Entr’Acte Theatrix to present AVENUE Q March 6 – 16 at Actor’s Rep in West Palm Beach

06 Thursday Feb 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Entr'Acte Theatrix

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Aaliyah Moin, Actor's Rep, Ariel Hodgetts, Avenue Q, Bhetty Waldron Theatre at Actor's Rep, Carlo Sabusap, Elijah Pestana, Elizabeth Robinson, Entr'Acte Theatrix, Esqui, Greg Halmos, Jason Fisher, Jaycie Cohen, Jeff Marx, Jeff Whitty, Robert Lopez, Rose Foster, Sarah Kenny, Sarah Romeo

“… savvy, sassy and eminently likable… breakthrough musical.”
Ben Brantley, The New York Times

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

February 6, 2025

WEST PALM BEACH, FL: Entr’acte Theatrix’ first production of 2025 will be Avenue Q, the ‘triple crown’ (Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book) Tony Award-winning musical that is ‘part flesh, part felt and packed with heart’. The production will run from March 6 – 16 in the Bhetty Waldron Theatre at Actor’s Rep in West Palm Beach.

A truly unique show that ran for over 6 years on Broadway, Avenue Q (the musical that bested Wicked at the 2004 Tonys) focuses on recent college graduate, Princeton, who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it’s clear this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life. The show addresses adult issues with humor, empathy, monsters, and music.

Director Carlo Sabusap (who will also take on the role of Trekkie Monster in the production) has cast Esqui as Princeton and Rod, Elizabeth Robinson as Kate Monster, Elijah Pestana as Nicky, Greg Halmos as Brian, Rose Foster as Christmas Eve, Sarah Romeo as Gary Coleman, Ariel Hodgetts as Lucy and Bad Idea Bear, and Sarah Kenny as Bad Idea Bear, Mrs. Thistletwat, and others.

Avenue Q’s Musical Director is Aaliyah Moin. Elizabeth Southwell will serve as the production’s Technical Director and Lighting Designer, Jaycie Cohen is the Sound Engineer, and Jason Fisher doubles as the show’s Stage Manager and Assistant Director.

“We are yet again at one of those times in our history when we need some levity in the world,” Sabusap says. “The current economic and political climate, for some, is rough. I think we need to bring some light into our lives, and Avenue Q is definitely one of the best ways to remind ourselves that even when the times get tough, we must remember to laugh.

“I feel like Avenue Q is one of those shows that reaches deep down inside of everyone, the comedy comes from us finding the ridiculous in the mundane, an experience that all of us go through as we grow up,” he continues. “The puppets give us the comfort food of childlike wonder while the subject matter pulls us into those relatable situations that we as adults have experienced. Although the cast is primarily young adults, they know and can express the experiences presented in the show. They’re all talented, hard-working, and very funny. Avenue Q comes with the unique challenge that most other musical theater shows don’t have, in that when you’re on stage with the puppet, you’re acting twice. You’re not only expressing and emoting your own physical body, but also this seemingly inanimate object which they can magically bring to life. I’m sure that audiences will find this one to be side-hurtingly funny. Whether you’re looking for your purpose in life, a reason to get out of your house, in search of crude humor, Avenue Q is definitely the best bet!”

“This is our first production at Bob Carter’s Actor’s Workshop,” says Entr’Acte Theatrix founder and Executive Producer Vicki Halmos. “The space is perfect for us – it’s small and intimate, with just the right number of seats. (And there’s lots of parking available!) Avenue Q is one of our favorite shows,” she continues. “It allows our actors the opportunity to stretch their skill sets – working with these puppets takes discipline and strength – mental and physical. It’s funny, and clever, and yet it packs a number of important messages concerning personal relationships, discrimination against people who are different, and the truths about learning to be an adult.

Avenue Q will run from March 6 – 16 in the Bhetty Waldron Theatre at Actor’s Rep (1000 N Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33401). Performances are on Thursdays and Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 2 pm and 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.PalmBeachTheater.org or by phone at 561-833-7529.

For more information about Entr’Acte Theatrix and/or Avenue Q, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

Please note: Avenue Q contains coarse language and adult situations. Parental discretion is advised.

