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Thursday, June 26, 2025
Theater Thursday - Lights Out: Nat King Cole
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Where-To-Go Wednesday - Drumthwacket
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Tips for Tuesday - Books: An Irish Summer & Come Knocking; & Movie: A Season for Love
We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes to any books, products, and/or any other visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.
Books: An Irish Summer & Come Knocking
Today, we recommend An Irish Summer by Alexandra Paige. When the bed and breakfast where Chelsea has been working since college unexpectedly closes, she takes a temporary job at a hostel in Galway, Ireland, until she can get her life back on track. At first, she hates everything. However, tour guide Collin is determined to show her all that Ireland has to offer, and she quickly finds herself drawn to the place, the people, and especially the man, although she is still determined to go home at the end of the summer.
This is a sweet and charming romance, albeit largely predictable. Chelsea and Collin make an adorable couple, even though you can see the end coming right from the beginning. It is nice, however, that the third act conflict is actually believable in terms of the story and not some annoying and unnecessary contrivance that comes out of nowhere.
There are plenty of touching relationships and great family vibes as Chelsea and her coworkers quickly become like family. She also has an extremely supportive best friend from back home, who is like a sister to her. It is nice how close they remain despite the distance and the fact that their lives are quickly diverging.
The book also functions as a kind of travelogue. You can get a taste of Ireland just from reading it.
On the whole, if you are a romance fan and not necessarily looking for something new and different but happy to enjoy a tried-and-true formula romance, you should enjoy this book.
Today, we recommend Come Knocking by Mike Bockhoven. Come Knocking is a unique and interactive theatrical experience as well as the hottest ticket around. Then, it all comes crashing down in one horrific night of violence. Intrepid reporter Adam Jakes is determined to uncover the truth of what happened.
This is an intriguing thrill ride of a story, but definitely not for the faint of heart. Much of it deals with the absolute worst of humanity, and therefore, it can be hard to read. It is, however, quite unique and exciting.
The story is told through a series of interviews. While this allows the reader to get into the minds of a variety of characters, it also distances the reader from the story since you don't get a clear overall picture until the end of the book. This can be a good thing; however, as it slightly blunts the impact of the extreme gruesomeness of the story, otherwise, unless you are a psychopath, the horror of it all is too much to take in all at once.
The book may be triggering if you or a loved one has been a victim of guns, fire, a severe beating, or other types of violence. However, if this does not apply to you and you are looking for something completely unique and you are not afraid of a book that is loaded with descriptions of extremely appalling violence, you may enjoy it.
Movie: A Season for Love
Today, we are talking about A Season for Love. This film starts out as a sweet romance between a highly motivated doctor and a slightly awkward filmmaker, who is refreshingly free of macho posturing. However, it quickly devolves into soap operaish territory. The ending is both unsatisfying and unclear, as the actor playing the filmmaker mumbles his lines although he has done this throughout the movie, it becomes a particular problem now as it makes it hard to determine the final line of the film without the ability to go back and listen to it again, maybe even more than once.
And that's our view. An Irish Summer and Come Knocking will both publish next Tuesday, July 1. A Season for Love is available on DVD and digitally for rental or purchase now.
Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.
All images except film images used in this post are our own. Film images have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or PR firms. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, contact us here, and we will look into the matter
Monday, June 23, 2025
More Theater Monday - Kafka
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Sunday Scoop Week of 5/22/24 What's Happening This Week and More
A classic western tale of good versus evil, of law and order versus intimidation and violence, of one man against Liberty Valance.
Gene Frankel Theatre (24 Bond St.)
6/26 - 7/26
For more information or to purchase tickets, www.genefrankeltheatre.com
2) Out of Order
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Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR |
Queer Butoh Festival 2025
Embodied Visions: Painting, Dance, and Radical Transformation
This year’s Queer Butoh Festival invites audiences into a space where the painted image meets the moving body, and where adversity is not only acknowledged—but danced through and transcended.
Spanning intimate solos, collaborative rituals, and lush visual worlds, the 2025 edition draws inspiration from the brushstrokes of artists like Nerys Johnson, Leonora Carrington, and Shahryar Shahamat, whose works ignite new choreographic forms. In Down Amongst the Plants, painterly textures are transposed into motion; Leonora channels surrealist imagery into a queer, mythic dance of resistance; while Human on Human merges the visceral expressiveness of Butoh with the immediacy of live painting, creating a raw, evolving canvas of movement and color.
Beyond aesthetics, this year’s festival underscores Butoh’s radical potential as a tool for survival and reinvention. Whether confronting personal illness, political oppression, or the fragmented self, these performances reclaim the body as a site of healing and defiance. Works like They Who Invite and Dove of Dawn honor the cycles of destruction and rebirth central to Butoh’s origins—offering audiences visceral, transformative encounters.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ci.ovationtix.com/122/production/1239102
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Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR |
4) Tin Angel
Teatro Grattacielo is proud to present the world premiere of The Tin Angel, written to a libretto by Paul Pines and based on his widely acclaimed novel of the same name, with music by award-winning composer Daniel Asia. Set in the edgy world of a NYC downtown Bowery jazz club, The Tin Angel showcases a unique cast of characters playing out their dramatic stories as a call for redemption.
