Tips for Tuesday - Books: The Meadowbrook Murders & The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King; TV Series: Curb Your Enthusiasim

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

Books: The Meadowbrook Murders & Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King

Today we recommend The Meadowbrook Murders by  Jessica Goodman. After her roommate and her roommate's boyfriend are killed in their shared dorm room, Amy learns there was a lot she never knew about her alleged best friend. When she lies to the police to cover for her own boyfriend, she becomes a prime suspect. She soon learns that her boyfriend may have been keeping things from her too. Eventually, she is forced to join forces with Liz a social outcast and editor of the school paper who is hoping covering the story will help her to earn an important scholarship.

This is an intriguing crime thriller with some exciting twists and turns. It starts out slow but gets better as it goes along. Its short chapters make it easy to read through quickly so you can easily get to the more interesting parts of the story. 

Today we recommend The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King by Harry Trevaldwyn. Patch Simmons has decided that this year he is finally going to get a boyfriend so when two new boys, Peter and Sam join the drama club he is certain it will be one of them, and he sets his sights on Peter.

At first, Patch is an annoying and kind of pretentious character who acts as if things can be so just because he expects them to be without worrying about other people's thoughts and feelings. He doesn't treat his friends very well either. However, he gradually learns not to try to be so controlling and let things develop naturally. He also learns to be more appreciative of his friends. The way his character grows and develops throughout the book is very admirable and makes him a much more likable character. 

The side characters in the story are really likable as well. Jean is a good and loyal friend to Patch even when he doesn't see it. At first, she is a much better friend than he deserves. Their former friend, Tessa, is a relatable character who learns that becoming friends with the popular kids to fit in isn't all it's cracked up to be. Her story arc with her two former best friends, Patch and Jean develops in a surprisingly touching way. In fact, quite a few sweet and heartwarming moments of friendship happen in this book.

There is not a lot of romance, but what there is of it is also very touching. Patch learns that sometimes love comes from the most unexpected source.  Things develop in a way that makes the ending that much sweeter and satisfying not only for the characters but for the readers of the book too.

TV Series: Curb Your Enthusiasm 

Today we are talking about Curb Your Enthusiasm. This series starring the co-creator of Seinfeld, Larry David, developed out of what was originally supposed to be only a one-time mockumentary special with David playing a highly fictionalized version of himself as a semi-retired television writer and producer. Numerous well-known actors make guest appearances in the series playing fictionalized versions of themselves as well. 

The highly irreverent tone and storylines of the show are reminiscent of Seinfeld. However, this series crosses over lines regarding language and storylines where network series can't go. Some may find this refreshing and others might see at as taking a step too far. The show can be funny, but it can also be upsetting and even triggering at some times to some people.

Curb Your Enthusiasm the entire series is available now from Warner Home Video.

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

All pictures used in this post are our own. If there is a problem with any image, contact us here and we will look into the matter.

More Theater Monday - Gwyneth Goes Skiing

We received complimentary tickets to Gwyneth Goes Skiing for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Gwyneth Goes Skiing

Where:  SoHo Playhouse

             15 Vandam St.

              New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 16 and Up  

           Due to Adult Language, Subject Matter, & Humor

When: This event took place from January 20 - January 26, 2025 

Gwyneth Goes Skiing is a musical spoof of the Gwyneth Paltrow ski trial wherein the actress was sued by optometrist, Terry Sanderson, who claimed he suffered lasting damage when she skied into him. Calling this show a musical is a stretch because there are only a few songs, and they are not very memorable. Plus. most of the songs are lipsynced. The only memorable song is one about who skied into who. Even though that song is lipsynced, it is still catchy and fun and well sung by Kat Cohen and Darrin Criss. 

Despite the lack of songs. the show is mostly a satisfying diversion. Gwyneth Paltrow's overconfident attitude and misconception that she is some kind of wellness expert are so irritating that it is a guilty pleasure to see her get knocked down a peg even if only in satire.  Linus Karp's portrayal of her is just perfect, saccharine sweet on the outside and tough-as-nails on the inside. Joseph Martin's, Tery Sanderson, is a befuddled codger looking for a big payday. Making fun of him is a little more mean-spirited than going after a celebrity like Paltrow, but he did leave himself open to public ridicule by suing her in public court when he clearly didn't have a case. 

There is a lot to like about this show including a hilarious running gag in which Gwyneth's daughter, Apple is played by an actual apple, and another wherein Gwyneth keeps giving out Goop gift bags. There is also lots of amusing audience participation. The audience even gets to vote on the trial's outcome, but it does leave you wondering how the show would have ended if the vote had gone the other way. 

However, despite its good points, some parts of the show are not quite as amusing. For example, a running joke about Sanderson's attorney's fawning over Paltrow falls flat and seems unnecessary. It is a good show as it is, but it seems like with a little work it could be even better.

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

Photo credits:

All Gywneth Goes Skiing production photos by Nic Connaughton

Images used in this post have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission. If there is a problem with the rights to any image,  contact us here, and we will look into the matter.

