Monday, October 19, 2015

Nearly Sold Out -- 5 Shows Remain for THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

As we head into our final week of performances for The Inn at Lake Devine, we hope you'll snap up one of the few remaining tickets!

Join us for a funny and touching night of theater this week
Tickets: $18 at www.tictheater.com and at 212-868-4444.
Venue: Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor.
Run time: 2 hours and 15 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission.

Last week's performances were outstanding for many different reasons.

We sold out every performance.

On Wednesday, October 14, Smith College bought out the evening and sponsored a talk back after the show with novelist Elinor Lipman.

On Friday, October 16, actress Jessica Giannone understudied the role of 'Pamela Marx' seamlessly (in addition to her other multi-faceted roles in the piece!).

We received a rave review from blogger Robin Gorman Newman, who praised the "talented and versatile cast" and wrote, "if you're a fan of the book, you will be heartened to know this production delivers."

Here's to an exciting final week of performances and we'll see you at the theater!



Thursday, October 15, 2015

Special Event: Smith College Club Talk Back with Elinor Lipman and Jake Lipman

Jake Lipman, Jennifer Marshall, and Elinor Lipman talk theater
On October 14, 2015, the Smith College Club of NYC, led by Julia Davis, sponsored a special night of The Inn at Lake Devine, followed by a talk back with Producing Artistic Director Jake Lipman (who adapted the novel and stars in the show) and novelist Elinor Lipman.

The event was moderated by publicist Jennifer Marshall, who was Elinor Lipman's publicist on the first printing of the novel in 1998.  Questions touched upon a real-life incident which inspired Elinor Lipman to write the first chapter of the novel, how Jake Lipman approached adapting the script, as well as how Tongue in Cheek Theater's production measured up to readers' vision of the story.

The romantic comedy with music runs for 16 performances, Oct. 7-24, 2015 @ 7:30 pm at Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor.  Tickets are $18 at www.tictheater.com and 212-868-4444.

Monday, October 12, 2015

@LakeDevine: Barbra Wengerd as 'Pamela Marx' in THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

Actor Barbra Wengerd plays the funny and flirty Pamela Marx in The Inn at Lake Devine, which is running for 11 more performances in October.
Barb plays 'Pammy Marx'
The play with music runs October 7-24, 2015 @ 7:30 pm at Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor.  The show runs 2 hours and 15 minutes with an intermission.  Tickets: $18 at www.tictheater.com and 212-868-4444.

We asked the wonderful Wengerd a few questions:

Where do you want to travel to next?
 I've wanted to go to St. Petersburg, Russia, for a long time; but since it's not in the cards right now, I'd like to go to Canada.  I've never been to Montreal or Quebec City, and would love to spend some time in a low-pressure, relaxing place with good food, things to see, and all the amenities of modern life (plus I hear Quebec is beautiful).  Most of my recent vacations have been rustic and involved camping, so it'd be fun to do some traveling where I can tuck into a bed and cozy sheets at the end of the day!

What's your favorite song from the 60s or 70s?
 "Lola" by the Kinks.  It's the perfect combination of the 60s and 70s: it rocks, it's melodic, and it's nostalgic without being sentimental.  I think "Lola" came out in 1970... but it's timeless, no?

Mushrooms: Yes or No?
Mushrooms are delicious!  They're perfect for pasta sauce or as a pizza topping.  Fried up in butter with a splash of sherry?  Yes, please.  Mushroom risotto.  Of course.  Cooked right, agaricus bisporus (portobello) is a brilliant substitute for beef.  Yep, I'm definitely pro-mushroom. 

Attend Wed 10/14 Special Event: Talk Back After THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE, Sponsored by Smith College

We would be delighted to have you join us this Wednesday, October 14 from 7:30-10 pm for a very special event: attend a performance of the romantic comedy The Inn at Lake Devine, based on the novel by Elinor Lipman, and stay after for a glass of wine and audience talk back with Ms. Elinor Lipman.

This is the ONLY talk back being offered with Elinor Lipman about the production, which is a world premiere adaptation by Jake Lipman (no relation), a Smith College alum (class of 2000).

Tickets are $25 and are open to the general public: http://www.smithclubnyc.org/article.html?aid=626
Elinor and Jake Lipman, surrounded by the company of THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

Event overview: please arrive before 7:30 pm, for the start of show (there is no late seating).  Enjoy the play with music (running time 2 hours, 15 minutes, including an intermission), followed by wine and audience talk back with Elinor and Jake in the theater.

Venue: Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor (in a non-descript high rise between Broadway and Eighth Avenue).

