I started this blog with one daughter, kept it up with the other, to spend time together doing something we enjoyed.
However, things change and people evolve. My daughters are older, busier, and not as interested in writing.
From now on this blog will be mostly mom with occasional contributions from my daughters and maybe even my husband.
Nothing else will change. We'll still focus on sharing fun places to go, fun things to do, and more, and we would  still love to hear your views too

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Sunday Scoop Week of 10/5/25 What's HappeningThis Week and More

A) Applications Open

In New York

1) Cody Renard Scholarship Program

2) Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Lyricist 

3) Raise the Page, Uplift the Word, A BIPOC Festival of Short Plays

4) Terence McNally New Works Incubator 

B) Beginning Performances 

In New Jersey

5) South Pacific

6) The Tragedy of Macbeth: An American Retelling

New York

7) A Midsummer Night's Dream

8) Beetlejuice

9) Gwyneth Goes Skiing

10) Henry VI Part 3

11) Kyoto

12) Little Bear Ridge Road

13) The Mutables

14) Other

15) Paris Opera Ballet at City Center

16) The Pitch

17) Queen of Versailles

18) Truman Vs. Israel 

19) The Wizard of Oz

C) Festival

In Pennsylvania  

20) National Coming Out Day Festival

D) Run Extensions 

In New York

21) Caroline

22) Sulfur Bottom

E) What Else is Happening

In New Jersey

23) Moana Live-To-Film Concert 
McCarter Theatre Center 9/9

In New York

24) Beetlejuice on Broadway Celebrates 41 Days of October

25) Brooklyn Academy of Music Upcoming Event: Dambudzo 
10/8 & 10/9

26) Italian American Heritage Month Celebration 
Bronx Little Italy 10/13

27) MCC Theatre Launches Learning & Culture Department

THE 10/9 Event Has Been Cancelled
28) The Norwegian Art Series
Town Hall 10/9 - 10/10

29) The Orchestra Now Presents Sounds and Echoes of Empire
Carnegie Hall 10/13

30) South Street Seaport Halloween Offerings 

31) Stranger Things: The First Shadow to Host Panel at New York Comic Con
9/9

In Pennsylvania

32) Boo at the Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo 10/11 - 10/26

33) Philadelphia Area Upcoming Events

34) Philadelphia Fall Market
Dilworth Park 10/10 - 10/12

Other

35) Fathom Entertainment Upcoming Events

A)Applications Open
 
In New York

1) Cody Renard Scholarship Program

Applications for The Cody Renard Richard Scholarship Program are now open. Much like previous years, the sixth cycle of The CRR Scholarship Program will continue to distribute $100,000 amongst 10 recipients and will offer the cohort various online work sessions focused on leadership, community building, social justice, mentorship, professional growth, and more. This cycle will conclude with an all expenses paid trip to New York City to meet with mentors, attend panels with leading industry professionals, and interact with the Broadway scene in person.

The program seeks to uplift and support the next generation of theatrical leaders of color working behind the scenes. The program is run in partnership with the BTC and works hard to help continue and build upon their shared mission of championing the next generation. The recipients for this scholarship are Black, Latin, Asian or Indigenous American citizen students in financial need studying non-performance related theater studies, particularly with a focus in stage management, directing, writing, designing, producing, or other administrative fields.

Applications are now open through Sunday, November 23 at 11:59pm EST. Applicants will be selected and informed by January 2026. Eligible applicants will need to submit a one-minute video essay describing why they are the ideal candidate for the program, along with their current transcript and two letters of recommendation. 


To donate or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please visit CRRscholarship.com or email scholarship@codyrenard.com.


 

2) Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Lyricist 


Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer) today announced the eighth year of The Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Librettists, a juried cash and production grant to be given annually to support the early work and career of a deserving musical theatre librettist. The Award commemorates the life and work of playwright/librettist Eric H. Weinberger (1950-2017), who was a Drama Desk Award nominee for Best Book of a Musical (Wanda’s World), and the playwright/librettist of Class Mothers ’68, that earned Pricilla Lopez a Drama Desk Award nomination.


The winner will receive $2,000 to help pay cost-of-living expenses. The winning musical will receive development assistance in the 2026 New Works Development Program of Amas Musical Theatre, which is administering the Award. The development assistance culminates in the work being rehearsed and performed by New York theatre professionals in an Amas Lab production. Amas was the development home for several of Mr. Weinberger’s musicals and produced the World Premiere of Wanda’s World and the New York Premiere of Tea for Three.


Submissions are open now, and will close November 30, 2025. All submissions must be sent through an online application that can be found at Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Librettists. Only one submission per playwright/librettist will be accepted. The winner of the award will be announced in March/April 2026.For further information, please visit www.amasmusical.org



3) Raise the Page, Uplift the Word, A BIPOC Short Play Festival 

Abingdon Theatre Company ( is thrilled to announce their 33rd Season the opening of submissions for their sixth annual Raise the Page, Uplift the Word: A BIPOC Festival of Short Plays

In partnership with AMT Theatre, Abingdon Theatre Company is delighted to announce the opening of submissions for their sixth annual Raise the Page, Uplift the Word: A BIPOC Festival of Short Plays; a festival spotlighting stories written by people of color. Submissions are open for short plays, as well as for actors and directors. The link to applications can be found here

4) Terence McNally New Works Incubator 

Rattlestick Theater, the Terrence McNally Foundation, and Tom Kirdahy Productions are proud to announce the opening of submissions for Cycle 4 of the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator.


As a continuation of Terrence McNally’s singular legacy of mentorship, and his commitment to fostering bold new voices in the American theater, the New Works Incubator is a multi-pronged program designed to support ambitious early-career playwrights by giving them time and space to develop their work, professional mentorship with veteran playwrights, and access to the community of artists and work being developed at Rattlestick and Tom Kirdahy Production.