Sunday Scoop Week of 2/2/25 What's Happening This Week and More

A)Beginning Performances 

In New Jersey

1) The Tempest

In New York

2) Anonymous

3) My Man Kono

4) No Reservation

B) Cast Changes

5) The Great Gatsby

C) Cast Recording

6) Swept Away

D) Run Extension 

7) Kowalski

E) What Else is Happening

8) 92NY Harkness Dance Center Presents Downtown to Uptown. Past to Forward

David Dorfman Dance 2/8

9) Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre/Notes in Motion February Events

10) BroadwayCon Moves to the Marriot Marquis & 

Announces More Programming

11) Brooklyn Children's Museum Celebrates Tu BiShvat

2/9

12) The Chain Winter One-Act Festival

2/6 - 3/2

13) Classic Stage Co. Presents Goodbye, My Fancy 

as Final Installment of Rediscovery Reading Series 2/10

14) Creative Stage Collective Presents Creative Stage Spectacular 2025

at Symphony Space 2/8

15) Julian Schlossberg's Movietalk Podcast Begins 2md Year

with special guest, Sarah Jessica Parker 2/5

16) NJPAC Upcoming Performance: Patti Labelle: The 80/65 Tour

2/8

17)  NextGen Chess 2025 Cup Streaming on Chess.com

2/6 

18) Orchestra Now 2025 Winter/Spring Season

19) Stage Time Brings The Magic of Modern Vaudeville to NYC

20) South Street Seaport Musem Fresh Prints

2/6

21) South Street Seaport Valentine's Events

22) Works & Process Presents Boop the Musical With Jerry Mitchell

2/10

23) Works & Process Presents Experiments in Opera 

at National Sawdust 2/9

24) Works & Process Presents Jeremy O. Harris New Play First Look

2/7 & 2/9

25) Works & Process Presents Never Alone by Andy Blakenbuehler

2/7

A)Beginning Performances 

In New Jersey

Courtesy of Centenary Stage Co.

1) The Tempest

Little Theatre, Seay Building Centenary University Campus

(440 Jefferson St., Hackettstown)

2/6 -2/10

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.centenarystageco.org/the-tempest

In New York

2) Anonymous

This deeply intimate play brings you front and center to witness an addiction support group. When support group leader Charlie is a no-show, a nervous Richard steps up to take control. Addiction, hope and sobriety are all at stake when the group must face their biggest threat so far -  a challenge from within. Anonymous is a truly unique theater experience: the audience sits in the circle with the actors and experiences first hand what the characters are going through.

Tiny Baby Blackbox(115 MacDougal St.)

2/6 - 2/22

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.spitnvigor.com/anonymous

3) My Man Kono

The show explores the life and struggles of Toraichi Kono, a Japanese émigré navigating the complexities of the American Dream during the silent film era. The narrative takes a poignant turn as Kono, once closely associated with the legendary Charlie Chaplin, finds himself ensnared in the anti-Japanese hysteria that erupted with the onset of World War II.

ART-NY Mezzanine Theatre (502 W. 53rd St.)

2/6 -3/9

Opening Night 2/12

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.panasianrep.org/my-man-kono

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

4) No Reservation

NO RESERVATION is about global goddesses who crash a dinner party celebrating false gods. The goddesses have been underground for centuries and now rise up, sensing the urgency of their presence 'at the table'. This multidisciplinary performance piece moves forward from second wave feminist artists who took on the patriarchy through works like The Dinner Party, by Judy Chicago and the dinner scene in Top Girls, by Caryl Churchill.

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club (66 E. 4th St.)

2/6 - 2/23

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.lamama.org/shows/no-reservations-2025,

B) Cast Change

Courtesy of Vivacity Media Group

5) The Great Gatsby

Sarah Hyland joins the cast as Daisy 2/10

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

B) Cast Recording

Courtesy of DKC/O&M

6) Swept Away

A crew of sailors embark on a whaling expedition, braving the long days with hard work and strong whiskey. But when the ship capsizes, they’re forced to look deep within themselves to help each other survive.

Featuring music and lyrics by The Avett Brothers the album will be released on February 7, 2025.

To pre-save the digital album, click here.

To view a behind-the-scenes making of the album, click here. 

D) Run Extension 

Photo by Russ Rowland

7) Kowalski

Kowalski transports audiences to a 1947 Provincetown beach house where Tennessee Williams (Robin Lord Taylor) first encounters the enigmatic young actor Marlon Brando (Brandon Flynn). Over the course of one sultry night, the play peels back the layers of ambition, artistry, and desire that shaped Williams’ masterpiece, A Streetcar Named Desire. With razor-sharp dialogue and emotional intensity, Kowalski offers a haunting behind-the-scenes look at the forces that brought one of the 20th century's greatest works to life.

The Duke on 42nd Street (229 West 42nd St.)

Now closing 2/23

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

E) What Else is Happening

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

8) 92NY Harkness Dance Center Presents 

DOWNTOWN TO UPTOWN. PAST TO FORWARD

David Dorfman Dance

David Dorfman – Choreographer

Paul Matteson, Joseph Poulson, Jenna Riegel, Aya Wilson, Lily Gelfand, Kashia Kancey, Nik Owens, Claudia-Lynn Rightmire, David Dorfman and Lisa Race – Dancers

In Person 

Saturday, February 8, 7 pm

Online

Sunday, February 9, 12 pm – Friday, February 14, 12 pm

 

Tickets from $20

https://www.92ny.org/event/downtown-to-uptown

The 92nd Street Y, New York’s 2024/25 Harkness Dance Center season continues with a new program from David Dorfman Dance – Downtown to Uptown. Past to Forward. The program honors the historical relationship between David Dorfman Dance and 92NY with repertory previously performed here, as the Harkness Dance Center celebrates its 90th anniversary and company approaches its 40th. The performance is in person on Saturday, February 8 at 7 pm in Kaufmann Concert Hall and is available online from Sunday, February 9, at 12 pm – Friday, February 14 at 12 pm.

