Jim Henson News

Jeffery Solomon (MotherSon) returns to Trenton's Passage Theatre a the Mill Hill Playhouse this weekend with his hilarious, clever and endearing new one-man comedy Santa Claus is Coming Out, directed by Joe Brancato.

Daniel Reichard, original star of Broadway's "Jersey Boys" and the recent New York City Opera revival of "Candide," will return to the New York stage for one night only on December 10th at 9 PM at the Triad Theater for his annual Christmas concert.

'Broken Nails: A Marlene Dietrich Dialogue' by Anna Skubik (Poland) has NY premiere November 11-21 as part of 'La MaMa Puppet Series IV-Built to Perform.'

"'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house . . ." is one of the most memorable opening lines in literary history.

A Passage Theatre favorite, Jeffery Solomon (MotherSon) returns to Trenton's Mill Hill Playhouse with his hilarious, clever and endearing new one-man comedy Santa Claus is Coming Out, directed by Joe Brancato.

This December DSI Comedy Theater will showcase a unique and blisteringly funny improv show, The Josh and Tamra Show. This show is a feature length improv show that weaves different scenes with new characters and puppets. The two night run of this show will be Thursday December 9 and Friday December 10 at 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. DSI Comedy Theater is located at 200 N. Greensboro St, in the Carr Mill Mall. More information and tickets are available at www.DSIcomedy.com

With its newest production, 'In Retrospect,' the LOCO7 Dance Puppet Theatre Company, led by Federico Restrepo, investigates how we each construct our personal memory box: how we keep our memories fresh and preserve the things that made us who we are.

Cape May Stage, Cape May's professional Equity theatre, in collaboration with Bristol Riverside Theatre of Bucks County, PA, is proud to announce an astonishing and beautiful new take on a classic story. Often regarded as a children's story, The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's, is actually a tale for all ages about understanding how to laugh, love and cry again. Opening November 26 and running through December 30, this new adaptation, directed and re-conceived by stage and screen puppeteer Scott Hitz, uses life sized puppets, live actors, original music, and magnificent sets to bring to life the heart-warming story of the Little Prince who gains rare and unique insights into love, loss, and laughter. Perfect for the whole family, this heart-warming production exemplifies the best of what the holiday season means to each of us.

Wakka Wakka will present the U.S. premiere of its latest original theatre piece entitled "BABY UNIVERSE (A Puppet Odyssey)," written and directed by Wakka Wakka members Kirjan Waage and Gwendolyn Warnock, featuring over 30 expressive hand-and-rod puppets created by Mr. Waage.

'Broken Nails: A Marlene Dietrich Dialogue' by Anna Skubik (Poland) has NY premiere November 11-21 as part of 'La MaMa Puppet Series IV-Built to Perform.'

It starts when a little boy asks Santa for a doll, gets a truck, and thinks he's been bad. The child's quiet letter of complaint shakes St. Nick to the soul as he recalls his fearful youth during the middle ages (when homosexuals were torn to pieces) and regrets the promotional deals he made with Coca-Cola that force him to stay in the closet. Santa Claus Is Coming Out, a theatrical mock-u-mentary by Jeffrey Solomon, reveals the secret romantic life of the beloved childhood icon and the scandal that rocks the world when the truth leaks out.

What puppeteer doesn't wonder what will happen to him as he impersonates the creator? In 'Wake Up, You're Dead!,' Aaron Haskell of Brooklyn Art Department (www.brooklynartdepartment.com), one of the original designers of Nightmare: NYC's Haunted House, gives us a Halloween-flavored creation myth. It's a De La Guarda-type event and spectacle that adds a late-night attraction to 'La MaMa Puppet Series IV--Built to Perform.' It will be presented October 29 to November 7 in the second-floor Club of La MaMa E.T.C., 74A East Fourth Street.

To add a family theater component to 'La MaMa Puppet Series IV -- Built to Perform,' La MaMa will present Jane Catherine Shaw in a solo show of found object puppetry, 'Folk Tales of Asia and Africa,' from October 16 to November 7.

The Barclay proudly presents the West Coast Premiere of STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG, a live uncensored show that lets loose the perilous and provocative elements of comedic improvisation on stage with a bunch of puppets in a show produced by WestBeth Entertainment and Henson Alternative. Created by award-winning director, producer, and writer Brian Henson and actor and improvisational guru Patrick Bristow and featuring The Jim Henson Company's renowned puppeteers, this one-of-a-kind comedy made for grown-ups is playing a limited six-show run at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on Wednesday, December 29 through Sunday, January 2. Patrick Bristow serves as host for the show, and Musical Director is Willie Etra.

The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre has been one of the most unique entertainment venues in the region since it first opened. Offering a fantastic dinner combined with a Broadway-style show, the Way Off Broadway experience is a full evening of leisure and entertainment. But the dinner theatre is only on piece of what makes up Way Off Broadway. In 1996, the theatre opened, what has become, it's wildly popular Children's Theatre. To this day, the Way Off Broadway Children's Theatre is the only children's lunch matinee offered in the area.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the complete cast and creative team for The Old Globe's special engagement of Plaid Tidings - A Special Holiday Edition of Forever Plaid.

Tony Chiroldes -- original Broadway cast member of IN THE HEIGHTS -- performs in BEFORE ICARUS FELL, a multi-media, live-actor and shadow puppetry piece with music inspired by the life of one of the world's earliest aviators, in a limited run Nov. 3-7 at Theatre Row (42 Street between 9th and 10th avenues).

What puppeteer doesn't wonder what will happen to him as he impersonates the creator? In 'Wake Up, You're Dead!,' Aaron Haskell of Brooklyn Art Department (www.brooklynartdepartment.com), one of the original designers of Nightmare: NYC's Haunted House, gives us a Halloween-flavored creation myth. It's a De La Guarda-type event and spectacle that adds a late-night attraction to 'La MaMa Puppet Series IV--Built to Perform.' It will be presented October 29 to November 7 in the second-floor Club of La MaMa E.T.C., 74A East Fourth Street.

The 2006 hit production The Fortune Teller from HERE's The OBIE award-winning HERE is thrilled to present an encore staging of the 2006 Dream Music Puppetry Program hit production The Fortune Teller. This marionette play in miniature is created and directed by Erik Sanko and Jessica Grindstaff, and features original music by Danny Elfman and Erik Sanko and narration by Gavin Friday. Set to play October 28 - December 4 at HERE (145 Sixth Avenue), this production will have its Official Opening on Sunday, October 31st (Halloween) at 9:00 PM.

The OBIE award-winning HERE is thrilled to present an encore staging of the 2006 Dream Music Puppetry Program hit production The Fortune Teller.