Each McNally Fellow will also receive a developmental workshop that culminates in a public reading featuring industry-leading professionals. Recent mentors have included David Henry Hwang, Emma Horwitz, Halley Feiffer, Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, Jaclyn Bachaus, MJ Kaufman, Mfoniso Udofia, Sarah DeLappe, and Sheila Callaghan. Recent directors have included Anne Kauffman, Arin Arbus, Caitlin Sullivan, Carson Jonek, Dustin Wills, Goldie E. Patrick, Portia Krieger, and Tea Alagić.


Applications for the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator is open now and will close on November 21st, 2025 at 11:59pm EST, or when 500 applications have been received. Each application is thoughtfully reviewed by a broad reader pool of industry professionals. Semi-finalists and finalists are selected through two rounds of consideration. Finalists are granted an interview with a selection panel, including representatives from Rattlestick and Tom Kirdahy Productions.


B) Beginning Performances 

In New Jersey

Courtesy of Kelsey Theatre 

5) South Pacific

Spend an Enchanted Evening (or afternoon) with The MTM Players as they whisk you away to The South Pacific with this beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein classic featuring Bali Hai, Younger Than Springtime, You Have to Be Taught, I’m in Love with a Wonderful Guy, and of course Some Enchanted Evening. Based on the anecdotes of a real-life U.S. Navy commander who was stationed on an island, South Pacific follows two intercultural love stories: Nellie, a spunky Navy nurse from Arkansas, and Lieutenant Cable who both find themselves struggling to reconcile their own cultural prejudices with their amorous feelings, all while under the dark cloud of a war that is coming ever closer to their island paradise.

Kelsey Theatre (1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor)
10/10 - 10/19

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.purplepass.com/events/319103-south-pacific-oct-10th-2025

6) The Tragedy of Macbeth: An American Retelling
 

Set in colonial Middlesex County during the first wave of Scottish immigration into New Jersey, Meyer and Alvarado’s adaptation uses Shakespeare’s classic play to examine issues of race, gender, and war in Early America. Taking inspiration from Early American history and Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood, Shakespeare’s classic drama unfolds as a fable for the New World.


The year is 1700. The Dutch have lost their grip on the New World, and the first wave of Scots immigrants (including radical Quakers and Jacobite glory-seekers) are struggling for a foothold in the ancestral lands of the Lenape.


Assembly Hall at the Church of St. John the Evangelist

(189 George St., New Brunswick)

10/8 - 10/25

Opening Night 10/10


For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/macbeth-tickets


New York

7) A Midsummer Night's Dream

Since first presented in the 1590s. Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, Midsummer Night’s Dream has delighted audiences with its interwoven stories of four young lovers, mischievous fairies, and a troupe of amateur actors presenting an ancient story of ill-fated lovers. In RAC’s new production, the misguided (but often brilliant) thespians not only produce the play-within-a-play, but they take over the whole Midsummer story, taking on the roles of all lovers, fairies, and lords of Athens. Through a clown-inspired kaleidoscope created by these inexperienced but well-meaning actors, RAC offers a new perspective on an evergreen classic as they bend gender, mine the text, and allow for the ridiculous to find the sublime. “…Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

Sheen Center for Thought and Culture in the Frank Shiner Center
(18 Bleeker St.)
10/11 - 11/2
Opening Night 10/15

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

Courtesy of Polk and Co.

8) Beetlejuice

Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, BEETLEJUICE tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. 

The Palace Theatre (160 W. 47 St.)
10/8 - 1/3

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

Photo by Jonny Ruff

9) Gwyneth Goes Skiing


She’s the Goop-founding, Door-Sliding, Shakespeare-In-Loving, consciously-uncoupling Hollywood superstar. He’s a retired optometrist from Utah. In 2016, they went skiing. A story of love, betrayal and skiing – where you are the jury.

 
SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam St.)
10/8 - 11/16

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

Courtesy of Alton PR

10) Henry VI Part 3

An unwilling king. An unraveling country. And now, an unstoppable force…coming to claim the throne. Shakespeare’s least-performed play blazes with shattered oaths and obsessive vendettas. In this blood-soaked chronicle of the Wars of the Roses, there are no heroes, the crown is a curse, and mercy is always a mistake. Don’t miss the rare chance to experience this dark, urgently-paced melodrama about ambition, betrayal, and revenge, featuring medieval costumes, live sword fights, and a severed head—not to mention, the future Richard III!


The Wild Project (195 E. 3rd St.)

10/7 - 10/12


For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.atlasshakespearecompany.com/current-show.


11) Kyoto


Saving the Earth is a filthy business. Welcome to the Kyoto Conference Centre,December 11, 1997. The nations of the world are in deadlock. Time is running out and a climate change agreement feels a world away. The greatest obstacle: American oil lobbyist and master strategist, Don Pearlman...


Mitizi E. Newhouse Theatre (150 W. 65th St.)

10/8 - 11/30

Opening Night 11/3


For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.lct.org/shows/kyoto


12) Little Bear Ridge Road


On the remote outskirts of a small Idaho town, a razor-tongued aunt and her long-estranged nephew find themselves suddenly back in each other’s orbit—two lonely souls with a crumbling house to sell and a tangled history to unravel. Bitingly funny and quietly explosive, Little Bear Ridge Road is a sharply etched portrait of two people reaching across emotional galaxies—searching for meaning and fumbling toward connection, even as they fear it might swallow them whole. In this piercing and profound new play, the void is vast, the stars are indifferent, and love—messy, human, and hard-won—might be the only thing tethering us to Earth.


Booth Theatre (222 W. 45th St.)

10/7 - 2/15

Opening Night 10/30


For more information www.LittleBearRidgeRoadBroadway.com


Courtesy of Emily Owens PR


13) The Mutables


The Mutables blends experimental opera, movement, dance, and cutting-edge technology into an unforgettable meditation on the power and precarity of what it means to have a voice. Creator Kat Mustatea reconfigures body and voice with her groundbreaking new invention BodyMouth, a one-of-a-kind, sensor-based instrument which synthesizes speech in real time from the movements of performers, turning the body quite literally into a mouth that speaks. In this genre-defying work, dancers sound out words phoneme-by-phoneme with precise sequences of gestures. The Mutables is not only a performance where technology becomes both medium and metaphor, but a radical rethinking of how language lives in the body.

