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, July 31, 2016

Sunday Scoop Week of 7/31/16 - What's Happening This Week or Coming Up Soon

Trip of Love Will Close on August 7
Rock and Hall of Famer Darlene Love to Play Final 4 performance starting August 5
Stage 42
422 W. 42nd St.
New York, NY

Trip of LoveNew York's high-voltage 1960's pop music spectacular, will end its engagement at Stage 42 (422 W. 42nd Street) on Sunday, August 7th. At the time of closing, Trip of Love will have played 24 previews and 335 performances and is the longest running show at Stage 42.

Darlene Love will begin performances on Friday, August 5th, and play the final 4 performances of Trip of Love through Sunday, August 7th. She was previously announced to begin performances on July 28th.

The iconic vocalist, who topped the charts with hits including "He's a Rebel" and "Christmas Baby Please Come Home," will join the company singing 1960's classics including "Lover's Concerto," "The Windmill of Your Mind," "Up Up and Away," "Moon River," and "The Way of Love."

Over a fifty-plus year career, Darlene Love has collaborated with legends like Frank Sinatra, Marvin Gaye, and Elvis Presley (to name a few). She performed her #1 holiday classic "Baby Please Come Home" on David Letterman's Christmas special annually for 29 years. Films include the Oscar-winning Twenty Feet from Stardom and the Lethal Weapon series.  Broadway: HairsprayGreaseCarrieLeader of the Pack. She is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and is one of Rolling Stone's greatest singers in history. Her most recent album, "Introducing Darlene Love," was released in 2015.     

Love joins the star of the hit Lifetime Television series "Dance Moms," Nia Sioux, who recently began performances in Trip of Love

High-voltage dance numbers. Powerhouse vocals. It was a time when we were born to be wild, boots were made for walking and we were all looking for somebody to love. The 60's are alive now at the high octane sexy musical spectacular, Trip of Love where the worlds of "Mad Men," and "American Bandstand" collide with "Dancing with the Stars," Woodstock and "Soul Train." Celebrate classic pop hits from such greats as The Beatles, Tom Jones, The Beach Boys, Leslie Gore, Jefferson Airplane, Petula Clark, Bob Dylan, The 5th Dimension, The Vandellas, Nancy Sinatra and more. With a cast a two dozen scorching hot young men and women, Trip of Love takes audiences on a musical journey through a history of rock and roll with such hits as "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," "Downtown," "Venus," "California Dreamin," "You Don't Own Me" and "Wipe Out."

LISTINGS INFORMATION: Trip of Love plays at Stage 42 (422 W 42nd Street). Performances are Tuesdays at 7pm, Wednesdays at 2pm and 8pm, Thursdays at 8pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at2pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $35 - $79 and can be purchased via Telecharge.com(212) 239-6200.

For more information go to www.TripOfLove.com
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Upcoming at TADA!

August 1-5
Ages 6-8 
15 W. 28th St, New York, NY
Skateland

Ages 6-11
158 W. 72nd , New York, NY
Pet Secrets

Ages 9-14
134 W. 29th, New York, NY
Roller Derby Rumble

For more information go to click here
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Upcoming at iPlay America
110 Schank Road
Freehold, NJ

RockNRoll Chorus – Game Time Bar & Grill
Show Starts: 6 PM

New Jersey’s renowned RockNRoll Chorus will appear live at iPlay America for a FREE concert. The RockNRoll Chorus is celebrating it’s Tenth Anniversary and an if you love rock and roll, then be prepared for a stunning evening of acapella music and fun. This amazing chorus is comprised of top singing talent from high schools all over New Jersey.
For more information click here
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BlueClaws Charities Nine & Dine  Golf Outing
Woodlake Country Club
25 New Hampshire Ave.
Lakewood, NJ

The annual BlueClaws Charities Nine & Dine Golf Outing returns to Woodlake Country Club in Lakewood on Monday, August 15th.


The event, which features a meet-and-greet with BlueClaws players, raises money for BlueClaws Charities, the BlueClaws official non-profit foundation, and their Community Partner organizations.

To register or for additional information, call JoAnne at 732-901-7000 ext 100 or click here
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First Friday Movies Under the Stars and Stripes 
at the Betsy Ross House
239 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA

The Betsy Ross House presents First Friday Movies Under the Stars and Stripes. Visitors are encouraged to bring food and a bottle of wine to watch the movie. $5 admission includes a tour of the Betsy Ross House and a movie in the courtyard.

August 55 pm – The Monster that Challenged the World
September 25 pm – Alligator People
October 75 pm – Bucket of Blood and Night of the Living Dead

The Betsy Ross House is dedicated to preserving the story of Betsy Ross, her life as an upholsterer and flagmaker, and the experiences of Colonial working-class women during America’s Revolutionary era. The House, just blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, is one of Philadelphia’s most popular historic attractions with nearly 200,000 visitors annually. The House is two and a half stories with eight rooms and was originally built in 1740. The House is restored to the period from 1776-1779, when Betsy Ross, as the story tells it, created the first American flag. The House is furnished with period antiques and some reproduction furniture. Highlights include several objects known to have belonged to Betsy Ross. Visit Betsy Ross in the country’s only interactive colonial upholstery shop and get an up close look at the parlor, where she famously received the Flag Committee, and her bedroom where the first flag was secretly stitched. Kids will love the interactive exhibits in the House’s basement. See changing exhibits in the gallery and meet Betsy Ross, in person. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, begin the day at the Flag Raising with Betsy Ross and one of her Colonial friends at 10 am.

