Going to Tahiti Productions presents 'Within Arm's Reach'

Nothing makes me happier than seeing other independent theaters' new works premiere!

Going to Tahiti's spring 2014 production of Within Arm's Reach premieres on March 20 and runs through March 30, 2014 at the Big Secret at the Secret Theater in LIC.  I'm going on March 29 and I can't wait!

Within Arm's Reach is adapted for the stage by Jessica Ammirati and Molly Ballerstein from the Ann Napolitano novel of the same name, and it chronicles six months with the McLaughlin family, focusing on three women seeking meaning and direction in their lives.

Ammirati directs, and the production is made possible, in part, with help from The Puffin Foundation.

Get your $18 tickets here: www.goingtotahitiproductions.com or by phone at 866-811-4111.

Reading Takes 'Buffalo Project' to New 'Heights'

'The Buffalo Project' team on February 12, 2014

 

On Wednesday, February 12, 2014, Tongue in Cheek Theater Productions welcomed an appreciative audience of 30 to a sneak peek staged reading of its new original work, Buffalo Heights.  The reading was held in the Penthouse 1 performance space at Shetler Studios in midtown Manhattan, where audiences saw a script-in-hand performance of the comedy about an unexpectedly contentious school election that heats up with the arrival of a new teacher and when the school's mascot goes missing.

A company-created piece, TIC launched 'The Buffalo Project' in November, meeting from November 2013 to January 2014 to explore characters, plot development and backstory for the piece.  The work lead to a draft entitled Buffalo Heights, drawing inspiration from the school scandal of The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman and the absurd humor of Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco. The ensemble is comprised of playwright Adam Harrell, stage manager Shelby Arnold and 6 actors: Nina Leese, Allison Lemel, Jake Lipman, Shelley Little, Joe Mullen and Matt Whitfield. 

Following the reading, the Buffalo Heights script will evolve further, incorporating audience and ensemble feedback.

Tongue in Cheek is pleased to premiere a fully-staged two-week run of the comedy, running May 7-17, 2014 at The Bridge Theatre at Shetler Studios.  For more about the show, visit www.tictheater.com.

The Buffalo Project Reading Tonight @ 7 pm

Laugh away the cold at tonight's free reading of a new comedy, 'The Buffalo Project'.

What: a free staged reading in midtown of a new comedic work, 'The Buffalo Project'
When: tonight!  Wednesday, February 12 at 7 pm
Where: Shetler Studios in midtown (244 W. 54 St, 12th Fl., follow signs to Penthouse 1)
Who: the seriously funny folks of Tongue in Cheek, including (but not limited to) Jake Lipman, Adam Harrell, Allison Lemel, Shelley Little, Joe Mullen, Nina Leese and Matt Whitfield
Wait, what is this about?
The fall semester at Buffalo Heights High heats up with the arrival of a new teacher, an election upset and the missing school mascot, Stumpy.
Will there be free wine there? Yes!

And we're pleased to announce the play's name: Buffalo Heights

 

Seeking Solo Shows for Spring 2014 Plus 1!

Now on its 11th iteration, TIC's Plus 1 Solo Show Festival is seeking original solo shows for the Spring 2014 fest.

This festival is always a joy to behold: 4 short pieces, with a singer-songwriter singing and emceeing between the pieces.  We nearly always sell out, and many festival participants have gone on to other festivals with their work.

Everything you need to know is here: http://www.tictheater.com/plusone-spring2014.html

Submissions are due to scripts@tictheater.com by midnight on Friday, March 14, 2014. 

FREE staged reading Feb. 12 @ 7 pm of comedy THE BUFFALO PROJECT

Artistic director Jake Lipman has teamed up with playwright Adam Harrell to create a new comedy with the help of five TIC ensemble members.

We would love to have you as our guest at a FREE staged reading of the play-in-progress, which we've given the working title of The Buffalo Project.  We'll also be serving wine.

When: Wednesday, February 12 at 7 pm.  Approximate run time of 80 minutes.
Where: Penthouse 1 @ Shetler Studios (244 W. 54 St., take elevator to 12th floor and follow signs up the internal staircase to PH1
Synopsis: Welcome to Buffalo Heights High.  Following the theft of the school mascot and a heated school election, rumors spread quickly about the feisty new French teacher and a pot-peddling junior, from a hapless security guard, to the school's determined principal, fueled by a popular sophomore and her mother, the local congresswoman.

Production team: playwright Adam Harrell, artistic director Jake Lipman, stage manager Shelby Arnold and scenic design by Michael Lounsbery

Cast: Nina Leese, Allison Lemel, Jake Lipman, Shelley Little, Joe Mullen and Matthew Whitfield

RSVP: info@tictheater.com with your name and # of seats

Be sure to save-the-date for the fully-staged run May 7-17, 2014 at The Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios.