Inspired by mythological forest creatures from Balkan folklore—the ielele, whose voices could both seduce and silence—The Mutables weaves together gesture, sound, and narrative to probe how speech operates under systems of power and resistance. From East European totalitarian histories that demanded subversive modes of expression, to mythographies of the feminine monstrous, this performance unearths what is hidden beneath language and what cannot be unsaid. A collision of past and future that re-writes our received myths of the feminine and transforms the stage into a living, speaking instrument.

HERE Arts Center (145 6th Ave.)
10/8 - 10/11

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit  here.org/shows/the-mutables.

Courtesy of Candi Adams PR

14) Other

Tony Award® winner Ari’el Stachel brings an ensemble of voices from his past to life in OTHER, a raw and hilarious one-man show about his anxious search for belonging. From childhood reinventions to performing through chronic panic in front of thousands, he navigates identity, self-acceptance, and the pursuit of his dreams with hilarity and heart—delivering a performance as relentlessly funny as it is vulnerable.

Greenwhich House Theatre (27 Barrow St.)
10/8 -12/6
Opening Night 10/19

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

Photo by Julien Behamou

15) Paris Opera Ballet at City Center

NEW YORK CITY CENTER presents Paris Opera Ballet, one of the most prestigious dance companies in the world, in their triumphant return to New York from October 9 through 12. For their first major engagement since 2012, the Company presents the New York premiere of Red Carpet by Hofesh Shechter.

New York City Center (131 W. 55th St.)
10/9 - 10/12

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

Courtesy of DD PR

16) The Pitch

The Pitch is a riveting and unexpectedly funny new play about a widowed father who takes a desperate job in a boiler room-style sales office to support his daughter, only to discover the greatest con of all may be the one he’s pulling on himself.

Set in 2006, and based on Alper’s own life experiences, The Pitch unfolds like a thriller laced with comedy, following a man at the breaking point: raising a rebellious teenage daughter while trapped in a cutthroat office full of manipulative salesmen, where success means lying better than the guy next to you.  In a hilarious poke at today’s economy and the compromises sometimes required, The Pitch examines the ethical dilemmas posed by sales while introducing the audience to what may be the funniest crowd of salesmen in town.

Actor's Temple Theatre (339 W. 47th St.)
10/9 -11/17
Opening Night 10/16

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

Photo by Valerie Terranova

17) Queen of Versailles

From computer engineer to Mrs. Florida to billionairess, Jackie Siegel sees herself as the embodiment of the American Dream. Now, as the wife of David "The Timeshare King" Siegel and mother of their eight children, they invite us to behold their most grandiose venture yet: they're building the largest private home in America in Orlando, Florida – a $100 million house big enough for her dreams and inspired by the Palace of Versailles. But with the Great Recession of 2008 looming, Jackie and David's dreams begin to crumble, along with their lavish lifestyle. The Queen of Versailles explores the true cost of fame and fortune, and one family’s pursuit of the American Dream – at any cost. 

St. James Theatre (246 W. 44th St.)
Beginning performance 10/8
Opening Night 11/8

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

18) Truman Vs. Israel 

President Harry S. Truman’s unlikely rise to power led to one of history’s most pivotal moments: the founding of Israel. In Truman vs. Israel, he faces the sharp mind and relentless questioning of trailblazing lawyer Bella Abzug, as the truth behind one of his most consequential decisions comes to light. This gripping new play strips away the layers of legacy, power, and politics to reveal the man behind the presidency. Smart and provocative—this is history in the hot seat.

Theater at St. Clements (423 W. 46th St.)
10/11 - 1/4
Opening Night 10/16

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

Courtesy of JT PR

19) The Wizard of Oz

Argyle Theatre (34 W. Main St., Babylon)
Through October 26

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

C) Festival

In Pennsylvania  

Courtesy of Aversa PR

20) National Coming Out Day Festival

Philly Pride 365 proudly announces the return of OURfest: National Coming OUT Day Festival, taking place on Sunday, October 12, 2025, from Noon to 7:00pm, in the heart of Philadelphia’s Gayborhood. As one of the world’s largest celebrations dedicated to National Coming OUT Day, OURfest continues to set a new standard for inclusive, community-led Pride rooted in visibility, equity, and resilience.  This year’s theme, “Out Loud, Out Front: Power, Protection & Pride,” is a clarion call for Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer communities to rise together in the face of rising anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, cultural attacks and political urgency. OURfest 2025 boldly centers queer people living and loving at the intersections, where joy becomes protest, and community becomes protection. This year's festival will include family-friendly and community-led outdoor festival that runs from 12th to 13th streets, Locust to Spruce, and beyond, with main stage, youth and healing stages, queer art, drag and music showcases, kids and family programming, food trucks, vendors, community organizations, beer and cocktail gardens, and much more. Additionally, look for a new line-up of events leading up to the big festival, including OURfest Roundtable on October 4th, Loud and Proud: A National Coming OUT Day Poetry Slam on October 7th, WELL YES Marketplace on October 10th and Crankshaft on October 11th.  

For more information, please visit the website, www dot phillypride365 dot org/about-ourfest or email Pride365@PhillyPride365 dot org.

D) Run Extensions 

In New York

21) Caroline

When Maddie is forced to seek the help of her long-estranged mother, she finds herself unable to shield her daughter Caroline from the inescapable circumstances that fractured their family. A world premiere play by Preston Max Allen, directed by Tony Award-winner David Cromer, Caroline is a luminous and intimate story about the possibility of redemption and the complex relationships between generations of mothers and daughters.