The Betsy Ross House: 239 Arch St. Open daily March 1 – November 3010 am – 5pm. Admission is $5 adults, $4 children/students/seniors/military.  Audio tour available for
$7/adult, $6/senior/student/military/child, includes admission. Duration: 25 minutes.
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News from Michelle Tabnick Communications

BALLET HISPÁNICO's
CARMEN.maquia and Club Havana
featured in encore screenings of the film series
Lincoln Center at the Movies: Great American Dance
August 2, 2016 at 7pm

Ballet Hispánico, the nation's preeminent Latino dance institution, will be featured in encore screenings of Lincoln Center at the Movies: Great American Dance, along with two of the other companies from the series' inaugural season this past fall, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and San Francisco Ballet. Coming to more than 115 theaters nationwide on Tuesday, August 2 at 7:00 pm (local time) is Ballet Hispánico, led by Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro, with two audience favorites: CARMEN.maquia, an electrifying contemporary take on Bizet's passionate opera choreographed by Spaniard Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, and Club Havana, a virtuosic re-imagining of a sizzling nightclub by Cuban-born choreographer Pedro Ruiz. The film will include special behind-the-scenes interviews with the dancers and a glimpse of the company's rehearsals.

Tickets for Great American Dance can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com, or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations, visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participating box offices are subject to change).

To enhance the Lincoln Center at the Movies experience for audiences of all ages, Lincoln Center Education has created interactive guides to accompany each Great American Dance screening. The guides are tailored for various audiences for use by: teachers, families with children, after-school programs, and lifelong learners.  The guides use videos, readings, images, and participatory activities to provide information about each company and work, including historical context, music, choreography, and design, to encourage discussion prior to and after seeing the performance. To access the study guide for each of the summer encore presentations, visit LincolnCenterAtTheMovies.org/education.
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BALLET HISPÁNICO
To Launch a New Conversation Series
Diálogos at the Arnhold Center
Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 6:30pm

The inaugural event of the Diálogos series, Cuban Methodology: Dance, Race, Culture, will be held at Ballet Hispánico at the Arnhold Center, 167 W. 89th Street, NYC at 6:30pm.  Admission is free, and advance reservations are requested at www.ballethispanico.org/dialogos. The evening will explore the racial and cultural impact of the Cuban ballet methodology on its home country and throughout the world. Panelists will discuss the distinguishing characteristics of the Cuban methodology, nuances in how it's practiced within and outside of Cuba, and the opportunities it has created for artists in an art form that is commonly perceived to be homogeneous. The live event will be moderated by Ballet Hispánico Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro.
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BIG APPLE CIRCUS TO FOCUS ON COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN 2016-2017

 Big Apple Circus, whose performances in New York and around the country have thrilled audiences for years, announced today that while it has not raised sufficient funds to produce a show under its Big Top next season, the recent donations it has received will enable the organization to restructure and continue to provide community service programs, including Clown Care®, which brings the joy of classical circus to hospitalized children.

CLOWN CARE brings laughter and joy to aid the healing process of patients in 16 leading pediatric hospitals, while its sister program, VAUDEVILLE VISITS, engages seniors in residential care facilities. 

CIRCUS AFTER SCHOOL teaches kids life skills such as teamwork, responsible risk-taking, and perseverance, through a structured program of learning and performing circus arts. For more information or to support Big Apple Circus, visit www.bigapplecircus.org.
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News from DKC/O&M

Calender of Events 
Fall 2016/Spring 2017

NEW BROADWAY:

CATS
Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler
Original Choreography by Gillian Lynne
Directed by Trevor Nunn
at the Neil Simon Theatre
250 W. 52nd Street

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical CATS, one of the biggest hits in theatrical history, returns to Broadway this summer at the Neil Simon Theatre. Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” the original Broadway production opened in 1982 at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre (currently home to Lloyd Webber’s newest hit, School of Rock – The Musical), where it ran for 7,485 performances and 18 years. Since its world premiere, CATS has been presented in over 30 countries, has been translated into 15 languages, and has been seen by more than 73 million people worldwide. 

The creative team for the new Broadway production of CATS includes John Napier (scenic & costume design), Natasha Katz (lighting design), Mick Potter (sound design), choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, based on the original choreography by Gillian Lynne and direction by Trevor Nunn.

CATS is produced on Broadway by The Shubert Organization and The Nederlander Organization. Nina Lannan serves as Executive Producer. 

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THE FRONT PAGE
By Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur
Directed by Jack O’Brien
Previews begin September 20, 2016
Opening Night set for October 20, 2016
Limited Engagement through January 29, 2017
at the Broadhurst Theatre
235 W. 44th Street

Produced by Scott Rudin, the staggering complete cast for the upcoming production of The Front Page, Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur’s classic 1928 comedy set in the world of the Chicago newspaper business, includes stars Nathan LaneJohn SlatteryJohn GoodmanJefferson MaysSherie Rene ScottHolland Taylor and Robert Morse, along with Dylan BakerPatricia ConollyHalley FeifferDann FlorekJoe ForbrichMichael X. Martin, John MagaroDanny MastrogiorgioChristopher McDonaldDavid PittuJoey SlotnickLewis J. StadlenMicah StockClarke Thorell, and Tony Ward

The press room of Chicago’s Criminal Courts Building is buzzing with reporters covering the story of an escaped prisoner. When star reporter Hildy Johnson (Slattery) accidentally discovers the runaway convict, he and his editor Walter Burns (Lane) conspire to hide the man from the other reporters, while they chase the biggest scoop of their careers.

The Front Page premiered on August 14, 1928, at the Times Square Theatre, in a production staged by George S. Kaufman. The play was heralded for its rapid-fire dialogue written by former newspapermen Hecht and MacArthur, and was one of four stunning and unprecedented hits in a row in the early career of its producer, the legendary Jed Harris.

The Front Page will feature set design by Douglas W. Schmidt, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt and sound design by Scott Lehrer.

