Friday, December 11, 2015

2015: TIC's Tenth Season and a World Premiere

What a year!

The world premiere of The Inn at Lake Devine was our biggest undertaking ever: a beloved novel, developed over 6 months into a play with music, with 8 musical numbers, 15 actors, 16 performances, as seen by approximately 875 audience members, October 7-24, 2015.

As Tongue in Cheek's tenth season winds to a close, a huge thank you to all our collaborators, audiences, donors, friends, and fans.

We have big plans for TIC's eleventh season in 2016: submitting an updated version of Buffalo Heights to summer festivals, along with the development of a new work, Girl Guides.

Stay tuned for more thought-provoking comedies!

Wishing you a happy, healthy 2016!

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!

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

@LakeDevine: actor Andrew Spieker plays 'Kris Berry' in THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

We're delighted to have actor Andrew Spieker in the leading role of 'Kris Berry' in The Inn at Lake Devine.  'Kris' is the middle child in the Berry family, whose Vermont inn is the focal point of the story, and Spieker brings a lot of wit and warmth to his scenes.

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.

Our Q&A with the actor, below.

Mushrooms: Yes or no?
Spieker channels an Outsider.
Yes, indeed. I love creminis and shiitakes (no canned 'shrooms, though!).  Cooking is a hobby of mine.  I almost went to culinary school about five years ago.  Mushrooms also have a number of health benefits (Google it!).

Favorite song from the 60s or 70s?
"Runaround Sue" by Dion (I can't help but boogie down when that one comes on). "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King (I loved the movie in the 80s and the great soundtrack, too!).

Favorite coming of age story?
As I mentioned previously, the movie "Stand By Me" is probably my favorite coming of age movie.  It came out in 1986 and I was just a little younger than the four boys in the story.  (My mom was not happy when she found out we rented a rated R movie!) Great flick, though.

My favorite coming of age book would probably have to be To Kill a Mockingbird, The Outsiders, Harry Potter, Tuck Everlasting, and Lord of the Flies.

The show opens in just over a week, so get your tickets now!

Saturday, September 19, 2015

@LakeDevine: Kimberly Faith Hickman directs THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

Kimberly Faith Hickman is a gifted director and choreographer with an impressive background which includes Broadway, Off Broadway, national tours and regional theater, with a focus on new works by contemporary writers.

For the world premiere of The Inn at Lake Devine, she ably juggles working on an adaptation, a big cast of 15 actors, in a story which spans over a decade, and includes 8 musical numbers.  Nonetheless, she's indefatigable!

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.

Favorite trip you took as a kid?
I grew up in the south, and every summer, my parents would take my sister and me to Panama City Florida.  Our getaways to the beach would include amusement parks, water parks, lots of sea food, candy apples, and shopping at the "cave mall" (a mall designed to look like a cave, and it had a waterfall and real alligators inside.  I have no idea why).

I loved those summers!  And I love that my sister is continuing the tradition by taking her two sons to those same spots.  (And yes--the cave mall still exists, as well as the waterfall and alligators!)

Favorite coming of age story?
Where to begin?!

I read constantly as a kid.  The Anne of Green Gables series was a favorite.  It provided the perfect literary heroine: a feisty red head who embraced her intelligence as much as her femininity. I also love anything by Judy Blume.  I read Are You There, God, It's Me, Margaret over and over again like every teenage girl. On a darker note, I was also obsessed with Lord of the Flies. As an adult, my favorite coming of age story is the Harry Potter series.  I can't wait to introduce them to my nephews.

What touches you most about the play?
There are many moments in this play that I identify with, but I especially love Natalie's sense of social justice and her desire to be independent.  The first moment in life that challenges us to define who are can be daunting.  It takes courage and tenacity to be your own person, but for those brave enough to do so, there is a lot of joy to be found along the way.

Monday, September 14, 2015

@LakeDevine: Philip Rothman brings music to THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

Composer Philip Rothman's choral direction, original compositions, and sound design serve an evocative role in the adaptation of The Inn at Lake Devine, a coming-of-age comedy about family, faith, and falling in love.

Philip's bio is impressive; his music straddles the orchestral world, television and film, as a composer, arranger, copyist and music director. He's lent his talents to every main stage TIC production since 2006, including original music and sound design for Proof (New York Innovative Theatre Award nominee, 2010) and Our Town (2012), for which he served as choral director and composer, underscoring pivotal moments in the piece with original music.

 Philip Rothman's music from Our Town

To be clear, The Inn at Lake Devine is not a musical, but rather a heartfelt memory play that uses music to evoke emotions and another era.  Some songs in the play came directly from the book -- 'Silent Night' and 'Shalom Chaverim' -- while other copyrighted songs mentioned in the book could not be used.

