Tips for Tuesday - Dead of Summer & Aslyum Hotel; Movie: The Sound of Surf

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: Dead of Summer & Asylum Hotel 

Today, we are talking about Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell. Orla returns to her hometown years after her childhood best friend, Alice, disappeared. Meanwhile, her childhood crush, the son of one of the richest families in town, David, has also returned with his new girlfriend, and alleged soon-to-be fiancée, Faith. Although much of this description makes the book sound like more of a love story than a thriller, it definitely is not.

While the story remains intriguing enough to hold interest throughout, the book is mostly disappointing. Regular readers of thrillers or viewers of theatrical thrillers can likely spot several of the big twists before they are revealed. Plus, there are too many unlikable characters. This includes Orla, Alice, and David, none of whom has an inkling of what it is like to be a good friend. The ending is also less than satisfying. It doesn't make complete sense and needs further explanation. To say more would be spoilery. 

Today, we are recommending Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell. Aubrey likes taking pictures of old abandoned buildings. When she takes pictures of the Asylum Hotel, she meets YouTube celebrity, Dimitri, who ends up dead at the bottom of a cliff the next day. The locals think he is just another victim of the hotel's alleged curse because he is not the first person associated with the hotel who has died.

If you enjoy reading about alleged haunted buildings, you may enjoy this exciting thriller. Aubry is a courageous and determined heroine. She and her friend, Nikki, make a good team, and their friendship is quite enjoyable. However, the story is a bit overwhelming at times. There is not one but several stories about what happened in the hotel's past. At times, it's hard to keep it all straight. 

The solution to what happened to Dimitri is a surprise that you are unlikely to figure out. However, that is because you were not given enough information to do so. Also, it doesn't relate enough to the main part of the story. Still, there are parts of the story's resolution that are more interesting and satisfying.

Movie: Sound of the Surf

Today, we are recommending Sound of the Surf. This is a fascinating film about the development and history of surf music. Most people are probably only aware of The Beach Boys when thinking about this genre, but it neither started nor ended with them. While they are mentioned in the film, they are only a small part of it. None of them appear in it. However, it does include interviews with numerous other surf music pioneers, including one woman, as well as numerous samples of surf music songs. 

And that's our view. Dead of Summer was published today. Asylum Hotel will publish next Tuesday, June 29.  Sound of the Surf is now available for purchase on DVD and digitally for purchase or rental.

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

All images except film images used in this post are our own.  Film images have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, contact us here, and we will look into the matter.

More Theater Monday - Shake It Away: The Ann Miller

We received complimentary tickets to Shake It Away: The Ann Miller Story for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Shake It Away: The Ann Miller Story

Where: 59E59 Theaters

             59 E. 59 St.

             New York, NY 

Who: Recommended for Ages 12 and Up

When: This event took place on July 15, 16, & 19, 2025

Another biographical musical, soon to be heading to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, is Shake It Away: The Ann Miller Story. The show was written by and stars Kayla Boye. She does an excellent job of channeling Miller's upbeat, perky personality a well as capturing the timbre of her voice. The show covers both Miller's movie career and personal life, although it does not go as far as covering her return to Broadway in 1979's Sugar Babies. It does hint at the show, however. 

The show is not a musical, but does include several musical highlights from Ann's illustrious career, including "Shaking the Blues Away", "On the Town", and "Too Darn Hot." Some of the musical numbers are performed in their entirety. In other cases, only a portion of the song is performed. All include full dance breaks, however, as Miller was especially known for her dancing. Boye is a talented dancer herself, and the dancing is definitely a highlight of the show. 

Whether you are interested in Ann Miller, the Hollywood Studio System, or you just want to learn fascinating tidbits about Hollywood, Ann Miller and/or other specific performers that you may not have known before, you may find Shake It Away: The Ann Miller Story quite engaging.

And that's our view. For more about Shake It Away: The Ann Miller Story or to purchase tickets to see it at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, go to https://www.shakeitawayplay.com.

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday. 

Photo credits: 

All Shake It Away: The Ann Miller Story production photos by Heather Stumpf

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission.  Address any issues regarding the rights to any image here. 

