'White Christmas' Opens on Broadway Tickets for the upcoming Broadway production of IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS will go on sale exclusively to American Express® card members this Wednesday, August 20th through Wednesday, September 17th. Preferred seating will be available to Gold Card, Platinum Card® and Centurion® members. Tickets will go sale to the general public on Sunday, September 21st, 2008 Following acclaimed engagements in San Francisco, Boston, Detroit, Toronto, Los Angeles and St. Paul, IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, a new musical stage reinvention of the beloved classic film, will arrive at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway this holiday season - guaranteeing New York a white Christmas! Previews will begin Friday, November 14th, 2008 for an official opening on Sunday, November 23rd, 2008, and a limited engagement through Sunday, January 4th, 2009. Casting information will be announced shortly. IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS is produced by Kevin McCollum, John Gore, Tom McGrath, Paul Blake, The Producing Office, Dan Markley, Sonny Everett and Broadway Across America in association with Paramount Pictures. Every holiday season, audiences of all ages enjoy the uplifting story of White Christmas. Now, a new generation will be able to experience this holiday tradition in a completely new way - live on stage. With the Broadway arrival of IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, the show is poised to become New York's newest holiday tradition. The musical tells the story of two showbiz buddies who put on a show in a picturesque Vermont inn, and find their perfect mates in the bargain. Full of dancing, laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written, IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS promises to be a merry and bright theatrical experience for the entire family. IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS is directed by Tony Award® winner Walter Bobbie (Chicago, Sweet Charity), with a book by David Ives (Is He Dead?) and Paul Blake, choreography by Tony Award® nominee Randy Skinner (42nd Street), set design by Tony Award® nominee Anna Louizos (In the Heights, Avenue Q), costumes by Tony Award® nominee Carrie Robbins (Grease, Over Here), lighting design by Tony Award® winner Ken Billington (Chicago, The Drowsy Chaperone, Annie), sound design by Tony Award® nominee Acme Sound Partners (In the Heights, Spamalot), orchestrations by Tony Award® nominee Larry Blank (The Drowsy Chaperone), vocal and dance arrangements by Bruce Pomahac, music supervision by Rob Berman, and casting by Jay Binder C.S.A. The stage production is based on the Paramount Pictures film, written for the screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama, and Melvin Frank. Many Irving Berlin classics are showcased in the new musical, including "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," "I Love a Piano," "Sisters," "How Deep is the Ocean" and the unforgettable title song, "White Christmas." This production of IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS plays during the holiday season each year in a different city, bringing the spirit of love, charity, and song around the country for all to enjoy. IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS made its world premiere stage debut during the 2004 holiday season in San Francisco, garnering rave reviews and establishing its status as a don't-miss holiday show. The show has since dazzled audiences across the country. The critics have said: "Irving Berlin's White Christmas makes you feel like you've stepped into a Technicolor movie musical," raved the Oakland Tribune. "A holiday juggernaut. There's plenty to ooh and aah over. One well-loved Berlin tune after another" declared the Los Angeles Times. "Plenty of razzmatazz, including snow!" said the Boston Globe. The Detroit Free Press proclaimed "Highly entertaining holiday fare!" and the St. Paul Star Tribune called the musical "A dazzling, sweet work that deserves plenty of praise." TICKET INFORMATION: Beginning Sunday, September 21st, 2008, tickets prices will be $66.50, $91.50 and $121.50 (including $1.50 facility fee), and are available through Ticketmaster by calling 212-307-4100,online at www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the Marquis Theatre box office (1535 Broadway).For group sales details and pricing call The Group Sales Box Office at 800-223-7565 or visit www.bestofbroadway.com. PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Beginning Friday, November 14th, 2008, IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS will play the following unique performance schedule per week: Week of November 10th, 2008: Friday & Saturday at 8p, Sunday evening at 7p, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p. Week of November 17th, 2008: Wednesday - Saturday at 8p, Tuesday at 7p, Sunday evening at 6p (Opening Night). Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2p. Week of November 24th, 2008: Wednesday - Saturday at 8p, Tuesday at 7p. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p. Weeks of December 1st and December 8th, 2008: Wednesday - Saturday at 8p, Tuesday & Sunday evening at 7p. Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p. Week of December 15th, 2008: Wednesday - Saturday at 8p, Tuesday & Sunday evening at 7p. Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p. Week of December 22nd, 2008: Monday, Friday & Saturday at 8p, Tuesday & Sunday evening at 7p. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p. Dark on Christmas Day, December 25. Week of December 29th, 2008: Monday, Friday & Saturday at 8p, Tuesday at 7p. Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2:00p. DARK - New Year's Eve & Day on December 31 & January 1, 2009. FINAL PERFORMANCE - Sunday, January 4, 2009. For more information please visit www.whitechristmasthemusical.com 7 Secrets of Highly Effective Chicks! Village Players Performing Arts Center presents The Sparkle Sisters: 7 Secrets of Highly Effective Chicks   In just one night, learn the Sparkle Sisters secrets to keeping their curves! From Sondheim to Berlin, this hilarious musical evening will inspire you to find your own inner sparkle through a cabaret revue of story songs.  7 Secrets of Highly Effective Chicks will make audiences laugh, cry and go home happy. The Sparkle Sisters, Carol Moss and Monica McCarthy, began performing together in 2003. They came together out of a mutual love of singing/performing and the desire to inspire people to live life from a perspective of love, not fear. They sold out the Wilmette Theater (in a snow storm!) last January.  At Davenport's Cabaret in Chicago, they've performed "P.S. I Love You, from the Sparkle Sisters," and "Winter Sparkle Land, Tales of Glug and Whiskey," to sold out houses. They also regularly perform for private parties, libraries and benefits. They released their first CD, "P.S. I Love You," in November 2004. Carol Moss has appeared in over 100 commercials and 300 industrial films as well as in television and feature films. In Boston she sang at Faneuil Hall and in Philadelphia at numerous cabaret clubs, private parties and with Young Audiences, introducing opera to school children. In Chicago she has sung at the Royal George, Bailiwick Theater and Davenport's Piano Bar. Monica McCarthy has sung her favorites from Cole Porter in such famous Chicago nightclubs as Boombala, and on the road in Las Vegas, Orlando and Annaheim. She has performed various roles in many of Chicago's theaters including Drury Lane, Wisdom Bridge, Center Theater, Apple Tree Theater, Pegasus Players and The Royal George. She has inspired a generation of theater students at Apple Tree, Center Theater, and now at The Music Institute of Chicago. The Sparkle Sisters: 7 Secrets of Highly Effective Chicks performs November 22, 2008.  Show time is 8 PM. Tickets are $25/Adults and $20/Students & Seniors.  Presented in the Mainstage Theater of the newly renovated Village Players Performing Arts Center located at 1010 Madison St., Oak Park. Plenty of parking is available on the street. The theater is handicap accessible; please call ahead to arrange for special seating.   More information is available at www.village-players.org or 866-764-1010.   Village Players Performing Arts Center offers an eclectic mix of entertainment that empowers and inspires while exploring the human condition. ANGRY YOUNG WOMEN Extends at Hudson Mainstage Through 11/22 KADM Productions has announced that its critically-acclaimed production of ANGRY YOUNG WOMEN IN LOW-RISE JEANS WITH HIGH-CLASS ISSUES is EXTENDING through SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22 at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd (on Theatre Row) in Hollywood! ANGRY YOUNG WOMEN IN LOW-RISE JEANS WITH HIGH-CLASS ISSUES, continues to wow audiences in Los Angeles, after multiple sold-out limited engagements in New York and Sydney!  The raucous comedy has been written and directed by filmmaker turned playwright Matt Morillo, This irreverent comedy--equal parts sophisticated, sexy, and saucy--explores the modern day trials and tribulations of being young, female, and living in the big city. Told in five short one-acts, each vignette shamelessly plows headfirst into challenging contemporary definitions of sexism, feminism, homophobia, and gender roles giving audiences a refreshing and intelligent look at what's right, wrong, fantastic, and inexplicable about modern metropolitan women. In the last two years, "Angry Young Women" has had three sold out runs in NYC (two Off Off Broadway and one Off Broadway) and two separate four-week runs in Sydney, Australia.  It is making its title an idiom in New York and Australia and has amassed an enthusiastic fan base on two continents.  The play, Morillo's first, was published this spring by Samuel French, along with Morillo's second play, "All Aboard the Marriage Hearse." AN “ANGRY” PRODUCTION HISTORY ANGRY YOUNG WOMEN IN LOW-RISE JEANS WITH HIGH-CLASS ISSUES premiered at the Duo Theater in New York's East Village January 19 to February 25, 2006 and was revived by Theater for the New City, NYC January 4 to February 24, 2007.  In Sydney, Australia, Stella Green Productions produced 31 performances with an Australian cast and director from August 14 to September 2, 2007 and revived it with 27 performances from January 9 to February 9, 2008.  An Off Broadway production opened at the Players Theater on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village on July 12 and closed October 20, 2007. ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM MATT MORILLO (Writer/Director/Executive Producer) Matt has gone from making a splash to making waves in the world of independent theater and film.  His first two plays, "Angry Young Women in Low-Rise Jeans with High-Class Issues" and "All Aboard the Marriage Hearse" received back-to-back publishing deals with Samuel French, an extremely rare and noteworthy achievement.  Besides his foray into theater, Matt has been a fixture on the New York independent film scene for the past ten years.  After graduating film school, Matt made his auspicious debut at the young age of 23 with his first feature "The Pretenders (2000)," an award-winning romantic comedy.  His subsequent short films, most notably "Maid of Honor (2003)," garnered him numerous awards and regional notoriety.  