- - -

DEAR EVAN HANSEN
Book by Steven Levenson
Composed by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Directed by Michael Greif
Previews begin November 14, 2016
Opening Night set for December 4, 2016
at the Belasco Theatre
111 W. 44th Street

With a book by Obie Award-winner Steven Levenson, score by Tony Award® nominees Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, and direction by 3-time Tony Award® nominee Michael GreifDear Evan Hansen had its world premiere at Arena Stage, Washington D.C., this past summer and recently concluded its record-breaking New York debut at Off Broadway’s Second Stage.

Ben Platt, who led the world and New York premieres of the musical, will once again star as Evan Hansen, a performance for which he recently won the 2016 Obie Award and earned nominations from the Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Awards. 

Platt will be joined by Laura DreyfussRachel Bay JonesJennifer Laura ThompsonMike FaistMichael ParkWill Roland, and Kristolyn Lloyd.  

Dear Evan Hansen features scenic design by David Korins, projection design by Peter Nigrini, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, costume design by Emily Rebholz, sound design by Nevin Steinberg and choreography by Danny Mefford. Music supervision, orchestrations and additional arrangement are by Alex Lacamoire. The musical director is Ben Cohn. Vocal arrangements and additional arrangements are by Justin Paul. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting. Adrienne Campbell-Holt serves as Associate Director. Judith Schoenfeld will serve as Production Stage Manager, with Michael McGoff as Stage Manager. Jayne Hong is Associate Producer. 101 Productions serves as Executive Producer.

Dear Evan Hansen is produced on Broadway by Stacey Mindich, Mickey Liddell, Hunter Arnold, Caiola Productions, Double Gemini Productions, Fakston Productions, Roy Furman, Harris Karma Productions, On Your Marks Group, Darren Bagert, Bob Boyett, Colin Callendar, Caitlin Clements, Freddy DeMann, Dante DiLoreto, Bonnie & Kenneth Feld, FickStern Productions, Eric & Marsi Gardiner, Jere Harris and Darren DeVerna, Mike Kriak, Arielle Tepper Madover, David Mirvish, Eva Price, Zeilinger Productions, Adam Zotovich in association with Arena Stage and Second Stage Theatre.

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BURN THIS
Directed by Michael Mayer
Previews begin February 2017
Opening Night set for March 6, 2017
at the Hudson Theatre
145 W. 44th Street

This winter, thirty years after it first premiered at Circle Repertory Company, producers Stacey Mindich and Jessica R. Jenen will present the first-ever Broadway revival of Lanford Wilson’s acclaimed play, Burn This, directed by Tony Award®winner Michael Mayer, and starring Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal. The play will re-open Broadway’s newest venue, Ambassador Theatre Group’s historic Hudson Theatre (145 West 44th St). Performances begin February 2017.
One of the essential plays about downtown New York in the raw and gritty 1980s, this combustible, Tony-winning drama explores the spiritual and emotional isolation of Pale and Anna, two iconoclasts who are brought together in the wake of a tragic event. Heralded for its complexity, humor, sexuality and emotional core, Burn This is a masterwork from one of America’s greatest playwrights.  
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TENNESSE WILLIAMS’S
THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Directed by Sam Gold
Previews begin February 14, 2017
Opening Night set for March 23, 2017
at the Golden Theatre
252 W. 45th Street

Two-time Academy Award® winner Sally Field and two-time Tony Award® winner Joe Mantello return to the Broadway stage starring in Tennessee Williams’s most cherished play, The Glass Menagerie. Tony Award® winner Sam Gold directs the production, which also stars Finn Wittrock and Madison Ferris, who will be making her Broadway debut in the role of Laura Wingfield.

The Glass Menagerie is the play that brought a brilliant young writer named Tennessee Williams to national attention, and, in his own words, “changed my life irrevocably” when it first premiered on Broadway in 1945. More than seventy years later, Williams’s most personal work for the stage continues to captivate and overwhelm audiences around the world.

Mr. Gold first directed this production of The Glass Menagerie with an entirely Dutch cast at Toneelgroep Amsterdam (Ivo van Hove, Artistic Director) in an engagement that garnered rave reviews and massive international attention.

The Glass Menagerie, produced by Scott Rudin, will feature the entire design team from the Toneelgroep Amsterdam production (Ivo van Hove, Artistic Director), including Andrew Lieberman (Scenic Design), Woiceich Dziedzic (Costume Design), Adam Silverman (Lighting Design), and Bray Poor (Sound Design).

- - -

HELLO, DOLLY!
By Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart
Based on The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder
Original Production Directed and Choreographed by Gower Champion
Choreographed by Warren Carlyle
Directed by Jerry Zaks
Previews begin March 15, 2017
Opening Night set for April 20, 2017
at the Shubert Theatre
225 W. 44th Street

Producer Scott Rudin presents the one and only Bette Midler’s return to Broadway in one of the most cherished musicals in theater history when she takes on the role of “Dolly Gallagher Levi” in Michael Stewart’s (book) and Jerry Herman’s (music and lyrics) masterpiece, Hello, Dolly!. Tony® and Emmy Award® winner David Hyde Pierce stars opposite Midler as Horace Vandergelder.

This new production of Hello, Dolly!, the first new production of this classic musical to appear on Broadway since it opened more than fifty years ago, will be helmed by four-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Zaks, and will feature choreography by Tony Award® winner Warren Carlyle. This new Dolly! will pay tribute to the original work of legendary director/choreographer Gower Champion, which has been hailed both then and now as one of the greatest stagings in musical theater history.