XXX

9) Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre/ Notes in Motion

Announces February Events

Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre announces their February Events at their new home, Amanda Selwyn Dance Studio: 412 Broadway, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10013. Kick the winter blues and get moving this February by registering for a special event at Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre, https://amandaselwyndancestudio.org/calendar/.

February Schedule

February 5: Yoga & Live Music | 6pm

Join Sheri Celentano & Johnny Holleran for a yoga & live music masterclass!

Sheri brings her Brooklyn Sass, Vinyasa Flow and deep sense of compassion paired with a fiery and nurturing nature, while Johnny, coming from the West Coast of Ireland brings masterful guitar playing, deep soulful singing and solid earth energy.

Use promo code NEWCLIENT for 50% off your first class.

February 10:

Contemporary Partnering with Michelle Thompson Ulerich & Caleb Patterson | 2 pm

Please join us for a co-taught Contemporary Partnering class with Michelle Thompson and Caleb Patterson. The class will start with a warm up, move to foundational partnering exercises and skills, and then learn choreography.

Come with a friend or by yourself and we will pair you up.

February 14: Valentine's Day Sizzle: Open Level Salsa | 6 pm

Heat up your Valentine's Day with the passion and energy of salsa with Angélica Barbosa Rodríguez! Whether you're a beginner or have some moves under your belt, this special class will have you and your partner (or solo) dancing with flair. Learn sizzling footwork, smooth partner spins, and vibrant rhythms that make salsa irresistible. Perfect for couples, friends, or singles looking to celebrate love and connection through dance. No prior experience necessary—just bring your energy and enthusiasm!

Buy one class and bring a friend for free.

February 27: Designer Exhibition and Panel | 6 pm

Take a peek into the design development process of Selwyn’s long-time collaborating artists with an interactive exhibition and panel discussion with: Dan Ozminkowski, lighting; Anna-Alisa Belous, costume/scenery; Joel Wilhelmi, sound; and Rob Dutiel, scenery.



The event will begin with an exhibit preview from 6 to 7pm, followed by the panel discussion at 7pm and reception at 8pm.

XXX

10) BROADWAYCON 2025 CHANGES VENUE FOR NEXT WEEK’S EVENT   MOVES TO NEW YORK MARRIOTT MARQUIS  1535 BROADWAY BETWEEN 45th - 46th STREETS IN TIMES SQUARE February 7-9, 2025   FURTHER PROGRAMMING ALSO ANNOUNCED INCLUDING “HATS OFF TO SEUSSICAL: A 25 YEAR REUNION” WITH AHRENS AND FLAHERTY AND MEMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST For tickets and information, please visit: www.BroadwayCon.com

BroadwayCon announces a change of venue and additional programming for the 2025 event, taking place next week from February 7-9.

 

BroadwayCon 2025 will now take place at the New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway (between 45th and 46th Street) in the heart of Times Square.

 

Newly announced…A Seussical reunion panel “Hats Off to Seussical: A 25-Year Reunion” will celebrate the musical’s enduring appeal and fandom and feature Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Kevin Chamberlin, Janine LaManna, Michele Pawk, and others.

Additional panels newly announced include:

 

Crossing the Curtains: Latin American Voices and the Broadway Exchange

Experience firsthand stories from trailblazers like the first Latin American Billy Flynn and groundbreaking creators of original musicals from Peru and Mexico. Hear from an esteemed editor for performing arts books, a Grammy nominee, and visionary producers of Broadway cabarets, who have introduced Latinx and international talent to Broadway stages. Discover how their roots shape their storytelling and the ways they blend Broadway techniques with vibrant Latin American culture. Join us to celebrate their journeys, challenges, and triumphs in bringing new perspectives to musical theatre. You may even leave humming one of their new songs.

 

Deep Inside the Score: Hamilton

A decade after Hamilton blew us all away with its innovative score, scholars and fans are still uncovering fresh delights in its rich music and lyrics. This panel will demonstrate the brilliance of Hamilton with specific reference to Lin-Manuel's composing choices, talent at synthesis, and hidden musical flourishes, with plenty of examples. Who tells your story? Three music educators: Edward Barnes, who has taught Miranda's music at Juilliard; Howard Ho, a successful YouTuber with a forthcoming book about Hamilton; and Mateo Chavez Lewis, a Broadway Maven co-host who runs the Music Theatre Theory YouTube channel. You'll never listen to the musical of the decade the same way again!

Gone Too Soon: Tammy Faye, Swept Away, and Lempika

Join actors and creatives from Tammy Faye, Swept Away, and Lempicka as they reflect on the unique journeys of their shows. This candid conversation offers an inside look at the challenges these productions faced, the lessons they uncovered, and how their experiences can inspire and shape the future of theatre. Are you still salty that we never got an American Psycho OBCR? Do you lament missing out on Groundhog Day, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson or Side Show? Do the musicals that no one else talks about live rent-free in your head? The closing of a show is never easy, so let's share in that misery together.

