Let's Face It! 1941 - Articles Page 30

One of the things Independent Shakespeare Co. does exceedingly well is communicate Shakespeare's text to audiences who may have little or no background with Shakespeare in a way that they can understand it. And since an audience member rarely comes back to see another production when they haven't had a good time (or been moved or changed in some way) the method of putting on a show becomes just as important as the desire to create something significant. This is where ISC excels. They know inherently how to make Shakespeare fun and relevant and engaging. Consequently, they have built a huge following that keeps coming back for more.  

If you view this production as an entertainment for those whose taste runs to Mad Max, to Rocky Horror, and to the movies of Quentin Tarantino (none of which I'm knocking, but let's not call them Shakespeare), then this may be a lark for you.

It's Halloween weekend and every dramatic personage and theatrical type we've ever encountered is caught up in the annual rush to find just the right costume for their holiday revelries (we confess we've never had the knack for coming up with Halloween get-ups - not since we went in drag to a party at the First Baptist Church as the age of 12…tongues were wagging, we are certain, but we lived to tell about it, so it couldn't have been that bad). In the meantime, there are all sorts of onstage happenings this weekend to keep you otherwise engaged should the difficulty of selecting your costume prove to be too much.

Let's face it: telemarketers can be annoying. Even telemarketers hate getting telemarketer calls. Whether they're legitimate businesses, pollsters, or unscrupulous scammers, when people repeatedly call at all hours, day and night, it can be maddening. Getting mad does no good, though. Hasslein Books' latest publication, 'Messing With Telemarketers,' shows why it's better to get even. After a friend pranked Haven Riney by signing him up for tons of college-recruiting forms, he began receiving up to a hundred phone calls daily. He put his number on the Do Not Call List... he told pesky callers to put him on their lists... he yelled, screamed, begged, and pleaded... but nothing worked. Finally, he decided to waste the callers' time instead, screwing with them to see how far he could get. The answer, he discovered, was often 'quite far.' Riney's lightning-quick wit, sharp comedic timing, and endless patience culminated in the hilarious collection of transcripts presented here. Every call is real, each funnier than the last. The 364-page 'Messing With Telemarketers' is now available for sale at Amazon and its affiliates, as well as at CreateSpace, and will soon be available at BarnesandNoble.com. Bookstores and other retailers can purchase this title at a wholesale rate from Ingram Book Co., NACSCorp and CreateSpace. Visit http://www.hassleinbooks.com/pages/book_telemarketer.php for ordering information, and download an excerpt at http://www.hassleinbooks.com/excerpts/MwT%20Sample_sr.pdf. About Hasslein Books Hasslein Publishing (hassleinbooks.com) is an independent New York-based publisher co-founded by Rich Handley and Paul C. Giachetti. The company produces unauthorized genre-based reference books, including volumes based on Planet of the Apes, Back to the Future, Doctor Who, Red Dwarf, James Bond, G.I. Joe, Alien vs. Predator, Battlestar Galactica, Ghostbusters, Universal Monsters, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Fringe, Red Sonja and more. 'Like' us on Facebook (facebook.com/hassleinbooks), follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/hassleinbooks) and frequent our blog (hassleinbooks.blogspot.com) to stay informed regarding all upcoming projects.

The world premiere musical FIRST DAUGHTER SUITE, written by Michael John LaChiusa, and debuting at The Public Theater, directed by Kirsten Sanderson, officially opens tonight, October 21, 2015. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Jessamy Maddox talks in her sleep. This is shocking to probably no one, but as she tosses and turns murmuring her husband's name, who exactly is she seeing in her dreams? Gawain, or Wilk? If I were Wilk, I'd feel super awkward. Thank goodness there's a crying baby to distract him from her nighttime rumblings. And watching him rock the Maddox baby tugs at our heartstrings, however gently, because this should have been Wilk all along. A father. He was this close before Reeve Tell snatched that life away by murdering his wife. Sad. He still sees visions of Petra, which is sweet and everything, until the illusion falls and it's actually Jessamy he's making out with. Oops.

I grew up watching the MUPPET BABIES, loving the whimsy of the odd, but relatable creatures (although always frustrated that we couldn't see Nanny's face). Then, MUPPETS TONIGHT debuted during my freshman year of high school and I started to really understand the joys of a variety show (only later for that to be enhanced by finding clips of THE MUPPET SHOW on YouTube). Also, I adored 2011's big screen THE MUPPETS; in fact “Man or Muppet” is still in heavy rotation on my iTunes. So anytime there is a new addition to the Muppets Universe, my inner-child takes notice. However, as details of their new TV show (also confusingly called THE MUPPETS) started being revealed, that inner child began to feel left out. The idea was to reinvent the Muppets in a more real-life, adult sitcom; yes, a real-life, adult sitcom, starring felt puppets.

