Molly Picon News

THE LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS (LES) celebrates its 18th year of bringing together -- in one location, over three days -- more than 100 performing arts organizations, local and international celebrities, independent artists, poets, playwrights, musicians, puppeteers, film makers and many others, all of whom reside, work or have their roots in the culturally diverse Lower East Side. Once again this year, New York City's most diverse FREE 3-day, indoor and outdoor cultural celebration will take place on Memorial Day Weekend, from today, May 24 through Sunday, May 26, at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Sts.) in Manhattan.

Theater for the New City, Crystal Field, Executive Director, has announced that the world premiere of Tom Attea's new play, BENEDICTUS, written two years ago, about a pope who resigns, will open on May 30th and run until June 16, 2013, at Theater for the New City (155 First Avenue). Mark Mercante will direct the production, and Arthur Abrams will provide incidental music. www.TheaterfortheNewCity.net

THE LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS (LES) celebrates its 18th year of bringing together -- in one location, over three days -- more than 100 performing arts organizations, local and international celebrities, independent artists, poets, playwrights, musicians, puppeteers, film makers and many others, all of whom reside, work or have their roots in the culturally diverse Lower East Side. Once again this year, New York City's most diverse FREE 3-day, indoor and outdoor cultural celebration will take place on Memorial Day Weekend, from Friday, May 24 through Sunday, May 26, at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Sts.) in Manhattan.

A human ball of silver glitter hanging from a cord is lowered above what looks like a bungalow-sized muffin top.  (It's supposed to represent a turtle shell.)  Before the glitter ball makes its landing the cover is removed to reveal what looks like a tribe of humanish amphibians bouncing on trampolines and twirling on the muffin/turtle's frame.  Shortly after, a sleazy-looking clown in a tropical shirt tosses a condom to a woman in the front row and says, 'Call me!'  Yes, dear readers, Cirque du Soleil is back in town.

New World Stages presents the new Holiday favorite, Jackie Hoffman's A Chanukah Charol, her holiday-themed, pseudo-autobiographical, one-woman show inspired by Patrick Stewart's A Christmas Carol. Co-writer Michael Schiralli directs. Performances began on Chanukah Eve, Saturday, December 8th and run through today at New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street (between Eighth & Ninth Avenues).

It's a rare performer that can generate so much affection from an audience by regarding them with unrestrained contempt, but Jackie Hoffman has cultivated a unique niche for herself in New York's lengthy history of comic actors who partner with their Jewish heritage acting as straight man.

Only two more weekends to see the new Holiday favorite, Jackie Hoffman's A Chanukah Charol, her holiday-themed, pseudo-autobiographical, one-woman show inspired by Patrick Stewart's A Christmas Carol. Co-writer Michael Schiralli directs.

New World Stages will once again present the new Holiday favorite, Jackie Hoffman's A Chanukah Charol, her holiday-themed, pseudo-autobiographical, one-woman show inspired by Patrick Stewart's A Christmas Carol. Co-writer Michael Schiralli will direct.

New World Stages will once again present the new Holiday favorite, Jackie Hoffman's A Chanukah Charol, her holiday-themed, pseudo-autobiographical, one-woman show inspired by Patrick Stewart's A Christmas Carol. Co-writer Michael Schiralli will direct.

New World Stages will once again present the new Holiday favorite, Jackie Hoffman's A Chanukah Charol, her holiday-themed, pseudo-autobiographical, one-woman show inspired by Patrick Stewart's A Christmas Carol. Co-writer Michael Schiralli will direct.

Theater For The New City, executive director Crystal Field, will present DIGITAL DILEMMAS, a new musical comedy about our obsession with digital devices, October 4 - 21, at the Theater For The New City, 155 First Avenue (at 10th Street). The production features book & lyrics by Tom Attea, music by Arthur Abrams, direction by Mark Marcante, and chorography by Angela Harriell.

Tonight, August 8 at 9:30PM some of New York's most gifted singers, comedians, and novelty performers will bring 2nd Avenue and the Lower East Side of a century ago back to side-splitting, tear-jerking life! Playing the Metropolitan Room, 34 West22nd Street, for one night only, "You Don't Have to Speak Yiddish to Understand the Truth" is produced by Media Blitz Entertainment, and hosted by master of ceremonies Shane Baker.

On Wednesday August 8 at 9:30PM some of New York's most gifted singers, comedians,and novelty performers will bring 2nd Avenue and the Lower East Side of a century ago back to side-splitting, tear-jerking life! Playing the Metropolitan Room, 34 West22nd Street, for one night only, "You Don't Have to Speak Yiddish to Understand the Truth" is produced by Media Blitz Entertainment, and hosted by master of ceremonies Shane Baker.

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts and Reitmans present the all-new Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre (DWYT) production of On Second Avenue by Zalmen Mlotek and Moishe Rosenfeld. Honorary Artistic Director of the DWYT, Bryna Wasserman, returns to Montreal to co-direct this critically-acclaimed musical revue with Audrey Finkelstein, DWYT Artistic and Program Coordinator. Presented on the Segal Centre Mainstage from tonight, June 10th to July 1st, 2012; in Yiddish with English and French supertitles.

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts and Reitmans present the all-new Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre (DWYT) production of On Second Avenue by Zalmen Mlotek and Moishe Rosenfeld. Honorary Artistic Director of the DWYT, Bryna Wasserman, returns to Montreal to co-direct this critically-acclaimed musical revue with Audrey Finkelstein, DWYT Artistic and Program Coordinator. Presented on the Segal Centre Mainstage from June 10th to July 1st, 2012; in Yiddish with English and French supertitles.

THE LOWER EAST SIDE (LES) FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS celebrates its seventeenth year of bringing together under one roof, in just three days, over 100 performing arts organizations, local and international celebrities, independent artists, poets, playwrights, musicians, puppeteers, film makers and many others - all of whom reside, work or have their roots in the culturally diverse, willfully anarchistic Lower East Side - for New York City's most diverse FREE 3-day festival, from today, May 25 through Sunday, May 27, at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Sts.) in Manhattan. OBIE Award-winning actress Crystal Field is co-founder and Artistic Director of Theater for the New City.