Directors and writers have been lined up for International CringeFest '10, which opens on Monday, July 19, and closes on Sunday, August 8, in the Grand Theatre at the Producers' Club, 358 W. 44 St. These are REALLY GOOD & HILARIOUS works that are irreverent, politically incorrect, politically satirical, naughty, and utterly zany -- don't you want some of that?! The schedule is M-F @ 8 pm, Sat. @ 5, 8 & 10:30 pm, Sun. @ 4 & 7 pm. Plays are arranged in theme evenings and given quirky titles by artistic director Melba LaRose. Themes rotate, so check the definitive schedule: www.NYartists.org or www.Theatermania.com. The audience goes for the night and gets to vote at the end for winners of the Golden Pineapple, Silver Tomato, and Bronze Banana... and Jack Lemons for the actors. For one ticket, you get to see a number of wacky works within a 2-hour timespan, including intermission. The Producers' Club has a charming, inexpensive bar & lounge for before the show, at intermission, and at the end where you can mingle with performers.
In the first week of the festival, Honorary Golden Pineapples will be presented to important people in the industry. This year's honorees are still being kept hush-hush, but should be announced in June. Last year, Pineapples went to Taylor Mead, Mink Stole, Joe Franklin, Ginny Louloudes, and Michael Musto. In 2009, it was legendary actress Marilyn Sokol, cabaret star Sidney Myer, and Warhol muse Ultra Violet. Director Tom O'Horgan (Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar) was honored in 2007.
The program for this year is...
SEX ENCOUNTERS OF A DISTURBED MIND (dir. Bob Bartley)
· Chat Room by Melanie Wallner
· Would Ya? by Bruce Post
· Clean up, Aisle Six by Paul J. Lawrence
· Bagel Shopping by David Schrag
· Jump! by George J. Bryjak
· Phil in Customer Service by David Schrag
· INTERMISSION
· After Life by Jon Brooks
· Bullwhips & Boo Boo Bird by Catherine Pelonero
(dir. Eva Minemar)
· Zombie Strippers (musical) by Mark LaPierre
PSYCHO BITCH PARTY (dir. Kenny Howard)
· Ashley Saves the World by Tom Baum
· The Surprise Party by Jeff Stolzer
· Lori at a Fetish Party (musical)
Book & lyrics Melanie Zoey Weinstein,
composer Cecilia Woodcrest
· Psycho Bitch & the Throbbing Blue Veiner by Barbara Lindsay
· INTERMISSION
· New Rochelle by John Ryan
IS THAT A CORNCOB IN YOUR POCKET?
(dirs. Sharon Einhorn, Mark Falconer, Kenny Wade Marshall)
· Sweet Talk by Jim Inman
· Red Dirt, White Trash by Jean Hart
· Whittlin' Dixie (musical) by Bud Twang
· INTERMISSION
· The Clothing Line by Eve Crusto
· The Great Pig Robbery (musical), dir. Kenny Wade Marshall)
Book & lyrics by Blake Hackler, composer Michael Kooman
SEX, THUGS & ROCKIN' ROLES (dir. Tom Amici)
· 69 Stories by Frank O'Donnell
· Torrid Taxes by Laurie Spector
· Four Characters in Search of a Play by John Lane
· The Greatest Play Ever (If You Don't Think
So, You're a Basket of Farts) by John Hendel
· Godot, Act 3 by Ira Hauptman
· Nanny Lends a Hand by Jean Hart
· INTERMISSION
· Fingerman by Hope Weiner
· Don't Write a Bad Play, or a Cautionary Tale
about the Brutality of the War on Terror
and the Futility of Using Violence to Stop
Violence by Jack Karp
· The Artistic Integrity of a Damned-Fine Love Story
by Robin Rodriguez
DOW JONES MEETS DEEP THROAT (dir. Kareem Fahmy)
· The Alopecia Plot by Jules Tasca
· The Hedge Fun by Raeder Lomax
· Sarah Opts Out! by Shirley King
· INTERMISSION
· Small World by Jeff Stolzer
· The Patent Application by Stephen Delos Treacy
NO HOLES BARRED (late-night Saturday) (dir. Kenny Wade Marshall)
· Oh my Josh! by Doron Braunshtein aka Apollo Braun
· The Queen's Privy (musical) by Michael Paul Girard
· INTERMISSION
· It Came from Uranus (musical) by Lance Theo Carpenter
PLUS, a few short films, including "Adolf Hitler Gets Some Bad News" by David Schrag.
Tony Spinosa is Supervising Director of the theme evenings. He is the only director to receive 2 Golden Pineapple Awards for his work with the CringeFest for the 2008 production of Charlie Chang and the Mysterious Salami, and the 2009 theme evening Is That a Spear In Your Pocket? Tony is currently working under the wing of director Terry Johnson on the Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles through the SDC Observership Program, and is being courted for a full-time position with the show. At the same time, he directed Village Light Opera Group's recent hit revival of Fiddler on the Roof. Last year, he helmed VLOG's Kiss Me, Kate.
This is the festival's third year at the Producers' Club, where it is warmly hosted by Freddie and Ernest Tollja. The CringeFest is supported in part by the Dramatists Guild of America, corporate funders, and individual donors. From the get-go, this festival has intrigued the press & media: coverage has appeared in The New York Times Sunday Arts & Leisure section, New York Magazine, TimeOutNY, and many more publications. The coverage has provided tremendous exposure for a great number of artists: 50 in the first festival, 300 in the last one. The house is packed nearly every night with producers, press/ media people, and a large/growing audience of locals and tourists. Renowned writers, composers, directors, and actors take part and some have been in several festivals.
NY Artists Unlimited is a 28 year old nonprofit organization that provides theatre and art to under-served audiences. The company is supported in part by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Nancy Quinn Fund, Puffin Foundation, Dramatists Guild Fund, corporate and individual contributors. The festival lends a hand in supporting the mission to serve the community. Movers 'n shakers behind this insanity are: Melba LaRose, Artistic Director; Bill & Anita Brown, associate producers from Shooting Star Theatre; Court Sweeting, Technical Director, plus myriad interns and volunteers that make the whole thing happen.
For more information or reservations, call 212-242-6036 or visit www.nyartists.org. For online ticketing: www.theatermania.com. Grand Theatre at the Producers Club, 358 W. 44 St., betw. Eighth/ Ninth Aves., July 19-August 8. Tickets are $25 full price or $20 advance sales (deadline July 1), student tix $15. Tix may be further discounted for early weekend shows.
Visit website for calendar of rotating theme nights: www.NYartists.org
