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

Monday, July 28, 2025

More Theater Monday - Steve Burns Alive

We received complimentary tickets to Steve Burns Alive for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.



What: Steve Burns Alive

Where: LaMama The Club
             74A E. 4th St.
             New York, NY

When: This event took place from July 23 through July 25, 2025


From 1996 to 2002, Steve Burns was the affable, upbeat, friendly host of the beloved children's show Blue's Clues, or at least that's the way he was portrayed on TV. In real life, he was not nearly as happy as he seemed on the screen. Few people are, but Burns, in fact, was suffering from depression, and the constant rumors about his demise didn't help matters. Steve Burns Alive is his story.

For some parts of the show, Burns addresses the audience through a giant video screen reminiscent of his appearances on the TV show, and in other parts, he is directly in front of the audience. Fittingly, the more emotional parts of the show occur when he is directly in front of the audience, as if in those moments he is letting his guard down and not hiding behind a screen, literally or figuratively. The show takes the audience through his experiences from the time he decided to be an actor through his job on the TV show, including the surprising toll it took on him and the aftermath. It doesn't seem to be a story of ups and downs as much as a story of a man being swept along by unexpected circumstances.

This show offers a fascinating inside look at the real Steve Burns and his life as opposed to the version of himself that he portrayed on camera. It is also a reminder that what you see on television isn't necessarily reality. However, most importantly, it is a reminder to take care of our mental health. It is because of this that Steve Burns is sharing his story and taking care of his own enables him to do so. 

And that's our view. Burns will soon be launching a podcast. For more about that, visit his YouTube page at www.youtube.com/@AlivewithSteveBurns.

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Photo credits:
All  Steve Burns Alive photos supplied by the production

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

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Sunday Scoop Week of 7/27/25 What's Happening This Week and More

A) Beginning Performance 

In New Jersey

1) Nunsense II: The Second Coming

In New York 

2) Lili/Darwin

3) This is Where We End

4) Tinkerbell Live 

B) Festivals

In New Jersey

5) Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras) Festival
Two River Theater 7/31- 8/3

In New York 

6) Baand Together Dance Festival
Lincoln Center 7/29 - 8/2

7) The First Annual Awakenings Reading Series
Studio Theatre 8/1 - 8/3

8) Limefest
The Tank 8/4 - 8/24

9) Little Shakespeare 
Under St. Marks 7/31 - 8/17

C) Run Extension 

In New York 

10) Breakin' NYC 

D) Tickets on Sale

In New Jersey

11) Jerry Seinfeld 
NJPAC 10/31

E) Season Announcements 

In New York

12) American Symphony Orchestra 

13) HERE 

14) PAC NYC 

15) The York Theatre 

F) What Else is Happening

In New York 

16) 90-Year-Old D'yan Forest Returns to Joe's Pub
7/31

17) Epic Players Theatre Neuro-Inclusive Concert Presentation
of 504 A New Musical 8/3

18) Fathom Entertainment presents Sunset Boulevard 75th Anniversary
8/3 & 8/4

19) Haven Boxing and Dance Theatre Surreality present 
Stay Strong Sundays: Boxing & Art 8/3

20) Jazz at Lincoln Center Celebrates Jimmy Van Heusen
8/3

21) Maybe Happy Ending CD & Vinyl Cast Recording Signing
The Drama Book Shop 7/29

22) South Street Seaport August Free Family Activity Weekends 

23) Stage Door Pass Available to General Public 7/31

24) Stranger Things Broadway Trailer Now Available 

In Pennsylvania 

25) Bucks County Playhouse Education Offers Summer Classes

26) Philadelphia Zoo Presents Zoo Done It After-Hours Adults-Only Mystery
8/228) 

A) Beginning Performance 

In New Jersey

1) Nunsense II: The Second Coming 

Nunsense II: The Second Coming is the follow-up to Dan Goggin’s original musical comedy Nunsense, continuing the story of the Little Sisters of Hoboken. Set once again in the convent school gymnasium, the show finds the sisters preparing a special “thank-you” performance for their supporters following the success of their initial fundraiser. The musical introduces new songs, fresh comedic moments, and additional characters as the sisters face a series of unexpected interruptions—including surprise guests and unrehearsed numbers. With each nun bringing her own personality and perspective to the performance, the show explores themes of community, resilience, and faith through music, movement, and storytelling. Nunsense II builds on the world of the original production while offering audiences a new look at the lives and antics of the convent’s most theatrical residents.

Lackland Performing Arts Center on the Campus of Centenary University 
(715 Grand Ave, Hackettstown)
7/31 - 8/10

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit  centenarystageco.org

In New York 

2) Lili/Darwin

A poetic solo performance exploring the intimate, overlapping journeys of Lili Elbe and Darwin Del Fabro, Lili / Darwin invites the audience into a raw, unflinching world of identity, memory, and becoming. Through voice, projection, and powerful language, Darwin brings to life the blurred lines of self and story, history and present.

The Tank (312 W. 36th St.)
8/2 - 8/23

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit  lilidarwin.com or thetank.org.

Courtesy of DD PR

3) This is Where We End

In This is Where It Ends, a married couple from Los Angeles, Stephen and James, invite Stephen’s brash actor friend, Kody, and James’s former fraternity brother, Ellis – once an entitled entrepreneur, now a spiritually-minded, recovering sex addict -- for a weekend at their Palm Springs home to celebrate James’s forty-fifth. Unknown to Stephen, James engages in extramarital adventures with anonymous hookups and Kody, while Stephen, increasingly frustrated in his role as ornamental house-husband, finds himself first unnerved by Ellis’s blunt honesty, then drawn to his refreshing candor. As the weekend progresses, the walls come down and the gloves come off as the four men bristle under the weight of the roles all of them have played for far too long.


AMT Theater (354 W. 45th St.)
7/30 & 31, 8/2 & 3

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit broadwayboundtheatrefestival.ludus.com/index.php

4) Tinkerbell Live

TINKERBELL LIVE invites audiences to join iconic characters such as Princess Snow White, Woodsman Will, Prince Dreamboat, The Evil Queen, Ringmaster Ron, and Little Rosa Riding Hood on a whimsical and bilingual journey to Fairlyland. The show is designed to engage children and adults alike through interactive games, catchy songs, and vibrant storytelling. Since its inception in 2009, TINKERBELL THEATRE has been dedicated to providing high-quality family theatre that captivates New Yorkers of all ages.

Brooklyn Premiere

The Hart to Hart Community Garden (104-108 Hart St., Brooklyn)
7/27

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit HERE

B) Festivals

In New Jersey

5) Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras) Festival

Two River Theater’s celebrated Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras) Festival of new plays by Latine playwrights will take place from Thursday, July 31 to Sunday, August 3 in the Joan and Robert M. Rechnitz Theater. Now in its 14th year, this annual event joyfully showcases the richness, diversity, creativity, and talent of Latine theater artists. All festival events are open and free to the public.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Thursday, July 31 at 5PM:

Community Kick-Off Celebration

Live music on the plaza with food, fun, and feasting!


Thursday, July 31 at 7PM:

The Myth of the Two Marcos 

by Tony Meneses, directed by José Zayas 

When Marco meets Marco in 1997 Albuquerque, an unlikely friendship begins between two boys with the same name but vastly different personalities and outlooks on life. When they discover a mutual love of comic books, the local comic shop becomes a sanctuary for both teens as they’re introduced to an Aztec superhero who becomes their guide through a time long forgotten. 


Friday, August 1 at 5:30PM

STORIES FROM THE HEART

A One-of-a-Kind Sharing

Throughout the school year, Red Bank Middle School's 7th and 8th grade AVID [Advancement Via Individual Determination] students have been crafting original pieces in weekly writing sessions with Project Write Now.  A new addition to the Festival, this thrilling showcase will feature poems, stories, and all-around love from these young storytellers. This is your chance to hear the words and voices of our incredible neighbors!


Friday, August 1 at 7PM:

Miss America Pretty

by Iraisa Ann Reilly, directed by José Zayas 

Who wants to be Miss America when you could have the whole Universe? Cristina is an Atlantic City casino worker living in the shadow of generations of pageant queens. With a scholarship and a better future for her family hanging in the balance, Cristina has one glamorous chance to prove that she deserves the crown. Steeped in memory and surrealism, Miss America Pretty examines conformity, grief, and how far we’ll go to reinvent ourselves for the sake of systems that exclude us.


Saturday, August 2 at 2PM:

Disaster Preparedness 

by Eliana Pipes, directed by Taylor Reynolds 

Mitigation. Preparedness. Response. Recovery. Mama and Honey like to be ready for anything. When Mama comes face to face with the Ghost of her own mother and Honey begins to think about moving on, the two women start to question their strategies. Exploring motherhood and caretaking, the third play in Pipes’ New America Cycle reminds us that there are some disasters we’ll never see coming.


Saturday, August 2 at 8PM:

Performance from Xol Azul Band, a five piece band formed in 2002 with its original lineup lead by singer and bassist Gidalthi Guillen, guitarist Gil Cruz, keyboardist Fabian Rojas, percussionist Javier Medel and drummer Susu Leon. Their sound represents the new Latin rock breed singing in Spanish/English. With their CD “Sale el Xol” XAB has captured American and Hispanic music lovers of all sorts.


Sunday, August 3 at 2PM:

Vidas Privadas 

by Christina Pumariega, directed by Eddie Torres

Celia loves Clayton. America loves Cesar. Divorcees Celia and Cesar (still) love each other. But when they all honeymoon in adjacent hotel rooms in Ibiza, the café hits the fan. Hearts and tempers flare rocketing from old world to the new, from passion to politics in a no-holds barred immigrant debate where Cesar and Celia ask if change is actually possible. A fresh, funny, Cuban reinvention of Noël Coward’s Private Lives.

