Posts

Showing posts from April, 2020

News: "Desperately Seeking the Exit: Online Live” Adds Additional Online Live Performance May 2

Image
Photo credit: David Rodgers After selling out the first three weeks of live streams of  Desperately Seeking the Exit Uncut & Online , Peter Michael Marino once again shares the notorious tale of the making and unmaking of his West End-Blondie-Madonna musical  Desperately Seeking Susan  on May 2nd at 6:30 pm. 20% of the proceeds will go to the Pittsburgh Fringe, which has moved to a digital platform in the wake of the pandemic. In 2007, American actor/writer Peter Michael Marino wrote a musical based on the Madonna film  Desperately Seeking Susan  featuring the hit songs of Blondie. It opened on London’s West End…and closed a month later. Whoops! This high-octane, comical solo train ride fills in the blanks of how the $6 million musical was made and unmade. From hatching the idea, to deals with producers, MGM, Debbie Harry, and even Madonna...all the way to thrilling workshops, dangerous previews, scathing reviews, closing night, and beyond. Experience this notorious award-win

News: Beat by Beat Press Releases a Virtual Children's Musical Written to be Rehearsed and Performed Remotely

Image
The YEM Theatre School  - First Show Meeting (Farnborough, UK). Image courtesy Michelle Tabnick PR As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Beat by Beat Press has introduced the world's first virtual children's musical, The Show Must Go Online! , created in less than three weeks with the goal of helping theater groups continue to perform in these times of social distance. In this first-of-its kind production, up to 20 young actors receive a one- to two-minute scene/song to rehearse, video record, and upload. When the videos are played in order, they tell the hilarious story of a group of passionate students desperate to keep their annual musical alive...online. "It broke our hearts to hear that so many theatre performances had to be postponed or cancelled," said Denver Casado, founder of Beat by Beat Press. "This means that thousands of young actors out there won't get a chance to take to the stage in person and together. We wrote this musical as a way

Review: Gather 'Round for "Story Time with Joey Rinaldi"

Image
Story Time with Joey Rinaldi Written and performed by Joey Rinaldi Available to stream through May 9, 2020: Watch here Cost: $5 Photo by Aliya Schneider Storytelling and comedy suit the shift to streaming performances necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic particularly well. Enter comedian Joey Rinaldi's solo show Story Time with Joey Rinaldi . Rinaldi has created and performed two previous one-man shows— Potty Training , which played at The PIT in 2017, and Picture Everybody Naked , which played at The Kraine in 2019—and serves as creator of the YouTube comedy sketch channel Dirty Laundry Videos and co-creator and host of the underground pop-up comedy show The Manifest Show . He has appeared at an international selection of comedy and theater festivals and now brings Story Time with Joey Rinaldi , winner of Best Comedy at NYC's FRIGID Festival 2020, to your home. Says Rinaldi of Story Time , “I wanted to give audiences the chance to forget their own childhood tra

News: Storytelling Show RISK! Announces Fourth Livestream 4/25 @ 8PM

Image
Image courtesy Dumb Productions, Inc. With all live entertainment moving exclusively online over the past month, RISK! , the live show and podcast where people tell true stories they never thought they’d dare to share, has been producing a series of critically-acclaimed livestream events. The next RISK! livestream goes down this Saturday, April 25 at 8pm EDT / 5pm PDT. Tickets are on sale for just $12. March's inaugural livestream RISK! show, hosted by Kevin Allison (MTV’s The State ) was unanimously praised by fans and press, with Forbes describing it as, “[having] a beautiful intimate feel that you wouldn’t get from watching it on stage,” and Bello Collective saying , “at the end of the evening, I felt close to everyone, no matter how far apart we all were." Anyone can register for and watch this show from anywhere in the world. Please spread the word to all your friends around the world who might want to come. This show will be broadcast via a webinar format on 

News: EPIC Players Inclusion Company Begins Virtual Performance Series

Image
On April 6, EPIC Players Inclusion Company  - a neuro-diverse theater company based in New York City the name of which stands for empower, perform, include and create - was scheduled to sing at Lincoln Center's Clark Theater in honor of Autism Acceptance Month. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the performance and their upcoming season have been put on hold. Individuals living with autism and other neuro-diversities have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shuttered many of their essential resources, programs, and supports and left them even more vulnerable to anxiety and distress. In an effort to spread some much-needed joy and inspiration, EPIC's company members, which feature artists on the spectrum, will share a series of virtual performances throughout the spring. Many of the videos will be in collaboration with Broadway talent. The company would also like to connect with additional Broadway talent who may be interested in working on a virtu