Sunday Scoop Week of 7/20/25 What's Happening This Week and More

A) Beginning Performances

In New York 

1) Can I Be Frank?

2) Gene & Gilda

3) Le Nozze di Figaro

4) Steve Burns Alive

5) The Whisperer in the Darkness

B) Cast Changes

In New York

6) Call Me Izzy

C) Closing Soon 

In New York

7) Gypsy 

D) Festivals 

In New York 

8) Broadway Bound

9) Trashfest and Darkfest

E) Run Extensions 

In New York 

10) Out of Order 

F) What Else is Happening 

In New Jersey 

11) Bergen County's Will Love Listen Podcast Returns for Season 

12) Centenary Stage Summerfest Continues with Yacht Rock Gold Experience

7/26

13) NJPAC Upcoming Event: Chicago

7/25

14) NJ Rep Production of How My Grandparents Fell in Love Adds Performances

In New York 

15) Ellen's Stardust Diner Brunch With the Cast of Mamma Mia

7/22

16) Garment District Free Educational Walking Tours for July & August

17) Princess Lockeroo presents Waack to the Future A Dance Spectacle

The House of Yes 7/27

In Pennsylvania

18) Fishtown District Presents Under the El Bazzaar Summer Series 

A) Beginning Performances

In New York 

Courtesy of Print Shop PR

1) Can I Be Frank?

In a desperate attempt to prove they can think about someone other than themself, Morgan Bassichis turns to the work of queer comedian, musician, and performance artist Frank Maya. Maya was among the first out gay comedians on network television and on the precipice of mainstream success before he died from AIDS-related complications in 1995. This new “solo” performance humbly attempts to ensure Maya’s legacy is no longer overlooked while finally resolving the bottomless queer search for fame, father figures, and laughter in times of crisis.  

SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam St.)

7/24 - 9/13

Opening Night 8/4

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.CanIBeFrank.nyc.

Courtesy of Richard Hillman PR

2) Gene & Gilda

Comic geniuses Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka, Young Frankenstein) and Gilda Radner (Saturday Night Live) had a love like no other. What started as a friendship on a movie set grew into an electric and enduring romance. In this heartfelt and hilarious new play, Wilder and Radner share their love and their laughter with us, even as they navigate some of life’s hardest challenges.

59E59 Theatres (59 E. 59 Theatres)

7/23 - 9/7

Opening Night 7/27

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.59e59.org

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

3) Le Nozze di Figaro

The production showcases emerging international talent, conducted by Mexican pianist and conductor Abdiel Vázquez, with direction by Teatro Grattacielo's Artistic Director, Stefanos Koroneo. This production promises a dynamic and fresh interpretation of the classic opera, and will be livestreamed on its closing night. 

Music by: W. A. Mozart

Libretto by: Lorenzo Da Ponte

The Downstairs, La Mama, Creative Shares (66 E. 4th St.)

7/26 - 2/27

For more information or to purchase tickets visit https://grattacielo.org/season/le-nozze-di-figaro

Courtesy of Emily Owens PR

4) Steve Burns Alive

From 1996 to 2002, Steve Burns was America's beloved problem-solver on Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues. But when he left the show, Steve was pronounced dead by the internet—car crashes, overdoses, murder conspiracies. The only problem? He was very much alive.

In his powerfully raw debut solo drama, Burns dissects the bizarre phenomenon of being mourned while still breathing. This isn't just his story—it's an excavation of how parasocial relationships shape our reality, how digital mythology replaces truth, and what happens when millions of strangers grieve a version of you that never existed.

Steve Burns Alive cuts through the layers of myth and performance to expose the raw mechanics of human connection in the digital age. This is not a children's show. This isn't nostalgia. This is an unflinching forensic examination of what it means to exist in the space between who people think you are and who you actually are, and the stories we tell about the people who shaped our childhoods.

The Club at La Mama (74A E. 4th St.)

