ON THIS ISLAND EPISODE #7, CHARLATAN and More Set for Ars Nova, Sept 2013

(All shows are at 8pm unless otherwise noted)

Charlatan (Thursday, 9/12, Friday, 9/13 and Saturday, 9/14; $15)

Created by Vinny DePonto

Directed by Andrew Neisler

Additional Material by Josh Koenigsberg

In a world where we pin, post, tweet and tumble everything, truth is more elusive than ever. Secrets are slippery and lying as easy as a flick of the wrist. Charlatan explores the many tantalizing faces of deception - the impostors, the frauds and the fakes. Who better to delve into the mysteries of deceit than a professional deceiver? Step behind the curtain with award-winning magician and ANT Fest 2012 sensation, Vinny DePonto, as he unmasks the motives of the best liars and reveals why you're one of them.

This performance comes to you as part of Ars Nova's Project Residency initiative to help artists get unique projects off the ground.

Mel and El: Advanced Maternal Age (Monday, 9/16; $20)

Written & Performed by Melanie Kinard & Ellie Dvorkin

NYC cult-cabaret phenomenons Mel & El make a triumphant return to the Ars Nova stage for one night only! Debuting heartfelt new songs like "Let's Not Be Poor Anymore" and "My Man is Just the Right Amount of Gay," the ladies bring their comedic musical stylings home to Hell's Kitchen. Catch them quick, before El goes into labor.

Quality Notions: Jacqueline Novak Records A Comedy Album (Wednesday, 9/18; $15)

Come help make history as alternative comedienne Jacqueline Novak steps into the limelight for this live recording of her debut comedy album,Quality Notions. This intellectual striptease promises a strange and hilarious night of startling insights and dark truths. Don't miss the coming out party for a shining newcomer whom Mike Birbiglia calls, "one of the next great stars in comedy".

This show comes to you as part of Ars Nova's Showgasm Spotlight series, designed to give artists working in the same adventurous vein as Ars Nova's monthly variety show, Showgasm.,a chance to try out a full-length evening of work in front of a live audience.

Showgasm. (Thursday, 9/19; $5)

What is Showgasm, you ask? It's Elizabeth Berkley's final callback for Showgirls, the Sex and the City tour bus speeding down the freeway, the eternal body roll. Or more simply put, a raucous variety show with performances ranging from hilarious to titillating to utterly inappropriate. Come. You've never looked better!

Hosted by John Early. Featuring performances by Murray Hill, Ben Kronberg, Fantasy Grandma, Salty Brine and Ian Axness and additional performers to be announced.

Producing credits include: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 by Dave Malloy, directed by Rachel Chavkin (now in an Off-Broadway transfer production at Kazino); ANT Fest; The Netflix Plays; The Urban Dictionary Plays; The Lapsburgh Layover by The Berserker Residents, directed by Oliver Butler; Be a Good Little Widow by Bekah Brunstetter, directed by Stephen Brackett; The Wii Plays; Now Circa Then by Carly Mensch, directed by Jason Eagan; Bloodsong of Love by Joe Iconis, directed by John Simpkins; Missed Connections NYC; Sax & Dixon: We Thee Wed by John Dixon, Peter McNerney and Matt Sax, directed by Peter McNerney; Mel & El: Show & Tell by Melanie Adelman and Ellie Dvorkin, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel; Two Girls for Five Bucks and the Ten Dollar Heartbreakers by Cathleen Carr and Daiva Deupree, directed by Andy Donald; Playlist; Jollyship the Whiz-Bang by Nick Jones and Raja Azar, directed by Sam Gold; boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, directed by Alex Timbers; From Up Here by Liz Flahive, directed by Leigh Silverman; The Wikipedia Plays; Dixie's Tupperware Party by Kris Andersson, directed by Alex Timbers; At Least It's Pink by Bridget Everett and Kenny Mellman, directed by Michael Patrick King; 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother by Kate Moira Ryan with Judy Gold, directed by Karen Kohlhaas; Holy Cross Sucks! by Rob Nash, directed by Jeff Calhoun; Freestyle Love Supreme by Anthony Veneziale and Lin-Manuel Miranda, directed by Thomas Kail; and The Wau Wau Sisters, by Tanya Gagné and Adrienne Truscott, directed by Trip Cullman.