Joe Franklin News

In preparation for the All-Day Long Island Al Jolson Festival (in Oceanside, NY) on Saturday, August 18, BroadwayWorld.com cabaret columnist Stephen Hanks offers his take on what made the 'World's Greatest Entertainer' so great, and muses about the reasons as to why he is such a devotee of the man who once owned Broadway and starred in the first talking picture.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Gold 18 Records, Inc. present Ari Gold's BASHERT An Autobiographical Homotheatrical Multi-Media Musical. Performances of this staged reading will take place from tonight, July 11th through July 15th (3 performances) at the 45th Street Theatre (354 W. 45th St.). Official Opening is set for tonight, July 11th at 8pm.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Gold 18 Records, Inc. present Ari Gold's BASHERT An Autobiographical Homotheatrical Multi-Media Musical. Performances of this staged reading will take place from July 11th through July 15th (3 performances) at the 45th Street Theatre (354 W. 45th St.). Official Opening is set for Wednesday, July 11th at 8pm.

THE LOWER EAST SIDE (LES) FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS celebrates its seventeenth year of bringing together under one roof, in just three days, over 100 performing arts organizations, local and international celebrities, independent artists, poets, playwrights, musicians, puppeteers, film makers and many others - all of whom reside, work or have their roots in the culturally diverse, willfully anarchistic Lower East Side - for New York City's most diverse FREE 3-day festival, from today, May 25 through Sunday, May 27, at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Sts.) in Manhattan. OBIE Award-winning actress Crystal Field is co-founder and Artistic Director of Theater for the New City.

Fast-Rising Cabaret Stars Will Dazzle Royal Room Fans from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day: Carole J. Bufford, Nicolas King, Jennifer Sheehan, Wayne Hosford & Ariana Savalas The Colony Hotel - which The Palm Beach Post has hailed as "probably the best place for cabaret on the planet" - plans another sizzling, song-filled summer with some really hot and fast-rising performers straight from Manhattan's leading cabarets - several of whom are making their Royal Room debut and other performers who are returning favorites for loyal fans of the Royal Room Supper Club. The Colony Hotel's world famous Royal Room is widely celebrated for presenting "immaculately staged cabaret performances" by well known Grammy- and Tony-winning stars (Conde Nast Traveler, February 2011).

Fast-Rising Cabaret Stars Will Dazzle Royal Room Fans from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day: Carole J. Bufford, Nicolas King, Jennifer Sheehan, Wayne Hosford & Ariana Savalas The Colony Hotel - which The Palm Beach Post has hailed as "probably the best place for cabaret on the planet" - plans another sizzling, song-filled summer with some really hot and fast-rising performers straight from Manhattan's leading cabarets - several of whom are making their Royal Room debut and other performers who are returning favorites for loyal fans of the Royal Room Supper Club. The Colony Hotel's world famous Royal Room is widely celebrated for presenting "immaculately staged cabaret performances" by well known Grammy- and Tony-winning stars (Conde Nast Traveler, February 2011).

Lucas Papaelias, of Broadway's ONCE is set to join the line up of the previously announced 17th annual LOWER EAST SIDE (LES) FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS. Papaelias is also known as LPfunK and is an actor/guitarist/composer who was nominated for a Drama Desk Award (Best Original Music in a Play) for his work in Adam Rapp's "Essential Self-Defense" at Playwrights Horizons. Most recently, he co-wrote the rock musical PYRAMIDICA: Songs of Freedom, which takes place live in a pyramid scheme company's "free" orientation, and was presented at the Vineyard Arts Project's New Writers / New Plays Festival. He also conceived of, and composed, the rock opera ITHACA: a Perpetual Shredfest, the story of a Lower East Side rock band performing their final concert, which had presentations at Joe's Pub and ARS Nova.

THE LOWER EAST SIDE (LES) FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS celebrates its seventeenth year of bringing together under one roof, in just three days, over 100 performing arts organizations, local and international celebrities, independent artists, poets, playwrights, musicians, puppeteers, film makers and many others - all of whom reside, work or have their roots in the culturally diverse, willfully anarchistic Lower East Side - for New York City's most diverse FREE 3-day festival, from Friday, May 25 through Sunday, May 27, at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Sts.) in Manhattan. OBIE Award-winning actress Crystal Field is co-founder and Artistic Director of Theater for the New City.