7/23 - 7/25

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit  Ticket Leap

5) The Whisperer in the Darkness

Torn from today’s headlines, here is one man’s desperate attempt to warn the world that we are not alone. From beyond the stars, these interstellar immigrants have come to enslave mankind…and they are already here living among us! Professor Albert Wilmarth has arrived at tonight’s meeting of the NY Psychical Society to tell his tale about a missing colleague, Henry Akeley, a farmer in Northern Vermont, who had convinced Wilmarth that there are strange beings living in the remote woods on Dark Mountain…beings who are not of this world, but, sometimes, appear to be human. Now, Wilmarth has come here tonight to relive his harrowing experience and tell the rest of us that Akeley was not wrong.  

Under St. Marks (94 St. Marks Pl.)

7/23 - 7/27

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

B) Cast Changes

In New York

6) Call Me Izzy

Jean Smart returns 7/22

Call Me Izzy is a darkly comedic story about one woman in rural Louisiana who has a secret that is both her greatest gift and her only way out. It is a moving, tour de force portrait of a woman who resists being silenced by embracing her tenacity, humor, and fiery imagination.

Studio 54 (254 W. 54th St.)

Now closing 8/24

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

C) Closing Soon 

In New York

Courtesy Polk and Co. PR

7) Gypsy 

Starring Six-time Tony Winner, Audra McDonald

Majestic Theatre (245 W. 44th St.)

Closing 8/17

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

D) Festivals 

In New York 

Courtesy of DD PR

8) Broadway Bound

Broadway Bound Theatre Festival (BBTF), the fully curated developmental festival dedicated solely to playwrights, proudly unveils its 2025 Summer Festival line-up, spotlighting four new musicals and eight original plays, each of which are making their New York debut and that champion story, substance, and stagecraft. Now in its ninth season, BBTF continues to uphold its mission: fostering a collaborative, competition-free space where playwrights are given the tools, feedback, and community to bring their work to life — and beyond. 

This summer’s BBTF lineup includes a range of new works that engage with issues of identity, power, and historical memory. Double-Crossed, featuring Brazilian television star Marco Pigossi, examines shifting loyalties and class dynamics aboard a luxury cruise ship. Bengal to Berlin dramatizes the life of Indian physicist Satyendra Bose and his pivotal, often overlooked collaboration with Albert Einstein. In Making Ends Meet, two suburban professionals navigate the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis by launching an unlikely side business as escorts for wealthy housewives. Ghost Writer, set in pre-Civil War New York, confronts the economic underpinnings of human trafficking and the selective preservation of American history. Together, these productions reflect the festival’s focus on socially engaged storytelling and its commitment to developing new theatrical voices.

AMT Theater (354 W. 45th St.)

7/24 - 8/17

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.broadwayboundfest.como

9) Trashfest and Darkfest

For 12 years, The Tank has hosted DarkFest - a week of shows that do not use conventional theatrical lighting in an effort to reexamine how we can make theater more sustainable. With the pandemic forcing their physical theater to close, they challenged that idea further with the first annual TrashFest in 2020. It is often difficult to wrestle with the environmental impact our daily lives and our work can have - especially in theater, where so many resources are needed to develop sets, props, and costumes that are only used for a short amount of time. TrashFest centers work that not only produces no waste, but reuses materials discarded as garbage while DarkFest celebrates innovative performance that utilizes self-sufficient and alternative energy sources.

DarkFest

SYLVIA, BEGINNING TO END AND ONWARD

Created by Jake Banasiewicz, Emilia Harrison Daniel, Val Ramirez, Adriana Sorrentini, & Ethan Williams

Monday July 21 at 7pm

 

Returning to The Tank for DarkFest after its premiere at IHRAF in 2024, sylvia, beginning to end and onward is bigger and better (read: longer) than before. Told through movement, projection, and the musical stylings of Val Ramirez, Sylvia tells the tale of a dinosaur turned bird turned ??? surviving in spite of it all.

 

TrashFest / DarkFest

AGORAPHOBIC/CLAUSTROPHOBIC

By Olivia Ray

Directed by Dilara Naska

Monday July 21 at 9:30pm

 

Agoraphobic/Claustrophobic is a femme/non-men retelling of the myth of Icarus that explores the most basic and important relationships in our lives: familial, romantic/sexual, and personal. Told through heightened dialogue, Icarus feels both suffocated by the vast (agoraphobic) and the small (claustrophobic) as they question: who am I and how did I become this?

