Melba LaRose News

Neck and neck (or other appropriate appendages) in the race for the International CringeFest's coveted Golden Pineapple at the Grand Theatre, Producers' Club, are: SWAMP HO (by David C. Hayes, dir. Tom Amici) in the theme evening of Sex Encounters of the Absurd Kind, playing two more performances, August 2 & 7 at 8 p.m.

Neck and neck (or other appropriate appendages) in the race for the International CringeFest's coveted Golden Pineapple at the Grand Theatre, Producers' Club, are: SWAMP HO (by David C. Hayes, dir. Tom Amici) in the theme evening of Sex Encounters of the Absurd Kind, playing two more performances, August 2 & 7 at 8 p.m.

Your Money or Your Art is the theme of the July 24 benefit night at International CringeFest '09 at the Producers' Club. The theme evokes the struggle of the artist, especially in an economic downturn, and all the plays that evening are comically razor-sharp: A Dark & Stormy Night (producer tortures writer 'for his own good'), The Poorly-Written Play Festival (lambasts whilst demonstrating bad playwriting), Worst. Play. Ever. (live radio drama with a maniacal twist), and Piss Play Is about Minorities, So It's Really Important (just how far will one go for funding?).

John Waters superstar MINK STOLE is the latest celeb summoned to be crowned with an Honorary Golden Pineapple on Friday, July 24, at International CringeFest '09. Often cast as the foil for Divine in such cult classics as Hairspray, Female Trouble and Pink Flamingos, she also appeared with Kathleen Turner in Serial Mom.

Look out, New York! The Bad Plays and Bad Musicals Festivals have morphed into International CringeFest '09, which this year also includes Bad Films. The festival will again be taking over the Grand Theatre at the Producers' Club, July 20-August 9, M-Sat. @ 8, Sundays @ 2 (films), and late-night Saturday at 10:30.

John Waters superstar MINK STOLE is the latest celeb summoned to be crowned with an Honorary Golden Pineapple on Friday, July 24, at International CringeFest '09. Often cast as the foil for Divine in such cult classics as Hairspray, Female Trouble and Pink Flamingos, she also appeared with Kathleen Turner in Serial Mom.

Your Money or Your Art is the theme of the July 24 benefit night at International CringeFest '09 at the Producers' Club. The theme evokes the struggle of the artist, especially in an economic downturn, and all the plays that evening are comically razor-sharp: A Dark & Stormy Night (producer tortures writer 'for his own good'), The Poorly-Written Play Festival (lambasts whilst demonstrating bad playwriting), Worst. Play. Ever. (live radio drama with a maniacal twist), and Piss Play Is about Minorities, So It's Really Important (just how far will one go for funding?).

Just when you thought those International CringeFesters couldn't go any further, they conjure up late-night Saturday shows with a theme of Go Genital into That Good Night and Unholy Sunday Film Matinees.

Look out, New York! The Bad Plays and Bad Musicals Festivals have morphed into International CringeFest '09, which this year also includes Bad Films. The festival will again be taking over the Grand Theatre at the Producers' Club, July 20-August 9, M-Sat. @ 8, Sundays @ 2 (films), and late-night Saturday at 10:30.

Artistic Director Melba LaRose and Resident Director Tony Spinosa represented NY Artists Unlimited at the IETM International Theatre Conference in Zurich, Switzerland, November 5th - 9th 2008. This conference attracts professional theatre producers, directors, arts endowment directors, and creative believers in the growth of the arts on a global level. The five-day conference presented panel discussions with topics ranging from the Economy and the Arts to discussions revolving around the European Identity and European Misunderstandings. The conference also included day trips to various parts of Zurich and tours of local theatres with shared insights from resident theatre Artistic Directors and actors. Evenings were generally filled with theatre productions, some of which were mounted specifically for the conference.

After three mentions in Liz Smith's column and much other press, on August 10 at 6 pm, Bad Musicals Festival '08 wrapped up with the CARMEN MIRANDA BENEFIT & FRUIT CUP AWARDS for best plays by audience vote: Golden Pineapple, Silver Tomato, and Bronze Banana. New this year were the Jack Lemons for best bad actor& actress (plus runners-up).

Multi-MAC & Bistro award-winning Sidney Myer will be presented with an Honorary Golden Pineapple on Friday, July 25, at the Fairies & Phantasies Benefit at the Producers Club. He joins two other luminaries honored that night: Emmy, Bistro, Obie & Razzie-winning Marilyn Sokol and Warhol/Dali muse Ultra Violet.

Multi-MAC & Bistro award-winning Sidney Myer will be presented with an Honorary Golden Pineapple on Friday, July 25, at the Fairies & Phantasies Benefit at the Producers Club.

NY Artists Unlimited has corralled stage-film-TV actress Marilyn Sokol and Factory veteran Ultra Violet for this year's Fairies & Phantasies Benefit as part of the Bad Musicals Festival '08.

The Bad Musicals Festival, in its third year, invades the Grand Theatre at the Producers Club in the Times Square/ theatre district, July 21-August 10, Mon - Sat @ 8 pm; Sun @ 2 pm.

Multi-MAC & Bistro award-winning Sidney Myer will be presented with an Honorary Golden Pineapple on Friday, July 25, at the Fairies & Phantasies Benefit at the Producers Club.

Multi-MAC & Bistro award-winning Sidney Myer will be presented with an Honorary Golden Pineapple on Friday, July 25, at the Fairies & Phantasies Benefit at the Producers Club. He joins two other luminaries honored that night: Emmy, Bistro, Obie & Razzie-winning Marilyn Sokol and Warhol/Dali muse Ultra Violet.

NY Artists Unlimited has corralled stage-film-TV actress Marilyn Sokol and Factory veteran Ultra Violet for this year's Fairies & Phantasies Benefit as part of the Bad Musicals Festival '08.

The Bad Musicals Festival will be July 21-August 10th.

With a generous Sm(ART)s: Seniors Meet the Arts grant from the NYC Department for the Aging, City Council, and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NY Artists Unlimited is proud to partner with the Arturo Schomburg Senior Center, 1315 Franklin Avenue in the Bronx, to present a series of workshops from now until the end of June '08. The lineup includes workshops in dance, improvisation, theatre games, poetry, and more.