Avenue Q is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
~

Avenue Q
March 6 – 16
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez
Book by Jeff Whitty
Based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
Tickets: $25 Standard Seating/$35 Premium Seating
For tickets: www.PalmBeachTheater.org
Phone: 561-833-7529
Performances:
Thursday, March 6th at 8 pm
Friday, March 7th at 8 pm
Saturday, March 8 at 2 pm & 8 pm
Sunday, March 9th at 2 pm
Thursday, March 13th at 8 pm
Friday, March 14th at 8 pm
Saturday, March 15th at 2 pm & 8 pm
Sunday, March 16th at 2 pm
All performances will take place at
The Bhetty Waldron Theatre at Actor’s Rep
1000 N Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Rehearsal Photos credit: Elijah Pestana
(Click on each photo to identify, expand, and/or download)

CONFESSIONS OF A RETIRED WITCH to Debut at The Studio at Mizner Park

27 Monday Jan 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Uncategorized

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Barry Zieger, Confessions of a Retired Witch, D'Jamin Bartlett, James Skiba, Margot Moreland, Mark Bornfield, musical comedy, The Studio at Mizner Park, Theatre in Boca Raton

Confessions of a Retired Witch
to Debut at the Studio at Mizner Park
The production will run from Febaruy 27 through March 8

A witch in a retirement home?! A magical musical fairy tale!

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

January 27, 2025
BOCA RATON, FL: D’Jamin Bartlett, the award-winning actress who made her Broadway debut singing “The Miller’s Son” in Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, and Emmy Award-winning composer Mark Bornfield have collaborated to create Confessions of a Retired Witch, a musical comedy that will run from February 27 through March 8 at The Studio at Mizner Park.

Angelina Max, the last remaining witch from a powerful coven in Miami, has lost her castle in a misspell. She has placed herself in Sunny Smiles retirement community where she tells the other residents, the staff psychiatrist, and the home’s director that she is indeed a true witch, and not just losing her mind and a candidate for the facility’s assisted living quarters. Before she can reunite with other witches, she must pass her magic on to a deserving mortal; in today’s caustic world this is a challenging task, and her time is running out.

“We have been working on this show for a number of years,” Bornfield explained recently. “It began when I was on vacation in Denver, and I heard a lyric from the song “Miami” by Manuel Riva. (“There’s a place in Miami where they heal your soul, they fill the glass with your deepest hope”.) It generated an energy and a vibe that piqued my imagination. Dee’s favorite holiday is Halloween, and those two notions combined quite naturally through vivid imagination and a lot of hard work – making it fun and exciting to create characters that were magical, and that married fantasy with love.”

Confessions of a Retired Witch will be helmed by Barry Zieger, who previously directed D’Jamin Bartlett as Aldonza in Man of La Mancha. Musical direction will be by Mark Bornfield. The production will star Bartlett, along with four-time Carbonell Award-winner Margot Moreland, and popular South Florida actor/singer James Skiba.

D’Jamin Bartlett won Theater World, Drama Desk, and Show Business Awards for her show stopping number “The Miller’s Son” in A Little Night Music. Some of her other Broadway and national tour credits include Lend Me a Tenor, Pippin, and Godspell. She has been directed by Broadway legends Harold Prince, Jerry Zaks, Bob Fosse, and Martin Charnin, played leading lady to Elliot Gould, Burt Convey, and Gene Barry, and appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Other television credits include “Eva” in One Life to Live and many commercials.

Mark Bornfield is a Boston Television Emmy Award-winning composer, a pianist, studio recording vocalist, and trumpet player. He is a member of ASCAP and has accompanied Vikki Carr, Robert Morse, Whitney Houston, and Jamie Foxx. He was a featured cabaret artist and solo pianist at Boston’s Copley Plaza Oak Room, and aboard the Seabourn Pride.

Together, Bartlett and Bornfield have been called a ‘chic, sophisticated, and powerful duo’. They have performed throughout South Florida at major country clubs, restaurants and nightclubs including Turnberry Isle in Miami Beach, Boca West, Polo Club, Indian Creek Country Club, Surf Club and Lighthouse Point Yacht Clubs. Their private and corporate party performances include Greenbrier, New York Regency (Feinstein’s) Orlando World Center Marriott, Mar-a-Lago, and the Ritz-Carlton in Naples. In the summer, they reside on Cape Cod where they entertain at Lighthouse Inn Resort, Sagamore Inn and other popular places.

Confessions of a Retired Witch will run from February 27 through March 8 at The Studio at Mizner Park. The theatre is located at 201 Plaza Real (2^nd Floor), in Boca Raton (33432),

Tickets for Confessions of a Retired Witch range in price from $64.75 (matinee performances) to $78.25 (evening performances) including taxes and Ticketmaster fees. Group rates are also available ($49.50 for groups of 10 or more, purchased in one transaction). For tickets and information: https://www.ticketmaster.com (search for Confessions) or email tickets@thestudioatmiznerpark.com.

