Nicholas Pontolillo - Page 3

As all Long Islanders know, Billy Joel IS the King of Long Island. Occupying the throne as Queen is Pat Benatar. Sorry Mariah, but as it was experienced on October 12, 2018 at the Tilles Center, Benatar hit the stage with her best shot, fired away and knocked all competition for the title. I don't understand how in the h-e-double hockey sticks both Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet; to say that this is an injustice is putting it lightly. #wakeuprockhall

Port Jefferson's Theater Three production of the musicial murder mystery romp Curtains is brilliant; it is a clever mash up of Columbo meets Kiss Me, Kate. Curtains is a wonderful show that reveals how a show's ensemble is not just its cast, but also its creative team. It emphasizes the importance of each and every talent involved with putting on a Broadway show. From the stage manager to the conductor; from the music team to the director. Theater Three's production successfully emits this theme.

After seeing Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida at The Noel S. Ruiz Theater at CM Performing Arts Center in Oakdale, NY, I can officially say that this theater and production is the closest Long Island will ever get to Broadway! Aida was truly unbelievable and will go down as one of the best theater experiences I've ever had with Long Island theater.

Broad Hollow Theater Company begins its 2018 Spring season with the classic Lerner & Lowe's My Fair Lady which continues its run through January 28 at Baywway Arts Center in East Islip, NY and then transfers for a run at the Broad Hollow at Elmont Theater from February 3 - March 4.

Upon entering the theater, brightly lit stars graced the stage. While it's intentions were to symbolically represent the stars on the American flag, it also indicated the level of talent the audience would endure.

If one were to describe A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder in a single phrase, it would be described as 'madcap fun'. On October 28, 2017, the national touring production of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (GGLM) performed at the Tilles Center in Greenvale, NY.

Originally founded in 1995, the Cultural Arts Playhouse, or CAP, has housed over 500 productions, established a highly successful acting school for Long Island Youth and formed a Youth Theater program.

If you have not heard about The Studio Theater in Lindenhurst, NY, then you must check it out; it truly is a hidden gem.

Based on the 2006 indie hit film, Once tells the captivating love story about Irish musician Guy and Czech immigrant Girl and how they are drawn to each other based on their shared love for music. From the moment Guy and Girl meet, the audience is enraptured by their chemistry and wait at the edge of their seats, gasping for air, watching how the next scene will either result in a stepping stone or a set back for their relationship.

Who would've thought serious topics like rape, dismemberment and molestation could be met with humor? All of these horrific acts occur in the hysterically angry Betty's Summer Vacation by Christopher Durang. The play begins with the arrival of Betty and Trudy arriving at their summer timeshare hoping for a relaxing summer. Tranquility soon ends when Betty realizes that she will be spending her summer with the hyper energetic Trudy who breaks her promise of limiting her talking, Keith, a bi-sexual serial killer who hides body parts in hat boxes, Mrs. Seizmagraff, the landlady of the time share who is also Trudy's mother and is jealous of her own daughter due to her serial molester husband, Buck an extremely horny frat-jock, and Mr. Vanislaw, a flasher. In addition to this dynamic cast of characters is a mysterious laugh track that emits from an unknown source within the time share and serves as the play's Greek chorus.

There is nothing like the resonating echo of instruments tuning on a stage. For me, this sound is a perfect indicator that a fantastic evening is about to occur. This definitely was the case Sunday night at the Tilles Center when I saw A Broadway Romance Starring Tony Award nominees Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana. The evening was emceed by Ted Sperling, who is beginning a new initiative at the Tilles Center by bringing memorable Broadway themed events to the venue. Ted Sperling is a Tony Award winning orchestrator for the brilliant show The Light in the Piazza and is currently represented on Broadway by the current Tony-nominated revival of Fiddler on the Roof. The music of the magical evening was performed by the Orchestra of St. Luke's under the direction of Mr. Sperling.