 

Broadway Eulogies: A Time to Reflect, Grieve and Appreciate Shows Gone Too Soon

Presenters cordially invite you to a very dramatic BroadwayCon “funeral,” where we welcome attendees to eulogize their favorite show that was gone too soon. We'll bring the tissues, you bring the memories. Whether you prepare a speech or speak from the heart, know that you will be doing so amongst a group of supportive mourners who know just where you're coming from. Find others who remember that one show you can't seem to forget.

 

The Best of Both Worlds: Performing on Tour and on Broadway

Join this group of actors as they share their experiences of performing on tour and in New York. From adjusting to new audiences and venues to navigating the shift from a traveling cast to the Broadway spotlight, these actors will discuss the unique challenges and rewards of taking a show on the road and bringing it to the iconic Broadway stage. Whether they've played the same role or stepped into different parts within the same show, they’ll explore the flexibility, growth, and artistry required to perform in both environments.

 

The (In)Complete History of the American Musical in 60 Minutes or Less

Blast through more than 150 years of stage activity in this ridiculously comprehensive high-speed history of the American musical! Ben West, author of The Musical Theatre Report and curator of the Museum of Broadway's "Timeline Walls," will guide newcomers, fans, and afficionados on an exciting creative journey through the ins and outs of the art form, including a look at vaudeville, Tin Pan Alley, minstrelsy, nightclubs, burlesque, and the soldier shows of World War II. Weave through the many styles and sounds of the American musical's maturation in the mid-20th century; move through the discord of the late 1900s; and bound into the new millennium to discuss some recent favorites and flops. ALL IN 60 MINUTES OR LESS! Warning: This session will be both fun and informative - and practical - and interactive!

 

Hello Louis!

Come celebrate one of the greatest American musicians of all time with the creative team members of A Wonderful World. They’ll share about the process of capturing such a long and storied life on the stage and their own personal journeys with the production. We’ll discuss what it has been like to inhabit such an iconic, yet fraught, era of American history and why this story matters to audiences now more than ever. With Aurin Squire, Dewitt Fleming Jr, James Monroe Iglehart, Rickey Tripp, and Christina Sajous.

 

Anchors Aweigh: The Swept Away Journey from Page to Stage to Cast Album

Discover the journey of Swept Away with the cast and creative team, exploring the show’s evolution from its first readings to its Broadway debut. This panel will take you behind the scenes of the show’s journey, from its development at Berkeley Repertory Theatre to its run at Arena Stage, and finally to the Great White Way. Hear firsthand stories about the creative process, the challenges and triumphs along the way, and how the music of Swept Away has come to life on stage and now through its highly anticipated cast album.

In partnership with Audience Rewards, there will be BroadwayCon evenings at The Great Gatsby (Thursday, February 6), and & Juliet (Saturday, February 8 after the evening performance). There will be talk backs with cast members after each of these performances.

 

On Friday, February 7, there will be a talkback after the show with cast members from A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical.

 

Also, newly announced, is a Showcase performance and dance tutorial from the cast of Six, as well as Dance tutorials from Drag: The Musical, and Chicago, a First Look performance of Music City, and a panel from the new world premiere musical The Jonathan Larson Project.

 

Newly announced is the autograph/selfie table, where fans can meet and pose with their favorite Broadway stars. The schedule is as follows:

 

Friday 3:30PM - 4:00PM: Lesli Margherita (Autographs and selfies)

Saturday 12:00PM - 12:30PM: Anthony Rapp (Autographs and selfies)

Sunday 12:00PM - 12:30PM: Jenn Colella (Autographs and selfies)

Sunday 1:00PM - 1:30PM: Lynn Ahrens (Autographs)

Sunday 12:00PM - 12:30PM: Stephen Flaherty (Autographs)

Sunday 3:15PM - 3:45PM: Janine LaManna (Autographs and selfies)

Sunday 3:15PM - 3:45PM: Michele Pawk (Autographs and selfies)

BroadwayCon 2025 will take place February 7-9, 2025 at the New York Marriott Marquis (1535 Broadway (between 45th and 46th Street). Guests will join the Broadway community to perform, discuss, debate, and celebrate theatre. BroadwayCon 2025 will feature panels, performances, interviews, workshops, singalongs, and more, all packed into an epic three-day weekend. Past panels have included previews from upcoming Broadway shows, conversations with the casts and creatives of this season’s hits, and discussions featuring the industry’s top producers and designers, not to mention the giant Opening Celebration and nighttime fun and games.

 

XXX

11) Celebrate Tu BiShvat at Brooklyn Children’s Museum on

Sunday, February 9

 

Learn about the Jewish holiday that commemorates “the new year of the trees” with engaging, hands-on activities 

 

 Brooklyn Children's Museum (BCM) invites families to join its annual celebration of Tu BiShvat, the Jewish new year of the trees, presented on site at BCM on Sunday, February 9 together with The Neighborhood: An Urban Center for Jewish Life. The event promises a day filled with engaging activities, interactive performances, and educational experiences for children of all ages and backgrounds—whether you observe Tu BiShvat or are excited to learn about the holiday.

Program Schedule:

·      Tasting the Fruits of Tu BiShvat

Did you know that there are four kinds of fruits that are traditionally eaten on Tu BiShvat? Come sample these symbolic foods in a fun and interactive fruit tasting.

 

·      Story Time with PJ Library

Join PJ Library for interactive stories about trees, planting, and Tu BiShvat. Together we'll bring these earth-based tales to life through engaging read-alongs.