News: Virtual Vogue Dance Class with Ballroom Legend Omari Wiles April 24

Image
Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, will present a virtual Vogue Dance Class with Ballroom Legend Omari Wiles on Friday, April 24, 2020 at 6:30pm. Details are available here. In 1990, the documentary Paris Is Burning was released to critical acclaim. The film chronicled New York City Drag Balls, Ball culture, and Voguing in the 1980s, capturing the elaborately structured Ball competitions and showcasing rival houses. Beyond the Ballroom, each house served as surrogate families for young Ball-walkers who faced rejection from their biological families for their gender expression and sexual orientation. The Voguing that took place at these Balls has entered mainstream culture in the years since, serving as a touch point for a multi-leveled exploration of a queer African-American and Latino subculture. To celebrate its 30th anniversary and to pay homage to Paris Is Burning , in the fall, Omari Wiles, founding father of the House of Oricci, will present

News: Lisa Levy Announces "Stoned Therapy with Dr. Lisa" Livestream Event for 4/20

Image
Lisa Levy. Courtesy Dumb Productions Since 2015, Lisa Levy, the Brooklyn-based painter, conceptual artist, and comedian has been the host of Dr. Lisa Gives A Sh*t , a weekly radio show that broadcasts live from nonprofit freeform radio station Radio Free Brooklyn every Thursday from 2-3pm EDT. On the show, Levy portrays Dr. Lisa, S.P. (self-proclaimed), who has psychoanalyzed many comedians from the NYC comedy scene, plus celebrities like Joseph Gordon Levitt and Michael Musto during live performances. However, like many in the entertainment industry at the moment, the recent COVID-19 outbreak has caused Levy to pivot her celebration, and production of the show entirely. “I switched to recording on Zoom and using it to pre-record for my regular slot,” explains Levy. “The dynamic works well and the shows have been great. I’m looking forward to returning to live broadcasts in the studio when we are past all this, though.” Levy, who made a memorable appearance on a “Stupid Pet Tr

News: Works & Process at the Guggenheim Announces Virtual Commissions; Begins 4/19

Image
Chris Celiz. Courtesy Michelle Tabnick PR To financially support artists and nurture their creative process during these challenging times, Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, has announced Works & Process Virtual Commissions. With the generosity of the board, Works & Process will grant $40,000 in commissioning funds to artists who have been featured at Works & Process. Artists from a wide variety of genres have been commissioned to create new works, less than 5 minutes long, while observing social distancing guidelines, that will premiere on Facebook , Instagram and YouTube (@worksandprocess) every Sunday and Monday at 7:30pm starting on April 19 . Confirmed Commissioned Artists Evita Arce * Ephrat Asherie * Brandon Stirling Baker * LaTasha Barnes * Hope Boykin * Brian Brooks * Rena Butler * Chris Celiz * Anthony Roth Costanzo * Dylan Crossman * Machine Dazzle * Michelle Dorrance * Tom Gold * John Heginbotham * Michael R. Jackson * J

News: TRU Presents Panel via Zoom: "Solo Strategies: Finding Your Story (and the People Who'll Want to Hear It)" on 4/21

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) will present its April panel "Solo Strategies: Finding Your Story (and the People Who'll Want to Hear It)" on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 via Zoom. Networking begins at 7pm, and the panel starts at 7:30pm. Reserve a spot on the event page at https://truonline.org/events/solo-strategies/ or by emailing TRUStaff1@gmail.com , and you will be put on a list to receive the Zoom link. Bob Ost, executive director of TRU, says, "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all TRU live events are being rescheduled while we wait for the all clear. To help bridge the gap of social distancing, this panel will be held virtually via Zoom. Email TRUStaff1@gmail.com to be added to the invitation list and join our community. Stay positive, test negative, be safe!" In this time of required isolation, solo performance is uniquely positioned for effective virtual presentation. Solo performance guru and writer/director Gretchen Cryer will guide audiences through the

News: Livestreamed "Days of Possibilities" Commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Kent State Shootings May 4th

