ROBIN'S SHOW REVIEW and RECOMMENDATION: playtime! Creative Childcare; Assistance off bway

Are you a theatre lover who longs for a moms night out or a date night, and securing competent childcare is pricey or challenging to find?  Enter playtime!  I just learned of this new, cool NYC service, and while I have yet to take advantage of it, it's on my cultural radar as a must-try for the future.

.

Playtime! is the first program to provide childcare during theatrical shows in NYC. The inaugural Playtime! event took place in the Spring of 2011, after crucial funding from the Theater Sub-district Council and a partnership with Sitters Studio allowed Playwrights Horizons Managing Director Leslie Marcus to make this long-time dream a reality.

Marcus, who is a mom, and Playwrights Horizons staff members realized that the combined cost of theater tickets and childcare is the factor most often cited by people with young children as the reason they rarely attend the theater. Playtime! was established to bring parents back to the theater by providing excellent childcare at (or steps from) the theater at an extremely affordable rate. The service is available to any type of ticket buyer for participating shows, regardless of the price paid for the ticket, and is just $15 per child. Sitters Studio is fully bonded and insured, and their rigorous background checks and training ensure that they provide not only an artistic and fun experience for children, but also one that complies with top-notch safety standards.

The hope is that this program will become a model for other performing arts organizations. In August of 2011, the Westside Theatre (current shows: Love, Loss, and What I Wore and Rated P for Parenthood) and Signature Theatre Company joined with Playwrights Horizons, allowing their patrons to participate in Playtime! as well. More venues and companies will be joining soon.

Currently, Playtime! is available for children ages 4-12 and mostly takes place during weekend performances.

Available Shows at Present:

Playwrights Horizons: ASSISTANCE, THE BIG MEAL

Signature: BLOOD KNOT, HURT VILLAGE, THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE

Westside: LOVE LOSS AND WHAT I WORE, RATED P

Visit PLAYTIME online or contact Emily at playtime@PlaytimeNYC.org. You can also call (212) 564-1235, ext. 3153 (M-F, 10a-6p).

I recently had the opportunity to see ASSISTANCE at Playwrights Horizons Mainstage Theatre, 416 West 42nd Street.

Written by Leslye Headland, the play features a talented young cast including Michael Esper (The Lyons), Sue Jean Kim (The Drunken City), Virginia Kull (Man and Boy), Lucas Near-Verbrugghe (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), Amy Rosoff (Boardwalk Empire) and Bobby Steggert (Tony Award nomination - Ragtime).

For these young assistants, life is an endless series of humiliations at the hands of a hellacious boss, a powerful uber-magnate.  In rare moments of calm when the phone stops rolling, Nick and Nora and their traumatized co-workers question whether all their work will lead to success -- or just more work.  Directed by Trip Cullman, this play will ring true for anyone who has ever yearned to climb the corporate ladder, feeling like they are selling their would to the devil along the way.

We never find out the type of business being served, nor do we meet the CEO, but we can relate to the drive of the young people desperate to get ahead. And, if you happen to be a mom who has left corporate America by choice, you are all the more grateful that the boss in your life is your child who at least warms your heart by the end of a multi-tasking day.

DISCOUNT OFFER: Order by February 21, and use and use code PlayAsstBlog, and tickets are $40 (regularly $70). Visit www.TicketCentral.com  or www.playwrightshorizons.org/mainstage. 

www.BroadwayWorld.com/mamadrama.cfm

ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: STANDING ON CEREMONY

Producers Joan Stein and Richard Frankel announced recently that the Off Broadway premiere production of Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays will play its final performance at the Minetta Lane Theatre on Sunday, December 18th. The show will have played 7 preview performances and 41 regular performances. The producers plan to take the play, which opened to enthusiastic response from critics and audiences alike on November 13th, to markets where marriage equality is not yet a reality, in an effort to help invigorate audience members in battleground states and raise money for marriage equality organizations.

Responding to one of the defining issues of our day -- the on-going battle for marriage equality throughout the United States -- some of America’s most illustrious and Award-winning playwrights, including Obie Award winner Mo Gaffney, Heideman Award winner Jordan Harrison, Tony Award nominee Moisés Kaufman, Tony Award nominee Neil LaBute, Sundance Jury Prize winner Wendy MacLeod, Obie Award winner José Rivera, Obie and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Paul Rudnick, and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Doug Wright, have created a hilarious and poignant 90-minute evening of short plays that celebrates the courage to be in a relationship – any relationship.  The writing is top notch, and there is much to celebrate in this production!

Conceived by Brian Shnipper and directed by Stuart Ross, Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays features a cast that includes Theatre World Award winner Craig Bierko (The Music Man), Daytime Emmy nominee Mark Consuelos (“All My Children”), Emmy Award nominee Polly Draper (“thirtysomething”), Tony Award winner Harriet Harris (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Tony Award winner Beth Leavel (The Drowsy Chaperone) and Emmy Award-winner Richard Thomas (“The Waltons”). The acting is stellar!  It was a real treat to see this ensemble peformance.  In particular, Harriet Harris is a delicious, quirky hoot in My Husband by Paul Rudnick, playing a mom who plants a fake NY Times wedding announcement for her son Mark Consuelos, in an effort to keep up with the Jones.  Richard Thomas delivers a poingnant monologue in the piece London Mosquitoes by Moises Kaufman, celebrating the life of his deceased mate.

For its Off Broadway premiere, Standing on Ceremony partnered with Freedom to Marry, the campaign to win marriage nationwide, and Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, and has donated a percentage of all ticket sales to these and other organizations promoting marriage equality.

To launch its Off Broadway run, Standing on Ceremony joined with Tectonic Theater Project (Moisés Kaufman, Artistic Director; Greg Reiner, Executive Director) for Standing on Ceremony: The National Event, to help take the play’s message across the country (and the globe). For one night only on Monday, November 7, more than 50 participating theaters across America and beyond presented their own productions of the play to raise awareness and funds in support of marriage equality. Audience members across the country watched a live streaming introduction and post performance Qand A, and submitted questions via Twitter in real time.