 

FREE TICKETS/ACCESS

To register for all festival events, visit: https://tworivertheater.org/whats-on/crossing-borders-cruzando-fronteras-festival


Two River Theater (21 Bridge Ave.)
7/31 - 8/3

For more information or to register for all festival events, visit: tworivertheater.org/whats-on/crossing-borders-cruzando-fronteras-festival

In New York 

6) Baand Together Dance Festival

Five of NYC’s most iconic dance companies—Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem—reunite on one stage to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the BAAND Together Dance Festival, sharing the spotlight and a stage for five performances from July 29-August 2 as part of Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City. The Festival began when the performing arts were coming back after the height of the pandemic in 2021 as a new form of collaboration in celebration of the return to live performance.


This is a rare chance for audiences to experience five exceptional performances of beloved programming curated collaboratively by the artistic directors of each company, featuring repertory favorites. Performances: Tue-Fri at 7:30pm, Sat at 4pm.


PROGRAM:

Dance Theatre of Harlem – Nyman String Quartet No. 2 by Robert Garland

New York City Ballet – After the Rain (Pas de Deux) by Christopher Wheeldon

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – Many Angels by Lar Lubovitch

American Ballet Theatre – Midnight Pas de Deux by Susan Jaffe

Ballet Hispánico – House of Mad’moiselle by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa


This summer, for the first time, audiences will get an off-stage perspective of the extraordinary on-stage collaboration between these five iconic NYC dance companies during a free panel discussion on Tuesday, July 29 at 5:00pm in the David Rubenstein Atrium, featuring the artistic leaders of all five companies: Eduardo Vilaro, Ballet Hispánico; Alicia Graf Mack and Matthew Rushing, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Susan Jaffe, American Ballet Theatre; Wendy Whelan and Jonathan Stafford, New York City Ballet; and Robert Garland, Dance Theatre of Harlem, moderated by Shanta Thake, Ehrenkranz Chief Artistic Officer of Lincoln Center.


Each afternoon, one of the companies brings its unique teaching style to participants of all ages with free dance workshops in the David Geffen Hall lobby. The series will offer a variety of dance forms, appropriate for all ages and abilities.


Program Details:


Dance Theatre of Harlem – Nyman String Quartet No.2 by Robert Garland

Set to Michael Nyman’s String Quartet No.2, Robert Garland continues his signature exploration of the intersection of cultures that is contemporary America. Complex and witty, this sophisticated work shows off the unique capacity of the company’s artists to code-switch with abandon.


"This work is dedicated to the memory of two men whom I admire: John Wesley Carlos, former track and field medal winner at the 1968 Summer Olympics, well known for his triumphant salute upon the winners podium that year, and Dance Theatre of Harlem's Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus, Mr. Arthur Mitchell (1934-2018), whose similar stand for his people, his community, and the arts 'has brought us thus far on our way' (Lift Every Voice and Sing)" - Robert Garland


New York City Ballet – After the Rain (Pas de Deux) by Christopher Wheeldon

Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain premiered in 2005 at NYCB’s annual New Combinations Evening, which honors the anniversary of George Balanchine’s birth with world premiere ballets. The full ballet, which included a preceding section set to Arvo Pärt's Tabula Rasa, was the last ballet choreographed by Wheeldon for Wendy Whelan and Jock Soto before Soto’s retirement from performing later that year. The second section, presented tonight, is a haunting pas de deux set to Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel.


Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – Many Angels by Lar Lubovitch

After 60 years as a choreographer, Lar Lubovitch has frequently been asked: "Why do you make dances?”. The 13th-century theologian St. Thomas Aquinas posed several theoretical questions about the behavior of angels, to which no real answers are possible or necessary. “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” illustrates that some questions have no logical response but are understood as a question of faith. Something may exist in the world simply for the sake of itself—for example, a dance. Many Angels is a dance to music by Gustav Mahler. It is not really about angels. (Well, maybe a little.)


American Ballet Theatre – Midnight Pas de Deux by Susan Jaffe

Choreographed by American Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Susan Jaffe, Midnight Pas de Deux is an introspective and poetic duet, set to the adagio from Alessandro Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in D minor.


Ballet Hispánico – House of Mad’moiselle by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa

Originally created in 2010 as her first full-length work for the company, House of Mad’moiselle by internationally acclaimed choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa is a wild romp through the layered symbols of Latin American femininity. It revels in the drama, elegance, and defiance of iconic women who blur the lines between myth and memory.


Friday, August 1, 2025 at 7:30 pm - Audio Description

Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 4:00 pm - Audio Description, Relaxed Performance


Lincoln Center

7/29 - 8/2


Courtesy of Alton PR

7) The First Annual Awakenings Reading Series

This August, the inaugural Awakenings Reading Series debuts in Midtown Manhattan, showcasing powerful new works by renowned playwrights Erik Ehn, Catherine FillouxKelsey PuttrichJosé Rivera, and Regina Taylor. Tackling timely themes such as artificial intelligence, homelessness, and racial justice, the series promises a thought-provoking theatrical experience. The series runs August 1 – 3 at The Studio Theatre at 520 8th Avenue.

FULL LINEUP


Friday, August 1st at 8pm


Exhibit written and directed by Regina Taylor


EXHIBIT is a powerful exploration of erasure, memory, and the battle to preserve history. At the center of the story is Iris, an African American artist whose work is being removed from museums and whose biography is vanishing from databases. Faced with the threat of cultural erasure, Iris is triggered to recall fragments of her own martyred childhood—memories of integrating a school during the height of the Civil Rights Movement.


These flashbacks are windows into a sharply divided America, a nation at a crossroads—caught between progress and regression. Iris grapples with the haunting question: Are we moving forward, or are we moving backward?


Saturday, August 2nd at 8pm


Still All Told by Erik Ehn, directed by Glory Kadigan

A benefit reading for City Harvest.


Centers on a woman, in and out of homelessness. Her daughter looks for

(and sometimes finds) her while going through internal struggles of her own. Contemporary Albuquerque.


Sunday, August 3rd at 2pm


Trip of a Lifetime by Catherine Filloux, directed by Arpita Mukherjee


Accompanied by her ceremonial anthem, the Second Lady hides beneath the veneer of diplomacy and white blouses, while a deeper truth flickers, one that resists containment. In muscular, spiraling monologues, she veers between rehearsed compassion and imaginative rationalizations as she navigates topics of immigration, war, addiction, identity, and sexual misconduct. All the while, insisting on the kindness, decorum, and sanctity of her family. As she omits and distorts, we watch her unravel in abstract performance, not always certain of who is her ultimate choreographer. Filloux’s play illuminates how truth may not always be determined by fact or reality but could instead be engineered out of language and the need for ascension. Trip of a Lifetime is a lyrically blistering meditation--an urgent and captivating mirror of our present.


Sunday, August 3rd at 4pm

 

Someone Should Start written by Kelsey Puttrich, directed by Glory Kadigan

A benefit reading for Girls Write Now.

 

Someone Should Start is an absurdist comedy with a beating heart. In a riotous and raunchy first scene, we meet a group of friends in New York City desperately seeking connection. At the fringes is Marv– awkward, earnest, and hopelessly in love with Karen, a kind soul who would rather blend into the wallpaper than be seen for who she really is. Although everyone hates Marv, Karen likes him…and she’s not sure why.  


What follows is a time-hopping, emotional journey through sex, spirals, self-discovery, and the masks we wear (and sometimes glue on). By embracing the ridiculous and the raw while pushing experimental form, Someone Should Start unpacks what it means to be seen, heard, and intensely, excruciatingly human.


Sunday, August 3rd at 8pm


Your Name Means Dream written and directed by José Rivera

A benefit reading for Girls Write Now.

 

We're in the 2050s. Álom, a hoarder and shut-in, elderly and trapped in the past. His ramshackle home is a visual metaphor for his loneliness and melancholy. Into this messy world comes a super-advanced AI entity named Stacy with abilities beyond anything Álom can imagine. Stacy's job is to keep Álom alive and healthy. As Stacy says, "All this must seem like magic to you."


The Studio Theatre (520 8th Ave.)

8/1 - 8/3


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


8) Limefest

New, zesty works by emerging artists and creative teams who identify as women, nonbinary or gender non-conforming.

The Tank (312 W. 36th St.)
8/4 - 8/24

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit thetanknyc.org/summer-season

9) Little Shakespeare 

The Little Shakespeare Festival at FRIGID New York, curated by Conor Mullen, is a celebration of independent theatre and performance that takes inspiration from the immortal bard, William Shakespeare. This year's theme is “Not Your English Teacher’s Shakespeare.”

Remember that English teacher you had? No, not the good one. The one that told you not to split your infinitives, that comic books weren’t real books, and that kids say “like” too much. That English teacher. This year we’ll present Shakespeare that would make that English teacher tell you to “see me after class!”