It's time to look at the multi-faceted career of Alan Cumming. Known for his his iconic Tony Award winning performance in Sam Mendes' 1993 revival of CABARET as the Master of Ceremonies as well as many other memorable roles, Cumming has come into his own as one of the stars of CBS's smash hit, THE GOOD WIFE.

Let's be honest: as we reflect on the impending series finale of Hannibal, we could easily write a novel praising the show from both a critical (and a Fannibal) point of view. For example, we could mention the incredible use of sound design and editing, the meticulously crafted imagery, and the subtle vein of dark humor that runs throughout the series. Or, we could sit for hours and discuss the themes that create the foundation of the show, or how the techniques used in Hannibal hearken back to classic, groundbreaking films made by masters of horror, like Cronenberg and Kubrick. Or we could gush about just how awesome Bryan Fuller really is. 

Let's face it... it's annoying when telemarketers call your home. Even telemarketers hate getting calls from telemarketers. Whether the callers hail from legitimate businesses, pollsters, or unscrupulous scam artists, one fact is universal: when telemarketers waste your time by repeatedly calling your house at all hours, day and night, it can be maddening. Getting mad does no good, though. Hasslein Books' latest publication, 'Messing With Telemarketers,' shows why it's better to get even. After a friend played a horrible prank on author Haven Riney - signing him up for every 'Go back to school!' college recruiting form they could find - he realized that the best way to deal with pesky callers who wouldn't leave him alone was to waste their time instead. The recruiters sold Riney's information to two companies, and they sold it to two companies, and so on, and so on, and so on. Riney began receiving between fifty and a hundred phone calls a day. 'I put my number on the Do Not Call List. Still got the calls,' he recalls. 'I told them to put me on their Do Not Call List. Still get the calls. I yelled, I screamed, I begged, I pleaded... all to no avail. Finally, I lost it, and just started screwing with them to see how far I could get.' The answer, he discovered, was often 'quite far.' Due to a combination of language barriers and indifference on the callers' part, Riney noticed that the calls became increasingly entertaining, leaving friends and family members laughing hysterically as they listened to the exchanges. He posted new entries from time to time on Facebook (facebook.com/messingwithtelemarketers), amassing a tremendous following, then realized that the next step was to collect them all in one place for readers to enjoy. Messing With Telemarketers (http://tinyurl.com/Hasslein-MWT) is that place. Riney's lightning-quick wit, sharp comedic timing and seemingly endless patience culminated in a vast, hilariously off-beat collection of transcripts. Every call is real, and each is funnier than the last. Messing With Telemarketers is slated for publication later this year, and will actually make you look forward to your next telemarketing call so you can practice messing with them, too. About Hasslein Books Hasslein Publishing (hassleinbooks.com) is an independent New York-based publisher co-founded by Rich Handley and Paul C. Giachetti. The company produces unauthorized genre-based reference books, including Timeline of the Planet of the Apes, Lexicon of the Planet of the Apes, The Back to the Future Lexicon, The Back to the Future Chronology, Who Beyond 50: Celebrating Five Decades of Doctor Who, Lost in Time and Space: An Unofficial Guide to the Uncharted Journeys of Doctor Who and Total Immersion: The Comprehensive Unauthorized Red Dwarf Encyclopedia. Future volumes will cover James Bond, G.I. Joe, Alien vs. Predator, Battlestar Galactica, Ghostbusters, Universal Monsters The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Fringe, Red Sonja and more. 'Like' us on Facebook (facebook.com/hassleinbooks), follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/hassleinbooks) and frequent our blog (hassleinbooks.blogspot.com) to stay informed regarding all upcoming projects.

Bravo to Chance Theater for taking on this mainstream hit and making it actually feel like a fresh, awesome little indie. Now playing through August 9, the latest offering from Orange County's bold, award-winning regional theater company is their own 'intimate' theater re-staging of HAIRSPRAY, the 2002 hit Tony Award-winning musical comedy. The results? Quite simply a more compact production that is an absolutely undeniable, all-around rousing winner. Under the direction of Kari Hayter, the celebratory production's immersive, semi-theater-in-the-round minimalist approach actually thrusts the show's outstanding music and comedy out front, wonderfully blanketing the audience in the show's pro-integration, pro-acceptance storyline about a rotund young lady with big hair and big dreams who sets off to change the world.

Badder Auditions produced by Whim Productions is sidesplitting, roll on the floor good fun and is currently playing as part of the Kansas City Fringe Festival 2015. Showing at the City Stage located inside Union Station it is a sequel to Bad Auditions, which was a hit for the 2014 Kansas City Fringe Festival.