For more information about Confessions of a Retired Witch, to speak with anyone involved in the production, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

In the attached photo:
D’Jamin Bartlett
Photo credit: Unknown
~

Confessions of a Retired Witch
February 27 – March 8
Conceived & Written by D’Jamin Bartlett
Music & Lyrics by Mark Bornfield
Tickets:
Evenings: $78.25 / Matinees $64.75
Group Rate (10 or more tickets sold in a single transaction) $49.50
All prices include taxes and fees.
For tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com (search for ‘Confessions’)
Direct link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/search?q=Confessions+of+a+Retired+Witch
Or email tickets@thestudioatmiznerpark.com
Performances:
Thursday, February 27 at 7:30 pm
Friday, February 28 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 1 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 2 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Tuesday, March 4 at 7:30 pm
Wednesday, March 5 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 8 at 2 pm
All performances will take place at
The Studio at Mizner Park
201 Plaza Real, 2^nd Floor
Boca Raton, FL 33432

Click on each image to enlarge and/or download.
Production photo credit: Carol Kassie

Amir Darvish to Direct GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS at Empire Stage

27 Monday Jan 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Empire Stage

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Amir Darvish, ArtBuzz Theatrics, David Mamet, Empire Stage, Glengarry Glen Ross, Theatre in Fort Lauderdale

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

January 27, 2025

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Actor/Director/Producer Amir Darvish will direct David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Glengarry Glen Ross, at Empire Stage. The production will run from February 7^th to 23^rd at the popular Fort Lauderdale venue.

Darvish, a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actor’s Equity Association, has appeared in numerous television programs, films, and theatrical productions in New York and across the country, and is the Co-Founder, Creator, and Producer of his own company, Five on a Match. He has played a multitude of characters – from his award-winning Off-Broadway turn as Freddie Mercury in Mercury: The Afterlife and Times of a Rock God, to featured roles in films (Charlie Wilson’s War, Month to Month, Love, Magical) and on such television shows as Madam Secretary, The Blacklist, and The Michael J. Fox Show.

Glengarry Glen Ross will be Darvish’s third directorial project at Empire Stage – his previous projects were the well-reviewed Art (by Yasmina Reza) and Mike Bartlett’s Cock.

“I was drawn to directing Glengarry Glen Ross because of its exploration of corporate and personal greed, cutthroat business practices, and, of course, David Mamet’s razor-sharp dialogue,” Darvish says. “What fascinated me most was the chance to dive into the deeper layers of ambition, desperation, and the ethical dilemmas people face — the relentless drive to succeed at any cost. In today’s cultural and political climate, these themes feel more relevant than ever.”

Glengarry Glen Ross will run from February 7^th through February 23^rd at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased online at https://empirestage.com/ or by calling 954-678-1496.

To learn more about Amir Darvish, visit https://amirdarvish.com. For more information about Glengarry Glen Ross, Amir Darvish, Empire Stage, and/or ArtBuzz Theatrics, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

A press release about the production, along with the show logo, and director and actor headshots can be viewed online at https://wp.me/p1S9OR-2yz.

In the attached photo:
Amir Darvish
Photo credit: Matthew Tippins

Glengarry Glen Ross
By David Mamet
Directed by Amir Darvis
February 7 – 23
Tickets: $40
For tickets and Information:
https://empirestage.com/events/glengarry-glen/
Phone: 954-678-1496
Performances:
Friday & Saturday at 8 pm
Sunday at 5 pm
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage
1140 N. Flagler Dr.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

David Mamet’s GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS Opens at Empire Stage February 7th

16 Thursday Jan 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Empire Stage

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Amir Darvish, Bob Sharkey, David Mamet, David R. Gordon, Drama, Empire Stage, Eric Purcell, Glengarry Glen Ross, Harry Redlich, Larry Buzzeo, Matthew Schenk, Michael Small, Michael Vadnal, theatre, Theatre in Fort Lauderdale

David Mamet’s
Glengarry Glen Ross
Opens at Empire Stage
February 7^th

“This may well be the most accomplished play its author has yet given us. As Mr. Mamet’s command of dialogue has now reached its most dazzling pitch, so has his mastery of theatrical form.” Frank Rich – The New York Times

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

January 16, 2025

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Empire Stage and ArtBuzz Theatrics will present Glengarry Glen Ross, David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play from February 7^th through February 23^rd at the popular Fort Lauderdale venue. The production will be helmed by noted director Amir Darvish.

