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.
Actually, these are REALLY GOOD & HILARIOUS works that are irreverent, politically incorrect, naughty, and utterly zany. Don't we all need that these days?! Audiences vote every night for winners of the Golden Pineapple, Silver Tomato, & Bronze Banana, plus Jack Lemons for the actors.
For one ticket, you see 4-5 works arranged in theme evenings: Dames at Sea, Is That a Spear in Your Pocket?, Your Money or Your Art, Children & (OIther) Sharp Objects, Sex Encounters of the Absurd Kind, & late-night Saturday: Go Genital into That Good Night, including Dragness of God & the Naked Holy Ghost (yes, naked) and Grampa Hitler & the Li'l Red Ridin' Hood (musical). Entre actes are: musician-comedian Huck DeMilo, naughty singer-songstress Jessica Delfino, & sound effects comedian Zero Boy.
The line-up of indie films for the Sunday matinee will be announced soon. Included with this event will be talk-backs with some of the known directors and stars.
And, the winning plays/musicals in their respective themes are -- drum roll, please:
DAMES AT SEA
TERROR OF COCKROACH BEACH (4-min. film by Albert Pergande)
A NEW BEGINNING by Josh McIlvain
THE ADVENTURES OF RAY NOIR, BEACH DETECTIVE by Dick Budin
WHEN BIMBOS ATTACK by Jean Hart
THE BLUE LAGOON: A Musical by Jonathan Padget
YOUR MONEY OR YOUR ART
A DARK & STORMY NIGHT by Michael Wilmot
THE POORLY-WRITTEN PLAY FESTIVAL by Carolyn Gage
WORST. PLAY. EVER. by Sam Wallin
PISS PLAY IS ABOUT MINORITIES, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT by Don Cummings
CHILDREN & (OTHER) SHARP OBJECTS
PLAYTHINGS by Rob Taylor
SANTA TELLS A STORY by Tami Canaday
THE CLOSET by Aoise Stratford
JUST A BREATH MORE VANILLA by Barbara H. Macchia
BITTERELLA (MUSICAL) by Mark LaPierre
IS THAT A SPEAR IN YOUR POCKET?
RANK ROID RITE, Samurai Proctologist by Zurbon Gish
BHIBHATSYA: Disgusting Beyond Words by Norman Bert
THE HISTORY OF HATE by Jean Hart
THE FLAMING OF THE SHREW by David Schrag
THE MISSION (MUSICAL) by Kevin Bleau
THE SCOTTISH PLAY sponsored by... by Kurt Kleinmann
SEX ENCOUNTERS OF THE ABSURD KIND
NO TALKING ON THE FIRST DATE by Steven Schutzman
FAME CONFUSIONS by John Hendel
BOOTY BANDITS by Kesa Maya Soul
SWAMP HO by David C. Hayes
GO GENITAL INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT (late-night show Saturday)
GRAMPA HITLER & THE LI'L RED RIDIN' HOOD (MUSICAL) by Leroi B. Di Milo
DRAGNESS OF GOD & THE NAKED HOLY GHOST by Michael Wanzie
There will be an opening benefit, honoring a luminary in the theatre community, surround events (costume parties, raffles, auctions), and closing night festivities. At the '07 benefit, legendary director Tom O'Horgan (Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar) was presented with the Honorary Golden Pineapple. In '08, it was stage-screen-& small screen star Marilyn Sokol, cabaret superstar Sidney Myer, and Warhol muse/ visual artist Ultra Violet.
From the get-go, this festival has intrigued the press & media: coverage has appeared in The New York Times Sunday Arts & Leisure section, New York Magazine, TimeOutNY, and many more publications. The coverage has provided tremendous exposure for a great number of artists: 50 in the first festival, 300 in the last one. The house is packed nearly every night with producers, press/ media people, and a large/growing audience of locals and tourists. Renowned writers, composers, directors, and actors take part and some have been in several festivals.
Directors thus far are: Tom Amici, Kenny Wade Marshall ('07 Golden Pineapple Winner), Robyne Parrish, Tony Spinosa ('08 Golden Pineapple Winner), Chris O'Neill, Kenny Howard, and Don Cummings.
NY Artists Unlimited is a 25 year old nonprofit organization that provides theatre and art to under-served audiences. The company is supported in part by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Nancy Quinn Fund, Puffin Foundation, Dramatists Guild Fund, corporate and individual contributors. These festivals, in their own wacky way, lend a hand in supporting the mission to serve the community. The movers 'n shakers behind this insanity are: Melba LaRose, Artistic Director; Bill & Anita Brown, associate producers from Shooting Star Theatre; Court Sweeting, Technical Director, and playwright Jean Hart of the Benefit Committee; plus myriad interns and volunteers that make the whole thing happen.
Tickets $25 at door; $20 advance sales (deadline July 1); $15 students with ID. Reservations are strongly recommended. For more information or reservations, call 212-242-6036 or visit www.nyartists.org. For online ticketing: www.theatermania.com. Grand Theatre at the Producers Club, 358 W. 44 St., betw. Eighth/Ninth Aves., July 20-August 9, M-Sat. @ 8, Sun. @ 2 (films), late show Saturday @ 10:30. The show runs 1¾ to 2 hours in toto, including intermission.
