ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, the Tony-nominated Broadway musical, tells the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., a world-class con artist who passed himself off as a doctor, a lawyer and a jet pilot all before the age of 21. With straight-arrow FBI agent Carl Hanratty on Frank's trail, it's a jet-setting, cat-and-mouse chase as a jazzy, swinging-sixties score keeps this adventure in constant motion. In the end, Agent Hanratty learns he and Frank aren't so different after all, and Frank finds out what happens when love catches up to a man on the run.

Based on the book and hit 2002 DreamWorks film of the same name directed by Stephen Spielberg with screenplay by Jeff Nathanson and book by Frank Abagnale, Jr., CATCH ME IF YOU CAN has some truly standout performances.

Fast-rising Broadway headliner AARON TVEIT (Next to Normal, Wicked) stars as Frank W. Abagnale, Jr., a teenager who runs away from home in search of the glamorous life. With nothing more than a boyish charm, a big imagination, strapping good looks and millions of dollars in forged checks, Frank lives the high life and wins the heart of nurse Brenda Strong, the girl of his dreams (played by Tony® nominee KERRY BUTLER (Xanadu, Hairspray). Tony winner and Broadway fave NORBERT LEO BUTZ (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Wicked) plays Carl Hanratty, the dogged FBI agent who chases Frank to the end and finds something he never expected. And Tony nominee TOM WOPAT (Annie Get Your Gun, Chicago) returns to Broadway as Frank, Sr., who sees his dreams of making it big lived out in his son's fantastic adventures.

The cast of showgirls and others includes Joe Cassidy, Timothy McCuen Piggee, Brandon Wardell, Jennifer Frankel, Lisa Gajda, Bob Gaynor, Kearran Giovanni, Nick Kenkel, Grasan Kingsberry, Aleks Pevec, Kristin Piro, Rachelle Rak (a knockout who I've long enjoyed in various shows), Joe Aaron Reid, Angie Schworer, Sabrina Sloan, Sarrah Strimel and Katie Webber.

This was the first Broadway musical we took my son (age 8) to see, and it was a treat to experience it through his eyes.  It was right up his alley, given his love of everything rescue or security-related, including an intrigue with the FBI.  He was especially interested to hear that this is a true story and that Abagnale Jr. went on to work for the FBI and the very man who arrested him.  He would have loved a car chase or two, but enjoyed the gun shooting action and aisle chases.   

Butz is one of my favorite Broadway performers, and he delivers in CATCH ME.  In "Don't Break the Rules," he transforms his stellar voice and mannerisms to reflect a weather-beaten guy FBI agent, and it's a showstopper. He's such a talent, and if you're not familiar with his work, this is an excellent opportunity to see him in rare form, though I would have liked more.

ACT II was great.  Linda Hart as Carol Strong (Brenda's mother) offered winning comic relief when Frank meets Brenda's parents, and Kerry Butler blew it out of the park with "Fly, Fly, Away."   I would have welcomed more of her as well.  "Our Family Tree" was delightful, and Tveit showed off his pipes to their utmost with "Good-Bye." 

I wasn't enamored with the orchestra being visible at times on the stage, though the concept of Abagnale Jr.'s life being one big show had validity.  It just felt like I was watching two shows in one, and my preference was the less glammed up version.

CATCH ME features a Tony Award-winning team with a book by TERRENCE McNALLY (The Full Monty, Ragtime), a score by MARC SHAIMAN and SCOTT WITTMAN (Hairspray), choreography by JERRY MITCHELL (Hairspray, Legally Blonde) and direction by JACK O'BRIEN (Hairspray, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). 

Scenic design is by David Rockwell (Hairspray), costume design is by five-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long (The Producers), lighting design is by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Wicked) and sound design is by Drama Desk winner Steve Kennedy (Jersey Boys).

The set and staging were well done, and overall, it's an enjoyable theatre experience.  I look forward to sharing future Broadway shows with my son, and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN got us off to a good start.  