Based on Thornton Wilder’s farce The MatchmakerHello, Dolly! caused an instant sensation when it premiered on Broadway in 1964, starring Carol Channing in the title role.  It went on to win a record-shattering ten Tony Awards®, including those for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Producer of a Musical, Best Choreography, Best Scenic Design, and Best Costume Design.  It was also named Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics’ Circle. Its original Broadway cast recording hit the top of the Billboard album chart, and years later was inducted into the Grammy® Hall of Fame.  It also marked the greatest producing triumph of legendary impresario David Merrick, running for 2,844 performances over seven years and breaking the record for the longest running show in Broadway history.   In addition to Ms. Channing, an astonishing list of Broadway and Hollywood luminaries have inhabited the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi, including Pearl Bailey, Phyllis Diller, Betty Grable, Martha Raye, Ginger Rogers, Ethel Merman (in her last appearance on Broadway), and Mary Martin, who led the West End company.






ONGOING BROADWAY:

BEAUTIFUL - The Carole King Musical
Book by Douglas McGrathFeaturing songs by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia WeilDirected by Marc Bruniat the Stephen Sondheim Theatre
124 W. 43rd Street
www.BeautifulOnBroadway.com

Long before she was Carole King, chart-topping music legend, she was Carol Klein, Brooklyn girl with passion and chutzpah. She fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties, had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock ‘n’ roll. But it wasn’t until her personal life began to crack that she finally managed to find her true voice.

Now in its 3rd smash year on Broadway, Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.

The current Broadway cast of Beautiful includes Chilina Kennedy as ‘Carole King’, Scott J. Campbell as ‘Gerry Goffin’, Jessica Keenan Wynn as ‘Cynthia Weil,’ Ben Jacoby as ‘Barry Mann,’ Paul Anthony Stewart as 'Don Kirshner', Tony® Award-nominee Liz Larsen as 'Genie Klein', an ensemble that includes Gisela AdisaJosh Davis, Kevin Duda, James Harkness, Sara King, Julia Knitel, Tamika Lawrence, Douglas Lyons, Rob Marnell, Gabrielle Reid, Sara Sheperd, Kimber Sprawl, Yasmeen SuliemanNasia Thomas, Daniel TorresMelvin Tunstall, Alan Wiggins, and Dashaun Young.

With a book by Tony® and Academy® Award-nominee Douglas McGrath, direction by Marc Bruni and choreography by Josh PrinceBeautiful features a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Ghostlight Records), the 2015 Grammy® Award winner for Best Musical Theater Album, is available on CD, digitally, and on vinyl. In addition to the hit Broadway production, award-winning productions are playing in London’s West End and on tour across the US.

- - -

THE HUMANS
By Stephen Karam
Directed by Joe Mantello
at the Schoenfeld Theatre
236 W. 45th Street
www.TheHumansOnBroadway.com

Garnering the most ecstatic reviews of any play in recent memory, sweeping 2016’s major theatrical awards, and heralded as “The Best Play of the Year” by The New York TimesNew York MagazineThe Washington PostThe Chicago TribuneThe RecordTime Out New YorkThe Hollywood ReporterDeadline, and The Wrap the Broadway production of Stephen Karam’s The Humans is the recipient of 4 Tony Awards® including Best Play (Author, Stephen Karam), Best Featured Actress in a Play (Jayne Houdyshell), Best Featured Actor in a Play (Reed Birney), and Best Scenic Design of a Play (David Zinn), 4 Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding PlayOutstanding Lighting Design of a Play(Justin Townsend), Outstanding Sound Design in a Play (Fitz Patton) and a 2016 Special Drama Desk Award for Outstanding EnsembleThe Humans has been named the Best Play of the Year by the New York Drama Critics’ Circle, theOuter Critics Circle, and the Drama League. The Obie Awards honored Stephen Karam with a 2016 Award for Playwriting and Jayne Houdyshell with a 2016 Award for PerformanceThe Humans was a 2016 Pulitzer Prize Finalist.
Directed by Joe Mantello, the ensemble cast includes Cassie Beck, 2016 Tony Award® winner Reed Birney, 2016 Tony Award® winner Jayne Houdyshell, Lauren KleinArian Moayed and Sarah Steele.
The angst, anguish and amity of the American middle class are first coaxed – then shoved – into the light in Stephen Karam's The Humans, an uproarious, hopeful, and heart-breaking play that takes place over the course of a family dinner on Thanksgiving.  Breaking with tradition, Erik Blake (Birney) has brought his Pennsylvania family to celebrate and give thanks at his daughter’s apartment in lower Manhattan. As darkness falls outside the ramshackle pre-war duplex, and eerie things start to go bump in the night, the Blake clan’s deepest fears and greatest follies are laid bare. Our modern age of anxiety is keenly observed, with humor and compassion, in this new American classic.
The Humans is produced on Broadway by Scott RudinBarry DillerRoundabout Theatre CompanyFox TheatricalsJames L. NederlanderTerry Allen KramerRoy FurmanDaryl RothJon B. PlattEli BushBroadway Across AmericaJack LaneBarbara WhitmanJay Alix & Una JackmanScott M. DelmanSonia FriedmanAmanda LipitzPeter MayStephanie P. McClellandLauren Stein, and The Shubert OrganizationJoey ParnesSue Wagner, andJohn Johnson serve as Executive Producers.

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KINKY BOOTS
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Music & Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Direction & Choreography by Jerry Mitchell
at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre 
302 W. 45th Street
www.KinkyBootsTheMusical.com

Producers Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig are proud to present Kinky Boots, the six-time Tony®  Award-winning musical that brings together four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Book) and Grammy®  Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (a Tony®  Award-winner for Best Score/Music and Lyrics for Kinky Boots). Directed and choreographed by Tony®  Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots began performances on Sunday, March 3, 2013 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street), and opened on Thursday, April 4, 2013, where it’s now in its fourth smash year. 