The inspiration behind the story is The Tin Palace, the real-life New York City’s jazz mecca of the 70s, founded by Paul Pines in 1973.The performance space at La Mama is just two blocks from the original Tin Palace.
Ellen Stewart Theater, La Mama, Creative Shares (66 E. 4th St.)
6/28 & 6./29
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit grattacielo.org/
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Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR |
5) White Wave Dance's 2025 DUMBO Dance Festival
A dynamic four-day event showcasing 45 cutting-edge dance companies from New York and around the world.
The Mark O'Donell Theater (160 Schermerhorn St.)
6/26 - 6/29
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.whitewavedance.org
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Courtesy of Polk and Co. |
An Old Fashioned Family Murder
By Joe DiPietro
Directed by Larry Raben
October 14—November 2, 2025
On a dark and stormy night, a once-grand estate becomes the stage for a chilling crime in this razor-sharp comic mystery from Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro. When a pompous writer spills a family secret—tensions turn to murder and every guest is a suspect. A sharp-eyed widow, a smooth-talking fiancé, a jealous daughter—no one is who they seem, and everyone has something to hide.
Secrets unravel, betrayals come to light, and Mrs. Peck’s motherly instincts might just outmatch the detective’s.
Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Jersey Christmas Show!
Based on “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens
By Gordon Greenberg & Steve Rosen
Directed by Gordon Greenberg
December 2—21, 2025
Move over, London—Scrooge is spending Christmas in Jersey! This fast, funny, and full-of-surprises reimagining of A Christmas Carol takes Dickens’ classic tale and gives it a fresh, local twist. Expect all the traditional ghosts—Past, Present, and Future—along with plenty of Garden State spirit, unexpected laughs, and a dash of holiday magic. No matter what exit you’re from, this high-energy holiday romp is a Christmas celebration that’s as big, bold, and unforgettable as the great state of New Jersey!
What Became of Us
By Shayan Lotfi
Directed by Laiona Michelle
March 17—April 5, 2026
Two siblings—one born here, one born there, grow up, grow apart, and come back together—again and again.
Spanning years and possibilities, What Became of Us is a poetic and heartfelt exploration of family, memory, and the moments that shape our lives. As their past and present intertwine, they navigate the unshakable bond that keeps pulling them back to each other.
What if things had gone differently? And where do we go from here?
My Lord, What a Night
By Deborah Brevoort
Directed by Sheldon Epps
April 28—May 17, 2026
A Remarkable Friendship. A Night That Changed History.
Princeton, 1937. When world-famous contralto Marian Anderson is turned away from a hotel because of her race, she finds an unexpected host in Albert Einstein. What begins as a simple act of hospitality grows into a unique friendship between two brilliant minds—one that will resonate through history.
Based on true events, My Lord, What a Night offers an intimate look at the meeting of these two icons and the events that ignited Anderson’s legendary performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Single tickets for George Street’s upcoming season start at $35 and full season subscriptions begin at $176. They are now on sale and available for purchase at georgestreetplayhouse.org.
George Street is also offering PerformancePASS, a financially flexible option for interested subscribers. PerformancePASS offers premium seats at a guaranteed discount and tickets can be redeemed or exchanged at any point in the run. Please note that PerformancePASS tickets may not be redeemed for opening night or other special events. Any unused PerformancePASS(es) do not carry over to the next season and expire at the end of the 2025-2026 season. To learn more, visit georgestreetplayhouse.org/
Single tickets, subscriptions, and flex packages are available for purchase beginning today at georgestreetplayhouse.org.
2025–2026 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
Brick Makers Residency | April–December 2025
A free, hands-on public workshop series in traditional 18th-century brick making at East Jersey Old Town Village, presented in partnership with the Middlesex County Office of Arts and History.
Trees Initiative | Year-Round
Following presentations at CultureLab, LaMaMa, and Berlin’s Atelier Gardens, Thinkery & Verse continue their multi-year Trees initiative. Trees is a climate-forward project committed to planting and maintaining native street trees and urban forests throughout our region. Community members are invited to participate in seasonal plantings, including a Memorial Day event at Willow Grove Cemetery, a community rain garden at Roosevelt Elementary in New Brunswick, an English/Spanish recitation of Joyce Kilmer’s “Trees” in New York’s Central Park, and continued collaborations with Butch Mermaid Productions and The Nature of Cities
MACBETH | October 9–25, 2025
Just in time for Halloween, a haunting new adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy, reimagined in colonial New Jersey during the first wave of Scottish immigration. This visceral production, directed by Dr. John Meyer and starring Karen Alvarado, explores race, gender, and war in Early America. Performances take place at The Church of St. John the Evangelist in New Brunswick.
Monuments to Migration | Fall 2025
Part of a statewide initiative honoring New Jersey’s immigrant communities. Thinkery & Verse will debut a new play created from community storytelling sessions held throughout the year. A commission from Rutgers University and CoLab Arts
Holiday Spirits | December 4–13, 2025
A festive evening of ghostly tales and timeless poetry by Dickens, Frost, Poe, and more. Set in the candlelit sanctuary of New Brunswick’s historic Episcopal Church, this family-friendly production also features a pop-up holiday market and is available for booking at off-site venues.
