STAGE TUBE: MRS. SMITH on John Barrymore & 'THE CURIOUS INCIDENT'

Yet more theatre lore from the crazy world of Mrs. Smith! Here she recounts her first encounter as a young girl with legendary stage actor John Barrymore. After reading the letter she wrote him, he wisked her off for drinks at Sardi's and then up to Harlem to hear James Baldwin recite poetry - to a bongo beat. Therefore, she is saddened that the theater bearing his name has gone to the dogs. How curious. Check out the video!

Cardinal Theatricals presents the Off Broadway premiere of Mrs. Smith's Broadway Cat-tacular!, an all-singing, all-dancing "demented cabaret on acid," created and performed by New York based writer/actor and performance artist David Hanbury. Joining Mrs. Smith onstage will be her two "Broadway Boys" Brandon Haagenson and Ken Lear. Directed by Andrew Rasmussen, performances began on July 10th at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street - between 8th & 9th Avenue).

Mrs. Smith is a woman on the verge of a cat-based breakdown - in search of her missing cat, Carlyle. To overcome the grief and rage of this "personal apocalypse," she's tried psychoanalysis, New Age therapies and, now, mounting a Broadway-style musical spectacular where her bizarre life story is re-enacted in delirious song and dance. With the aid of her dapper Broadway Boys, Mrs. Smith puts her laugh-out-loud spin on the perilous highs and lows of fame, fortune and superstardom. Featuring classic Broadway hits like "Cabaret," "One Night in Bangkok," "The Cat That Got Away" and many more, this cat-tacular is a deftly executed character comedy with tap dancing, puppetry, video flashbacks, and virtuosic electric guitar.

Mrs. Smith's Broadway Cat-tacular! has wowed audiences from Minneapolis to Boston to NYC with sold-out engagements at prestigious venues such as A.R.T.'s Oberon Theater to NYC's The Laurie Beechman and now it's clawing its way to Off-Broadway!

Mrs. Smith will be joined onstage by her multi-talented "Broadway Boys," Brandon and Kenny who embody, (through song, puppetry and dance) a cast of thousands. Toni Ostini is Production Stage Manager.

Mrs. Smith's Broadway Cat-tacular! will play the following performance schedule: Friday & Saturday at 8pm , Sunday & Monday at 7:30pm. Tickets are $79.50 & $99.50 (Premium Seats with cookies by "Schmackary's"), and may be purchased online at www.ticketcentral.com or by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 from noon to 8pm daily.

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