Tickets for the Off Broadway run of Standing on Ceremony are on sale via Ticketmaster.com and at the Minetta Lane box office (18 Minetta Lane).  See it while you can in NYC and keep an eye out for it at a theatre near you.

Standing on Ceremony is produced Off Broadway by Joan Stein, Richard Frankel, Annette Niemtzow, Fakston Productions, Harley Medcalf, Jon Murray, Harvey Reese, in association with Diana Buckhantz and Niclas Nagler; Associate Producers, Luigi Caiola, Rebecca Falcon and Mary C. Solomon and Executive Producer, Joe Watson.

Visiti http://www.standingonceremony.net/.

ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: NEWSical: Full Speed Ahead

No one in the news is safe!

The Drama Desk nominated revue NEWSical is back lampooning current events, headlines, newsmakers, celebrities, and politicians. With songs and material updated on a regular basis, composer-lyricist (Drama Desk Nominated) Rick Crom's topical musical comedy is an ever-evolving mockery of all the news that is fit to spoof. This new edition: Full Spin Ahead! Directed by Mark Waldrop features all new material, and an energetic, versatile cast of four including Christine Pedi, Christina Bianco, Michael West and John Walton West.

These topics and more are given Crom's signature treatment in a highly entertaining 90-minute (no intermission) revue of some of the most talked about topics of the year, including Don't Ask Don't Tell, Oprah's Final Season, Lady Gaga, Bristol Palin, etc.

This show is a delight!  If you need some levity in your life, and who doesn't?!....see NEWSICAL!  Full of wit, the talented cast does an impressive job particularly with celebrity impersonations of PeeWee Herman, Christina Aguilera (botching the Star Spangled Banner), Liza Minelli and Celine Dion.  The political scenarios weren't as much to my personal  liking, but skits, respectively, mocking Arnold Schwarzenegger and Oprah, were clever and riotous. I haven't laughed that much in a long time!

Pedi (Forbidden Broadway, Talk Radio) leads an ensemble that includes Christina Bianco (Drama Desk nominee, Forbidden Broadway), Michael West (Forbidden Broadway, When Pigs Fly) and John Walton West (Drowsy Chaperone national tour, The Producers National Tour).

Crom received two Drama Desk nominations for his work on NEWSical. He appeared on Broadway in Urinetown, Footloose and The Goodbye Girl. Rounding out the creative team are Ed Goldschneider (music director), Jason Courson (set designer), Josh Starr (lighting designer), David Kaley (costume designer) and Scott Delacruz (stage manager). NEWSical the Musical: Full Spin Ahead is produced by Tom D'Angora (Broadway Diva Christmas, Naked Boys Singing!, Divas I've Done) and Elyse Pasquale (Betty Rules).

The show is playing at The Kirk on Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street. Tickets may be purchased through Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 279-4200 or (800) 432-7250. For performance schedule and more information, visit http://www.telecharge.com/.  You may also visit http://www.newsicalthemusical.com/.

Theatre Review: "Motherhood Out Loud" -- by Laura Houston

In my role as a mother, there are at once overwhelming waves of joy mixed with paralyzing fear. Then it’s all topped off with an ambiguous sense of loss. I am besieged with emotions, chores, and, yes, even loneliness if I allow myself to be still long enough. And as with all things in life that move me in this way, I seek meaning in the cracks.

So on a cold, rainy October night in New York City, I headed out to see “Motherhood Out Loud” with my friend Sara who is of “advanced maternal age” and is also enduring her own maternal rollercoaster ride.

The one thing I must first say about the play is that the acting was excellent. Only four actors (Mary Bacon, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Randy Graff, and James Lecesne) appeared on stage during the 90-minute show, but more than 20 characters paraded in front of us, telling their stories of triumph and defeat while pledging their solidarity to the state of motherhood. In front of our eyes, they aged and regressed. I laughed out loud often, and I made a tearful sniff twice.
 Some of the stories stand out more than others. All of them touched on a truth at some level. The most humorous and most relatable sketch for me was one of a mother (played delightfully by Bacon) on the playground with her son, trying to smoke a cigarette and get a grip on how much her life has changed — how much she misses her old life; how she would never in a million years go back to it. She is joined by two other up-tight mothers who plan a playdate in front of her. She tries to participate in the conversation. She fails. She feels awkward and out of place. The acting was so good it made me feel uncomfortable because I have been in that very same spot on the park bench in between those two ladies who I don’t want to be friends with any more than she does, but I often find my need to be a part of something stronger than my introverted sense of disgust with mothers like that.

 Bacon's character continues the pursuit of saving grace when she acknowledges she would sacrifice any and all for her child, so she doesn’t light the cigarette, she throws her ugly diaper bag over her shoulder, and heads home to “bake some fucking cookies.”

Another speech that blew me away was delivered by the middle-aged mother (played passionately by Ekulona) of a soldier who explains the horror she endures now that her son has gone off to war. She eloquently relates the frantic drone in her ears that comes from constantly listening for a knock on the door, which will be followed by the news no mother can bear to hear. This buzz prevents her from ever being fully present at work, in conversations, in movies, and when she sleeps. Parts of her monologue left me stunned as she described the pain and the fear that comes with the possibility of losing her son, and the sacrifices she was willing to make to ensure he lived. It makes you rethink who the real soldier is.

If you enjoy watching actor's transform before your eyes with nothing more than a hooded sweatshirt, an oversized scarf, or a pair of glasses, you won't be dissapointed. Randy Graff goes from young to old and young again as she passes through her characters. She doesn't miss a nuance, and she is unforgettable as a wise, sassy, great grandmother. James Lecesne plays a gay father, and he educates the audience on how to get pregnant, how to maintain a relationship with a surrogate while pregnant, and how family becomes family in an easy, natural, unexpected manner. In a later sketch, he transforms into a divorcee who moves in with his mother and is now taking care of her instead of the other way around. He'll break your heart.