 

TrashFest / DarkFest

THE END OF THE WORLD RADIO HOUR

By Thea Flanzer

Directed by Doug Gallo

Tuesday July 22 at 9:30pm

 

The first installment in Thea Belle Flanzer's Greek Myths for Our Troubled Times play cycle, The End of The World Radio Hour is about two theater geeks and a mad scientist bunkering down in an abandoned Chuck E. Cheese for the apocalypse. This is a show ABOUT artists FOR artists navigating our troubled times, playing with the Greek myths of Prometheus and Icarus.

 

TrashFest

WAILSONG

By Julia Smith

Directed by Molly Greenwald

Wednesday July 23 at 7pm

 

The crew of a whaling ship hurtling through a polluted ocean finds themselves hunted by something they don’t fully understand. As the days wear on, the crew’s tenuous loyalties (and sanities) dissolve while the beast grows steadily hungrier. Wailsong is a surreal short eco-horror play, a comedic mini-musical, and a faint cry in an unfathomably large ocean.

 

TrashFest / DarkFest

IN THE DARK TIMES

By Michael Fracentese & Kayla Schwab

Wednesday July 23 at 7pm

 

In his “Motto,” written while in exile from Nazi Germany, Bertolt Brecht memorably asks “In the dark times, will there also be singing?” Part poetry reading / part immersive theater, In The Dark Times invites performers and audiences alike to a post-apocalyptic gathering to investigate and inhabit this question. Together, we’ll transform the space into an intimate setting to tell stories, preserve memories, and establish a collective oral history to carry through the dark times now and the dark times to come.

 

TrashFest

CHUCK AND TRONK IN: OPEN TO WORK

By Mark Melton

Directed by Spencer Giles

Wednesday July 23 at 9:30pm

 

Join two puppet roommates in a sitcom-style romp through the New York job market! Featuring whacky characters both human and puppet and taking inspiration from shows like Seinfeld, Mulaney, New Girl, The Simpsons, and many more classic television shows, you're sure to laugh- and maybe even care!- in this joke-packed half-hour comedy!

 

DarkFest

18 WEST 11^TH STREET

By Cory Diaz

Directed by Adrian Costa

Thursday July 24 at 7pm

 

18 West 11th Street is a straight play about the real-life members of the anti-racist, anti-Vietnam war student activism group, The Weathermen (later renamed The Weather Underground.) Formed in the 60s, they were a militant organization consisting exclusively of rich white college students who felt powerless in the midst of all the violence in the world. Five of them hunkered down in an apartment in Greenwich Village and decided to build a bomb to plant at Fort Dix, a military base, in an act of protest against the world. However, since they were all academics who didn’t know what they were doing, the bomb accidentally detonated in the apartment, killing three of them. 18 West 11th Street takes us through the days leading up to the accidental detonation as these five twenty-somethings cluelessly build bombs.

 

TrashFest

THE GARBAGE PATCH DOLLS

Written and Co-Directed by Julie Gester

Co-directed by Grace Walker

Thursday July 24 at 9:30pm

 

A family of four escapes environmental disaster by shipping out to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where they learn to survive off of humanity’s most abundant creation: trash. For seven years they've remained here, picking through food waste, reading water damaged books, and making art out of plastic bags. Life is actually just fine out on the garbage patch... Or is it? Are we actually happy… or are we just telling ourselves the things we need to hear to get through the day? At times funny, at other times dark, The Garbage Patch Dolls is about a family surviving off of ingenuity, delusions, and waste until ultimately they are forced to face what is real and what is plastic.

 

TrashFest

TWIG!

By Sage Molaskey

Directed by Arseniy Fariatiev

Friday July 25 at 7pm

 

TWIG! is a story about a twig. Well, not really a twig, but like a branch. A branch from a tree from my kingdom. From my father, to you. TWIG! is a story about duty - not friendship, but love. TWIG! is a story about boyfriends, betrothals, and telephone wires. TWIG! is a story about being the best at sucking off the people we love - or, actually, wait… Do we really love them? How can we ever know? 