Based on Mamet’s own experience working in a real estate agency, the play depicts two days in the lives of four desperate Chicago real estate agents who are prepared to engage in any number of unethical, illegal acts—from lies and flattery to bribery, threats, intimidation and burglary—to sell real estate to unwitting prospective buyers.

Darvish’s cast includes Michael Small as Shelley Levine, Matthew Schenk as John Williamson, Eric Purcell as Dave Moss, Harry Redlich as George Aaronow, David R. Gordon as Richard Roma, Michael Vadnal as James Lingk, and Bob Sharkey as Baylen.

Preston Bircher will serve as the production’s lighting designer, and David Hart will design the sound. Set and costume design is by Larry Buzzeo, who will also serve as the production’s stage manager.

Glengarry Glen Ross will run from February 7^th through February 23^rd at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased online at https://empirestage.com/ or by calling 954-678-1496.

For more information about Glengarry Glen Ross, Empire Stage, ArtBuzz Theatrics, and/or Amir Darvish, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

In the attached photo:
Amir Darvish
Photo credit: Matthew Tippins

TikTok Star JODIE LANGEL to Direct I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE

15 Wednesday Jan 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Off-Glades Theater Company

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Alex Martinez, Bruno Faria, Bryan Morris, I Love You You're Perfect Now Change, Jimmy Roberts, Jodie Langel, Joe DiPietro, Luiba Ohrimenco, Melanie Farber, musical, musical comedy, Nicole Roach, Richard Kaydas, The Willow Theatre, theatre, Theatre in Boca Raton

TikTok Star
Jodie Langel
Directs
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
at the Willow Theatre
February 14 – 23

Just in time for Valentine’s Day!
This celebration of the mating game takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum known as “the relationship.”

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

January 15, 2025

BOCA RATON, FL: Broadway actor, vocal coach, and TikTok sensation Jodie Langel will helm the Off Glades Theatre Company’s production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Boca Raton’s Willow Theatre. The musical which has been described as “adorable”, “silly”, and “delightful”, will run from February 14^th through February 23^rd at The Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park.

Langel, who starred in the Off-Broadway production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, has over 3 million TikTok followers, and is the theatrical educator behind the ‘Raise Your Ya Ya Ya’ video that has gone viral on the popular social media site. The trend began when Langel was filmed teaching a student how to get rid of voice cracks. (The video can be found here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jodielangel/video/7450526474257403166).

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, with its book and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro (Memphis, The Toxic Avenger, Nice Work if You Can Get It, Over the River and Through the Woods), and music by Jimmy Roberts (The Thing About Men), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is presented in the form of a series of vignettes that mark life’s progress – all connected by the central theme of love and relationships. Nominated for Best Musical by both the Outer Critics Circle and the Drama Desk, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change became the second-longest running Off Broadway musical in theatre history, and has been translated into numerous languages, including Chinese, Korean, Spanish, German, French, Catalan, Hebrew, Czech, and Hungarian.

“This show reminds us that, when it comes to relationships, we can still find humor in those difficult moments,” Langel says. “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change celebrates love in all its stages. Be prepared to fall in love from the very first date to the very last kiss.”

Langel’s talented cast of four, Hannah Hayley, Alex Martinez, Bruno Faria, and Nicole Roach will play over 40 roles in the production, as they explore the many ups and downs of different relationships.

The Music Director for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is Richard Kaydas who will accompany violinist Luiba Ohrimenco at each performance. Melanie Farber will serve as the show’s Choreographer. Bryan Morris is the production’s Stage Manager.

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change will run from February 14 – 23 at The Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park (300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33486). Tickets are $35 (group rates are available) and may be purchased online at www.offgladestheatrecompany.com or https://www.myboca.us/2648/I-Love-You-Youre-Perfect-Now-Change, by phone at 561-347-3948, or at the theatre’s box office.

For more information about I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Off Glades Theatre Company, or Jodie Langel, please contact Carol Kassie (carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244).

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
February 14 – 23, 2025
Book and Lyrics by Joe DiPietro
Music by Jimmy Roberts
Tickets: $35
Group rates available
For tickets & Information:
https://www.offgladestheatrecompany.com or
https://www.myboca.us/2648/I-Love-You-Youre-Perfect-Now-Change
Phone: 561-347-3948
Performances:
Friday & Saturday at 7 pm
Saturday & Sunday at 1 pm
All performances will take place at
The Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park
300 S. Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL 33486

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL Opens Broadway LPAC’s 2025 Season