Matt also writes stand-up for some of Los Angeles and New York's emerging comedians, and he has recently brought his sagacious, uncensored wit to the web by launching "The Cynical Optimist (www.thecynicaloptimist.net)" a website of editorials and musings about love, relationships, sex, current events and anything else that pops into his ginourmous head.  Matt and his exploits have been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The New York Post, W Magazine, The Village Voice, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), Sydney Theatre, Australian Stage, Aussie Theater Backstage Magazine, Theater Mania, and multiple times on WOR Radio with Joey Reynolds. JESSICA MORENO (Executive Producer)  Jessica began producing plays as an undergraduate Theater and Sanskrit student at Columbia University (including "Pizza Man" and "Stupid Kids").  She co-produced Angry Young Women alongside Matt Morillo for its run at Theater for the New City in 2007, and again for its off-Broadway run at The Players Theater later that year.  Jessica is now stepping up as Executive Producer of Angry Young Women for its West Coast Premier.  Although she appears primarily on-stage and in front of the camera, Jessica has always taken an interest in working behind the scenes on creative projects.  While dancing professionally as a teenager, Jessica co-choreographed several modern dance pieces for BLUdance Theatre, with whom she was a principal dancer (she has also appeared as a guest artist with Pilobolus). RACQUEL LEHRMAN, THEATRE PLANNERS (Producer) is the founder and managing director of Theatre Planners, her own theatre production/PR firm. She graduated from NYU-Tisch School of the Arts and lived in NY for over ten years producing theatre. Theatre Planners has since developed in to a very busy and successful outlet for actors, producers and theatre companies. Doing everything from publicity, consulting, printing and graphics, Racquel loves to make productions a reality and help to keep the theatre scene in LA alive and strong. Racquel has recently acquired the Actor’s Gang old space on El Centro and is the new owner of the LOUNGE THEATRE in Hollywood on Theatre Row. KADM Players (The Ensemble) – The KADM Players have been creatively collaborating for the past decade.  Formed in 1998 as part of KADM Productions' film projects, they have been earning accolades on the independent film and theater scenes in New York, and are thrilled to be making their first trip to Los Angeles as a company. The West Coast Premiere of “Angry Young Women” has original KADM Players Jessica Moreno and Tom Pilutik (who both performed in KADM's first feature, “The Pretenders”) join long-time members Keenan Henson and Jason Drumwright, and newer members Brooke Hasalton and Gina Regalbuto on the stage as they take the company national.  Over the years, members of the KADM Players have performed in three of Matt Morillo's award-winning films.  They have contributed to every aspect of the creative development of the hit plays “Angry Young Women” and “All Aboard the Marriage Hearse.”  Furthermore, Jessica Moreno, Tom Pilutik, and Jason Drumwright were all original cast members of “Angry Young Women” when it premiered in New York in 2006.  The KADM Players have received critical acclaim as a company from the likes of The New York Times, Backstage Magazine and The New York Post, to name a few. The Lighting and Sound design is by Matt Richter. ANGRY YOUNG WOMEN is EXTENDING through SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22!  Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm; Sundays at 7:00pm at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.  Ticket prices are $25 and are available by calling (323) 960-5774 or by going to www.angryyoungwomen.net. Beechman to Host Special Guest for Christine Lavin Tribute on 11/22 "Single Voice", a tribute to New York Songwriter Christine Lavin will take place on Saturday, November 22nd @ 8pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre. The evening will feature the talents of Francesca Armani, Jim Caruso, Suzanne Carrico, Julie Gold, Booth & Pat, Hilary Kole, 2 Funny Jazz Chicks: Joan Crowe & Sue Matsuki with special guests Tom Paxton, Noel Paul Stookey, Jeff Daniels The Laurie Beechman Theate is located at  407 West 42nd Street.  Price is $35 Cover/2 drink min. for reservations please call (212)695-6909. For more information please visit www.sucaproductions.com.   Dame Edna Brings Show to San Francisco's Post Street Theatre Starting 11/23 Dame Edna Everage - International Housewife, Therapist, Gigastar, Fashion Icon, Guru and Swami - is squeezing her beloved San Francisco possums in to her hectic global schedule for the last time in the world premiere of Dame Edna - Live and Intimate in Her First Last Tour at San Francisco's Post Street Theatre beginning Thursday, November 20 and continuing through Sunday, January 4, 2009. Opening Night is set for Sunday, November 23 at 5 p.m.  Tickets are on sale now at the Post Street Theatre box office, by phone at 415-771-6900 and on the web at www.ticketmaster.com. In Dame Edna - Live and Intimate in Her First Last Tour, Edna "will display her unique genius with a new and vibrantly stimulating theatrical infrastructure", addressing an exciting range of cutting edge comedy solutions. Edna will also be welcoming some very special guests on-stage, including her dysfunctional daughter Valmai as well as international diplomat, Sir Les Patterson , who will be offering advice on a variety of topics ranging from gay marriage to the state of the nation. "My life is full of agonizing choices, and I'm booked out for decades. But I had to give my devoted San Francisco possums first taste of this wonderful farewell show." Dame Edna has been embracing her Entertainment Solutions both on Broadway and the length and breadth of America for the last nine years, and never have Americans needed to laugh, cry and give standing ovations as much as they do today. Dame Edna's performances have won a Tony Award and one Tony Nomination and countless critical awards. Dame Edna - Live and Intimate in Her First Last Tour will play San Francisco's Post Street Theatre (450 Post St., 2nd floor) beginning Thursday, November 20 and continue through Sunday, January 4, 2009. Opening Night is set for Sunday, November 23, 2008. The preview performance schedule is: Thursday, November 20 & Friday, November 21 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 22 at 3& 8 p.m. The regular performance schedule (November 23, 2008 - January 4, 2009) is: Tuesday through Friday evenings at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 & 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. Tickets range in price from $58-$78 for regular performances. All seats for preview performances (November 20 - 22) and Opening Night (November 23) are $55. Tickets for Dame Edna - Live and Intimate in Her First Last Tour are on sale now at the Post Street Theatre box office, by phone at 415-771-6900 and on the web at www.ticketmaster.com. Photo of Dame Edna by Genevieve Rafter Keddy David Gonzalez Bring THE FROG BRIDE to Tribeca 11/22 Storyteller, poet and performer David Gonzalez will bring his family hit THE FROG BRIDE to life at Tribeca Performing Arts Center, directed by Lenard Petit. Gonzalez's show has been entertaining schools and NYC children for over 10 years as part of the Lincoln Center Institute. The performance will compliment the upcoming DVD release of the show. "When a King sends his three sons to find their brides, two return with fair ladies. The last returns with... A FROG?!" THE FROG BRIDE is a hip adaptation of a classic Russian tale. Two outstanding musicians play an original jazz-funk score, as David performs every role against a backdrop of stunning live video projection and moving images. Tribeca Performing Arts Center is located at 199 Chambers Street (between Greenwich & West Side Highway).  The performance will take place on Sunday, November 22 @ 1:30pm. $25 general admission (All ages). To order tickets call (212) 220-1460 or visit http://www.tribecapac.org DREAMGIRLS Open Casting Call Postponed Until 11/22 John Breglio, producer of the upcoming 2009 national tour of Dreamgirls, announced today the open casting call is being postponed from Saturday, November 1, 2008, to Saturday, November 22, 2008.  The talent search for the new "Dreams" will still take place at the Apollo Theater. "Due to the horrific personal tragedy Jennifer Hudson is undergoing, we feel this is not the time for a talent search for a role that is so closely connected with her," said producer John Breglio.  "Our prayers and thoughts are with Ms. Hudson and her family at this tragic time."  For further information about the Apollo Theater, visit the website at www.apollotheater.org. Dreamgirls is a fascinating look inside the 60's music industry. Filled with showbiz glitz and glamour, romance and heartbreak, the musical features songs such as 'Dreamgirls,' 'I Am Changing,' 'I Miss You Old Friend' and Effie's show-stopping signature song, 'And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going.' Dreamgirls Books and Lyrics are by Tom Eyen, Music by Henry Krieger. The original Broadway production was Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett with Orchestrations by Harold Wheeler. Dreamgirls was produced on Broadway by Michael Bennett, Robert Avian, Geffen Records and The Shubert Organization. It is presented through special arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc.  Bill Condon's recent hit film of Dreamgirls starred Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Anika Noni Rose. EPA Announces's Premiere of 'Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents'l Starring Grace Gummer Electric Pear Productions (Melanie Sylvan and Ashlin Halfnight, Co-Executive Producers) will present the US premiere of The Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents by Lukas Bärfuss, translated by Neil Blackadder at The Wild Project (195 East Third Street, between Avenues A & B) for a limited run, beginning November 6th through 22nd. Opening night is set for Tuesday, November 11th. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased by phone by calling 212-352-3101 or online at www.electricpear.org. Discover one of Switzerland's most willful and stimulating playwrights. Following a smash run in London, Electric Pear brings a stunning and disturbing new Swiss play to New York for its US premiere. Rising star Kristjan Thor, named one of New York Magazine’s "Most Likely to be Famous Before 30," directs Bärfuss’ US debut of The Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents which has been called “Horribly compelling” by the Times UK, “taboo-busting” and “This in-yer-face piece sticks in-yer-mind” by Time Out London and the London Evening Standard says, “This show makes a splash.” Grace Gummer, daughter of Meryl Streep and sister of Mamie Gummer, will make her NY theatrical debut as Dora, who, after ten years on tranquillizers, emerges with an insatiable sexual appetite that pits her against a secret and deviant adult world. Not your normal coming of age story. Not your everyday sexual awakening. Completing the cast are Laura Heidinger, Kathryn Kates (“Seinfeld’), Max Lodge, Charlie Mitchell, Jim Noonan and Peter O'Connor (Kidstuff). The design team includes scenic design by Moza Saracho’s who also is co-costume designer with Kylie Ward; original music and sound design by Joel Bravo; lighting design by Sabrina Peric. To coincide with Electric Pear Productions' US Premiere of The Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents by Lukas Bärfuss, The Wild Project gallery is pleased to present a small selection of photographs on loan from the Kinsey Institute archive. The Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents is sponsored by the Consulate General of Switzerland. Hal Holbook's 'Mark Twain Tonight' Comes to Marin Center Nov. 22 HAl Holbrook brings his much acclaimed one-man show "Mark Twain Tonight" to Marin Center for one unforgettable performance. Begun as a college honors project, Holbrook first performed solo as Mark Twain in 1954. In 1959 a refined version of his show opened off-Broadway to immediate acclaim. The New Yorker proclaimed it "Uncanny. A dazzling display of virtuosity." Life Magazine opined "One of the Treasures of the American Theatre." The show won an Obie Award in 1959, followed by a Tony Award and Drama Critic's Circle Award in 1966. Public Info: Tickets are $25, $40, and $45, with premium seats being at $60. Tickets may be ordered through the Marin Center Box Office at 415-499-6800 or visit www.marincenter.org San Rafael, CA- Fresh off his 2008 Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his memorable role in Sean Penn's "Into the Wild", theater legend HAl Holbrook brings his much acclaimed one-man show "Mark Twain Tonight" to Marin Center for one unforgettable performance. Begun as a college honors project, Holbrook first performed solo as Mark Twain in 1954. In 1959 a refined version of his show opened off-Broadway to immediate acclaim. The New Yorker proclaimed it "Uncanny. A dazzling display of virtuosity." Life Magazine opined "One of the Treasures of the American Theatre." With the public and popular press suitably impressed, professional acclaim followed. The show won an Obie Award in 1959, followed by a Tony Award and Drama Critic's Circle Award in 1966. The performance will be on Saturday, November 22 at 8pm at the Marin Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, Avenue of the Flags at Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. Tickets are $25, $40, and $45, with premium seats   Hall Holbrook In 'MARK TWAIN TONIGHT' At Martin Center 11/22 HAl Holbrook in “Mark Twain Tonight” Comes to Marin Center for One Night, November 22 at 8pm. The Marin Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium is located at Avenue of the Flags at Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. HAl Holbrook brings his much acclaimed one-man show “Mark Twain Tonight” to Marin Center for one unforgettable performance. Begun as a college honors project, Holbrook first performed solo as Mark Twain in 1954. In 1959 a refined version of his show opened off-Broadway to immediate acclaim. The New Yorker proclaimed it “Uncanny. A dazzling display of virtuosity.” Life Magazine opined “One of the Treasures of the American Theatre.” The show won an Obie Award in 1959, followed by a Tony Award and Drama Critic’s Circle Award in 1966. Tickets are $25, $40, and $45, with premium seats being at $60. Tickets may be ordered through the Marin Center Box Office at 415-499-6800 or visit www.marincenter.org San Rafael, CA- Fresh off his 2008 Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his memorable role in Sean Penn’s “Into the Wild”, theater legend HAl Holbrook brings his much acclaimed one-man show “Mark Twain Tonight” to Marin Center for one unforgettable performance. Begun as a college honors project, Holbrook first performed solo as Mark Twain in 1954. In 1959 a refined version of his show opened off-Broadway to immediate acclaim. The New Yorker proclaimed it “Uncanny. A dazzling display of virtuosity.” Life Magazine opined “One of the Treasures of the American Theatre.” With the public and popular press suitably impressed, professional acclaim followed. The show won an Obie Award in 1959, followed by a Tony Award and Drama Critic’s Circle Award in 1966. InterAct Theatre Company to Conclude THE WAR PARTY 11/23 InterAct Theatre Company will present the East Coast premiere of THE WAR PARTY by Vincent Delaney directed by Rebecca Wright. It will run from Oct. 24 - Nov. 23 2008 at The Adrienne in Center City, PA. For tickets and more information please visit www.interacttheatre.org ABOUT THE PLAY It’s 3:00 a.m. on election night. Campaign headquarters is outfitted for a huge celebration; streamers, posters, olives. But the room is as quiet as a churchmouse. Laura Smith, the prohibitive Republican favorite, has lost her Senate race in a landslide. Suddenly without friends, and drunk as a skunk, Laura is thinking of cashing it all in… that is until one of her loyal and spunky interns, Jessie, rescues her from the brink of disaster and wrestles her, quite literally, back to political life. THE WAR PARTY is a modern political parable about the limitations of the two-party system. A timely and provocative satire featuring food fights, girls kissing and the spirit of FDR.   ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT Vicent Delaney, Playwright of THE WAR PARTYVicent Delaney’s plays include THE ART OF BAD MEN, THREE SCREAMS, WRITER 1272 and KUWAIT, which won the Heideman Award from Actors Theatre of Louisville and the New Play Award from Sonoma Rep. His plays have been produced, commissioned and developed at the Guthrie, Cleveland Playhouse, ACT, Children’s Theatre Company, the Humana Festival, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the Magic, Woolly Mammoth, the Empty Space, PlayLabs, Seattle Public, the New Harmony Project, Pittsburgh Public, Florida Stage, InterAct, and the Orlando Shakespeare Festival, among others. THE SEQUENCE, commissioned by the Guthrie, has been produced around the country and in the UK. ACCELERATION RED won the Lamia Ink contest and was produced by Harrogate Theatre and Brooklyn College. He is the recipient of a Bush Fellowship, a McKnight Fellowship, a Jerome Commission, the Apsey Award, the Nathan Miller Award, and a grant from the Seattle Arts Commission. His work is published by Smith and Kraus, Heineman, Samuel French, Dramatics Magazine and Playscripts.com. Vince is a Core Writer at the Playwrights Center. ABOUT THE DIRECTOR Rebecca Wright, Director of THE WAR PARTYRebecca Wright (Director) is a Philadelphia-based director and dramaturg. Her Philadelphia directing credits include HOLD PLEASE with Eternal Spiral Project, Larry Loebell’s THE BALLAD OF JOHN WESLEY REED, and 2008 YOUNG VOICES for InterAct/Philadelphia Young Playwrights. She also assistant directed AN EMPTY PLATE AT THE CAFE DU GRAND BOUEF and SLEEPING BEAUTY with Whit MacLaughlin at the Arden Theatre, and BUG with Matt Pfieffer at Theater Exile. She has a BA from the University of Michigan and an MA in Performance and Culture from the University of London. She dramaturged InterAct's Barrymore-nominated production of HOUSE DIVIDED last season and James MacLindon's SAVING GRACE at PlayPenn 2008. She is the literary director and resident dramaturg at InterAct Theatre Company.   ABOUT THE CAST & CREW Susan Wilder Susan Wilder (Laura Smith) previously appeared on InterAct’s stage in SINCE AFRICA. Susan has worked on Broadway in KING LEAR (with Christopher Plummer), IVANOV (with Kevin Kline) and FAR EAST at Lincoln Center Theater. Regional credits include: Coconut Grove Playhouse, Walnut Street Theatre, Wilma Theatre (Barrymore Nomination for THE MAGIC FIRE), Arden Theatre (Barrymore Nomination for A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC), Studio Theatre (Washington D.C.), Philadelphia Festival Theatre for New Plays, Marin Shakespeare Company, Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, and six years a member of The People's Light & Theatre Company. Her television and feature film credits include: "The Silence at Bethany" (American Playhouse - Christopher Award), "Perry Mason", "Spencer: For Hire", "Equal Justice", "The Petrified Forest" (CBS Live Broadcast), Big, Unbreakable and Universal Signs. As a teacher and text coach, she coached MEASURE FOR MEASURE at Theatre Couth Carolina as a Guest Artist of The Shakespeare Theatre Company in D.C. Susan received her MFA from The Academy for Classical Acting at George Washington University. Meghan Heimbecker Meghan Heimbecker (Jessie) makes her InterAct debut with THE WAR PARTY. Meghan recently returned from doing the musical QUILTERS with the Great Plains Theatre in Kansas. Locally, she has worked with Walnut, Wilma (Barrymore Nominee for MY CHILDREN! MY AFRICA! ), 11th Hour, Montgomery, Arden, Prince, Theatre Horizon and Seventh Sister. Visit www.meghanheimbecker.com for more information about Meghan’s work as an actress, director and teaching artist.  Tim Moyer Tim Moyer (Franklin D. Roosevelt) marks his 17th production at InterAct with THE WAR PARTY. Tim most recently appeared in last season's World Premiere production Seth Rozin's BLACK GOLD. A few of Tim's previous shows with InterAct include A HOUSE WITH NO WALLS, REINVENTING EDEN, BLUE/ORANGE (also at Act II Playhouse), BLACK RUSSIAN, BEE-LUTHER-HATCHEE, as Richard Nixon in NIXON'S NIXON (also at Act II), as Paul Barrow in the Barrymore Award-winning production of Permanent Collection, and as director of InterAct's production of MAN MEASURES MAN. Tim has also appeared in an episode of "Hack," worked on the film The Village, and appeared in THE PHILADELPHIA STORY at the Walnut Street Theatre. The design team for THE WAR PARTY includes Set Design by Dirk Durossett, Costume Design by Susan Smythe, Lighting Design by Maria Shaplin, Sound Design by Chris Colucci and Props by Amanda Hatch. The production will be Stage Managed by Joshua Lieberman, with Jessica Hurley serving as Assistant Director, Kia Feindt as Assistant Stage Manager and Britt Plunkett as Technical Director. John Herrera Anchors the Engaging, Tricky 'Medium at Large' After extensive development in New York at the York Theatre and the Vineyard Theatre, the world premiere of the musical "The Medium at Large" took place Sunday afternoon, October 19, 2008, at the Village Players Performing Arts Center in Oak Park, Illinois, just over Chicago's western border. Starring Tony Award nominee John Herrera (Neville in "The Mystery of Edwin Drood") as the titular spiritualist, the show shows promise in negotiating a tricky premise and an even trickier payoff. The theater artists George Furth, Jack Hofsiss, Max Showalter, Bruce Pomahac and Randall Myler, among others, are mentioned in the show's program as inspirers and encouragers. And now that the show is on its feet, hopefully its creative team can continue its development to the point of the script and score having legs as well. The musical's writers, Julia Cameron and Emma Lively, choose to not name who writes what. Whether Cameron, the author of the bestseller "The Artist's Way" and its numerous spin-offs, wrote the book, and Lively, a former composition student at the Juilliard School, wrote the music (both on lyrics?) is a matter of conjecture, as the pair are a joint writing team of ten years running whose next work is reportedly Rue McClanahan's one-woman show, "My First Five Husbands." As one instinctively knows that the writing should be held to a higher standard than the acting, the orchestrations and the execution of the design concept in a production of modest means, I will proceed on that basis. Luckily, as a piece of writing, "The Medium at Large" has numerous strengths. Interestingly, the second act plays better than the first, and is about fifteen minutes longer. The songs are a varied lot and for the most part reveal character and mood, and the story kept my attention, not the least because it seems to negotiate several tightropes without falling off of any of them. And, whether in the writing or the direction (by Carl Occhipinti), this production fascinatingly weaves projected film into transitional moments and some musical numbers as a way to impart a more vibrant feel for Manhattan of 1938, the show's setting (I spotted either Cary Grant or Robert Taylor in one brief shot, I think!).  