NY Artists Unlimited Cringefest's blog

International Cringefest '09-A collection of Bad Plays, Bad Musicals, and Bad Films The Bad Plays and Bad Musicals Festivals have morphed into International CringeFest '09, which this year also includes Bad Films. The festival will again be taking over the Grand Theatre at the Producers' Club, July 20-August 9, M-Sat. @ 8, Sundays @ 2 (films), Sundays @ 7 and late-night Saturday at 10:30. Actually, these are REALLY GOOD & HILARIOUS works that are irreverent, politically incorrect, naughty, and utterly zany. Don't we all need that these days?! Audiences vote every night for winners of the Golden Pineapple, Silver Tomato, & Bronze Banana, plus Jack Lemons for the actors. For one ticket, you see 4-5 works arranged in theme evenings: Dames at Sea, Is That a Spear in Your Pocket?, Your Money or Your Art, Children & (Other) Sharp Objects, Sex Encounters of the Absurd Kind, & late-night Saturday: Go Genital into That Good Night, including Dragness of God & the Naked Holy Ghost (yes, naked) and Grampa Hitler & the Li'l Red Ridin' Hood (musical). Entre actes are: musician-comedian Huck DeMilo, naughty singer-songstress Jessica Delfino, & sound effects comedian Zero Boy. And, the winning plays/musicals in their respective themes are -- drum roll, please: IS THAT A SPEAR IN YOUR POCKET? (Dir. Tony Spinosa) July 20, July 25, July 30, August 4 RANK ROID RITE, Samurai Proctologist by Zurbon Gish BHIBHATSYA: Disgusting Beyond Words by Norman Bert THE HISTORY OF HATE (entre acte by Jean Hart) THE FLAMING OF THE SHREW by David Schrag THE MISSION (MUSICAL) by Kevin Bleau THE SCOTTISH PLAY sponsored by… by Kurt Kleinmann CHILDREN & (OTHER) SHARP OBJECTS (Dir. Kenny Wade Marshall) July 21, July 26, July 31, August 5 PLAYTHINGS by Rob Taylor SANTA TELLS A STORY by Tami Canaday THE CLOSET by Aoise Stratford JUST A BREATH MORE VANILLA by Barbara H. Macchia BITTERELLA (MUSICAL) by Mark LaPierre DAMES AT SEA July 22, July 27, August 1, August 6 TERROR OF COCKROACH BEACH (short film by Albert Pergande) A NEW BEGINNING by Josh McIlvain THE ADVENTURES OF RAY NOIR, BEACH DETECTIVE by Dick Budin WHEN BIMBOS ATTACK by Jean Hart THE BLUE LAGOON: A Musical by Jonathan Padget SEX ENCOUNTERS OF THE ABSURD KIND (Dir. Tom Amici) July 23, July 28, August 2, August 7 FAME CONFUSIONS by John Hendel NO TALKING ON THE FIRST DATE by Steven Schutzman BOOTY BANDITS by Kesa Maya Soul SWAMP HO by David C. Hayes YOUR MONEY OR YOUR ART July 24, July 29, August 3, August 8 A DARK & STORMY NIGHT by Michael Wilmot (Dir. Robyne Parrish) THE POORLY-WRITTEN PLAY FESTIVAL by Carolyn Gage (Dir. Robyne Parrish) WORST. PLAY. EVER. by Sam Wallin (Dir. Robyne Parrish) PISS PLAY IS ABOUT MINORITIES, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT (Writer-Dir. Don Cummings) GO GENITAL INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT Late-night Saturdays, July 25, August 1, August 8, at 10:30 pm GRAMPA HITLER & THE LI'L RED RIDIN' HOOD (MUSICAL) by Leroi B. Di Milo (Dir. Robyne Parrish) DRAGNESS OF GOD & THE NAKED HOLY GHOST (yes, naked!) by Michael Wanzie (Dir. Kenny Howard) UNHOLY SUNDAY FILM MATINEE July 26, Aug. 2, Aug. 9, at 2 pm ($15 w/ bag of popcorn & talk-backs with filmmakers & stars) SHUT UP, APOLLO! by Apollo Braun aka Doron Braunshtein CANDY & DADDY by Anton Perich (with Warhol filmstars Candy Darling & Taylor Mead) DEATH & TAXES by Joseph Sorrentino (film noir) A DAY IN THE LIFE OF MISS SAMMY by Michael Wanzie & Jason Piecarski (talkback with Miss Sammy & the filmmakers Aug. 9) There will be an opening benefit, bestowing the Honorary Golden Pineapple upon a luminary in the theatre community, surround events (costume parties, raffles, auctions), and closing night festivities. At the '07 benefit, legendary director Tom O'Horgan (Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar) was presented with the Honorary Golden Pineapple. In '08, it was stage-screen-& small screen star Marilyn Sokol, cabaret superstar Sidney Myer, and Warhol muse/ visual artist Ultra Violet. From the get-go, this festival has intrigued the press & media: coverage has appeared in The New York Times Sunday Arts & Leisure section, New York magazine, TimeOutNY, and many more publications. The coverage has provided tremendous exposure for a great number of artists: 50 in the first festival, 300 in the last one. The house is packed nearly every night with producers, press/ media people, and a large/growing audience of locals and tourists. Renowned writers, composers, directors, and actors take part and some have been in several festivals. NY Artists Unlimited is a 25 year old nonprofit organization that provides theatre and art to under-served audiences. The company is supported in part by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Nancy Quinn Fund, Puffin Foundation, Dramatists Guild Fund, corporate and individual contributors. These festivals, in their own wacky way, lend a hand in supporting the mission to serve the community. The movers 'n shakers behind this insanity are: Melba LaRose, Artistic Director; Bill & Anita Brown, associate producers from Shooting Star Theatre; Court Sweeting, Technical Director, and playwright Jean Hart of the Benefit Committee; plus myriad interns and volunteers that make the whole thing happen. Tickets $25 at door; $20 advance sales (deadline July 1); $15 students with ID; $15 film matinees (w/bag of popcorn & talk-backs). Reservations are strongly recommended. For more information or reservations, call 212-242-6036 or visit www.nyartists.org. For online ticketing: www.theatermania.com. Grand Theatre at the Producers Club, 358 W. 44 St., betw. Eighth/Ninth Aves., July 20-August 9, M-Sat. @ 8, Sun. @ 2 (films), Sun. @ 7, late show Saturday @ 10:30. Each theme runs 1¾ to 2 hours in toto, including intermission.