DISCOUNT OFFER
SAVE OVER 40%
GET TICKETS FOR JUST:
$65* $77*
(Mid Mezz) (Orch/Front Mezz)
(Reg. $92-$137 – SAVE OVER 40%!)

CLICK HERE: http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1515546?
Or call 877-250-2929 and use code MHOOD1
Or, bring a print out of this offer to the Neil Simon Theatre box office,
250 W. 52nd Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue).

Box Office Hours:
Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 12pm-6pm

Performance Schedule:
Tues 7pm, Wed-Sat 8pm, Wed and Sat 2pm, Sun 3pm

CLICK HERE for tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/030045549CFD747D?artistid=1515546&majorcatid=10002&minorcatid=207

CLICK HERE for a sneak peek: http://catchmethemusical.com/video.html
Visit http://www.catchmethemusical.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/catchmethemusical
Twitter: http://twitter.com/catchmemusical
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/catchmethemusical

*Offer valid for all performances through 7/31/11. All prices include a $2.00 facility fee. Limit 8 tickets per order. Offer subject to availability and prior sale. All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges. Telephone and Internet orders are subject to standard service fees. Offer may be revoked or modified at any time without notice.

Our NYC Adventure by Robin Gorman Newman

                                                           (Rockefeller Center)

What a fabulous holiday week we had.

Originally, when I knew that Seth would be off from school for over a week, I cringed.  We didn't have any particular plans (many of his friends went away, so play dates weren't an option), and in light of the impending snow storm, getting around via car wasn't going to be easy.

So, I came up with the idea of spending two nights in NYC.  I spent days making calls and combing the web for room availability at a half way decent price.  Just when I thought things were not meant to be, I turned up a comfortable Jr. Suite at the hip and welcoming Roger Smith Hotel (a good choice.....would love to stay again one day) on 48th and Lexington, and our plans started falling into place.  That was until I came down with a bad cold, and NY got hit with one of the worst blizzards in years.  I debated what to do, but the room was non-refundable, and we were so psyched to be in Manhattan, that we went for it....and it turned out to be a great decision.

My sister, who lives in the city, met us upon arrival at the hotel, and we later hooked up with my good friend Alli who also spent the two nights with us....crashing on the queen pullout sofa bed with Seth.  Marc joined us for dinner and slept in the room, but was otherwise working.

I've stayed in the city before, though it has been some time.  Seth had not as yet stayed in the city.  And, Alli, used to live in the city years ago, but hadn't stayed recently.

It proved to be an adventure for all of us.  We covered a huge amount of territory, and thankfully had good boots that helped do the trick.  Manhattan was indeed a mess.  Mounds and mounds of snow.  Flooding on street corners covered in slush up to your ankles.  Crowds of people from all over who flocked there for both the holiday and new year. 

Despite the challenges, there was an energy that was contagious, and it felt good.

(Inside THE RIDE bus with host Jackie)

The first day, we headed over the Rockefeller Center to see the tree and ice skating.  Then took in the Nintendo and Lego stores, at Seth's request.  We had not bad fast food Indian for lunch in the area and wandered over to Bryant Park.  Had never seen their ice skating rink before (quite beautiful...and free), and the outdoor (heated) shops were still open from the holidays, and lots of fun to peruse.  Seth adored Times Square and all the touristy shops selling NYPD and FDNY merchandise...his favorite.  And, there were loads of fire trucks and police cars around in general, due to the messy and congested state of the city, and Seth got a kick out of all the commotion.  At 6PM, we took THE RIDE, and it was loads of interactive fun and a unique experience....chockful of jokes, singing, doing the wave, sightseeing and more.