Image
Days of Possibilities , a play by Rich Orloff, will be livestreamed as a nationwide on-line theater event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Kent State University shootings. The live-streamed event will take place on Monday, May 4, 2020, with NYC-based streaming at 7pm. Viewers should check the website for details of other participating theaters. Rich Orloff.  May 4 marks the 50th anniversary of the shootings at Kent State University, one of the most tragic events in the history of anti-Vietnam War protests, when four unarmed students were killed by the National Guard. To commemorate this occasion, theaters around the country will live-stream locally produced Zoom performances of Rich Orloff ’s Days of Possibilities , a documentary-style play based on true stories of Vietnam-era college students. The project was initiated by the author in collaboration with the NYC-based New Circle Theatre Company , which will present its online production, featuring over 20 performers

News: The Farm Theater To Present Livestream Performance of "The Hierarchy of Fish" April 19th

Image
Photo provided by Emily Owens PR The Hierarchy of Fish Written by Judith Leora  Directed by Scott Hudson Performed by Students at Shenandoah University SUNDAY, APRIL 19 @ 7PM The Farm Theater will present a livestream performance of The Hierarchy of Fish , written by Judith Leora and directed by Scott Hudson, as part of The Farm’s College Collaboration Project with Shenandoah University. The livestream will be presented on Sunday, April 19 at 7pm on The Farm Theater’s Facebook page . The College Collaboration Project has multiple schools commission an early career playwright to write a play that each school will independently produce throughout the academic year. The faculty, students, and playwright collaborate throughout the year in the development of the text. The script will be a full-length play with a minimum of five characters. The majority of the characters will be under thirty years of age so that undergraduate actors can successfully play the roles. The play will reflec

News: Online Interactive Family Comedy "Show Up, Kids! Online Live!” April 15-18 at 4pm EST

Image
Photo credit: Mikiodo Peter Michael Marino is bringing his popular stage show Show Up, Kids! to your computer in Show Up, Kids! Online Live! , with live, interactive performances from April 15-18 at 4:00 p.m. EST. Kids from all over the world will feel like they're a part of this groundbreaking interactive live event as they hear their names, offer story suggestions, and are called on to help Pete to put on a real live show.  This interactive, semi-improvised family show for kids 3-10 years old puts a wildly comedic twist on the traditional kids’ show. When the main attraction doesn’t show up, Pete enlists the help of the kids to provide prompts and control everything from plot to props, characters to costumes, and settings to sound in a one-of-a-kind, 50-minute laugh-fest. Says Pete, “As soon as lockdown began, we began adapting the show for the screen so it would replicate the same interactive, communal feeling of the stage show. In this digital version, the kids get

News: Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company Announces Free Online Company Classes Weekdays at Noon

Image
Photo courtesy Michelle Tabnick PR In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company keeps its dancers in shape by conducting regular Company Classes online from Nai-Ni and Company dancers' living rooms using Zoom. After a few weeks, Company members and Nai-Ni invited former dancers of the Company and friends to join through Zoom. At the same time, company dancers translated their online dance teaching skills to serve K-12 students and students with disabilities in underserved communities, in an attempt to bring them hope and joy in their confined environment. With a company rooted deeply in diversity and committed to the dancer's artistic journey, Nai-Ni Chen began inviting her friends, both the world renowned and the up-and-coming dancers and choreographers, to teach the Company class. The response has been extremely positive, especially in a time when the Asian American community is experiencing racism and hate. Now, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company

News: Parallel Exit Presents Edition of Physical Theater Series MOVE IT! Via Streaming

Image
Photo by Jim Moore Parallel Exit is presenting an at-home edition of its annual free physical theater performance series MOVE IT! While normally performed in a live setting, this year's edition is presented through a video showcasing some of Parallel Exit's colleagues working in physical theater, dance-theater, mime, puppetry, circus, and variety. MOVE IT! is the only performance series dedicated to physical theater in New York City. The purpose of the series is to elevate the public profile of physical and visual theater, featuring a free and accessible evening of short works from New York City physical and visual theater artists. Mark Lonergan, Artistic Director of Parallel Exit, chooses artists that represent the widest possible range in the field - mime, dance-theater, puppetry, vaudeville, circus - to offer our audience a rich and diverse evening of performances. The series has presented over 70 artists and companies, showcasing their work and building a larger audien

News: "Desperately Seeking the Exit Uncut & Online" US/UK Easter Brunch Live Stream Matinee Sunday, April 12

Image
Photo credit: David Rodgers Peter Michael Marino will once again share  Desperately Seeking the Exit Uncut & Online ,   the notorious tale of the making and unmaking of his West End-Blondie-Madonna musical  Desperately Seeking Susan  - on your computer. This 90-minute live-streaming event will include a live performance of the award winning tale, plus bonus footage from the actual West End and Tokyo productions, and how the film scenes were adapted for the stage. In 2007, American actor/writer Peter Michael Marino wrote a musical based on the Madonna film Desperately Seeking Susan , featuring the hit songs of Blondie. It opened on London’s West End…and closed a month later. Whoops! This high-octane, comical solo train ride fills in the blanks of how the $6 million musical was made and unmade. From hatching the idea; to deals with producers, MGM, Debbie Harry, and even Madonna; all the way to thrilling workshops, dangerous previews, scathing reviews, closing night, and beyond.

