Sunday Scoop Week of 7/31/22 What's Happening This Week and More

1) Amanda Selwyn Dance Co. Green Afternoon IX

8/6

2) American Museum of Natural History

Sharks Exhibit Extends Through 9/4

3) Braata Caribbean Cultural Festival

8/6

4) Centenary Stage Co. Announces Young Audience's Summer Festival of Shows 

5) George Street Playhouse Tickets on Sale for the 2022/2023 Season

6) Into the Woods Extends Run on Broadway

7) The Music Man New Broadway Cast Album to Be Recorded

8) The Unsinkable Molly Brown Off-Broadway Cast Recording Now Available

1) Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre

announces

Green Afternoon IX

An Excerpt from Threads

August 6, 2022 at 5 pm 

Home of Marcia Previti and Peter Gumpel,

230 Old Stone Highway, East Hampton, NY

Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre announces Green Afternoon IX, an excerpt from Threads, on August 6, 2022 at 5 p.m. at the home of architects Marcia Previti and Peter Gumpel, 230 Old Stone Highway, East Hampton, NY. This outdoor performance will be held in a unique garden setting, featuring movement installations in the various outdoor “rooms” throughout the property and a seated performance on the great lawn. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Regular tickets are $150 and Patron tickets are $500. For more information and to buy tickets, visit amandaselwyndance.networkforgood.com/events/43208-green-afternoon-ix.

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2) SHARKS AT THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NOW EXTENDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 4, 2023

SPECIAL EXHIBITION EDUCATES VISITORS ABOUT THE OCEAN'S MAGNIFICENT AND MISUNDERSTOOD TOP PREDATORS

The American Museum of Natural History has announced that the special exhibition Sharks will remain on view through September 4, 2023. As reports of shark sightings are on the rise this summer, the Museum’s newest special exhibition sheds light on the facts and fiction behind these magnificent ocean animals.

Fixed in the public imagination as toothy, fearsome predators, sharks are far more fascinating, and more complex, than their depiction in popular culture. The reality is that most sharks pose no threat to people and, in fact, play a vital role in healthy ecosystems. Through life-size models, touch-free interactives, real fossils, and dynamic media presentations, visitors to Sharks can discover the incredible diversity of this intriguing group of fishes and learn about the conservation threats they are facing today.

The American Museum of Natural History is located at 200 Central Park West, New York, NY.

Tickets that include admission to Sharks start at $28 for adults, $16.50 for children (ages 3–12), and $22.50 for seniors and students. Timed-entry tickets must be reserved in advance at www.amnh.org.

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3) Braata Productions presents Bankra Caribbean Culture Festivalat York Performing Arts Center

August 6, 2022

Braata Productions presents Bankra Caribbean Culture Festival celebrating the 60th year of independence of Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago on Saturday, August 6, 2022, 12pm-8pm, on the lawn of the York Performing Arts Center, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd, Queens, NYC. The event is free, but donations are accepted at braataproductions.org/bankra2022.

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 4) CENTENARY STAGE COMPANY’S YOUNG AUDIENCE SERIES ANNOUNCES SUMMER FESTIVAL OF SHOWS 

Centenary Stage Company’s Young Performers Workshop’s 2022 Summer Festival of Shows has just been announced and will feature performances of I Do! I Do! I Do! I Do!, A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking, and Two for Four.Performances will run August 5 through 14 in the Little Theatre located at 400 Jefferson St, Hackettstown, NJ. Ticket prices for I Do! I Do! I Do! I Do! and A Couple White Chicks Sitting Around Talking are $12.50 for adults and $10.00 for students and children under 12, and Two for Four is free to attend with donations welcome. For more information or to schedule your interview call the Centenary Stage Company box office at (908) 979 – 0900 or visit Centenary Stage Company on-line at centenarystageco.org 

I Do! I Do! I Do! I Do! Is a musical with book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt. The story of soul mates navigating life together, the show begins with Michael and Agnes on their wedding day. Their vows behind them, they look forward to spending the rest of their lives together. We watch as they go through their wedding night jitters, raise a family, and negotiate midlife crises. Michael eventually admits to his infidelity, and, although Agnes is angered by his actions, she forgives him, and the couple reconciles. They rediscover how much they really need each other. Then, after fifty years of marriage, the couple leaves their house to the next pair of newlyweds. 