The Host Committee for the Coney Island USA Spring Gala is being co-chaired by acclaimed film director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler, The Fountain and Requiem For A Dream) and Senior Vice President of George Arzt Communications, Jane Crotty.

CONEY ISLAND USA TO CELEBRATE THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MERMAID PARADE AT ITS ANNUAL SPRING FUNDRAISING GALA ON SATURDAY, MARCH 24TH FROM 7 - 11PM AT MANHATTAN'S WEBSTER HALL.

Madeline Austin, S.D. Wagner and Carrie Schoenfeld present the world premiere of Sharyn Rothstein's ripped from the headlines new play THE INVESTED - about greed, ethics, loyalty and corruption inside one of the most powerful banks in the world.

THE 16th ANNUAL LOWER EAST SIDE (LES) FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS brings together under one roof in just three days over 100 performing arts organizations, local and international celebrities, independent artists, poets, playwrights, musicians, puppeteers, film makers and many others - all of whom reside, work or have their roots in the culturally diverse, willfully anarchistic Lower East Side - for New York City's most diverse FREE 3-day festival, from Friday, May 27 through Sunday, May 29, at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Sts.) in Manhattan. OBIE Award-winning actress Crystal Field is co-founder and Artistic Director of Theater for the New City.

April at The Metropolitan Room

April at The Metropolitan Room

RICHARD SKIPPER AS “CAROL CHANNING' IN CONCERT celebrates the career and persona of the unique theatrical legend. Accompanied by a three-piece band, Skipper blends Channing's standards with original material and other familiar songs sung to spot-on Channing-on-Broadway perfection.

RICHARD SKIPPER AS “CAROL CHANNING' IN CONCERT celebrates the career and persona of the unique theatrical legend. Accompanied by a three-piece band, Skipper blends Channing's standards with original material and other familiar songs sung to spot-on Channing-on-Broadway perfection.

