JOE'S NYC BAR to Play Matthew's Tavern

Fresh off a trip to Scotland and the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Joe's NYC Bar gets back in 'The New York Groove', starting September 13th, 2015 at St. Matthew's Tavern.

Joe's NYC Bar creator Christian Kelty and show producer Carla Stanton were in Edinburgh, Scotland this past week scouting locations to bring the immersive and interactive theatre experience there for the 2016 Festival. Kelty and Stanton recapture their visit, "The trip was inspiring on every level. The city and the

festival's energy are both remarkable. We saw some great theatre, met exceptional people and had some very fruitful meetings with several venues. We think we may have found a home for Joe's in Edinburgh, 2016. The stars will have to align, but we've done the work and the opportunity is on the table."

Joe's NYC Bar is a unique, interactive and improvisational theater experience that transports the audience to a bar in Brooklyn, New York. The show is full of characters with stories that compel viewers to become participants. Joe's debuted as a part of the 2001 Orlando International Fringe Festival, and ran from 2001-2004: 10 episodes, 76 performances with a total of 43 SOLD OUT shows. Over 6,000 audience members saw the performances and Joe's employed over one hundred of Orlando's finest actors, musicians, and visual artists who brought the show to life.

This past March Joe's returned from a ten year absence and was greeted with positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The show sold out 5 of 6 shows in March and then all 4 performances at the 2015 Orlando International Fringe Festival. Ten years later, Joe's has proven to be a concept and piece of theatre more relevant and popular than ever.

The production is back to rehearsals as Kelty, and his talented ensemble of A-List Orlando performers, head into the second half of the creative process before the show returns with the newest installment - Joe's NYC Bar: 'The New York Groove'. Opening Sunday, September 13th and running through October 18th (3:30 Sunday matinees only), the show features the return of Joe's NYC Bar alums: A. Ali Flores (Disney's Hollywood Studios), John Connon (Pluto, SAK), Jenn Gannon (The Boy Who Stole the Sun; Die Mommie Die!), Michael Marinaccio (Exit Interview, Orlando Shakes; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Mad Cow), Anitra Pritchard-Bryant (Exit Interview; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), Simon Needham (Explorer's Club, Mad Cow; American Idol Experience) and show creator, Christian Kelty. The cast also boasts the addition of 3 Orlando acting luminaries: winner of Best Actor 2015 Orlando Fringe, David Lee (Hedwig; Sex/Drugs & Rock n Roll), Timothy Williams (Every Christmas Story...,Orlando Shakes; Billy Bishop Goes to War, Mad Cow) and Jodi Chase (Parallel Lives, Jester Theater; SAK).

Christian beams, "There's so much talent here in Orlando and I'm blessed to work with some of the best. The characters they're building are so rich - they have to be. We're out there performing without a net. No script. There has to be the highest level of trust among the cast to make it work. This may be the strongest ensemble I've ever had the pleasure of directing."

12 episodes and 86 performances in, the show is approaching its 100th performance. But, you don't need to have seen a previous show to be able to pick right up and feel at home in the experience. Each show is a stand-alone performance, and Joe's has developed to the point that each individual show is unique, with the actors themselves not knowing which characters will have the main storylines or how the show will end each time. "If you've never been to Joe's, it's a universe that encourages interaction, if one is so inspired. But it doesn't force anyone into the spotlight. If you want to sit and experience it as a (bar) fly on the wall, that's cool with us." The combination of returning characters and the continuation of some story lines will be satisfying to returning patrons and Kelty is making some tweaks to the format to try and build more of a theatrical finale to each performance.

Christian reflects over the years, "One hundred performances is a pretty crazy number to think about. Right now we're just getting ready to do the next one (number 87). And hopefully, if things fall into place, we'll be celebrating number 100 at The Edinburgh Fringe next year."

Joe's NYC Bar

6 Performances, Sunday Matinees ONLY! (3:00pm doors / 3:30pm show time)

Opening date September 13th 2015 and runs through October 18th.

$17 in advance / $25 day of show

TICKETS AVAILABLE at www.wanzie.com

Location: St. Matthew's Tavern / 1300 N. Mills Ave. / Orlando, FL 32803

Musical Acts

September 13th - TBA

September 20th - The Smoking Jackets

September 27th & October 4th - Eugene Snowden (of The Legendary JC's) & Friends

October 11th - DJ Jay Ross

October 18th - TBA