Kinky Boots has now won the top prize for every production, including the Tony® Award (Broadway production, 2013), the Olivier Award (West End production, 2016), the Korean Musical Theatre Association Musical Award (Korean production, 2015), the Dora Award (Toronto 2016) and the touring production has won many ‘Best Of’ Awards in major local markets. The Original Broadway Cast Recording of Kinky Boots won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album (2014). The show is currently touring the country on its First National Tour. An Australian production is set to open in October 2016.

In Kinky Boots, Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola. A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he’s meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… and discovers that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.

Inspired by a true story and based on the Miramax motion picture written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth, Kinky Boots features a warm and witty book by Mr. Fierstein and a richly diverse musical score from Ms. Lauper, in her stunning theatrical debut. Mr. Mitchell has crafted a production that moves, inspires and sets the audience's feet dancing.

The current Broadway cast of Kinky Boots includes Alan Mingo, Jr., Andy Kelso, Jeanna de Waal, Daniel Stewart ShermanCortney Wolfson, Marcus NevilleNick Rashad Burroughs, Sean Patrick Doyle, Kevin Smith KirkwoodFred Odgaard, Kyle Post, Hernando UmanaAdinah Alexander, Eugene Barry-HillStephen Berger, Devin Trey Campbell, Christopher Convery, Alfred DalPino, Holly Davis, Jesus Del Orden, Christy Faber, Mia Gentile, Blair Goldberg, Natalie Joy Johnson, Jake Katzman, Ross Lekites, Eric LevitonEllyn Marie MarshJohn Jeffrey MartinNathan PeckRobert Pendilla, Stephen Tewksbury, and Timothy Ware.

- - -

SCHOOL OF ROCK – THE MUSICAL
Book by Julian Fellowes
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Directed by Laurence Connor
at the Winter Garden Theatre
1634 Broadway

School of Rock – The Musical opened to rave reviews at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway) on Sunday, December 6, 2015. This Ben Brantley New York Times ‘Critics’ Pick’ “is an inspiring jolt of energy and mad skillz,”raves Jesse Oxfeld of Entertainment Weekly. And in his four-star Critics’ Pick review, Time Out’s David Cote proclaimed, School’s IN – forever!”

In School of Rock—The Musical, down-on-his-luck wannabe rock star Dewey Finn (Alex Brightman) poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school to make ends meet. When he discovers his students’ musical talents, he enlists his fifth-graders to form a rock group and conquer the Battle of the Bands.

Based on the smash hit 2003 film of the same title, School of Rock – The Musical features music from the movie, as well as an original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater, with a book by Julian Fellowes and direction byLaurence Connor. The creative team also includes choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, scenic and costume design by Anna Louizos, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Mick Potter, and music supervision by Ethan Popp.

School of Rock — The Musical is produced on Broadway by Andrew Lloyd Webber for The Really Useful Group, Warner Music Group & Access Industries, The Shubert Organization, and The Nederlander Organization. Nina Lannan and Madeleine Lloyd Webber serve as Executive Producers.


                                                   

NEW OFF-BROADWAY:

SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS
Written by Beth Wohl
Directed by Rachel Chavkin
Limited engagement through September 25
at The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre
at The Pershing Square Signature Center
480 W. 42nd Street

Producer Eva Price presents Small Mouth Sounds, which played a sold-out, twice extended run at Ars Nova in 2015, was featured in The New York Times as one of ‘The Best Theater of 2015’. Charles Isherwood’s Critics’ Pick review calledSmall Mouth Sounds “an enchanting new play… as funny as it is quietly moving… a model of ingenuity.” The Hollywood Reporter, the New York Post, and The Guardian also listed Small Mouth Sounds in their Best of 2015 roundups, with The Advocate lauding it as the #1 Best Show in their ‘Top 10 New York Theater of 2015’.
In the overwhelming quiet of the woods, six runaways from city life embark on a silent retreat. As these strangers confront internal demons both profound and absurd, their vows of silence collide with the achingly human need to connect. Filled with awkward humor, this strange and compassionate new play asks how we address life’s biggest questions when words fail us.
The return of Small Mouth Sounds reunites several of the original cast members, including Marcia DeBonisJoJo GonzalezBrad Heberlee, and Babak Tafti, and are joined by Quincy Tyler BernstineZoë Winters, and Max Baker

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MCC THEATER
at the Lucille Lortel Theatre
121 Christopher Street

30th ANNIVERSARY SEASON

MCC Theater is one of Off-Broadway’s premier theatrical entities, producing challenging new works for the American theatre from some of the most exciting playwrights, director, designers and actors in New York City.  Led by Artistic Directors Robert LuPoneBernard TelseyWilliam Cantler, and Executive Director Blake West, MCC is devoted year-round to the development of new voices for the theater, whether seasoned vets like Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute, emerging playwrights such as Jennifer Haley and John Pollono, or the youngest generation of new theater artists via MCC’s Youth Company.  MCC produces four major productions each season, presented at the legendary Lucille Lortel Theatre in the West Village.

Starting in September 2016, MCC Theater will celebrate its 30th Anniversary Season, which will bring together frequent MCC collaborators alongside artists new to the family for a three-play-and-a-musical season.

Upcoming at MCC: 

ALL THE WAYS TO SAY I LOVE YOU
By Neil LaBute
Directed by Leigh Silverman
A one-woman show starring Judith Light
Previews begin September 6, 2016Opening night set for September 28, 2016Limited engagement through October 9, 2016at the Lucille Lortel Theatre
Faye Johnson is a high school English teacher and guidance counselor in a long-time, loving marriage. As she recounts her experiences with a favored student from her past, Faye slowly reveals the truth that is hidden just beneath the surface details of her life. All The Ways To Say I Love You is a solo play about love, hard choices, and the cost of fulfilling an all-consuming desire.
All The Ways To Say I Love You marks Neil LaBute’s 10th play produced by MCC in a 15-year collaboration that includes some of the playwright’s seminal works: Fat Pig, The Mercy Seat, The Distance from Here, and reasons to be pretty, the latter of which transferred to Broadway and received a Tony® nomination for Best Play.  Judith Light, an MCC mainstay onstage and off, returns to the Lortel following her performances in Margaret Edson’s Wit and Laura Wade’s Colder Than Here.  Leigh Silverman was last seen at MCC with Coraline.


