John Chatterton News

In 'The Past Is Still Ahead' by Sophia Romma, one of Russia's most ill-fated and controversial cult poets of the twentieth century, Marina Tsvetaeva, revisits the tumultuously tragic and sexy events of her life--just before she succumbs to 'suicide' at the hands of the Soviet Secret Police in 1941 while exiled in Siberia. The play will be presented by Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival tonight, July 23, 27 and 28 at The Jewel Box Theater, 312 W. 36th Street, 4th floor, NYC, directed by Francois Rochaix.

In association with the Midtown International Theater Festival, award-winning writer and director Lori Mannette and producer Haley Swindal present: Over The Hill, a new dark comedy running 50 minutes. The show will play from July 31st to August 4th in the Dorothy Strelsin Theater, located at 312 W. 36th Street.

Directed by Arran Hawkins and presented by Play the Spotlight Productions, Black is the Color of my Voice will be performed at the Jewel Box Theater at 312 West 36th Street beginning today, July 22nd at 9pm, Friday, July 26th at 6pm and Sunday, July 28 at1:30pm. The approximate running time of the show is 1 hour, 45 minutes.

A Brit's take on American legend Marilyn Monroe has a further international feel-with Australian soap star Katy-May Hudson playing the screen icon in the New York premier of Mirror, Mirror, and featuring at this year's Midtown International Festival.

On a city street corner, between madness and sanity, all that stands in the way of Hank and freedom is a certifiable homeless man, and a pay phone that can't hear out. The victim of a hit and run, citizen Hank (Maffei) finds himself sprawled out on a city street corner, bleeding from his head, ignored by passersby. Mind and body are put to the test as his one hope of rescue lies mere feet away in the form of a payphone.

How do you know that nice, helpful guy in the next cubicle isn't a psychopath? You don't. CrAzYToWn: my first psychopath, is creative arts therapist Jude Treder-Wolff's comic take about a shocking encounter with a deceptive, dangerous person - the nicest guy you never want to meet. It's a comic true story about an over-eager therapist trying to get over herself when nothing else seemed to be working.

The 14th annual Midtown International Theater Festival presents Division Avenue, a provocative comedy about the intersection of faith, love and bicycles, at the June Havoc Theater - 213 W. 36th Street, first floor - beginning tonight, July 17 at 6:00p.m. Other performances include: Sunday, July 28 at 1:00p.m.; Monday, July 29 at 8:30p.m.; Thursday, August 1 at 8:30p.m.; and Saturday, August 3 at 7:30p.m. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the actors in rehearsal!

The 14th annual Midtown International Theater Festival presents Division Avenue, a provocative comedy about the intersection of faith, love and bicycles, at the June Havoc Theater - 213 W. 36th Street, first floor - beginning Wednesday, July 17 at 6:00p.m. Other performances include: Sunday, July 28 at 1:00p.m.; Monday, July 29 at 8:30p.m.; Thursday, August 1 at 8:30p.m.; and Saturday, August 3 at 7:30p.m.

Soul on Fire will be performed as a part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF), produced by Onyx Vizion Productions, Inc. of the Bronx, New York. The performances will be held on the Main Stage at the June Havoc Theatre July 16 (6pm); July 18 (8:30pm); July 19 (8pm); July 20 (1pm); and July 21 (3pm). The theatre is located at 312 West 36th Street, 1st Floor, New York NY, 10018. Tickets are currently on sale for $18. You may purchase tickets by calling (866) 811-4111, or you can purchase tickets online at www.midtownfestival.org.

The 14th Annual Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival presents 'The Shallot,' a full-length comedic play based on a true story about working at The Onion, at the Workshop Theater Main Stage - 312 West 36th Street, 4th Floor, beginning today, Monday, July 15th at 8:00PM. Other performances include: Friday, July 19th at 10:00PM; Saturday, July 20th at 3:00PM; Saturday, July 20th at 9:15PM; and Wednesday, July 24th at 6:00PM.

A singular talent who rose from child prodigy in the 1930's American South to become the soulful voice of a generation looks for redemption in Black is the Color of my Voice, a one-woman musical drama written and performed by singer and actress Apphia Campbell about choices, family ties and the ever-present sting of racial hatred.

Joanne de Simone's dark study about how peer pressure can turn social media into a murder weapon premieres in July at John Chatterton's 2013 Midtown International Theatre Festival. Making his dramatic stage debut is Ryan Bertroche. Ryan has appeared on many other stages as an international fashion model for - amongst others - Calvin Klein.

On the day he departs to Iraq for his first combat deployment, a soldier discovers his grandfather's life during World War II in a forgotten box of letters, in L.S. Goldberg's Yesterday Iran/Today Iraq. Based on actual World War II letters and conversations with Iraq War veterans, Yesterday Iran/Today Iraq will be performed at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre at 312 West 36th Street, 1st floor, on Wednesday, July 24th at 9:30pm, Thursday, July 25th at 6pm, and Friday, July 26th at 7:30pm. Members of the press are cordially invited to attend any performance.

The Midtown International Theatre Festival presents A Voice In My Head by playwright Debbie Lannen at the Jewel Box Theatre 312 West 36th Street, New York, NY. The production runs: Monday, July 29, 2013 at 8:30pm, Thursday, August 1, 2013 at 6:45pm, and Sunday, August 4, 2013 at 12:45pm.

In 'The Past Is Still Ahead' by Sophia Romma, one of Russia's most ill-fated and controversial cult poets of the twentieth century, Marina Tsvetaeva, revisits the tumultuously tragic and sexy events of her life--just before she succumbs to 'suicide' at the hands of the Soviet Secret Police in 1941 while exiled in Siberia. The play will be presented by Midtown International Theatre Festival on July 23, 27 and 28 at The Jewel Box Theater, 312 W. 36th Street, 4th floor, NYC, directed by Francois Rochaix.

Margarita and Max, a new play by Manuel Igrejas, will star Kim McKean and Craig Fox at the Midtown International Theater Festival, directed by David Hilder. The show runs for three performances: Tuesday, July 23rd, Saturday, July 27th and Sunday, July 28th, at the Dorothy Strelsin Theater, 312 West 36th St.

All performances take place at the Jewel Box Theater WorkShop, 312 West 36th Street, 4th Floor, btw 8th and 9th Avenues, New York, NY 10018.

The 14th Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival presents 'The Shallot,' a full-length comedic play based on a true story about working at The Onion, at the Workshop Theater Main Stage - 312 West 36th Street, 4th Floor at the following dates and times:

As a critic for The New York Times, Neil Genzlinger has reviewed countless plays, television shows and films, but on July 16, 19 and 20 he'll be the one doing the performing as he presents a trio of monologues at the Midtown International Theater Festival.

Hollywood! Hollywood! is a happy, fun-filled musical journey following the lives of Ryan, a handsome auto-mechanic; Melanie, a pretty waitress; Claire, an office-temp; Trudy, a cosmetics saleswoman; Jay, an entertainer for all occasions, and their friends, Orlando, Armando, Eva, Amanda and Concepcion-all pursuing their dreams of becoming paid actors in the Hollywood film industry. We then meet Laura Tanner, Hollywood's most glamorous movie star who is making appearances all over town. She's promoting her new autobiography with hired escort, Vincent the Magnificent-the hunky, ex-Chippendale dancer, and Freddy, her publisher and the one true love of her life. Through song and dance, laughter and tears, joy and sorrow they all come together to tell their tales in the exciting new musical, Hollywood! Hollywood!