THE RIDE’s specially-designed custom vehicles are the tallest allowed by federal law on city streets. The bus is fitted with stadium-style seating that orients riders sidways to look through massive windows, and two on-board hosts banter comedically as they travel through the streets of midtown Manhattan, commenting on New York’s history and its iconic sites and structures, and giving insider secrets about the city – all while incorporating actors and performers along the route who interact with the vehicle and its passengers. External speakers and exterior lighting allow the on-board hosts to make everyone on the street part of the experience. Surprises show up all along the route, featuring sites from the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Terminal to Times Square and Columbus Circle.

A full schedule for THE RIDE is available at experiencetheride.com. Tickets are on sale now, available three ways: online at experiencetheride.com; by phone at (866) 299-9682; and in person at THE RIDE Box office located at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel, 1535 Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets. To save $5/ticket, use the code RCGD when ordering.

Our dinner spot after THE RIDE was the nearby Havana Central.  Good, well-priced Cuban food. 

(Seth outside Pee Herman on Broadway)

Day #2 - We ate at our new favorite local coffee shop/restaurant Raffles (the best grilled turkey/swiss), hit Daffy's for some quick discount shopping, popped into the campy Pop Tarts World store on 42nd Street and swung over to the Stephen Sondheim Theatre to see Pee Herman on Broadway.  Total fun!  Pee Wee is a hoot.  You either love him or find him annoying...but I get a kick out of him....as do many, clearly.  He had tons of groupies, and the audience was just as many, if not more adults, than kids.  The set was detailed and vibrant, and the show was well put together.  It was Seth's first Broadway experience, and I was excited to share it with him.  We then paraded up Fifth Avenue to check out all the illuminated holiday store windows (Sak's was a standout) , swung down 57th Street (saw the huge hanging Swarovski crystal), hit Borders and Bloomingdale's, and met Marc for Greek food. at Avra (pricey, but good, if even just for appetizers).

        (Seth creating at Scribble Press)

Day #3 - Brunch again at Raffles, then the subway up to 86th Street.  Shopped around, and had lunch at the trendy Shake Shack.  Alli said the burger was very good.  I enjoyed something called Concrete.....dense blended frozen chocolate custard packed with brownie chunks.  And, Seth liked his chocolate shake.  Shopped briefly around upscale Madison Avenue, then hit Scribble Press, the "make-your-own-book" store on the upper east side.  Scribble Press is fun for adults and kids. There are two NYC locations and one in CA.  They host workshops, parties, and you can just drop in and create a book that gets printed/bound on the spot (allow 1/2 hour for that, and be conscious of closing time).  They also sell some unique, affordable gift items, including an at-home book creating kit.  Definitely worth a visit.

Hated to see our city sojourn come to an end.  It taught me that you don't have to travel far to have fun.  You can find it, or even create it, in your own backyard, if you take the time.  Folks have asked me how I knew what to do in the city.  It's not hard to find out.  One source I like a lot is the magazine TIME OUT NY KIDS. I'm an avid subscriber, and often their ads feature discount offers, so a good monthly publication to read.

I look forward to future stays in the city with Seth, and we're considering tackling downtown during his February school break.  There are more Manhattan adventures for the taking, and I'm grateful for the quality time we get to spend when he's off from school.

JAMIE LEVINE’S SHOW REVIEW: Freckleface Strawberry: The Musical

Almost four years ago, when I was eight months-pregnant with Jayda, and still working as the children’s book buyer for Barnes&Noble.com, I was invited to a lunch with the actress Julianne Moore, who was promoting her soon-to-be-published first picture book, Freckleface Strawberry. As I hobbled into the restaurant on a cane (I was suffering from the intense pain of pregnancy-induced sciatica), with my bulging belly in plain view, Ms. Moore graciously greeted me and thanked me profusely for coming to meet her in my state—and then we bonded over lunch, sharing our pregnancy stories and her lovely anecdotes about motherhood.