A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking is a comedy set in the suburban Westchester County kitchen of Maude Mix, who is having a tough day: her husband is off on a weekend spree with his secretary, and she can't get rid of the pesky neighbor who has just moved up from Texas. Hannah Mae Bindler badgers Maude into friendship and the two eventually join forces against their errant and erring husbands. 

Two for Four is a series of one-act plays. A one-act play is a production that is shorter than a typical length play that features one act with no intermission.  

Performances of I Do! I Do! I Do! I Do! will take place on Friday, August 5 at 8:00 pm; Saturday, August 6 at 2:00 pm; Sunday, August 7 at 7:00 pm; Saturday, August 13 at 7:00 pm; and Sunday, August 14 at 7:00 pm. Tickets for I Do! I Do! I Do! I Do! are $12.50 for adults and $10.00 for students and children under 12. Performances of A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking will take place on Saturday, August 6 at 8:00 pm; Sunday, August 7 at 2:00 pm; Friday, August 12 at 8:00 pm; Saturday, August 13 at 2:00 pm; and Sunday, August 14 at 2:00 pm. Tickets for A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking are $12.50 for adults and $10.00 for students and children under 12. Performances of Two for Four will take place Tuesday, August 9 at 7:30 pm; Wednesday, August 10 at 7:30 pm; and Thursday, August 11 at 7:30 pm. Performances of Two for Four are free to attend with donations welcome. All performances will take place in Centenary Stage Company’s Little Theatre located in the Seay building of the Centenary University campus at 400 Jefferson St, Hackettstown, NJ. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit centenarystageco.org or call the box office at (908) 979-0900. 

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit centenarystageco.org or call the Centenary Stage Company box office at (908) 979 – 0900.  The Centenary Stage Company box office is open Monday through Friday from 1 – 5 PM and two hours prior to all performances.  The box office is located in the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ.  Centenary Stage Company can also be found across social media platforms; Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and Instagram.  Like and follow to receive the latest in CSC news and special offers. 

Centenary Stage Company remains committed to the health and safety of our community and adheres to all requirements set forth by the State of New Jersey.  For more information regarding CSC COVID-19 policies and policy updates, visit centenarystageco.org/faq. 

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5) Tickets Now On Sale for

George Street Playhouse

2022-23 Season

George Street Playhouse (GSP)-- is excited to welcome back audiences to the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center and proudly announces casting for the upcoming production of Her Portmanteau a new play by Mfoniso Udofia, directed by Laiona Michelle.  Performances begin October 11^th, 2022 through October 30^th.

The season opens with Her Portmanteau, a moving play about a mother and her daughters.  Performances begin October 11^th, 2022 through October 30^th. Following Her Portmanteau, the season continues with Joy, a new musical based on the best-selling book “Inventing Joy” that chronicles the life and times of global entrepreneur Joy Mangano (December 7- 30^th); the comedy/thriller Clydes by two-time Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage (January 31 – February 19^th, 2023); the charming musical comedy The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (March 14- April 9^th, 2023) , and Tales From the Guttenberg Bible, a new autobiographical comedy from veteran screen actor Steve Guttenberg (April 25- May 21, 2023).

Tickets are now on sale for the full 2022-23 Season at 

www.GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org.  Box office is open for phone sales at 732-246-7717 starting Monday, August 1 at 10 a.m.  Subscribers save 20% or more on full-season packages and discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more.

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6) CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED

NEW YORK CITY CENTER ENCORES!

PRODUCTION OF

JAMES LAPINE AND STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S

REVIVAL OF

INTO THE WOODS

TO EXTEND FOR AN ADDITIONAL 8 WEEKS

THROUGH OCTOBER 16

Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, today announced that the hugely acclaimed and much beloved New York City Center Encores! production of James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s revival of Into the Woods at the St. James Theatre will be extended for an additional eight weeks. Tickets are now on sale through October 16.

Into the Woods, the first Broadway show of the 2022/2023 season, is directed by Lear deBessonet, music direction by Rob Berman with The Encores! Orchestra, and choreographed by Lorin Latarro. This production is dedicated to the memory of Stephen Sondheim.