Herrera, as Bruce, the somewhat reluctant medium who happens to be gay and who can't quite connect with his late "friend," John, in the same way that he connects with countless other spirits, is a warm and authoritative presence. (A portrait of John hangs prominently throughout the evening.) Herrera sings with a ringing high register and a soothing low one, and brings order and ideas to the story of two twentyish sisters whose deceased parents want the best for them (especially romantically), and yet the parents can't quite make it happen from the other side of death without Bruce's assistance. Have no fear! The show is subtitled, "A Spirited New Musical Comedy," and there are no séances, reenacted murders or hidden ventriloquists to be seen. There are plenty of jokes, up-tempo numbers and charm. All ends touchingly and  happily, too, despite the temporary threat of suicide and the constant spectre (pun intended) of loving someone who is ghost, whether you can see them or not. The deceased characters, three main ones and a modest singing and dancing chorus of four, wear all white formal wear (some with tatters hanging down, some not) and sometimes appear behind a large scrim, the same one where the film segments are projected (costumes by Anna Glowacki, sets by Bill Jenkins and video designs by Karen Gerbig). Downstage right and left are the apartments of Bruce and the young woman, Ruth (the sweet-faced, sweet-voiced Kendall Lester), with lovely period properties credited to Cassandra Soliday & Linda Miles.  Two ideas which came to me as necessary to make the show (particularly the first act) stronger are these:  First, Ruth owns two marionettes, you see, and they are used to really quite good effect during the scene of her budding romance with a young Episcopal minister, William (called "Billy" in the program), played by the shot-of-fresh-air actor Tyler Dean.  Their number together was quite sweet and effective. And yet the marionettes hung in full view and were constantly mentioned during the first act, during Ruth never went anywhere near them, much less touched them. Hopefully something can be crafted to give her some interaction with them in the early going. The omission seemed odd.  And secondly, despite the clever title, "The Medium at Large," it must be noted that Bruce never goes outside his apartment building in the whole show!  He may have gone stage left once or twice, but most of the time he is in his stage right apartment. He isn't agoraphobic or anything, but everyone comes to him and he hosts.  I desperately wanted him to go to the park or the theater or walk down the street once or twice. A number in the first act depicting him in the open air (does he work??) would have been lovely, and would have solidified him as the show's lead character, which is not at all as clear as it should be, given all the romantic problems that come Ruth's way. Just a thought. That said, Herrera's opening and closing numbers are true highlights of the production.  Among the other cast members, Tim Grover, as the recently deceased Harry, is quite manly indeed in his wooing of both Ruth and her more beautiful sister, Libby (Laurie Marchese). (You were afraid I was going to say her name was Eileen, weren't you?  Plain sister Ruth, Manhattan in the 30s, musical comedy...........Hmm!!) Marchese is certainly lovely, and came into her own as the show progressed, though I was worried she was cast solely for her looks. (I think she was not.) As Ruth and Libby's spirited parents, Guy Klinzing (Osgood) and Lorraine Freund (Clare) were having a blast, meddling and arguing, romancing and dancing, haunting and regretting. Freund reminded me of a older, taller and more glamorous version of Mary Martin, though her singing voice is not what it once was. The members of the ghostly ensemble acquitted themselves well, lending a shot in the arm to the first act finale and some genuine teariness to the end of the second. Kirsten Lendyke's choreography and Seth E. Reinick's lighting were fine, though one wished they had more actors to work with. A special mention should be made of young Tyler Beattie's work as musical director and orchestrator. I'm not quite sure how many instrumentalists were back there, but they were a tight ensemble and played a full evening's worth of songs, dances and underscoring with a modern Broadway touch and a lyrical period flair. Keep your eye on Beattie for the future. At the show's final curtain, there are four loving couples on the stage, including four live people and four dead people.  And yes, there are "mixed" couples, if you know what I mean. If this sort of fluffy-yet-serious musical comedy isn't for you, or if you want flying green grrls or sassy mobsters turned into pop music icons, then you know where in town you should be headed. But if you want a subtler kind of visual feast, a show that's off the beaten path and likely to remain so, and an evening that really does make you think about who you love, who you've lost, and what's its all about, then "The Medium at Large" is for you. I think this show will always be an acquired taste. But if you think you might be moved by it, then you probably will be.  For those with an open mind and heart, this show will stay with you, and it might even bring someone else a little closer to you. Laughs and tears, music and emotion. Sounds good to me. "The Medium at Large" runs from October 19-November 23, 2008 at the Village Players Performing Arts Center, 1010 Madison St. in Oak Park, Illinois. Show times are 8:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 3:00 pm on Sundays. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. More information is available at www.village-players.org or 866-764-1010. Production photos courtesy of DavidTurnerPhoto.com.  From top: John Herrera and Kendall Lester; Tyler Dean and Lester; Lester and Tim Grover; Herrera, Guy Klinzing, Lester, Lorraine Freund and Grover. Julie White and Johnny Galecki Will Reprise Their Roles in Center Theatre Group's 'Little Dog' The cast has been set for the Center Theatre Group’s presentation of Douglas Carter Beane’s Tony Award-nominated farce “The Little Dog Laughed,” the second production of the Kirk Douglas Theatre’s 2008-2009 season. “The Little Dog Laughed” opens November 23, 2008, and continues through December 21.  Previews begin November 16. Directed by Scott Ellis, the cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Johnny Galecki, Brian Henderson, Zoe Lister-Jones and Julie White. The set design is by Allen Moyer, costume design is by Jeff Mahshie, lighting design is by Donald Holder, sound design is by Cricket S. Myers and original music is by Lewis Flynn. Casting is by Mele Nagler, CSA, and the production stage manager is Greg Livoti. Julie White reprises her Tony Award-winning performance, portraying the brash, fast-talking Hollywood agent Diane, whose client (Henderson) has a chance to make it to superstar status, if only he stays in the closet.  A sweet, sexy man (Galecki) enters his life and makes the ruse difficult, even as this new love interest has complications of its own – a naïve, needy girlfriend (Lister-Jones).  But nothing derails Diane in her pursuit of power and money as she skillfully and hilariously manipulates all within her reach.  With twists and turns that keep audiences guessing, “The Little Dog Laughed” cleverly reflects America’s celebrity-obsessed culture. Before the show at the Douglas Theatre, patrons can enjoy the redesigned bar area, The Lounge, which will feature box dinners, sandwiches and snacks. The Lounge will also be open after performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, with a full bar, music, and lively conversation. Tickets for “The Little Dog Laughed” are on sale now and are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, in person at the Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre or two hours prior to performances at the Kirk Douglas Theatre box office.   The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232.   Magic Meathands Ensemble to Present ALL IN THE TIMING at the Attic Theatre The Magic Meathands Community Comedy Ensemble will play the Attic Theatre presenting an evening of great one act plays called ALL IN THE TIMING, by David Ives, and their signature improvisation games.  The performance evenings are November 16th and 23rd  at 7:30 PM, at 5429 W. Washington Bl., Los Angeles, CA 90016.  The names of the Ives plays are THE PHILADELPHIA, THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE, SURE THING, and VARIATIONS OF THE DEATH OF TROTSKY.  Tickets are $15.  Call (310) 712-MEAT (6328), for ticket information and reservations.  Director Bill Johnson calls the MEATHANDS a “Com/mune/edy Outreach” group because they perform in “any and every community”.  What sets the Meathands apart is their connection with the audience and the community they are performing in.  They are a community focused troupe and gear their rapid fire routines and play interpretations to the people they are performing for, involving audience members at every opportunity.  The result in the audience is sheer joy at having contributed to what was on stage. Author David Ives plays are notable for their verbal dexterity, theatrical invention, and quirky humor.  The four one-acts are perfect for the Magic Meathands style of staging and sense of humor.  The evening will be filled with fast paced ex-citement.       You can also catch the MEATHANDS every Thursday, 8 PM, at The Spot Café and Lounge, 4455 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA. 90230.  Admission is only $5, which besides getting you in, gives you a 20% discount on featured food on the menu. Call (310) 559-8868 for further information. Be sure to visit the MEATHANDS at their website at www.magicmeathands.com     More dates added: Community Gatherings and OUR TOWN Screenings in Newman's Honor at Westport Country Playhouse Westport Country Playhouse announced that due to the exceptional ticket demand for "Our Town," a joyful gathering at the Playhouse for the community to celebrate the life of Paul Newman, two extra dates have been added on Thursday, November 20, and Friday, November 21. Two previously announced gatherings and screenings are scheduled on Saturday, November 22. The added community gatherings with refreshments will begin at 7 p.m., followed at 8 p.m. by the film of Westport Country Playhouse's 2002 production of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" with Mr. Newman as the Stage Manager. Newman, husband of Westport Country Playhouse artistic director Joanne Woodward, passed away on September 26, 2008.  He appeared in Westport Country Playhouse productions of "Love Letters" (2000), "Ancestral Voices" (2000 and 2002), "For the Children" (2001), "Trumbo" (2004), "Come Be My Love" (2007) and a revival of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" (2002), which transferred to Broadway and was filmed for Showtime and PBS.  