 

DarkFest

FIREFLIES TAUGHT US PYROMANIA

By Josh Piper

Directed by Mary Morgan Collier

Friday July 25 at 9:30pm

 

Two siblings sit next to a fire pit outside of their childhood home. They’ve spent their whole life here as they try to figure out whether or not a house can hold anger or if God loves them through the fireflies in their backyard. Tobias and Emma, Toby and Em to each other, try to keep themselves warm and keep the fire going.

 

TrashFest

CARDBOARD: A MUSICAL FABLE

By Matthew Wray-Martinez & Jessica Kelly

Directed by Ethan Fox

Saturday July 26 at 3pm

 

Cardboard tells the story of Ama, a sentient box who was recently emptied into a recycling bin that hasn’t been picked up in years. The leaders of the bin promise Ama they'll all be recycled soon, so she mustn't leave because the outside world could “soil” her, preventing her rebirth by recycling. After failing to play along, Ama decides to escape with her moving box friend Oz, accidentally inciting a revolution in the process. Will Ama and Oz escape, or will their treason land them in the dreaded bottom bin?

 

DarkFest

A THOUSAND RAINY MORNINGS

By Matthew Schott

Directed by Laura Brown

Saturday July 26 at 7pm

 

Donald Wiltsong is going blind, and no doctor can help him. To make matters worse, his wife and daughter are about to make a horrible discovery which will shake their family to the core. With all hope lost, Donald is ready to do whatever it takes to save his family...even if it costs him his own life. Every family has a skeleton in their closet.... this family has an entire graveyard. This is a normal staged reading. Everything is fine.

 

DarkFest

BLACKOUT

By Zoe Fernanda Wilson

Directed by Christine Cirker

Saturday July 26 at 9:30pm

 

A power outage threatens the mundane lives of four employees in the neighborhood D'Agostino. Anxieties rise and already strained relationships are tested. Will they rally together, minimize food spoilage, insure customer safety and become the true definition of community resilience? Or will darkness shed light on something far more sinister?

 

TrashFest

WATCH PARTY

By Elena Messinger, Ibby O'Carroll & Kate O'Carroll

Directed by Elena Messinger

Sunday July 27 at 3pm

 

In this darkly comedic farce set on Hollywood’s Biggest Night in 2018, irreverent and deranged hosts Talia and Erin will stop at nothing to execute the perfect Oscars watch party.

 

DarkFest

BRETT, AGE 26

By Hannah Z. Morley & Gina Pletschet

Directed by M.L. Redstone

Sunday July 27 at 7pm

 

POV you're about to watch “Mad About It”— Damn, this pre-show announcement is loooooong. This stage manager sure has a lot of opinions. Is that a guitar? Wait, what’s going on?

 

TrashFest / DarkFest

THE MUSHROOM GOD OF LEAFCUTTER ANTS

By Madison Wetzell

Directed by Ciera Eis

Sunday July 27 at 9:30pm

 

Z is sick to death of living in this slow apocalypse, waiting to testify at their ex’s eco-terrorism trial. Perhaps the answer is to fall gently into the embrace of a queer mushroom death cult. A solo show with voices on the seductions of climate nihilism and how we should live in the end times.

The Tank (312 W. 36th St.)

7/21 - 7/27

For more information or to purchase tickets. visit thetanknyc.org/trashfest2025 and thetanknyc.org/darkfest2025

E) Run Extensions 

In New York 

10) Out of Order 

Carl's written plays for 20 years, but when Carl turned 40, something strange happened—he couldn’t write plays anymore. So he made this instead. It’s a game. A challenge. A bowl of index cards, pulled at random, now controls his fate. Each card holds a task designed to test his grit, his ingenuity, his emotional resilience, and his willingness to be humiliated. For the past year, he’s toured the country, training for this night. And if he fails to complete the challenge, he’ll quit theatre forever. We’re not joking. Part play, part high-stakes game of emotional Russian Roulette, Out of Order puts Carl’s fate in the hands of a giant bowl of index cards. Each one tells him—and all of us—what to do next. No performance is ever the same. 