The play takes us from the first steps of motherhood all the way to letting go. Some of the jokes were a little predictable, and some of the material hit too close to home to rise above the minutia of motherhood. And both Sara and I found there was one thing missing: The impact of motherhood on the marriage. I don’t know a woman who has not become crazy in one way or another after becoming a mother. I don’t know a woman who did not become unreasonably irritated with her partner on a daily basis while she adjusted. I don’t know of a relationship that didn’t drag on the ground and become a little more frayed by the addition of a child. Sara and I agreed that the greatest change motherhood placed upon us wasn’t just physical and mental. All of our relationships changed. Some for the better. Some for the worst. We would have enjoyed seeing how other marriages and relationships survive motherhood, but that could very well be another play in itself.

After the show, Sara and I went for a late dinner, and we discussed the issues the play brought up for us. How hard it is to be a mother, and yet how naturally it comes to us. How it’s the most painful thing anyone could ever do, yet so many of us choose to do it on a daily basis. We sat in a café talking for hours, which is the sign that the play hit its mark. And when the rain finally let up, we walked out onto the streets and practically ran home to where our husbands and sons lay breathing softly in their beds. Waiting just for us. And we were happier women for it.

"Motherhood Out Loud" covers 90 years of mothering in 90 minutes. It happens fast. The play. And motherhood. Gather some other moms. Get a sitter. Go. See. It.

Directed by Lisa Peterson. Conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein, and written by Leslie Ayvazian, David Cale, Jessica Goldberg, Beth Henley, Lameece Issaq, Claire LaZebnik, Lisa Loomer, Michele Lowe, Marco Pennette, Theresa Rebeck, Luanne Rice, Annie Weisman and Cheryl L. West.

The show runs from October 4^th through October 29^th with eight shows a week at the 59E59 Theatres. Tickets are available at primarystages.org or call 212-840-9705. For a special Motherhood Later Than Sooner discount, use the code MOM9161.  Visit MotherhoodOutLoud.com, for more about the show, and submit your AHA Motherhood Moment to be featured on their site...and see what other moms are sharing.

ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: VOCA PEOPLE

A spaceship from planet VOCA just crashed to Earth, and the VOCA PEOPLE are making their entrance. They discovered that their spaceship’s fuel - musical energy - is running on empty. Their mission: to musically refuel their spaceship by performing the music of Earthlings.

VOCA PEOPLE, (VocaPeopleNYC.com) created by Lior Kalfo and Shai Fishman, has landed at The Westside Theatre, (407 W. 43rd Street in NYC) and is produced by Doron Lida, Revital Kalfo, Leeorna Solomons, and Eva Price (Executive Producer).

The show featuring an uber-talented cast combines vocal sounds, a capella singing, comedy and the art of beat box. Performed by eight snow-white ruby-lipped aliens with perfect harmony, there are no musical instruments, only vocals, and at times, it's hard to believe.  They are that good!

VOCA PEOPLE believe music is the source of life that brings harmony, joy and refueling.  The 90 minute performance (without intermission) features over 70 well known songs that create vocal “fireworks.” VOCA PEOPLE is the musical theater event that bridges languages, cultures, and planets.

It makes for a fun girls night out and is certainly suitable for families.  I particularly enjoyed the rap performed by two of the male cast members.  And, when they came into the audience to pick participants to join them, there were some good laughs, especially as they serenaded a gal who became the romantic muse of the male Voca People, and she was a good sport.

VOCA PEOPLE has won intergalactic success with sold-out tours through Europe, South America, the Middle East, Mars and Uranus. Their videos have had over 20 million YouTube hits.

Created by Lior Kalfo and Shai Fishman, VOCA PEOPLE is directed by Mr. Kalfo with musical direction and arrangements by Mr. Fishman. The show has lighting design by Roy Milo, sound design by Naor Ben Meir, and costume design by Doron Ashkenazi.

Shai Fishman says, “VOCA PEOPLE demonstrate that pure vocal sounds are more astonishing than instruments. We hope that the show will enchant the ear and bring laughter to the mind while it touches the heart.”

Tickets for VOCA PEOPLE range from $25 - $79.50 with premium seating available.

Visit http://www.vocapeoplenyc.com/.  It is a unique show and worth checking out!

ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: Olive and the Bitter Herbs by Charles Busch

In Olive and the Bitter Herbs, the latest comedy from Tony-nominated playwright Charles Busch (The Divine Sister, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife), actress Olive Fisher sees a ghost in her mirror, but that’s the least of her problems. Her radiator’s broken, the couple next door stink up her apartment with exotic cheeses, and the highlight of her long career was a sausage commercial in the ’80s. While she’s not the most popular tenant, her neighbors invite themselves over, and she finds herself hosting a Passover Seder. But are Olive’s guests there to see her or the mysterious man in her mirror? Olive and the Bitter Herbs is a comedy about connecting to the people in our lives – those with us and those who have passed on.

I've been a Charles Busch fan for years, and always delight in seeing his new work.  Olive didn't disappoint. Full of laughs and rapid fire comic timing, the cast delivers with wit and charm, and the material is classic Busch.  Intrigue, coincidences, pithy life observations, heartfelt relationships, confessions, you name it, it's all there.

The cast features David Garrison (By the Way, Meet Vera Stark) as Robert , Dan Butler as Trey, Julie Halston (a particular treat in Olive) as Wendy, Marcia Jean Kurtz as Olive and Richard Masur as Sylvan.  The creative team includes Anna Louizos (Set), Suzy Benzinger (Costumes), M.L. Geiger (Lights) and John Gromada (Original Music).  The play was commissioned by Primary Stages.

Directed by Mark Brokaw, Olive and the Bitter Herbs has the following performance schedule: Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m.on August 7, 14 and 21, and Wednesday matinees at 2:00 p.m.on August 24 and 31. Following the public performances on August 18 and 25, there will be a special "Artist/Audience Talkback" for attendees of those performances.

It plays through Saturday, September 3, 2011 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Opening night is Tuesday, August 16, 7:00 p.m.

Single tickets for Olive and the Bitter Herbs are $45 for the first two weeks (July 26 – August 7) and $65 for all remaining performances (August 9 – September 3). Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200, online at http://www.primarystages.org/, or in person at the 59E59 THEATERS Box Office. Group Tickets (10+) are $35 each for the first two weeks (July 26 – August 7) and $45 each for all remaining performances (August 9 – September 3), and are available by calling (212) 840-9705, ext. 204. Visit http://www.primarystages.org/, or call (212) 840-9705 for additional information.

