Paul Blankenship News

THE FANTASTICKS, the world's longest running musical, will celebrate a record breaking 20,000th New York performance, on Sunday, September 15, 2013, announced producers Catherine Russell and Al Parinello. The milestone will mark the first time a production (on Broadway or off-Broadway) has ever reached 20,000 performances and will be commemorated in a month long celebration that includes performing at Broadway in Bryant Park and Little Italy, and with The Museum of The City of New York's future cyber gallery highlighting the history of the production.

THE FANTASTICKS, the world's longest running musical, will celebrate its 54th anniversary today, May 3, just as producers Al Parinello and Catherine Russell announce plans for a major celebration when the musical performs its record breaking 20,000th performance, on September 15, 2013.

Subtitled 'An American Musical,' it is in the truest sense the story of striving for the American Dream. Haskell (Max Bisantz) arrives in the small town of Hamilton, in Central Texas shortly after the turn of the century, pushing a banana cart and unable to speak English. Wary at first of the stranger, who also turns out to be a Jew, Milton and Ima (Paul Blankenship and Sarah Knapp) take him in. Milton, the town's banker, partners with Haskell to help build his business, which eventually turns into a dry goods store. When Haskell finally saves enough to bring his wife, Leah (Rita Markova), over from Russia, the friendship is tested, however. Haskell no longer is the observant Jew she married. The new country has changed him. He doesn't wear his hat, keep a Kosher home or observe the Sabbath any more.

Vinnie Favale and Indie Global present staged readings of Hereafter (written by Vinnie Favale and Frankie Keane) on Monday, March 4th and Tuesday, March 5th in New York City. The industry-only staged readings are open by invitation only.