RIDE THE CYCLONE
Book, Music and Lyrics by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell
Directed by Rachel Rockwell
Previews begin November 9, 2016
Opening night set for December 1, 2016
Limited engagement through December 18, 2016
at The Lucille Lortel Theatre
121 Christopher Street

The Saint Cassian High School Chamber Choir will board the Cyclone roller coaster at 8:17pm. At 8:19 the front axle will break, sending them to their tragic demise. A mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell the story of a life interrupted - with the promise of a prize like no other. Ride the Cyclone is a wildly original new musical - part comedy, part tragedy, and wholly unexpected.

YEN
By Anna Jordan
Directed by Trip Cullman
Previews begin February 2, 2017Opening night set for February 21, 2017
Limited engagement through March 12, 2017
At The Lucille Lortel Theatre
121 Christopher Street
Bobbie and Hench are home alone. Days are filled by streaming porn, playing Call of Duty, watching the world go by. Their mom rarely visits these days, and it’s chaos when she does. But when animal-loving neighbor Jenny takes an interest in their dog Taliban, the boys discover a world far beyond what they know. YEN explores a childhood lived without boundaries.
YEN marks playwright Anna Jordan’s MCC debut.  Director Trip Cullman returns to MCC following his OBIE-winning direction of Punk Rock and this season’s highly anticipated A Funny Thing…
THE END OF LONGING
By Matthew Perry
Directed by Lindsay Posner
Previews begin May 18, 2017
Opening night set for June 5, 2017
Limited engagement through June 24, 2017
At The Lucille Lortel Theatre
121 Christopher Street
An alcoholic, an escort, a self-diagnosed neurotic and a well-intentioned dimwit walk into a bar... Broken and deeply flawed, they find their lives irreversibly entwined no matter how hard they try to break free of one another. The End of Longing is a bittersweet comedy that proves that broken people don't need to stay broken.
Iconic “Friends” star Matthew Perry makes his NYC playwriting and stage acting debut with The End of Longing following its hit run at the Playhouse Theatre in London earlier this year.  This marks Perry and director Lindsay Posner’s MCC debuts.




ONGOING OFF BROADWAY:

SLEEP NO MORE
at The McKittrick Hotel
530 W. 27th Street

EMURSIVE (Randy WeinerArthur Karpati, and Jonathan Hochwald, principals) presents Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More at The McKittrick Hotel (530 West 27th Street, New York, NY). 

A legendary hotel.  Shakespeare’s fallen hero.  A film noir shadow of suspense.  Punchdrunk's Sleep No More is an award-winning theatrical experience that tells Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Macbeth through a darkly cinematic lens. Audiences move freely through the epic world of the story at their own pace, choosing where to go and what to see, ensuring that everyone’s journey is different and unique. No one under sixteen will be permitted.

The creative team features Felix Barrett (Direction and Design), Maxine Doyle (Direction and Choreography), Stephen Dobbie (Sound Design), Beatrice Minns (Design Associate), and Livi Vaughan (Design Associate).




PUBLICATIONS:

ON BROADWAY: FROM RENT TO REVOLUTION
By Drew HodgesPublished by Rizzoli

A visual and oral history of the past twenty years of theater, On Broadway pulls back the curtain to reveal the creative process involved in bringing a Broadway show to the stage and into the public consciousness through the words of Broadway’s most famous personalities and the art of SpotCo. The art created for a show provides audiences with a tangible, visual, and emotional connection with the theatrical experience. This collection of hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos, concept art, and posters, as well as personal anecdotes by and with some of Broadway’s most beloved stars, including John LeguizamoBerry GordyAlison BechdelLin-Manuel MirandaMark RuffaloPatrick StewartBernadette PetersJoel GreyHarvey FiersteinStingDolly PartonNeil LaButeCherry Jones, and more serves as the document of record of the shows and performers that have graced New York stages for the past two decades. Stories and art cover working with Jonathan Larson’s family and the producers on the campaign for Rent; Nicole Kidman on her decision to bare all during her photo shoot for The Blue Room; selling the hip-hop Hamilton; and collaborating with the legendary Kander and Ebb on their revival of Chicago, in addition to stories about shows such as Annie Get Your GunYoung FrankensteinFreakAvenue QShrekPippinElaine Stritch: At LibertyGypsy, and Kinky Boots.

NIGHTLIFE:

THE McKITTRICK HOTEL
530 W. 27th Street

The McKittrick Hotel is New York City’s most unique one-stop nightlife destination, featuring:
·         The immersive theater spectacle Sleep No More.
·         The stunning rooftop oasis Gallow Green, a garden bar with expansive views of New York City, specialty cocktails and small plates.
·         The full-service fine dining restaurant The Heath.
·         The wintertime rooftop hideaway The Lodge.
·         The jazz-infused Manderley Bar, which has hosted performances from major recording artists such as John Legend, Pink, Sara Bareilles, Karen O, Wyclef Jean, and Flight of the Concords, to name a few.

The McKittrick is known for hosting some of New York City’s most spectacular parties, including its Halloween and New Year’s Eve soirees as well as its newest creation: Supercinema party experiences, a monthly costumed dance party that immerses guests in the world of a particular film.  Recent installments have celebrated The Wizard of Oz, The Great Gatsby, Alice in Wonderland, and Bond 007.   