MCC Theater's Susan and Ronald Frankel Theatre 
(511 W. 52nd St.)
Now closing 11/2

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

Courtesy of Skollar PR

22) Sulfur Bottom

Bold, surreal, and emotionally raw, Sulfur Bottom is a new eco-gothic drama that explores the quiet devastation of environmental collapse through the eyes of one family over 40 years. Set in a decaying home on the edge of industrial sprawl, the play transforms the slow violence of pollution into something both intimate and unsettling.

With dark humor, vivid imagery, and the occasional beached whale, Sulfur Bottom blends grounded storytelling with moments of theatrical absurdity, offering a striking meditation on legacy, denial, and what it means to survive in a poisoned world.

The Theater Center (210 W. 10th St.)
Now closing 10/25

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

E) What Else is Happening

In New Jersey

23) McCarter Theatre Center presents
Disney’s Moana Live-To-Film Concert
Thursday, Oct. 9 at 6:30 PM | 2 hours, including intermission | Recommended for all ages

Disney Concerts and AMP Worldwide present this family-friendly event, featuring a full-length screening of the beloved film accompanied by a live on-stage ensemble of top Hollywood studio musicians, Polynesian rhythm masters, and vocalists, celebrating the award-winning music and songs from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ classic. For tickets, visit mccarter.org or call Patron Services at (609) 258-2787. 

XXX

In New York

Courtesy of Polk and Co. PR

24) BEETLEJUICE on Broadway
Celebrates 41 Days of October

BEETLEJUICE, the smash-hit musical comedy which The New York Times calls “A Jaw-Dropping Funhouse,” will return to Broadway for the 3rd time, beginning performances Wednesday, October 8 at The Palace Theatre (160 West 47 St.).  BEETLEJUICE will celebrate this Halloween (The Ghost-with-the-Most’s favorite holiday) on Broadway with 41 days of fun for fans every “Day-O” in October AND for the first 10 “Day-O’s” in November, featuring a variety of strange and unusual surprises and partnerships. Partners include Sloo Moo Institute, Serendipity 3, The Woobles, Junior's Cheesecake, Abracadabra, Schmackary’s Cookies, Hershey’s Chocolate World, Tempo by Hilton Times Square, Muddy Paws Rescue, and Crowned Athletics. The “41 Days of October” activations will also include costume contests, exclusive giveaways, talk-back panels, trivia, prizes and more!

 

As part of “41 Days of October,” Playbill and New York Comic Con are partnering together to bring a BEETLEJUICE panel back to the Javits Center on Friday, October 10th, featuring Mark Kaufman, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Warner Bros. Theatre, and other special guests.

 

A full schedule of BEETLEJUICE’s “41 Days of October” celebration is available HERE


XXX

25) Brooklyn Academy of Music
Upcoming Events

Dambudzo
Oct 8 & 9

In this immersive performance presented at Roulette, “rock star of downtown dance” (Dance Journal) nora chipaumire engulfs audiences in a world of sound, painting, sculpture, and performance for a deeply affecting confrontation of colonial legacies.

Musicians, revolutionaries, tricksters, and sellouts embody the many meanings of the word dambudzo (“trouble” in Shona) in this thrumming, resonant, anti-genre work. Roulette becomes home to a Zimbabwean shabini—an informal bar set up in private residences, where citizens gather to invoke the possibilities of resistance and insurrection. Against a sonic backdrop of barking dogs and whirling Zimbabwean music, visitors explore a radically new spatial realm described by its creator as “a name, a desire, a lament, an inspiration, even a loathing—a poem—that speaks to the 1980s before the fall of communism and the end of apartheid.”

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.bam.org/dambudzo

XXX

Celebrates American Heritage Month 
Monday, October 13

Where better to celebrate Italian American Heritage and Culture Month than one of the oldest Italian neighborhoods in New York City? In conjunction with Columbus Day, from 12:30-3:30pm, the band Pane e Cioccolato will once again fill the cross section at East 186th Street and Arthur Avenue with the sounds of traditional Italian music. Visitors and residents are encouraged to spend the day immersing themselves in all that Bronx Little Italy has to offer, from artisanal food shops to retail merchants, delicious eateries, and more.

XXX

27) 

A close up of a sign

Description automatically generated

 

LAUNCHES

LEARNING & CULTURE DEPARTMENT 

WITH

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES 

AND

 AUDITIONS FOR THE MCC YOUTH COMPANY PLAYWRITING AND PERFORMANCE LABS

 

PLAYWRITING LAB AUDITION: OCTOBER 9, 2025

PERFORMANCE LAB AUDITION: JANUARY 20, 2026

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT MCCTHEATER.ORG 


MCC Theater (Bernie Telsey & Will Cantler, Co-Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) is pleased to announce their Public Engagement & Education department will now be known as Learning & Culture to reflect their mission to expand the company’s curriculum. Under their new name, the Learning & Culture department will lead auditions for MCC’s Youth Company programs and facilitate post-show events along with student matinees for their current show, Carolineby Preston Max Allen (he/him, We Are the Tigers) and directed by Tony Award-winner David Cromer (he/him, Dead Outlaw; Good Night, and Good Luck).

To read the full statement on this department shift, please visit: mcctheater.org/learning-culture-department.


The MCC Youth Company is a free program for New York City high school students interested in developing their theatrical toolbox. Within a creative and collaborative environment, teenagers across New York City participate in workshops (Labs) twice a week led by professional theater artists. No prior experience is necessary. Youth Company members are selected through a non-competitive group audition process, based on their willingness to collaborate and interest in further honing their artistic voice. Members will also receive a $250 stipend for completing their lab. 

 

In Playwriting Lab, each company member will be mentored by playwright Juan Ramirez Jr. These young writers will learn about monologue, dialogue, setting, conflict, character stage directions and more each week. First year students will develop ten-minute plays, while returning students will continue to deepen their playwriting practice by developing one-acts and full-length works. Each December, participants will get the opportunity to present their work in FRESHPLAY DISCOVERY, a public reading series featuring their work with professional actors. Select students will continue to develop their plays through the spring in MCC’s FRESHPLAY FESTIVAL.