As You Wish It or The Bride Princess or What You Will
Written by Michael Hagins
Presented by Fork the Odds Productions
A Shakespeare parody of The Princess Bride! The fair maiden Buttercup is betrothed to the evil Prince Humperdinck, but she is forlorn since her true love Westley has died at sea. Before she can make it to her ill-fated wedding day, three thieves and a man in black will change everything, and become the proof that true love conquers all. 
Thu July 31 at 6:30pm, Sun Aug 3 at 1pm, Fri August 8 at 7:45pm & Sat Aug 9 at 2pm 
90 minutes Streaming

Hamlet: La Telenovela
Adapted by Federico Mallet, Translation by Jose Ruano
Presented by Something From Abroad
Hamlet couldn't possibly get more dramatic… or could it? Hamlet couldn't possibly be funny...or could it? Are Shakespeare and Telenovelas a match made in heaven? With Hamlet: La Telenovela audiences experience Hamlet like never before, with an adaptation that heightens the melodrama innate in the story and explores it under a farcical and comedic lens. We invite the public to open their arms to the extremely cathartic guilty pleasure that only Telenovelas (soap operas) can give. This show is in Spanish with English subtitles. 
Fri Aug 1 at 7pm, Sat Aug 2 at 8:15pm, Thu Aug 7 at 8:15pm & Sun Aug 10 at 3pm 
120 minutes Streaming 

The Mousetrap, or Prince Hamlet wrote a dumb play and now we have to do it
Written by Margaret Rose Caterisano
Presented by Broomstick
A theatre company on the way to their next gig meets two men on the highway. The two men talk the performers into following them to the capital, Elsinore, where they are pressed into service by the prince, Hamlet, who believes the king, also his Uncle Claudius, is corrupt. The actors grapple with the call of duty, and discuss the pros and cons of speaking truth to power. 
Sat Aug 2 at 3pm, Sun Aug 10 at 8:30pm & Thu Aug 14 at 8pm 75 minutes 

UNSEX’d
Written by Jay Whitehead & Daniel Judes
Presented by JB Theatricals  Directed by Josh Bradley
Something wicked this way comes.... JB Theatricals is delighted to present the U.S. premiere of this witty and raucous satire. UNSEX'd takes audiences back to Elizabethan London, and a time when men played women's roles onstage. UNSEX’d follows two boy-players: Wilburn, a fading star clinging to fame, and his apprentice Humphrey, a handsome upstart turning heads and stealing roles. As their competition for the role of Lady Macbeth heats up both onstage and off, dark magic, new grudges, and unleashed desires swirl into a fabulously queer theatrical storm. Sat Aug 2 at 6pm, Sun Aug 3 at 3:30pm, Thu Aug 7 at 6pm, Sun Aug 10 at 6pm & Sun Aug 17 at 6:30pm 
75 minutes Streaming

As You Will
Created by Conor Mullen, David Brummer, and George Hider
Friends, foes, fools! Do you ever bemoan the fact that the 884,647 words William Shakespeare wrote have been performed already? Do you yearn for the experience of seeing The Bard's works for the first time? Then celebrate the glad tidings of As You Will and our Unscripted Shakespeare Show! These Shakespearean Scholars are here to present all the monumental works the immortal Bard would've written if he hadn't gone and died. With just the title given by the audience the players of As You Will bring a Shakespearean comedy to life complete with Shakspeare's themes, language, poetic verse, and some scholarly footnotes thrown in for good measure. As You Will have performed such classics as "Eight Merry Spiders," "That Doth Not Go There," "1601: A Space Odyssey'' and though those shows will never be seen again, there’s always a Shakespearean world premiere in our makeshift Globe Theatre at Under St Marks. Sun Aug 3 at 6pm, Fri Aug 8 at 6pm, Sat Aug 9 at 5pm & Sat Aug 16 at 7pm 60 minutes Streaming 
Tempestuous
Written by Mark Sage
Haunted by the spirit of his younger self, an aging country music star battles dementia in a secluded lake-side cabin. Tempestuous asks the question if the good times are really over for good. Ariel Chance Farmer’s daughter, Miranda, does her best to care for her father while nurturing her own dreams. All the while, the specter of the younger singer is a constant reminder of what is and what isn’t. Leaning heavily on Shakespeare’s The Tempest, this three-person play is a fresh take on the play. 
Sun Aug 3 at 8pm, Sat Aug 9 at 9pm & Sun Aug 17 at 4pm 
80 minutes Streaming 

Hamlet’s Dad
Written & Performed by Rachel Resnik
Presented by Serious Play
Hamlet's Dad: Otherwise Known As The Daddy Issue's Cycle is comedian Rachel Resnik's magnum opus. A REALLY SERIOUS PLAY. NOT FUNNY. DON'T LAUGH. All five acts of Hamlet-guaranteed to solve your daddy issues-or your money back. 
Sat Aug 9 at 7pm 30 minutes

Anti-Gone
Created by Sivan Raz
Presented by Needs More Work Productions
Anti-Gone is a bold new adaptation of the beloved classic. Audiences take on an active part in determining the outcome of the thrilling drama, utilizing the most popular invention of Ancient Greece - the democratic vote. Is a happy ending for Antigone’s story possible? Will we be able to find what has not been found in 2,500 years- a solution? "Giving Antigone a sense of possibility after all this time.” 
Thu Aug 14 at 6pm, Fri Aug 15 at 9pm, Sat Aug 16 at 3pm & Sun Aug 17 at 2pm 
60 minutes Streaming 

Two Households
Written & Performed by Rachel Weekley, Directed by Zeynep Akça
Presented by No Exit Theatre Collective
Two Gender identities, both alike in dignity, in the fair closet where we lay our scene. But wherefore art thou two? Using clown and movement work, Two Households reimagines the text of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet to explore queerness and gender identity through the allegory of coming out of the closet. 
Fri Aug 15 at 7pm & Sat Aug 16 at 5pm 
60 minutes Streaming 

Measure for Measure
Presented by Elsewhere Shakespeare Company
What use is goodness to the spider? To whom does he pray? Elsewhere Shakespeare Company presents a punk fable about the profound evils (and absurdities) of being alive. 
Sat Aug 16 at 9pm 90 minutes

FRIGID New York at UNDER St Marks (94 Marks Pl.)
7/31 - 8/17

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit frigid.nyc/little-shakespeare

C) Run Extension 

In New York 

Courtesy of Hillman PR

10) Breakin' NYC 

BREAKIN' NYC is a high-energy journey through seven iconic dance styles — from Break Dancing to Lite Feet, Poppin’, Lockin’, House, Body Percussion, Crump and Freestyle — all brought to life by 10 dynamic dancers. An MC guides the story of Hip Hop’s rise from the streets of the Bronx to the global stage, while the music keeps the beats thumping and the audience moving. Think of Stomp, but in dance!

Theater 555 (555 W. 42nd St.)
Now closing 8/31

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit theater555.venuetix.com.

D) Tickets on Sale

In New Jersey

Courtesy of Prana PR

11) Jerry Seinfeld 

NJPAC (One Center St.)
10/31

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.njpac.org/event/jerry-seinfeld or calling 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722) or by visiting the NJPAC Box Office. 

E) Season Announcements 

12) American Symphony Orchestra 

New York Profiles

Friday, September 12, 2025 at 7 PM, Bryant Park

Sunday, September 14, 2025 at 3 PM, Kupferberg Center

American Symphony Orchestra

Leon Botstein, Conductor

Ulysses Kay: “Joy and Fears” from the soundtrack to The Quiet One

Henry Cowell: Hymn and Fuguing Tune No. 10

Julia Perry: A Short Piece for Small Orchestra

Aaron CoplandAppalachian Spring Suite

Norman Dello JoioNew York Profiles

New York Profiles showcases five American composers whose works reflect the diverse musical styles of mid-20th-century America, and their lasting influence on both the city and American music. These composers, living and working in New York during the 1940s and ’50s, contributed to what is known as the “Golden Age” of American Classical music. Aaron Copland, a defining voice of American music, made New York his home while composing Appalachian Spring, an homage to American pioneer life. Henry Cowell shaped New York’s early experimental music scene, as heard in his Hymn and Fuguing Tune No. 10. Julia Perry was closely connected to such New York musical institutions as Lincoln Center, where her A Short Piece for Small Orchestra was performed and recorded. Ulysses Kay, whose “Joy and Fears” is drawn from his soundtrack to The Quiet One, was also a key figure in New York’s cultural world, while Norman Dello Joio’s New York Profiles is a vivid musical portrait composed as a tribute to his native New York.


Attendance for both performances is free, no RSVP required. Bryant Park staff lends out hundreds of free picnic blankets, provides bistro chairs, and offers a curated selection of food and drink to purchase from local vendors. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Requiem and Revelation

Thursday, November 13, 2025 at St. Bartholomew’s Church

Pre-concert Talk at 7PM

Concert at 8PM

American Symphony Orchestra

Leon Botstein, Conductor

Bard Festival Chorale

James Bagwell, Music Director of the Bard Festival Chorale

Soloists to be announced at a later date

Peter Cornelius: Stabat Mater (U.S. Premiere)

Luigi Cherubini: Requiem in C minor

Known primarily for songs and stage works – particularly his comic opera Der Barber von Bagdad – German composer Peter Cornelius devoted his early career almost entirely to writing sacred and chamber music. Chief among the works of that period is his 1849 setting of the Stabat Mater, a piece of remarkable originality, with bold harmonic language, unusual formal design, and a dramatic flair that anticipates his later, operatic explorations. Luigi Cherubini, another composer long associated with opera, created an impressive catalogue of religious music as well. Written in 1816 to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the execution of King Louis XVI, Cherubini’s Requiem blends a somber tone with surprising orchestral effects, moments of reflective beauty, and expressivity. His innovative setting of the Requiem was highly regarded among some of Classical music’s most influential composers, including Beethoven, Berlioz, Schumann, and Brahms.


Tickets, priced at $25-$65, are available on September 8 at americansymphony.org.

Forging an American Musical Identity

Friday, January 30, 2026 at Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

Pre-concert Talk at 7PM

Concert at 8PM

American Symphony Orchestra

Leon Botstein, Conductor

Bard Festival Chorale

James Bagwell, Music Director of the Bard Festival Chorale

Soloists to be announced at a later date

Dudley Buck: Festival Overture on the American National Air

Harry BurleighGo Down Moses

Behold That Star

Swing Low, Swing Chariot

Richard Wagner: Grosser Festmarsch (American Centennial March)

George Bristow: Symphony No. 5 (“Niagara”)

The ASO celebrates America’s 250th anniversary with a program exploring what it means to express American identity through music. The evening’s centerpiece is George Bristow’s massive Fifth Symphony – known as the “Niagara Symphony” – in its first performance since the work’s 1898 premiere. The concert begins with two works of celebration: the Festival Overture on the American National Air by Dudley Buck and Richard Wagner’s rarely performed American Centennial March, written for the opening centennial celebration of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Also featured on the program are three African American spirituals – Go Down MosesBehold That Star, and Swing Low, Swing Chariot – orchestrated by America’s first prominent Black composer Harry Burleigh, whose legacy is honored here for its major, influential contributions to American concert music and the history of American art song.