News: Performance of "Pananadem (Remembering)" at La MaMa Available to Stream

Image
Photo by Josef Pinlac La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club is offering a performance of Pananadem (Remembering) , by Kinding Sindaw, via live-stream on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network. The New York Premiere of Kinding Sindaw Melayu Heritage's Pananadem (Remembering)   took place on March 12, 2020 at 7pm at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, 66 E. 4th Street (2nd Floor), NYC. The performance run was cut short due to COVID-19. Pananadem means "remembering" in the language of the Meranao people. It is a way of looking back across time, to gain inspiration and perspective from one's ancestors. In this tale, old and new align as a young group of refugees whose quest for inspiration leads them to a transformative encounter with displaced tradition-bearers who recall the legends of Derangen, the Meranao epic. Creator and director Potri Ranka Manis was born in Borocot, Maging in Mindanao, Philippines. She grew up in this remote village, one o

News: The Wild Project Teams with Thirdwing to Offer "The Female Genius" Online

Image
Krysten Wagner and Meghan E Jones. Courtesy Karen Greco PR Thirdwing, a digital theater company designed to develop plays directly for streaming as well as for the live stage, launched just before massive closures due to COVID-19. This meant that Thirdwing’s first live stage offering, Rachel Carey’s The Female Genius , running from April 14 – April 18 at The Wild Project in NYC, was canceled. The Wild Project, like many independent New York theaters, is bracing for the impact of the current crisis. But because of the way Thirdwing is designed, they can still offer access to the show they had scheduled. Thirdwing is partnering with The Wild Project to release one episode each night of its scheduled run starting on April 14th. Half of all yearly streaming memberships will go directly to support The Wild Project. Those using the discount code WILD will get 10% off monthly subscriptions ($36 a year or $3.59/ mo), with all proceeds going to The Wild Project for 6 months. Audiences ca

News: Tonight (4/4) Only: Virtual Screening of "(W/HOLE)" by AORTA Films in celebration of the EstroGenius Festival's 20th Anniversary

Image
Photo courtesy Michelle Tabnick PR The EstroGenius Festival presents a one-night-only virtual screening of the award-winning (W/HOLE) by AORTA Films on Saturday, April 4, 2020 at 8pm. This screening is part of Estro on Film, a one-time, special event series created for these #stayhome times. (W/HOLE) is an evening-length film created by queer/feminist porn collective AORTA films in collaboration with performance company the A.O. Movement Collective , exploring the incredible potency of queer hedonism, specifically how the authentic performativity of kink and queer porn can evolve trauma into orgasm and grief into politically radical, transformative, body-based joy. This work aims to negotiate pornographic embodiment as an anti-oppressive, trans-inclusive feminist practice rooted in femme caretaking and risk and contextualizes itself as a choreographic process. (W/HOLE) investigates the complexity of pleasure, exploring the so-called obscenity of bodies in their most tremendou

News: World Premiere of Podcast Version of Post-Apocalyptic Musical "Bleeding Love"

Image
Image courtesy Kampfire PR The Broadway Podcast Network, Tony award-winner Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales, in association with Steve Saporito, Kent Nicholson, and Katie Rosin, have announced the world premiere of the podcast version of  post-apocalyptic musical Bleeding Love (book by Jason Schafer, music by Arthur LaFrentz Bacon, lyrics by Harris Doran, and directed and edited by Harris Doran).  Bleeding Love is based on a story by Jason Schafer that was suggested by Oscar Wilde's “The Nightingale and the Rose,” and it stars Annie Golden, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Marc Kudisch, Sarah Stiles (the voice of Spinel in Steven Universe: The Movie , whom these editors were lucky enough to see at NY Comic-Con last fall), Taylor Trensch, and Tony Vincent Bleeding Love is being recorded for a release later next month, and it takes place in a world that is too dangerous to go outside, where a starry-eyed teen cellist risks leaving her apartment to win the love of the rebel punk next door.