The MCC Youth Company Playwriting Lab meets every week in October through December on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30-6:30pm. 

 

In Performance LabKareem M. Lucas will facilitate workshops, where students will write and perform scenes, songs, monologues, and choreographed movement pieces to devise an original play, culminating in the annual production of UNCENSORED at The Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space

 

The MCC Youth Company Performance Lab meets every week in January through March on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:30-6:30pm, with additional Saturday classes beginning in March through April. In March, the MCC Youth Company Performance Lab will finish their weekly sessions at 7:30pm.  

 

Auditions for the MCC Youth Company Playwriting Lab will be held on Thursday, October 9 beginning at 4:30pm through 6:30pm. Auditions for Performance Lab will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Auditions for both labs will take place on site at MCC Theater (511 W 52nd St). 

 

To register for MCC Youth Company Playwriting Lab auditions, please visit: mcc.theater/PlaywritingLab. Registration for the MCC Youth Company Performance Lab will open on Tuesday, December 16.

 

Any current New York City high school student is encouraged to apply; no preparation is required for the audition process. To learn more, please visit:  mcctheater.org/public-engagement-education/youth-company.

 

 XXX


THE 10/9 EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

28) Town Hall

presents


The Norwegian Arts Series


featuring


MARTHA REDBONE:

WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE

THURSDAY OCTOBER 9 AT 7PM

 

AND

 

KAIZERS ORCHESTRA

FRIDAY OCTOBER 10 AT 7PM


The Town Hall (Matt Goldman, Executive Director; Melay Araya, Artistic Director) announced today details for The Norwegian Art Series, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the landing of the Restauration, the original boat that crossed the Atlantic from Norway to New York. The Norwegian Series includes Martha Redbone: When Worlds Collide on Thursday October 9 at 7pm and Kaizers Orchestra on Friday October 10 at 7pm. Both events will take place at The Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street, New York, NY).

 

MARTHA REDBONE: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE

October 9, 2025 at 7pm

 

Multi-hyphenate artist Martha Redbone will curate, direct, and perform in a concert building bridges across Norwegian, American Indigenous, and Black folk traditions. Featuring artists like Madeleine Peyroux and Lizz WrightWhen Worlds Collide will be a cultural exchange that showcases the breadth of Roots music.

 

Martha Redbone and Grammy award winning singer & banjo player, Abigail Washburn, will be joined by multi-genre musician, songwriter, and ethnomusicologist Tim Eriksen & shapenote bass, Gerald S Clark III. Tim being a descendant of Brooklyn-landed Norwegian immigrants and Gerald of original American and African ancestry. They will share a breadth of Sacred Harp repertoire, spanning its reality through centuries as a “living American folk tradition” on this continent and abroad. Grounded in contributions of voice, poetry, presence, and praise - by many known and unknown composers alike - the four parts will sing three unaccompanied shape note songs, each honoring a spectrum of our indigenous, immigrated, and voyage-bound heritage. This music is not a performative music, but a tradition of lifting voices while calling people of all walks and abilities to find harmony together. None are more important than the other, as an expression of life and connection in this very moment.

 

The evening will include an appearance from special guest Øystein Wiik, librettist of Soga om Sol - a musical first produced by the Opera Nordfjord about the Norwegian emigration experience to New York City. 

 

Special guests will also include the lauded jazz singer-songwriter Madeleine Peyroux, critically acclaimed Norwegian duo Oakland Rain, composer David AmramLizz Wright, Tom Rush, Dave Eggar, Tony Trischka, Erin and Her Cello (Erin Hall), Sophie B Hawkins, Oystein Wiik, and Israel Nebeker (Blind Pilot).

 

KAIZERS ORCHESTRA

October 10, 2025 at 7pm

 

Norway's biggest rock band, Kaizers Orchestra, will come to New York to celebrate their only US show straight off the heels of their successful 2025 Nordic stadium tour and the 200th anniversary of the first organized Norwegian immigration to the Americas on the sloop Restauration. With a new Restauration's journey from Stavanger, Norway to New York over this past summer, Kaizers Orchestra will perform the day after the boat and its party arrive in the New York harbor, welcoming fellow Norwegians, Americans and their fans of all backgrounds to New York's The Town Hall, while creating a powerful cultural bridge between Norway's musical heritage and the historic journey that began in the beautiful city of Stavanger 200 years ago. Experience Norwegian stormtrooping tarantellas with savage rhythms and innovative textures.


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29) THE ORCHESTRA NOW OPENS ITS 2025-26 SEASON OF CONCERTS IN NEW YORK CITY

WITH SOUNDS AND ECHOES OF EMPIRE AT CARNEGIE HALL ON OCTOBER 13


The Orchestra Now (TŌN) launches its 11th season of New York City concerts led by Music Director Leon Botstein with Sounds and Echoes of Empire, on October 13, at Carnegie Hall.  The program features both neglected and more familiar Eastern European works from the late-19th and early-20th centuries that reflect the nationalism of the Russian Empire. The first of two performances at Carnegie Hall this season, the concert will initially be performed at the Fisher Center at Bard on October 11-12 and livestreamed on TŌNtube.


TŌN will next perform a FREE concert in Manhattan featuring Strauss’s beloved tone poem Don Juan and works by Vaughan Williams, Henry Purcell, and Samuel Barber led by Resident Conductor Zachary Schwartzman at Peter Norton Symphony Space on November 23.


For detailed information about the 2025-26 season, visit ton.bard.edu.