He was a member of the Playhouse's advisory council to the board of trustees since 2000. Support for the event is provided by Northeast Tent Productions, PBS, Plaid, Preferred Printing, Showtime, Westport Minuteman and Westport News. To reserve free-of-charge tickets, contact the Westport Country Playhouse Box Office at (203) 227-4177, toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit the Playhouse at 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Performance Space 122 Presents CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT Starting 11/22 Peformance Space 122 will present CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT, written by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, on November 22nd through December 7th, 2008. CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT will be performed by HANNAH BOS, PAUL THUREEN, Michael Cyril Creighton and Pamela Payton-Wright. A decaying drive-in comes to life with stories of lighthouses, naughty little girls and places you imagine remembering.  So please sit back, relax, refrain from loud talking and rough-housing, turn off your headlights, enjoy some tasty popcorn, put litter in its place, keep an eye on your children, think about how happy we could be, and remember that this country is full of dark, dark places along dark, dark roadways where dark, dark things can happen. The Debate Society's fourth full-length play transforms the upstairs space at P.S. 122 into their own version of a drive-in theater to present an intimate and absurd perspective of classic Americana.  The Brooklyn based play-makers invite audiences to experience the Feature Presentation from the comfort of their own private 4-seater, equipped with a cooler, speaker box, and a close-up view of the action.  Like an evening at the drive-in, Cape Disappointment starts with a "cartoon" and proceeds to the feature: a road-trip epic populated by characters racing across the crumbling landscapes of bygone hey-days.  There's even an intermission tossed in just long enough to grab some popcorn. Joining co-writers Hannah Bos (Best Actress of 2007, Gothamist) and Paul Thureen (Hostage Song) onstage is actor Michael Cyril Creighton (The Vietnamization of New Jersey) and acclaimed New York actress, Drama Desk and two-time Obie Award winner, and Emmy nominee Pamela Payton-Wright, who is also the mother of Cape Disappointment director Oliver Butler.  The acclaimed The Debate Society design team returns to create the vivid world of the play with lighting design by Mike Riggs, costume design by Sydney Maresca, and sound design by Nathan Leigh (Best Sound Design of 2007 for The Eaten Heart, Gothamist). Cape Disappointment was developed with the support of chashama, the CUNY Prelude Festival, Dixon Place and The Fusebox Festival and made possible in part by grants from The Puffin Foundation, The Mancini Foundation, The Greenwall Foundation and public funds from the Fund for Creative Communities, supported by the New York Stage Council on the Arts and administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. The Debate Society is a Brooklyn based company that creates new plays through the collaboration of Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen (writer/performers) and Oliver Butler (director/developer).  The trio's plays include A Thought About Raya, The Snow Hen, You're Welcome (Dixon Place), and The Eaten Heart (Ontological-Hysteric Theater).  The company's past tour destinations include Portland, OR, Austin, TX, Hartford, CT, Martha's Vineyard, MA and Syracuse, NY.  The work of The Debate Society has been supported by grants from NEA/chashama, The Greenwall Foundation, The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, The Puffin Foundation, The Sons of Norway Foundation, Fractured Atlas and The Mancini Foundation. Hannah Bos (Creator/Performer) is a founding member of The Debate Society, co-writing and starring in A Thought About Raya, The Snow Hen, The Eaten Heart, and You're Welcome.  Recent performances include Hostage Song, Andrei Serban's Lysystrata with Cherry Jones, The Pumpkin Pie Show, Ringside Seats (The Belt), Cardiac Shadow (P.S. 122), and Junta High (P.S. 122).  Regional: Three Farces and a Funeral, and Janos Szasz' Marat/Sade (The American Repertory Theatre).  She is also the co-creator/writer of The Mimi and Flo Show, a choose-your-own-Web-venture web series.  She holds a B.A. from Vassar College and an M.F.A. from the Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University/Moscow Art Theater. Paul Thureen (Creator/Performer) is a founding member of The Debate Society and has performed and toured extensively with the company, co-writing and starring in A Thought About Raya, The Snow Hen, You're Welcome, and The Eaten Heart.  Recent New York and international performances include Hostage Song, Clay McLeod Chapman's The Pumpkin Pie Show at P.S. 122, One Year Lease's tour of Oresteia in Athens and Milan, and Tango 'til They're Sore at The Flea.  Regional: The Description of the World, Facade, and Pulcinella (Theatre de la Jeune Lune).  TV: The Late Show with David Letterman and The Revolution (History Channel). Michael Cyril Creighton (Performer) was seen Off-Broadway as Father McGillicutty in the NY Premiere of Christopher Durang's The Vietnamization of New Jersey.  He co-wrote and performed in Rip Me Open (Galapagos/Dixon Place, co-written with Desiree Burch and OBIE winner Kyle Jarrow) and The Hermitage of An Exiled Chain Smoker (FringeNYC).  Other theater work includes You're Welcome (The Debate Society at Dixon Place), Lend Me A Tenor with Mary Testa & Alison Fraser (George Street Playhouse), An Octopus Love Story (Center Stage), Sequins For Satan (Galapagos Art Space), 365 Days/365 Plays (Public Theater).  On the Web, MCC can be seen as a host for VH1's Best Night Ever and I Like To Watch video podcasts and in webisodes of The Mimi & Flo Show and The Burg.  MCC is currently working on a web sitcom and solo show.  He is an alumni of The NY Neo-Futurists and holds a BFA from Emerson College. Pamela Payton-Wright (Performer) began her career with three years of resident rep, culminating in a Broadway season with APA Phoenix Repertory Company in The Show-Off with Helen Hayes, Exit the King with Eva Le Gallienne, and The Cherry Orchard with Uta Hagen.  Subsequent Broadway credits include Jimmy Shine with Dustin Hoffman; The Crucible; All Over Town, directed by Hoffman; M. Butterfly; and six productions at Circle in the Square: the 1972 inaugural production of Mourning Becomes Electra with Colleen Dewhurst (Drama Desk Award), The Glass Menagerie with Maureen Stapleton, Romeo and Juliet, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Night of the Iguana, and Something Unspoken.  Off Broadway credits include The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (Obie Award, Clarence Derwent Award, Variety Critics' Poll Citation), Jessie and the Bandit Queen (Obie Award), The Seagull, Hamlet, The Replacements, Mrs. Warren's Profession, Richard III, 'Til the Rapture Comes, What You Get and What You Expect, Fifth of July (Lucille Lortel nomination), Duet, and The Day Emily Married.  Her extensive regional credits include A Touch of the Poet with Brian Dennehy at Goodman Theatre, directed by Robert Falls (Joseph Jefferson Award); Long Day's Journey Into Night at American Conservatory Theater and Goodman Theatre; The Glass Menagerie and Ghosts at Baltimore Centerstage; and the world premiere of The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue at Hartford Stage, directed by Michael Wilson.  Her film work includes In Dreams, The Freshman, My Little Girl, Ironweed, Starlight, Going in Style, Resurrection, and At the Dark End of the Street.  Her television credits include The Prodigal, Brother to Dragons, The Adams Chronicles (Emmy nomination); Look Homeward, Angel with Geraldine Page for Playhouse 90; Addie Cramer on One Life to Live; and guest appearances including Law & Order and Homicide.  Education/Training: BA, Birmingham-Southern College; Fulbright Scholar, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Special Medal, Edmund Gray Prize for High Comedy); 1999 Fox Fellowship for work in 17th & 18th century court dance. Oliver Butler (Director) is a founding member of The Debate Society and has directed and toured extensively with the company.  In New York Mr. Butler has directed the world premieres of The Eaten Heart, The Snow Hen, Red-HairEd Thomas, Hostage Song, A Thought About Raya, You're Welcome, Christmas with the Flamingos, and Sold Out: The Rock Musical.  He was the Assistant Artistic Director of The Berkshire Theatre Festival where he directed The Einstein Project  and This is our Youth.  Mr. Butler has assisted directors including Jo Bonney, Pam Mackinnon, and John Rando.  In 2004 and 2005 he was a participating director in Lincoln Center's Directors Lab. More about Performance Space 122 Performance Space 122 is New York's ultimate destination for cutting-edge theatre, dance, music, live art and cross-media.  Founded in 1979, Performance Space 122 is dedicated to supporting and presenting artists whose work challenges the traditional boundaries of dance, theatre, music, and performance.  Committed to exploring innovative form as well as material, P.S. 122 is steadfast in its search for pioneering artists from a diversity of cultures and points of view. Cape Disappointment runs Saturday, November 22 – Sunday, December 7 on the following schedule:  Monday – Saturday at 8:00pm/Sunday at 6:00pm.  No performance on Wednesday, November 26; Thursday, November 27; Monday, December 1.  Additional performance on Saturday, December 6 at 10:30pm.  Tickets from $18, $15 (students/seniors), $10 (P.S. 122 members).  Tickets may be purchased online at www.ps122.org or via phone at (212) 352-3101.  Performance Space 122 is located at 150 First Avenue at East 9th Street, New York, New York 10009.  www.ps122.org. Photo Coverage: Bluebird 'BLUEBIRD' in rehersal 'BLUEBIRD' Logo 'BLUEBIRD' photo shoot 'BLUEBIRD' show image 'BLUEBIRD' show image Queen Elizabeth's Dwarf Opens at Victory Gardens QUEEN ELIZABETH¹S DWARF OPENS VICTORY GARDENS ACCESS PROJECT CRIP SLAM SERIES ON NOVEMBER 23 Kathyrn Jones' One-Woman Show Explores Disability Culture During the Renaissance ­ Queen Elizabeth's Dwarf, a unique solo performance by Chicago actress and little person Kathyrn Jones exploring the personal relationship dwarves and other people with disabilities played in the queen's court and during the Renaissance, is the kick-off presentation for the Victory Gardens Access Project 2008-2009 Crip Slam series. With Queen Elizabeth's Dwarf, Jones brings to the stage Mistress Thomasina de Paris, one of the actual dwarves in the court of Elizabeth I in Renaissance England, and the character Jones has played for the last five years, entertaining crowds at the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Queen Elizabeth's Dwarf will be presented Sunday, November 23 at 7:30 pm at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. Tickets are only $10. All Crip Slam performances, readings and special events are accessible to people with mobility, hearing and vision disabilities.  