A Renaissance Man During The Renaissance Of Comedy: Ferris Butler

Ferris is Pictured with Celeste Jennings at The Comic Strip In NYC                     Ferris Butler hails from the mean streets of Brooklyn and is regarded as the George Washington of modern day cable sketch comedy in America. He is an artist that asserts his main influences were Monty Python and Ernie Kovacs. While enrolled in NYU film school during the turbulent 1960’s, Ferris Butler took the course “Fundamentals Of Filmmaking” by instructor Martin Scorsese. Then acting major, Billy Crystal, was in Ferris’ “Television Production” class at NYU. During that class Ferris

The Last Day Of Broadway: Martin McDonagh’s Riveting Dramedy “Hangmen”

While the world falls apart I sip my highly caffeinated coffee and write that piece about Hangmen the new Broadway play. Cavorting at The John Golden theatre on 47th St. and 8th Avenue Hangmen is Martin McDonagh's latest Broadway effort since his Oscar Nominated film "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri". "Maybe it'll be my last opportunity to write about a Broadway production?!!" I yelled to myself in my brain (what's left of it). Though it's very unlikely that the apocolypse is coming and will ensnare Broadway, being the last to write about any one thing seems to hold some gravity

10 Foot Rat Cabaret At Under St. Marks

Photography by Gregory Levine – Pictured Dancer Andrea Palesh I truly believe to understand the heart of a production you must understand the theater the production is in first. Since the 1970’s Under St. Marks Theater has been home to an abundance of experimental and mainstream productions. I’ve been very lucky to have attended several events at this venue over the years. Even having had the opportunity to produce a piece through the theater for a weekend of plays and pieces about Donald Trump back in 2016. Located on St Marks Place between 1st Avenue and Avenue A in the heart

Alexandra Silber heads Back to The West End, BroadwayCon 2020 and a love of theatre

Alexandra Silber Brings It To BroadwayCon Audrey and Audrey II Hand Puppet Ursula, Ariel and Eric   Jesus and D.B. Frick (Left to Right) My hearts attachment to the process of theater started at age 6 when my mother first brought me to see “The Tap Dance Kid”. I was awoken that day by theater and haven’t slept since. I love nothing more then seeing like minded people brought together. Nobody does that quite like the producers of BroadwayCon which hit New York City once again this past weekend from Friday January 24th to Sunday the 27th at the Midtown Hilton in New York City.

The Rat Pack Is Back and Rudy Fusco Leads The Charge As Joey Bishop

One of my favorite subjects has always been the Rat Pack. Ever since I was a child and visited my grandparents up the block from my parents home on May Street. My very Italian grandmother always had some sort of traditional crooned music playing. Frank Sinatra was always at the head of those listening sessions along with Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr and a host of others.  A majorly talented group of entertainers that first started with Humphrey Bogart and Eva Gardner and finally ended with Joey Bishop when he died in October of 2007. The last of the Rat

Matt Nagin’s New Collections of Comedic works “Do Not Feed The Clown” Is Something Undeniably Funny and Inconceivably Different

Comedy is a very subjective concept. What one person finds funny another might not. Any person who says any particular thing isn’t funny, is wrong. This is because someone will find it funny. Even if just one person laughs. Then it’s funny. It’s not an argument. It’s a fact. If all 8 billion people in the world don’t laugh, then I guess it’s not funny, but if one does, then that person found it funny. What you get with Matt Nagin‘s new book Do Not Feed The Clown is something undeniably funny and inconceivably different. A collection of 34 short comedic pieces. Some of them even come

11 Questions With Carie Karavas: Because This One Goes Up To Eleven

Photo: Courtesy of Google Long Island is a never ending bevy of comedic genius. There is no denying the incredible talent that has poured forth from the mouth of the comedy circuit on this tiny island 20 miles easy East of Manhattan over the last 100 years. From Lenny Bruce to Rosie O'Donnell and Eddie Murphy to Ophira Eisenberg. Long Island boasts the best. That is no different with the inimitable Carie Karavas. This past week At 7pm on September 27th at The Argyle Theater in Babylon Long Island this very true statement was no different. Carie first started stand up

Only Yesterday at 59E59 Theater

Photo by Carol Rosegg "Half of what I say is meaningless, but I say it just to reach you, Julia". -Julia- by John Lennon   I was first introduced to The Beatles by my mother, Georgiana Collins, when I was nine years old. A Christmas gift, the cassette tape was Rock 'n' Roll Music Volume 1. I was immediately transfixed and began what is now a life long effort to know everything I can about the Beatles. From listening to all their albums to reading several biographies to the uncountable documentaries. I've tried to see it all. So when given the opportunity to see

“Bat Out of Hell”, Finishes Up A Stellar Run At The New York City Center Theatre This Sept 8th

Andrew Polec, Christina Bennington ride into hellfire in Bat Out of Hell from August 1st to Sept 8th at The New York City Center. Photo By: Playbill.com The 1970's were a profoundly prolific time in American history. Whether it be politically, through fashion or musically, that time in history will stay saturated in the minds of those who were alive during it. 1977 specifically gave us many important historical moments and unforgettable events. It was the year Jimmy Carter was sworn in as President. 1977 boasts the release of Star Wars which changed the world of film forever. Also, just as important

BroadwayCon Once Again Connects With The Fans

         I first covered BroadwayCon for The New York Theatre Guide in 2016 when it arrived at the Jacob Javits Center. As I continue to live the life of someone who won't say no to anything, I found myself at The New York Hilton in Manhattan this past weekend January 11th to 13th, covering BroadwayCon once again this time for StageBiz.com. BroadwayCon is a convention in the vain of ComicCon except, well, Broadway. From seminars to classes, to a kitsch mall, to thousands of cosplayers. I saw more Mary Poppinses than you could wink a nose at. BroadwayCon is a place

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