For theater patrons 35 and under, Primary Stages offers specially priced $20 tickets (maximum two tickets per valid ID). Advance tickets are available through Ticket Central using code PS35. Failure to present a valid ID will result in an additional fee. All tickets are subject to availability.

The 2011/2012 season at Primary Stages will continue with the New York Premiere of the new play, Motherhood Out Loud, written by Leslie Ayvazian, David Cale, Jessica Goldberg, Beth Henley, Lameece Issaq, Claire LaZebnik, Lisa Loomer, Michele Lowe, Marco Pennette, Theresa Rebeck, Luanne Rice, Annie Weisman and Cheryl L. West, co-conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein, under the direction of Lisa Peterson (September 20, 2011 - October 29, 2011), followed by the World Premiere of the new comedy, Rx, by Kate Fodor (January 24, 2012 - March 3, 2012). The season concludes with the New York Premiere of the new play, The Morini Strad, by Willy Holtzman directed by Primary Stages Founder Casey Childs (March 20, 2012 - April 28, 2012).

Note: On Friday, September 23, I will be moderating a special talk back with playwrights, co-conceivers, etc. about the show and life as a 35+ mom.  And, there will be a group outing to see the 8pm show for MotherhoodLater.com.  To purchase discount tickets for that evening and sit with our group, including the talkback, use code MOM923.  

Discounted 4-play subscription packages for previews and regular performances priced from $132-$172 are now available by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or online at http://www.primarystages.org/.

ROBIN'S SHOW REVIEW: Naked in a Fishbowl

Daphne Rubin-Vega joined the fully improvised live sitcom, Naked in a Fishbowl, at The Cherry Lane Theater in NYC, for the opening night of a 5-week run that started Monday, July 18th.  It was fun to have the opportunity to see her up close 'n personal. I've been a huge fan since she originated the role of Mimi on Broadway in Rent, earning her a Theater World Award and Tony and Drama Desk nominations for Best Actress in a Musical. She was nominated again for her role as Conchita in the Pulitzer Prize winning “Anna In The Tropics.”

While she didn't sing (not that I expected she would), she demonstrated impressive comedic chops and the ability to act on her feet, reminding me of the versatile talent she is. Cast ensemble regulars rallied around to create an evening that  makes for a light-hearted, "fearless" and affordable girls night out.  You never know what's gonna come out of someone's mouth.  Improv has always intrigued me in that way.  It takes real skill.

Naked in a Fishbowl chronicles the lives of six "fearless" friends in New York City who laugh together, cry together and tell it like it is...completely unscripted.  It premiered in the NY International Fringe Festival in 2007, and the cast was presented with the Outstanding Ensemble Award and hailed as the “brightest lights of the festival.” Since re-launching in 2010, this female comedy troupe has created over 30 original episodes in front of a live theatre audience. The resulting web series has garnered over 250,000 hits online and has been viewed in over 80 countries.

Situated in a landmark building in Greenwich Village, The Cherry Lane Theatre serves as a lab for the development of new American works and a home for groundbreaking productions of both new and classic theater. As New York's longest continuously running Off-Broadway theatre, Cherry Lane has helped to define American drama, fostering fresh, daring, and relevant theater for 85 years.

Naked in a Fishbown, which is not a production of The Cherry Lane Theatre, is produced by Donna De Stefano and Lauren Seikaly, and stars Kahtarine Heller, Breanna Palughi, Lauren Seikaly, Molly Knefel, Daliya Karnofsky and Rachel Axelrod.  Associate Producer is Matharine Heller, and Creative Producer is Breanna Palughi. 

The Cherry Lane Theater is located at 38 Commerce Street near 7th Avenue South. Naked in a Fishbowl is performed Monday Nights @ 7pm, July 18 – August 15th.  Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at Telecharge.com.  Running time: 1 hour, no intermission.  A new guest star is featured each week.

To see clips, episodes, or for more information, visit: http://www.nakedinafishbowl.com/.  Follow them on Twitter @nakedinfishbowl 

ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: Story Pirates

“The Story Pirates teach kids a love of creative writing. It helps kids to see that their words and ideas are really important. I believe that what the Story Pirates are doing is helping America.   It's crazy entertaining." – Jon Stewart, The Daily Show

While many children’s theater troupes tell stories to children, the Story Pirates believe every child has a story to tell. This arts and education, based in both New York and Los Angeles, organization exists entirely because of kids. The group of first-rate comedians and teaching artists uses stories written by elementary students as source material for over the-top musical comedy sketches. Adding songs, props, music videos and puppets, they bring to life on stage what children scribble down on paper.

The Story Pirates won’t make you walk the plank; however, they will challenge your child's imagination and prove that his or her words are powerful tools worth celebrating. At a typical show, story topics run the gamut, from kung-fu ninja babies fighting crime to the eternal love between the devil and a guy she meets at Starbucks. It’s a world where cats sometimes fly and Tickle Monsters dominate the world. At every show, Story Pirates perform brand new stories by kids in the audience.

Founded in 2003, Story Pirates has grown to reach hundreds of thousands of children each year all around the country. Through in-school creative writing workshops and assemblies that focus on the power of communication and self-expression, Story Pirates’ goal is to provide children with the tools to become confident, literate students, and to encourage them to develop into more thoughtful and passionate writers, in and out of school.

Story Pirates CEO Benjamin Salka describes the Story Pirates show as "genuinely funny. It's not condescending. It's smart, it's silly – It’s our world, unfiltered, as only children could imagine.”

I had the opportunity to attend the 3rd annual After School Special this weekend, a fundraiser in NYC at Peter Norton Symphony Space, for Story Pirates, and it was my family's introduction to the performers.  This particular show also featured such celebrities as Jon Stewart, Ana Gasteyer (SNL) , Josh Gad (Book of Moron), rocker Lou Reed, and more.  It was directed by Lee Overtree, with music composed and directed by the Eli Bolin.  