For tickets and information, call the Victory Gardens box office ­ 773.871.3000 (TTY: 773/871-0682) ­ or visit http://www.victorygardens.org In addition to her appearances at the Bristol Renaissance Faire, Jones has worked as a teaching artist with Pegasus Players. She majored in acting and directing at Beloit College. Following her performance, Jones will be interviewed by Edward Wheatley, Associate Professor and Edward L. Surtz, S.J., Professor of Medieval Literature at Loyola University in Chicago. Professor Wheatley curated the fascinating Crip Slam performance Medieval Cripples in 2007. Upcoming 2008-09 Crip Slam presentations also include: What Does the Sun Sound Like? Sunday, February 15, 2009, 7:30 pm Written and performed by Chicago Dramatist Arlene Malinowski, What Does the Sun Sound Like? is a comic, touching, personal journey through her totally true tales of a hearing daughter growing up in a deaf family and culture. Employing both deaf and hearing storytelling techniques, What Does The Sun Sound Like?" is presented in conjunction with Victory Gardens' Fresh Squeezed series, and in association with its mainstage production of Love Person, Aditi Brennan Kapil's contemporary love story told in American Sign Language, Sanskrit, English and projected e-mail, May 15 - June 14, 2009. Two more Crip Slams - on March 8 and May 3, 2009 - are to be announced. Night of Scenes Sunday, June 21, 7:30 pm On June 21, Crip Slam will present our increasingly popular annual Night of Scenes, a reading of excerpts from the work of participants in the artist development workshop. The Victory Gardens Access Project Artist Development Workshop will conclude its spring session with its increasingly popular annual Night of Scenes, a showcase of scenes written by participating playwrights, with and without disabilities. About the Access Project Now in its 16th year, the Victory Gardens Access Project is a nationally recognized model outreach effort designed to involve people with disabilities in all aspects of theater, both on and off the stage. Through the program, Victory Gardens has been Chicago's earliest adopter of assistive services such as providing Sign Language interpreted performances, as well as captioned and audio-described shows, large-print and Braille programs, pre-show Touch Tours of the theater and set, dedicated wheelchair seating, and TTY phone lines. To receive updates on Crip Slam Sundays events and all Access Project activities, subscribe to the Access Project Newsletter by calling 773.549.5788 ext 2131 (voice), 773.871.0682 (TTY), or sending email to information@victorygardens.org Originally developed by Remains Theater with funding from the Lila Wallace Readers Digest Resident Theater Initiative, the Victory Gardens Access Project is supported by Kraft Foods, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the Harry S. Black & Allon Fuller Fund, Daniel Efner, the Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation, and the Samuel A. Burstein Family Foundation. Saeko Ichinohe Dance Co Celebrating 39th Anniversary 11/22 Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company is having a special 39th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 8pm and Sunday, November 23 at 3pm at The Ailey Citigroup Theater (The Joan Weill Center for Dance), 405 West 55th Street at 9th Avenue.  “The Tale of Genji,” considered to be the world’s first novel, was written 1000 years ago by Lady Murasaki.  The novel is universal, filled with human emotion, portraying the life of Shining Prince Genji and numerous ladies in Heian* court. Originally written in old Japanese language, it now has many translations. Although not widely known in the US, this Japanese masterpiece, is one of the requirements for literature courses at colleges and universities Choreographed by Saeko Ichinohe to traditional music of the Heian period (Gagaku) and contemporary Japanese music, it has set design by Roger LaVoiem costume design by Eiko Yamaguchi, and lighting design / technical director by Chenault Spence. Part I  ‘Introduction for Heian Culture, which is uniquely Japanese, was gradually created and refined. This includes the Edo period and Kabuki,  In dance, Bugaku (Court Dance of the Heian period) were fused with original as well as contemporary movements, and performed in costumes (with a long train after the robes) that were worn by the nobilities 1000 years ago.   “The Tale of Genji,” (dance) was created in three parts, from 1995 to 1998, and completed a full length production in 2000. Since 1995, sections of the dance have been performed at numerous colleges and Yale University council on East Asian Studies, as well as at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and others.  In December 2001, one-hour-version was performed in Japan at the New National Theater in Tokyo. This will be the New York City premiere. Founded 1970, Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company is among the pioneers of multicultural choreography to be performed by a multi-ethnic group of dancers. The company has been performing annually in New York as well as performing in national and international venues. They have appeared in over 25 States.  Its mission is to employ dance as an interpretive medium inspiring mutual understanding between diverse peoples and cultures; and to offer indispensable nourishment for the heart, mind, and soul through its high-quality programs, which bring joy of movement to all ages, cultures, and socio-economic groups.  Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company also contributes to the aesthetic development of dance by incorporating cultural heritages, strongly influenced by historical Japanese tradition, into a framework of contemporary dance. The company has performed at the Asian Pacific Heritage Week at the Washington Monument: the 25th, 30th, 35th and 40th Anniversary Celebrations of NYC–Tokyo Sister City Friendship; Wolf Trap International Children’s Festival; programs for Fulbright Association; the Chicago Symphony: Japan Festivals in OH, MO, NY, PA & TN; the Japanese Ambassador’s residence; Asian Pacific Heritage Month Celebration at US Dept. of Labor as well as for the Children’s Hospital, Red Cross, N.Y. Public Library, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Japanese American Association, and Interfaith Peace Gathering.       Tickets are General admission: $25; $15for seniors & students; and $5 for children under 12.  For information and reservations please call (212) 757-2531.  For more information www.ichinohedance.org Steve Ross - Tribute to Broadway's Golden Era SAT, NOVEMBER 22, 2008 at 9pm West Hollywood, CA – After a long absence STEVE ROSS, THE CROWN PRINCE OF NY CABARET returns to Los Angeles! In this rare L.A. appearance, STEVE ROSS returns to the City of Angeles for a ONE NIGHT ONLY concert of melody and humor featuring the music of Porter, Kern, Gershwin and Berlin with tributes to Astaire, Coward and Piaf that is sure to insight fond memories of the Golden era of Broadway and Hollywood’s yesteryears. Always delivering a stylish, confident and well-executed program, Ross has said "The best songs are stories, and the best singers...storytellers. Great singers can make you care about what they're feeling. You have a sense of knowing them". It is with these sensibilities that Ross masters his interpretations on the keys and seduces the audience with his wit. Ross has been a fixture of the cabaret community in Manhattan for over forty years. He was born “forty-five minutes from Broadway” in New Rochelle, NY, and was raised in Washington, DC with an opera-loving father and a mother who played on the piano the songs of Gershwin, Porter and Irving Berlin. His first major job in New York was as a successful singer/pianist at the now famous piano bar Ted Hook’s Backstage. In 1981 he re-opened the legendary Oak Room at Manhattan’s famed Hotel Algonquin where he held forth for three years. He has appeared on Broadway in Noel Coward’s Present Laughter and off-Broadway in his tribute to Fred Astaire entitled I Won’t Dance. Internationally, he has performed in London, Paris, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Melbourne and Sydney as well as cabaret and theatres across America. He’s hosted programs on the BBC and public radio; he continues to write and host lecture/performances on the great Transatlantic Composers’ Songbooks at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and on the high seas. Steve is hailed by the New York Times as "…the suavest of all male cabaret performers.” STEVE ROSS, THE CROWN PRINCE OF NY CABARET - LIVE Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 9pm Dinner/”10 Cane Rum” Drink Specials begin at 7 PM / SHOWTIME 9 PM Show Tickets: $15-25 Main, Patio & SRO. Tickets and info available at: www.uprightcabaret.com Dinner Reservations required with all Main & Patio Seating. Table minimums apply. Three Additional Performances Added to THE FUNERALOGUES MC Squared Productions has announced the addition of 3 Sunday performances to the New York premiere of THE FUNERALOGUES, a site-specific look at eulogies and the people who deliver them. Conceived and performed by Stacy Mayer, written by playwright Robert Charles Gompers, and directed by Molly Marinik, this unique theatrical experience has found its ultimate home at All Souls Chapel on New Yorks' Upper East Side. Workshopped at Emerging Artists Theatre's One Woman Standing Festival in 2007, previews still begin November 7 with opening set for Saturday, November 15. In the spirit of Six Feet Under, THE FUNERALOGUES is a darkly comedic look at the inside of funeral homes, funeral rituals and one woman's personal obsession with death. The evening uses actual text from real life eulogies including a tribute to soldiers lost in Afghanistan as remembered by a member of The Casualty Assistance Calling Operations, a eulogy for the performers' own grandfather, a fireman's eulogy read by a Minnesota school teacher, a eulogy delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. for three child victims of a Birmingham church bombing, and even a humorous eulogy that a six year old imparts for her headless Barbie. Find out the not so certain answer to the uneasy question we all ask: "What they will say at my funeral?" A native of Kentucky, Stacy Mayer is the Artistic Director and founder of Manhattan Comedy Collective. She earned critical praise for her performances in the Off Broadway comedy The Play About the Naked Guy. A member of Emerging Artists Theatre, she has appeared in five EATFests including IT Award nominee 12 Rounds.  She is a graduate of The Actors Theatre of Louisville apprenticeship program, where she originated a role in David Lindsay Abaire's History Lesson. For the past 3 years she has curated Emerging Artist's Theatre's One Woman Standing Festival (OWS). Her first show The Woman with the Parasol ran in 2005 at venues including Upright Citizens Brigade and The People's Improv Theatre. Her hobbies include yoga and scuba diving.  She attended Catholic school for 8 years, where she petitioned until girls were allowed to become altar boys. Robert Charles Gompers' The Long Ride Home won both Best Play and Best Ensemble at the 2008 Fresh Fruit Festival.  His performance piece Once Upon A Time won top prize at the UNC-Wilmington Poetry festival. Other plays by Gompers' include Honor, Respect, Tradition; Neurasthenia (a nervous breakdown); Museum – a Herstorical comedy; Nothing; The Ward of No Redeeming Qualities; American Icon; and The Relativity of Light and Love. His work has been seen in New York, North Carolina, Maryland, Vermont, and Washington. He is currently working on The Gory Guide to Gay Dating. Molly Marinik's recent directing credits includes Heaven In Your Pocket (NYMF), George and Bill Are Friends (Emerging Artists EATfest), The List (Emerging Artists EATfest), and Suicide Machine (Directors' Company). She is a member of Emerging Artists Theatre.  