Review: Pen Pals Off Broadway is A Delightful, Engaging Look at the Lives Of Two Very Strong Women - Running through March 15, 2026 with A New Cast Every 2 Weeks

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

I might be a little partial to the story in Pen Pals because I am a Jersey Girl, and I live near Secaucus. And I had a pen pal when I was in grade school.

But even if I wasn't, I think anyone - especially women - would be engrossed in the correspondence between the two ladies in Pen Pals, playing at the  DR2 Theatre, 103 East 15th Street at Union Square East in New York City through March 15th, 2026. When I went to see Pen Pals, Maureen McCormick (aka Marcia Brady) played the American "Bernie" and Sharon Lawrence played British "Mags". 

Meet Actress/Producer Mikaela Phillips of Series, Films and Podcasts - What Zavier and the Nightkeeper is About - and Why She Kept Her Australian Accent

Mikaela Phillips started her journey in entertainment at the age of 6, This is a woman who knew what she wanted to do in life, and now she is a successful actor and producer. She has produced films and series independently and for the likes of Netflix, ViacomCBS, MTV and more. 

An Australian native, she started her career as a host on Afterbuzz TV USA. She then became well-known for starring as Faith Morgan in the TV Drama Series Counter Play (2016–2018), which she also executive produced alongside her mother, writer/director Chrys Phillips. 

Mikaela tells us about her inspiration, her words for others and about new newest film.

Feel Good Interview Series: Three Time Daytime Emmy Winner Rick Hearst of General Hospital and So Much More Shares 10 Things About Himself

By Markos Papadatos

Rick Hearst is a three-time Emmy award-winning actor. He is known for playing Scott "Scotty" Banning in "Days of Our Lives," Alan-Michael Spaulding in "Guiding Light," Matt Clark in "The Young and The Restless," Whip Jones in "The Bold and The Beautiful," and more recently, Ric Lansing in "General Hospital."

Rick's Favorite Movies

His favorite movies include “The Godfather I and II” and “Jaws.” “I have a very diverse section of films that I am enjoy,” he said.

Feel Good Interview Series: Meet Broadway Star Emily Skinner Recently in Pen Pals - 11 Things To Know About Her

By Markos Papadatos

Broadway performer and Tony Award-nominated Emily Skinner is known for starring in the Off-Broadway show "House of McQueen," opposite Luke Newton of "Bridgerton" as the title character, where she played fashion designer Alexander McQueen's mother Joyce, and her performance earned her rave reviews from fans and critics alike.

Most recently, she starred in the Off-Broadway show "Pen Pals," where she played the role of Bernie opposite her real-life best friend Donna Lynne Champlin. Skinner shared 10 interesting and fun things about herself.

Feel Good Interview Series: Hunter McVey of '9-1-1 Nashville' — 10 Things to Know About This Model, Actor, Podcaster and Entrepreneur - Including What Sport he Played Competitively

By: Markos Papadatos

Hunter McVey is one of the male leads on the new hit ABC procedural drama series "9-1-1 Nashville," where he plays Blue Bennings. McVey was born in Franklin, Tennessee, and attended Virginia Tech University. He is an established entrepreneur, host of the Wholesome Degenerate Podcast, model, actor, and successful influencer and endorser on all social media platforms. He shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself.

Favorite Movies

He listed “Happy Gilmore,” “Caddy Shack,” “Talladega Nights,” “Twist,” “James Bond,” and “Harry Potter” as his favorite movies, as well as the occasional rom-com.

Feel Good Interview Series: Get to Know Actor Sam Page from Christmas Movies, Mad Men, The Bold Type and More - 10 Things to Learn About Him

By Markos Papadatos

You might know Sam Page from the 2025 Great American Family holiday movie "There's No Place Like Christmas" opposite Cindy Busby. He is also known for his acting work in “All My Children,” “Mad Men,” Desperate Housewives,” “House of Cards,” “Switched at Birth,” “Scandal,” and “Gossip Girl,” among others.