 

·      Tu BiShvat Music & Movement

Join Tkiya to enjoy music, movement, their signature blend of songs and interactive learning about Tu BiShvat and the birthday of the trees.

 

·      Tree Tales: Short Films

Enjoy a collection of fun short films celebrating trees.

 

·      Seed Ball Workshop

Make a seed ball using soil, compost, and seeds to help local plants flourish. Learn this fun planting method in a hands-on workshop led by Repair the World.

 

·      Tree Art: Making Prints with Sunlight

Transform leaves and natural materials into amazing works of art using sunlight and special photosensitive paper. Learn about different parts of trees and create your own nature-inspired artwork at this cyanotype printmaking workshop.

 

·      Traveling Trees

Throughout the day a musical duo dressed as trees will be traveling around the Museum to share songs about their leafy life.

 

·      Earth is Delicious: Help The Shamir Worm Make Compost

Meet real worms and discover how they create nature's recycling system - compost! Take home some compost for your garden at this engaging program led by Big Reuse and the NYC Sanitation Department.

 

Celebrate Tu BiShvat takes place from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday, February 9. Tickets to the Museum grant access to all of the day’s activities and are $15 for general admission, $14 for grandparents, and free for children under one year-old. To purchase tickets, visit: www.brooklynkids.org/tu-bishvat.

 

XXX

12) TONY AWARD-WINNING PLAYWRIGHT DAVID RABE, ACTOR’S STUDIO LEGEND LYLE KESSLER, THE ROBOT, THE SPY, AND THE LOVE OF AI HEADLINE THE 2025 CHAIN WINTER ONE-ACT FESTIVAL

Chain Theatre, Kirk Gostkowski, Artistic Director, Rick Hamilton, Managing Director, Christina Elise Perry, Director of Development, is pleased to announce the 2025 edition of the CHAIN WINTER ONE-ACT FESTIVAL, featuring the NY premiere of BY THE LOOK OF HER by Tony Award winner David Rabe (STICKS AND BONES, HURLYBURLY, CASUALTIES OF WAR), the world premiere of BROTHERS by Lyle Kessler ​ (ORPHANS), head of the Director and Playwrights Unit of the Actors Studio, and THE ROBOT, THE SPY, AND THE LOVE OF AI – a groundbreaking production that explores the use of actual robotics and AI programming capabilities onstage – written by John Arthur Long.  The festival will include over 90 new plays at the Chain Theatre (312 W 36th St, 3rd & 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10018). The festival begins Thursday, February 6, and continues through Sunday, March 2. ​ Tickets will be $23 in advance and $26 at the door. More information available at www.chaintheatre.org

XXX

13) 

 

 

ANNOUNCES

 

GOODBYE, MY FANCY

BY FAY KANIN

DIRECTED BY JESS CHAYES

MONDAY FEBRUARY 10 AT 7PM

 

PART OF THE

REDISCOVERY READINGS

AMPLIFYING VOICES OF THE WOMEN

WHO SHAPED AMERICAN THEATER

Classic Stage Company (Jill Rafson, Producing Artistic Director) announced today that Goodbye, My Fancy will be the final reading in The Rediscovery Readings series, which features plays by female playwrights who shaped American theater. Goodbye, My Fancy, by Emmy Award winner Fay Kanin (His and Hers) and directed by Jess Chayes (Jane Anger), will be held on Monday February 10 at 7pm at CSC’s Lynn F. Angelson Theater (136 East 13th Street).

 

Agatha Reed is now an esteemed member of the U.S. Congress, but when she's asked to return to her college to receive an honorary degree, something about being back on campus has her behaving more like a teenager. Old flames meet new sparks in this 1948 comedy, as the powers that be start to wonder if Agatha's free spirit might unleash something in their young students that they never expected. 

 

Tickets are $20, or $12.50 as a member, and are available now at https://www.classicstage.org/the-rediscovery-readings/. To learn more about CSC’s membership programs, please visit www.classicstage.org/members.

 

XXX

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

14) Creative Stage Collective

presents

Creative Stage Spectacular 2025

A Hilarious Musical Sketch Comedy Revue

Featuring Special Guest Artists

Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 7:30pm

Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, Symphony Space

Creative Stage Collective presents the Creative Stage Spectacular 2025: A Hilarious Musical Sketch Comedy Revue on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 7:30pm at Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, New York. Tickets are $27-$75 and are available from the Symphony Space Box Office, by phone at (212) 864-5400, and online at www.symphonyspace.org/events/vp-creative-stage-spectacular-2025.

The Creative Stage Spectacular is an evening of imagination, laughter, and music! The performance features actors from Netflix series, network TV, and feature film; professional dancers; jazz musicians; and international opera stars – all performing alongside the multigenerational Creative Stage Collective troupe. Imaginative comic sketches, and parody songs inspired by music from composers, ranging from Mozart to Stevie Wonder make this unique performance a delight for audiences of all ages! The revue is created entirely by members of Creative Stage Collective, based on ideas from the Collective’s youth artists. Expected run time is 90 minutes. The night will conclude with a tasty surprise treat sponsored by Joe's Coffee.

Featured Guest Artists: Andrew Dolan; Jim Conroy; Todd Faulkner; Gordon Geitz; Sheri Graubert; Nicole Greevy; Veronica Hickman; Melanie Long; Rob Manning, Jr.; Tonna Miller; Marisa Ryan; Sarah Salzberg; Byron Singleton; Danny Sumegi; Paul Whelan

Also starring Creative Stage Collective’s ensemble of emerging adult artists:

Tiffany Iris; Sierra Nelson; Ty Norris; Daneil Oakes; Calalina Walsh; Madeleine Witmer

As well as CSC's brand-new High School and Youth Troupes.