Tickets, priced at $25–$65, are available on September 8 at carnegiehall.org, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212.247.7800, or by visiting the box office at 57th St. & 7th Ave.

Weber & Berlioz: Der Freischütz Reimagined

Thursday, April 16, 2026 at Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

Pre-concert Talk at 7PM

Concert at 8PM

American Symphony Orchestra

Leon Botstein, Conductor

Bard Festival Chorale

James Bagwell, Music Director of the Bard Festival Chorale

Soloists to be announced at a later date

Carl Maria von Weber (arr. Hector Berlioz)Der Freischütz

2026 commemorates 200 years following the death of Carl Maria von Weber, a decisive figure in the development of German opera in the Romantic era. The American Symphony Orchestra performs the composer’s 1821 opera Der Freischütz with a twist: Hector Berlioz’s 1841 version (Le Freischütz) of Weber’s seminal opera will be performed, sung in French, with Berlioz’s original recitatives replacing the work’s original spoken dialogue. Included is his orchestration of Weber’s famous Invitation to the Dance, which Berlioz inserted as an obligatory ballet sequence for the Paris Opera production, and which subsequently took on a life of its own as a standout concert piece. Complex and richly orchestrated, with a compelling exploration of the dichotomy of good versus evil, Der Freischütz remains an endless source of fascination to the modern listener, much as it did to the young Frenchman Berlioz when he first heard it at the opera’s Parisian premiere at the Odéon in 1824.


Tickets, priced at $25–$65, are available September 8 at carnegiehall.org, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212.247.7800, or by visiting the box office at 57th St. & 7th Ave.


Details of the ASO’s 2025-26 season are available at americansymphony.org.


Courtesy of Emily Owens PR

13) HERE 

HERE Arts Center, a storied creative and civic hub which builds collective imagination by championing adventurous artists across multiple disciplines, today unveiled an electrifying, joy-infused slate of programming for their 2025-26 season in addition to inspired transformations to HERE’s programming models. This dynamic lineup marks the first full season curated by the organization's new co-directors, Jesse Cameron Alick, Annalisa Dias, Lanxing Fu, and Lauren Miller. 

PROGRAMMING LINEUP

The Essentialisn't
Written and performed by Eisa Davis
September 10-28, 2025
Can you be Black and not perform? Incorporating art gallery aesthetics and an electronic soul score, Eisa Davis performs a piece about performance, exploring the cultural techniques that make musical expression a kind of imprisonment – or a transcendent liberation.  

Welcome Back to HERE
Season Kickoff Celebration
September 2025
Special events and parties to celebrate the upcoming year at HERE. 

The Mutables
Created by Kat Mustatea
October 8-12, 2025
Using a unique sensor-based instrument for embodied speech called BodyMouth, this eerie performance intertwines bodies and vocals as dancers sound out words phoneme-by-phoneme by enacting specific gestures in sequence, turning the body quite literally into a mouth. 

Dimension Zero
Created by Boxcutter Collective
October 21-24, 2025
An anti-capitalist puppet-filled rock-n-roll space opera that tells the story of Zandora 606, an alien sent to planet Earth, who bands together with an unlikely assortment of New Yorkers to save the Universe.

The Passion According to Janair
Written by Ana Carbatti and Andressa Furletti, Directed by Andressa Furletti
Presented by Group Dot BR
November 5-23, 2025
A solo performance inspired by renowned Brazilian author Clarice Lispector’s The Passion According to G.H., about the life of a domestic worker in Rio de Janeiro.   

BUM BUM (or, this farce has Autism)
By Dave Osmundsen, Presented by EPIC Players
December 2025
A sharp-witted, genre-bending comedy by award-winning Autistic playwright Dave Osmundsen.

Puppet Parlor 
Curated and hosted by Basil Twist
December 17-19, 2025
Dream Music Puppetry’s annual celebration of new puppetry gems sure to be seasonal yet always saucy!

Dream Feed
Created by The HawtPlates 
January 2026
An electroacoustic song cycle by one of NYC’s most exciting theatrical bands that drops audiences into the humor, terror, beauty, and allure of an active mind within a slumbering body. A 2023 HARP commission with additional commissioning support by UTR, this psychedelic live concept album makes its world premiere in the 2026 Under the Radar Festival.  

Puppetopia
Curated by Barbara Busackino and Basil Twist 
February 2026
A winter review of HERE’s puppetry state of mind; Dream Music’s annual celebration of imagination, possibility, exciting techniques and community creation. Featuring the World Premiere of PARCHED by Official Puppet Business. 

Entangled
Created by Society
March 2026
In this play - born from ensemble research, debate, and playwright-driven improvisation - theories of free will and quantum science play out in massive dance parties and micro emotional exchanges that may have epic implications.

Off The Record: Acts of Restorative Justice
By James Scruggs in collaboration with Thomas Giovanni
April 2026
A participatory theatrical intervention aimed at the American Criminal Justice System, and an offering for those with active criminal records to have a free consultation with criminal justice attorneys.

Constance
Presented by Experiments in Opera
May 2026
Developed in EiO’s The Writers’ Room, Constance: A Confession is a comedic journey following one woman’s devotion to the long art of the con. 

Performance Lab 
Throughout the year
An experimental playground for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary artists that builds upon HARP’s commissioning model to create opportunities to develop and share new work.

New and Ongoing Partnerships
Throughout the year
With First Nations Performing Arts, National Queer Theater, NYC Village Halloween Parade, Ten Toes Theater Collective, and University Settlement Performance Project.

Also HERE Arts Center announced new pathways for independent artists and producers to build relationships through HERE’s programming, creating adaptive opportunities for multidisciplinary creators. 

HERE DEVELOPS – Nurturing artistic innovation through three pillars: the flagship HERE Artist Residency Program (HARP), a three-year commissioning program that has supported multidisciplinary artists for nearly three decades; the newly launched Performance Lab, an experimental new work playground; and Cultural Worker Empowerment, including fiscal sponsorship and workforce development.

HERE PRODUCES – Supporting the creation of new performance works through commissioning, residency, co-productions, and original productions. This includes HERE Productions of interdisciplinary works emerging from HARP and Performance Lab; the nationally acclaimed Dream Music Puppetry program; and year-round multidisciplinary festivals and responsive civic programming.
HERE HOSTS – A performance series presenting extraordinary multidisciplinary artists and ensembles through flexible partnerships. This program transforms HERE's legacy SubletSeries into a model of mutual investment and shared benefit.
HERE members get exclusive early access to this groundbreaking season! Audiences and community members can unlock priority access to all HERE Arts Center has to offer by becoming a HERE member, gaining first access to complimentary member tickets, opening nights and special events, and behind-the-scenes experiences.
HERE Memberships are available NOW, with single ticket sales beginning August 1 for the general public.

14) PAC NYC 

Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC, Executive Director Khady Kamara Nunez and Artistic Director Bill Rauch) is pleased to announce new productions to take the stage in early 2026:  Gems, choreographed by Benjamin Millepied (February 21-22), Trash by James Caverly and Andrew Morrill (March 7-28), and the returns of Motion/Matter:  All Styles Dance Battle (March 21) and Family Day (May 30).

Gems

By Benjamin Millepied

An L.A. Dance Project Production

Co-Presented with Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels

 

Performances: Saturday, February 21 at 8pm & Sunday, February 22 at 3pm

Discover a ballet triptych by Benjamin Millepied celebrating the unity of dance, music, and visual art.

 

Commissioned by Van Cleef & Arpels, this trilogy of contemporary ballets—Reflections (2013), Hearts & Arrows (2014), and On the Other Side (2016)—draws inspiration from the symbolic and emotional resonance of precious stones. Each work offers a distinct world where movement, music, and design converge to reveal something luminous and intimate.  Presented together for the first time in New York by PAC NYC and Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels, the triptych marks the culmination of a creative journey spanning over a decade.

 

Reflections is a meditation on longing—sensual, sharp-edged, and fleeting. Set to David Lang’s haunting score and framed by Barbara Kruger’s bold visual language, the ballet explores the tension between presence and absence, desire and memory.

 

Hearts & Arrows pulses with crystalline energy, carried by the precise, layered rhythms of Philip Glass. Liam Gillick’s sculptural design of shifting light and shadow becomes a silent partner to the choreography, where emotion takes on an architectural clarity.

 

On the Other Side is a deeply human work—intimate, emotional, and communal. Set to a suite of piano études by Glass and enveloped by Mark Bradford’s immersive, painterly set, the ballet becomes a portrait of togetherness, tracing the bonds between individuals and the quiet strength of collective experience.

 

Benjamin Millepied (Bordeaux, 1977) is a choreographer, filmmaker, and former principal dancer with New York City Ballet. Millepied studied Classical Ballet with Vladimir Skouratoff at the Grand Theatre de Bordeaux, and later at the School of American Ballet with Stanley Williams and Adam Luders, before joining the New York City Ballet in 1995 were he was later promoted to Principal Dancer.  His choreographic work began in 2001 and he soon after founded a pick-up troupe, Danses Concertantes, before serving as choreographer-in-residence at The Baryshnikov Arts Center. Since 2005, he has choreographed for some of the preeminent global companies including the New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Berlin Staatsoper, and Dutch National Ballet, among others.   In 2012, Benjamin Millepied moved to Los Angeles and co-founded L.A. Dance Project with Charles Fabius with the vision to create a new model for a dance organization in America, from both an artistic and economic perspective.

 

Founded in 2020, Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels is guided by the values of creation, transmission, and education. Its mission is to support artists and institutions in sharing choreographic heritage while encouraging new productions. Since its launch, Dance Reflections has accompanied numerous companies in their creations as well as multiple institutions in the presentation of their works on the international stage. Since 2022, the program is reinforced each year by major events , such as the Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels Festival. In addition to supporting the creation and promotion of choreographic works, Dance Reflections places increasing importance on issues of transmission and education. With its partners, the program organizes residencies for professional dancers as well as actions to raise awareness of choreographic culture open to all. Its network, now consisting of 60 partners from 16 different countries, continues to grow with each project.