Play synopsis: Where chutzpah meets reservations.
Spring 1964.  When Natalie Marx's mother inquires about summer accommodations in Vermont, she gets the following reply: "The Inn at Lake Devine is a family-owned resort, which has been in continuous operation since 1922.  Our guests who feel most comfortable here, and return year after year, are Gentiles."

For fourteen-year-old Natalie, who has a stubborn sense of justice, these words are not a rebuff but an irresistible challenge, setting in motion events that will forever change her life.

For more about the production, and Tongue in Cheek Theater Productions, visit www.tictheater.com.

About Elinor Lipman: Elinor is an accomplished writer of novels and essays, whose books include Then She Found Me (turned into a major motion picture starring and directed by Helen Hunt), The Way Men Act, Isabel's Bed, The Inn at Lake Devine, The Ladies' Man, The Dearly Departed, The Pursuit of Alice Thrift, and My Latest Grievance.  She is the recipient of the New England Book Award for fiction for a body of work.  She has taught writing at Simmons, Smith and Hampshire colleges and was the Elizabeth Drew Chair in Creative Writing at Smith for 2011-12.

About Jake Lipman: Jake graduated from Smith College in 2000 and received her MFA in acting from the Actors Studio Drama School at the New School.  She founded Tongue in Cheek Theater Productions in 2006 to produce and perform thought-provoking comedies, and her adaptation of The Inn at Lake Devine marks the company's 31st production.  More at www.tictheater.com and www.jakelipman.com.

A huge thank you to the Smith College Club of NYC for sponsoring the event.  A portion of the tickets benefit the Smith College Scholarship Fund.



Sunday, October 11, 2015

@LakeDevine: Tony Wolf plays 'Man' in THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

When you come to see The Inn at Lake Devine, take note of an extraordinary actor playing the aptly named role of 'Man,' Tony Wolf.

Tony Wolf sings, acts, and dances in Inn
About two weeks before we opened the show, Tony was called in to take on the role, and it is truly impressive to see how quickly he learned every character, in addition to two choreographed numbers and harmonies for several choral moments.

The play with music runs for 16 performances, October 7-24, 2015 @ 7:30 pm (matinee on Sunday, October 18 @ 2:30 pm) at Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor.  The show runs 2 hours and 15 minutes with an intermission.  Tickets: $18 at www.tictheater.com and 212-868-4444.

We asked Tony a few quick questions:

How would you describe your character in the show?
I play several character roles, including a Borscht Belt lounge singer, a guest at the Catskills resort, and the fiancĂ© of not one but two different characters.  It's fun to jump from character to character, and I'm thrilled to be singing harmony quartet music again (we sing a barbershop quartet song and a somber funeral hymn) -- one of the greatest joys of my life is singing a cappella music.

What's your favorite song from the time periods of the show (60s and 70s)?
Currently, "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" by Looking Glass and "Carrie Anne" by the Hollies, which are both battling it out in my music-appreciating cranium.

Favorite coming-of-age story?
By far, it has to be the brilliant TV show Freaks and Geeks by Judd Apatow and Paul Feig.

It's the funniest, most well-written and most moving coming-of-age storytelling I've ever seen, and of course, it launched the careers of many currently well-known actors like James Franco, Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and Martin Starr, and also starred veteran, beloved NYC actors like Becky Ann Baker.  If you haven't already seen it, it lasted one season (critically-acclaimed by didn't get the ratings back in 1999) and it is absolutely worth your time.


Saturday, October 10, 2015

Opening Night: THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE, running through Oct. 24!

The entire Inn at Lake Devine team
October 9, 2015: the world premiere production of The Inn at Lake Devine, based on the novel by Elinor Lipman, officially opened at Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios to a full house and an enthusiastic response.

The play with music was runs for a total of 16 performances after a year in development by Tongue in Cheek Theater Productions.

Novelist Elinor Lipman was on hand for the premiere performance and said she was thrilled with the production.  Audiences raved about the cast, the design, and music.

L-R: Maria Maloney, Elinor Lipman, and Melissa WolfKlain
Immediately following the opening night performance, the cast, production team, and audience gathered for an opening night reception in Shetler 1.

We also sang to Maria Maloney ('Robin Fife') in celebration of her birthday, and wine and assorted nibbles, including ruggelah, were consumed.

If you haven't purchased tickets yet, please do so!  Several shows have sold out, but walk ups nearly always get in.  The box office opens at 6:45 pm for a 7:30 pm curtain, so arrive early to put your name on the standby list.

Director Kimberly Faith Hickman and cast members

The show runs for 13 more performances, every night other than Mondays through October 24, 2015 at Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor.  Tickets are $18 at www.tictheater.com and by calling 212-868-4444.

Here's to an amazing run ahead and a huge thank you to the production team, designers, actors, and, of course, Elinor Lipman!