It is with great pleasure that The West Bank Café announces upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre. The West Bank Café is located at 407 West 42nd. St., at Ninth Avenue. For reservations, please call 212.695.6909.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt, Managing Director) is proud to announce a free, community event celebrating the opening of Hairspray at the Millburn Theater. Hairspray's Blowout Bash will take place on Main Street and Taylor Park in Downtown Millburn on Sunday, September 19th from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Hairspray's Blowout Bash will feature: rides, games, live entertainment, contests, give-a-ways, food, a special appearance from members of the Hairspray cast and more. Hairspray's Blowout Bash is a rain or shine event.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt, Managing Director) is proud to announce a free, community event celebrating the opening of Hairspray at the Millburn Theater. Hairspray's Blowout Bash will take place on Main Street and Taylor Park in Downtown Millburn on Sunday, September 19th from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Hairspray's Blowout Bash will feature: rides, games, live entertainment, contests, give-a-ways, food, a special appearance from members of the Hairspray cast and more. Hairspray's Blowout Bash is a rain or shine event. Below you will find the time-line for the event that includes four, themed contests including; Jersey's Big Hair Contest, a 60's Dance-Off, Hula Hoop Contest and a 60's Costume Contest. Children and adults are encouraged to participate. WPLJ-95.5FM, New Jersey and New York's hit music station, will host each contest. HAIRSPRAY BLOWOUT BASH Sunday, September 19, 2010 EVENT TIME-LINE 1:00pm Event Begins 1:15pm-1:30pm Big Hair Contest / Give-a-ways 1:30pm-2:15pm The Party Dolls Perform 2:15pm-2:40pm 60's Dance Off / Give-a-ways 3:00pm-3:45pm The Party Dolls Perform 3:45pm-4:00pm Hula Hoop Contest / Give-a-ways 4:00pm-4:15pm Hairspray Cast Performance 4:15pm-5:00pm The Party Dolls Perform 5:00pm-5:30pm DJ/ 60's Costume Contest Awards Paper Mill Playhouse has been creating unique, free, community events for the past several years to celebrate the opening of each season. Last year, The Little House on the Prairie Harvest Festival attracted more than 2,000 area residents. 'Paper Mill Playhouse's season opening event is becoming a tradition for many area residents,' says Shayne Miller Director of Press and Public Relations for the Millburn Theater. 'This free event is Paper Mill Playhouse's way of thanking the community that supports our theater. Each year the event grows as we add new elements, entertainment and lots of fun for the kids.' Hairspray's Blowout Bash will feature The Fantastic Party Dolls Show and Dance Band. The Party Dolls started out in 1985 as a '60's Girl Group and Motown Review' The show has gone from Nantucket to Maui and played in 18 states and two foreign countries. The repertoire has expanded to cover '70's Disco Divas' and 'Ladies of the 80's'. From Motown to Madonna they are 'A tribute to girl groups and women in rock'. Some highlights and notable engagements include: George W. Bush Inaugural, PNC Arts Center; Trump Marina, Hard Rock (NYC, AC, Philly); Museum of Natural History; Yale University; Palm Beach; Southampton, Bermuda, Bahamas. The Party Dolls have appeared on the bill with such Rock and Roll Hall of Famers as; The Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, Connie Francis, Ben E. King and Dick Clark. They appeared on the nationally syndicated 'Joe Franklin Show' and will be making an appearance on 'The View'. There are plenty of FREE activities for the kids too. The event will feature rides including; Turbo Tubs, a trackless train with rides around Taylor Park, a 'candy house' themed moonwalker, a 24 foot inflatable slide, inflatable twister, vintage carnival games, spin art and more. There will be free cotton candy for the kids sponsored by Downtown Millburn (while supplies last). Other food items will be available for purchase on the day of the event. WPLJ-95.5FM, New Jersey and New York's hit music station, will DJ the event. Paper Mill Playhouse and WPLJ-95.5FM will be hosting contests throughout the day including: Jersey's Biggest Hair Contest, 60's Costume Contest, Hula Hoop Contest, 60's Dance Off, 60's trivia and more. So dust off the Jackie Kennedy wear and pull out the hairspray and show your 1960's spirit. Contests are open to children and adults. Hairspray's Blowout Bash will take place on Main Street and Taylor Park in Downtown Millburn on Sunday, September 19th from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Hairspray's Blowout Bash will feature: rides, games, entertainment, contests, give-a-ways, food, a special appearance from members of the Hairspray cast and more. Hairspray's Blowout Bash is a rain or shine event. MORE ON HAIRSPRAY Paper Mill Playhouse recently announced casting for Hairspray. Directed by Matt Lenz, with choreography by Michele Lynch, Hairspray will run at the Millburn theatre from September 22 through October 24, 2010. Family Week is September 22 through September 26 and during this period children's tickets are half off the regular price (certain restrictions apply). Hairspray is proudly sponsored by American Airlines, the official airline of Paper Mill Playhouse. Hairspray will play the following performance schedule: Wednesdays at 7:00PM, Thursdays at 1:30PM & 7:00PM, Fridays at 7:00PM, Saturdays at 1:30PM & 7:00PM and Sundays at 1:30PM & 7:00PM. (Extended week has an alternate schedule. Check Paper Mill Playhouse's website for more information on the extension.) Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $25 to $92. Student rush tickets are $25 and are available the day of performance in person with current student ID. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, or at the Paper Mill Box Office on Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at Paper Mill Playhouse's brand new website: www.papermill.org. Paper Mill Playhouse gift cards, available in any denomination, can be purchased at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 25% discount or more on tickets and should call 973-379-3636, extension 2438.

After a long summer of playing matchmaker for New York singles, host of THE FIX-UP SHOW J. Keith van Straaten (host of Comedy Central's 'Beat The Geeks,' 'What's My Line? - Live On Stage') deserves a vacation! But before he sets off jetting around the country, he has one more match to make at the finale of THE FIX-UP SHOW at the Triad on Saturday, September 11 at a special time, 9pm. In this travel themed finale, our host will help a single flight attendant find his match with the help of other airline industry types as well as celebrity panelist and Emmy-award winning comedienne Judy Gold Gold (HBO, Comedy Central, 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother). There will be an exciting opportunity to mingle with the participants and other jet-setting singles at a special going-away party following the last chance to see THE FIX-UP SHOW at the Triad.