 

Trash

An Out of the Box Theatrics production 

By James Caverly and Andrew Morrill

Directed by Nathaniel P. Claridad 

Opening Night: March 13, 2026

 

Performances:


Saturday, March 7 at 8pm

Sunday, March 8 at 7pm

Tuesday, March 10 at 7pm          

Wednesday, March 11 at 7pm

Thursday, March 12 at 7pm        

Friday, March 13 at 7pm – Opening Night

Saturday, March 14 at 2pm         

Saturday, March 14 at 8pm

Sunday March 15 at 3pm

Tuesday, March 17 at 7pm

Wednesday, March 18 at 7pm

Thursday, March 19at 7pm

Friday, March 20 at 8pm

Saturday, March 21 at 1pm

Saturday, March 21 at 8pm

Tuesday, March 24 at 7pm

Wednesday, March 25 at 7pm

Thursday, March 26 at 7pm

Friday, March 27 at 8pm

Saturday, March 28 at 2pm

Saturday, March 28 at 8pm


 

Living together is one thing. Understanding each other? That can get messy.  Tim and Jake may be Deaf roommates sharing an apartment in the city, but they’re polar opposites—each with very different views on what it means to be Deaf in a hearing world. When it comes to taking out the trash, they spiral into a comic and insightful examination of their personal garbage—and their perceptions of each other’s lives. 

 

BIOS:

James Caverly.  James Caverly is best known for his captivating performance as Theo Dimas in the Emmy-winning TV series Only Murders in the Building. His credits include guest-starring roles on popular TV shows like Law & Order, Rescue HI: Surf, and Chicago Med. Broadway: Children of A Lesser God. Regional: The Music Man (Olney Theatre Center) --Winner of the Helen Hayes award, The Laramie Project (Deaf Austin Theatre), Rent (Lincoln Center), I  Was Most Alive With You (Huntington Theatre Company), Tribes (Berkeley Rep, Studio Theatre). He is actively involved with the Deaf theater community, working with Deaf Broadway, National Theatre of the Deaf, New York Deaf Theatre, and Deaf Austin Theatre. He is the co-founder of Go Ahead, which is an incubator of new works by Deaf Playwrights. He frequently collaborates with Andrew Morrill, and together they have presented new works in Off-Off and Off-Broadway companies: Trash at JACK NY & IRT, Thank You Ryan for a Clean Microwave at Ars Nova, and If Dogs Talk at New York Theatre Workshop. His solo writing credits: Milan 1880, See/Hear/Speak No Beast, Civil Engagement, & A Better Place. He wants to thank his friends and family for all the drama in his life. @joeycaverly

 

Andrew Morrill (he/him) is an Obie-winning theatremaker and actor. He recently directed the artistic sign language in Levi Holloway’s Grey House on Broadway, and the critically acclaimed Dark Disabled Stories (The Public Theater) by Ryan J. Haddad and directed by Jordan Fein, which earned him the Obie’s Michael Feingold Award. He has worked as DASL on Titus Andronicus (The Apothetae & The Public), Hamlet (Deaf West & Fiasco Theater), Oedipus (Deaf West & Getty Villa), and This Moment (Prospect Theater Company). His selected acting credits include Trash (Out of the Box Theatrics), Oedipus (Deaf West &Getty Villa), Company (Deaf Broadway at The Lincoln Center), The Christians (Phamaly Theatre), and the Vanderburgs’ Dancing Girl (She NYC Arts). He received a Helen Hayes nomination for Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical for portraying Mayor Shinn in The Music Man (Olney Theatre Center). He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is a co-founder of a new company, Go Ahead, which elevates and fosters new works by Deaf artists in the American theatre. He frequently collaborates with James Caverly, and together they have presented new works in Off-Off and Off-Broadway companies—Trash at JACK NY & IRT, Thank You Ryan for a Clean Microwave at Ars Nova, and If Dogs Talk.

 

Nathaniel P. Claridad (Director) is a Helen Hayes Award nominated director & actor. Recent directing credits: Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood at Imagination Stage (Winner of the 2025 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding TYA Production, plus 7 additional Helen Hayes Award nominations including Outstanding Musical Production, and Outstanding Director). Other directing credits include work at Weathervane Theatre (A Midsummer Night’s Dream received 9 New Hampshire Theatre Alliance Nominations including Outstanding Play), Theatreworks USA, Imagination Stage, Southern Rep., Two River Theatre, PlayMakers Repertory Company, Out of the Box Theatrics, the One Minute Play Festival, New York Shakespeare Exchange, Peculiar Works Project, a Drama League Resident in 2019 and 2016, as well as a guest director for New York University, Marymount Manhattan, and the University of Maryland, College Park. Fellowships/Affiliations:2024/2025 Drama League/New York City Center Musical Theatre Assistantship (Ragtime, Urinetown, Love Life, Wonderful Town). Assistant: Ragtime at Lincoln Center, Broadway debut. Acting credits include Here Lies Love (The Public Theater), Taylor Mac’s 24 Decade History... (St. Ann’s Warehouse), numerous regional and international credits from the Kennedy Center to the Sydney Opera House. TV: New Amsterdam, Harlem.  MFA: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

 

Out of the Box Theatrics was founded in 2016 by Liz Flemming, a legally blind artist, to create space for artists who have been historically underrepresented and undervalued. The company stages innovative and site-specific productions of new and classic plays and musicals while challenging audiences to experience these works outside of their expectations. OOTB earned recognition for its critically acclaimed streaming co-production of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last 5 Years (New York Times’ Critics Pick, 2021 Drama League Nominee for Outstanding Digital Theater, 2022 Antonyo Award winner for Best Digital Theater Production), its new production of the 1983 Broadway musical Baby (2022 Drama Desk Award nominee, Outstanding Revival of a Musical), and revival of See What I Wanna See (2025 Drama Desk Nominee). Most recently, OOTB was awarded an Obie Award for their 2024 season at Theater 154.

 

MOTION/MATTER: ALL STYLES DANCE BATTLE

Saturday, March 21 at 5pm

 

Get ready to feel the rush of adrenaline as Motion/Matter: All-Styles Dance Battle returns to Perelman Performing Arts Center.

 

After the wild successes of PAC NYC’s sold-out 2024 and 2025 showdowns, the one-and-only Cebo is back, this time co-hosting with the legendary Nubian Nene, for a high-voltage battle that will light up Lower Manhattan! Top-tier dancers from NYC’s street and club scenes will throw down in a fierce face-off demonstrating locking, popping, breaking, and all the moves that define the culture. A panel of all-star judges decides who takes the cash grand prize, but Motion/Matter: All-Styles Dance Battle isn’t just a competition — it’s a showcase of the transformative power of street dance and creating motions that matter.

 

Terry B.J. Carr, professionally known as Cebo, has been a distinguished fixture in the street and club culture for more than 30 years. Cebo is president of New York’s first street club dance companies, Next Generation NYC, LLC (NXGN) / Next Generation New York Studios. From event management to curriculum development, NXGN does it all when it comes to street and club culture.  Cebo is also the movement specialist for GoNoodle’s Blazer Fresh, a director of the MopTop Universal Program at Peridance Center and a member of the world-famous house dance originators Dance Fusion Crew NYC. His love for street club culture and all the things it continues to do for the world continues to drive him to find ways in which he can help enrich the community through music, feeling, and dance!

 

FAMILY DAY 2026

After welcoming dozens of artists and thousands of families at the inaugural Family Day open house on July 12, 2025, PAC NYC is thrilled to announce a second Family Day on Saturday, May 30.

 

TICKETS go on pre-sale today to PAC NYC and Citi cardmembers today. Starting September 9, tickets will be available online at PACNYC.org or by calling 212.266.3000.  Ticket prices start at $15.

In 2026, free artistic programming will continue on the Vartan and Clare Gregorian Lobby Stage.

 

All performances are at 6 World Trade at 251 Fulton Street.

About PAC NYC

PAC NYC is a new home for emergent and established artists in theater, dance, music, opera, film, and media from New York City and around the world. Flexible in design, the center is fully responsive to artists’ creative visions. Intimate in scale, PAC NYC fosters an immediate connection between artists and audience members. The center’s projects involve significant community participation and will always strive to have audiences reflect the work onstage.



15) The York Theatre 


The York Theatre (Joseph Hayward, Producing Artistic Director) proudly unveils its 2025–2026 season which includes a dynamic lineup that spans the emotional immediacy of real-world events, the iconic rhythms of Broadway dance, and the timeless sweep of literary revenge. Featuring THIS IS NOT A DRILL, GOTTA DANCE with AMERICAN DANCE MACHINE, and MONTE CRISTO, the lineup includes two world premieres and one spectacular dance revue, reaffirming The York’s mission to develop, produce, and celebrate musical theatre. 

 

Tickets are on sale now for all performances, which take place at The Theater at St. Jean’s (entrance on 150 East 76th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue. Elevator on Lexington between 76th and 75th, just south of St. Jean’s.) For more information, please visit www.yorktheatre.org.


THIS IS NOT A DRILL
 World Premiere Musical
​ September 9 - October 11, 2025
 Book by Holly Doubet & Joseph McDonough
 Music & Lyrics by Holly Doubet, Kathy Babylon & John Vester
​ Music Supervisor: Paul Bogaev
​ Music Director: David John Madore
 Directed and Choreographed by Gabriel Barre


Based on terrifying true events that creator Holly Doubet experienced, THIS IS NOT A DRILL takes audiences inside the surreal chaos of a morning in 2018, when an emergency alert warned Hawaii residents and visitors of an incoming missile attack. As fear grips the island, strangers and loved ones alike are forced to confront their mortality and their humanity. Set to a soaring and heartfelt score, this powerful new musical tells the story of connection, compassion, and what truly matters when time stands still.