The theatre was packed, with kids and adults, and I loved knowing that the money raised was going to support such a cool artistic cause.  The Story Pirates, including their band, are a hugely witty and talented troupe, and while it's hard to single out any particular skit, the one that stands out in my mind was short but hysterial.  It featured Josh Gad (who has a lovely voice) singing the catchy tune about Ed who wets his bed.  I still chuckle when I think of it.  And, I always enjoy Jon Stewart and Ana Gasteyer, though I would have loved more of both of them.  It was sweet to see them there with their respective children in the audience.

If you have yet to experience Story Pirates, and your child has a love of writing and/or story telling, take note of their performance schedule below.

          (Jon Stewart performing with puppets from Story Pirates)

Show Schedule
Weekly each Saturday at 2pm at The Drama Book Shop in NYC.  Tickets are $15 online at http://www.storypirates.org/

Education Programs
Story Pirates works with over 150 schools each year from coast to coast. For more information, email: info@storypirates.org.or phone (347) 878-6798.

ROBIN'S SHOW REVIEW: BOOM TOWN

                                                         
                                                     (Photo credit: Darin Basile)


“As circus artists, we aim to show the outrageous things that our bodies can do and to surprise people as much as we can,” said Chris Lashua, artistic director of the Las Vegas based contemporary circus troupe, Cirque Mechanics. “However, we take circus one step further by building machines that not only capture the spectacle of circus, but thrill in a whole new way.”

Similar to Cirque Mechanics’ critically acclaimed show Birdhouse Factory (New Victory 2008), Boom Town, whose New York premiere is at The New Victory Theater from April 8 through April 24, features custom, one-of-a-kind gizmos that serve as both performance props and scenery. “A wagon wheel is repurposed as a chandelier, which becomes an aerial hoop when someone starts swinging on it. That’s the magic: you don’t know it’s an apparatus until you see us use it,” explains Lashua, a former BMX cyclist. “Birdhouse Factory opened our eyes to what we could do and build. We discovered that the gears and chains and cogs and pulleys are very much a part of what we do.”

In Boom Town, acrobats climb up swaying poles, fly high and fast on revolving cranes, jump on moving ore carts and balance on towers of whiskey jugs. Inspired by Chaplin’s Gold Rush, HBO’s “Deadwood” and the characters played by Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin in Paint Your Wagon, Boom Town’s Wild West cast of competitive saloon owners, star-crossed lovers and dynamite prospectors defy gravity in this spirited high-flying gold rush frenzy, complete with brawls, explosions and golden discoveries.

My son (age 8) and I had the opportunity to see the show, and enjoyed the 80 minute (no intermission) spectacle.  He especially liked the scene in the mine and the overall impressive acrobatic prowess of the cast, whether juggling, tumbling, flying through the air, swinging or jumping on concealed trampolines. From swaying "telegraph" poles to a hillbilly-type balancing on top of whiskey jugs, the performers didn't miss a beat. The show had its humor as well, and it was fun when a hunky member of the audience was plucked to join Elena Day, who played Clepto Clown, for some laughs and levity.   

The creative team for Boom Town includes: director, Chris Lashua; assistant director/choreographer, Aloysia Gavre, and writer/performer, Steven Ragatz, all of whom are Cirque du Soleil veterans. The performers, plucked from Cirque du Soleil, the Pickle Family Circus and Moscow Circus, include Timber Brown, Elena Day, Hannah French, Charlotte Greenblatt, Wes Hatfield, Kerren McKeeman, Andre Nurse, Steven Ragatz, Michael “Tex” Redinger and Clint Bobzien.

Ticket Information

Theater-goers who buy tickets for three or more New Vic shows qualify for free Membership benefits, including a 35-percent savings. Tickets to Boom Town cost $25 (orchestra and front mezzanine), $18 (mezzanine) and $9 (balcony) for Members, and $38 (orchestra and front mezzanine), $28 (rear mezzanine) and $14 (balcony) for Non-members.

To purchase online, visit NewVictory.org, by phone call 646-223-3010; Monday-Friday 12 noon-8 pm; Saturday 10 am-8 pm; Sunday 10 am-5 pm.  To purchase in-person, visit The New Victory Theater Box Office; Box office hours: Sunday and Monday 11 am-5 pm; Tuesday-Saturday 11 am -7 pm.

Performance Schedule

Fri April 15 7pm

Sat April 16, 2 and 7pm

Sun April 17, 12 and 5pm

Wed April 20, 2pm

Thurs April 21, 7pm

Fri April 22, 7pm

Sat April 23, 2 and 7pm

Sun April 24, 12 and 5pm

ON THE LOOSE IN NYC: Giveaways! by Robin Gorman Newman

Seth turned 8 recently, and to celebrate, aside from his laser tag party, we stayed in the city for three nights with our good friend Alli, and painted the town red (Seth's favorite color, ala fire trucks).

We bunked again at the comfy, artsy Roger Smith Hotel on 48th and Lexiington, and gallavanted around all over town, as we did back in December, this time thankfully without the slush and mess from the winter blizzard.

Day 1 included: A visit to Grand Central Market (picked up some amazing cheese at Murray's), Jam Paper (very cool paper products and more), Spy Shop (Seth got an invisible ink device), a Cartoon Store, Sky Ride (details below...enjoyed it) and dinner at the delicious Rosa Mexicano, after trying to get into a dinner spot at Eataly and didn't succeed (too long a wait).  Seth loved that the restaurant was across the street from a firehouse that had it's doors open, so we schmoozed with the firemen and took photos.

Day 2 - Visit to Build-A-Bear Workshop(details below), saw the off-Bway musical (and enjoyed) Freckleface Strawberry (I blogged about the show last week. Discount offer below.), visited yet another spy store, super cool Japanese bookstore/gift shop, the Drama Bookshop (love it there), a major trip to Toys R Us (where Seth picked out bday gifts for himself), culminating in dinner at the Brooklyn Diner (love the thick pea soup strewn with hot dogs chunks).

Day 3 - Walked around Union Square, including visits to the "awesome" Forbidden Planet, Game Stop and the excellent toy store Kidding Around.  Then subwayed it downtown to the Lower East Side.  Brought back memories of years gone by when I used to eat at Ratner's with my folks (my beloved mom loved the vegetable cutlet with mushroom barley) and I used to shop there on a Sunday with my longtime friend Debbie, and we always came home packed with shopping bags full of great stuff.  Things have changed quite a bit since those times, and what you see mostly now are small hip clothing shops and funky art galleries.  Quite a transformation.  We also popped into Economy Candy, a fun retro candy store packed to the rafters with almost anything confectionary and caloric you can imagine.  You truly feel like a "kid in a candy store" there!