East Village Basement (321 E. 9th St.)

Now closing 7/30

For more information or to purchase tickets. visit  www.OutOfOrderTheShow.com

F) What Else is Happening 

In New Jersey 

Courtesy of Prana PR

11) NEW JERSEY’S CELEBRITY PODCAST  RETURNS FOR SEASON 4 WILL LOVE LISTEN PODCAST  DISHES WITH THE STARS OF THE LIKES   NIKKI GLASER, FRANKIE GRANDE, MELISSA  ETHERIDGE, CALUM SCOTT, HAYLEY KIYOKO,  TYLER HENRY, MARGARET CHO, BIANCA DEL RIO  AND MORE.

New Jersey's own Will Loschiavo, (Maywood, N.J.) also known as Will Love, is back for season four of his captivating podcast,

"Will Love Listen." Always unfiltered and full of surprises, Will conducts raw interviews with your favorite celebrities from the worlds of comedy, TV, movies, music, and sports. Listeners receive an honest glimpse into the lives of these stars, along with Will's candid insights on the relatable dramas and struggles we all encounter.

Will Love began his career in Top 40 radio in New York and New Jersey, working from 2012 to 2020. In 2021, during the pandemic, he transitioned to podcasting. Building on the following he gained in radio, he developed a loyal audience through his candid interviews. The podcast regularly explores controversial topics, including affairs and infidelity, adoption, plastic surgery, molestation, coming out, politics, abusive relationships, astrology, witchcraft, and the complexities of family dynamics and friendships. The Will LOVE LISTEN Podcast is available on iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Spotify, and all subsequent streaming platforms. 

XXX

Courtesy of Centenary Stage Co.

12) CENTENARY STAGE COMPANY’ SUMMERFEST 2025 CONTINUES WITH THE YACHT ROCK GOLD EXPERIENCE – JULY 26 ONE-NIGHT-ONLY CONCERT EVENT

Centenary Stage Company’s 2025 Summerfest Series continues with a one-night-only concert event featuring Yacht Rock Gold Experience on Saturday, July 26 at 8:00 PM in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center at Centenary University, 715 Grand Avenue, Hackettstown, NJ. Tickets for Yacht Rock Gold Experience are $35.00 for orchestra seating and $30.00 for balcony seating. All tickets increase by $5.00 on the day of the performance. For more information or to purchase tickets visit centenarystageco.org or call the box office at (908) 979 – 0900.

Yacht Rock Gold Experience celebrates the soft rock and smooth sounds of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The ultimate tribute to the artists and songs that defined an entire genre, Yacht Rock Gold features the smooth sounds of the Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, Little River Band, Ambrosia, Boz Scaggs, and many more.  With four lead vocalists, a five-piece rhythm section, and accompanying visuals, Yacht Rock Gold offers audiences a live concert experience that highlights the soundtracks of summer radio from the era, reintroducing this timeless music to longtime fans and new listeners alike.

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Courtesy of Buzzword PR

13) NJPAC Upcoming Event:

Chicago

July 25, 2025 8:00 PM

Multi-Grammy award winning band and Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductees Chicago will be performing at Newark’s New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Friday, July 25 at 8:00PM. 

NJPAC, Prudential Hall, Betty Wold Johnson Stage (One Center St., Newark)

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

XXX

Photo by Andrea Phox

14) Due to Overwhelming Response

NJ Rep Adds Performances 

for its World Premiere of

HOW MY GRANDPARENTS FELL IN LOVE

A New Musical by CARY GITTER & NEIL BERG
Directed by SUZANNE BARABAS

Starring

HARRIS MILGRIM & BECCA SUSKAUER

Due to overwhelming response, New Jersey Repertory Company (NJ Rep) adds additional Sunday night performances for the world premiere of How My Grandparents Fell in Love, a heartwarming and timely new musical by playwright Cary Gitter and composer Neil Berg, directed by NJ Rep Artistic Director SuzAnne Barabas. This news comes before the production officially opens on Saturday, July 19, at 7 PM. The production began on  July 17 and will run through August 10, 2025, at NJ Rep’s intimate Broadway theater in Long Branch.

