orbach Theater, co-adapters Juliet Mazer-Schmidt Jr. and Jonathan Wagner (School of Rock) have released a demo album for their new musical, Sarah and the Seed. Adapted from the Eisner Award-nominated comic by Ryan Andrews (This Was Our Pact), Sarah and the Seed is a dance-infused, self-accompanied, folk fable that explores the power of home through all shades of the unknown and reminds us that there’s more than one way to grow a family. Overture to Finale, its new video demo runs 66 minutes with content appropriate for all ages, available for listening here.


Featuring panels from the original comic alongside script excerpts, Sarah and the Seed’s “Homegrown Holiday Demo” showcases the voices of fellow School of Rock alums Natalie Charle Ellis (Beetlejuice), Cassie Okenka (Bonnie & Clyde), Badia Farha (Broadway Bounty Hunter), Alan H. Green (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), and Jesse Swimm (Mary Poppins), alongside Kyla Anderson, Oliver Berger, J.C. Brooks, Rick Desloge, Kathleen Butler-Duplessis, Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, Matt Deitchman, Cory Goodrich, Jordan Reading, Rivkah Reyes, Pep Speed, Chelsea Wilson, Jennifer Wingerter, Vince Wingerter, Travis Austin Wright, Wagner and Mazer-Schmidt.

*********************************************************************

16) Theater Resources Unlimited
Announces Upcoming
TRU Community Gatherings via Zoom

4/2 - BroadwayRadio Has Been Listening to Us. What Has It Heard?

4/9 - Advocacy, Opportunity and Inspiration During (and After) COVID

4/16 - Still Swimming Up-Stream: New Advances in Virtual Musical Presentation

4/23 - The Mystery of the Successful Podcast ... Solved!

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) hosts weekly Community Gatherings every Friday at 4:30pm ET via Zoom, to explore the creation of art and theater in the time of COVID-19. Ask questions, bring answers, be part of a community – it’s an opportunity to network with theater professionals and talk about keeping theater alive during these challenging times. To reserve a spot and receive the Zoom invitation, email TRUnltd@aol.com with “Zoom Me” in the subject line. Check the upcoming schedule at truonline.org/tru-community-gathering.

Friday 4/2 at 4:30pm ET - BroadwayRadio Has Been Listening to Us. What Has It Heard? In the room: host James Marino and co-hosts, theater reviewers Peter Filichia and Michael Portantiere, have been interviewing the theater community since 2009. On radio. The perfect socially distant medium. Has the audience increased during shutdown? What have people been saying? What has changed in the last year? And what are the predominant views of the future of post-pandemic theater? CLICK HERE to register and receive the Zoom link.

Friday 4/9 at 4:30pm ET - Advocacy, Opportunity and Inspiration During (and After) COVID. In the room: Aimee Todoroff, director, Managing Director of the League of Independent Theater and Chris Harcum, award-winning actor, producer, and playwright (and Director of a Bright Future for LIT). They are co-founders of Elephant Run District indie theater company. The power of advocacy and the founding and evolution of the League of Independent Theater, including initiatives to help theater venues, as well as theater artists, survive the shutdown. And the difference between Open Culture and NY Pop Ups, and their roles in bringing back live performance. CLICK HERE to register and receive the Zoom link.
 

Friday 4/16 at 4:30pm ET - Still Swimming Up-Stream: New Advances in Virtual Musical Presentation. In the room: Joe Barros, Artistic Director and Jen Sandler, Associate Artistic Director of New York Theatre Barn, return to update us on the evolution of their ongoing programming of incubating original musicals in real time and in front of live audiences, and their quest to making musical theatre development the most accessible that it’s ever been both for artists and audiences. We'll continue our previous conversation from last July, about virtual development and projects that converge at the intersection of theatre and film.

Friday 4/23 at 4:30pm ET - The Mystery of the Successful Podcast ... Solved! In the room: writer Dorothy Marcic and producer Bill Franzblau of MANSlaughter, a podcast based on Marcic's true crime book about the murder of her uncle, and it made it to #1 on the Apple Podcast list! A conversation about adapting a book for podcast, the technical skills needed to generate a professional and engaging product, as well as effective marketing and distribution.