After all this, headed back uptown for the 7pm ride on THE RIDE (details below), where friends joined us, and we had a total blast.  This was our second time on THE RIDE, and this time, it was all the more special since the hip hop performance street artist gave Seth a shoutout for his birthday.  If you have yet to experience THE RIDE, check it out! Afterwards, back at Brooklyn Diner in Times Square for Seth's birthday dinner featuring the most massive piece of chocolate cake that everyone enjoyed!  It was a day to remember.

Day 4 - Sony Wonder Technology Lab (free...interesting), Lee's Art Shop (great kids floor), TJ Maxx (57th and 8th...didn't know they opened a branch here)......returned home with loads of memories and goodies....and plenty to talk about.

NYC is truly one of the greatest cities in the world, and it's so easy to take it for granted if you live here, but there's much to enjoy if you take the time to explore and scope it out!

I highly recommend you take in the following in your next visit to NYC.  Here's the inside scoop about four of the top attractions we enjoyed.

SKY RIDE (at the Empire State Building)
New York's only virtual tour simulator.  This is a treat!

• Fly across only the skyline.
• See the real New York.
• Fun for children or adults.
• Nearly 8 million happy vistors since 1995.
• Afterwards, enjoy priority access privileges to the Empire State Building

Actor Kevin Bacon narrates your 30-minute adventure, taking you across the skyline on a unique journey around nearly three dozen famous landmarks. You never have to leave the comfort of the second floor at the famed Empire State Building.

Your tour also includes two special presentations:
• "I am New York” the spectacular history of the Empire State Building
• “Top 10 Things to Do in New York" - a primer on all things Big Apple!

Visit http://www.skyride.com/.

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the leading and only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. Founded in 1997, the company currently operates more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop® stores worldwide, including company owned stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. In 2007, the interactive experience was enhanced - all the way to CyBEAR® space - with the launch of buildabearville.com®, the company’s virtual world.

We had a great time.  Seth made a husky dog he named Patches, and fell immediately in love. There is something for everyone here. And, the cutest, cleverest accessories and clothing for the wide array of stuffed animals you can make and see come to life. 

Check them out at http://www.facebook.com/buildabear to stay abreast of the most current promotions and receive exclusive offers.

NOTE: BULD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP IS GIVING AWAY A $25 GIFT CARD.  TO ENTER, POST A COMMENT ON THIS BLOG, AND THE WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM AND NOTIFIED BY THE END OF MARCH.  BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND INDICATE THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP.

THE RIDE
THE RIDE, is 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 GOMAMA when ordering.  Join them on Facebook to get the latest news.  http://www.facebook.com/ExperienceTheRide.

FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY The Musical
Special Offer:

$45 tickets (regularly $68.50)
or
$39.99 tickets with the Family 4-Pack
(when 4+ tickets are purchased together)

OFFER AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING PERFORMANCES:

Wed at 11am or 2pm; Fri at 7pm; Sat, Sun at 11am or 4:30pm
(offer not valid Sat, Sun at 2pm)

3 EASY WAYS TO BUY TICKETS!

1: ONLINE:
•For 1–3 tickets Visit BroadwayOffers.com and use code FSSWING1
•For 4–8 tickets Visit BroadwayOffers.com and use code FS4SWING1

2: CALL: 212-947-8844
•For 1–3 tickets mention code FSSWING1
•For 4–8 tickets mention code FS4SWING1

3: VISIT THE BOX OFFICE:
Print this blog post and bring it to New World Stages at
340 West 50th Street (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues), New York, NY

For more information visit: http://www.frecklefacethemusical.com/

NOTE: MOTHERHOODLATER.COM IS GIVING AWAY A FAMILY FOUR PACK TO SEE THE SHOW.  TO ENTER, POST A COMMENT TO THIS BLOG AND INDICATE YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE SHOW.  BE SURE TO PROVIDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, AND THE WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM AND NOTIFIED BY THE END OF MARCH.

*RESTRICTIONS: Limit 8 tickets per order. Valid through April 17. Additional blackout dates may apply. Not valid on prior purchases and cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions. All sales are final—no refunds or exchanges. Offer subject to availability and includes a $1.50 facilities fee. Offer may be modified or revoked at any time without notice. Standard Telecharge service fees apply to phone and online orders.






Note: Thanks to THE RIDE, SKYRIDE, BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP and FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY for providing promotional visits.

ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: Freckleface Strawberry

Called "a high-energy show that clicks with the audience—a treat!" by The Huffington Post, Freckleface Strawberry The Musical is the story of little Freckleface Strawberry, a young girl who, with the help of her lovable schoolmates—including a talented ballerina, a cute jock, a charming ditz and a totally kooky teacher—learns that everyone is different and that's what makes each person special.

It is an adaptation of Julianne Moore's children's book that will appeal to young kids, adolescents and even their adult companions. I saw it with my 8 year old son, and a friend, and we all enjoyed. 

Rose Caiola and Gary Kupper turned the book, “Freckleface Strawberry,” into a 70-minute musical that strives to deliver the message that everyone is different, whether they have freckles or not, and this, in fact, makes the world a more interesting place.

The show is upbeat and witty, and the cast is engaging.  Remy Zaren as Strawberry is well-suited to the role.  And, Sanjaya Malakar (of American Idol fame) does a nice, fun turn as Danny/Little Brother.

Kupper's songs, such as "I Can Be Anything" and "Be Yourself," are sincere and message-driven. The music, in general, is quite varied in style and pleasing. "Lonely Girl" was moving as delivered by Julia Bray, and  Kimiko Glenn is spunky as Emily, particularly when she confesses her love for Danny in "I Like Danny."  Andrew Cristi (whose voice packs a punch) and Mykal Kilgore round out the talented adult cast.