This down-to-earth celebrity impressed me with her warmth—as well as with the premise of her delightful picture book, and I bought quite a few copies of it to promote on my site. So, when I was recently given the opportunity to take my daughter, Jayda, to see the new off-Broadway musical based on Moore’s Freckleface Strawberry book, I jumped at the chance. Both Jayda and I were rewarded with a thoroughly entertaining afternoon at the theater.

The star of the show is Hayley Podschun, who charmingly portrays Strawberry, a seven-year-old girl who is constantly teased by her schoolmates for having bright red hair and freckles. Hayley accurately captures the gawky self-consciousness of a young girl, and her opening song, “Look at Me,” will capture the heart of anyone who has ever felt different or inadequate as a child. The show follows Strawberry as she attempts to scrub away, bleach, and put make-up over her freckles—and finally resorts to hiding behind a ski mask. Along the way, she bonds with a seemingly-perfect ballerina, who admits to Strawberry that she has no friends, and delivers a message that nobody’s life is perfect—and we all have challenges to overcome. And with the help of her loveable schoolmates—a hunky jock, a loveable ditz, and two nerdy brains—who ultimately show Strawberry that they love her simply for who she is underneath the freckles and red hair, Strawberry learns that everyone is different—and that's what makes everyone special!

Seventy-minutes long—the perfect length for my easily-distracted kid—and filled with inspiring songs like “I Can Be Anything” and “Be Yourself,” Freckleface Strawberry is both a lively, entertaining musical, and an encouraging boost to any kid's self-confidence. I’m so happy Jayda and I were able to join Strawberry on her journey of self-discovery, as she learned to love the skin that she’s in, and highly recommend that everyone—with freckles or without!—does, too.

Freckleface Strawberry plays New World Stages/Stage 4 at 340 W. 50th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Ticket prices range $39-$68.50. Tickets are available at Telecharge.com or call (212) 239-6200 or visit the New World Stages box office. For more information, visit http://www.frecklefacethemusical.com./

Visiting New York - by Laura

Here are some tips for friends and family who are coming to visit our family here in New York City this summer:

First off, we don’t have a car. We walk everywhere or take the subway, and when we shop we buy only what we can carry or stash in the bottom of the stroller. And whereas it’s nice to hear about all the stuff you can fit in your SUV when you shop at Costco, Wal-mart and K-Mart, that’s not a reality here on the island. What is a reality is that we do pay more for everyday items, but we don’t like to talk about it for half an hour with you even after you’ve posted on Facebook how expensive paper towels are here.

New York City is a totally different lifestyle, so our conversations are vary from those you might be used to in the Midwestern suburbs. It may be fascinating to you to talk about resealing your driveway, to discuss why Budweiser is the king of beers, or to debate about which Lion’s Club will win the chili cookoff, but for this audience it might be a challenge to stay engaged. The bartender is not being rude. It’s just not relevant. Also, please don’t compare New York’s cost of living to your cost of living. We know we’re paying a lot in rent for very small spaces, but hearing that we can live in a mansion in Chickenville, Arkansas, for these prices doesn’t mean anything to us. Plus, there’s a reason real estate is affordable in Chickenville. Nobody wants to live there, and the Broadway productions suck.

No. Having babies in the city is not easy, but it’s definitely do-able. In fact, it has huge advantages. Whereas we may not have a lawn to play on, we also do not have a lawn to mow, so we have more time to sit on the floor and read to our kids. And to make up for the lack of lawns, we have plenty of lovely parks, award-winning, progressive schools, and a plethora of kid-friendly places where they can go and be exposed to art, music, theater and more. Just because we don’t have a backyard full of plastic toys, it doesn’t mean our kids are deprived of a rightful childhood.

Yes. New York City is dirty. And so are pig farms, restaurant kitchens, and your three-car garage. New Yorkers are probably some of the most germ aware people on the planet, and people like me have hand sanitizer on our persons at all times to prove it. That’s why we cringe when you put your shoes up on our furniture. We tend to take our shoes off when we’re in someone’s home, which is a gracious custom, as well as being more comfortable and relaxing.