Sounds and Echoes of Empire

Monday, October 13, 2025, at 7 pm

Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

The Orchestra Now

Leon Botstein, conductor

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Overture on Russian Themes in D Major, Op. 28

Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis: In the Forest (Miške)

Vítězslava Kaprálová: Military Sinfonietta, Op. 11 (Vojenská Symfonieta)

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Festival Coronation March, TH 50

Boris Lyatoshynsky: Symphony No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 50

The evening presents familiar pieces like Rimsky-Korsakov’s Overture on Russian Themes and Tchaikovsky’s grand Festival Coronation March, written to celebrate the coronation of Alexander III, alongside lesser-known works from the same time period. The symphonic poem In the Forest, by Lithuanian composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, was among his earliest musical successes. The Military Sinfonietta of Vítězslava Kaprálová brought international exposure when the work received the prestigious Smetana Foundation award. Boris Lyatoshynsky’s Third Symphony was premiered in his native Ukraine in 1951, but was later revised after being banned by Soviet authorities. TŌN performs the original version in this concert.


Tickets, priced at $29-$50, are available at carnegiehall.org, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212.247.7800, or at the Carnegie Hall box office at 57th & 7th Avenue.

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Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR


30) South Street Seaport Museum

Announces

Full Line Up of Halloween Offerings

Halloween Paper Crafts & Letterpress Printing,

Sinister Secrets of the Seaport

Maritime Monsters of New York

and

Halloweekend at the Seaport Museum

 

South Street Seaport Museum announces a robust schedule of Halloween offerings beginning October 1, 2025. Activities include many dates of the Sinister Secrets of the Seaport walking tour, family activities including the drop-in workshops Halloween Paper Crafts & Letterpress Printing on October 12 from 12pm to 2pm, and the Sailors’ Superstitions spooky scavenger hunt on October 25 from 11am to 5pm, and the engaging and unique presentation Maritime Monsters of New York on October 30 at 6:30pm.


Sinister Secrets of the Seaport

October 1–30, 2025 | $30–$40

Join this 90-minute walking tour that takes you on a winding journey to unravel the darker past of the South Street Seaport Historic District and Lower Manhattan.


This entertaining tour, perfect for spooky season, tells the scandalous, dubious, and sinister tales lurking in the cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and waterfront. Throughout the tour, your guide shares historical stories ripped from the headlines of newspapers and publications from the 1790s to the 1990s that provide a new perspective on the history of the area that helped to make New York a global metropolis. You can also test your “Ear for Crime” in an interactive game throughout the walk, which even has a prize for the winner at the end of the tour.


Meet your tour guide at Ryan Maguire’s Bar & Restaurant, at 28 Cliff Street, where one happy hour drink or soft drink is included in your registration for the tour. Registration is required. Learn more and get your tickets at seaportmuseum.org/sinister-secrets


October Schedule:

Sunday, October 5, 2:30–4pm

Monday, October 6, 6–7:30pm

Saturday, October 11, 2:30–4pm

Wednesday, October 15, 6–7:30pm

Friday, October 17, 6–7:30pm

Saturday, October 18, 2:30–4pm

Wednesday, October 22, 6–7:30pm

Monday, October 27, 6–7:30pm

Wednesday, October 29, 6–7:30pm


Halloween Paper Crafts and Letterpress Printing

October 12 | 12–2PM | 207 Water Street | Free

Embrace spooky season and unleash your creativity at Bowne & Co.’s Halloween-inspired drop-in workshop.

Visit anytime between 12PM and 2PM for a free hands-on experience crafting Halloween paper decorations, paper chains, and folded-paper bats. For an extra thrill, our skilled Bowne designers will be on hand to guide you through crafting your own letterpress-printed broadside posters using a 19th century printing press from the Seaport Museum’s working collection.


Don’t miss this opportunity to add a touch of spookiness to your seasonal decorations and learn more about the art of traditional letterpress printing.


Pre-registration is encouraged for this free seasonal workshop. Walkups will be accommodated as possible. Anyone age 5 and up is welcome. All participants get to take home the items they create during the afternoon. Learn more and get your tickets at seaportmuseum.org/halloween-crafts


Halloweekend at the Seaport Museum

October 25 | 11AM–5PM | Free Museum Admission

Get ready for all treats and no tricks as the Seaport Museum comes alive with Halloween fun! From 11am to 5pm on Saturday, enjoy free Museum admission, and take part in the Sailors’ Superstitions spooky scavenger hunt throughout the 1885 tall ship Wavertree. If you can collect all of the superstitions you’ll get a special treat.

Free Museum admission for this special day grants access to the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and 1908 lightship Ambrose at Pier 16, as well as all current exhibitions on view in the introduction galleries inside Schermerhorn Row located at 12 Fulton Street and the new exhibition Maritime City in A.A. Thomson & Co. located at 213 Water Street. And, make sure to check out the temporary outdoor exhibition Signs of Origins while it is on view!

Don’t miss out on this frightfully fun day! While we encourage preregistration for Museum admission, we warmly welcome walkups to join in the Halloween fun. Learn more and get your tickets at seaportmuseum.org/halloweekend


Maritime Monsters of New York

October 30 | 6:30pm | 213 Water Street | $5

Get into the spirit of All Hallows’ Eve with a spine-tingling dive into the histories and mysteries of mythical creatures said to haunt New York’s waterways. Led by the Seaport Museum’s Director of Engagement and Public Programs, Zak Risinger, this spooky program will take you from the eerie depths of the Great Lakes to the winding canals and the Hudson River—places long rumored to be home to serpents, monsters, and other strange beings lurking just beneath the surface.


During this fun and light-hearted evening, you’ll meet ten maritime monsters who have terrified, fascinated, and entertained New Yorkers for centuries. But beware—among the monsters is a trickster! A “fake” creature, complete with an AI-generated image and fabricated lore, will be hidden in the lineup. Will you be able to spot the imposter?

Join us for a night of mystery, maritime monsters, and campfire vibes at the Seaport Museum. Preregistration is encouraged. Walkups will be accommodated as possible. Learn more and get your tickets at seaportmuseum.org/maritime-monsters


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Courtesy of Polk and Co. PR

31) STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW

TO HOST PANEL AT NEW YORK COMIC CON

ON OCTOBER 9, 2025 AT JAVITS CENTER


STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW will be hosting a panel at New York Comic Con this year titled “Stranger Things: The First Shadow - Bringing Iconic Characters & the World of the Upside Down to Life on Stage.”