Page shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself.

Sam's Favorite Movie

His favorite movie is “Miller’s Crossing” by the Coen Brothers. “I would argue that it’s the perfect film,” Page said. “I highly recommend it!”

Feel Good Interview Series: Sharna Burgess of "Dancing with the Stars" and "Pen Pals" Off-Broadway - 10 Things to Know about this Australian Dancer/Actor

By Markos Papadatos

Sharna Burgess is an Australian ballroom dancer who is known for her dancing work as a professional dancer on "Dancing with the Stars." 

Most recently, she made her Off-Broadway debut, and she starred in the Off-Broadway show "Pen Pals" as a British character Mags opposite Paige Davis (TLC's "Trading Spaces") who played Bernie. Burgess shared 10 interesting, fun and exciting things about herself.

 

Sharna's Favorite Movies

The classics “Hello, Dolly!” and “Singin’ in the Rain” are two of her favorite movies. “The stories are magical, and the films are just beautiful,” she admitted.

Feel Good Interview Series — Get To Know Robbie Simpson of "Finding Mr. Christmas", TV and Broadway - 9 Things to Know

By: Markos Papadatos

Robbie Simpson competed in Season 2 of "Finding Mr. Christmas." Simpson is an actor and producer, who hails from New York. The show is hosted by Jonathan Bennett ("Mean Girls") with Melissa Peterson serving as a judge.

Simpson, who was the sole LGBTQ contestant this season, shared nine interesting and fun things about himself.

Robbie's Favorite Movies

His favorite movie of all time is “The Wizard of Oz.” “I used to watch it with my family, and to this day, it’s my favorite movie,” he admitted.

Feel Good Interview Series: 10 Things to Know about Davey Fisher of Hallmark's "Finding Mr. Christmas'" - Including what World Record He Broke

By Markos Papadatos

Davey Fisher was one of the 10 contestants in Season 2 of the hit Hallmark reality series "Finding Mr. Christmas," which is hosted by Jonathan Bennett.

Most recently, on December 30th, Fisher shattered the world record for most walking lunges at Aviation Park in Redondo Beach, California.

Fisher shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself.

Davey's Favorite Movies

On his favorite movies, he said, “I have to lean towards comedies because that is where my heart lies. Probably ‘Step Brothers’ for a comedy, and ‘Terminator 2’ was super nostalgic in my childhood. There are so many. I’ve always thought ‘The Departed’ is really pretty.”

SuzeeBehindtheScenes Holds Holiday Mingle and Jingle Party in Midtown Manhattan - Photos

SuzeeBehindtheScenes held a "Holiday Mingle and Jingle" at Route 66 Cafe in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Guests from all aspects of the entertainment industry and influencers mixed and mingled and enjoyed an array of delicious foods prepared by the cafe's chefs. 

This year, SuzeeBehindtheScenes will close the year reaching nearly 1.6 million views, with 5-6000 readers visiting the site per day. With over 1500 articles, the site is known for its celebrity interviews and its support of new filmmakers and creatives as well as non-profits. Next year, the focus will be showing the work of more females, as well as highlighting the productions going on in NJ - what is now becoming known as "Hollywood East". In the coming years, NJ has at minimum Netflix, Paramount and Lionsgate building huge production facilities in the state among other studios already here or with plans to build. 

PHOTOS

The 2025 Collaboration Awards Held in New York City: Honored Women Helping Women - in Partnership with the Women in the Arts and Media Coalition- See Honorees

The 2025 Collaboration Awards: Women Working with Women  honored outstanding artists creating new interdisciplinary work in theater, film and dance on December 8, 2025 in New York City. The gala, produced by the Women in the Arts & Media Coalition (WAM Coalition), honored outstanding partnerships between professional women from different specializations across the arts and media industries. The event, held in the Fred and Adele Astaire Ballroom at the Houghton Hall Arts Community in Manhattan, was presented at a time when opportunities for both women and the arts are under threat.