Videos of past Community Gatherings may be viewed on TRU’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/channel/UC43rsChi4fA23dNLeloaF_A/.
*****************************************************************

17) JUJAMCYN THEATERS


CELEBRATES

THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE


WALTER KERR THEATRE



WITH INTERACTIVE DIGITAL TIMELINE


SHOWCASING LANDMARKED THEATER’S 


STORIED HISTORY

 

FEATURING MEMORIES FROM


STEPHANIE J. BLOCK, CRYSTAL DICKINSON, 


TOVAH FELDSHUH,LEWIS FLINN, JOHN EARL JELKS,


CHERRY JONES,KENNY LEON, ADRIANE LENOX,


 ANDREW LIPPA, OMAR METWALLY


,RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON, JEREMY SHAMOS,


JASON TAM, FREDERICK WELLER


AND MORE…


Jujamcyn Theaters celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the historic Walter Kerr Theatre, with a just-released interactive timeline. The timeline, a definitive history of the building, features a century’s worth of history: from the earliest shows, musicals, and revues, through its history as a television and radio studio, brief spans as an adult film theater and later a children’s theater, and finally as one of the most beloved houses on Broadway.

The timeline features a lovingly curated collection of seldom seen ephemera including old production photos, Playbill covers, sheet music, and press clippings. In addition, the people who have made the Walter Kerr their home over the last century – actors, directors, designers, writers, house and crew members – have contributed memories of their time at the Kerr. Contributors include Stephanie J. BlockCrystal DickinsonTovah FeldshuhLewis FlinnJohn Earl JelksCherry JonesKenny LeonAdriane LenoxAndrew LippaOmar MetwallyRuben Santiago-HudsonJeremy ShamosJason TamFrederick Weller, and more.

The interactive timeline can be viewed at www.jujamcyn.com/walterkerrtimeline

Audiences are invited to join the centennial celebration by sending Kerr memories either as short videos (under 3 minutes), photos, and/or short written statements to walterkerrtimeline@jujamcyn.com

*********************************************************************

18) What's on at the 

wild project


Now – April 18
FOLLOWSPOT: a series of digital comedic performances to save our theatre!
With performances by Becca Blackwell, Brandon Collins, Manning Jordan, Jill Pangallo, and Paul Soileau with Roddy Bottum & Frank Haines
Produced by Wild Project & Solo Project Fund
Tickets: $10
Streaming On-Demand on wildprojectTV 

Some of New York City’s most exciting performers – Becca Blackwell, Brandon Collins,
Manning Jordan, Jill Pangallo, and Paul Soileau – come together for FOLLOWSPOT, a series of solo performances for the camera in support of Wild Project, a venue that has been a cornerstone of the East Village performance art community for nearly fifteen
years.

Filmed on stage at the Wild Project and presented through wildprojectTV , a digital streaming platform, the virtual showcase began on March 19th with a performance by comedian/playwright Manning Jordan (Brooklyn Comedy Collective, FRIGID Fringe); comedian Brandon Collins (MTV, VH1, Medium Popcorn podcast) performs on March 26th; performance artist Paul Soileau (CHRISTEENE) will be joined by Roddy Bottom (Faith No More, Imperial Teen) and artist/performer Frank Haines on April 2nd; actor/comedian/artist Jill Pangallo (Joe’s Pub, Pioneer Works) will take the “stage” April 9th, and actor/comedian Becca Blackwell (NYTW, HBO, Netflix), wraps things up on April 16th. The videos will remain available for streaming indefinitely.
 
Available On-Demand Now!
TETHER
Produced by the wild project
Streaming On-Demand on wildprojectTV 
Tickets: $10

In this collaborative work, TETHER explores the bonds between people, tapping into the minds, bodies, and inner essences of each other to open portals into the surreal.

Available On-Demand Now!
TREES: A New Musical, created & directed by Mur
Produced by wild project
Featuring: Mur, Aisha Kerensa, Haley Fortune, Jade Litaker & Nyah Raposo
Streaming On-Demand on wildprojectTV 
Tickets: $4.99
*********************************************************************
And that's the scoop. Tune in tomorrow for More Theater Monday.