Molly is also the editor of theatreiseasy.com and the theatre contributor for popdose.com. THE FUNERALOGUES runs November 7 - December 13, Friday & Saturday at 8pm with added performances Sundays , November 9, 16 & 23 at 5pm. (Please note: there is no performance Nov 21). All Souls Chapel is located at 1157 Lexington Ave. (between  79th & 80th Streets -- accessible from the #6 train at 77th Street ). Tickets are $25, available at 212-352-3101 or www.TheaterMania.com. For more info visit www.funeralogues.com. Zombie Joe's 'URBAN DEATH' To Close 11/22 Zombie Joe's Underground Theater's 'URBAN DEATH' to Close on November 22 Receives raves from New York Times , NYTheatre.com and The Village Voice Six Performances Left Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays @ 11 PM The Players Theatre 115  MacDougal Street www.ZombieJoes.com New York,NY-(November 12,2008) Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre's URBAN DEATH will close on November 22. URBAN DEATH  blends classic Grand Guignol Theatre with brisk European Tableaux technique, with modern dance choreography, with the trials and tribulations of the two-bit daily grind... into one chilling hour-long spin-cycle of late-night terrifying fun at The Players Theatre. URBAN DEATH winds a dark trail of 36 fast and frightening vignettes, executed with such high-impact, extreme blood-curdling ferocity - all free from the bondage of wordy dialogue. Andy Webster of The New York Times describes URBAN DEATH: "It begins with a mound of ghoul-like bodies awakening in an empty space and morphs into a procession of tableaus, many of them digs at show business: slow-moving male bodybuilders flex freakishly; three barely clad lovers entwine in a spotlight, like porn stars; a homeless woman pleading for attention is attacked by a masked assailant; models pose as if for a Vanity Fair cover although they resemble corpses; a man, his head encased in plastic, suspends from a rope, a still life of autoerotic fatality."   Mr. Webster praises URBAN DEATH "for first-rate makeup...costumes and sheer, vital stagecraft. There may be many spooky stage productions around this Halloween, but few will approach the level of this one."   And Michael Mraz of NYTheatre.com describes URBAN DEATH as "giving the audience a taut hour-long thrill-ride through more than 30 wordless horror vignettes...This show deserves a packed audience, if not for its clever adaptation of horror for the stage, then for the overall atmosphere".   URBAN DEATH performs Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays @ 11pm at The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street, 3rd Floor. (No Performances Friday October 31).  For Tickets, call Theatermania at 212-352-3101, or Visit Theatermania.com.  Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre Group sprouted from a small industrial garage in Southern California's San Fernando Valley in 1992. Zombie Joe founded the company based on the ground-breaking theatrical doctrines of Antonin Artaud ( the 20th Century French dramatist who advocated a theatre of cruelty), Bertolt Brecht, Anton Chekhov, Ivan Turgenev, Fyodor Dostoevsky and George Lucas. Building on the traditions of these innovators, Zombie Joe developed his own style of 'progressive' theatre, blending high impact, fast-moving, tightly-chisled live theatre. Zombie Joe's productions combine classical and original works. Now based in the No-Ho Arts District of North Hollywood, CA, the company made its New York debut this fall with their original award-winning adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "Masque of the Red Death" which has been nominated for three LA Weekly Theatre Awards. The LA Times described Zombie Joe's Underground as 'a model of barebones ingenuity' and LA Weekly called the company 'one of Los Angeles' living treasures.' The group won the LA Weekly Award as 2007 Best One-Act Ensemble for "Masque of the Red Death" as well as several Artistic Director Achievement Awards (ADA). In 2005 the original production of URBAN DEATH was nominated for Best Ensemble Cast and Best Director ( Zombie Joe) by The Valley Theatre League's Artistic Director Achievement Awards.     Press reservations :Please call Michael Martinez, 212-712-7362.    Visit Zombie Joe's Undergound and Urban Death online, at ZombieJoes.com and UrbanDeath.com.     Location: The Players Theatre Loft at The Players Theatre 115  MacDougal Street at Minetta Lane 212-475-1449   www.theplayerstheatre.com Subway: A,C,E,B,D,F,V to West 4th Street

'White Christmas' Opens on Broadway Tickets for the upcoming Broadway production of IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS will go on sale exclusively to American Express® card members this Wednesday, August 20th through Wednesday, September 17th. Preferred seating will be available to Gold Card, Platinum Card® and Centurion® members. Tickets will go sale to the general public on Sunday, September 21st, 2008 Following acclaimed engagements in San Francisco, Boston, Detroit, Toronto, Los Angeles and St. Paul, IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, a new musical stage reinvention of the beloved classic film, will arrive at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway this holiday season - guaranteeing New York a white Christmas! Previews will begin Friday, November 14th, 2008 for an official opening on Sunday, November 23rd, 2008, and a limited engagement through Sunday, January 4th, 2009. Casting information will be announced shortly. IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS is produced by Kevin McCollum, John Gore, Tom McGrath, Paul Blake, The Producing Office, Dan Markley, Sonny Everett and Broadway Across America in association with Paramount Pictures. Every holiday season, audiences of all ages enjoy the uplifting story of White Christmas. Now, a new generation will be able to experience this holiday tradition in a completely new way - live on stage. With the Broadway arrival of IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, the show is poised to become New York's newest holiday tradition. The musical tells the story of two showbiz buddies who put on a show in a picturesque Vermont inn, and find their perfect mates in the bargain. Full of dancing, laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written, IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS promises to be a merry and bright theatrical experience for the entire family. IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS is directed by Tony Award® winner Walter Bobbie (Chicago, Sweet Charity), with a book by David Ives (Is He Dead?) and Paul Blake, choreography by Tony Award® nominee Randy Skinner (42nd Street), set design by Tony Award® nominee Anna Louizos (In the Heights, Avenue Q), costumes by Tony Award® nominee Carrie Robbins (Grease, Over Here), lighting design by Tony Award® winner Ken Billington (Chicago, The Drowsy Chaperone, Annie), sound design by Tony Award® nominee Acme Sound Partners (In the Heights, Spamalot), orchestrations by Tony Award® nominee Larry Blank (The Drowsy Chaperone), vocal and dance arrangements by Bruce Pomahac, music supervision by Rob Berman, and casting by Jay Binder C.S.A. The stage production is based on the Paramount Pictures film, written for the screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama, and Melvin Frank. Many Irving Berlin classics are showcased in the new musical, including "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," "I Love a Piano," "Sisters," "How Deep is the Ocean" and the unforgettable title song, "White Christmas." This production of IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS plays during the holiday season each year in a different city, bringing the spirit of love, charity, and song around the country for all to enjoy. IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS made its world premiere stage debut during the 2004 holiday season in San Francisco, garnering rave reviews and establishing its status as a don't-miss holiday show. The show has since dazzled audiences across the country. The critics have said: "Irving Berlin's White Christmas makes you feel like you've stepped into a Technicolor movie musical," raved the Oakland Tribune. "A holiday juggernaut. There's plenty to ooh and aah over. One well-loved Berlin tune after another" declared the Los Angeles Times. "Plenty of razzmatazz, including snow!" said the Boston Globe. The Detroit Free Press proclaimed "Highly entertaining holiday fare!" and the St. Paul Star Tribune called the musical "A dazzling, sweet work that deserves plenty of praise." TICKET INFORMATION: Beginning Sunday, September 21st, 2008, tickets prices will be $66.50, $91.50 and $121.50 (including $1.50 facility fee), and are available through Ticketmaster by calling 212-307-4100,online at www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the Marquis Theatre box office (1535 Broadway).For group sales details and pricing call The Group Sales Box Office at 800-223-7565 or visit www.bestofbroadway.com. PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Beginning Friday, November 14th, 2008, IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS will play the following unique performance schedule per week: Week of November 10th, 2008: Friday & Saturday at 8p, Sunday evening at 7p, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p. Week of November 17th, 2008: Wednesday - Saturday at 8p, Tuesday at 7p, Sunday evening at 6p (Opening Night). Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2p. Week of November 24th, 2008: Wednesday - Saturday at 8p, Tuesday at 7p. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p. Weeks of December 1st and December 8th, 2008: Wednesday - Saturday at 8p, Tuesday & Sunday evening at 7p. Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p. Week of December 15th, 2008: Wednesday - Saturday at 8p, Tuesday & Sunday evening at 7p. Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p. Week of December 22nd, 2008: Monday, Friday & Saturday at 8p, Tuesday & Sunday evening at 7p. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p. Dark on Christmas Day, December 25. Week of December 29th, 2008: Monday, Friday & Saturday at 8p, Tuesday at 7p. Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2:00p. DARK - New Year's Eve & Day on December 31 & January 1, 2009. FINAL PERFORMANCE - Sunday, January 4, 2009. For more information please visit www.whitechristmasthemusical.com Academy Award Winner Jonathan Tunick in Concert at Birdland 11/24 Jim Caruso's Cast Party, in association with TheaterMania.com, is proud to present orchestrator, musical director and composer Jonathan Tunick in concert, as part of the Nightlife Award-winning series Broadway at Birdland.  The event will take place on Monday, November 24 at 7pm. Winner of the Oscar, Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Awards, Jonathan Tunick brings back the sound of the big bands with the debut performance of The Broadway Moonlighters, featuring New York's finest musicians and a very special Broadway superstar guest you will not want to miss!  Tunick is also celebrating his induction into the 2009 Theatre Hall of Fame! Jonathan Tunick won the Academy Award for Best Music, Best Original Song Score and Best Adaption for the film "A Little Night Music."  He won the Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for Titanic, a Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement for "No One Is Alone," performed by Cleo Lane, and an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction for "Night of 100 Stars."  