Additional casting announcements will be made soon.

Tickets for the extension are vailable now via SeatGeek.com/into-the-woods.

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7) MEREDITH WILLSON’S

QUINTESSENTIAL BROADWAY MUSICAL COMEDY

THE MUSIC MAN

STARRING

HUGH JACKMAN

AND

SUTTON FOSTER

TO RELEASE CAST RECORDING

The Producers of The Music Man announced today that Accidental Jacket Entertainment will release the official cast recording of the much beloved Broadway revival of Meredith Willson’s The Music Man, starring two-time Tony Award^®, Grammy Award^®, and Emmy Award^®-winning star Hugh Jackman as Professor Harold Hill and two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Marian Paroo. The album is produced by seven-time Grammy Award^® nominee Robert Sher, in partnership with producers Brian Gillet and Huck Walton. The two-day recording session with the complete original cast took place earlier this week at Manhattan Center. Never-before-seen photos of the session can be downloaded here. An official release date for the recording will be announced shortly.

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8) Broadway Records and Yellow Sound Label

announce

The New Cast Recording of Meredith Willson’s

The Unsinkable Molly Brown

starring Beth Malone

now available digitally

She ain’t down yet! Brought to you by the Transport Group’s award-winning production in conjunction with Music Theatre International, this studio recording of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, will be available everywhere, digitally, Friday, July 22nd. The Unsinkable Molly Brown features Meredith Willson's original score and lyrics plus unknown gems from Willson’s trunk, with a new book and added lyrics by Dick Scanlan, and liner notes by Luis Miranda. The album was recorded on December 12, 2021.

Track List:

1. I Ain’t Down Yet (Molly, Vincenzo, Arthur, Erich, William, Miners)

2. The Wonderful Plan (Molly, Julia)

3. Just Becuz (Vincenzo, Erich, Arthur, Company)

4. I’ve A’ready Started In (J.J., Vincenzo, Erich, Arthur)

5. Dancing to the Saddle Rock (Orchestra)

6. Belly Up to the Bar, Boys (Molly, Arthur, Erich, Vincenzo, Julia, J.J., Company)

7. I’ve A’ready Started In - Reprise (Vincenzo)

8. I’ll Never Say No/My Own Brass Bed (J.J., Molly)

9. He’s My Friend (Arthur, Vincenzo, Erich, Baby Doe, Tabor, Company)

10. Are You Sure? (Molly, J.J., Tabor, Baby Doe, Company)

11. Act One Finale (Molly, J.J.)

12. Beautiful People of Denver / The Sacred 36 (Molly, J.J., Louise Sneed-Hill, Company)

13. Share the Luck / He’s My Friend - Reprise (Molly, Company)

14. I’d Like to Change Everything About You (J.J., Molly)

15. Cuppa Tea (Julia, Molly, Louise Sneed-Hill, Sacred 36 Ladies)

16. If We Can-Can (Maud, Women)

17. The Dolce Trio

Dolce Far Niente (The Dolce Trio)

The Same Little Chapel (J.J.)

I May Never Fall in Love With You (Molly)

18. Wait for Me (Molly)

19. Share the Luck - Reprise (Molly, Company)

20. Exit Music (Orchestra)

21. Bonus Track: Colorado My Home 

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And that's the scoop. Tune in tomorrow for another Talking Topic.

Theater Thursday - Between the Lines

What: Between the Lines 

Where: Tony Kiser Theater 305 W. 43rd St. New York, NY 

Who: Recommended for Ages 13 and Up

Me - Between the Lines the musical was absolutely magical. The show is based on the book of the same name written by the best-selling author Jodi Picoult and her daughter Samantha Van Leer. I loved almost everything about the show. It tells the story of a young girl who is having trouble finding her place in her school, and in the world. She reads as a way to escape her problems. When she becomes obsessed with a fairy tale, she is shocked to discover that the characters in the book are living a whole different life when the book is closed. Then one day, the prince from the story starts talking to her. 

Many changes were made from the book to the stage, but I found that most of the changes worked very well. There were also a lot of similarities to the book including many lines taken directly from the book which is something I really appreciated. 