XXX

Courtesy of Keith Sherman PR

15) JULIAN SCHLOSSBERG'S MOVIETALK podcast enters 2nd year with special guest SARAH JESSICA PARKER on Feb. 5

This February, “Julian Schlossberg’s Movie Talk,” the weekly podcast that brings audiences closer to top talent in motion pictures, theatre, and television, celebrates one year of captivating audiences. Schlossberg launches his podcast’s second year on February 5, with an in-depth conversation with Emmy Award winner Sarah Jessica Parker.

In 2024, Julian Schlossberg’s beloved, nationally syndicated radio program was, at last, 'rebooted' as a new podcast. With “Julian Schlossberg’s Movie Talk,” listeners dive into the magic of Hollywood, Broadway, and beyond. Each episode features engaging interviews with the biggest names in the industry—stars, writers, directors, producers, and other entertainment powerhouses.

Audiences can view “Julian Schlossberg’s Movie Talk” interviews on YouTube, and listeners can subscribe or access new episodes at Amazon, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Pandora, Spotify, and other popular podcasts websites. Episodes are released weekly, every Wednesday.

XXX

Courtesy of Prana PR

16) PATTI LABELLE: THE 80/65 TOUR 80 YEARS YOUNG AND CELEBRATING 65  YEARS IN SHOWBIZ!   Sat. February 8, 2025 at  8:00 p.m. NJPAC Prudential Hall Betty Wold Johnson One Center Street Newark, New Jersey 07102 www.njpac.org

16) PATTI LABELLE: THE 80/65 TOUR 80 YEARS YOUNG AND CELEBRATING 65  YEARS IN SHOWBIZ!   Sat. February 8, 2025 at  8:00 p.m. NJPAC Prudential Hall Betty Wold Johnson One Center Street Newark, New Jersey 07102 www.njpac.org

16) PATTI LABELLE: THE 80/65 TOUR

80 YEARS YOUNG AND CELEBRATING 65

 YEARS IN SHOWBIZ!
 
Sat. February 8, 2025 at  8:00 p.m.

NJPAC

Prudential Hall Betty Wold Johnson

One Center Street

Newark, New Jersey 07102
www.njpac.org

Get ready for the iconic Patti Labelle as she brings her 80/65 Tour to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). The legendary singer, author, and actress, who has won multiple Grammy Awards, is celebrating 65 years in show business at 80 years old.
 
Patti Labelle, also known as the "godmother of soul," will grace the NJPAC stage, performing all her chart-topping hits. Her illustrious career began as the lead singer of the renowned group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, later known as Labelle, and she achieved worldwide fame with the release of the disco classic "Lady Marmalade."
 
Throughout her solo career, Patti Labelle has delivered unforgettable hits such as "On My Own," "If You Asked Me To," "Stir It Up," as well as soulful ballads like "You Are My Friend," "If Only You Knew," and "Love, Need and Want You."
 
With over 50 million records sold globally, Patti Labelle's remarkable contributions have earned her a place in the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Apollo Hall of Fame. Notably, Rolling Stone magazine recognized her as one of the '100 Greatest Singers.'

Get tickets by visiting NJPAC.org 888. G.O.NJPAC (888.466.5722) or by visiting the NJPAC Box Office.

XXX

17) Chess.com presents the NextGen Chess 2025 Cup - Thursday, February 6 streamed on Chess.com

The NextGen Chess 2025 Cup will stream on  Chess.com on Thursday February 6 at 12pm EST, featuring ten of the most prominent players and personalities of the African diaspora. 

The most competitive and exciting Black chess tournament in history, The NextGen Chess Tournament will welcome boy-wonder FIDE Master Tani Adewumi, the young prodigy who became the U.S.A.'s youngest master at 10; International Master Farai Mandizha from Zimbabwe; Nigerian national master and philanthropist Tunde Onakoya; as well as special guest Wood Harris from "The Wire" and the "Creed” trilogy, among others. Legendary Grandmaster Maurice Ashley will provide expert commentary and insight alongside Chess.com’s International Master Kassa Korley, who will both serve as the main hosts of the event. 

XXX

18) THE ORCHESTRA NOW BEGINS 2025 WINTER/SPRING SEASON OF

TEN CONCERTS AND SEVEN PROGRAMS WITH PERFORMANCES AT CARNEGIE HALL, THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, FISHER CENTER AT BARD COLLEGE,

AND A FREE PRESENTATION AT PETER NORTON SYMPHONY SPACE

FEBRUARY 8 – MAY 18

The Orchestra Now (TŌN) begins its winter/spring, 10th anniversary season led by music director Leon Botstein on February 8, and continues through May 18 with performances at Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Peter Norton Symphony Space, and the Fisher Center at Bard College.

Highlights include a concert of orchestral transcriptions of works by Beethoven, Chopin, and Smetana (Carnegie Hall, February 11); two performances as part of TŌN’s Sight & Sound series at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one featuring music by Schumann and artwork by Caspar David Friedrich (April 13), and a second all-Fauré program alongside artwork by John Singer Sargent (May 18); and a special event collaboration with the dancers of American Ballet Theatre Studio Company (Fisher Center at Bard, February 28–March 1).