 

(Above Photo: Sibyl Reymundo-Santiago is presented the Community Collaboration Award by Terry Lawler credit Ken Howard Photography)

Feel Good Interview Series: Orion Smith of 'The Conjuring: The Last Rites' - 10 Things to Know About Him

By Markos Papadatos

Orion Smith is one of the stars in "The Conjuring: The Last Rites," who plays Young Ed (the younger version of Patrick Wilson's character) opposite Madison Lawlor (who plays a Young Lorraine). This rising star shared 10 interesting and fun things about himself.

Orion Smith's Favorite Movies

On his favorite movies, Orion shared, “I really like ‘Interstellar.’ I love ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and ‘Dr. Strangelove’.”

Feel Good Interview Series: Caitlin Houlahan of "Only Murders in the Building" and 'Mare of Easttown" - 10 Things to Know About Her

By: Markos Papadatos

Caitlin Houlahan is known for her acting work in “Only Murders in the Building,” “American Rust” and “Mare of Easttown.”

Presently, she is starring in the Off-Broadway show “Not Ready for Prime Time,” where she is playing Jane Curtin.

Houlanhan shared 10 interesting and exciting things about herself.

The Surflight Theater in Long Beach Island NJ Serves Up a Stupendous, Magical Production of Elf - Fun for the Whole Family

By Suzanne Ordas Curry (Suzee)

Elf is one of my favorite movies, one of my go-to classics for putting me in a good mood and in the holiday spirit. I've watched it so many times my kids like to tease me about it. However, we all have fun piping in each others conversations with some of the best lines from this movie. I can't even begin to list them all but any Elf maniac knows what they are. But..here are some of my favorites:

"SANTA ! I know him."

"You're not Santa - you smell like beef and cheese"

"Christmas Gram. What's That? I want one!"

I am also an Elf purist. I can tell when certain parts are edited out of the TV versions. However, even being a purist, I enjoyed seeing the musical/play version of it. I saw it Off-broadway many years ago and most recently I saw it at the Surflight Theater in beautiful and cozy Long Beach Island NJ.

Feel Good Interview Series: Logan Shephard of Hallmark's "Finding Mr. Christmas" - 11 Things to Know About Him

By: Markos Papadatos

Logan Shephard was a contestant on "Finding Mr. Christmas" Season 2 on Hallmark, which is hosted by Jonathan Bennett. Shephard is an actor and photographer, who hails from Cincinnati, Ohio.

He shared 11 interesting and fun things about himself.

Logan Shephard's Favorite Movies

He listed “Twister,” the “Terminator” films and “The Fast and The Furious” as his favorite movies.

Fabulous Females Interview: Meet Alixx Schottland, Who Created the Short "Love, Music, Shelter" After Seeing the Experience of Homeless Women - How She Hopes the Film Will Raise Awareness and What She Wants to Do Next

By Suzee

I had the pleasure of meeting Alixx Schottland at the annual NY Women in Film and Television Muse Awards, as she was seated with a renowned casting director, Adrienne Stern, that I know. Her name came up again a few months later as her short, Love, Music, Shelter, was playing the the Lighthouse International Film Festival on Long Beach Island, NJ. We had also both worked with the same producer, Scott Rosenfelt (Home Alone, Mystic Pizza). I was immediately impressed with the film as I attended that festival. Not only did it have a strong feminist angle, but it tackled the subject of homelessness and poverty in an interesting, engaging, realistic and above all musical way.  Read on to find out what inspired her to do a film about single motherhood and what's next on the horizon for this multi-talented woman. Plus, she gives some spot-on advice on how to motivate oneself to get one's dream project on track!

Tell me about what you are most excited about right now.

Alixx Schottland: I’m most excited about my two social-impact scripted films: Harmony & Hope — the feature version of our award-winning short Love Music Shelter — and The Housewife, a female-empowerment thriller by Kelly Turner. We’re hoping to go into production in January and March!