Yes. New York City is loud. And so is your gignormous 72” flat screen TVs with Dolby surround sound that you have blaring constantly in your bonus room where you child spends most of his or her time playing with their Nintendo instead of getting outside and meeting other people, having social interactions, and being exposed to culture.

Yes. We have to go to the grocery store every two days. This is not a burden. It means fresh vegetables and fruits on our table instead of week-old broccoli from Safeway wilting away in the crisper. It means we walk more. It means we carry more. It means we stay active and actually burn off some of the calories we are eating.

You’re welcome here. This is a great place to visit and an advantageous place to live. But please don’t “feel sorry” for the children who live here. Most of them grow up to be very successful because of the culture, the education, the people, and the opportunities this city has to offer. The bar is set high here. And New Yorkers of all ages like to rise to it.

ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: AMERICAN IDIOT

(photo credit: Paul Kolnik)

AMERICAN IDIOT follows the exhilarating journey of a new generation of young Americans as they strive to find meaning in a post 9/11 world, borne along by Green Day’s electrifying score. The musical includes every song from the acclaimed album American Idiot, as well as several songs from the band’s GRAMMY® Award-winning new release, 21st Century Breakdown, such as “21 Guns.”

Called a “masterpiece” by TIME Magazine, Green Day won two GRAMMY® Awards for the groundbreaking rock opera American Idiot, which sold more than 12 million copies worldwide. Now Billie Joe Armstrong and the band collaborate with one of the theatre's most acclaimed creative teams, led by the Tony Award-winning director of Spring Awakening, Michael Mayer, two-time Tony Award-winning composer and orchestrator Tom Kitt (Next to Normal), and Olivier Award-winning choreographer Steven Hoggett (Black Watch), to bring this explosive, iconic album to the stage.

Tony Award winner John Gallagher Jr. (Spring Awakening) stars in AMERICAN IDIOT alongside Tony Award Nominee Stark Sands (Journey’s End), Michael Esper (A Man For All Seasons), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Passing Strange), Christina Sajous (The Wild Party), Mary Faber (Avenue Q) and Tony Vincent (Jesus Christ Superstar). The cast also features Declan Bennett (RENT), Andrew Call (Cry-Baby), Gerard Canonico (Spring Awakening), Miguel Cervantes (…Spelling Bee), Joshua Henry (In The Heights), Van Hughes (Hairspray), Brian Charles Johnson (Spring Awakening), Joshua Kobak (RENT), Lorin Latarro (Movin’ Out), Omar Lopez-Cepero (North American tour of Evita), Leslie McDonel (Hairspray), Chase Peacock (High School Musical), Theo Stockman (Hair), Ben Thompson (Cyrano with Placido Domingo), Alysha Umphress (bare), Aspen Vincent (Dirty Dancing) and Libby Winters (White Noise).

The cast is amazing.  Young, sexy, raw and super talented.  You can't take your eyes off them.  They perform with abandon.

The show features scenic design by Tony-nominee Christine Jones (Spring Awakening), costume design by Baryshnikov fellow Andrea Lauer (The Butcher of Baraboo), lighting design by two time Tony-winner Kevin Adams (Hair), Sound design by Obie Award-winner Brian Ronan (Cabaret), as well as video design by Darrel Maloney. The Music Director is Carmel Dean and the Associate Choreographer is Lorin Latarro.

The set is inventive, riveting, pulsating, stimulating, you name it.  Electrical eye candy.

What the show lacks in character development and story line, it makes up for in energy.  From the moment it open with the title song, you are pulled in for the ride, and your attention is held closely for the 90 minutes of the production (no intermission).

AMERICAN IDIOT is produced on Broadway by Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman, in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

The playing schedule is Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm & 7pm. Tickets range from $127.00 - $32.00 and can be purchased at The St. James Box Office beginning Monday, February 22, 2010 or via telecharge.com (212-239-6200).