GOTTA DANCE with AMERICAN DANCE MACHINE
​ Presented in Association with 
Riki Kane Larimer
​ 
A Celebration of Broadway’s Legendary Choreography
​ November 25, 2025 - December 28, 2025
 Conceived by Nikki Atkins
​ Music Director: Eugene Gwozdz
 Directed by Nikki Atkins and Randy Skinner


GOTTA DANCE with AMERICAN DANCE MACHINE, presented in association with Riki Kane Larimer, honors the timeless art of musical theatre dance on stage and film. Featuring inspired reconstructions from musicals such as West Side Story, A Chorus Line, Pippin, Singin’ in the Rain, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, and more, this joyous celebration brings to life the work of choreographers like Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, Gene Kelly, Michael Bennett, Susan Stroman, Billy Wilson, and others. Experience the steps and spirit that have defined generations of Broadway dance.


MONTE CRISTO
 World Premiere Musical
​ March 10, 2026 - April 5, 2026
 Music by Stephen Weiner | Book & Lyrics by Peter Kellogg
 Orchestrations by David Hancock Turner
​ Choreography by Marcos Santana
 Direction by Peter Flynn


A sweeping musical adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ beloved novel. Monte Cristo tells the epic story of a man wrongfully imprisoned who returns richer, wiser, and bent on vengeance. But as his carefully orchestrated plan unfolds, he must face the ultimate question: is justice enough without love?


NOW ON SALE! From real-life urgency to historic homage and classic intrigue, The York Theatre’s 2025–2026 season promises unforgettable stories, rich music, and a deep celebration of the musical form.

Single tickets, priced at $50 for premium and $35 for standard, can be purchased here. A limited number of subsidized $25 tickets are available for each performance to students, patrons under 40, artists, seniors, and first responders.

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE: Become a York Member today and get 10-20% off on tickets for the upcoming season! The York Theatre is offering a new York Membership Pass, an exclusive membership package for as low as $100 with benefits that include discounted tickets to York Theatre productions and 10% off all food and drink at the West Bank Café. The York Priority Membership Pass is available for only $175, with additional perks, including acknowledgment on the websiteAdditionally, the York Premium Membership Pass, priced at $250, includes additional discounts on tickets and recognition in the program.

York Membership Passes can be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office at 862-235-0938 or emailing Emily Drossell at boxoffice@yorktheatre.org during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.). 

AND INTRODUCING OUR NEW PATRON PROGRAM: Become a York Patron starting at $1,000 to receive complimentary tickets to all of our MainStage productions, an Invitation to exclusive patron and donor events, including one-night-only artists' receptions, workshops, and exclusive talkbacks, and more! Information on all patron levels can be found here.

F) What Else is Happening

In New York 

Courtesy of Alton PR

16) “Guinness World Record Holder 

for Oldest Working Female Comedian 

in The World” 


D’yan Forest Returns to Joe’s Pub 

with New Show


A Gefilte Fish Out of Water


July 31 at 7pm on D’yan’s 91st Birthday


90 year old D’yan Forest, the Guinness World Record Holder for Oldest Working Female Comedian in the World, will premiere her new solo show D’yan Forest: A Gefilte Fish Out of Water at the iconic Joe’s Pub on Thursday, July 31st at 7pm (doors open at 6pm). The evening will coincide with D’yans 91st birthday.

Performance takes place on Thursday, July 31 at 7pm (doors open at 6pm). Tickets are priced at $30 - https://publictheater.org/performances-jp/2025/d/d-yan-forest-a-gefilte-fish-out-of-water/


Joe’s Pub is located at 425 Lafayette Street (at Astor Place) in New York City.


xxx

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

17) EPIC Players Theatre

Announces a Neuro-Inclusive Concert Presentation of

504: A New Musical

by Abbie Goldberg and Mason McDowell

Joe’s Pub at The Public

Sunday, August 3, 2025


EPIC Players Theatre, New York's Premiere Neurodiverse Theater Company recently featured on Good Morning America and in The Hollywood Reporter, presents a concert presentation of 504: A New Musical on Sunday, August 3, 2025 at 5 p.m. at the Joe’s Pub at The Public. 504: The Musical, by Abbie Goldberg and Mason McDowell, is a fictionalized account of the 1977 San Francisco sit-in that led to civil rights for Disabled people. This ensemble piece focuses on the relationships between the protesters—including a protective mother and her Deaf son, loving but polarized brothers, a budding romance between a closeted protester and the lead community organizer, a Black Panther, and an aspiring artist. For 26 days the protestors fight through stigmatization, bomb threats, internalized ableism, and an unfair media, until they eventually triumph in D.C.—all set to a soulful score inspired by 1970s R&B and Pop.


Join us a one night showcase of this groundbreaking new musical. Featuring fresh rewrites and new songs, enjoy this highly anticipated new work redefining who gets to tell the story of history—and how. This concert performance at Joe’s Pub, presented in partnership with EPIC Players, New York City's premiere accessible and neuro-inclusive theatre company, is a one-night-only event showcasing a bold score and a powerful story of resistance, disability pride, and community.


To see more info on the musical and listen to some of the songs, check out the website below:

https://www.504themusical.com


TICKET INFORMATION: Joe’s Pub at the Public, 425 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10003. Tickets are $45, $25 for obstructed view seats, and can be purchased here. There is a 2 drink or 1 food item minimum, per person, during every show at Joe's Pub. The show will be ASL interpreted and Deaf and Hard of Hearing audience members can use EPICASL to access 30% ASL seating.


xxx

18) Fathom Entertainment

Presents

Sunset Boulevard's 75th Anniversary

Dates: August 3-4

 

Iconic, darkly comedic, and thrilling, the three-time Oscar®-winning Sunset Boulevard returns to the big screen for its 75th anniversary.  Fame isn’t forever—just ask Norma Desmond. Once a Hollywood legend, now a forgotten relic, she refuses to fade away. When struggling screenwriter Joe Gillis stumbles into her decaying mansion, he becomes trapped in her web of obsession, control, and delusion. What starts as an opportunity soon spirals into something far more dangerous. Dark, twisted, and eerily relevant, Sunset Boulevard is a haunting look at Hollywood’s unrelenting cycle—where youth is currency, talent is fleeting, and no one stays in the spotlight forever.  Are you ready for your close-up?

For more information or to purchase tickets, www.fathomentertainment.com/releases/sunset-boulevard-75th-anniversary


xxx

Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

19) HAVEN Boxing and Danse Theatre Surreality

present

Staying Strong Sundays: Boxing & Art

Sunday, August 3, 2025 from 12noon - 1pm

HAVEN Boxing, 65 Scholes Street, 

Brooklyn, NY, 11206


HAVEN Boxing and local dance company Danse Theatre Surreality present the final week of Staying Strong Sundays: Boxing & Art, a FREE boxing therapy workshop and short performance of Shadowboxing in Blue on Sunday, August 3, 2025 from 12noon-1pm EDT at HAVEN Boxing, 65 Scholes Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11206. For more information and to reserve tickets, visit https://dansetheatresurreality.org/shows/shadowboxinginblue/.


Shadowboxing in Blue is an innovative, multidimensional project weaving dance, music, and boxing. This collaboration between dancers, boxers, and musicians explores an individual facing inner adversaries at different life stages. With the goal of fostering diversity, both in casting and artistic expression, the project seeks to deliver a powerful message that challenges norms and redefines the intersection of art, sports, and self-healing. Welcome to Staying Strong Sundays, where we invite community organizations and individuals to share resources, take a workshop, and enjoy a performance. Don't forget to wear clothes you feel comfortable moving in for the workshop!


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20) Songbook Sundays 

at 

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club 

hosted by Deborah Grace Winer 

 

COME FLY WITH JIMMY VAN HEUSEN
featuring

Christine Andreas, Gabrielle Stravelli, David Marino

and Billy Stritch 

 

Sunday, August 3rd, 5 PM & 7:30 PM 


Songbook Sundays, created and hosted by Deborah Grace Winer celebrating the American Songbook will continue at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club with Come Fly with Jimmy Van Heusen on Sunday, August 3rd at 5 PM and 7:30 PM  

 

Come Fly With Jimmy Van Heusen kicks off August as Jazz at Lincoln Center American Songbook celebrates the hit songwriter who made Sinatra swing and put the croon in Crosby. This Songbook Sundays spins out Van Heusen hits from Swingin’ on a Star to Call Me IrresponsibleDarn that Dream to Here’s that Rainy DayCome Fly with Me and more.

 

Hosted and curated by leading American Songbook expert Deborah Grace Winer, the set features Tony nominee Christine Andreas, acclaimed jazz singer Gabrielle Stravelli, with rising star David Marino and acclaimed singer-pianist Billy Stritch, as the evening’s Music Director. 

The intergenerational band of all-stars features Mark McLean on drums (Wynton Marsalis, Billy Joel, Diana Krall), Caylen Bryant on bass (Kandace Springs, Broadway’s A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical), and Jarien Jaminila on saxophone (Delfeayo Marsalis, Eric Reed).


Tickets for Songbook Sundays are $50/45, with student tickets available at $25.  There is a $21 food/drink minimum.

To purchase, visit: Jazz.org/dizzys


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Courtesy of Polk and Co.

21) JOIN THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST

FROM TONY AWARD WINNING BEST MUSICAL

MAYBE HAPPY ENDING

AT THE DRAMA BOOK SHOP – FOR CD AND VINYL CAST ALBUM SIGNING

 

SPECIAL SIGNING EVENT FEATURING

Tony Award winner DARREN CRISS, HELEN J SHEN, DEZ DURON, MARCHUS CHOI

And Tony Award winner HUE PARK


To celebrate the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Tony Award winning Best Musical MAYBE HAPPY ENDING a special cast album signing event at The Drama Book Shop (266 West 39th) will take place on Tuesday, July 29th at 1PM. The album is available now via Ghostlight Records, to stream or download, or purchase the CD and vinyl editions, please visit https://maybehappyending.lnk.to/OBCR. The album – which preserves the new romantic musical comedy’s score by the internationally acclaimed duo Will Aronson and Hue Park – is produced by Deborah AbramsonIan KageyWill Aronson, and Hue Park.