The set is another detail that makes this show special. It was definitely one of my favorites out of any show I've ever seen. I love the way they used projections and different doors to really bring the fairy tale to life. The costumes were great as well. A lot of them were really beautiful, especially the costumes the fairies wore, which were some of my favorites. 

The songs were another one of the best parts of the show. I absolutely love just about every song. I really hope they record an album at some point because I would definitely want to get it. I know I would listen to it non-stop. 

Arielle Jacobs was incredible in the lead role of Delilah McPhee, and Jake David Smith was perfect for his role of Prince Oliver. The rest of the cast was amazing as well. I was even able to have seen a few of the understudies in several roles, and they were terrific as well. 

I  also had the pleasure of meeting a few of the cast members, as well as Jodi Picoult, after the show, and they were all just as lovely as I had hoped they would be. When I told Arielle Jacobs how much the show means to me, she asked me my name and signed a personalized message on my playbill, which was one of the coolest things to ever happen to me. She also complimented the dress I was wearing, which made me feel really good. When I told Jodi Picoult how much the show means to me, she signed a personalized message on my copy of the book, Between the Lines, she spelled my name wrong, but I don’t really mind because it’s still just as amazing that she did that for me. 

The fact that the people involved with the show go out of their way to be so nice makes me love the show even more. Both the show and the book Between the Lines really mean a lot to me, because Delilah is a character that I can very much relate to in a lot of ways. I have been fortunate enough to have seen the show five times already, and I am hoping to see it as many more times as possible before it closes on October 2nd. I can not possibly recommend this show enough. I really hope that the show goes to Broadway so that even more people will get the opportunity to see this incredible show. 

Mom -  As a big fan of Jodi Picoult, I was excited to see the stage adaption of Between the Lines, a book she wrote with her daughter when her daughter was a teenager. I originally read the book the show was based on years ago when it was published. I enjoyed it, but I didn't think too much about it afterward.  I was excited to see the show, however. 

After I saw the show, it became special to me. I felt a connection to the authors of the book because I too write with my teenage daughter. The relationship between the mother and daughter in the show is very real and healthy. Usually, mothers in shows are either evil, pushy, or extremely eccentric. Very often the daughter ends up parenting herself and sometimes even her mother as well. Delilah's mother, Grace, however, is a good mother who cares about her daughter, but she has her own issues to deal with and sometimes just life and getting by keeps them from connecting in the way that they should. However, ultimately Grace is always there for her daughter.

However, it's more than just the mother-daughter relationship that makes this show special. You hardly ever see shows about teenage girls in general and when you do they are not very realistic. A common theme is a teenage girl who for whatever reason is not popular but by the end of the show becomes popular and magically all her problems disappear. Real life is not like that, however.

Delilah, the main character of Between the Lines is a very realistic girl with very real problems despite the fairy tale aspects of the plot. She is socially awkward. She is more at home with her books than other people. She is the target of bullies not because she is trying to take over the social hierarchy but simply because of the way she is. She is a character so many young girls can relate to in so many ways. 

In the end,  the things that set Delilah apart turn out to be her strengths, and she gains confidence in herself and begins to develop these strengths. This is an extremely good lesson for young girls. and a much better and more realistic message than the ending of the book (although as I previously mentioned I did enjoy the book and a little fantasy now and then never hurt anyone). However, the show is much more relatable, and that is why so many young girls like my daughter are drawn to it, it gives them hope and not hope that a fairy tale prince is going to sweep them off their feet but hope that if Delilah can survive and thrive maybe they can too.

Despite its attraction for young girls, however, the show is not only for young girls. It is extremely well-acted. It has an entertaining plot that aside from its serious side is also full of delightful humor. It is full of catchy memorable songs. It is a show that can be enjoyed by anyone. 

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

Photo credits: 

All Between the Lines production photos by Matthew Murphy

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Title IX: Activism On and Off the Field

We were given complimentary tickets to Title IX: Activism On and Off the Field for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

 

What: Title IX: Activism On and Off the Field

Where: The New York Historical Society

             170 Central Park W.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Tweens and Up

When:  Through September 4, 2022

Me - The exhibit, Title IX: Activism On and Off the Field, at the New York Historical Society was really interesting. I knew very little about Title IX before we visited the exhibit. However, now I am more aware, that there is much more to it than just girls having access to sports.  Title IX is even more important today because some people seem more interested in taking away people's rights rather extending people's right. 