Visit http://www.americanidiotonbroadway.com/

ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: WHITE'S LIES

(photo credit: Ken Howard)

Some guys are scared stiff at the prospect of settling down, getting married, having kids, etc. Joe White is no exception. He’s a divorce lawyer, representing one of his many ex-girlfriends and; above all else, he’s a bachelor who wouldn’t have it any other way. So, when his mother desperately wants him to start a family, he’ll do the next best thing: make one up! What could go wrong?

At the risk of giving the plot away, let's just say...alot.

Fast-paced with snappy dialogue, White's Lies offers up a slick, rollicking, revolving door of relationships.

Two actors play a multitude of parts, and it's qiute amusing to see them weave in and out of a variety of over the top characters. The cast is appealing in general, and it was a particular treat to see Betty Buckley, though she unfortunately wasn't given the opportunity to sing. I''m also a fan of Peter Scolari, dating back to his "Bosom Buddies" days.

This frisky romp is entertaining, and if you are happily married, you'll be all the more grateful that you're not out there in the dating arena.

Producers are Aaron Grant, Jana Robbins, Jeremy Handelman, Craig Haffner & Karl E. Held..  The playwright is Ben Andron.  Director is Bob Cline.  It stars Betty Buckley, Tuc Watkins, Peter Scolari, Christy Carlson Romano, Andrea Grano, Jimmy Ray Bennett and Rena Strober.

TUC WATKINS currently appears on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” and is known for the role of “David Vickers”on ABC’s “One Life to Live."

PETER SCOLARI is best known to TV audiences as Michael Harris, the bumbling TV producer on “Newhart” and as the co-star with Tom Hanks in "Bosom Buddies."

BETTY BUCKLEY has been called the “Voice of Broadway” ever since, her rendition of “Memory” in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats. She is well known to TV audiences for her role in “Eight is Enough” and to film goers as Carrie’s gym teacher in Carrie.

CHRISTY CARLSON ROMANO began her career as one of the rising young stars of Disney. She has appeared on Broadway in Parade, Beauty & the Beast and Avenue Q. Her TV credits include Disney’s “Even Stevens,” “Cadet Kelly” and as the voice of Kim Possible in the series of the same name, for which she was nominated for an Emmy in 2004.

JIMMY RAY BENNETT is the creator of the “cult hit” The Nuclear Family.

ANDREA GRANO recently appeared on stage in the World Premiere of David Ives' The Other Woman & in the Los Angeles Premiere of Kate Robin's ANON. She has guest starred on "Brothers and Sisters," "October Road," "InJustice” and in a recurring role on "24." .

RENA STROBER most recently starred as Tzeitel in National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof, opposite Topol and Harvey Fierstein.

BEN ANDRON is a writer/producer of motion picture marketing at The Ant Farm, one of the largest motion picture advertising agencies in Los Angeles, where he was involved in the releases of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Where the Wild Things Are, Star Trek, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, among others. Ben was also a producer of DVD Extra Content on numerous DVD's including “One Tree Hill” (Seasons 1-3), Point Break: Pure Adrenaline Edition, and Ben Hur: Collector's Edition. As a writer, Ben worked with Disney TV Animation developing an animated series he co-created for Jetix/ABC Family & wrote multiple episodes for the BBC animated series “Friends and Heroes.” White’s Lies marks his first venture into the legitimate theatre.

BOB CLINE had the pleasure of directing the reading of White's Lies at the Jerry Orbach Theatre in September. Most recently, he directed sold out productions of Cabaret and Bare, a Pop Opera, at Pace University, in Manhattan. He currently has regional productions of both Rent and Oliver up and running, while working on a brand new musical entitled Chick Soup, all directed for the Vital Theatre Company in New York, Medusa, Bright, Apple, Crush, and Kiss and Tell have been nominated and/or won the Sam French Festival. Other acclaimed productions include Crimes of the Heart; Violet; Songs for a New World; A Christmas Carol (all nominated, best director); and A New Brain (winner, best director); Other favorite productions include; Ragtime, The Sound of Music; Titanic; Nunsense; Sideshow; Showboat; Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean; The Full Monty; Into the Woods(4x's) ; To Kill A Mockingbird; A Year with Frog and Toad; Falsettos; Assassins; Little Shop of Horrors; Pippin; Godspell; and his favorite Das Barbecu.