Working with a gifted group of singers in the cast, Philip has arranged several songs from the public domain: 'In the Good Old Summertime' to set the cheerful tone of a family car sing along, and 'Honeysuckle and the Bee' recalls old-time-y resort entertainers.  Additionally, Philip set the hymn, 'Be Still My Soul' to a new composition for a pivotal scene in the play.  If you listen closely to the interstitial music throughout the piece, you may well recognize melodies from these choral numbers.

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 at 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.




Wednesday, September 9, 2015

@LakeDevine: Jennifer Dorr White plays 'Ingrid Berry' in THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

Jennifer Dorr White is an all-around lovely person and very talented actor, charged with playing 'Ingrid Berry' in The Inn at Lake Devine. Ingrid is a crucial player in the story, sending an incendiary letter to the Marx family at the start of the play.

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 at 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 Jennifer a bit about herself and the role of 'Ingrid.'  Read on...

How would you describe your character, 'Ingrid Berry'?
Jennifer Dorr White
I should preface this by saying that my mother was not anti-Semitic in any way!  But the character of 'Ingrid Berry' reminds me of her when she was in a particularly disapproving mood.  She always preferred to see me in a comedy, so when I find a comic moment that basically comes from channeling my mother's behavior, it feels a way of paying tribute to her.  I wish she were here to see this play--I know she would have enjoyed it!

The play is about vacation destinations--where would you like to go next?
For Labor Day weekend, I went to one of my favorite places in the world--a cottage by a lake!  When I was a child, my family rented various cottages on a beautiful lake in New Hampshire and my father has started doing it again in recent years.  I love to go up there, because it brings back so many childhood memories--I feel as if the air is just different--I love it so much, and it means even more to me when I have this play on my mind.

Mushrooms: yes or no?
I think mushrooms are delicious, although I don't cook with them very often these days because my son doesn't like them.  In Wisconsin, I've enjoyed a fantastic wild mushroom called a morel ... but I will do my research on the gathering techniques before I eat them again.

Friday, September 4, 2015

@LakeDevine: Andrew Dawson plays 'Karl Berry' in THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

Andrew Dawson plays 'Karl Berry' in The Inn at Lake Devine, the kind husband of the inn's owner.

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 at 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.

Andy Dawson plays 'Karl,' who loves to mushroom. (Yes, that's a verb.)

We sat down with this accomplished and thoughtful actor and asked him a few questions.  His answers, below.

Tell us about your character, Karl Berry.  Who is he?
Well, rehearsals have just started, so I'm trying not to make too many decisions, too early.  But I think Karl is a kind man, who is a bit lonely and powerless.  When reading the book, I connected with Elinor Lipman's description of Karl as "a bashful husband who blossomed into a low level of jolliness, especially around kids."

Vacations figure prominently in the play, where would you like to go next?
Vacation--what's that? Maybe a trip touring around Europe...but not a whirlwind tour.  I'd like to spend a good amount of time in a few select cities, really learning the "complexion" of the place.  I'm more interested in how a place feels to live in, rather than how it feels to visit.

Karl is an avid mushroom-er.  Do you like mushrooms?
I do like mushrooms.  However, after this play, I might pause a moment before chewing.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

@LakeDevine: Maria Maloney plays 'Robin Fife' in THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

Maria Maloney joins the cast of The Inn at Lake Devine as the sincere and sweet character of 'Robin Fife,' the only daughter in a wholesome family who loves to sing harmonies together.

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 at 244 West 54th Street.  The show runs 2 hours and 15 minutes with an intermission.  Tickets: $18 at www.tictheater.com and 212-868-4444.

Maria Maloney is sweet like Robin, but also, you know, smart.

We asked the brilliant actress for a bit about her backstory, and here's what she had to say.

Where do you hail from originally?
I'm from Perkiomenville, PA and came to NYC after landing a great scholarship to the American Musical Dramatics Academy to study musical theatre.  I've been in love with New York ever since!


The play is set on vacation--do you recall a vacation from your youth especially fondly?
My favorite trip I took as a child was our annual beach vacations to Long Beach Island, NJ.  The car ride was the BEST, as we would look forward to making the same stops along the way.  We would stop halfway to eat at my FAVORITE diner, called "Seville's", where we were allowed to order whatever we wanted, as long as we could order it properly ourselves.  I think I was 3 when I ordered shrimp cocktail and strawberry shortcake!

Mushrooms: yay or nay?
No--especially after this show!

--Editor's note: intriguing, no?  Come see the show to find out why.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

First Read Through: THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

"It's like the first day of school!" remarked actress Jill Melanie Wirth as we gathered this afternoon for our first read-through of The Inn at Lake Devine.  