07 Tuesday Jan 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Lauderhill Performing Arts Center

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9 to 5 The Musical, Alex Jorth, Anna Cappelli, Britte Steele, Broadway at LPAC, Caiti Marlowe, Clay Cartland, comedy, Dalia Aleman, Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, LPAC, Michael Stafford, Michael Ursua, musical, musical comedy, theater, theatre, Theatre in Lauderhill

9 to 5 The Musical
Opens
Broadway at LPAC’s 2025 Season
The Show will run
January 16 – February 2

“The musical has everything to offer… The story is incredibly simplistic but is so much more than a story about three women finding their way in a man’s world.”
Theatre Tonic

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

January 7, 2024

LAUDERHILL, FL: Broadway at LPAC’s 2025 season will open with 9 to 5 The Musical. Based on the seminal 1980 hit movie, the show, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, is a story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era. The production will open on January 16^th and run through February 2^nd at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center.

Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In an uproarious turn of events, Violet, Judy and Doralee live out their wildest fantasy – giving their boss the boot! And while he remains “otherwise engaged,” the women give their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company that had always kept them down.

The production, directed by Michael Ursua,will star Dalia Aleman asViolet Newstead, Caiti Marlowe as Judy Bernly, and Anna Cappelli as Doralee Rhodes .Other cast members include Clay Cartland* as Franklin Hart Jr., Britte Steele as Roz Keith, and Michael Stafford as Joe.

“In today’s fast-paced environment where conversations around workplace dynamics, gender equity, and the importance of mental health are more prominent than ever, 9 to 5 The Musical invites us to laugh, reflect and unite,” Ursua says. “The camaraderie among the three lead characters – Violet, Judy and Doralee – serves as a reminder that collective action can lead to profound change. 9 to 5 The Musical is not only a tribute to the film that so many people know and love, but also a timely reminder of the power of standing up for what’s right.”

Ursua will also serve as the production’s Music Director and Alex Jorth is the show’s Choreographer. Lighting is by William Gibbons-Brown and Sound is by Christopher Wynter. Costumes are provided by Music Theatre Wichita and Costume World, supervised by Penny Williams/original design by William Ivey Long and Wigs are by Justin Lore of Tease & Floof Theatrical Wig Boutiques. Lisa Loweis the Production Stage Manager.

Tickets for 9 to 5 The Musical are on sale now and can be purchased online at https://www.lpacfl.com, or by calling the LPAC box office at 954-777-2055.Tickets range in price from $45 to $65.

The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center is located at 3800 NW 11^th Place (33311), in the Central Broward Regional Park on the Northeast corner of Sunrise Boulevard and State Road 7. For more information about LPAC visit https://www.lpacfl.com.

For more information about 9 to 5, to speak with anyone involved in the production, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

9 to 5 The Musical
January 16 – February 2, 2025
Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton
Book by Patricia Resnick
Based on the Twentieth Century Fox Film
Tickets: $45-$65
For tickets: https://www.lpacfl.com or
Call 954-777-2055
Performances:
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2 pm
Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm
All performances will take place at
The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC)
3800 NW 11^th Place
Lauderhill, FL 33311

Photo Credit: Jerahmeel James

LoveJewish.Org presents GATE B23: CARRY-ON BAGGAGE January 15th at 1 pm

06 Monday Jan 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Yiddishkayt Initiative

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Alvin Sherman Library, Avi Hoffman, Barbara Sloan, Brandon Campbell, comedy, Dave Corey, Debbie Slevin, Devra Seidel, Dramedy, Emma Garcia Seeger, Free Reading, Gate B23, Harriet Oser, LoveJewis.org, Nova Southeaster University, Rayner Gabriel

LoveJewish.Org presents
a FREE READING of
Gate B23: Carry-On Baggage
at the Sherman Library, Nova Southeastern University
January 15^that 1:00pm

A poignant and hilarious journey of stranded travelers comes to
Nova Southeastern University

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

January 6, 2025

DAVIE, FL: LoveJewish.org in association with NSU Florida’s Alvin Sherman Library and the University of Miami Sue and Leonard Miller Center will present a FREE reading of award-winning playwright Debbie Slevin’s critically acclaimed play Gate B23: Carry-On Baggage. The reading will take place at 1:00 pm on January 15^thin the Sherman Library.

This ‘dramedy’, directed by Avi Hoffman, is a witty and compelling exploration of human connection amid uproarious chaos. It follows a diverse cast of travelers, each wrestling with personal challenges, as they are stranded at Gate B23 at Palm Beach International Airport whilst enduring an increasingly prolonged flight delay. The play promises to deliver a unique theatrical experience that blends humor, tension, and profound human insights.