Scenes from a Revolution | Spring 2026
Commissioned by Middlesex County for the America250 celebrations, this original production dramatizes the fracture between Benjamin Franklin and his Loyalist son during the American Revolution. To be performed in New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, and Carteret, the play incorporates Indigenous and Black histories and features an all-local cast.
For full details and ticket information, visit thinkeryandverse.com.
On October 29 (through November 9), Bat Boy: The Musical opens with a benefit performance followed by a gala dinner at the Ziegfeld Ballroom honoring Broadway producer Bee Carrozzini of ATG Entertainment. Directed by two-time Tony Award winner Alex Timbers, this heartfelt, irreverent, darkly comic musical follows a half-human, half-bat teenager who searches for acceptance and love in a small town after he is discovered in a cave. Inspired by a popular tabloid article from the 1990s, this “fervid, wicked, and arch” (The New York Times) musical achieved cult classic status when it premiered Off-Broadway in 2001. Featuring a pulsing pop-rock score by Laurence O’Keefe with original orchestrations by Tony winner Alex Lacamoire, and book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, this Gala Presentation shines fresh light on a beloved score with newly expanded orchestrations. Funds raised from Bat Boy: The Musical help keep City Center’s unforgettable performances affordable and accessible for everyone.
2026 Encores! Series
Led by Music Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Artistic Director Jenny Gersten, and Producing Creative Director Clint Ramos, the 2026 Encores! series opens February 4 (through 15) with High Spirits, directed by Tony Award winner Jessica Stone with Encores! Music Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell. When the eccentric, bike-riding Madame Arcati unknowingly summons the ghost of Charles’s ex-wife, Elvira, she proves a formidable, and invisible, match for his current wife, Ruth. Based on Noël Coward’s beloved play Blithe Spirit, this Tony-nominated musical is full of haunted hijinks and features a brassy, swinging score by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray that has rarely been heard since its original Broadway run in 1964.
Next is The Wild Party from March 18 through 29. What happens when a night of debauchery leads to a morning of sobering truths? With music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa and book by LaChiusa and George C. Wolfe, The Wild Party brings Joseph Moncure March’s notorious poem to life in this Tony-nominated musical adaptation. This dark, sensual, glittering tale explores a world dancing on the edge and the joyful defiance of the characters who inhabit it. Directed by Lili-Anne Brown, this gin-soaked party is full of jazz-age indulgence and Vaudeville stars letting loose off-the-clock.
Closing out the 2026 Encores! series from June 17 through 28 is La Cage Aux Folles. This Tony-winning musical of love, family, and acceptance was the first to center its story around a gay couple—who happen to run the greatest drag show on the French Riviera. Directed by Robert O’Hara with Guest Music Director Joseph Joubert, the Encores! production features an all-Black cast for the first time led by Emmy, Grammy, and three-time Tony Award-winning artist Billy Porter as the fabulous Albin, bringing a new dimension to the show’s core themes of identity and belonging. With a book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, the tuneful score includes the delightful duet “With You on My Arm” and prideful anthem “I Am What I Am.”
Tickets and General Information
Tickets for the Annual Gala Presentation Bat Boy: The Musical go on sale at noon on June 10 to members and June 24 to the general public. Tickets can be purchased online at NYCityCenter.org, by calling 212.581.1212, or in person at the City Center Box Office. Gala packages for the October 28 benefit start at $2,500. For more details, contact SpecialEvents@NYCityCenter.org or call 212.763.1205.
For audience members 40 years of age and under, Access Club offers a limited number of $28 tickets (fees included) to City Center productions. For more information and to enroll, visit NYCityCenter.org/Access.
12) Classic Stage
THE BAKER’S WIFE
Book by Joseph Stein
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Based on the film La Femme du Boulanger by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono
Directed by Gordon Greenberg
October – December 2025
In a quiet French village, a baker and his wife bring fresh bread…and fresh gossip. But when temptation stirs and hearts wander, the whole town gets caught up in a swirl of romance, mischief, and melody. The Baker’s Wife brings Stephen Schwartz’s soaring score, including the iconic “Meadowlark,” to life in its first major New York appearance. Sweet, surprising, and full of heart, this long-awaited production celebrates love in all its perfectly imperfect recipes.
The Baker’s Wife is presented by special arrangement with the Menier Chocolate Factory (David Babani, Artistic Director) and Creative Partners Productions.
This production of The Baker’s Wife was licensed by Music Theatre International (www.mtishows.
The World Premiere of
MARCEL ON THE TRAIN
By Ethan Slater & Marshall Pailet
Directed by Marshall Pailet
Starring Ethan Slater as “Marcel Marceau”
February – March 2026
History remembers Marcel Marceau as the world’s greatest mime. But before the spotlight, he was a young man in Nazi-occupied France, guiding Jewish children to safety with nothing but courage and imagination. In the shadows of World War II, Marcel on the Train reveals the man behind the invisible mask. Co-written by and starring Tony Award® nominee Ethan Slater (SpongeBob SquarePants, Wicked), this inventive new play shows us how, sometimes, the loudest resistance begins in the most quiet places.