Sunday, October 4, 2015

@LakeDevine: actor Carson Lee plays 'Nelson Berry' in THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

We open this week -- this Wednesday! -- and actor Carson Lee handily plays the hunky 'Nelson Berry' in world premiere production of The Inn at Lake Devine, based on the novel by Elinor Lipman.

The play with music runs for 16 performances, October 7-24, 2015 @ 7:30 pm (matinee on Sunday, October 18 @ 2:30 pm) at Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor.  The show runs 2 hours and 15 minutes with an intermission.  Tickets: $18 at www.tictheater.com and 212-868-4444.

We asked Carson a few questions, below!

Where are you from originally?  What brought you to New York City?
Carson Lee plays 'Nelson Berry'
I'm originally from South Dakota.  Came here via Minneapolis, with my wife, Brandon, to persue being an actor.

This play is about vacation destinations.  Where would you like to go next?
I would like to do a tour of the British Isles.  It would be easy for me to communicate.

How about mushrooms: do you like them?
Mushrooms can be part of a dish but not overwhelming.  Much like curry.

Favorite coming of age movie?
I still love 'Stand By Me,' when it comes to coming of age stories (albeit a bit more of an adult film than I realized when I watched it as a kid). 

We've already sold out several shows, but tickets remain for our very first performance, Wed 10/7, so nab yours now at www.tictheater.com!
 
 

Saturday, October 3, 2015

@LakeDevine: Amanda Rodhe plays 'Gretel Berry' in THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

Actor Amanda Rodhe plays 'Gretel Berry,' the youngest child of the Berry clan in The Inn at Lake Devine.  Amanda does it all with perfect insouciance: playing pesky Gretel as a 9-year-old to a seemingly prim Middlebury student, plus singing soprano and giving snarky looks for comedic effect.

The play with music runs for 16 performances, October 7-24, 2015 @ 7:30 pm (matinee on Sunday, October 18 @ 2:30 pm) at Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor.  The show runs 2 hours and 15 minutes with an intermission.  Tickets: $18 at www.tictheater.com and 212-868-4444.

We asked Amanda a few questions, pertaining to aspects of the play, below.

Favorite trip you took as a kid?
G is for Good Conversation with 'Gretel'
Lion Country Safari.  It's this drive-through safari in Florida where you can see lions, elephants, zebras, and other neat wild animals up close, from the comfort of your own car.  They are VERY strict about keeping your windows rolled up (because, duh, LIONS), but my dad rolled down his and almost got his eye pecked out by a high-strung ostrich.  This has become the stuff of Rodhe family folklore.

Mushrooms: yes or no?
Yes!  In omlets in the morning, pizza in the afternoon, and pasta at night.  Everywhere, all the time.

Favorite coming of age story (book or movie)?
Never Been Kissed, the classic 90s rom-com starring Drew Barrymore and Michael Vartan.  Let's hear it for the kids who were awkward in high school but turned out to be perfectly normal adults.  And that scene on the Ferris wheel?  Gives me the schoolgirl giggles every time. 

Catch this talented thesp in The Inn at Lake Devine, opening Wednesday, October 7!

Friday, October 2, 2015

@LakeDevine: Molly Ballerstein Wears Many Hats for THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

Molly Ballerstein is what we call a hyphenate in the creative world: a gifted director, producer, writer, dancer, and stage manager, among other talents.  She's wearing several hats for the world premiere production of The Inn at Lake Devine, including associate producer, assistant director and stage manager.

The play with music runs for 16 performances, October 7-24, 2015 @ 7:30 pm (matinee on Sunday, October 18 @ 2:30 pm) at Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor.  The show runs 2 hours and 15 minutes with an intermission.  Tickets: $18 at www.tictheater.com and 212-868-4444.

We asked Molly a few questions...

The play is about vacation destinations... where would you like to go next?
A hat, on Molly Ballerstein
I have been itching to go to Scotland for years. I've worked on 3 productions that have gone to the Edinburgh Festival, but never managed to go over myself. In addition, I have Scottish ancestry and would love to see the places my family emigrated from. Based off the pictures I've seen, once I go over, I might never come back!

Favorite trip you took as a kid?
My family didn't take a lot of trips, but every summer we would go camping.  Once year, when I was probably around 5 or 6 years old, we stayed on Cape Cod.  This is the first time I remember smelling and seeing the ocean; it was breathtaking.

Mushrooms: yes or no?
YES!  I absolutely would eat anything protagonist 'Natalie Marx' cooked with mushrooms, and enjoy long walks with 'Karl Berry' in the woods, picking mushrooms. 

We open on Wednesday, October 7, so get your tickets now and see our entire team's beautiful work!