It's coming -- it's coming -- it's COMING -- the FRUIT CUP AWARDS of International CringeFest '10. On Sunday, August 8, after the 4 p.m. show, "No Holes Barred," the Golden Pineapple, Silver Tomato, Bronze Banana, and Jack Lemons will be bestowed upon the chosen few (by audience vote) of talented writers, directors, and actors. Then, there's a party-till-you-drop in the lounge with splendiferous food, donated by some of NYC's best gourmet restaurants and markets::
Atrium Café
Garden of Eden
Edible Arrangements
Pierre Loti West
Dave's Tavern
Steak Frites
You can participate in all this for only $18. For the party, you are encouraged to wear a costume (even a tiara will do) or pay $5. There will be costume prizes.
Leading in the polls are Psycho Bitch & the Throbbing Blue Veiner, Torrid Taxes, and Zombie Strippers. However, all that could change dramatically by week's end. The audience votes after every performance, so the polls change daily... or by the hour since there are 3 shows on Saturday. Competition is fierce, although friendly in the highly popular festival. There were so many sterling submissions this year, 35 plays and musicals, and a couple of films made the final cut. "Never has the audience taken so long to vote," states artistic director Melba LaRose. "It would be hard for me to choose the winning play."
Now in its sixth uproarious year, the festival puts the spotlight on plays, musicals, and films tumbling out of that black hole in the naughty, irreverent, politically incorrect, politically satirical sky. Plays are arranged in theme evenings and given quirky titles by artistic director Melba LaRose. Surprise 5-minute entr'actes stop by, e.g. naughty singer-songstress Jessica Delfino and mock-rocker Huck DeMilo. The Producers' Club has a charming bar & lounge where you can mingle with the stars. This year, the festival stars company veteran Richard Pryor Jr. (1st-born son of the late great) and Jennifer Leah Gottlieb, Vh1's megastar. The event is presented by NY Artists Unlimited at the Producers' Club, 358 W. 44 St., and there are only a few performances left!
CRINGEFEST '10 FINAL PERFORMANCES!
PSYCHO BITCH PARTY (dir. Kenny Howard)
Thursday, Aug. 5 @ 8 p.m.
* ASHLEY SAVES THE WORLD by Tom Baum
* THE SURPRISE PARTY by Jeff Stolzer
* LORI AT A FETISH PARTY (MUSICAL), book & lyrics Melanie Zoey Weinstein, composer Cecilia Woodcrest
* PSYCHO BITCH & THE THROBBING BLUE VEINER by Barbara Lindsay
* NEW ROCHELLE by John Ryan
SEX, THUGS & ROCKIN' ROLES (dir. Tom Amici)
Friday, August 6 @ 8 p.m.
* 69 STORIES by Frank O'Donnell
* TORRID TAXES by Laurie Spector
* GODOT, ACT 3 by Ira Hauptman
* FOUR CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF A PLAY by John Lane
* THE GREATEST PLAY EVER (If You Don't Think So, You're a Basket of Farts)by John Hendel
* NANNY LENDS A HAND by Jean Hart
* FINGERMAN by Hope Weiner
* DON'T WRITE A BAD PLAY, OR A CAUTIONARY TALE ABOUT THE BRUTALITY OF THE WAR ON TERROR AND THE FUTILITY OF USING VIOLENCE TO STOP VIOLENCE by Jack Karp
* THE ARTISTIC INTEGRITY OF A DAMNED-FINE LOVE STORY by Robin Rodriguez
IS THAT A CORNCOB IN YOUR POCKET? (dirs. Sharon Einhorn, Mark Falconer, Kenny Wade Marshall)
Saturday, August 7 @ 5 & 8 p.m.
* THE CLOTHING LINE by Eve Crusto
* THE GREAT PIG ROBBERY (MUSICAL), book & lyrics Blake Hackler, composer Michael Kooman (dir. Kenny Wade Marshall)
* SWEET TALK by Jim Inman
* RED DIRT, WHITE TRASH by Jean Hart
* WHITTLIN' DIXIE (MUSICAL) by Bud Twang
NO HOLES BARRED (dirs. Kenny Wade Marshall)
Saturday, August 7 @ 10:30 p.m. & Sunday, August 8 @ 4 p.m.
* OH MY JOSH! by Doron Braunshtein aka Apollo Braun
* THE QUEEN'S PRIVY (MUSICAL) by Michael Paul Girard
* THE ASS SCENT OF MAN -- a docurectomy by Zurbon Gish
* THE GREAT PIG ROBBERY (MUSICAL), book & lyrics Blake Hackler, composer Michael Kooman (dir. Kenny Wade Marshall)
There are perks at some shows, e.g. 25% off coupon and a Free Toy (Silver Bullet) from Babeland and prize-winning goodies from the Wynette County Fair.
No Holes Barred - Sex,Thugs & Rockin' Roles - Is That a Corncob in Your Pocket?On July 23rd, the night of the Honorary Golden Pineapple Awards, the coveted fruit was bestowed upon Broadway, off-Broadway, and independent theatre movers 'n shakers Charles Busch, Israel Horovitz, Doric Wilson, Sherry Eaker & ELLIE COVAN. Proceeds from the festival and accompanying silent auction support the company's dedicated 28 year old mission of taking professional theatre to under-served audiences throughout NYC and the Northeast.
CringeFest Silent Auction ends on August 9.
http://www.biddingforgood.com/NYArtistsAuction2010
Tony Spinosa, Resident Director for La Cage aux Folles, is Supervising Director of the festival. Kate MacCluggage, currently starring in The 39 Steps, appeared in Down Goes Rocky, Bronze Banana winner in the 2007 festival.
For more information: 212-242-6036 or www.nyartists.org. Online ticketing: www.theatermania.com. Grand Theatre at the Producers Club, 358 W. 44 St., between Eighth/ Ninth Aves., through August 8. Tickets: $25 M-Sat. @ 8 p.m.; student tix $15; $20 Sat. @ 5 p.m.; $18 Sat. @ 10:30 and Sun., Aug. 8 @ 4 p.m.
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