Marcel on the Train is presented by special arrangement with Mix and Match Productions (Maxwell Beer and Mitch Marois).
The New York Premiere of
THORNTON WILDER’S THE EMPORIUM
Adapted and Completed by Kirk Lynn
Directed by Rob Melrose
May - June 2026
More than 75 years in the making, an unfinished work by one of America’s greatest dramatists takes the New York stage at last. The Emporium unveils Thornton Wilder’s final play, brought to life through playwright Kirk Lynn’s masterful completion. As a young man journeys through the city and beyond, he encounters a world of wonder, meaning, and the elusive truths of life itself. Wilder’s long-unseen masterpiece is finally ready to be discovered, offering a rare chance to experience a new work from a legendary voice.
REDISCOVERY READINGS
2025-2026
This season, the Rediscovery Readings celebrate the art of suspense. From mysteries that grip you from the first line to thrillers that leave you guessing until the final word, each one-night-only staged reading offers an unforgettable experience, with electrifying stories brought to life by some of theater’s top talent. Secrets will surface. Twists will unfold. Anything can happen, but you’ll have to be there to see it.
For more information, visit Classicstage.org/our-2025-26-
13) New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players
After a record-breaking 50th Season, NYGASP is excited to announce the 2025-26 Season featuring three fully staged productions at New York City’s Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues). The season will include Gilbert & Sullivan’s most operatic collaboration The Yeomen of the Guard, the perennial favorite H.M.S. Pinafore and a new fully staged production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s rarely produced penultimate comic opera Utopia, Limited.
The Yeomen of the Guard
October 25-26, 2025 Kaye Playhouse, New York, NY
H.M.S. Pinafore
January 10-11, 2026 Kaye Playhouse, New York, NY
January 17-18, 2026 Kaye Playhouse, New York, NY
Utopia, Limited
April 18-19, 2026 Kaye Playhouse, New York, NY
Subscriptions are on sale now; single tickets go on sale September 3
For more information, visit www.nygasp.org
Through first-hand accounts from barrier-breaking players spanning five decades, the film explores the culture of relentless commitment that turns raw recruits into national champions. From Bryant's integration of Black players during the Civil Rights era to Saban's modern-day streak of total dominance, Nothing But A Winner highlights how buying into Alabama's process means you're destined to be nothing but a winner.
Two legendary Alabama football families came together to tell the story of this legacy. Marlon Humphrey, an All-American defensive back under Saban and four-time Pro Bowler currently with the Baltimore Ravens, executive-produced and financed the majority of the project, alongside his sister and co-producer Breona. Their father Bobby Humphrey, a former two-time First-Team All-Pro in the NFL and All-American running back at Alabama, is an integral voice in the film.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Fathom Entertainment or nothingbutawinner.com.
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Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR 17) Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre/ Notes in Motion Upcoming Events Modern Dance Pioneers with Lindsay Jennings Tuesday, June 17, 2025 | 5:30-7pm Wednesday Youth Summer Series July 9- August 13, 2025 Pre-Ballet | 9am Creative Movement | 10am Hip Hop | 11am For ages 3-7, our engaging classes in Ballet, Creative Movement, and Hip Hop inspire joy, creativity, and confidence in young dancers. Sign up for 1, 2, or all 3! The 6-week SUMMER Session will culminate in an informal sharing on August 13th! Enroll today! Registration inquiries, please email ashley@amandaselwyndance.org. 2-weeks of Training at Amanda Selwyn Dance Studio in Tribeca August 18-22, 2025 | August 25-29, 2025 (Ages 16-25) Register TODAY using the form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/ The Summer Intensive will immerse young dancers in a variety of technique classes, company repertory, and a creative process in which participants collaborate to create a new modern dance piece. The program culminates in an end-of-week showing, showcasing the dancers’ growth and artistry. In addition to studio training, lunch-time sessions provide valuable coaching in nutrition, cross-training, audition preparation, and more, equipping dancers with the tools they need for a sustainable and successful career. Classes include: Modern, Ballet, and Jazz Technique, Conditioning, Yoga, Improvisation, Company Repertory, and Creative/Choreography. Session 1: August 18-22, 2025 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Session 2: August 25-29, 2025 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 1-Week: $550 2-Weeks: $1,000 Drop-in Session Pass: $110/day |
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Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company presents the US premiere of Framing Ménerbes: Film Screening and Reception on June 26, 2025 at 6pm at the Dolby 88 Screening Room in Manhattan, entrance on 55th Street at the corner of 55th/6th Avenue, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, NYC. Tickets are $25 (plus $3.52 in service fees). For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/
An exciting evening has just become more so. Choreographer and company director Donald Byrd will join the conversation with Jovani Furlan and Daniel following the U.S. premiere of Framing Ménerbes. Donald and Jovani will bring very different viewpoints to their lensing of the film. Rather than a typical talkback format, this conversation will be an intimate—the Dolby theater has eighty-eight seats—and unique opportunity to hear these three artists speak about their perspectives and philosophies on art and art-making. Daniel will have the chance to share the inspiration for the work and respond to questions from the two guests. Providing accessible, entertaining, and meaningful connections with art and the processes of making it has been central to Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company since its inception.