SHOW DETAILS/TO PURCHASE TICKETS....
TIMES: Monday & Wednesday – Friday @ 8pm; Saturday @ 2pm & 8pm
Sunday @ 3pm & 7:30pm
THEATRE: New World Stages ~ 340 West 50th Street, NYC
WEBSITE: http://www.whitesliesonstage.com/
RESERVATIONS: (212) 239- 6200 (telecharge)

Robin's Show Recommendation -- THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS

Two-time Tony winner Judith Ivey stars as legendary advice columnist Ann Landers "THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS" Off-Broadway. I had the opportunity to take in a dress rehearsal earlier this week, and felt like I was in the presence of the famed columnist herself. Ivey's performance is captivating, and she has an endearing way of pulling in the audience, as if she's speaking to you personally. It's a warm and witty show that is both touching and amusing.

Presented by Cherry Lane Theatre, and directed by BJ Jones, the production is running through November 29.

For decades, newspaper columnist and American icon Ann Landers dispensed wit and wisdom to lovelorn teens, confused couples and countless others in need of advice in her enormously popular, nationally syndicated column. In THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS, Landers finds herself writing a column about a new kind of heartbreak -- her own. Drawn from Landers' life and letters, THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS is a touching and comic portrait of a wise, funny, no-nonsense woman who was, in fact, one of the most influential figures in America by virtue of the millions of readers who wrote to her seeking her indispensable advice and sometimes controversial opinions on matters ranging from marriage, divorce, life, death and sexuality, to the proper way to hang a roll of toilet paper in the bathroom.

Ann Landers, who was born Esther "Eppie" Pauline Friedman Lederer in 1918, wrote her first advice column in 1945, and the column ended with her death in 2002.

Judith Ivey won Tony Awards for her performances in the plays STEAMING and HURLYBURLY. She is presently playing Amanda Wingfield in THE GLASS MENAGERIE at Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, giving a performance acclaimed by Charles Isherwood in The New York Times, and others. Her many stage credits include having played "Mommy" in Cherry Lane's celebrated productions of Edward Albee's "AMERICAN DREAM," directed by the playwright last year, and the solo play WOMEN ON FIRE. Ms. Ivey's film credits include "Devil's Advocate," "Washington Square" and "Brighton Beach Memoirs," and she starred in four television series including "Designing Women."

Playwright David Rambo's plays include GOD'S MAN IN TEXAS, THE ICE-BREAKER, THE SPIN CYCLE, a new adaptation of Sinclair Lewis' "Babbitt" and an all-new book for the Lerner and Loewe musical PAINT YOUR WAGON. He has adapted several screenplays for live performance including ALL ABOUT EVE, CASABLANCA, ADAM'S RIB and SUNSET BOULEVARD performed at the Hollywood Bowl. He is a writer and producer of the hit TV series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."

This Off-Broadway production of THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS is produced by The Cherry Lane Theatre in association with Northlight Theatre.

SPECIAL OFFER!
For Members of MotherhoodLater.com
$26 (a 50% discount) to any preview performance.
October 7 – 12; Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm and 8pm;
Thursday and Friday at 8pm; Sunday at 3pm; and Monday at 7pm.
USE CODE LADYPV
Order online at BroadwayOffers.com or by calling 212-947-8844
For all other performances through November 29, call Telecharge.com: 212-239-6200

Cherry Lane Theatre
38 Commerce St, NYC
http://www.cherrylanetheatre.org/