The exhibit includes posters from different marches and things. There were magazines and shirts and dolls related to women in sports. There were also parts of the exhibit that talked about how unequal things were for women and men prior to Title IX and how different cases helped change the law. For instance, in some cases women didn't even have their own locker rooms or uniforms. They also weren't admitted to colleges as often and they could be thrown out of school for stupid reasons like getting pregnant.  

Although women and girls have gained a lot of ground since the passage of Title IX, there is still a lot of progress to be made. Also, it is very important not to go back on the progress that has already been. This exhibit is a good reminder of both of these things. 

Mom - The current exhibit at the New York Historical Society regarding Title IX couldn't be more timely and not only because this year mark's the 50th anniversary of the law's passage. Today more than ever we are fighting not only to gain rights that we never had, but to keep the rights that we have already won. This is true not just of women but of all oppressed groups who have never really been given full rights and/or treated equally in society.

Contrary to what most people think, Title IX is not just about sports and as far as sports go it is not about getting rid of men's sports to add women's sports. It's about having equal access not just to sports but to education as well. It is also about being able to participate in sports and/or getting an education without being sexually harassed while doing so.

The exhibit highlights leading activists and their work and details case histories. It includes numerous documents, pictures, and artifacts including books, magazines, buttons, shirts, and more. There is even a whole section on famous women in sports which illustrates how they have come to be venerated like male athletes. They have given young girls role models to look up to in the same way that male athletes have always been for young boys and perhaps even more so because it seems that more often it is male athletes who turn out not to be such good role models after all. Most importantly this exhibit reminds us why Title IX exists, and why we must ensure that it continues to exist. 

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

Tips for Tuesday - Books: Long Story Short & Misc: California Cowboy La Sirena Robe

We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes to any products, and/or visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Books: Long Story Short

Today we are recommending Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor. Home-schooled Beatrice is used to being alone and sticking to her routines rather than venturing out and making friends. When she secretly applies to Oxford and gets in, her parents refuse to let her attend until she goes to a summer drama camp and completes a checklist of items that take her out of her comfort zone. There she meets Nik the annoying but talented son of the camp's owners, and they immediately butt heads.

This is a cute book. The heroine's journey out of her shell is inspirational. The drama camp setting is fun and provides the opportunity for plenty of references to Shakespeare. The characters are appealing. Even the mean girl has another side to her character. It's a great book for those who are fans of theater, the enemies-to-lovers trope, and/or found family.

Misc: Calfornia Cowboy La Sirena Robe

Today we are recommending California Cowboy's La Sirena Robe. It is super soft and comfortable. It has plenty of pockets including a bottle-sized one and a zippered pocket for safe storage of your technology products. It has a sunglasses loop and a locker loop. It ties inside and out. It is perfect for the beach or the pool or even just lounging around at home.

For more about the La Sirena Robe or other California Cowboy products or to order your own La Sirena Robe, visit shop.californiacowboy.com.

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

More Theater Monday - At This Perfomance Concerts Return to The Green Room 42

At This Performance concerts have returned to The Green Room 42. These monthly events feature current Broadway standbys, alternates and understudies singing  songs from their shows as well as other songs.

This month's concert occured on Monday July 18, 2022 and featured the following performers:

Kathryn Allison who  currently covers various roles in Broadway's Company.

Dan Hoy who currently covers Prince Oliver and various other roles in Off Broadway's Between the Lines.

Ephie Aardema who currently covers Fanny Brice and various other roles in Broadway's Funny Girl.

Nevada Riley who currently covers Lydia and the  Girl Scout in Beetlejuice.

Aramie Payton who is currently the standby for MJ and Michael in Broadway's MJ.

Mary Kate Moore who currently covers The Baker's Wife and various other roles in Broadway's Into the Woods.

Aubrey Matalon who currently covers Delilah and various other roles in Off Broadway's Between the Lines.

Kyle Ramar Freeman who currently covers Usher and various other roles in Broadway's A Strange Loop.

The Green Room 42 is located on the 4th floor of  Yotel, 570 10th Ave., New York, New York. The next At This Performance Concert will take place on Monday, August 8. For more information visit https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/show/details.

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday