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, February 4, 2024

Sunday Scoop Week of 2/4/24 What's Happening This Week and More

A) Beginning Performances 

In New Jersey

1) A Lovesong for Miss Lydia

2) Ghetto God in Divineland

In New York

3) A Chorus Line 

4) The Apiary

5) The Christine Jorgensen Show

6) The Movement You Need

7) The Order of the Golden Scribe

8) Pericles

In Philadelphia 

9) Cost of Living

B) Cast Changes

10 ) Hadestown

11) Sweeney Todd

12) Titanique 

C) Extended Runs  

13) Hadestown

14) Hypnotique

D) What Else is Happening This Week and More

15) A Beautiful Noise Presents Nick at Nite: Nick Fradiani Sings More Neil
2/6

16) A Night of Love at the Prudential Center
2/9

17) Brooklyn Children's Museum Celebrates Lunar New Year
2/11

18) Chain Winter One-Act Festival
2/8 - 3/3

19) Classic Stage Accessibility Initiatives for Pericles

20) Center Stage Records Releases Steven Pasquale Some Other Time 

21) Japan Society Presents Rearview into Mirror in the Mirror
2/9

22) NJPAC Celebrates the Songs of Peggy Lee & Frank Sinatra
2/8

23) Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company Year of the Greenwood Dragon
NPAC 2/10 & 2/11

24) Roundabout Theater Company Underground Reading Series
2/12 - 2/16

25) Samantha Shay's Romance North American Premiere
Dance on Camera & Film at Lincoln Center 2/10

26) Theater Resources Unlimited Upcoming Community Gathering By Zoom
2/9

27) Theatre Resources Unlimited New Plays Virtual Reading Series
2/11, 2/18, 2/25

28) Two River Theater Curated Events for The Scarlet Letter

29) White Wave Dance 8th Annual SoloDance Festival
2/8 & 2/9 

30) Works & Process at the NYPL Presents Spill the Tea With George Lee
2/7

ABeginning Performances 

courtesy of Kelsey Theatre

In New Jersey

1) A Lovesong for Miss Lydia

Lydia Frazier, a widow in her seventies and a pillar of her church, has long ago given up the notion of romantic love, and is living out her life with quiet dignity in her modest Philadelphia home. Things change when she decides to take in a boarder. Her roomer turns out to be the charming and apparently unscrupulous Mahlon, who loses no time in working his wiles on his trusting, vulnerable landlady, despite the cautious warnings of her well-meaning friends. Will the sage and good-hearted Lydia prove to be a match for the duplicity of the scheming Mahlon?

Kelsey Theatre at MCCC (1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor)
2/9 - 2/11

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit a.purplepass.com/organizer/66720

Courtesy of Passage Theatre Company

2) Ghetto God in Divineland

Ghetto Gods in Divineland is an experimental afrofuturism play set to the vibe, energy, and music of Trenton's own Poor Righteous Teachers, telling the story of the unheard community of Divineland and how far its residents will go for representation and reclamation of their resources.

Mill Hill Playhouse (205 E. Front St., Trenton)
2/8 - 2/25 Weekends

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.onthestage.tickets/show/passage-theatre-company

In New York

3) A Chorus Line 

Argyle Theatre (34 W. Main St., Babylon)
Through 3/24

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.argyletheatre.com.

4) The Apiary

22 years in the future, two lab assistants hatch a plan that could change the world. All they need are a few volunteers.

Tony Kiser Theater (305 W. 43rd St.)
Through 2/25
Opening Night 2/13

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 2st.com/shows/the-apiary

5) The Christine Jorgensen Show

The Christine Jorgensen Show is a musical re-telling of Jorgensen’s remarkable story along with that of Myles Bell, the forgotten song-and-dance man who helped her craft a nightclub act that transformed her from headline into headliner.

59E59 Theatres (59 E. 59 St.)
2/8 - 3/3
Opening Night 2/14

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 59e59.org/shows/show-detail/the-christine-jorgensen-show.

6) The Movement You Need

In The Movement You Need, join Ted Lasso’s Brendan Hunt as he presents a new solo show that comically explores his relationship with his departed mother, a fraught kinship that had one area of life-long concord: the music of The Beatles. A decent time is guaranteed for all.

Soho Playhouse (15 Vandam St.)
2/7 - 2/10
Open Night 2/7

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sohoplayhouse.com/ifes-plays

Courtesy of Spin Cycle 

7) The Order of the Golden Scribe

The secretive and very exclusive Order of the Golden Scribe has cordially invited you to become a member. Now you just have to pass the tasks assigned to you at the official Initiation Tea ceremony. You and your fellow initiates will work together to decipher clues, solve puzzles, and unlock teas, finger sandwiches, scones, and desserts. It’s all fun and games... but be careful who you speak to and try not to raise suspicion. Pay attention, and you might discover that there is something else afoot. At THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN SCRIBE: INITIATION TEA, not everything is as it appears to be. Can the Order be trusted?

Caveat (21A Clinton St.)
2/10 - 3/30

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.orderofthegoldenscribe.com.

8) Pericles

Pericles takes the Prince of Tyre on a Mediterranean adventure full of riddles, betrayals…and pirates! From confident leader to yearning lover to seeker of meaning, our hero in this Shakespearean tragicomedy will be brought to life on the CSC stage by the inventive Fiasco Theater, who have previously delighted New York audiences with inspired interpretations of Cymbeline and Into the Woods. The Fiasco Theater ensemble brings music, poetry, and a completely new way of seeing one of the Bard’s most complex characters.

Classic Stage Company (136 E. 13th St.)
2/8 - 3/24
Opening Night 2/26

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.classicstage.org.

In Philadelphia

9) Cost of Living

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and just recently on Broadway, Cost of Living traces two relationships: one between a wealthy graduate student with cerebral palsy and his female caregiver, the other between a woman recovering from a terrible accident being tended to by her ex-husband. Heartfelt, funny, and deeply moving, this exquisitely written play examines the fiscal and emotional cost of human connection.

Philadelphia Theatre Company at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre
(480 S. Broad St.)
Through 2/18
Opening Night 2/7

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 

B) Cast Changes

10 ) Hadestown

Ani Di Franco joins the cast as Persephone 2/9
Lola Tung joins the cast as Eurydice 2/9

Hadestown has been transformed into a genre-defying new musical that blends modern American folk music with New Orleans-inspired jazz to reimagine a sweeping ancient tale.

Walter Kerr Theatre (219 W. 48th St.)

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.hadestown.com

Photo courtesy of Print Shop PR

11) Sweeney Todd

Aaron Tveit joins the cast as Sweeney Todd joins 2/9
Sutton Foster joins the cast as Mrs. Lovett 2/9

Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s landmark musical, from an adaptation by Christopher Bond, tells the tale of a resourceful pie shop owner and a vengeful barber out for blood. After he’s sent away by a corrupt judge, Sweeney returns to London years later seeking his long-lost family, and forms an unlikely partnership with Mrs. Lovett, who serves up pies underneath his former shop. Together, they wreak havoc on Fleet Street and serve up the hottest – and most unsettling – pies in London.

Lunt Fontanne Theatre (205 W. 46th St.)

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 
www.sweeneytoddbroadway.com

Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

12) Titanique 

Nicole Parker returns to the cast as Celine Dion 2/9

All aboard NYC’s must-sea musical comedy! When the music of Céline Dion makes sweet Canadian love with the eleven-time Oscar®-winning blockbuster film Titanic, you get Titanique, off-Broadway’s most award-winning splash hit, which turns one of the greatest love stories of all time into a hysterical musical fantasia. Want to find out what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night? Just leave it to Céline Dion to enchant the audience with her totally wild take, recharting the course of Titanic’s beloved moments and characters with her iconic song catalog. Sailing on fierce powerhouse voices in show-stopping performances of such hits as “My Heart Will Go On,” “All By Myself”, and “To Love You More” – backed by the unparalleled energy of a full live band – Titanique is a one-of-a-kind theatrical voyage bursting with nostalgia, heart, and campy chaos.

Daryl Roth Theatre (101 E. 15th St.)

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit titaniquemusical.com.

C) Extended Runs

13) Hadestown

Lillas White extends her run as Hermes in Hadestown through 3/17

For more information about Hadestown, see 9) above.

14) Hypnotique

Hypnotique offers a unique after-dark experience that envelops guests. Audiences are captivated by spontaneous performances and mesmerizing dancers, accompanied by daring sonic soundscapes in a surreal ambiance in The Club Car.

The McKittrick Hotel (530 W. 27th St.)
Now closing 3/30

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit  

D) What Else is Happening This Week and More

15) “A BEAUTIFUL NOISE,

THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL”


ANNOUNCES


“NICK AT NITE:

NICK FRADIANI SINGS MORE NEIL”

 

A SPECIAL ONE-NIGHT ONLY, POST-PERFORMANCE CONCERT


HEADLINED BY THE “AMERICAN IDOL” WINNER


& MEMBERS OF THE “A BEAUTIFUL NOISE” BAND

 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6


AT THE BROADHURST THEATRE


A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical will host “Nick at Nite: Nick Fradiani Sings More Neil,” a special a special one-night only, post-performance concert taking place Tuesday, February 6 at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) headlined by the “American Idol” winner and members of the A Beautiful Noise band with special guest appearance by Amber Ardolino, who stars as ‘Marcia Murphey.’


The concert will feature highlight some of Fradiani’s favorite Diamond hits that were cut from the show.


The concert is free to anyone who attends the Tuesday, February 6 performance. Tickets can be purchased now at www.telecharge.com, by calling 800 447 7400, at www.abeautifulnoisethemusical.com, or at Broadhurst box office.



XXX




Courtesy of Prana PR

16) A NIGHT OF LOVE 2024 
Fyi, Jaheim is from New Brunswick, N.J. – super big soul singer from the 90’s
 

 
NEWARK GET READY!!!
 
SJ PRESENTS A NIGHT OF LOVE WITH
KEYSHIA COLE, TREY SONGZ, K. MICHELLE, AND NEW JERSEY'S OWN JAHEIM
THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME CONCERT WILL MAKE YOU FALL IN LOVE AGAIN!
 
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH, 2024 at 8 PM
Ticketmaster.com

Get ready Newark, N.J. for A Night of Love presented by S.J. Presents with a stellar musical lineup featuring R&B superstars Keyshia Cole, Trey Songz, K. Michelle, and New Jersey's own Jaheim on Friday, February 9 at the Prudential Center located at 25 Lafayette Street in Newark, N.J.

Get Tickets for A NIGHT OF LOVE w at Ticketmaster.com.


XXX

17) Celebrate Lunar New Year at Brooklyn Children’s Museum on 

February 11


Activities include a traditional lion dance, kung fu and calligraphy workshops, storytelling, and delicious eats! 


Brooklyn Children's Museum (BCM) invites families to celebrate the Year of the Dragon on Sunday, February 11.


Visitors will learn about the traditions of Lunar New Year through live music, dance performances, and kung fu workshops with the New York Chinese Cultural Center, storytelling with authors Michele Wong McSween and Yobe Qiu, calligraphy workshops with artist Nelson Leung, and a lion dance parade led by the Chinatown Community Young Lions.


Traditional Lion Dance

Gather in the BCM lobby to participate in a traditional lion dance to bring luck in the new year. Performers from the Chinatown Community Young Lions will lead this parade with full-scale, authentic lion dance costumes!


Storytelling with author Yobe Qiu

Meet author Yobe Qiu and participate in an interactive reading of Yobe’s book, Our Lunar New Year. This program includes an introduction to Lunar New Year traditions and customs, followed by a 30-minute fan painting and lantern-making workshop.


Storytelling with author Michele Wong McSween

Hear stories read aloud by children’s book author Michele Wong McSween! This program will include a mini mandarin lesson and an interactive reading of Michele’s book Gordon & Li Li: Celebrate Chinese New Year.


Calligraphy Workshop

BCM invites visitors to its ColorLab Art Studio to learn about and create your own Chinese calligraphy using brush and ink. Artist Nelson Leung will share his work, guide the project, and explain the significance of Chinese calligraphy.


Scales of a Dragon

What's your wish for the New Year? Contribute to a community art project in by writing your hopes and goals down on a paper 'scale,' then adding it to BCM’s Big Dragon along the ColorLab Art Studio wall.


Note: All programs are subject to change.


Celebrate Lunar New Year activities will take place throughout the day on Sunday, February 11, beginning at 10:00 AM. Tickets to the Museum grant access to all of the day’s events and are $15 for general admission, $14 for grandparents, and free for children under one year-old and BCM members. To purchase tickets, visit: www.brooklynkids.org/programs/lunar-new-year.


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18) ACADEMY AWARD-NOMINEE JESSIE EISENBERG STAGE-DIRECTORIAL DEBUT AS PART OF CHAIN WINTER ONE-ACT FESTIVAL


February 8th - March 3rd, 2024

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT www.chaintheatre.org

Chain Theatre, Kirk Gostkowski, Artistic Director, Rick Hamilton, Managing Director, Christina Elise Perry, Director of Development, is pleased to announce the 2024 edition of the CHAIN WINTER ONE-ACT FESTIVAL, featuring the stage-directorial debut of Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network),a new work by acclaimed playwright Taiwo Aloba (The Gospel of Efunroye), and Carlo Marks (SmallvillePretty Little LiarsThe 100) solo performance.  The festival will feature over 60 new plays at the Chain Theatre (312 W 36th St, 3rd & 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10018). The festival begins ThursdayFebruary 8 and continue through SundayMarch 3.  Tickets will be $22 in advance and $25 at the door. More information available at www.chaintheatre.org

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19) NEW

ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVES FOR

 

FIASCO THEATER’S

PERICLES

 

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

DIRECTED BY BEN STEINFELD

 

INCLUDING:

CHILDCARE MATINEES

OPEN & CLOSED CAPTIONING

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION

 

FEBRUARY 8 – MARCH 24, 2024

 

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

AT CLASSICSTAGE.ORG


Classic Stage Company (Jill Rafson, Producing Artistic Director; Amanda Feldman, Managing Director) and Fiasco Theater (Co-Artistic Directors Jessie Austrian, Noah Brody, Ben Steinfeld and Managing Producer B.J. Evans) are proud to announce new accessibility initiatives for the upcoming run of Fiasco Theater’s Pericles. Performances will begin on Thursday February 8, 2024, with opening night set for Monday February 26. The run will conclude on Sunday March 24, 2024.  Tickets are on sale now at www.classicstage.org.

CHILDCARE MATINEES

Sunday February 18, Sunday February 25, Sunday March 3

In Partnership with Broadway Babysitters and PAAL


In order to support caregivers who may wish to attend, audience members for Pericles can sign up for free childcare during select performances. Advance sign-up is required, as space is limited. People interested in requesting care should go to this link:  https://app.cleverwaiver.com/render/templateByRefId/65aedbc5803bd4ac8efc174d.


Once their childcare spot is confirmed, they will be sent a link to buy tickets and will be sent a special discount code in Fiasco and CSC’s ongoing efforts to help make theater more affordable for caregivers.


OPEN & CLOSED CAPTIONING

Closed Captioning available at all performances.

Open Captioning performances on March 18 & 19


All performances of Fiasco Theater’s Pericles will have closed captioning available on any personal smart device, made possible by GlobeTitles. Patrons will be given a URL and access to free WiFi in order to follow along on their own devices. Additionally, the production will have two open captioned performances on Monday March 18 at 7pm and Tuesday March 19 at 7pm Closed captions can be turned on or off by the viewer, at their discretion, and will be available at all performances of Pericles with the use of a personal smart device. Open captions are always visible and cannot be turned on or off. The two performances with open captions will have video screens near the stage that will display the text alongside the performance.


AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION

Saturday March 9 at 2pm


An American Sign Language-interpreted performance will be held on Saturday March 9 at 2pm. Interpretation will be provided by Hands On, an organization dedicated to providing access to the performing arts to Deaf and hard of hearing communities. Hands On is a nonprofit arts service organization whose mission is to provide the services, information, and resources necessary to ensure the Deaf community's active participation in New York's cultural mainstream through the provision of high-quality artistic interpreted theater, dance, performance art and literature.  For more information, please visit Handson.org.


XXX

20) Center Stage Records Announces 

STEVEN PASQUALE: SOME OTHER TIME

Voice and Guitar with John Pizzarelli 

Available Digitally Now


Center Stage Records announced Steven Pasquale: Some Other Time, the sophomore album from Broadway’s leading baritone, is available digitally now at www.CenterStageRecords.com and on all platforms. A vinyl edition is expected later this year.


“Some Other Time” showcases Pasquale's "generational voice" and the incomparable jazz guitar playing of John Pizzarelli as they bring ten iconic American songbook tunes to life. The ten standards featured on “Some Other Time” represent the essence of the great American songbook, capturing the timeless melodies and heartfelt lyrics that have made these songs beloved for generations. Pasquale pays homage to the golden era of jazz with his rich and captivating voice – it's no secret this is Broadway's leading baritone – and Pizzarelli compliments him perfectly with his truly singular guitar playing,. Listeners can expect to be transported back in time as Pasquale and Pizzarelli effortlessly guided us through classics such as “Stardust”, “Smile”, “The Impossible Dream”, and “When I Fall In Love”. Each track on the album will showcase just two things: Pasquale’s singing and Pizzarelli’s jazz guitar. No frills. 


XXX


21) Japan Society

Presents

 

Rearview into Mirror in the Mirror

with Kengo Kuma and Erieta Attali


Japan Society presents “Rearview into Mirror in the Mirror with Kengo Kuma and Erieta Attali” on February 9 at 6:30pm at Japan Society (333 E. 47th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues).

 

Mirror in the Mirror, the most recent collaborative book between architect Kengo Kuma and photographer Erieta Attali, was born from the authors' shared desire to transcend the limits of architecture and imagery and enhance the sensorial experience of the featured spaces. Attali's photographs capture the interconnectedness of the built space with nature central to Kuma’s design practice where architecture reaches out into its surrounding environment, bringing nature back into its interiors. Meticulously crafted by designers Koma Amok for Hartmann Books, Mirror in the Mirror is a narrative depicting atmospheric moments and thresholds of transition, in an unfolding interplay of light and texture.

 

In this talk event moderated by Prof. Seng Kuan, Lecturer in Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Kuma and Attali, accompanied by book contributor Prof. Barry Bergdoll, Meyer Schapiro Professor of Art History at Columbia University, will discuss the broader significance of this publication within the realms of architecture and photography.

 

Followed by a book sale and signing reception.

 

Tickets for “Rearview into Mirror in the Mirror with Kengo Kuma and Erieta Attali” at Japan Society are currently on sale HERE. Ticket prices are $22 for non-members, and $17 for members, seniors & students.

 

This Talk takes place at Japan Society’s landmarked headquarters at 333 East 47th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues), one block from the United Nations. For complete information, visit www.japansociety.org. 



XXX

Photo courtesy of Prana PR


22) NJPAC CELEBRATES THE SONGS OF 
PEGGY LEE & FRANK SINATRA
A TRIBUTE FEATURING ALOE BLACC, DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER, PAULA COLE, BETTYE LAVETTE, CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE, RACHAEL PRICE, BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL AND THE CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE BIG BAND & STRINGS

 
New Jersey, come out and celebrate Frank Sinatra, an American Icon born to Sicilian parents in Hoboken, New Jersey.
 
Thursday, Feb. 8  2024 at 7:30 PM
$49.00 - $99.00
 
Our Love is Here to Stay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2JR3ZYayw4
 
Nice Work If You Can Get It
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB1MxIZrmCk
 
NJPAC
Prudential Hall
Betty Wold Johnson Stage
One Center Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
www.njpac.org

New Jersey Performing Arts Center Celebrates the songs of Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra, a pair of close friends and Capitol Records labelmates—who just happened to be two of the 20th century's most essential and influential singers on Thursday, February
8th at 7:30 p.m.  
 
Expect a magical musical tribute in song Featuring ALOE BLACC, DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER, PAULA COLE, BETTYE LAVETTE, CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE, RACHAEL PRICE, BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL and THE CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE BIG BAND & STRINGS ~ this guaranteed to be a memorable performance. In addition to singing duets originally performed by Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra like "Our Love is Here to Stay" and "Nice Work If You Can Get It", these outstanding performers will share stories of the revered musical friendship between the great Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra.

XXX

Photo courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

23) Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company presents

Year of the Green Wood Dragon

at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center



Saturday, February 10 and Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 2pm


The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company presents Year of the Green Wood Dragon, a lunar new year celebration, on Saturday, February 10 and Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 2pm at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Victoria Theater on the Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Stage, One Center Street, Newark, NJ. Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased at https://www.njpac.org/event/nai-ni-chen-dance-company-year-of-the-green-wood-dragon/.


Welcome the Year of the Green Wood Dragon. Every year, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company celebrates the lunar New Year with a spectacular performance at NJPAC. This year, we’ll embrace the spirit of the dragon — a symbol of power, strength, good luck, prosperity and happiness. Bring the whole family for this joyful display of Chinese dance, contemporary dance, acrobatics, vibrant costumes and live music. And of course, you’ll experience the dazzling Dragon Dance! After the show, stop by the lobby to shop for beautiful papercraft by traditional artists.


This year’s program premieres a NJPAC-commissioned workMongolian Festival by Mongolian dancer/choreographer Lawrence Jin. In this traditional Mongolian dance, he focuses on the generous spirit of the Mongolian people, the powerful Mongolian warriors and the respect they have for the great prairie that is essential for the nomadic life. The dance portrays aspects of Mongol herders' daily activities, including milking cows, cooking, hunting, household labor, celebrations, and traditions. This culturally rich and dynamic performance will be accompanied by traditional Mongolian music, creating a captivating and immersive experience for the audience.

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24) ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY

Announces

 

2024 UNDERGROUND READING SERIES

FIVE READINGS IN FIVE NIGHTS

 

FEATURING NEW WORKS BY

DYLAN GUERRA, MATTHEW LIBBY, ALEX LIN, ANKITA RATURI, ARUN WELANDAWE-PREMATILLEKE

 

February 12 – 16, 2024

At The Black Box Theatre
 in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, President/CEO, in memoriam; Scott Ellis, Interim Artistic Director) is thrilled to announce the 2024 Roundabout Underground Reading Series, a five-night event that includes nightly readings of new works written by emerging artists, with post-show receptions. The Reading Series will feature new works by Dylan Guerra, Matthew Libby, Alex Lin, Ankita Raturi, and Arun Welandawe-Prematilleke.

                                                                                                                                         

The Roundabout Underground Reading Series is February 12 – 16, 2024 at 5:00PM at the Black Box Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street).

 

Roundabout Underground exists to provide a new generation of playwrights with their debut New York productions, at Roundabout’s 62-seat Black Box Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre. To encourage the widest possible audience, all seats are $30.


THE GRIEF EATER NEAR NORTH BENDER

By Dylan Guerra, Directed by Dustin Wills

Monday, February 12 at 5:00PM

 

People are getting eaten, others are losing their memory; the Grief Eater is back in North Bender with a vengeance. It's up to Byron and his thrown-together team of aggressive, half-drunk, selfish, heartbroken North Bender citizens to stop the monster before it devours the existence of everyone they love.

 

NO ONE PLAYS BADMINTON IN AMERICA

By Ankita Raturi, Directed by Rebecca Wear

Tuesday, February 13 at 5:00PM

 

Citra and Melati are highly ranked youth badminton players, ready to represent Indonesia internationally. While Melati starts traveling to play in major tournaments on her own, Citra immigrates with her family to Washington D.C., leaving her badminton dreams behind. As they navigate coming of age, each has what the other wants. A play about young athletic excellence, young long-distance friendship, and young love (mostly hormones). Above all, No One Plays Badminton in America is a love letter to badminton that asks what it means to figure out who you are away from home.

 

DATA

By Matthew Libby, Co-Directed by Adam Coy and Tyne Rafaeli

Wednesday, February 14 at 5:00PM

 

Maneesh is a brilliant entry-level programmer at Athena Technologies, a prominent data-mining firm in Silicon Valley. Content to work in the low-stress environment of User Experience, Maneesh has a crisis of conscience when he is offered a transfer to the more-central Data Analytics team, and learns the true nature of Athena’s work. Torn between the idealism of his friend Riley and the fierce company loyalty of his mentor Jonah, Maneesh is forced to come to terms with his unique American identity, and decide the personal and societal cost of his work — all while learning the extent to which Athena is willing to go to hide its secrets.

 

CHINESE REPUBLICANS

By Alex Lin

Thursday, February 15 at 5:00PM

 

When high-flying finance it-girl Katie Liu loses the promotion of a lifetime to a nepo-baby colleague, she embarks on a treacherous endeavor to make a labor union out of her Republican work aunties. Welcome to the world of Chinese Republicans, where the best bags are Birkin, the best shoes are Prada, and the best president is Reagan.

 

THE PRESENT

By Arun Welandawe-Prematilleke, Directed by Devin E. Haqq

Friday, February 16 at 5:00PM

 

On an island in the Indian Ocean there is no past, only the present. Progress moves at rapid speed and a new high-rise pops up almost daily over the remains of the old city, until digging for foundations leads to the digging up of ghosts. A play about the defiant act of remembrance.


TICKET INFORMATION

A very limited number of FREE tickets to the reading series will be available to the general public. Tickets can be reserved by emailing undergroundreadings@roundabouttheatre.org.

 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

There will be one reading each night at 5:00PM, Monday, February 12 – Friday, February 16 at the Black Box Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street).


TICKET INFORMATION

A very limited number of FREE tickets to the reading series will be available to the general public. Tickets can be reserved by emailing undergroundreadings@roundabouttheatre.org.

 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

There will be one reading each night at 5:00PM, Monday, February 12 – Friday, February 16 at the Black Box Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street).


XXX

Photo by Constanza Sandoval

25) The North American Premiere of Samantha Shay’s

Romance

with Naomi Brito, Julie Shanahan, and Julie Anne Stanzak,

based on Miranda July's short story "It was Romance"


Dance on Camera & Film at Lincoln Center

Saturday, February 10, 2024


On Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 3:15pm, Samantha Shay’s short film Romance will screen as part of the 52nd edition of the Dance on Camera Festival at Film at Lincoln Center’s Francesca Beale Theater, 144 W. 65th Street, NYC.


Based on Miranda July's short story "It was Romance," Romance creates an illuminating meeting point between the works of July and Pina Bausch. Resulting from filmmaker Samantha Shay's Fulbright Scholarship at Tanztheater Wuppertal. Created in collaboration with one of the company's youngest and first transgender dancer, Romance centers around how Naomi Brito’s transition was inspired by her encounter with the roles of women, as she observed them, in the repertory of Pina Bausch. Set in an auditorium on a Saturday morning, a group of women are learning to be romantic. Shot on 16mm film in Pina Bausch's iconic and aging Lichtburg rehearsal studio, this piece walks the line between fiction and reality, dance and documentary, in the same way Bausch's deeply cathartic, and often autobiographical work did. Romance is a fertile intergenerational dialogue between past, present and future, and, through a fresh and powerful encounter, assures that the power of an aging legacy is never ending. Romance features Naomi Brito, longtime collaborators of Pina Bausch Julie Shanahan, and Julie Anne Stanzak, as well as Emily Castelli, Marissa Chibas, Taylor Drury, Heather Ehlers, Claudia Ortiz-Arraiza, and Ekaterina Shushakova.


The four-day festival features 11 programs with a total of 36 films selected from countries around the globe, including eight world premieres, five North American premieres, two U.S. premieres, and more than 10 New York premieres. Dance on Camera Festival, the longest-running dance film festival in the world, takes place at Film at Lincoln Center with programming organized by the nonprofit organization, Dance On Camera.


Tickets for the 2024 Dance on Camera Festival are now on sale: $12 for Film at Lincoln Center Members, $14 for Students, Seniors (62+), and Persons with Disabilities, and $17 for the General Public. Save with the discounted All-Access Pass for $99 and the discounted Student All-Access Pass for $59. See more and save at FLC with a 3+ Film Package ($15 for general public; $12 for students, seniors (62+), and persons with disabilities; and $10 for FLC Members). Add dinner at Café Paradiso, located in FLC’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, with a $30 Dinner + Movie Combo.


For additional information regarding the festival, please visit filmlinc.org and dancefilms.org, and follow them on social media @filmlinc and @dancefilms.


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Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

26) Theater Resources Unlimited

Upcoming TRU Community Gathering via Zoom

Why Theater Needs Cast Recordings, and the Introduction of a Brand New Label

Friday, February 9, 2024 at 5pm ET


A dependable haven for artists in isolation, Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is now in its fourth year of non-stop weekly Community Gatherings this Friday, having offered to date nearly 200 conversations and unlimited camaraderie since April 17, 2020. TRU hosts their Community Gatherings every Friday at 5pm ET via Zoom, to explore the creation of art and theater in the time of COVID-19, and to ensure that these crucial conversations continue going forward as theater reopens.


Join TRU on Friday 2/9 for Why Theater Needs Cast Recordings, and the Introduction of a Brand New Label. Come meet Van Dean, producer (Jagged Little Pill, Anastasia, Matilda, The Lightning Thief, Tony winner for Porgy and Bess revival), co-founder and former head of Broadway Records (Grammy for The Color Purple revival, Grammy nominee for Caroline, or Change, Matilda and My Fair Lady; also released nearly 300 recordings including Camelot 2023 revival, Anastasia, Once on This Island), now founder and president of Center Stage Records (Gutenberg! The Musical, How to Dance in Ohio).


Van built Broadway Records into a respected brand. Has a change of his goals and/or the business itself influenced his decision to create the recently announced Center Stage Records label? How has the market for original cast albums changed over the years? How does a cast album fit into a commercial production budget? Digital albums vs. CDs: what is the market for each? Going forward, how will Van apply everything he learned with Broadway Records, and what lessons is he taking into the new brand? Click here to register and receive the zoom ink.


Check back at TRU’s web page for future 2024 gatherings: truonline.org/tru-community-gathering. To receive the Zoom invitation for weekly meetings, email TRUnltd@aol.com with “Zoom Me” in the subject header. These gatherings are free for TRU members, non-members are asked to make an optional tax-deductible donation, or consider joining TRU at truonline.org/membership to support the organization during these challenging times.


Videos of past Community Gatherings may be viewed on TRU’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/channel/UC43rsChi4fA23dNLeloaF_A/. And a new podcast series, TRU Talks About Theater featuring 2023 Community Gathering conversations is now available wherever you get your podcasts; or tune in at ElectraCast: https://electracast.com/?s=Theater+Resources


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Photo courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

27) Theater Resources Unlimited Announces

the 2024 TRU Voices 

New Plays Virtual Reading Series

presented with The StoryLine Project & CreateTheater in partnership

with Streaming Musicals and the new Milliron Media Group Studios

Sundays, February 11, 18 & 25, 2024 

at 4:00pm EST


Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) partners with CreateTheater.com to present the fourth virtual edition of the TRU Voices New Plays Reading Series, with the generous support of RK Greene and The StoryLine Project. Readings will be presented through a technical partnership with Streaming Musicals on Sundays, February 11, 19 and 25, 2024 at 4pm. The series executive producer is TRU executive director Bob Ost with technical producers Iben Cenholt and Tom Polum and TRU literary manager Cate Cammarata. Each play will be followed by TRU’s renowned "Dollars and Sense" talkback focusing on the future development of the play that is read, and featuring professional producers, artistic directors and general managers. For an overview of the series, visit https://truonline.org/tru-voices-details-and-history/ Tickets start at $12 for play only, $15 for play plus talkback and are available at the individual event pages, links provided below.

Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 4pm ET

John Ewing III presents a live broadcast of

1920 by Scott Sublett

directed by Christopher Scott

starring Gene Gillette, Marina Shay

The night 36-year-old Eleanor Roosevelt confesses her bisexuality to her handsome, still healthy, 37-year-old husband, they teeter on the verge of divorce, but out of their conflict they forge a new kind of marriage — and political alliance. Issues of sexual identity and fluidity are normalized by putting them into the historical context of the most famous “power couple” in American history. Like “Hamilton,” “1920” explores the flawed and fascinating human side of our national heroes. CLICK HERE for tickets.


Sunday, February 18, 2024 at 4pm ET

Take My Shot Productions/Nicolette Blount

in association with Kenady Sean presents

Rolling with the Punches by Joel S. Bailey,

directed by Ben Rauch


Jo, a wheelchair-bound 20-something, lives largely confined to a second story walk-up, but when her mother’s boyfriend moves in, Jo's life is turned upside-down. Her poor judgment causes a serious accident, and Jo is wrongly placed in the infamous asylum, Dunning State Hospital. Her treatment motivates her to fight for the repeal of Chicago’s archaic ‘Ugly Law’, (deformed and unsightly people must stay out of sight from the public). The law’s repeal in 1974 remains a milestone in the Civil Rights movement for the disabled. CLICK HERE for tickets.


Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 4pm ET

Wayward Creatives and Nima Makela present

Un Hombre: A Golem Story by Stephen Kaplan,

directed by Farah Alvin

starring Broadway’s Natascia Diaz, Tim Jones, Ben Sadowsky

A modern-day golem story about Rebecca Wolfson, a recently widowed single mother who is struggling to resume her creative life as a sculptor after the untimely death of her husband. She makes a clay man that comes to life to serve as a Bar Mitzvah and Spanish tutor for her 12-year-old son, Josh, who is grappling with his own grief and loss. As mother and son embrace the magic of this seemingly perfect solution to their problems, the clay man begins questioning his own existence and purpose, forcing all three to confront the truths they’ve all been avoiding. CLICK HERE for tickets.


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28) CURATED EVENTS AND ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES ADDED TO LINEUP OF 
TWO RIVER THEATER'S THE SCARLET LETTER


Two River Theater presents the world premiere of The Scarlet Letter written by Kate Hamill (Pride and PrejudiceLittle Women), one of the American theater’s most widely produced contemporary playwrights, and directed by Shelley Butler (Beautiful: The Carol King MusicalA Doll’s House Part 2). Performances started on Saturday, February 3 and run through Sunday, February 25, 2024 in the Joan and Robert M. Rechnitz Theater. 

 

“It is a true privilege to welcome Kate and Shelley to Two River,” says Artistic Director Justin Waldman. “These are two theatrical practitioners at the top of the game and their timely and theatrical take on Hawthorne’s beloved novel is the perfect way to invigorate the classic through a modern lens. Joined by an incredible team of designers and a knock-out cast, The Scarlet Letter will surely have everyone talking!”

 

In conjunction with the production, Two River will be hosting several free events open to the community.

 

The full event lineup includes:

 

Saturday, February 3 at 11am – 1pm

National African American Read-In in Partnership with T. Thomas Fortune Foundation & Cultural Center

February is Black History Month and to kick it off, children’s author and Djembe percussionist Kojo Ayinde Johnson headlines The National African American Read In at Two River Theater on February 3, from 11am -1pm. The event featuring his new book, “The Lesson: Abu’s Curiosity,” for ages 8 years old and up, and all are welcome to join in a spirited and cultural celebration of African drumming. https://www.tthomasfortuneculturalcenter.org/exhibits-event-calendar FREE

 

Wednesday, February 7 at 5:45PM in Studio A

IN THE KNOW WITH KATE HAMILL

Artistic Director Justin Waldman hosts an intimate conversation with The Scarlet Letter playwright Kate Hamill! Coffee and cookies will be available starting at 5:45 PM, with the discussion set to start at 6:00 PM. Attendance for this pre-show event is FREEThe Scarlet Letter 7PM performance tickets sold separately. *Please note: The event will be filmed with full video capture, available on our website the following week.

Monday February 12 at 6:00 - 8:00PM in the Lobby and Rechnitz Theater

Silent Book Club of Monmouth County Monthly Meeting

It’s an introvert book lover’s paradise: bring your own book and sit in quiet happy reading for an hour, surrounded by fellow book lovers! Two River Theater is delighted to partner with the Silent Book Club of Monmouth County in hosting their monthly meeting, with readers welcome to sit and read in the seats of the Rechnitz Theater and the lobby. In addition to silent reading time, the event will include the opportunity to chat and mingle with other book lovers. For more information on Silent Book Clubs visit silentbook.club. For information on the Monmouth County chapter, visit them on Instagram at @silentbookclub_moco_nj. FREE

 

Tuesday, February 13 at 6:00 - 8:00PM in the Library

“Chisholm ’72 – Unbought & Unbossed”

As The Scarlet Letter explores the treatment of women in early American history (and how some of those puritanical forces still exist today), examine broader conversations about American womanhood with this screening of the 2004 documentary Chisholm ’72 – Unbought and Unbossed, covering the 1972 presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm, America’s first Black congresswoman. The screening will be followed by a discussion on the evolving role of Black women in American politics, conducted by journalist and historian Gilda Rogers. FREE.

 

Wednesday, February 14 at 7PM and Sunday, February 18 at 3PM

Post-Play Discussions

Hosted by a member of the Two River artistic team, discussions with The Scarlet Letter cast and creative team members will be held after performances on Wednesday, February 14 at 7PM and Sunday, February 18 at 3PM.  FREE, The Scarlet Letter tickets sold separately.

 

Saturday, February 17 at 1:30 - 2:30PM in Studio B

Context and Conversations for The Scarlet Letter with Monmouth University

Join us for a free pre-show event with a Monmouth University faculty member, discussing literary themes and a broader context in which to approach this adaptation of The Scarlet Letter. Monmouth University is the Production Sponsor for The Scarlet Letter.
Attendance for this pre-show event is FREEThe Scarlet Letter tickets sold separately.

Saturday, February 24 at 10:00AM – 12:30PM in Lobby and Library

Women’s Health And Wellness Service Fair 

Two River Theater celebrates women’s health and wellness with a services fair, featuring experts from Hackensack Meridian Health, Parker Family Health and more. Resources, services, and screenings will be available on-site, for any and all who feel they could benefit from them and at no cost. Hackensack Meridian Riverview Medical Center is TRT’s 2023/24 Season Sponsor. 
Attendance for this pre-show event is FREEThe Scarlet Letter tickets sold separately.

Sunday, February 25 at 1:30 – 2:30PM and Post-Show in Library

The ART of Social Justice

Two River Theater provides a pre-show discussion, and Project Write Now leads a post-show writing exploration, both exploring the themes of social justice in The Scarlet Letter. While educators will receive professional development credits for attending, discussions and workshops are open to the public.

Attendance for these pre-show and post-show events are FREEThe Scarlet Letter tickets sold separately.

 

To RSVP for the above events, visit: https://tworivertheater.org/inside-two-river/ or call 732.345.1400

TICKET INFORMATION

Regular ticket prices range from $45-$75, and can be purchased by phone, in person or atwww.tworivertheater.org. Discounts are available for seniors, military, and ticket buyers age 35 and under. Groups of 10 or more receive a 20% discount, and should email groups@trtc.org directly to book. Two and three-show subscriptions are also available for purchase, offering a 25% discount on tickets. Subscriptions can be purchased online, by phone or at the Box Office.

 

Student Matinees are selling fast, and space is extremely limited! Performance dates are February 15th, February 21st and February 22nd at 10AM. For more information, visit https://tworivertheater.org/student-matinees/ or email stumats@trtc.org.

 

ACCESS SERVICES

February 10 at 3PM

Fragrance Free Performance

At this performance, we ask audience members to refrain from wearing colognes, perfumes or scented oils for the safety and comfort of all audience members.

 

February 11 at 3PM

The Scarlet Letter Play Date

Caregivers are offered free childcare on the premises while they enjoy a matinee performance by booking the Play Date on Sunday, February 11 at 3PM; for more information, visit https://tworivertheater.org/play-dates/

 

February 11 at 3PM

Pay What You Wish

In an effort to help break down financial barriers, patrons may pay what they wish for tickets to the 3PM performance of The Scarlet Letter. Tickets typically cost $40-$80. Tickets may only be secured in person at the Box Office. For more information, visit https://tworivertheater.org/accessibility/


Saturday, February 24 at 3PM

Open Captioned Performance + Audio Description Performance

Available for patrons with vision loss and hearing loss. 

 

Saturday, February 24 at 3PM

American Sign Language Interpreted Performance 

Available for patrons who are fluent in ASL.


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Photo Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

29) WHITE WAVE DANCE

presents

8th Annual SoloDuo Dance Festival

February 8 & 9, 2024

at Dixon Place


WHITE WAVE DANCE presents the 8th Annual SoloDuo Dance Festival on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 7:30pm and Friday, February 9, 2024 at 7:00pm & 9:00pm at Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie St., New York, NY. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door, and $20 for students and seniors for each program, with tickets available for all three programs for $60. Tickets can be purchased online at www.whitewavedance.org.


The Festival, founded by WHITE WAVE’s Artistic Director Young Soon Kim, began in 2016 and will feature 30 dancemakers from the New York Metro area and across the country this year, as well as international dancers from Korea, Japan and Germany who were selected by a panel of distinguished presenters and dance artists.


The program celebrates the unique art of the solo and duet—formats often favored by early-stage choreographers as their companies begin to find their paths within the dance world. The Festival creates new opportunities to display the latest work of both emerging and mid-career choreographers, offering vivid experiences for audiences with the goal of discovering and nurturing young talent. Dixon Place exemplifies a one of-a kind intimate venue that is particularly well-suited to showcase the artistry of solo and duet performances.


WHITE WAVE’s mission is to act as a potent stimulus to expand the horizons of dance by producing dance concerts, festivals, residencies, and educational activities. WHITE WAVE provides dancemakers an opportunity to congregate, create, and present new works on prestigious stages to the discerning NYC audience.


Program One

Thursday, Feb 8 at 7:30PM

  • The Mo.vement, NY
  • ArtBao, PA
  • Bridget Ryan, NJ
  • CDCFest, Florida
  • Tara Iacobucci, RI
  • Company E, Inc., DC
  • Smutek Dance, MI
  • Amos Pinhasi, NY
  • Santiago Rivera, CA
  • WHITE WAVE Young Soon Kim Dance Company, NY

Program Two

Friday, Feb 9 at 7PM

  • Ballaro Dance, NY
  • Ramona Sekulovic, Berlin
  • GRIDLOCK Dance, MD
  • Ben Dolphin Productions, NY
  • Kate Digby, KS
  • Cho Seong-hee Aha Dance Theater, Korea
  • Kate Corby & Dancers, WI
  • Lindsey Bramham Howie, NC
  • Megan Mazarick, PA
  • Alison Cook Beatty Dance, NY


Program Three

Friday, Feb 9 at 9PM

  • Bella Schneiderman, NY
  • Danielle Lydia Sheather, UT
  • Elijah Motley, VA
  • TMA-Dance, CA
  • Caz Dance, NY
  • Mei Yamanaka Works, Tokyo
  • Sunhwa Chung/Ko-Ryo Dance Theater, NY
  • Taylor Tumminia, UT
  • Abigail Steinke & Artists, NY
  • Kanyok Arts Initiative, NY
  • Connor Freeman, NY
  • WHITE WAVE Young Soon Kim Dance Company, NY

For more information, visit whitewavedance.org.


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Photo courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

30) Works & Process at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

Jerome Robbins Dance Division

Presents

Spill the Tea with George Lee

Ten Times Better

Jennifer Lin’s documentary goes from library stacks to screen

Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 6pm


Works & Process at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, working with the Jerome Robbins Dance Division, presents Spill the Tea with George Lee, highlighting the making of Ten Times Better, a documentary from filmmaker Jennifer Lin, featuring a discussion, film excerpts and archival material from the Jerome Robbins Dance Division collection. This special event is offered for free; reservations are encouraged and can be made here.


Spill the Tea with George Lee

Ten Times Better, Jennifer Lin’s documentary goes from library stacks to screen

Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 6pm

The Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center

Bruno Walter Auditorium

Tickets are free


In November 2022, while researching at the Library for the Performing Arts for her documentary project Beyond Yellowface, filmmaker Jennifer Lin came across images of a young Asian dancer performing the role of Tea in the 1954 premiere of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. With the help of Arlene Yu, then–collection manager of Jerome Robbins Dance Division, Lin was able to track down the dancer, School of American Ballet (SAB) alum George Lee, in Las Vegas. A refugee from Shanghai who immigrated to New York in 1951, Lee was a scholarship student at SAB and one of its first Asian students. He was selected by Balanchine to create and premiere the role of Tea, and later went on to perform on Broadway, dancing in the original cast of Flower Drum Song.


A year after Lin learned about Lee and began this journey, the filmmaker has produced and directed the documentary Ten Times Better, which will have its premiere at the Dance on Camera Festival at Lincoln Center on February 10. For this event and the film premiere, Lee will leave behind his fulltime job as a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas and for his 89th birthday, return to New York to share his story as part of the New York Public Library’s Dance Oral History Project. Lee, Lin and Yu will participate in a discussion moderated by Cory Stieg, which will include film excerpts and archival material from the Jerome Robbins Dance Division archive to illustrate how this forgotten story went from library stacks to screen.


WORKS & PROCESS AT THE LIBRARY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza (entrance at 111 Amsterdam between 64th and 65th), New York, NY 10023

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And that's the scoop. Tune in tomorrow for More Theater Monday.

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