Added performances are on Sunday, July 27 at 7 PM; August 3 at 7 PM & August 10 at 7 PM. 

How My Grandparents Fell in Love

Began July 17 and opened on July 19 and will run through August 10, 2025

It will play Thursdays at 7 PM, Fridays & Saturdays at 2 PM and 7 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM; NJ Rep is located at 179 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740. For tickets and more information, visit www.njrep.org or call 732-229-3166

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In New York 

15) From the Stage to the Stardust: The Cast of Mamma Mia! Brings Broadway to Brunch at Ellen’s Stardust Diner

Here we go again! On Tuesday, July 22 at 11:30 am, Ellen’s Stardust Diner in Times Square will host cast members of Mamma Mia!, celebrating the show’s return to its original Broadway home at the Winter Garden Theatre – right next door to the iconic diner. The cast members will join forces with the legendary Stardusters for a glittering Mamma Mia! brunch featuring live performances, themed menu items and plenty of groovy photo-op moments.  

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme brunch with a side of disco and Dancing Queens – tickets for the July 22 show that features the Mamma Mia! cast members can be purchased HERE.

A sweet nod to the ABBA classic, the diner will also be serving up the new Honey, Honey Milkshake, a honey ice cream blend top with whipped cream, honeycomb cereal and an edible bee. The special shake will be available throughout the month of August for $18, with a special preview at brunch on July 22.

This special one-time-only event featuring members of Mamma Mia!’s Broadway cast is part of a series of themed Mamma Mia! brunches hosted by the diner, which first launched on Mother’s Day and quickly gained fans’ attention on TikTok. Due to popular demand and the upcoming shows selling out fast, the diner has announced the following additional Mamma Mia! brunch dates:

·         Sunday, July 27 at 2:00 p.m.

·         Sunday, August 10 at 11:00 a.m.

·         Sunday, August 24 at 11:00 a.m.

·         Sunday, August 31 at 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.

·         Sunday, September 21 at 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.

·         Sunday, October 12 at 11:00 a.m

Tickets for the above shows can be found HERE. 

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16) Garment District FREE Educational History NYC Walking Tours For July and August 2025

The free tours are open to all. Meet at the yellow button on the corner of 7th Ave and West 39th St. See photo attached. The tour begins at 10:30 sharp, so please show up a couple of minutes early to sign in.

Wednesday July 23rd

Tuesday August 5th 

Wednesday August 27th

This tour is also available to private groups at a convenient time for your schedule.

Of course, there will be a fee for the custom private tour. 

For further information, to register for a public tour, or to request a private tour, contact visit Mike's NYC Tours

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Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick

17) Princess Lockerooo presents Waack to the Future

A Time-Traveling Dance Spectacle Celebrating Decades of Rhythm

Sunday, July 27, 2025 at The House of Yes

Works & Process alumnae Princess Lockerooo presents Waack to the Future on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at House of Yes, 2 Wyckoff Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11237. The internationally acclaimed Waack to the Future returns to House of Yes for a dazzling night of dance, fashion, and cultural pride. This global Waacking showdown unites top dancers from around the world to celebrate rhythm, identity, and self-expression. General admission tickets are $36.05 and can be purchased at houseofyes.org/calendar.

Leading up to the Sunday night extravaganza, all are invited to step into the groove with judges Mark Star, Wizzard, and Bill Goodson for an immersive waacking experience at Ailey Extension in New York’s largest building dedicated to dance, 405 West 55^th Street, NY, NY 10019. On Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26, the organizations will host three workshops where participants can learn the groove and musicality of this electrifying dance style, followed by an inspiring panel discussion about the history, identity, and power of the waacking movement. For more details on how to join in the dance, please visit ailey.org/classes.

Waacking, born in the Black and gay underground clubs of 1970s Los Angeles and popularized on Soul Train, has re-emerged as a worldwide phenomenon, garnering over 180 million TikTok tags and inspiring a new generation.