- Climate Change Action
- Immigration
- LGBTQIA+
- Celebration of Women & Women in Power
- Undiscovered Black Men & Women
- Shalom/Salaam
- With Love from Africa
- Other social justice concerns
- Performance stipends of $200
- PR and marketing support
- 30-minute tech rehearsal
- Festival TD and SM
- Free photographic documentation of the performance
- Free video documentation of the performance
- A brief description of your piece, including approximate running time - we’re accepting 10-20 minute works.
- A cover letter, including details regarding the piece’s discipline, issue of concern treated and a brief summary of your artistic goals
- Your bios or resumes and the names of any collaborators already on board
- A sample of work (scripts, pics, videos, songs, any other links or file that could help us to know more about your project)
The full lineup of concerts and performers include:
June 25: Antoinette Montague Experience
Antoinette Montague is the founder and CEO of the non-profit Jazz Woman to the Rescue, which encourages the donation of instruments to young people. She serves on the board of directors of The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts, is advisory board chair for International Women in Jazz and is on the community advisory board of WBGO. She now proudly brings her experience to the Newark School of the Arts. Antoinette also teaches and performs for jazz organizations, such as Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Syncopated Leadership Workshop, Music on the Inside (for the incarcerated), Jazz Power Initiative, Jazzmobile festivals and their Saturday workshops at Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music.
*There will be light refreshments and snacks from Le Botaniste available for purchase at this concert.
July 2: Matt Chertkoff Trio
Guitarist Matt Chertkoff has played at jazz clubs, concerts, and festivals all over the world. He has performed with legends such as Jimmy Cobb, Houston Person, Freddy Cole, Grady Tate and more. He has appeared on numerous jazz CDs, pop recordings, and movie scores. His festival appearances include the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, Markam Jazz Festival, Saratoga Jazz Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival, and the Berghausen Jazz Festival, among others.
July 9: Kathryn Farmer
Acclaimed Jazz/R&B vocalist Kathryn Farmer has enjoyed a stellar reputation on the world jazz scene as a musician’s musician with a four-octave range and a mesmerizing, electrifying stage presence. Kathryn has worked, recorded, and toured with such illustrious jazz artists such as Doug Carn and Walter Bishop Jr., James Carter, Lester Bowie, Hilton Ruiz, Don Braden, Kirk Lightsey, David Hazeltine, John Hicks, David ‘Fathead’ Newman, Melvin Sparks, Artie Shaw Orchestra and worked with Latin legend Larry Harlow. She was also featured with Tito Puente for a show right here in New York City.
*There will be light refreshments and snacks from Le Botaniste available for purchase at this concert.
July 16: McClenty Hunter Quartet
Internationally acclaimed jazz drummer McClenty Hunter Jr. has a career spanning over two decades, both as a performer and an educator. McClenty has collaborated with jazz legends such as Cedar Walton, Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Heath, Curtis Fuller, Kenny Barron, Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride, Bob Mintzer, and Dave Stryker. His extensive performance experience includes major festivals like the Monterey Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Hollywood Bowl, and the Nice Jazz Festival. He served as the Director of Music at KIPP Academy in the South Bronx, the Interim Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies (Drum Set) at the University of Central Florida and has received the NAACP Image Award recognizing his outstanding contributions to jazz music. McClenty will be featured on Christian McBride’s upcoming big band record, scheduled for release in August 2025.
July 23: Svetlana & The New York Collective
Svetlana & The New York Collective (TNYC) is an award-winning ensemble on a mission to uplift and spread the joy of jazz. Blending swing, straight-ahead jazz, and Svetlana’s compelling originals, they connect deeply with audiences through charismatic vocals, virtuosic playing, and an unmistakable bond with their listeners. Their album “Night at the Movies” soared to the top of the charts, debuting at #1 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Chart while amassing over 1.5 million streams. The band has headlined sold-out engagements at renowned clubs, performing arts centers and festivals nationally and internationally. The ensemble’s members are not only world-class performers but also celebrated educators at institutions such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and top universities.
July 30: Trumpet Summit One: James Zollar
James Zollar began his musical career playing bugle, has appeared in motion pictures and is included in The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. James was also a featured soloist with Jon Faddis & Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra as well as Wynton Marsalis & The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Count Basie Orchestra with Diane Schuur, Seth MacFarlane & Jose James, Don Byron’s Bands, The Marty Ehrlich Sextet, Jon Batiste, Tom Scott, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Sarah Vaughn, Gladys Knight, and more. Today, he’s playing with The Duke Ellington Orchestra. James has also been a long-standing clinician for the Jazz Mobile SJW Workshop for the last six years, teaching trumpet, theory and ensemble playing.
*There will be light refreshments and snacks from Le Botaniste available for purchase at this concert.
