Busch, Horovitz, et al. Receive International CringeFest Golden Pineapple Awards, 7/23

On Friday, July 23rd, at the Honorary Golden Pineapple Awards of International CringeFest ‘10, the coveted golden fruit will be served up to: Broadway & Off-Broadway playwright-actor Charles Busch, Broadway & Off-Broadway playwright Israel Horovitz, Off-Broadway playwright & Gay Rights activist Doric Wilson, BackStage's Editor-at-Large Sherry Eaker & Dixon Place's Founder & Executive Director Ellie Covan. The event takes place in the Grand Theatre at the Producers' Club. Admission for the evening's theme, Sex Encounters of a Disturbed Mind, directed by Robert Bartley & starring Richard Pryor Jr., the Honorary Golden Pineapple Awards ceremony & the splendiferous party in the theatre's Iluras Lounge is only $40. Proceeds go to support the company's dedicated year-round mission of taking professional theatre to under-served audiences, which they have been doing for the past 28 years. Past Pineapple recipients are Taylor Mead, Mink Stole, Joe Franklin, Ginny Louloudes, Michael Musto, Marilyn Sokol, Sidney Myer, Ultra Violet & Tom O'Horgan.

The six-year-old CringeFest opens Monday, July 19 & closes Sunday, August 8, in the Grand Theatre at the Producers' Club. These are BRILLIANT & HILARIOUS works that are irreverent, politically incorrect, politically satirical, naughty & utterly zany - what could be bad?! The audience goes for the night and gets to vote at the end for winners of the Golden Pineapple, Silver Tomato & Bronze Banana... and Jack Lemons for the actors. For one ticket, you get to see a number of wild ‘n crazy works (and sometimes a surprise 5-minute entr'acte) within a 2-hour timespan, including intermission. The Producers' Club has a charming, inexpensive bar & lounge for before the show, at intermission & at the end where you can mingle with performers.

The 6 rotating themes contain 4-9 short plays/ musicals each. The Boss Gets Some Bad News, a 4-min. film by David Schrag, will open each evening.

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 & the Mysterious Salami & the 2009 theme evening Is That A Spear in Your Pocket? Tony is Resident Director for the Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles. Recently, he directed Village Light Opera Group's 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. CringeFest is supported in part by the Dramatists Guild of America, corporate funders & individual donors. NY Artists Unlimited is a 28-year-old nonprofit organization that provides theatre & 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 & 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; Tony Spinosa, Supervising Director, Court Sweeting, Technical Director, plus myriad interns & volunteers who make the whole thing happen.