This year’s theme, “Decades of Rhythm,” takes audiences on a musical journey from disco to today’s top hits. Expect a thrilling 1-on-1 dance battle, stunning performances, and a costume contest where guests are encouraged to dress in the style of their favorite decade.

Guests are encouraged to dress up in looks inspired by Disco, Donna Summer, David Bowie, Bell-bottoms, Fringe, Sylvester, Neon, Grace Jones, Glitter, Shoulder pads, Y2K Futurism, Butterfly clips, Missy Elliott, XXXtina, Low-rise jeans, Clubbing Eleganza, Doc Martens, and more. Anything goes – it’s creativity that’s most important.

XXX

In Pennsylvania

18) FISHTOWN DISTRICT PRESENTS UNDER THE EL BAZAAR SUMMER SERIES ON JUNE 28, JULY 26 AND AUGUST 23 ON NORTH FRONT STREET

Get ready to experience summer in the Fishtown District with a chill and social atmosphere! The Under the El Bazaar is back on Saturday, June 28, 2025, and continuing monthly on July 26 and August 23, from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM. When the street closes, the fun opens up! North Front Street from Cecil B Moore to Palmer Streets in the Fishtown District transforms into an open-air celebration filled with pop-up shopping, street performers, live music, expanded outdoor dining, and non-stop good vibes for all ages. Local favorites like LMNO 1749 N. Front Street), Evil Genius Beer Company (1727 N. Front Street), Percy Street Barbecue (1700 N. Front Street), and The International Bar (1624 N Front Street) will be turning up the flavor and fun with food and drink specials, sidewalk seating, and special in-house offerings throughout the day. This family and fido friendly event is no charge to attend and open to all. There is no admission, and food/drink is pay-as-you-go. For more information, visit fishtowndistrict dot com/fishtown-events/

“The Under the El Bazaar is what the Fishtown District is all about—bringing people together to celebrate local talent, support small businesses, and create lasting memories. It’s a space where families, friends, and neighbors can enjoy a day full of music, food, and fun in a safe, welcoming, and truly unique setting. We’re proud to offer an experience that reflects the heart of our community. From hand-crafted goods to eclectic performances and tasty treats, the Under the El Bazaar offers something for everyone. Whether you're shopping, sipping, or just soaking up the atmosphere, it's the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon in one of Philly's most vibrant and eclectic neighborhoods,” said Fishtown District Executive Director Marc Collazzo. “We’re especially proud that many of our businesses are showing their support for Pride Month during the event, helping us foster a spirit of inclusion and celebration for all.”

Family Friendly Activities:
12:30 – 2:30 Face painter
2:30 –4:30 Balloon Artist  
4:30 – 6:30 Caricature Arist

All day Music:
11:00 am – 10:00 pm LMNO DJ’s
12:00 pm Musician playing alt. rock and singer songwriter
1:30 pm Guitar and singer
3:00 pm Singer

Vendors:
Moss - upcycled clothes
Cositas by Mia - decorated cups, shirts, keychains
Loop Back Vintage - vintage
Ceramics by Melissa Schaff - ceramics
Minnoka Brand - clothes, bags, jewelry
chu homemade - homemade skincare line
Micro Magic Photo - photo portraits
Sidewalk Press - trinkets, stickers, stationary
ASGNMT - sneaker accessories
Cursed Baby - soldered pearl jewelry
soul therapy - candles, yoga mats, crystals
Crystal Cyborg - gem wrapped jewelry
H8Shants Art - crochet hands, prints, cards, stickers
Modern Readings by Justin- energy readings
Taiku - herbal wellness
bbugnug - second hand goodies

Food, drink, specials and extended outdoor seating: 

LMNO 1749 N. Front Street)

Evil Genius Beer Company (1727 N. Front Street)

Percy Street Barbecue (1700 N. Front Street)

The International Bar (1624 N Front Street) 

Check back each month for an updated list of specials, vendors, activities and more! Admission is no charge and open to all. Bring your friends, bring the family, and the dog, and be sure to bring your summer spirit.

XXX

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