The reading of Gate B23: Carry-On Baggage will feature some of South Florida’s most prominent actors, including Brandon Campbell, Rayner Gabriel, Harriet Oser, Emma Garcia Seeger, Devra Seidel, Barbara Sloan, and Troy Stanley. Dave Corey will take on the role of the progressively disturbed Gate Attendant.

Debbie Slevin, an award-winning essayist and author is a writer, producer/director, and teacher. She conceived and co-produced The Apron Strings Project in Riverhead, NY, produced and directed The Last Five Years at Guild Hall in East Hampton, and the first NYC revival of Songs for a New World. Her play Gate B23: Carry-On Baggage was a best-selling selection of NYC International Fringe Festival and Manhattan Repertory Theater’s Winterfest. Now a well-read blogger for Huffpo50, Debbie’s writing has also appeared in Essence Magazine, Woman’s World, and Reform Judaism. She was also a staff writer for the Jewish Standard.

Tickets for Gate B23: Carry-On Baggage are FREE. Reservations can be made online at www.YILoveJewish.org/Events or at The Alvin Sherman Library at Nova Southeastern University, located at 3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd, Davie, FL 33314.

For more information about Gate B23: Carry-On Baggage, to speak with anyone involved in the reading, or to arrange to see the performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

Gate B23: Carry-On Baggage
By Debbie Slevin
January 15, 2025 at 1:00 pm
Tickets: FREE
For tickets: www.YILoveJewish.org/Events
The reading will take place in
The Alvin Sherman Library at
Nova Southeastern University
3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd. Davie, FL 33314

MY SON THE WAITER: A JEWISH TRAGEDY at the Lake Worth Playhouse February 15 & 16 Only!

02 Thursday Jan 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, My Son the Waiter, Playhouse Productions

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Brad Zimmerman, comedy, Comedy in Lake Worth, Lake Worth Playhouse, My Son the Waiter A Jewish Tragedy

Actor/Comedian Brad Zimmerman’s hilarious and inspiring story
about the grit and passion required to ‘make it’ as an artist and the sweet rewards that come from never giving up on your dream.

For Immediate Release
Contact:
Carol Kassie
561-445-9244 / Carol@CarolKassie.com

January 2, 2025

LAKE WORTH, FL: Brad Zimmerman will bring his hit New York comedy to Lake Worth in February with his highly praised autobiographical comedy, My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy. The show will run February 15^th and 16^th at the Lake Worth Playhouse.

My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy is the story of Zimmerman’s struggle to fulfill his dream and ‘make it’ as a comedic actor in New York. One-part standup, one-part theatrical, and all parts uproarious My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy has garnered rave reviews wherever it has played, including sold out runs Off Broadway in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, Toronto, San Diego, Thousand Oaks, CA, Huntington Beach, CA., Palm Beach, FL., the Northshore PAC in Skokie, Illinois, The Gordon Center For Performing Arts in Maryland, the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and dozens of other cities throughout the USA.

Every mother dreams her children will grow up to be happy, healthy, and successful. Every Jewish mother secretly – and often not so secretly – adds specifics to her wish: A doctor, a lawyer, a dentist, or these days, a Silicon Valley tycoon would make her very happy. Brad Zimmerman’s mother has finally adapted to her ‘actor-waiter’ son’s career choice and financial situation: “If all goes well, I think Brad is going to buy a bookcase,” she boasts to her friends.

Brad Zimmerman has paid his dues. He spent 29 years “temporarily” waiting tables in New York, all the while chasing a career in acting and comedy. He tells of his pursuit, along with stories about his childhood, family, and misbegotten love life with warmth, wit, self-deprecating humor, and wicked charm, and combines his years of training as an actor with his innate comedic talent.

Zimmerman also examines the trials and tribulations of waiting on tables – particularly for someone not exactly invested in that career, and with little tolerance for persnickety diners:

“I don’t want 60 questions, get to the point!” he said he would tell restaurant patrons when he sat down for a recent interview for The New York Times. He joked that if diners prefaced their orders by saying they were in a hurry he would say “So go!” He says he did enjoy some of the bantering he did with diners, and often tried out material on them, however there were also ‘the bossy customers who would snap their fingers to get his attention… and the health-food obsessives who elaborately customized their orders and button-holed him over ingredients.’ As he says in My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy, he was convinced his epitaph would read “I’ll be right with you.”

His perseverance and hard work eventually did pay off, and Zimmerman went on to act – he had a small part in “The Sopranos” playing Johnny Sack’s lawyer – and to become the opening act for a number of well-known entertainers, including George Carlin, Brad Garrett, Dennis Miller, Julio Iglesias, and Joan Rivers who said “I’ve had three great opening acts in my lifetime: Billy Crystal, Garry Shandling, and Brad Zimmerman.”