After Strawberry resorts to wearing a ski mask to cover her freckled-face, classmates sing “Kid in the Mask,” a jazz-style song with old sci-fi sound effects, as they endeavor to guess the identity of the ski-masked individual who they suspect might be an alien.. And Linda Gabler, who ably takes on the roles of mother, teacher and Jane, delivers a rousing rap send-up of the song “Creative Minds.”.

Directed by Buddy Crutchfield and choreographed by Gail Pennington Crutchfield, “Freckleface Strawberry” is a show that may readily take you down memory lane when it comes to recalling your own childhood.  We all grow up with certain insecurities and challenges, and bullying does exist, but we  get through it.  And, in the case of actress/author Julianne Moore, success and personal happiness is the best payback!  She appears to have found both, and fans of this show will hopefully leave the theatre believing that good is possible for them as well.

SPECIAL TICKET OFFER:

$45 tickets (regularly $68.50) or $39.99 tickets with the Family 4-Pack (when 4+ tickets are purchased together)  (available through March 27, 2011)

OFFER AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING PERFORMANCES:
Wed at 11am or 2pm; Fri at 7pm; Sat, Sun at 11am or 4:30pm (offer not valid Sat, Sun at 2pm)

3 EASY WAYS TO BUY TICKETS --
1: ONLINE:
For 1–3 tickets visit BroadwayOffers.com and use code FSSWING1
For 4–8 tickets visit BroadwayOffers.com and use code FSS4WING1

2: CALL: 212-947-8844
For 1–3 tickets mention code FSSWING1.  For 4–8 tickets mention code FSS4WING1.

3: VISIT THE BOX OFFICE:
Print this blog and bring it to New World Stages at 340 West 50th Street (between 8-9th Aves) in NYC

For more information visit:  http://www.frecklefacethemusical.com/.

RESTRICTIONS: Limit 8 tickets per order. Valid through March 27. Additional blackout dates may apply. Not valid on prior purchases and cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions. All sales are final—no refunds or exchanges. Offer subject to availability and includes a $1.50 facilities fee. Offer may be modified or revoked at any time without notice. Standard Telecharge service fees apply to phone and online orders.

ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: Circus INcognitus

(photo credit: Amanda Russell)

When it comes to thrilling audiences with circus stunts, pedigreed circus star, Jamie Adkins, doesn’t need anything high-tech or highfalutin to make jaws drop. In fact, with his self-professed love of “simple circus”, Jamie needs only some slack wire, a couple tall ladders, and an old suit case filled with who knows what to create “a Chaplinesque demonstration of physical comedy that charms while it astonishes (Winnipeg Free Press).”

In his latest production, Circus INcognitus, which runs at The New Victory Theater in NYC through February 27, Jamie stars as a man with something to say, but he can’t quite find the words. By teetering on towering ladders, somersaulting on slack wire and timing perfect pratfalls, he finds unusual and hilarious solutions to overcoming his fear of speaking in public.

I can't say enough about this show.  It is an absolute delight!  Jamie has a way of pulling in the audience, whether it be engaging them in a toss of oranges and grapefruits or simply smiling and looking uncomfortable, yet endearing. Full of laughs and very cool feats, acrobatics, and physical comedy,  it makes for a fun, fast-moving theatrical experience.  I would have welcomed more.

I'm a huge fan of celebrated mimes like Marcel Marceau, and it's been a long time since I've seen someone who immediately brought him to mind (in a good way).  Jamie is a real talent.  Your kids will love him, and you will as well.

“I’ve performed with large ensembles in large productions,” said Jamie, who for years was an integral member of Montréal’s renowned Cirque Éloize. “With my solo work, which is on a much smaller scale and more intimate, I try to be as subtle as possible, and personable, to reach out and make every audience member’s experience a personal one.”

Circus INcognitus stars and is directed by Jamie Adkins. Costume design is by Katrin Leblond, lighting design is by Nicolas Descôteaux, music composition and arrangement is by Lucie Cauchon.

Ticket information
Theater-goers who buy tickets for three or more New Vic shows qualify for free Membership benefits, including a 35-percent savings. Tickets to Circus INcognitus cost $25 (orchestra and front mezzanine), $18 (mezzanine) and $9 (balcony) for Members, and $38 (orchestra and front mezzanine), $28 (rear mezzanine) and $14 (balcony) for Non-members.  Visit http://www.newvictory.org/.

Performance Schedule
Fri Feb 18, 7 pm
Sat Feb 19,12 and 5 pm
Sun Feb 20, 12 and 5 pm
Wed Feb 23, 2 pm
Thurs Feb 24, 7 pm
Fri Feb 25, 7 pm
Sat Feb 26, 12 and 5 pm
Sun Feb 27, 12 and 5 pm

ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: THE KID

(Photo credit: Serge Nivelle)

The Kid is based on the true story of what happens when sex columnist Dan Savage and his boyfriend decide to start a family. Created by Andy Monroe (music), Michael Zam (book) and Jack Lechner (lyrics), it was the winner of the 2009 BMI Foundation Jerry Bock Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre. And, I can see why. It's engaging, entertaining and particularly affecting, if you're a parent, and you had any adoption experience.

Dan Savage, author of the memoir, The Kid: What Happened after My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant, is widely recognized for his syndicated relationship and sex column “Savage Love” and weekly podcast “Savage Lovecast.”

Directed by Scott Elliott, the cast features Christopher Sieber (Broadway: Shrek – Tony® Award nomination, Monty Python's Spamalot - Tony nom.; TV: "Pushing Daisies") in the role of Dan Savage,and Lucas Steele (B’way: The Threepenny Opera, Off-B’way: Oliver Twist-TFANA, Corpus Christie-Bouwerie Lane Theater, Wickets-3LD) as Dan’s boyfriend Terry.

The company also includes Kevin Anthony, Susan Blackwell, Jill Eikenberry as Dan’s Mom, Jeannine Frumess, Ann Harada, Tyler Maynard, Brooke Sunny Moriber, Justin Patterson and Michael Wartella.

Set Design is by Derek McLane, Costume Design is by Jeff Mahshie, and Sound Design is by Ken Travis. Music Supervision/Arrangements/Orchestrations are by Dominick Amendum.