For more info, please visit www.mckittrickhotel.com.




RESTAURANTS:

JOE ALLEN / ORSO
326 W. 46th Street / 322 West 46th Street

Since its opening in 1965, Joe Allen has defined the Theater District hang-out.  Now, nearly five decades later, it has become one of the most iconic restaurants in America – serving its renowned, reliable fare against the backdrop of its world famous “flop wall.”  Every day of the week, Joe Allen and its more intimate sister-restaurant, Orso, open their respective doors to a unique mix of the people who attend the theater and those who make it.  At the center of the scene is Joe himself - the omnipresent host of the greatest, longest-running party the theater world has ever known.  Shows come and go, but Joe Allen is forever.

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GALLOW GREEN
a rooftop lounge
at The McKittrick Hotel
542 W. 27th Street

The McKittrick Hotel offers a gorgeous rooftop lounge, Gallow Green, seasonally through November.  This meticulously-designed green space in the heart of Chelsea—steps away from the High Line—features an extensive cocktail and punch menu, vivid scenery, and delicious small plates

Daily service, beginning at 5:00 p.m., offers early guests an after-work or evening/weekend snack & drinks setting which, as the evening progresses, takes on a more vibrant cocktail-nightlife atmosphere.  Reservations nightly for parties of 8 or more are recommended, and can be booked online at www.McKittrickHotel.com or by calling 212-564-1662.  Walk ups are welcome.  Gallow Green is open 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on weeknights, with late night hours on the weekends.

On Saturdays and Sundays, Gallow Green offers its Rooftop Brunch with live music, gorgeous surroundings, and a buffet of sweet and savory brunch favorites.  Included with your reservation is unlimited brunch buffet, one mimosa, freshly brewed coffee, and all soft drinks and juices.  Available for purchase are punch bowls for the table as well as delicious handcrafted cocktails.   

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THE HEATH
a full-service dining experience
at The McKittrick Hotel
542 West 27th Street

The Heath at The McKittrick Hotel is a fine dining experience in the spirit of Sleep No More, with contemporary cuisine inspired by classic American and British fare. Those dining at The Heath can therefore expect hearty cuisine with an ambiance – both on the plate and in the room – as only Punchdrunk—the creators of Sleep No More—could imagine. 

On Friday and Saturday evenings, late night at The Heath turns into a modern speakeasy space with performances from the house band, The Heathens, performing funk-jazz covers of original and classic songs.

The Heath is open beginning at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For reservations, visit www.mckittrickhotel.com, or call (212) 564-1662.




OTHER:

THE ACTORS FUND

The Actors Fund is the national human services organization that helps everyone—
performers and those behind the scenes—who works in performing arts and entertainment. Serving professionals in film, theatre, television, music, opera, radio and dance, The Fund’s programs include social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and employment and training services. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Actors Fund is a safety net for those in need, crisis or transition. Visitwww.actorsfund.org.

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AMERICAN THEATRE WING

The American Theatre Wing (Heather Hitchens, President) is dedicated to advancing artistic excellence and nurturing theatre’s next generation: on the stage, behind the scenes, and in the audience. For nearly a century, the Wing has pursued this mission with programs that span the nation to invest in the growth and evolution of American Theatre. Traditionally, the Wing has encouraged members of the theatre community to share their off-stage time and talent directly with the theatre audience at large--whether it was singing for the troops in the Stage Door Canteen of the 1940's, or sharing their stories on a podcast today.  As the founders of The Tony Awards®, the American Theatre Wing has developed the foremost national platform for the recognition of theatrical achievement on Broadway. Yet the Wing's reach extends beyond Broadway and beyond New York. The Wing develops the next generation of theatre professionals through the SpringboardNYC and Theatre Intern Network programs, incubates innovative theatre across the country through the National Theatre Company Grants, fosters the song of American theatre through the Jonathan Larson Grants, honors the best in New York theatrical design with the Henry Hewes Design Award, and illuminates the creative process through the “Working in the Theatre” program and media archive. Beginning last season, the American Theatre Wing has entered into a long-term partnership with The Village Voice to co-present The Obie Awards, Off Broadway’s Highest Honor. The 61st Annual Obie Awards will be held in May 2016. Visitors to americantheatrewing.org can get inspired and gain insight into the artistic process through the Wing’s extensive media collection, and learn more about its programming for students, aspiring and working professionals, and audiences.


NEW YORK STAGE AND FILM

New York Stage and Film (Johanna Pfaelzer, Artistic Director; Thomas Pearson, Executive Director; Mark Linn-Baker, Max Mayer, Leslie Urdang, Producing Directors)  is a not-for-profit company dedicated to both emerging and established artists in the development of new works for theater and film. Since 1985 New York Stage and Film has played a significant role in the development of new plays, provided a home for a diverse group of artists free from critical and commercial pressures, and established itself as a vital cultural institution for residents of the Hudson Valley and the New York metropolitan region www.newyorkstageandfilm.org

New York Stage and Film will hold its Annual Winter Gala on Sunday, December 4, 2016 at The Plaza.  This year’s honorees will be announced shortly.

Now in its 32nd year, Powerhouse Theater is a collaboration between New York Stage and Film and Vassar College dedicated to both emerging and established artists in the development and production of new works for theater and film.  Recent highlights from this celebrated play and musical development program include the recent Tony® winners for Best Musical and Best Play, Hamilton and The Humans, which both had early development workshops at Powerhouse.