Zimmerman worked on the script for My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy for 9 years and performed it in small venues all over the country, including a stint at Florida’s Stage Door Theatre, where it came to the attention of producers Dana Matthow and Philip Roy (Respect: A Musical Journey of Women, Old Jews Telling Jokes, My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy). Since then My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy spent 2 years at Off-Broadway’s Stage 72 (Triad Theatre) in New York, and has toured the USA from coast to coast.

My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy will run February 15^th and 16^th at the Lake Worth Playhouse in Lake Worth. Tickets are on sale now, and are available on line at MySonTheWaiter.com or by phone at 561-586-6410. For group rates (12 +) call 1-888-264-1788. Tickets for My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy range from $45 – $65. For more information about My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy please visit http://mysonthewaiter.com or contact Carol Kassie at 561-445-9244 / Carol@CarolKassie.com.

My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy
By Brad Zimmerman
February 15 & 16, 2025
Tickets: $45 – $65
Phone: 1-561-586-6410
On Line: MySonTheWaiter.com
Group Rates (12 +): 1–888-264-1788
Showtimes: Saturday at 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday at 2 pm
The Lake Worth Playhouse
713 Lake Avenue
Lake Worth, FL 33460
http://mysonthewaiter.com
Like Brad on Facebook!

Boca Stage’s LIVING ON LOVE Opens January 17th at The Delray Beach Playhouse

16 Monday Dec 2024

Posted by Carol Kassie in Boca Stage, Clients

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Tags

Amber Lynn Benson, Boca Stage, comedy, Delray Beach Playhouse, Garson Kanin, Jack Stein, Jim Tyminski, Joe DiPietro, Keith Garsson, Living on Love, Mallory Newbrough, Matt Schenck, theater, theatre, Theatre in Delray Beach, Wayne LeGette

Boca Stage’s
Living on Love
January 17 – 26, 2025
at The Delray Beach Playhouse

“A guilty pleasure…This is a show that has its cake, eats it, and then rubs whipped cream all over its face.”
~ New York Post.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

December 16, 2024

DELRAY BEACH, FL: Boca Stage’s third production of the 2024/2025 season will be Living on Love, the delightful comedic romp adapted from the Garson Kanin play Peccadillo by award-winning playwright Joe DiPietro. The production will run from January 17^th through January 26^th at the Delray Beach Playhouse.
In this insane comedy set in New York City in 1957, the entertainment business is skewered and satirized with two characters, “Raquel”, the leading opera diva of the day and “Vito”, her husband, the equally short-tempered, egomaniacal Italian maestro. These two, through their petty jealousies, comically manipulate each other’s feelings as they square off to write their individual memoirs with the help of some befuddled ghostwriters, all the while exhausting their household staff.

“We picked this play to keep the season diverse with an all-out comedy” says Living on Love’s director Keith Garsson. “We have a terrific cast, well suited to their roles: Mallory Newbrough – well known for her dynamic musical performances – will make her Boca Stage debut as the Diva. She is equally matched by Boca Stage regular Wayne LeGette as her short-fused Maestro husband. Delray Beach Playhouse regular Jim Tyminski and Boca Stage regular Amber Lynn Benson play the put upon ghostwriters continually exhausted by the bickering couple’s endless shenanigans. And we welcome Jack Stein and Matt Schenck as the loyal yet continually put-upon house staff – always one step ahead of their employers.

“You never know what’s going to come out of this crazy couple’s mouths,” Garsson continues. “Upon first reading I could not believe the sheer savage glee this couple took in teasing and taunting each other. The play is a complete takedown of New York’s privileged class.”

The Stage Manager for Living on Love is Joseph Long. The production’s Technical Director is Christian Taylor, Set Design is by Claudia Smith, Lighting Design is by Stevie Bleich, Sound Design is by David Hart, Costume Design is by Timothy Charles Bowman, and wigs are by Jim Buff.

Tickets for Living on Love are on sale now. Theyrange in price from $59 to $69 and are available online at delraybeachplayhouse.com or by calling 561-272-1281. Performances are on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm. There will be a matinee performance on Wednesday, January 22^nd at 12 pm. All performances will take place at the Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9^th Street, Delray Beach (33444)

The Delray Beach Playhouse is located at 950 NW 9^th Street, in Delray Beach, 33444. (561-272-1281). For more information about the Playhouse, visit https://delraybeachplayhouse.com.