Musical Direction is by Boko Suzuki, and Musical Staging is by Josh Prince. Animation is by Jeffrey Scher, whose work appears in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Academy Film Archives, Hirshhorn Museum, Pompidou Centre, Musee d’Art Moderne, Vienna Kunsthalle and Austrian National Archive, and others.

Scott Elliott (Director) is the founding Artistic Director of The New Group, where he has produced over 45 plays, 20 of which he has personally directed. Broadway credits include Present Laughter, Barefoot in the Park, and 3 plays produced by The Roundabout: The Threepenny Opera, The Women, and Three Sisters. He is also a film director and screenwriter.

Andy Monroe (music) wrote the music and lyrics for The Tragic and Horrible Life of The Singing Nun (2006 New York Musical Theater Festival). He is the recipient of both the 2001 BMI Foundation Jerry Harrington Musical Theater Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement and the 2009 Jerry Bock Award. Dramatist Guild Fellow (2007-8) and proud member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.

Michael Zam (book) is penning a stage adaptation of the novel Selfish & Perverse by Bob Smith for director Jerry Mitchell. Screenplays include (with co-writer Jaffe Cohen) Best Actress (Black List of Best New Screenplays, 2009), to be produced by Plan B Entertainment and directed by Ryan Murphy; and Wife Vs. Ninja for DreamWorks Pictures. With his collaborators, Zam was honored with BMI’s Jerry Bock Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theatre for The Kid. He teaches screenwriting at NYU (Award for Teaching Excellence, 1998 and 2007) and Modern British Drama every August at NYU in London.

Jack Lechner (lyrics) is a songwriter, most recently for the HBO special A Family Is A Family Is A Family (with Andy Monroe); a writer; an NYU professor; and a film and TV producer, based at Washington Square Films. Member of BMI Musical Theater Workshop (Advanced); won 2004 Jerry Harrington Award.

The Kid plays at The New Group @ Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre/410 West 42nd Street, between 9th& 10th Avenues) as follows: Monday at 8:00 PM, Tuesday at 7:00 PM, Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00 PM, with a matinee on Saturday at 2:00 PM.

Tickets may be arranged through Ticket Central at http://www.ticketcentral.com or
(212) 279-4200, or at the Theatre Row Box Office (12:00–8:00 PM daily). Tickets are $60.00 plus $1.25 restoration fee. For more information, visit http://www.thenewgroup.org.

Robin's Show Recommendation -- SESSIONS

I had the opportunity to see the Off-Bway musical SESSIONS last night in NYC, and really enjoyed it.

It now features "Guiding Light” Star and Daytime Emmy Nominee Robert Newman (no relation to me).

SESSIONS, directed by Thomas Coté, is playing at the Algonquin Theater (123 East 24th Street). Albert M. Tapper (From Where I Stand, Broadway: The Golden Age) wrote this candid, poignant and witty musical about the everyday life of a New York therapist and his patients.

In SESSIONS, the New York therapist is challenged to balance his patients’ needs with his own- all while fending off advances from one very enticing female subject. His experiences remind us that even those we look to for guidance can be as vulnerable as we are.

Dr. Peter Peterson listens, advises and tests his patients. His therapy support group includes: a bickering marriage just won’t go away, a rich kid who found his voice in Bob Dylan, a reluctant man who has longed for the same woman for 15 years, a young woman who has spent so much time in therapy she might get out, a billionaire who finds no solace in his money, a strong willed woman with a dark secret, and a provocative siren in high heels...

Newman joins stars Bertilla Baker (Titanic, Bernarda Alba), Al Bundonis (Whistle Down The
Wind, Ragtime), Scott Richard Foster (Brooklyn the Musical), Drama Desk and Theatre World
award winner Ken Jennings (Sweeney Todd, Urinetown), Tony nominee Liz Larsen (The Most
Happy Fella, The Rocky Horror Show), Kelli Maguire (Swingtime Canteen, A Wonderful Life)
Rachelle Rak (Fosse, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and Sky Seals (Much Ado About Nothing,
Medea).


* * *
SESSIONS plays Wednesday-Saturday at 8pm as well at playing 3pm matinees on Wednesday,
Saturday and Sunday. Due to the “Guiding Light” shooting schedule, the role of Dr. Peterson will
be played by Dennis Holland on Wednesday matinees. All seats are $50 and are available by
visiting http://www.smarttix.com/ or by calling 212-868-4444. Senior and student discount tickets are available for $20.

http://www.sessionsthemusical.com/

Show I Recommend -- Gazillion Bubble Show

GAZILLION BUBBLE SHOW CELEBRATES ITS 3RD “UNBUBBLELIEVABLE” YEAR OFF-BROADWAY At New World Stages in NYC

GAZILLION BUBBLE SHOW continues to amaze audiences with its mind blowing bubble magic at New World Stages (340 W. 50 Street in NYC). A family affair, GAZILLION BUBBLE SHOW features Guinness World Record Holders Fan, Ana or Jano Yang.

The show is the first and only interactive stage production of its kind, complete with outstanding light effects, lasers, rousing music and jaw-dropping masterpieces of bubble artistry. The grand finale floods the theatre with an incredible laser display and wave after wave of light-catching bubbles. It is "awesome"....to quote my son.

I recently saw it with Seth (age 6), and he got a huge kick out of jumping out of his seat, trying to catch the bubbles. It was great to take him to a show where he didn't have to stay put, keep quiet, etc. It was an intriguing interactive experience on many levels and quite memorable.

I, myself, was mesmerized with the pulsating streams of colored lights, music and bubbles. I actually found it surprisingly tranquil and relaxing at points....as if I was being transported under the water...between the special effects and the wetness of the bubbles surrounding you, touching you, etc.

I enjoyed it much more than I ever anticipated, and highly recommend it. It's a real treat and feast for the eyes and senses.

And, it was amusing. Kids were selected from the audience and brought on stage, and it was fun to watch their reaction. It felt like one big party. I often found myself saying "wow."

Tickets may be purchased thru Telecharge at 212.239.6200 or at www.telecharge.com.
Running time is 80 minutes, no intermission.

Visit www.gazillionbubbleshow.com to check it out.