13 TIC Collaborators to Celebrate in 2013

We adore the following TIC collaborators and thank them for their brilliant contributions in 2013 (in alphabetical order):

1.  Actor Brady Adair.
Actor Brady Adair (previous TIC credits include Our Town and Dead White Males) starred in Cape May Stage's sold out winter production of The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, to great acclaim.

2. Actor Lynn Berg. 
After rave reviews in Our Town, we were thrilled to work with Lynn again.  The Huffington Post highlighted his skill as 'Uncle Peck' in How I Learned to Drive, saying, "It's Lynn Berg I'll remember best and the show is worth seeing to savor his talent."

3. Michael Edmund, actor and theater aficionado.
2013 saw Michael acting (and singing!) in our fall production of How I Learned to Drive.  An avid theater-goer, Michael has seen nearly every TIC main stage show since its founding in 2006 and has been busy attending festivals across the U.S. for his recent indie film Turtle Hill Brooklyn.

4. Soloist Aizzah Fatima.
Plus 1 Solo Show alum Aizzah Fatima first performed her solo show Dirty Paki Lingerie with TIC in 2010, and in August, The Flea Theater gave her a full-length run of her work.  In October, she graced TIC's stage again, with a new piece, Google: It's Complicated.

5.  Jeremy Patrick Hamilton, actor, filmmaker, feminist.
J.P. appeared as a PTSD-suffering journalist in our spring production of The Mistakes Madeline Made.  Meanwhile, he's been hard at work on a full-length documentary about amazing women over the age of 80, Women of a Certain Age. 

6.  Playwright Adam Harrell. 
Adam has been a longtime supporter of TIC, so we are thrilled to have him spinning the yarn that will become TIC's spring production, with the working title of "The Buffalo Project."

7. A.J. Heekin, actor, writer and director.
From appearing on TIC's stage as 'Wilson' in our spring show The Mistakes Madeline Made, to being named a finalist in the SoHo Rep writer/director lab for 2013/14, A.J.'s talents are numerous.

8. Baker and actress Daliya Karnofsky.
Karnofsky, another Plus 1 Solo Show Fest alum, performed her one-woman feast of sugar and spice, And She Bakes, at Dixon Place on December 12.  Yummy!

9.  Allison Lemel, theatrical mastermind.
TIC's longtime production stage manager, Lemel assistant directed TIC's last three productions and appeared on TIC's stage in October with her original solo work, Places, Please, pulling the curtain back to reveal what happens behind-the-scenes in theater.  Up next, find her onstage in TIC's spring 2014 show, "The Buffalo Project."

10. Writer Liz Meriwether.
In April, Tongue in Cheek revived The Mistakes Madeline Made by brilliantly witty Liz Meriwether, the show runner of of FOX's TV show, New Girl. Critic Jon Sobel called TIC's production "the best comedy I've seen onstage so far this year."

11. Garry Novikoff, singer and songwriter.
Garry's music reveals humorous and heartfelt stories. TIC was thrilled to feature his body of work over 5 nights of solo shows in the fall of 2013.

12. Memoir-ist and performer Nora Vetter.
The talented Nora Vetter (actor and playwright) had auditioned for TIC in the past, and her solo show An Unfinished Adventure was an audience favorite in our fall Plus 1 Solo Show fest.  After finding a third-grade notebook detailing her dreams as an artist and an unfinished screen play, Nora nobly sets out to finish what she started years ago, complete with song and dance and some realizations about artistic fulfillment.  She's currently working on turning it into a full-length play.

13. Playwright Paula Vogel.
TIC was thrilled to return to our roots in the fall with a revival of How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel (TIC's first production was of another Vogel work, The Baltimore Waltz).  Her brilliant writing made for compelling theater.

So many other talented people made our 2013 our best year yet: audiences, donors, volunteers, friends, fans, auditioning actors and exceptionally talented ensembles, production teams, directors, solo show artists, singers, photographers and house managers.  We love you all and wish you a happy and healthy 2014.

What a Year! TIC's 2013 Annual Report is Live!

Thank you for being part of a banner year! We are thrilled to share TIC's 2013 Annual Report with you.

Up next, we are devising an entirely new piece we've dubbed 'The Buffalo Project,' which will premiere in May 2014.  Stay tuned to the TIC Blog to learn more about our talented team, including playwright Adam Harrell and TIC actors Nina Leese, Allison Lemel, Jake Lipman, Shelley Little, Joe Mullen and Matt Whitfield.

Wishing all our collaborators and audiences a merry holiday season and a happy and healthy 2014.  Thank you for making 2013 so stellar!