John Bailey is a trumpet player, composer, band leader and educator. His career has included long-running gigs with Ray Charles, Woody Herman Orchestra, Ray Barretto and Frank Sinatra, Jr. His work with Latin Jazz innovator Arturo O'Farrill won him three Grammy awards. He’s played on more than 80 albums as a sideman and has recorded three albums as a leader. He is currently the lead trumpet player in Broadway’s “Maybe Happy Ending.”
Latin Grammy–nominated Cuban trumpeter and composer Kalí Rodríguez-Peña is one of the leading voices of a young generation of Cuban musicians living in New York City. His sound fuses the traditional motifs of his native Cuba with a passion for jazz classicism, influenced by Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and Freddie Hubbard. Kalí has led his bands in top venues and festivals across North America and has shared the stage with distinguished musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Chucho Valdés, Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo O’Farrill, Michel Camilo, Esperanza Spalding, Miguel Zenón, David Murray, Anat Cohen, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Cándido Camero, Ricky Martin, Luis Fonsi and Olga Tañón, among others.
August 6: Carla Cook and Friends
Cook has an improvisational style that’s steeped in the swing tradition yet eclectic and brimming with fresh interpretations. In an extraordinary career, Cook has performed or recorded as a guest artist with such luminaries as the Count Basie Orchestra and Lionel Hampton’s Big Band. Her remarkable voice has earned her a Grammy nomination, and she’s worked with Steve Wilson, Eric Reed, Don Byron, Regina Carter, Jimmy Heath and many more. Her band, The Carla Cook Quintet, has opened for Ron Carter, Michel Legrand, Wayne Shorter and B.B. King. Cook is also an educator, having taught master classes at numerous universities and jazz camps. In 2019, Cook also joined the jazz faculty of The Juilliard School as a private instructor and teacher of the Jazz Voice Seminar. In a career spanning more than two decades, she has performed in concert halls, theaters, nightclubs, and jazz festivals throughout the world.
August 13: Jeremy Carlstedt's Sound Escapes
Jeremy Carlstedt has established himself over the past 25 years as one of the most innovative and unique drummers in New York and appears on 10 records as a leader and on over 25 records as a sideman. He has toured across North America, Europe, and Africa, and played some of the most high-profile music festivals including Newport Jazz Festival, Vision Festival, Cape Town Jazz Festival, and concerts at Lincoln Center. Having begun playing drums at the age of eight, Carlstedt later attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts and the New School.
August 20: Tenor Madness featuring Jason Marshall and Keith Loftis
Jason Marshall has built a wide-reaching career as a performer, composer, arranger, educator, and cultural voice. His work honors the joy, complexity, and legacy of Black American Music, spanning styles and generations with integrity and soul. Over the past two decades, he has brought his artistry to stages around the world, performing and recording with his own ensemble as well as with artists including Roy Hargrove, Aretha Franklin, Deedee Bridgewater, Chaka Khan, Abdullah Ibrahim, Kurt Elling, The Roots, The Temptations and more.
Keith Loftis has been described as one of the most lyrical and compelling Jazz saxophonists of today. Over the course of his career, Keith has performed with several jazz legends such as Benny Carter, Cedar Walton, Nancy Wilson, Frank Foster, Alvin Batiste, Clark Terry, Bobby Shew, Joe Williams, and Ray Charles to name a few. Keith has traveled extensively around the globe performing regularly throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and parts of the Mid-East. He has also performed at VH-1’s “Fashion Rocks” with Mary J. Blige and Usher. Keith performed regularly at New York’s renowned Carlyle Hotel and works on film projects to broaden his film-scoring portfolio. Currently, Keith tours with his Quartet, Vocalist & Educator Dr. Ruth Naomi Floyd in Ruth Naomi Floyd Presents: The Frederick Douglass Jazz Works.
August 27: Emily Braden Quartet
Emily Braden is the winner of New York City's 'Best of the Best' Jazz mobile Vocal Competition and two-time cultural ambassador with the US Embassy’s Arts Envoy Program. Originally from Boise, Idaho, Braden is a Harlem-based vocalist, songwriter and lyricist who effortlessly blends jazz, soul, and pop to win the hearts of audiences around the world. NYC performances include Birdland Jazz Club, Blue Note Jazz Club (Groove Series), The Jazz Club at Aman with residencies at The 55 Bar and Minton’s Playhouse.
*There will be light refreshments and snacks from Le Botaniste available for purchase at this concert.
September 3: Person2Person featuring Eric and Houston Person
Over his forty years as a musician, Eric has had the good fortune to perform with the vanguard of the jazz world, namely McCoy Tyner, Dave Holland Wallace Roney, and cutting-edge artists such as Vernon Reid, Ronald Shannon Jackson, and the World Saxophone Quartet. His signature sound on alto, soprano, tenor, saxophone, and flute has been featured on over fifty CDs, from Chico Hamilton to Ben Harper to Bright Dog Red.
Houston Person was dubbed ‘the natural heir to the Boss Tenor crown worn so long and so well by Gene Ammons’ by historian Bob Porter. After years as a record producer and touring with the late great Etta Jones, Person is now recognized as a master of popular songs. Person has recorded over 150 albums as a leader and sideman.