 

Marking the Orchestra’s first visit abroad during its 10th anniversary, TŌN performs two concerts: one at the Koblenz IMUKO Festival (Internationale Musik-Kontakte) (Koblenz, May 6); and the second commemorating the end of the Second World War in Europe 80 years ago and performed in a concert hall built on the same grounds where the Nazi regime was rallying (Nuremberg, May 8).

XXX

19) STAGE TIME BRINGS THE MAGIC OF MODERN VAUDEVILLE TO NYC

 

Founder PJ Adzima (Book of Morman) Revives the Spirit of Variety Entertainment for a New Generation

STAGE TIME, the groundbreaking nightlife production company founded by Broadway actor PJ Adzima (Book of Morman), unites the best of Broadway, Drag, Standup, Burlesque Circus, and more of New York City’s finest artists to deliver a modern-day Vaudeville experience. Since its launch in 2023, STAGE TIME has captivated audiences with its eclectic performances and dynamic community-building.

 

Now running multiple monthly offerings, including a weekly late-night extravaganza Stage Time: After Dark show at Midnight on Saturdays and Stage Time with PJ Adzima monthly on Mondays at 8:00 pm both are at the iconic Slipper Room (167 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002). STAGE TIME is a smash hit, with every show promising unforgettable surprises—including the possibility of celebrity guests.

For more information, visit stagetimenyc.com.

 XXX

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

20) South Street Seaport Museum

Fresh Prints

Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 6PM

South Street Seaport Museum announces Fresh Prints on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 211 Water Street, at 6pm. The event is free, advanced registration is encouraged. seaportmuseum.org/fresh-prints

Come to Bowne & Co. for a one-of-a-kind New York experience! This open house will feature a breadth of printing equipment that you will be invited to use. You’ll get to see how the designers at Bowne lock up limited edition designs that showcase some of the more eccentric parts from the Seaport Museum’s printing and graphic arts collection.

Established in 1775, the original Bowne & Co., Inc. was one of New York’s oldest printing firms. The Bowne & Co. that you can experience today at the Seaport Museum is an offshoot of the original and continues the age-old tradition of job (or small batch) printing.

Advanced registration is encouraged for this free open house but walkups will be accommodated as possible. Anyone ages 12 and up is welcome. All participants get to take home the items they print during the afternoon. Can’t stay the full 90-minutes? No problem! Leaving a bit early is fine, but you might miss out on taking home something special.

These popular workshops fill quickly, so claim your tickets today! If you don’t see tickets for a specific date, that workshop has reached capacity.

XXX

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

21) South Street Seaport Museum

Announces

Valentine’s Day Offerings

Print Your Own Valentine’s Day Card at Bowne & Co.

and

Valentine Like a Sailor

South Street Seaport Museum announces its free Valentine’s Day offerings, beginning February 2, 2025.

Print Your Own Valentine's Day Card | February 9, 2025 | 12–2pm | 211 Water St | Free

The Seaport Museum invites you to Print Your Own Valentine’s Day Card at a free workshop at Bowne & Co. Add a personal touch to your valentine and print your own card at Bowne & Co. using the South Street Seaport Museum’s working collection of 19th century historical printing equipment. In this drop-in mini-workshop, you are invited to get hands-on throughout the printing process and will get to see how the professional designers at Bowne utilize the Museum’s collection in their work. While you’re at the Museum, check out the wide array of unique products available at the Bowne & Co. Gift Emporium to find something special for your valentine.

Want to include your special someone in the experience? Invite them to join in the festivities and attend the program together. Anyone ages 12 and up is welcome. All participants get to take home the items they print. seaportmuseum.org/bowne-valentine

Valentine Like a Sailor | February 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 | 11am–4:30pm | 207 Water St | Free

Come to the Seaport Museum to Valentine Like a Sailor on Saturdays and Sundays this February from 11am to 4:30pm, at 207 Water Street, NYC. Bring 19th-century maritime craft tradition to your handmade Valentine’s Day cards with the Seaport Museum! Attendees will create their own special trinket for the holiday and learn about the unique history of Sailors’ Valentines—tokens of love and friendship. This activity will also be available on special Seaport Museum open days for the New York City public school Midwinter Recess from February 19–23.

Historically, these small wooden boxes were given by seafarers to their wives, sweethearts, daughters, and loved ones when they returned from a long voyage. The small boxes open to reveal sentimental messages surrounded with intricate mosaics of shells and found objects arranged in exquisite geometric patterns and motifs such as hearts, anchors, and flowers.

Using beads, buttons, and shells, families and friends of all ages are invited to the Seaport Museum where we’ll continue the creative tradition together. Supplies are available on a first-come first-served basis, and space is limited.

The activity will take place indoors at 207 Water Street. Access to 207 Water Street includes walking up and down a few stairs. seaportmuseum.org/family-activity-weekends

XXX

Courtest of Michelle Tabnick PR

22) Works & Process Announces

BOOP! The Musical with Jerry Mitchell

February 10, 2025 at 7pm

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Works & Process at the Guggenheim presents BOOP! The Musical with Jerry Mitchell, on Monday, February 10, 2025 at the Peter B. Lewis Theater, 1071 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10128 at 7pm. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at https://www.worksandprocess.org/calendar/works-and-process-at-the-guggenheim-boop.

