Tony Spinosa News

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.

The Village Light Opera Group(VLOG), one of the country's premiere theatre companies specializing in both operettas and Broadway musicals, will present Cole Porter's KISS ME KATE at The Fashion Institute of Technology's Haft Auditorium on April 25-26 and May 1-3.

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.

The Village Light Opera Group(VLOG), one of the country's premiere theatre companies specializing in both operettas and Broadway musicals, will present Cole Porter's KISS ME KATE at The Fashion Institute of Technology's Haft Auditorium on April 25-26 and May 1-3.

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).

Anne Berlin (Book & Lyrics) and Andy Cohen's (Music) 'Charlie Chang and the Mysterious Salami' played to sold-out houses at The Bad Musicals Festival this past month, and was directed by Tony Spinosa.

Bad Musicals Festival '08 is in its final week at the Grand Theatre at the Producers Club in the Times Square/ theatre district through August 9, 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, 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.