Alison Fraser and Mary Testa on Stage Together at Beechman The Laurie Beechman Theatre is very pleased to welcome two of Broadway’s most esteemed performers - Alison Fraser and Mary Testa (with special guest, Annie Golden), for two very special performances as part of our celebrated Voices from the Great White Way Series. On Mondays, September 29th and October 20th @ 7pm, the longtime friends will join forces for their long awaited return to the Beechman stage. There is a $25 cover, as well as a $15 food or beverage minimum (a full bar and dinner menu is available). The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located within The West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd St. (@ 9th Ave), in the heart of New York’s theatre district. For reservations, which are recommended, please call 212 695 6909. Accompanied by a four piece band led by Allison Leyton-Brown, the evenings will feature music written by songwriter Rusty Magee. Audiences can expect to hear tunes from Magee’s musicals The Green Heart (written with Charles Busch) and The Czar of Rock and Roll (written with Lewis Black), as well as Magee’s iconic New York ballad, New York Romance. Alison Fraser is currently appearing in the acclaimed Broadway revival of Arthur Laurents’ Gypsy as Tessie Tura. Other Broadway credits include The Secret Garden (Tony and Drama Desk nominations), Romance/Romance (Tony nomination), Tartuffe, Born Again and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Off-Broadway, she has appeared in Dedication or the Stuff of Dreams, March of the Falsettos, In Trousers, Prodigal, The Green Heart, Beehive, Todd Rundgren's Up Against It and Swingtime Canteen. American premieres: Lizzie Borden, Honk! and High School Musical. Regionally, Ms. Fraser’s credits include Lips Together, Teeth Apart, Lend Me a Tenor and Gunmetal Blues (first Barrymore Award recipient). On television, audiences will remember Alison from, among many others: Between the Lions, Law & Order: SVU, Third Watch, The Thing About My Folks, Jack and His Friends and In the Blood. Mary Testa is currently appearing as Melpomene/Medusa in the hit Broadway production of Xanadu. Other Broadway credits include Chicago, 42nd Street (Tony nomination), Marie Christine, On the Town (Tony nomination), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Rink, Marilyn and Barnum. Off-Broadway, she has appeared in In Trousers, Regrets Only, See What I Wanna See (Drama Desk and Drama League nominations), First Lady Suite (Drama Desk nomination), String of Pearls (Drama Desk nomination),  A New Brain, The Vagina Monologues and From Above (Obie Award) among others. Film audiences will remember Mary From Stay, Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding and Sleepers. Television appearances include Cosby, A Different World, Whoopi and Sex and the City. Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd. ATC Script Club Examines 'The Crucible' 11/24 Aurora Theater Company Script Club, New edition examines Shaw and Miller’s versions of America Monday, November 24, 2008, 7:30 Berkeley’s acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company presents the second Aurora Script Club meeting of the season with Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Relating the script of the Company’s current stage production, George Bernard Shaw’s The Devil’s Disciple, written in 1897, with The Crucible, written by Miller in 1953, this edition of the Script Club examines Puritan reality in the early colonies and during the American Revolution. Aurora Theatre Company Education Director Michael Mansfield hosts this examination of the betrayal and the generosity, the intolerance and the goodness, and the hysteria and the decency of our forefathers. Conceived and developed by Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Tom Ross, the Aurora Script Club will meet four times during the company’s 08-09 season for a moderated discussion. Rife with Shaw’s trademark humor and irony, The Devil’s Disciple, a fictional account of an American “hero” set during the Revolutionary War, is the playwright’s first popular success and his only full-length play set in America. Aurora Theatre Company founding Artistic Director Barbara Oliver helms this second production in the Company’s American trilogy. The Devil’s Disciple, starring Gabriel Marin, Søren Oliver, and Stacy Ross, and featuring Warren David Keith, Allen McKelvey, Trish Mulholland, Anthony Nemirovsky, Tara Tomicevic, and Michael Ray Wisely, plays October 31-December 7. Monday, November 24, 7:30pm at the Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison Street Berkeley, CA 94704 TICKETS: Free and open to the public; for more information, the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit www.auroratheatre.org. BB King Blues Club Presents HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH B.B. King Blues Club & Grill and Scenic NYC Productions present HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH featuring Jonathan Whitton and Louise Stewart on Monday, November 24. Hedwig is officially back in the area; she's hot and ready to rock 'n roll with a fresh new attitude! Jonathan Whitton (2008 Backstage Bistro and MAC award winner) is simply "mesmerizing" -The Jersey Journal, in the role and brings a brilliant new take on the life of the internationally ignored song stylist! Louise Stewart's Yitzhak is appropriately tormented and is "terrific" - The Jersey Journal! Hedwig and The Angry Inch hasn't looked this good since NYC in '98!   B.B. King Blues Club and Grill is located at 237 West 42nd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenue, New York City, adjacent to 42nd St 1,2,3,7, N, Q, R, W and S trains + Port Authority A, C and E trains. TICKET INFORMATION Tickets are $25. Doors at 6:00pm, Show at 8:00pm. To order, call 212-307-7171, visit http://www.ticketmaster.com or in person tt B.B. King box office from 10:30am to midnight every night. Belber's GEOMETRY OF FIRE to Open at Rattlestick With Birney, Mudge and More Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (David Van Asselt, Artistic Director and Sandra Coudert, Managing Director) continues its 14th anniversary season with the World Premiere of Geometry of Fire, a new drama by Stephen Belber, directed by Lucie Tiberghien (The Pavilion).  Performances begin Saturday, November 15th, 2008.  Opening night is Monday, November 24th at 7pm.  The show will run through Sunday, December 14, 2008.  Mr. Belber is currently represented in New York by the acclaimed Naked Angels production of Fault Lines at the Cherry Lane Theatre. In Geometry of Fire, Belber’s newest work, we find an investment banker-turned-Marine-sniper recently returned from Iraq and a Saudi-American who just wants to get laid.  In any other world, these two guys would be best friends.  But when their lives collide in this one, each is forced to survive on the fly.  Based on a true story.  Geometry of Fire had a developmental production at New York Stage & Film in July 2007. The cast of Geometry of Fire includes Reed Birney (Blasted, Dark Matters), Donnie Keshawarz (Tarzan, Taboo), Jennifer Mudge (Fault Lines, The Pavilion) and Kevin O’Donnell (Off Broadway debut). The creative team is comprised of Robin Vest (sets), Anne Kennedy (costumes), Peter West (lights), Eric Shim (sound), Mary Robinette Kowal (props), Rick Sordelet (fight choreography) and Brian Smallwood (technical director). Katrina Renee Herrmann is Production Stage Manager, Alyssa Ritch is Assistant Stage Manager, and Alice Reagan will serve as Assistant Director. Geometry of Fire will have the following performance schedule: Wednesday – Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $40.00 and are available through SmartTix (212-868-4444) or www.smarttix.com. Rattlestick Playwrights Theater is located at 224 Waverly Place (off Seventh Avenue South – between West 11th & Perry Streets). Stephen Belber (Playwright). His most recent play, Fault Lines (Naked Angels) is currently running at The Cherry Lane Theatre.  Other plays include Match (Broadway, Tony nomination for Frank Langella), A Small, Melodramatic Story, (LAByrinth Theater Company), McReele (Roundabout), Tape (Naked Angels--NYC/LA/London), Carol Mulroney (Huntington Theater), One Million Butterflies (Primary Stages), Drifting Elegant (Magic Theater), The Transparency of Val (Theater Outrageous, NYC), The Wake (Via Theater, NYC), Through Fred (Soho Rep), The Death of Frank (Araca Group, NYC).  As a screenwriter, he wrote Tape, directed by Richard Linklater, starring Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke (Sundance; Berlin);  The Laramie Project (co-writer) for HBO Films, (Sundance, Emmy nomination for screenwriting); and Drifting Elegant, directed by Amy Glazer.  TV credits include Rescue Me and Law & Order SVU, (staff writer). His film, Management, which he wrote and directed, starring Jennifer Aniston, Steve Zahn and Woody Harrelson, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival this September.  Lucie Tiberghein (Director).  Credits include The Things We Know, (a short film which Lucie co-wrote and directed) Hurt Village, by Katori Hall, (BRIC) and the world premieres of A Small Melodramatic Story by Stephen Belber (LAByrinth) and Augusta by Richard Dresser (Contemporary American Theater Festival). Other recent credits: Geometry of Fire, (Sundance), Hoodoo Love, (Katori Hall, Cherry Lane), Air Conditioning (Tommy Smith, Juilliard).  Lucie directed Rattlestick’s production of Craig Wright’s The Pavilion, which received a 2005 Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Play of 2005. Rattlestick Playwrights Theater is a multi-award-winning company which has produced over thirty-nine world premieres in the past thirteen seasons and was the recipient of the 2007 Ross Wetzsteon Memorial OBIE Award for its work developing new and innovative work.  Rattlestick’s Advisory Board participates in The Emerging Playwrights Project, which matches a new playwright with an established artist for an experienced eye and creative support.  Playwright and artist mentors have included Edward Albee, Jon Robin Baitz, Zoe Caldwell, Arthur Kopit, Craig Lucas, Joe Mantello, Terrence McNally and Marsha Norman.  Previous plays include Two Boys in a Bed, Message to Michael, Carpool, Volunteer Man, A Trip to the Beach, Ascendancy, Stuck, Vick’s Boy, The Messenger, Saved or Destroyed, Neil’s Garden, My Special Friend, Faster, Bliss, St. Crispin’s Day, Where We’re Born, Five Flights, Boise, Finer Noble Gases, God Hates The Irish: The Ballad of Armless Johnny, Miss Julie, Acts of Mercy: passion-play, Cagelove, It Goes Without Saying, Dark Matters, Stay, American Sligo, Rag and Bone, War,  Lady, the Off-Broadway GLAAD Award-nominated hit The Last Sunday in June and Craig Wright’s The Pavilion, which received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Play of 2005. CURTAIN CALL to Celebrate Scott Nevins' Birthday With Special Guests Blonsky, Burgess and More Splash Bar presents a very special Birthday edition of Scott Nevins' Curtain Call with  "Scott Nevins' All-Star Birthday Bash". On Monday November 24th, directly following the video madness of "Musical Mondays", stars of Broadway, Cabaret and Nightlife all come out to celebrate (and perform for) the birthday of NYC's popular cabaret 'host with the most', Scott Nevins. Included in the All-Star Birthday line up is the star of the "Hairspray" film - Nikki Blonsky, Broadway's Tituss Burgess ("The Little Mermaid"),  Kristy Cates ("Wicked"),  former star of "Hairspray" in Vegas Katrina Rose Dideriksen, MAC Award Winners Bran