I know exactly what she means -- all the nerves, excitement, new people, and work lies ahead to put a play on its feet in 5 short weeks.  We even get new clothes (costumes) and books (script) and an incoming class (cast and crew).

Tongue in Cheek's world premiere of the play with music, based on the novel by Elinor Lipman, features 15 actors, directed by Kimberly Faith Hickman and assisted by Molly Ballerstein.  Philip Rothman is the music director and sound designer, Lisa Renee Jordan is the costume designer, Tyler M. Perry is our scenic designer, and Richard T. Chamblin III will light the show.

At 1 pm, the singers in the production arrived and went through songs with Philip.  By 2 pm, the room was filled with everyone else, and by 2:10, we started reading the play.  Then there were bits of business -- design presentations, photos for Lisa Renee, paperwork -- and, most importantly, people seemed genuinely delighted to be in the room together.

I can't wait for it to be running -- and yet, I want to relish every minute we have until that day -- to enjoy rehearsal, get to know everyone involved, refine our work,  and put forth our best possible production.

Join us at Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios, October 7-24, 2015.  Tickets are $18 at www.tictheater.com and at 212-868-4444.


Sunday, August 23, 2015

Cast and crew of THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE announced!

First, a huge thank you to all the actors who submitted, auditioned, and came to callbacks for The Inn at Lake Devine.  We saw so many talented actors and loved seeing the piece come to life aloud.

Below please find the list of our cast for the world premiere production, October 7-24, 2015 (tickets on sale here!).  Photos and bios here.

Kurt Badele* as 'Donald Fife'
Michael Breese Barbour* as 'Eddie Marx'
Andrew Dawson* as 'Karl Berry'
Jessica Giannone as 'Woman'
Carson Lee* as 'Nelson Berry'
Jake Lipman* as 'Natalie Marx'
Maria Maloney* as 'Robin Fife'
Ruben Navarro as 'Man'
Norrice Raymaker* as 'Sissy Fife'
Amanda Rodhe as 'Gretel Berry'
Andrew Spieker* as 'Kris Berry'
Barbra Wengerd* as 'Pamela Marx'
Jennifer Dorr White* as 'Ingrid Berry'
Jill Melanie Wirth* as 'Audrey Marx'
Melissa WolfKlain* as 'Linette Feldman'

Our production team is comprised of director Kimberly Faith Hickman, assistant director/associate producer/stage manager Molly Ballerstein, composer and sound designer Philip Rothman, scenic designer Tyler M. Perry, and costume designer Lisa Renee Jordan.

Can't wait for the first read-through later this month!



Friday, July 10, 2015

Visit 'The Inn at Lake Devine' on Indie Go Go!

This summer, Tongue in Cheek launched its first ever Indie Go Go "crowdfunding" campaign, for the world premiere of The Inn at Lake Devine this fall.  All donations are tax-deductible!

We love producing indie theater in NYC for you.  You fill our audiences with laughter and applause.

Ticket revenue only covers a portion of our expenses, however.  For The Inn at Lake Devine, we are asking our friends and supporters to help with the biggest production we've ever mounted.

We are SO grateful if you are in a position to contribute to our production of The Inn at Lake Devine.  Watch our video about the production
Shooting our campaign video was a blast!
We'll be performing 16 times (our longest run ever!) and the cast is comprised of 15 actors, a top-notch production team and original music, too!  At our staged reading in April, our audience members called it "heartwarming and funny" and "a delightful slice of Americana."

ANY support is appreciated -- liking us on Facebook and Twitter, sharing the link to the Indie Go Go campaign with your friends -- and makes producing thought-provoking comedy possible.

And a very special thanks to Holly Lynn Ellis for shooting our video campaign and Gusta Johnson for editing it.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Candid Camera

In scene 3 of The Inn at Lake Devine, it's a rainy summer day, and the Marx family drives over to The Inn to check it out.

Yesterday was rainy in Manhattan, too, and Holly Lynn Ellis (filmmaker and actor) came over to shoot a bunch of short videos of producing artistic director Jake Lipman in her apartment.

Jake Lipman talks TIC

Aside from an attack of the giggles and the roar of a motorcycle, we got tons of footage, about TIC, adapting The Inn at Lake Devine from the book by Elinor Lipman into a play, and a few other fun tidbits.

These videos will be shared over the summer, including in TIC's first ever IndieGoGo campaign.  Tickets are on sale now, too.

More soon, but here's to things heating up and sunny days ahead!


Monday, June 8, 2015

Tickets On Sale for THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE

Tickets went on sale today for the world premiere of The Inn at Lake Devine, which will run for 16 performances, October 7-24, 2015 at Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios in midtown NYC.