The Powerhouse program consists of an eight-week residency on the Vassar campus during which more than 250 professional artists and 40 participants in the Powerhouse Training Program live and work together to create new theater works. Recent highlights at Powerhouse include Bright Star, an original musical from Steve Martin and Edie Brickell; The Fortress of Solitude, Itamar Moses, Michael Friedman and Daniel Aukin’s musical adaptation of the best-selling novel by Jonathan Lethem, and Richard Greenberg’s The Babylon Line.  Many additional shows from past seasons have found their way to Broadway, Off-Broadway, and theaters nationwide, including Stephen Karam’s Sons of the ProphetThe Invisible Hand by Ayad Akhtar (NYTW), Found by Hunter Bell, Lee Overtree and Eli Bolin (Atlantic Theater Co), Michael Mayer and Peter Lerman’s Brooklynite (Vineyard Theater), Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash’s Murder Ballad (Manhattan Theater Club); and Pulitzer finalist Nathan Englander’s The Twenty-Seventh Man (The Public Theater; Old Globe Theater);.  Other projects developed at the Powerhouse include the Tony Award-winning Side Man and Tru; the multi-award-winning Doubt by John Patrick Shanley; the groundbreaking Broadway musical American Idiot, and A Steady Rain, produced on Broadway in 2009 with Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig. 

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TARGET MARGIN THEATER
www.TargetMargin.org

Target Margin Theater was founded in 1991 by Artistic Director David Herskovits. For 24 years Target Margin has been praised for their aggressive interpretations of classic texts, lesser-known works, and new plays inspired by existing sources. TMT has presented ambitious re-thinkings of plays by Shakespeare, Chekov, Brecht, Gertrude Stein, and Beaumarchais, among others. TMT has also created original works and new music / opera over the years and has served over 1,000 artists (mostly emerging) through its annual LAB. In addition, TMT is committed to nurturing the creative aspirations of the next generation of theater makers in the TMT Institute, our yearlong fellowship program. The company’s artistic and cultural vision has resulted in 40 Mainstage productions including 11 world premieres, 8 company-created works, 3 U.S. premieres and 5 new translations, which have garnered 4 OBIE Awards and employed over 500 Equity actors and hundreds of other theater artists. The company’s production of Mamba’s Daughters received an OBIE Award, and their epic 2004-06 production of Goethe’s Faust received extensive critical acclaim. Recent productions include Uncle Vanyaand The Tempest at HERE, Uriel Acosta: I Want That Man! at The Chocolate Factory, Composition…Master-Pieces…Identity, a new solo performance piece from OBIE Award-winner David Greenspan at The Connelly Theater, Reread Anotherat The Brick, called “something kind of wonderful” by Ben Brantley in The New York Times, and, most recently, The Iceman Labs, a radical new reimaging of The Iceman Cometh, with four diverse theater artists each tackling a separate act of the play.

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TODAYTIX
www.TodayTix.com


TodayTix (Merritt Baer, CEO & Co-Founder; Brian Fenty, Executive Chairman & Co-Founder) is the first and only free mobile app for iOS and Android that provides access to the best prices on last-minute theater tickets, booked same-day or within a week’s time. Operating in the world’s most iconic theater markets, TodayTix secures the best discounted and full price tickets available for more than 100 shows on Broadway and Off-Broadway in New York City, London’s West End, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington, D.C.
TodayTix aims to make theater a readily-available and exciting option for everyone. Through its personalized, intuitive and easy-to-use service, TodayTix delivers an efficient, affordable and reliable user experience for theatergoers around the world.
Life-long friends and former Broadway producers Merritt Baer and Brian Fenty launched TodayTix in New York City in December 2013. The company has partnerships with many New York institutions, including The Public Theater, Roundabout Theater Company, Blue Man GroupStomp, St. Ann’s Warehouse, MSG Entertainment, Atlantic Theater Company, Labyrinth Theater Company, New York City Center, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Metropolitan Opera, and more. The TodayTix app launched in London’s West End, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington, D.C. in 2015, and is currently in beta in Los Angeles and Chicago.
TodayTix launched New York’s first mobile lottery in 2014, and has partnered with The Public Theater on its Free First Previews initiative, The Atlantic Theatre Company on its TodayTix30 initiative, and The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s £15 Front Row initiative. TodayTix has also launched daily mobile lotteries for Atlantic Theater Company’s Threepenny Opera and Found, The Public Theater’s HamiltonGrounded, Shakespeare in the Park, and Eclipsed, Broadway’s On The TownFun Home, and An Act of God, and The West End’s Kinky Boots.


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News from Richard Hillman PR

SECOND EXTENSION ANNOUNCED
NEW BLOCK OF TICKETS
NOW ON SALE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 29
O N E   F U N N Y   M O T H E R
THE HILARIOUS SOLO COMEDY SHOW
WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY COMEDIAN DENA BLIZZARD
AT NEW WORLD STAGES.

The producers of the hilarious Off-Broadway solo comedy, One Funny Mother, written, performed and starring comedian Dena Blizzard, announced today that a new block of tickets has just gone on sale for performances through September 29, 2016 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues) where performances began March 30, 2016.

One Funny Mother is dedicated to helping bring humor back to Motherhood and no one needs that more than parents of children with Special Needs and Learning Disabilities, like Dena’s daughter, Brooke, who has struggled with ADHD, learning disabilities and immobilizing anxiety. One Funny Mother is a great night out that focuses on laughing your way through parenthood, changing perspectives and encouraging parents to share their stories of failure so we all feel a little bit more normal.  For additional information, please visitwww.OneFunnyMother.com

One Funny Mother plays the following performance schedule: Thursdays at 7:00pm and Saturdays at 8:00pm.

Tickets for One Funny Mother are priced at $65 and may be purchased by calling Telecharge (212) 239-6200, or by visitingTelecharge.com.  For additional information please visit the website at www.onefunnymother.com.
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And that's the scoop. Tune in tomorrow for another Talking Topic.
 


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