September 10: Lucy Yeghiazaryan Trio
Lucy Yeghiazaryan has become a leading voice in American straight-ahead jazz singing by bringing the real richness of her Armenian heritage together with her love for the ultimate American art form. She has shared the stage with Harold Mabern, Houston Person, Johnny O’Neal, Peter Bernstein, Pasquale Grasso, Grant Stewart, Terell Stafford, Bernadette Peters, Arto Tunçboyacıyan Emmet Cohen and many more. She can be found performing in and outside of the U.S. with regular appearances at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, Mezzrow, Symphony Space and others. Yeghiazaryan grew up in post-Soviet Armenia and began listening to her father's once-contraband collection of jazz records at a young age. Economic hardships eventually forced the family to immigrate to America, where she brought her passion for Jazz. *There will be light refreshments and snacks from Le Botaniste available for purchase at this concert.
September 17: Bobby Harden
Bobby Harden thrills audiences globally as lead singer with the Original Blues Brothers Band. He has shared the stage with Eddie Floyd, Lionel Richie and, as lead singer of The Uptown Horns Revue, with Howard Tate & Benny King. He performed at President Obama’s inauguration party and regularly plays with his Soul Purpose Band at City Winery, City Vineyard, The Falcon, and Minton’s Playhouse. Bobby holds a three-night a week residency at Greenwich Village’s historic Arthur’s Tavern. Bobby believes in giving back to the community and has performed at events for the American Cancer Society and Hearts of Gold Charity alongside fundraisers for local causes, including health care facilities and schools in his neighborhood. Bobby has also sung TV jingles for American Express, Budweiser, Holiday Inn, and Slimfast.
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Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR23) New York Butoh InstitutepresentsJuly Intensive Training with Vangeline June 30-July 5, 2025 |
Vangeline Theater/New York Butoh Institute presents July Intensive Training, with Vangeline, from June 30-July 5, 2025 in New York, including a final, end-of-week performance. Enrollment is $350 for the week. To register visit . vangeline.com/enroll-here/
During the week of July 4th to New York to train with award-winning teacher/choreographer Vangeline! For five days, we will train and practice together, learning Noguchi Taiso and a range of butoh techniques. Join us and perform on July 5 in NYC!
Schedule:
Monday, June 30, morning session 11am to 1pm
Afternoon session 2-5pm
Tuesday, July 1, morning session 11am to 1pm
Afternoon session 2-5pm
Wednesday, July 2nd, morning session 11am to 1pm
Afternoon session 2-5pm
Thursday, July 3rd, morning session 11am to 1pm
Afternoon session 2-5pm
Friday, July 4th, morning session 11am to 1pm
Afternoon session 2-5pm
Saturday, July 5th, rehearsal and performance
Vangeline is a teacher, dancer, and choreographer specializing in Japanese Butoh. She is the artistic director of the Vangeline Theater/New York Butoh Institute (New York), a dance company firmly rooted in the tradition of Japanese butoh while carrying it into the twenty-first century. The Vangeline Theater/New York Butoh Institute is dedicated to advancing Butoh in the 21st century, with a particular emphasis on education, social justice, research, and archiving.
For more information, visit www.vangeline.com
SAY GAY PLAYS
June 30 at Judson Memorial Church
SAY GAY PLAYS will feature staged readings of 6 LGBTQ+ themed short plays by: Kamilah Bush, Vichet Chum, SMJ, Haruna Lee, Azure D. Osborne-Lee, and Brian Quirk. Following the benefit reading, these plays (as well last year’s plays by Fernanda Coppel, Mashuq Mushtaq Deen, Ty Defoe, Marquis D. Gibson, Nina Ki, Derick Edgren Otero, Harrison David Rivers, J. Harvey Stone, Lucy Thurber and Doug Wright) will be made available royalty-free to not-for-profit theaters, colleges and universities, and community organizations across the nation for use to present their own fundraising events on behalf of LGBTQ+ organizations in their communities.
SAY GAY PLAYS will be presented on Monday, June 30 at 7pm at Judson Memorial Church (55 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012) to benefit Judson Commons. Tickets are $35 general admission or $60 for VIP seating in the front rows at www.SayGayPlays.org.
25) THE YORK THEATRE
HAS PARTNERED WITH THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
AND LITTLE AND LOUD PRODUCTIONS
TO PRESENT
SONGS OF COPE: WE GOTTA KEEP MOVIN’
A PERFORMANCE HONORING MICKI GRANT AND HER GROUNDBREAKING BROADWAY MUSICAL DON’T BOTHER ME, I CAN’T COPE
THE LIBRARY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
(111 AMSTERDAM AVE. NEW YORK, NY)
MONDAY, JUNE 30
The York Theatre (Joseph Hayward, Producing Artistic Director, Marie Grace LaFerrara, Executive Director, Debra Walton, Interim Associate Artistic Director) has partnered with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and Little and Loud Productions to present Songs of Cope: We Gotta Keep Movin’, a performance honoring Micki Grant and her groundbreaking Broadway musical, Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope on Monday, June 30 at 6pm. Admission is FREE, but reservations are required and can be made here.
