Berlin and Cohen Sell Out Bad Musicals Festival And Win Golden Pineapple

 Anne Berlin (Book & Lyrics) and Andy Cohen's (Music) "Charlie Chang and the Mysterious Salami" played to sold-out houses at The Bad Musicals Festival this past month, and was directed by Tony Spinosa. The festival was presented by NY Artists Unlimited.
 
Charlie Chang and the Mysterious Salami is based on the old Charlie Chan film serial made popular in the 1930s and 1940s. It's an absurdest farce that lovingly pokes fun of stereotypes. A Lil whodunit which has something to offend everyone. It's so wrong it's right!

Set in Putz's Delicatessen, Detective Chang is on holiday. He has a weakness for Jewish deli. He's secretly enjoying his favorite sandvich, pastrami, VHAT ELSE, when a woman named Shah Iksa Goy mysteriously drops dead in front of him. Before he knows it he unwillingly gets roped into solving the crime. But get ready, these are not your usual suspects. The lineup features Ira Kikestein, Frankie Guido, Pedro The Delivery Boy, Lenny the Only White Cabbie in the World, Whiteman Blackman, and The Gays. With the help of his Two Daughters, Charlie will solve the salami mystery before his sandvich gets cold!

liz smith dubbed the show "A laugh riot...an hilarious event". She called the lyrics "fascinatingly funny" and said the direction was brilliantly staged and choreographed by Tony Spinosa. The writers plan on expanding the show. On the heels of their successful sold-out run at the Bad Musicals Festival, Berlin & Cohen's other show RIPCORDS opened last night at The New York International Fringe Festival. RIPCORDS stars Emily Skeggs and features a seven person ensemble cast and is directed by Gregg Wiggans. RIPCORDS is a musical drama, set in the 1950s, whose story concerns an incident of war profiteering that happened during WWII.
 
RIPCORDS plays August 13, 16, 21 and the 24th at The Bleecker Street Theater (45 Bleecker Street) and features a jazzy score.
 
For more information on both shows, visit www.charliechangandthemysterioussalami.com, www.ripcordsmusical.com  and for tickets, visit The New York International Fringe Festival homepage at http://www.fringenyc.org.

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