 

Experience the world of "Stranger Things" like never before. Join the cast of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, the most Tony Award-winning play of the year, as they reveal the magic, mystery and excitement of bringing the Netflix phenomenon to life on Broadway.

 

Hear firsthand from Louis McCartney (Henry Creel), Burke Swanson (James Hopper, Jr.), Gabrielle Neveah (Patty Newby), and Alex Breaux (Dr. Brenner) what it's like to step into iconic characters during their younger years, introduce captivating new ones, and learn more about how the play intertwines with the series fans know and love. Then go behind the curtain to uncover what it takes to bring the Upside Down to life on Broadway eight times a week.


The panel will take place in Javits North, Room 409, on Thursday October 9 from 3:30 – 4:30 PM. Must have a valid NYCC badge to attend the panel. To learn more, click here.


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Courtesy of Aversa PR

32) BOO AT THE ZOO RETURNS TO PHILADELPHIA ZOO WITH NEW SURPRISES, MORE DATES, HAUNTED HOUSE, HALLOWEEN TRAIN RIDE AND COSTUME PARADES


Boo at the Zoo is back at Philadelphia Zoo - and this year's line-up is full of big new tricks, treats and surprises for its largest year ever. The Zoo’s quintessential, family-friendly Halloween extravaganza, Boo at the Zoo, is back for three weekends, plus an additional week day, this October. This fan-favorite event brings in tens of thousands of guests each year dressed in amazing costumes and ready to go on a trick-or-treat safari. This year’s festivities include half a dozen new ways for families and friends to fall into the spooky season spirit, including the debut of a not-so-scary haunted house, new Halloween-themed train rides, lively costume parades, Pumpkin Putt Putt, Frightful Flora and eerie-sisttable educational activities. For returning fall favorites, look for a full line-up of pumpkin feedings and animal enrichments, including hippos, big cats, aquatic turtles, orangutans, gorillas, birds, giant tortoises and Rodrigues fruit bats. While visiting, look for all new frightfully delicious menu options and seasonal treats this year. Boo at the Zoo is included in both admission and membership with tickets on sale now at the Zoo’s website for the following dates and additional hours, including Saturdays, October 11, 18 and 25, Sundays, October 12, 19 and 26; and Monday, October 13, 2025. The Zoo will open early for Sensory Friendly Hours on Saturday, October 11th from 8:30am to 9:30am. 


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33) Philadelphia Area

Upcoming Events 


1) 7th Annual 23rd Street Armory Oktoberfest
Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11, 2025
Friday: 7:30pm to 11:30pm
Saturday Day: 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Saturday Night:  7:30pm to 11:30pm
Presented by Brauhaus Schmitz
23rd Street Armory, 22 South 23rd Street
GA - Friday $30/ Saturday $40 1pm/ Saturday 7:30pm $35
VIP - Friday $70/ Saturday 1pm $85/ Saturday 7:30pm $75
UBER VIP - Friday $90/ Saturday 1pm $100/ Saturday 7:30pm $95  

Philadelphia, Brauhaus Schmitz saved the best Oktoberfest of the season for last! Celebrate with Brauhaus Schmitz at the 7th Annual 23rd Street Armory Oktoberfest October 10 through October 11, 2025. Staged in the sprawling 23rd Street Armory, the fest includes three sessions, each able to accommodate 1,400 revelers for one of the biggest beer-drinking events to hit Philadelphia and one of the most authentic Oktoberfest parties in the United States. Experience what many call “The most Authentic Oktoberfest experience outside of Munich!"

The fortress-like structure located at 22 South 23rd Street in West Center City (only a 5-minute walk from 30th Street Station) will mimic an authentic Munich festival tent. The 16,000 square foot space will be decked out with Bavarian blue and white ceilings, authentic festival tables and benches imported from Germany, as well as a lofted stage area for musical acts, which includes Brauhaus regulars Die Heimatklänge on Friday night and Saturday daytime, and The Bratwurst Boys for Saturday night. Traditional German dance performances with United German Hungarians. Traditional Oktoberfest food will be provided by Brauhaus Schmitz and beer will be provided by the world famous Hofbräuhaus München - Das Original.  There truly is nothing currently like this in the entire region or state. This event draws attendees from Philadelphia, Southeast Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Washington D.C., New York City, New Jersey, Delaware and beyond. Tickets are on sale now!

For more information about Brauhaus Schmitz, visit www dot brauhausschmitz dot  com/whats-on/  or follow on Instagram (@brauhausschmitz) or Facebook dot/brauhausschmitz

2) Renaultberfest 2025
Saturday, October 11, 2025, 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Sunday, October 12, 2025, 10:00am to 4:00pm
Renault Winery and Resort
72 North Bremen Avenue
Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215

Renault Winery & Resort invites guests to experience the essence of harvest season through Renaultberfest, a unique harvest-themed celebration that blends the beauty of nature with the rich traditions of winemaking. Set amidst the breathtaking 160-acre vineyard, Renaultberfest highlights the connection between the land and the vineyard’s seasonal cycles, offering an authentic, immersive experience that reflects the heart of the harvest. This exciting two-day event will feature live music, signature food and drink, seasonal activities, and family fun. The event will be held on Saturday, October 11 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm, and Sunday, October 12 from 10:00am to 4:00pm, across the scenic winery grounds. Renaultberfest is a unique blend of harvest festival and Oktoberfest spirit - celebrating the season with everything from grape stomping to stein-holding contests and German-inspired cuisine.  Admission is no charge, but food, drink and select activities are pay-as-you go.