As the first woman to write both music and lyrics for a Broadway show, Micki Grant remains an unparalleled artist who captured the African American experience! In Songs of Cope, the Library for the Performing Arts, in partnership with Little and Loud Productions and The York Theatre Company, presents a dynamic gathering and performance honoring the trailblazing Micki Grant and her groundbreaking Broadway musical, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope.
Conceived in 1971 on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement, Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope confronted the pressing issues of its time through a powerful blend of song and dance. Today, as America continues to grapple with many of the same challenges, Micki Grant’s groundbreaking work resonates more deeply than ever.
Songs of Cope gives the audience a unique chance to experience select songs from Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope, honoring the genius of Micki Grant and celebrating the “Love Power” of art! Now more than ever, this is the time to come together—to inform, inspire, and uplift.
26) Teatro Grattacielo Launches
Pay-What-You-Can Model
and Casual Performance Atmosphere for
Summer 2025 Season
Teatro Grattacielo is introducing major accessibility and audience engagement initiatives for its 2025 summer season at La MaMa, starting with two centerpiece productions: the World Premiere of Generación Perdida by Jorge Sosa and a bold new staging of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro.
Both productions will adopt a Pay-What-You-Can ticketing model, along with a casual performance atmosphere, designed to invite new and younger audiences into the world of opera.
Pay What You Can Ticketing
Audiences are encouraged to choose the ticket that best suits their budget:
- $10 – Young Audience
- $20 – Community
- $40 – General Admission
This structure reflects Grattacielo’s commitment to making opera accessible for students, emerging artists, and those who may be priced out of traditional performances.
A New, Casual Opera Experience
In an effort to demystify and open up the opera-going experience, Generación Perdida and Le Nozze di Figaro will allow:
- Drinks inside the theater
- Photography during the performance
- Live social media sharing
- A come-as-you-are, open environment
Audience members are encouraged to document and share their experience online, while remaining mindful of others. Teatro Grattacielo’s front-of-house staff will be trained to support this atmosphere—creating a space that’s both welcoming and respectful.
Performances will take place at La MaMa’s Downstairs Theater and Ellen Stewart Theater, both fully ADA-compliant venues, with multilingual content and signage to welcome diverse communities.
EVENT DETAILS
WHAT:
Women Who Rock You: Songs from Janis to Alanis and More
A live concert experience from the voice of rock and soul revival.
Event link: https://publictheater.org/
WHEN:
Monday, June 30, 2025
9:30 PM
WHERE:
Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater
425 Lafayette St, New York, NY
TICKETS
1) SUNSET DRAG SHOW AT BOK
Thursday, June 26, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Bok Bar, 800 Mifflin
Join Philly’s Brittany Lynn and her Drag Mafia for their annual PRIDE show at Bok Bar! This year the show takes over Golden Hour at Bok Bar! Performances by Brittany Lynn and Billy Cavallo, Morgan Wells, and Demi Gawdess. Sunset Drag will take place once a month on the last Thursday all season long (May-October). Doors will open promptly at 5pm for normal service, with the show running from 7-9 pm. Guests will be seated in order of arrival time. We cannot wait to see you up on the roof! Ticketed event, All ages
2) DRAG QUEEN STORY TIME
PHS Pop Up Garden 106 Jamestown, Manayunk
Hear fun stories about love, diversity, and acceptance - while singing and dancing at this fabulous story time event! Hosted by the creator of Philly’s story time program – Miss Brittany Lynn!
3) QUEEN BEE: BEYONCE DRAG BRUNCH
Sunday, June 29, 2025, 11:00am to 2:00pm
Evil Genius Beer Company, 1727 N. Front St.
Join us for a brunch thats going to be Irreplaceable! You'll Run the World with the Best Drag Queens in Philly as they pay homage to the Queen Bee herself! Doors open at 11:00 AM and the show starts at 12:00pm.
4) BUCKS-MONT PRIDE FESTIVAL 2025
Sunday, June 29, 2025, 12:00pm
Abington Art Center, 15 Meetinghouse Rd, Jenkintown, PA 19046
The Welcome Project PA is proud to host our fifth annual Bucks-Mont PRIDE Festival at the beautiful Abington Art Center! Enjoy live music, food, community resources, family-friendly activities, and more at this no charge, indoor/outdoor event! This is a no charge, community event!
Please consider donating to support Bucks-Mont Pride Festival. Weather: This is an indoor/outdoor event, rain or shine!
Clueless 30th Anniversary
Dates: June 29-30
Ok, so you’re probably going “Is this like a Noxzema commercial or what?” But seriously, Clueless - the endlessly quotable, always fashionable, hilariously iconic 90s rom-com - is coming to select cinemas in June 2025 to celebrate its 30th anniversary!
Cher is the most popular and glamourous girl at Beverly Hills High. Although she may be the envy of scheming Betties (female babes) and persistent Barneys (unattractive guys), she has an innate drive to help those less fortunate, especially when it comes to love. Despite her total confidence in knowing what's best for others, Cher is totally clueless when it comes to her own heart.
For more information visit FathomEntertainment.com.
XXX
And that's the scoop. Tune in tomorrow for More Theater Monday.