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MARCO MILLIONS (based on lies), is the latest from the theater ensemble Waterwell. It’s based on a Eugene O’Neill play, but not a well known one. Broadway.com put it well when they said “If asked to name a Eugene O’Neill play, Marco Millions would hardly be the first off anyone’s tongue.” No kidding.
On the other hand, that’s a smart thing to do. Does New York really need yet another production of Desire Under the Elms? Nothing against that one, or any other O’Neill, but if you’re going to do something, why do what everyone else is doing?
So Waterwell gets points for at least trying something different.
Aside: we freely admit that when reading the title of this show, we said “Huh?” and had to restrain ourselves from drooling like big dummies. Then we actually went and researched it a bit, and found that there have been a lot of nice notices for this piece (they seem to call their shows “drops” rather than, well, shows).
Decide for yourself, and as always, let us know if you see this puppy. Sorry, we mean “drop”. Press release and logo coming…. NOW!
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AGAIN with the bad puns. Well, that’s not really a pun, it’s more of a joke. But it’s still bad. (If you don’t get it, it’s a take off on the tag line for Trix cereal. Exciting we know.)
IS THERE A POINT HERE?
Yes, of course. This is a new production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The trick? It’s ALL WOMEN. Considering how many years Shakey’s plays were done with all dudes, this only seems fair.
Press release and the way cool postcard are below. If you see this show (or any other, frankly), contact us (info is here) and let us know.

Foolish Mortals Presents
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Directed by Blake Bradford
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Okay, bad pun. But when you see the enormous outpouring of thee-tah stuff that the 2006 New York Musical Theatre Festival is bringing to the Big Apple, you’ll see it’s not misplaced (although it is still a bad pun).
So read on, and then visit NYMF.org to find out about tickets. Right now tix are only available to members, which you can find out more about here. It’s not a bad deal – even if you only plan on buying two tickets, that would run you $40, and there’s a membership that only costs $60. So you can get your tickets and do something good for the Festival.
Blah blah blah, right? Enough talk! More SINGING!
Full press release (it’s looong) after the jump.
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From the good folks at FringeNYC and SpinCycle, a big ol’ party:

Wednesday, August 16:
FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS (49 Grove, between 7th Ave. & Bleecker St — one
block below Christopher St.)
The New York International Fringe Festival is back in town. Come meet
the cast and creators of some of the best and gayest shows in the
festival. Other benefits: NO cover charge, FREE Cosmos from 10pm –
11pm, $6 drink specials all night, and music by DJ Chip Duckett
(including brand new songs from FERGIE, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, BEYONCE,
CHRISTINA AGUILERA, SCISSOR SISTERS, JESSICA SIMPSON and PARIS
HILTON). Now That’s what Friends are for! Doors open at 10pm. Every
Wednesday.

You’ve got to be nuts to open your show the same day as the The New York International Fringe Festival. Well, these folks are that nuts! The show sounds like it could be fun: a werewolf musical.
Blue moon, I saw you standing alone…
Oh, sorry. We’re back. Info and press release are below:

AUTUMN MOON: A Rock Musical Thriller
David Velarde, book, music & lyrics
Jonathan Stuart Cerullo, director
Wings Theater Company, producer
Wings Theater, venue
154 Christopher Street, NYC
(212) 627-2961
August 11-September 2
(Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00… Sunday at 3:30 and 8:00… no perfs on August 13 or 14)
Tickets – $20
Autumn Moon: A Rock Musical Thriller will make its world premiere at The Wings Theatre from August 11-September 2.
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THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, Douglas Carter Beane’s Hollywood satire-type-thing, is moving a few blocks away to Broadway. Good for them, we say. Julie White is a great actress who, though making a living, isn’t as big a star as she should be, and we hear Johnny Galecki (above; of ‘Roseanne’ fame) can act good too. Perfs start October 26.

DOUGLAS CARTER BEANE’S
THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED
TO PLAY THE CORT THEATRE THIS FALL
TOM EVERETT SCOTT joins JULIE WHITE
and JOHNNY GALECKI
in Acclaimed Comedy
Directed by SCOTT ELLIS

Previews begin Thursday, October 26

Opening Night is Monday, November 13

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Gee, is this show topical? Ya think? It’s just a reading, but we bet someone will pick it up for a longer run if it’s any good.
This one is free, but a $10 donation is “suggested”. Since they’re beating people off with a stick, you should give them some money.

PERFORMANCE ADDED DUE TO DEMAND

“THE MIDDLE EAST, IN PIECES”

Presented by BACK HOUSE PRODUCTIONS and CHERRY LANE THEATRE

A Free Reading of Six Short Pieces in Response to the Current Developments in the Middle East

ADDED PERFORMANCE: FRI., AUGUST 18th at CHERRY LANE THEATRE

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From the Keen Company comes a show whose title you probably can’t say ten times fast. G’head. Try it. We dare you.

Keen Company kicks off the 2006/07 Season Off Broadway in their new
home on Theater Row with Theophilus North
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This one has gotten some nice notices, and there’s only two more performances. Get out of the heat (oh, nobody told you? It’s really hot) and head on over to this one before it closes.

The Midtown International Theatre Festival in Association with TRU
Presents

THE MATERNAL INSTINCT
A New Play
Written by Monica Bauer
Directed by Melissa Wentworth
At The WorkShop Theatre, 312 W. 36th St., 4th Floor
FINAL PERFORMANCES!!!
SATURDAY, AUG 5TH AT 8:15PM &
SUNDAY, AUG 6TH AT 5:30PM

August 3, 2006
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Pictured: Li Jun Li and John Wlliams
Photo credit: Brian Richardson

Romeo, o Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?
In the park, performing for free!

(Thank you! Tip your waitresses! Is this thing on?)

PULSE ENSEMBLE THEATRE BEGINS FREE PERFORMANCES OF SHAKESPEARE’S
ROMEO AND JULIET ON THURSDAY, AUG 3 at 8 PM
AT RIVERBANK STATE PARK
(Riverside Drive & 138th Street)
CONTINUES THROUGH AUGUST 27
as part of HARLEM WEEK
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