The New 42nd Street At The New Victory Theater Ends Run of PAGAGNINI 5/23

Mozart, Chopin, Pachelbel - and even U2 - take on a new tenor when performed by Armenian virtuoso Ara Malikian and company in Yllana's award-winning, music/comedy show PaGAGnini, which will end its run on May 23, 2010 at The New Victory Theater.

With hilarious twists on symphonic treasures and modern melodies alike, this wordless concert is a delightful marriage of music and comedy. What starts out as a serious classical concert soon turns into hilarious chaos when the maestro loses control of the mischievous quartet. Winner of the Best Show at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Moerser Comedy Prize at the 2009 International Comedy Arts Festival, PaGAGnini's interpretations are simply ingenious.

Malikian is joined by Eduardo Ortega on violin, Fernando Clemente on violin and Gartxot Ortiz on cello.

The nonprofit New Victory Theater is supported, in part, with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts; New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency; and from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Friends of The New Victory, the New Vic Council, and the theater's dedicated patrons, corporate and foundation donors also provide essential contributions, helping to make possible programming of the highest quality.

Founded in 1991, Yllana has produced 16 shows that have been presented more than 2,000 times in 32 countries. The company has also taken part in prestigious international festivals, such as the New York Fringe Festival (Outstanding Unique Theatrical Event Award for 666 in 2009), Edinburgh Festival Fringe (ThreeWeeks Best Show Award for PaGAGnini in 2008), Juste Pour Rire Festival in Montreal; Comedy Arts Festival in Moers, Germany (Moerser Comedy Preis); and the Printemps des Courges Festival in Toulouse (Spectacle Étranger), among others.

Yllana has created material for television in several countries. It has been working with Paramount Comedy (VIACOM) since 2009 to develop and create new programs; additionally, the company is currently working on its first full-length film. Since 1996, Yllana has managed the Alfil Theatre, which has become a benchmark for theater in Madrid; in 1994, Alfil created the FIHUM (Festival Internacional de Humor de Madrid), a comedy festival.

The members of Yllana are Juan Francisco Ramos, Marcos Ottone, David Ottone, Joseph O'Curneen and Fidel Fernández.

About The New Victory Theater
The New Victory Theater is New York City's first and only full-time performing arts theater for kids, their families and classmates. Since it opened in 1995, The New Victory has quickly become an integral part of the cultural landscape in New York City, presenting a full season of adventurous multidisciplinary works from around the globe and close to home. The New Vic seeks out sophisticated, thought-provoking, professional productions that are as artistically rich as they are entertaining. Tickets are made affordable as a result of support from a variety of public and private sources and cost an average of $17, with seats for members available for as little as $8.75.

In addition, The New Victory also offers daytime school performances ($2 per student), family workshops and jobs to high school and college students. Interactive Lower Lobby Activities, FYIs (performance-related exhibits) and Talk-backs with the artists are offered in conjunction with select performances throughout the season. The theater's website, NewVictory.org, continues to be an excellent resource, providing video clips and more information about each production in the season, as well as show-related activities.

About The New 42nd Street
Founded in 1990, The New 42nd Street is an independent, nonprofit organization charged with long-term responsibility for seven historic theaters on 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. In addition to running The New Victory, The New 42nd Street built and operates the New 42nd Street Studios -- a 10-story building of rehearsal studios, offices and a 199-seat theater named The Duke on 42nd Street -- for national and international performing arts companies. Since its opening on June 21, 2000, the New 42nd Street Studios have been fully occupied by both nonprofit and commercial theater, dance and opera companies. With these institutions and the other properties under its guardianship, The New 42nd Street plays a pivotal role in fostering the continued revival of this famous street at the Crossroads of the World.

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