Tickets are $18 online or by calling 212-868-4444, and for more about the production, visit our website.

Media passes, photographs, interviews and additional materials are available upon request.  For group sales, book groups, faith-based organizations and school group performances (with study guide materials and talk-back following the performance), please contact us.

Jake Lipman adapted the play with music, based on the popular novel by Elinor Lipman.  The fall production will be directed by Kimberly Faith Hickman and assistant directed by Molly Ballerstein.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

A Lipman E-mails Another Lipman: Collaboration Ensues

It all started in May of 2014.  I was acting in the TIC-devised piece Buffalo Heights, which was going really well.  It was going so well that I wanted to jump in and create another new piece.

As I was running my lines in my apartment on the UWS, I looked over at the bookshelf and saw my favorite novel, The Inn at Lake Devine, by Elinor Lipman, beckoning to me.

I should also say my late mother had planted a seed in my head, years ago, that we were related to Ms. Elinor Lipman.  Call it chutzpah.  I sent a fan girl, long-lost cousin e-mail through her website that very day, asking if The Inn had ever been turned into a play, and if not, if a conversation could be had about adapting it.  I expected some publicist to reply weeks later, but mere minutes later, I heard back from Elinor Lipman Herself.  Wow.

She was incredibly gracious from the outset, and encouraging.  Let's meet for a drink, she said.  I live in NYC also.  Wow wow wow.

We met, and a couple of glasses of champagne later, I was the proud owner of an autographed book from my favorite novelist, and that same novelist had put me in touch with her fancy agents at William Morris Endeavor.  Sadly, we soon established we were not related.  Nope.  Not at all.  But I didn't care.  My mother's chutzpah had emboldened me to reach out and now I was in talks to adapt this story I love into a play.  HOLY COW.

In the months since, Elinor has been an incredible collaborator.  We've met to tweak dialogue, share more bubbly, and she's come to see me in another play.  She's hard at work on her latest novel and jet sets around the world to promote her other works, and yet continues to make time for me.

On April 23 at 7 pm at Shetler Studios, we're presenting a staged reading of the work-in-progress, and I'd love for you to join us.  E-mail info@tictheater.com to reserve your free seat.

And we'd love to have you see the fully-staged run this October at Theatre 54 in midtown NYC.

More here: http://www.tictheater.com/innatlakedevine.html

From left-to-right: Elinor and Jake, both Lipmans.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Come to our staged reading of THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE, April 23 at 7 PM

As you may know from recent posts, TIC is developing a new full-length play adaptation of the popular novel, The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman.

Today's read through added in several choral arrangements, led by Philip Rothman, including Christmas songs (sung with four-part harmony), a round in Hebrew, and an old-timey barbershop quartet rendition of "In the Good Ole Summertime."

March 22 table read of THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE
Equal parts coming-of-age, romantic comedy, and comedy of errors, the play follows a woman named Natalie Marx, from her teenage years to adulthood, examining the profound effect a single, dismissive letter has had upon her desire to stay at The Inn at Lake Devine.  While her mother says, "It isn't personal: they have a hotel, they don't want Jews, we're Jews," Natalie is determined to understand who is behind this statement and in the course of her pursuit, finds friendship and love.

Join us on Thursday, April 23 at 7 PM for a FREE staged reading of the play (followed by wine, nibbles and general hob-nobbing) at Shetler 1 at Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor.  The run time will be about 2 hours, including a 10-minute intermission. 

To reserve your seat, e-mail info@tictheater.com with your desired number of seats.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Making New Work Happen

2015 marks Tongue in Cheek Theater's 10th season, and as producing artistic director, I am especially excited to be working on an entirely new theatrical work, The Inn at Lake Devine.  The source material is the wonderful novel by the same name by Elinor Lipman, about a girl coming of age in the 1960s and 70s in New England, grappling with prejudice, religion, romance, and a bit of revenge.

In the coming winter months, I'll be working on the script with a group of trusted artists on a staged reading of the work in April.  Feedback from the staged reading will be incorporated into the final script, which will premiere October 8-24, 2015 at Theatre 54 in midtown NYC.  More about the piece here.

As I get started on my way with this new piece, I have to say how inspired I am by another company, Going to Tahiti Productions.

Going to Tahiti Productions is run by a dynamic duo, Jessica Ammirati and Molly Ballerstein, producing works that give opportunities to women.  From adapting Within Arm's Reach last year (my favorite new work I saw onstage in 2014), to their TV series "Farm Story," that is in post-production, Jess and Molly regularly make exciting new work happen.

They recently created their first video blog, aka vlog, about choosing the right time to produce their next work.  I can't wait to see their next collaboration!