 

Tickets for the event must be reserved for entry. Tickets can be reserved here. A pre-ordered purchase of the Maybe Happy Ending Original Broadway Cast Recording is required for admission. The Original Broadway Cast Recording can be pre-purchased here.

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Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

22) South Street Seaport Museum

Announces

Free August Family Activity Weekends: 

Lenape Games

August 2–31, 2025 | 11am–4:pm


South Street Seaport Museum announces free August Family Activity Weekends program on Saturdays and Sundays from August 2 to 31, 2025, from 11am to 4:45pm.

seaportmuseum.org/family-activity-weekends


August 2025: Lenape Games

Weekends in August offer families the opportunity to come aboard the tall ship Wavertree for a journey into the Greater New York region’s rich past through fun, interactive games! Discover the traditions of the area’s Indigenous people and play the same games that were enjoyed here long before the city we know today.


Family-friendly activities include Selahtinalìtin (sˈɛlɑːtˌɪnɐlˌɪtɪn): a scattering straws game similar to Pick Up Sticks or Jackstraws, and Mamantuhwin (mˈæmɐntˌuːwɪn): a dice-and-bowl game inspired by the whirligig beetle. Experience the excitement of these traditional games and connect with the history of Lenapehoking, the land now known as South Street Seaport.


Upcoming Schedule

Saturday, August 2, 2025; 11am–4:45pm

Sunday, August 3, 2025; 11am–4:45pm

Saturday, August 9, 2025; 11am–4:45pm

Sunday, August 10, 2025; 11am–4:45pm

Saturday, August 16, 2025; 11am–4:45pm

Sunday, August 17, 2025; 11am–4:45pm

Saturday, August 23, 2025; 11am–4:45pm

Sunday, August 24, 2025; 11am–4:45pm

Saturday, August 30, 2025; 11am–4:45pm

Sunday, August 31, 2025; 11am–4:45pm


About Family Activity Weekends

Weekends bring fun activities for the whole family to the South Street Seaport Museum. Timely hands-on activities and engagement stations for visitors of all ages provide creative opportunities that illuminate history and life at sea while enhancing your visit to the Seaport Museum’s galleries, the tall ship Wavertree, and the lightship Ambrose. Activities and their locations change each month to highlight various aspects of maritime history, New York City’s beginnings as a port city, or the Museum’s collections and offerings. seaportmuseum.org/family-activity-weekends

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Courtesy of DKC/O&M


 

23) REVOLUTIONARY NEW

 PLATFORM

STAGE DOOR PASS ®

AVAILABLE TO GENERAL PUBLIC


 JULY 31, 2025

 



The revolutionary new platform Stage Door Pass®, which allows theatre fans to track their shows and engage with their favorite artists, will be made available to the general public on July 31st. Revolutionizing the way theatre fans engage with the shows and the artists they love, this platform is the only space where fans can track every show they see, and track who they have seen in the show. It also allows fans to engage with their favorite theatre artists - and it’s all free to use. 


Whether you’re a Broadway regular or attending your first show, STAGE DOOR PASS brings the theatre world to your fingertips.

 

DETAILS:

Available on any browser or device: July 31, 2025

Category: Business/Entertainment

Price: FREE

Requirements: Users must be 18 years and over, or have a guardian’s permission.

Release Date: July 31, 2025.

 

PRESS EVENT BY INVITE ONLY:

July 31, 2025 - 6:00 - 7:30 pm

Open Jar Studios - 1601 Broadway (11th Fl) New York, NY 10019

Attendees: Kate Baldwin, Danny Burstein, Lynn Ahrens, Hannah Cruz, Jeff Whiting, Mike Wheeler.

 

About Stage Door Pass

THE STAGE DOOR PASS provides the ultimate theatre tracking platform with many groundbreaking features designed for theatre fans, artists and production companies. 

 

Tools for Theatre Fans:   

·         Track Your Shows: Log every show you see and who you saw in it for easy access.

·         Stage Door Passport: Collect digital Passport page, stamped with the date you saw the show, creating a unique visual record of your theatrical adventures.

·         Souvenir Video: Mark your attendance at a performance and receive a FREE customized souvenir video to share the ultimate “bragging rights” video to share on social media. 

·         Engage with Artists - Users can Interact with favorite artists by sending them a Round of Applause, Standing Ovation, or even a secure video or text message

·         Rate & Review: Share your thoughts with the Stage Door Pass community by writing mini-reviews and giving star ratings to each show.

·         Top 10 Lists: Curate your all-time favorite performances, actors, or productions and share them with friends and followers.

·         Share Memories: Upload photos, videos, ticket stubs, Playbills from each outing to build a rich, multimedia record of your experiences.

·         Every Show Can Be Featured. Stage Door Pass exists to document not only Broadway and Off Broadway productions, but every show can be featured (professional, regional, or educational).

·         Charitable Giving Option: Theatre artists can turn on the option to allow their fans to donate to their favorite charity or pet project. 

 

Tools for Theatre Artists:

·         Stage Door Your Way: Engage with your fans in the way that works best for you with multiple options for replying to fan reactions and messages. 

·         Individual or Group Reply: Create an individual reply or create one reply to the entire group. 

·         Quick-Reply Tool: Create a series of quick-replies that you can choose to send in reply.

·         Raise money for your favorite cause: Make a statement about your favorite charity or special cause and turn on the Charitable Giving Option so your fans can contribute to something that means the most to you. 

·         Safety/Security: Messages are pre-scanned for content to allow you to view only the kinds of messages you wish to receive, or turn it off completely when you need. 

 

Tools for Production Companies: 

·         Audience Engagement: One-of-a-kind tools for audience engagement. 

·         Customize a Souvenir Video: Create a custom souvenir video which showcases footage from the show and important messaging you want to share to help the audience remember their experience in a reel-sized easy-to-share video format. 

·         Free Marketing: When a fan marks their attendance at the show, they automatically receive the souvenir video with a passport stamp customized with the date they saw the show, the ultimate collector’s item, and easy to share. The fans share this collectors’ item on their social media, ensuring that your message is also seen by their friends and followers for free.

·         Charitable Giving Option: Turn on the ability for your audience to donate to the productions they love the most, allowing you to create more of what they love. 

 

What’s so revolutionary about Stage Door Pass:

The Stage Door Pass is the only place where you can track your shows AND the people involved with the show - all in the same place, creating a global community of theatre fans who can share their theatrical journey and engage with their favorite artists in a brand-new way

 


xxx


24) FIRST LOOK! BROADWAY TRAILER NOW AVAILABLE FOR

THE MOST TONY-WINNING PLAY OF THE SEASON

STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW

 

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

DOWNLOAD HERE


See for yourself the “mind-blowing and spectacular” (Los Angeles Times) Broadway production of STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW with never-before-seen production footage featuring the original Broadway cast led by 2024 Tony nominee Louis McCartney and Emmy nominee Gabrielle Neveah.

 

The show, currently playing at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway, won 4 Tony Awards, making it the most Tony-winning play of the 2024-2025 Broadway season. Based on an original story by the Duffer BrothersJack Thorne and Kate Trefry, and rooted in the mythology and world of the Netflix global phenomenon, STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW is a new play written by Kate Trefry, directed by Stephen Daldry and co-directed by Justin Martin.

 

With the final season of the TV series coming to Netflix later this year, fans are flocking to the Marquis Theatre to catch up on the prequel to the series in order to get the full story for Stranger Things 5, for which a teaser was just released.

 

For tickets and more information, visit www.StrangerThingsBroadway.com.


xxx


In Pennsylvania 


Courtesy of Bucks County Playhouse

25) BUCKS COUNTY PLAYHOUSE EDUCATION OFFERS SUMMER CLASSES 

Classes for ages 13 to adult.


Bucks County Playhouse is pleased to announce the lineup of education programs being offered this summer. Classes will take place in Lambertville Hall, 57 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ. Visit www.BucksCountyPlayhouse.org for more information and to register or contact Alexandra Kostis, Education Coordinator with questions at akostis@buckscountyplayhouse.org.


On Camera Audition Techniques • August 5 – September 9, 2025 • Johanna Tolentino
Tuesdays, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm • Ages 16+

Through assisted scene work from screenplays, this class introduces audition techniques for acting on camera for television and film. Using copy from television and film scenes, actors will learn the process from the audition in the TV casting director’s office, preparing self-tapes, 
lighting and technology, and tips on how to find the right audition material for you. This validating class gives students the tools to start their acting for the camera journey.


About the Instructor: Johanna Tolentino got her first big break at the age of 16 on the feature film “Lean On Me” with Morgan Freeman. She’s booked co-starring roles on network television such as (Comedy Central) pilot “Alternatino,” “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix), “Do No Harm,” Guest star role on (NBC), “Law & Order SVU,” costar role on “The Blacklist” and “GOTHAM” (FOX).


Confidence and Choreography • August 5 – September 9, 2025 • Caitlin Alexis Scott
Tuesdays, from 10:30 am – 11:30 am • Ages 16+

Whether you’re a total beginner or just someone who panics when you hear “5, 6, 7, 8,” this class is designed to help you feel good in your body, pick up choreography with less stress, and actually enjoy dancing. We’ll help you build both your skill and your confidence. Expect a supportive, no-judgment space where progress is the goal and perfection is not the point.


About the Instructor: Caitlin Alexis Scott is a triple threat, choreographer, and dance educator with over 10 years of experience in jazz, hip-hop, and musical theater. A 2024 BFA Musical Theater graduate, she choreographed several college productions including “Urinetown” and “Xanadu”. Recently, she choreographed “Alice by Heart” and taught Theater Jazz at Solebury School. Scott is passionate about inspiring and uplifting others through dance—whether in the classroom, on stage, or behind the scenes—and is thrilled to be working with Bucks County Playhouse.


