International CringeFest '09 Adds Late-Night Shows & Film Afternoons

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. Go Genital includes Grampa Hitler & the L'il Red Ridin' Hood (she'll never be the same) and Dragness of God & the Naked Holy Ghost (yes, naked). Grampa Hitler is a hiphop musical by Leroi B. Di Milo that explores racism and unique sex toys. Dragness of God was a big winner at the Orlando Fringe Festival. In Michael Wanzie's satirical send-up of the hit Broadway play, the convent is fully staffed by men and the naked holy ghost is a hunk. The Orlando Sentinel called it: "A raunchy 45-minute parody... not for the faint-hearted or the easily shocked."

Combining Bad Plays and Bad Musicals, the CringeFest adds Unholy Sunday Film Matinees. Kicking off the afternoon is "Shut up, Apollo!" about East Village eccentric designer Apollo Braun. Then comes a blast from the past: "Candy & Daddy," with Warhol filmstars Candy Darling and Taylor Mead. It was shot in '72 by Anton Perich, the legendary filmmaker who documented underground stars of the '70s & '80s. A mock-film noir Death & Taxes opens the second half and the program concludes with "A Day in the Life of Miss Sammy" (an outrageous Floridian female impersonator). With the price of admission comes a bag of popcorn and talk-backs with the filmmakers and stars, including Miss Sammy who appears on August 9.

GO GENITAL INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT Late-night Saturdays, July 25, August 1, August 8, at 10:30 pm

GRAMPA HITLER & THE LI'L RED RIDIN' HOOD (MUSICAL) by Leroi B. Di Milo (Dir. Robyne Parrish)

DRAGNESS OF GOD & THE NAKED HOLY GHOST (yes, naked!) by Michael Wanzie (Dir. Kenny Howard)

UNHOLY SUNDAY FILM MATINEE July 26, Aug. 2, Aug. 9 at 2 pm ($15 w/ bag of popcorn & talk-backs with filmmakers & stars)

SHUT UP, APOLLO! by Apollo Braun aka Doron Braunshtein

CANDY & DADDY by Anton Perich (with Warhol filmstars Candy Darling & Taylor Mead)

DEATH & TAXES by Joseph Sorrentino (film noir)

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF MISS SAMMY by Michael Wanzie & Jason Piecarski (talkback with Miss Sammy & the filmmakers Aug. 9)

The Bad Plays and Bad Musicals of the rest of the program are as zany as ever -- REALLY GOOD & HILARIOUS works that are irreverent, politically incorrect, naughty, and unabashedly silly. Don't we all need that right now?! 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. Entre actes are: musician-comedian Huck DeMilo, naughty singer-songstress Jessica Delfino, & sound effects comedian Zero Boy.

IS THAT A SPEAR IN YOUR POCKET? (Dir. Tony Spinosa) July 20, July 25, July 30, August 4

RANK ROID RITE, Samurai Proctologist by Zurbon Gish

BHIBHATSYA: Disgusting Beyond Words by Norman Bert

THE HISTORY OF HATE (entre acte 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

CHILDREN & (OTHER) SHARP OBJECTS (Dir. Kenny Wade Marshall) July 21, July 26, July 31, Aug. 5

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

DAMES AT SEA (Dir. Patrick Richwood) July 22, July 27, August 1, August 6

TERROR OF COCKROACH BEACH (short 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

SEX ENCOUNTERS OF THE ABSURD KIND (Dir. Tom Amici) July 23, July 28, August 2, August 7

FAME CONFUSIONS by John Hendel

NO TALKING ON THE FIRST DATE by Steven Schutzman

BOOTY BANDITS by Kesa Maya Soul

SWAMP HO by David C. Hayes

YOUR MONEY OR YOUR ARTJuly 24, July 29, August 3, August 8

A DARK & STORMY NIGHT by Michael Wilmot (Dir. Robyne Parrish)

THE POORLY-WRITTEN PLAY FESTIVAL by Carolyn Gage (Dir. Robyne Parrish)

WORST. PLAY. EVER. by Sam Wallin (Dir. Robyne Parrish)

PISS PLAY IS ABOUT MINORITIES, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT (Writer-Dir. Don Cummings)

NY Artists Unlimited is a 26 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 full admission; $20 advance sales (deadline July 1); $15 students with ID; $15 film matinees (w/bag of popcorn & talk-backs). 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), Sun. @ 7, late show Saturday @ 10:30. Each theme runs 1¾ to 2 hours in total, including intermission.

Melba LaRose, Artistic Director, NY Artists Unlimited, 212 West 14 St., Suite #2A, NYC 10011, phone: 212-242-6036, fax: 212-989-8864, e-mail: Info@nyartists.org, www.nyartists.org