I purposely avoided the recent film version of INTO THE WOODS because I really didn't find the previews or the stunt casting appropriate. For me, it's a work that requires an audience to use their imagination to a great extent, and movies tend to give form to those things that are much better left conjured up in your own mind. That's why my son and I absolutely loved The MUNY's current presentation of the show. Let's face it, a woodland setting created utilizing green screen technology and a few key set pieces is nowhere near as effective at conveying the atmosphere desired, especially when you already have those actual elements growing freely at the back of this marvelous outdoor stage. Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and James Lapine (book) crafted a brilliant mash-up of several fairy tales and fables that is smart, funny, and, ultimately, touching. When I asked my boy what he thought of the show at the end of the night he neatly summed it up: 'I thought it was awesome!' I agree wholeheartedly. Superbly cast and conceived, this is a production that's simply tailor made for The MUNY. Go see it, and take your kids with you! It may have a few moments that are a bit gruesome or adult in content, but they'll have a wonderful time, and so will you!

What's better than seeing a five star cabaret? Seeing two on the same night... and for the price of one! For one night only two of Australia's comedy cabaret darlings bring their critically acclaimed solo shows to Sydney's Vanguard for a night of laughs, personal truths and a whole lot of wine!

And Sondra Morton, Jayme Smith and co. (that would be Act Too) stages their company's latest work at the historic Franklin Theatre - The Sound of Music - starring Kimberly Rye as Maria, Cameron Bortz as Rolf and the inimitable Matt Baugher as Georg Von Trapp. Check it out!

Directed by Leigh Silverman and choreographed by Sonya Tayeh, THE WILD PARTY opened last night, July 15, at New York City Center. FUN HOME Tony winner Jeanine Tesori is the Artistic Director of Encores! Off-Center and Chris Fenwick is Music Director. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Truth be told, one of my favorite movies is Bring It On, the story of competitive cheerleading starring Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford and Gabrielle Union - and if I had a dollar for every time I've uttered the phrase 'Brrr…it's cold in here, there must be some Toros in the atmosphere' to my dog following a particularly frigid winter stroll at nighttime...well, I'd be rich. That should give you some indication of how much I love the movie, which has gone on to inspire several sequels and one Broadway musical.

Ultimately, THE GALLOWS is kind of like R.L. Stine's Phantom of the Auditorium meets GRADUATION DAY (1981). But found footage. With a supernatural twist. While I may not be able to recommend either of those over THE GALLOWS, I can't really recommend THE GALLOWS either.

Let's see what the critics had to say...

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today Let Us Now Praise Famous Men: The Films of Pedro Costa, from July 17-23. The series precedes the opening of the Portuguese auteur's long-awaited, "hauntingly beautiful" (Variety) new film, Horse Money, which played last fall at the 52nd New York Film Festival and opens theatrically at the Film Society on July 18.

The most famous songs of the Golden Age of Hollywood are recreated live on stage with our award winning singers and dancers. Special guests are world champion dance professionals Kristina Rihanoff and Robin Windsor from BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, who will wow the audience with their glamorous costumes and ballroom skills.

With an experienced hand guiding a production, you can rest assured that any show - no matter its theatrical lineage or how often it has been revived - will be filled with flashes of creativity and imagination. Case in point: director Jim Manning's mounting of Bert V. Royal's Dog Sees God, now onstage at Nashville's Darkhorse Theater as the season-ending production from ACT 1, the company predicated on presenting theater classics for contemporary audiences.

The New Group presents the world premiere production of The Spoils, a new play written by and featuring Jesse Eisenberg, directed by Scott Elliott. This production features Erin Darke, Annapurna Sriram, Michael Zegen, Jesse Eisenberg and Kunal Nayyar. The show opens tonight, June 2, for a limited Off-Broadway engagement slated through June 28 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

I'm going to cut to the chase here: tonight's season finale of OUTLANDER was hard to watch. I mean, really hard to watch. It made 'Wentworth Prison' look like an episode of 'Full House.' I'm pretty sure my skin was crawling for the entire 60 minutes, starting with that first shot of Jamie staring dead into the camera. Jamie, whose dashing heroics and boyish humor charmed us all season long, now broken, with empty eyes and mangled hands. And as the camera slowly pans up to reveal a naked Jack Randall lying beside him, we come to understand. We didn't need to see exactly what had preceded this moment because the look on Jamie's face says it all. And maybe we even gave a tiny sigh of relief that we didn't see what happened. But that doesn't last long. Not to compare Jamie's experience to our own watching the episode, but it seemed like the audience was meant to undergo some psychological torment, too, with enough subsequent images to send us directly into the shower to wash off that Black Jack grime as soon as it was over.

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its nightly lineup from today, May 20, through May 31, 2015.