offoffBway.com

Don’t take this the wrong way, disciples of Springsteen, but who knew there were so many theaters in Jersey? This is a nice list courtesy of Talkin’ Broadway.

Talkin’ Broadway Regional News & Reviews – New Jersey “New Jersey Theater Schedule 2005-2006
The Essential Bruce Springsteen

Born To Run

Joe’s Pub, named for the late great Joe Papp, the Public Theater’s founder, has a rep for being one of the coolest places in town. This newly added event on September 7th sounds like a winner. One Ring Zero is described as “Fellini-esque-lit-rock”, and features lyrics from writers such as Paul Auster, Neil Gaiman (of Sandman graphic novel fame) and Margaret Atwood, among others.
There’s even a free MP3 so you can hear a little of the music before you plunk down your hard-earned ducats. Although for 15 bucks, that’s a pretty good deal. Read on (and listen):

Joe’s Pub NYC proudly announces the addition of the following show to our calendar:

Thursday, September 7

ONE RING ZERO Wake Them Up CD Release with special guests CLAUDIA GONSON and RICK MOODY

www.oneringzero.com

With songs about Siamese twins, marching mannequins, and decrepit trailer parks, Brooklyn’s One Ring Zero continues to embrace its Fellini-esque-lit-rock reputation with crafty lyrics (which Michael Hearst and Joshua Camp wrote this time) and odd-ball instruments, as they celebrate the release of their new album “Wake Them Up” (Barbès Records). This album follows their 2004 release “As Smart As We Are”, which featured songs with lyrics written for the band by many of North America’s top authors: Paul Auster, Margaret Atwood, Jonathan Lethem, Neil Gaiman, A.M. Homes, Dave Eggers, etc. Tonight’s performance features special guests Claudia Gonson (The Magnetic Fields) and Rick Moody (Wingdale Community Singers and author of The Ice Storm)””Accordions, organs, theremins, and the occasional brass horn … combine to make soundscapes that are both haunting and entertaining.” –The New Yorker
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This is a real off-off success story. These two started out in clubs, and now they’re playing Broadway. BROADWAY. THE Broadway. Not to overstate it, but good for them. With a four week limited engagement, you don’t have that many chances to see ’em, which is a good move on their part. If it’s a hit, they can extend. Hey, maybe they’ll win a Tony and get to perform on TV. No matter what, this is a big step for an act that’s been kicking around for a long time and have found big-time success – they’ve even played Carnegie Hall. The press release below is LONG, but there’s a lot to say about this pair. Check out their web site, and of course, the MySpace page for even more info.

A NEW MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA:
“KIKI & HERB: ALIVE ON BROADWAY”
WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY
JUSTIN BOND (KIKI) & KENNY MELLMAN (HERB)

TO PLAY 4 WEEKS ONLY
PERFORMANCES BEGIN AUGUST 11

AT BROADWAY’S
HELEN HAYES THEATRE
(240 WEST 44TH STREET)

OFFICIAL OPENING:
TUESDAY, AUGUST 15 @ 7:00 PM
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Really? What about the great clown Hymie Ishkibibble?
Actually, a quick Google search reveals a company called Circus Salaam Shalom, which must have at least one Jewish member. And this article mentions “…Crug and Kesselman, as well as Cohen, are three of several Jews active at the Circus Center, a professional training ground.” Admittedly, the same article does express some surprise with Jews being in the circus.
Hey, we don’t mean to nitpick. It’s not like we think all theater has to be completely realistic (they don’t ACTUALLY kill a cat at the beginning of ‘The Lieutenant of Inishmore’). But with a title like that, we had to say SOMETHING. Oy vey.

HIGHBROW ENTERTAINMENT
presents
“JEWS DON’T JOIN THE CIRCUS”
BETH KAPLAN BONGAR’S
BRUTALLY HONEST
PITCH-PERFECT
HYSTERICALLY FUNNY BALANCING ACT
THAT IS ONE WOMAN’S FAMILY
&
THE DEVASTATING EFFECT THAT FAMILY HAD ON BETH AND ANYONE ELSE THAT CROSSED THEIR PATH

OPENS
JULY 26th
as part of the
MIDTOWN INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL

DIRECTED BY CHERYL KING
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Pictured: Grant Neale & Grant Neale

Photo by Miranda Arden

Summer in New York means FREE SHAKESPEARE and lots of it. New York Classical Theatre has been doing the free Shakey thang since 2000, and director Stephen Burdman did it even before that, so one imagines they know how to give audiences a night to remember. And hey, if you don’t like it, you can always get your money back.

The Comedy of Errors

New York Classical Theatre’s “Shakespeare on the Run”

presents

“The Comedy of Errors” Aug 3-27, FREE!
Thursdays-Sundays at 7pm
at West 103rd Street & CPW inside Central Park ,
All Ages, FREE!
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That Karen – always up to something. This time she’s doing a “9/11-Liza Minelli Tribute”. No, really, she is. Bottom line: she may or may not be your cup of tea (or chocolate – ha ha, bad joke there), but she’s certainly never boring. This show was done before and got some nice notices.

Karen Finley’s 9/11-Liza Minnelli Tribute Returns to Honor 5th Anniversary
MAKE LOVE
3 Shows Only! September 8 – 10 at The Cutting Room
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From one of the writers of Grey’s Anatomy! Directed by an actor from Queer as Folk! Starring the second cousin of the director of… okay, not fair.
The title is either a good one or will make you cringe, depending on your level of Eagles fandom. If you prefer Don Henley solo, brother, you’ve found your play. Got good notices in L.A., as well an Ovation Award nomination.

New Play by Grey’s Anatomy Emmy Nominee Premieres
ME, MY GUITAR AND DON HENLEY
October 3 – 24 at The 14th Street Y
** Directed by Queer as Folk’s Peter Paige **

“a gem of a play… crisp, stylish and brutally honest writing” — Flavorpill LA
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Again, this should be the title of a FringeFest show. Basically, the woman was cast in a touring production of Movin’ Out, the musical based on Billy Joel songs. Then her breasts got too big and they fired her. Considering the fact that Twyla Tharp “fired…the show’s assistant director and choreographer after Tharp learned the news” that his wife (also in the show) was pregnant (source), it seems pretty believable that excessive cleavage might’ve been the reason for this dancer’s firing. Not that we know. Just a guess. More pictures by following the link below.

Alice Alyse Broadway Dancer Fired for Enormous Breasts (Video, Photos) » Outside The Beltway | OTB

Wasn’t that the title of a play? If not, shouldn’t it be?

A regular Einstein in the ways of love

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Ideas & Opinions

Einstein’s Dreams

From offoffonline:
The Featured Review, Three Sisters, assesses a contemporary playwright’s updated version of a classic Chekhov play. No longer in turn-of-the-century Russia, Olga, Masha, and Irina are now exiled to the outer boroughs of Manhattan and longing for their beloved Upper West Side duplex.

Okay, that’s just a little too contemporary for our taste. Do they also have pet cats? And was the duplex rent controlled? Did the landlord lock them out when they left the house unattended for the first time in 25 years? Do they browse open houses while waiting for their brunch reservations? Ah, Chekhov, we hardly knew ye.

offoffonline – review – Three Sisters – Rising Phoenix Rep
Three Sisters