Weekend activities:
* Grape Stomping Experience ($10 per person)
* Barrel Rides ($5 per person)
* Mini Pumpkin Painting ($10)
* Face Painting ($5 Small, $10 Large)
* Lawn Games and Seasonal Fun
* Stein Holding Contests - Noon/2:00pm daily with complimentary beer for participants

Weekend entertainment:
* Saturday, October 11, 2025, 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Nicki D’s Prost Boys in the PARC Renault Festival Grounds
* Sunday, October 12, 2025,  12:00pm to 4:00pm
Nicki D’s Prost Boys in the Wine & Beer Garden

Weekend food/drink additions:
Bratwurst
Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich
Jumbo Pretzel with Double Nickel Cheese Sauce
Signature Renaultberfest Cocktails
Mulled Wine, Apple Cider, & Cider Donuts
 
Sunday,October 12th Only Finale:

Renaultberfest Artisan Market -
Shop from a curated selection of local artisan makers featuring handmade goods, seasonal crafts, and specialty items. It's the perfect opportunity to support small businesses and take home something special from the event. This local vendor market will be located in PARC Renault, alongside Sunday’s featured entertainment and food offerings.

Grape Stomp and 5K Run -
Race Start - Kids Fun Run @ 9:45am & 5k Run @ 10:00am
Adult 5K: $50 online / $55 day-of
Kids Fun Run: $10 online / $15 day-of
5K Run course is a flat multi-surface road to the Egg Harbor City Lake and back to Renault Winery. Entree fee includes - t-shirt and grape stomp!

Plus Sunday more fun:
* Adoptable dogs from Mama’s Gona Rescue
* Renault food truck featuring Oktoberfest favorites
 * Lawn games, photo booth, and artisan market
* Paint and sip $65 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm inside Louis Lounge
* Dog friendly additions special dog treats and festive photo opps

Join them for one of the most exciting weekends of the season at Renault Winery Resort.  For tickets and event details, visit: renaultwinery dot com/events  


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Courtesy of Aversa PR

34) PHILADELPHIA FALL MARKET TAKES OVER DILWORTH PARK FOR THREE DAYS WITH OVER SEVENTY LOCAL VENDORS, AUTUMN VIBES AND OPEN-AIR SHOPPING

The fall season comes alive at Philadelphia's beloved Made in Philadelphia Fall Market, presented by the creators of Christmas Village in partnership with the Center City District (CCD). From Friday, October 10 through Sunday, October 12, 2025,  Dilworth Park transforms into a  vibrant outdoor fall market, where visitors can discover local treasures from Philadelphia and the tri-state area, savor seasonal flavors, and celebrate everything that makes fall special. Look for over 70 vendors and booths in total for the single largest-open air fall marketplace in Center City this year. The market runs daily 12:00pm to 8:00pm, extended this year due to popular demand. There is no admission to attend the Made in Philadelphia Fall Market. Shopping, food, and drink are pay-as-you-go.

Returning for its 8th season, the Fall Market will feature more than 70 vendors from Philadelphia and the tri-state area, offering an impressive collection of handcrafted art, unique jewelry, artisanal home goods, luxurious skincare products, and distinctive photography. Visitors can browse through carefully curated offerings that capture the essence of autumn, such as finely crafted woodwork, delicate glassware, cozy textiles and seasonal décor. The market's culinary offerings promise to delight the senses with a variety of sweet and savory treats perfect for the fall season. Local food artisans will present everything from fresh goods to seasonal favorites, creating a true feast for fall enthusiasts. The full lineup of participating fall vendors will be revealed in early October. In the meantime, check below for a sneak peek of our vendor selection.

Families with children and their furry companions are more than welcome to enjoy a weekend filled with discovery, taste, and fall fun. Artisan goods and food will be available for purchase throughout the weekend.

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Other

35) Fathom Entertainment Upcoming Events

Courtesy of Fathom Entertainment



Fathom Entertainment to Bring Inspirational 
Broken Mary: The Kevin Matthews Story Documentary
to Theatres Nationwide for One Night 

Only on October 7

Recounts a Story of the Redemption of a Larger-Than-Life Radio Icon


On October 7 (the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary), audiences nationwide will have the opportunity for one night only to see exclusively on the big screen a feature-length documentary recounting a story about redemption with Broken Mary: The Kevin Matthews Story. Matthews’ miraculous true story of fame, brokenness and redemption is told in the inspirational film and will be distributed by Fathom Entertainment, the leading specialty distributor of content to theatrical partners worldwide.


Watch the Broken Mary: The Kevin Matthews Story teaser trailer

 

Tickets for Broken Mary: The Kevin Matthews Story will are on sale at Fathom Entertainment and participating theatre box offices (theatre locations are subject to change). For more information, please visit Fathom Entertainment.


Courtesy of Fathom Entertainment


Fathom Entertainment Brings Back to Theatres Jim Henson's Groundbreaking Fantasy Adventure The Dark Crystal October 12-13 in Celebration of the 70-Year Anniversary of
The Jim Henson Company


Tickets Now On Sale; New Brian Henson Introduction Part of
This Special Fathom Release on the Big Screen


Fathom Entertainment, the leading specialty distributor of content to theatrical partners worldwide, Universal Pictures and The Jim Henson Company are proudly bringing back to theatres Jim Henson's epic fantasy adventure, The Dark Crystal on October 12-13.

This special Fathom Entertainment release honors the groundbreaking cinematic classic and celebrates the 70th Anniversary of The Jim Henson Company. The Dark Crystal includes a special introduction from Brian Henson, Chairman of The Jim Henson Company and son of Jim Henson.


About The Dark Crystal
Another world, another time… in the age of Wonder. From genius filmmaker Jim Henson comes The Dark Crystal, a masterful live-action fantasy starring some of the most imaginative creatures ever put on film. Many years ago, the mysterious Crystal was cracked and an age of chaos began, led by the evil race of Skeksis who rule over the land of Thra. Meanwhile, raised in solitude by a gentle race of creatures called the Mystics, the Gelfling orphan Jen, is sent on a quest to find the missing shard that will heal the Dark Crystal and restore balance to the universe.


Tickets for The Dark Crystal are now on sale at Fathom Entertainment and participating theatre box offices (theatre locations are subject to change For more informationplease visit Fathom Entertainment.


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


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