For more information about Boca Stage, the Delray Beach Playhouse, and Keith Garsson, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

Living on Love
January 17 – 26, 2025
Written by Joe DiPietro
Based on the play Peccadillo by Garson Kanin
Tickets: $59/$69
For tickets & information:
https://delraybeachplayhouse.csstix.com/event-details.php?e=1250
Or call 561-272-1281
Performances:
Friday and Saturday at 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm
Wednesday, January 22^nd at 12 pm
All performances will take place at
The Delray Beach Playhouse
950 NW 9^th Street
Delray Beach, FL 33444

Production Photos credit: Jerahmeel James

TO LIFE 5 – Jewish Broadway to Hollywood – January 17 – February 2 at the Willow Theatre

09 Monday Dec 2024

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Hy Juter, Shari Upbin

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Bruno Faria, Elliot Weiss, Jinon Deeb, musical, Musical Theatre, Nicole Roach, Shane Tanner, Shari Upbin, Shelley Keelor, Sugar Sand Park, theatre, Theatre in Boca Raton, To Life 5, Willow Theatre

Hy Juter presents
To Life 5:
Jewish Broadway to Hollywood!
Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers and Entertainers to Broadway and the Great Hollywood Musicals
At the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park
January 17 – February 2, 2025

“The humor of the blues, as Jerry (Leiber) used to say, was akin to Yiddish humor. Like, “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all.”” Mike Stoller

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

December 9, 2024

BOCA RATON, FL: From George and Ira Gershwin to Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, from Irving Berlin to John Kander and Fred Ebb, or from Jerry Herman to Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, Jewish composers and entertainers have been an integral part of the Broadway and American pop lexicon for well over a century. (And then there’s Barbra Streisand, Carole King, and even Elvis Presley – Elvis’ maternal great-great grandmother, Nancy Burdine, was Jewish. Her daughter gave birth to Doll Mansell who gave birth to Gladys Smith who gave birth to Elvis!).

These, and many more icons of the stage, screen, and recording studio will be celebrated in To Life 5: Jewish Broadway to Hollywood! Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers and Entertainers to Broadway and the Great Hollywood Musicals. The production will run from January 17^th through February 2^nd at the Willow Theatre in Boca Raton’s Sugar Sand Park. The popular series (To Life 1 through 4 each played to sold out houses at almost every performance) was developed by producer Hy Juter and is written by and will be directed and hosted by Shari Upbin.

This all-new 5th chapter in the series will once again feature amusing anecdotes and fascinating facts about some of America’s most well-known, lauded, and popular Jewish composers and entertainers who created and performed in such iconic productions as Mame, Guys and Dolls, Hello Dolly, Fiddler on the Roof, Milk and Honey, and many more.

The production will feature top-tier South Florida entertainers Jinon Deeb, Bruno Faria, Shelley Keelor, and Shane Tanner. Noted pianist/composer Elliot Weiss will serve as the production’s musical director. Nicole Roach is the production’s Stage Manager.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to bring another chapter of To Life to the stage!” Shari Upbin says. “This season we have added stories of The Yiddish Theatre to songs of the Brill Building which includes Carole King and songs by Lieber and Stoller, “Hound Dog,” “Chapel of Love”… along with favorites by Gershwin, Berlin, Sheldon Harnick and Sondheim. This one is going to be a dynamic crowd pleaser!”

To Life 5 will run from January 17 through February 2 at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. Tickets are $46; group rates (6 or more tickets purchased in one transaction) are $41. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.myboca.us/2647/To-Life-5 or by phone at 561-347-3948. The Willow Theatre is located at 300 South Military Trail, in Boca Raton’s Sugar Sand Park (33486).

For more information about To Life 5: Jewish Broadway to Hollywood! Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers and Entertainers to Broadway and the Great Hollywood Musicals,to speak with anyone involved in the production, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

Photo credits:
For Hy Juter: Arlene Juter
For Shari Upbin: Michael Thomas Photos

To Life 5: Jewish Broadway to Hollywood!
Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers and Entertainers to Broadway and the Great Hollywood Musicals
January 17 – February 2, 2025
Written and Directed by Shari Upbin
Musical Direction by Elliot Weiss
Produced and Created by Hy Juter
Ticket prices: $46
Group rates: $41 (for groups of 6 or more tickets purchased in a single transaction)
For tickets & Information:
https://www.myboca.us/2647/To-Life-5
Or call 561-347-3948
Performance days & times:
Friday & Saturday at 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm
All performances will take place at
The Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park
300 S. Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL 33486