Storytelling Through Song • August 5 – September 9, 2025 • Colleen Kinderman
Tuesdays, from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm • Ages 15+

In this emotionally rich and musically accessible class, participants explore the art of storytelling through vocal expression. Through functional voice training, lyric interpretation, and performance coaching, you'll learn how to connect deeply with song material and share it with authenticity and heart. No prior singing experience is required—just a desire to communicate and connect through music.


About the Instructor: Colleen Kinderman, soprano, is a versatile performer and passionate music educator with experience spanning opera, oratorio, art song, music theater, jazz and choral masterworks. She holds an MM from Westminster Choir College and a BA from Muhlenberg College. This past season, she was the soprano soloist for Mozart’s “Missa Brevis,” Martines’ “Dixit Dominus” and Hegge's “Farewell Auschwitz” and performed Mahler’s “Symphony No. 3,” Verdi’s “Requiem,” “The Planets,” and “Beethoven’s Ninth” with the prestigious Philadelphia Symphonic Choir.

 

Encores: Broadway Jazz • August 6 – September 10, 2025 • Victoria Scovens
Wednesdays, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am • Ages 50+

Our Encores Series is designed with seniors in mind! Celebrate the golden age of musical theatre in this joyful, low-impact jazz class. Each week features a new song and style from Broadway’s most beloved classics – think Singin’ in the RainThe Music ManCabaret, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or simply love to move, this class is all about fun, expression, and that unmistakable Broadway sparkle. 


About the Instructor: Victoria Ann Scovens is an actor, singer, dancer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Easton, PA. She spent three years playing Eliza in “Hamilton” (and Peggy Tour) and has performed and taught across the West Coast and Canada. After taking a hiatus to move to Denver, Scovens taught performing arts to at-risk youth in Aurora, CO, while also writing music. Now back on the East Coast, Scovens is focused on continuing their performance career, recording an EP, and helping to create more access to arts education.


Improv • August 6 – September 17, 2025 • Will Dennis
Wednesdays, from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm • Ages 18+

This class offers two hours of collaborative acting games, improv techniques and opportunities to nurture your creativity. No experience necessary – just a desire to laugh!


About the Instructor: Will Dennis is a local professional actor, teacher and owner/operator of improv studio, UnScripted Productions in Newtown, PA. As a member of Actors Equity Association, he’s been seen on many local stages: Walnut Street Theater, Delaware Theatre Company, Act II Playhouse, Montgomery Theatre, etc. Dennis is also the former Assistant Director of Education at Philadelphia Theatre Company. He lives in Newtown, PA with his family and dog, Mumford.


Acting for Teens • August 7 – September 11, 2025 • Peter Martino
Thursdays, from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm • Ages 13-18

This is not just another acting class. Designed for young performers ready to take their craft to the next level, this program dives deep into the tools of powerful acting. Through focused scene study, character analysis, and ensemble-based work, students will learn how to bring truth and specificity to every moment onstage. With an emphasis on artistry over theatrics, this is a training ground for teens who are ready to move beyond the basics and step into real performance work.


About the Instructor: Peter Martino is the Education Manager at Bucks County Playhouse, where he brings over two decades of experience in theater education, directing, and arts programming. No stranger to the Playhouse, Martino previously worked there from 2003 to 2010 as a performer, set designer, and technical director. His extensive theater background also includes work with companies such as Gretna Theater, Two Rivers Theater Company, Windy City Players, and Porchlight Productions. Peter has also studied intimacy coordination with T.I.E and is passionate about advocating young actors to stay true to themselves while approaching advanced material in a holistic and appropriate manner. Prior to returning to the Playhouse, he served as the theater director at Solebury School, where he produced and directed acclaimed productions while also leading immersive student experiences and community engagement initiatives. Dedicated to fostering creativity and inclusivity, Martino strives to develop dynamic educational programs that inspire the next generation of theater artists.


Beginner Adult Tap • August 13 – September 17, 2025 • Julie Johnson Thick
Wednesdays, from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm • Ages 15+

In this six-week class build on your tap skills and learn fun combinations as you tap your way into a great American dance tradition.


About the Instructor: Julie Johnson Thick, choreographer, is an adjunct with priority status, teaching Rider’s Musical Theatre majors tap dance since 2013. Johnson Thick and her husband Bob founded the Off-Broadstreet Theatre in Hopewell where she functioned as Managing Producer and Choreographer. Together they produced over 300 shows in 32 years. In NYC, Johnson Thick danced with Gregory Hines’s Tap Company and Luigi Jazz. Johnson Thick has worked as a guest artist at The Ed Sullivan Theatre, Hines and Hatchet, Broadway Dance Center and continues to teach at a NJ dance studio. Her diversified background even includes being the NJAIAW Collegiate State All-Around Champion in gymnastics.


Scene Work with Seniors • August 14 – September 18, 2025 • Carly L. Bodnar
Thursdays, from 10:30 am – 11:30 am • Ages 50+

Explore the joy of acting in this fun and supportive class designed for adults 50 and older. Through scene work and partner exercises, you’ll develop acting skills, build confidence, and connect with others who share your interest in theatre. Whether you’re new to the stage or returning after time away, this class offers a welcoming space to learn, play, and grow.


About the Instructor: Carly L. Bodnar is a NYC/Philadelphia based screen & stage director, teaching artist, coach, intimacy director, and performer. Film directing: “It’s a Drag” (upcoming), “Chimera.” Theatrical directing (select): “The Bed Show” (Off-Broadway), “Pericles,” “Prince of Tyre” (Shakespeare in Clark Park), “The Helen Project,” “Jimmy Gorski is Dead” (ReVamp Collective)“Blithe Spirit” (Hedgerow). Teaching (select): Bucks County Playhouse, Tony Award Winning Wilma Theatre, Scarlet Theatre (London UK), Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Lantern Theater Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Theatre Horizon, Walnut Street Theatre, and Delaware Theatre Company. Speaking Engagements (select): McCarter Theatre, PA Thespian Conference, ESU National Shakespeare Competition. SDC Associate Member www.carlylbodnar.com


Visit www.BucksCountyPlayhouse.org to register or contact Alexandra Kostis, Education Coordinator at akostis@buckscountyplayhouse.org for questions.


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26) PHILADELPHIA ZOO PRESENTS ADULT-ONLY 'ZOO DONE IT' AFTER HOURS SCAVENGER HUNT AND MYSTERY ADVENTURE

* Winner gets a chance for an exclusive private tour of The Solitude, one of the most famous historic buildings in America


Get ready for an unforgettable evening of mystery and excitement at Philadelphia Zoo. The second annual Zoo Done It?, in partnership with Without a Cue Productions, is back on Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. This adults-only, after-hours scavenger hunt and mystery experience gives guests the chance to uncover the secrets hidden within the Zoo’s enchanting grounds as they embark on a special quest. For year two, the adventure expands to all corners of the Zoo property, with more mystery, more actors, more clues and even bigger prizes. Participants will try to solve the mystery with one winning an exclusive chance to return to the Zoo for spooky season and enjoy a private guided tour of The Solitude, a famous American historic landmark which is believed to be haunted. Tickets are on sale now for this 21+ event for $50 per person, and includes admission and complimentary parking, and $75 for a “Prime Suspects” bundle that includes admission, complimentary parking, complimentary boozy or non-boozy beverage, popcorn and a Zoo Key. Zoo members save $10 off each ticket and bundle with membership. For tickets and more information, visit Philadelphia Zoo at www dot philadelphiazoo dot org/events.

This year’s mystery is set back in 1874, during a time when America's first zoo was about to open its gates to the public. Sleuths will journey back in time over one hundred and fifty years ago to a world brimming with curiosity and danger around every corner. As the mists rise through the iron gates and the call of exotic creatures echoes in the distance, join us for a historical scavenger tour with a murderous twist. There’s been a very Victorian murder among the menagerie and marble! Step back into an age of steam and soot as you inspect the scene of the crime, sift through cryptic clues, and encounter suspicious figures lurking among the flora and fauna. Stay sharp, keep your wits about you, and try not to become the next exhibit in this deadly new edition of Zoo Done It?.

The Zoo's Main Entrance (North Gate) opens at 5:30pm, with the show promptly starting at 6:00pm. Guests should be prepared to present tickets and a valid form of ID at entry.  Complimentary parking is available at the Zoo Garage (35th and Girard Ave) and Tiger Parking Lot (34th St). The mystery experience begins at 6:00pm with winners announced at 8:30pm. Select concession stands will be open for food and beverage purchases.

Participants will have the chance to win an exciting grand prize, including:

* A private tour of The Solitude building by Zoo Docents during spooky season
* Two Flex Passes to the Red Rum Theatre (three shows)
* A Behind-the-Scenes Experience (for 4 to 6 guests, availability pending)

The grand prize above offers an extremely rare chance to go on a private tour of The Solitude. The Solitude was built before the Zoo's inception in 1784 for John Penn, William Penn's grandson, as a way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. This building is generally accepted as haunted by Zoo staff, and many occurrences over the years have been reported to back up the suspicion. The most common event involves the light in the attic, which often turns on seemingly on its own late at night. Sometimes it turns off in about a half hour, but at times it will remain lit until the morning. The Solitude is a registered historic landmark and has been covered and featured by media and television programs around the world.

Ticket Options:

General Admission Ticket:
$50 (includes admission and complimentary parking)

Prime Suspects Bundle:

$75 (includes admission, complimentary parking, one complimentary beverage, one popcorn, and a Zoo Key)
Members save $10 per ticket or bundle; a member login is required for automatic discounts at checkout.

Note: This event is separate from daytime general admission (9:30am to 5:00pm) and is strictly for adults aged 21 and over.

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