Please welcome to the stage, live for the first time ever . . . Betty Boop! That sassy-sweet champion of empowerment, that spit-curled icon of joy, that songstress of strength comes alive in BOOP!, a new Broadway-bound, musical-comedy extravaganza that’s fun for the whole family. For almost a century, Betty Boop, created by animation pioneer Max Fleischer, has won hearts and inspired fans around the world with her trademark looks, voice, and style. Now, in BOOP! The Musical, Betty's dream of an ordinary day off from the super-celebrity in her black-and-white world leads to an extraordinary adventure of color, music, and finding love in New York City — one that reminds her and the world, “You are capable of amazing things.” 

Cast members perform highlights from the new musical as Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, La Cage aux Folles, Hairspray) discusses bringing Fleischer Studios’ Queen of the Screen to the theater. Learn more about the new musical—with music by multiple-time Grammy-winning composer David Foster (“I Have Nothing,” “After the Love Is Gone,” “The Prayer”), lyrics by Tony-nominated Susan Birkenhead (Working, Jelly’s Last Jam), and book by Tony-winning Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone, The Prom)—prior to the Broadway premiere in April 2025. Performers and additional panelists to be announced. 

XXX

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

23) Works & Process Announces

Experiments in Opera:

Custom of the Coast by Kamala Sankaram and Paul Muldoon

Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 4pm

at National Sawdust

Works & Process and Experiments in Opera present Custom of the Coast by Kamala Sankaram and Paul Muldoon on Sunday, February 9, 2025 at National Sawdust, 80 N. 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249 at 4pm. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at https://www.worksandprocess.org/calendar/works-and-process-at-national-sawdust-custom-of-the-coast.

Don’t miss this first look at a new opera intercutting the life stories of an eighteenth-century Irish pirate who was sentenced to death and an Indian-born, Irish dentist who died in 2012 after being denied an abortion. Composer Kamala Sankaram and librettist Paul Muldoon will participate in a moderated discussion. Prior to world premiere at the 2025 Kilkenny Arts Festival, excerpts will be performed as the culmination of a workshop that was part of the production’s residency at Potash Hill and sponsored by Works & Process LaunchPAD and Experiments in Opera.

Artist Ensemble

Anchal Dhir, Voice

Rocky Duval, Voice

Danny O'Mahony, Accordion

FLUX Quartet

-Tom Chiu, Violin

-Conrad Harris, Violin

-Will Hakim, Viola (guest)

-Felix Fan, Cello

XXX

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

24) Jeremy O. Harris’s New Play First Look

Works & Process and Williamstown Theatre Festival in partnership with Potash Hill

MASS MoCA, February 7, 2025

Guggenheim New York, February 9, 2025

Works & Process and Williamstown Theatre Festival in partnership with Potash Hill, MASS MoCA and Guggenheim New York present two first looks of Jeremy O. Harris’s New Play, culminating a Works & Process LaunchPAD residency at Potash Hill. The first is on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 8 pm in Club B10 at MASS MoCA, 1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247. The second is on Sunday February 9, 2025 at 7 pm in the Peter B. Lewis Theater at Guggenheim New York, 1071 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10128 at 7pm. Tickets start at $15 (MASS MoCA) and $25 (Guggenheim New York) and can be purchased at the venue links below.

Go behind the scenes of celebrated writer, producer, and actor Jeremy O. Harris’s new play prior to its world premiere at Williamstown Theatre Festival. Recently announced as the inaugural creative director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Creative Collective, Harris will share his creative process. Excerpts will also be performed as the culmination of a one-week workshop that is part of the production’s Works & Process LaunchPAD residency at Potash Hill.

Williamstown Theatre Festival

Jeremy O. Harris’s New Play First Look

Co-presented by Potash Hill and Works & Process

Friday, February 7, 2025 at 8pm at MASS MoCA

_{https://massmoca.org/event/wtf-jeremy-o-harris/}

Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 7pm at Guggenheim New York

https://www.worksandprocess.org/calendar/works-and-process-at-the-guggenheim-jeremy-o-harris.

XXX

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

25) Works & Process

Announces

Never Alone by Andy Blankenbuehler

Friday, February 7, 2025 at 7pm

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Works & Process at the Guggenheim presents the Never Alone by Andy Blankenbuehler, on February 7, 2025 at the Peter B. Lewis Theater, 1071 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10128 at 7pm. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at https://www.worksandprocess.org/calendar/works-and-process-at-the-guggenheim-never-alone.

See a first look of director and choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler’s new work, Never Alone, which culminates a Works & Process LaunchPAD residency at Potash Hill and a Jacob’s Pillow's Pillow Lab.

Set during World War II, Never Alone follows the story of a woman with an unmatched gift for breaking codes and a British naval officer aboard a submarine deep in the perils of the U-boat war in the North Atlantic. Their love affair begins in a basement dance hall in bomb-cratered London, where they dance away the horrors of war. Never Alone is a story about committing everything to fighting an enemy that cannot be seen. It is about the loneliness that can accompany that fight, but it is also an affirmation that where the heart is involved, we are truly not alone. Blankenbuehler participates in a discussion moderated by Artistic and Executive Director of Jacob's Pillow Pamela Tatge, and highlights from the first chapter of Never Alone are performed.

XXX

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

Images used in this post have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission. If there is a problem with the rights to any image,  contact us here, and we will look into the matter.