New Anthology Project Debut - The Public Figure Songbook Features America's Fabled Houseguest Kato Kealin - Hear Interview about This Unique Compilation of Original Songs by Brad Forenza and Shane Bordeau That Capture Moments in Recent American History

The Public Figure Songbook, an original Americana concept album, is now available across all major streaming platforms. The anthology project features songs (and some multimedia content) ripped from the headlines and sung from the imagined perspective of accidental public figures (e.g., Christa McAuliffe, Tammy Faye Bakker), as conceived by Shane Bordeau (music) and Brad Forenza (lyrics). 

Among the participants lending their perspective to the reissued project is an actual public figure (Kato Kaelin), best known for his testimony in a mid-1990s “trial of the century.” Kaelin offered praise for the project—and further contextualized himself—in a new interview conducted by album lyricist, Brad Forenza.

Watch Kaelin’s video interview about the project here:

https://youtu.be/r8T3e4qeR1E

Feel Good Interview Series: Get to Know Gabriel Thaxton of "Finding Mr. Christmas'"— 10 Things to Know About Him

By: Markos Papadatos

Gabriel Thaxton is an actor, model, and he was a contestant on Season 2 of "Finding Mr. Christmas" on Hallmark. He is a father of a daughter, and one is on the way. He shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself.

Gabriel's Favorite Movies

His favorite movies are the new “Frankenstein,” “Forrest Gump,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Klaus,” and “F1.”

Favorite Series to Binge

His favorite series to binge-watch are “The Office” and “Friends.”

Prestigious Organization New York Women In Film and Television Announces New and Returning Board Members, Women's Preservation Fund Holds Screening at MoMA and More News

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is pleased to announce the results of its 2025 Board of Directors elections. As a non-profit 501 (c) (3) public charity, NYWIFT is governed by a board of directors elected by the membership. Board members serve on committees in the areas of Development, Special Events, and Advocacy and Education. Two spots on the board have been filled, with one new and one returning member. 

Jake Shore's "The Slide is the Negative" To Run at the Chain Theater Through December - Stars Cady McClain, Ryan Tramon, Sophie Moshofsky and Brad Fryman

Axial Theatre and JCS Theater Company in association with the Oberon Theatre Ensemble, Fortify.Space, Michael Howard Studios and Good Juju Industries present the world premiere of Jake Shore's THE SLIDE IS THE NEGATIVE at The Chain Theatre as part of the Factory Series. THE SLIDE IS THE NEGATIVE runs November 29 – December 21 with performances Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM with additional performances Wed 12/17 at 7:30pm & Fri 12/19 at 2pm. The Chain Theatre is located at 312 West 36th Street 4th floor NY, NY 10018 Tickets are $38.50 general admission, $25.00 senior and $20 students, available at www.jcstheater.com

NY/NJ Area Event - See Dawn Derow Perform in SING HAPPY - A Celebration of Broadway's Unforgettable Women - at the TRIAD in NYC, November 18th and December 1, 2025

Feel Good Interview Series: Marcia Cross of "Desperate Housewives", Daytime Dramas and More - 10 Things to Know About Her

By: Markos Papadatos

Marcia Cross is an American actress who is best known for her portrayal of Bree van de Kamp in the hit TV series "Desperate Housewives." This role earned her three Golden Globe nominations, a Primetime Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series." She also played President Claire Haas in the ABC show "Quantico."

She got her start in the soap opera world playing characters in "The Edge of Night," "Another World" and "One Life to Live" prior to moving into primetime TV with a recurring role on "Knots Landing." She also played Kimberly Shaw on "Melrose Place."

Most recently, Cross starred in the Off-Broadway show "Pen Pals" as Mags opposite Catherine Curtin as Bernie. She shared 10 interesting and exciting things about herself. 

YOU GOTTA HEAR HIS LAUGH - Richard Kind Gets Roasted and Toasted at Richard Kind: Everywhere All At Once - A Benefit for The Creative Coalition in New York City as Part of NYC Comedy Festival - PHOTOS Included

By Suzanne "Suzee" Ordas Curry

I heard Richard Kind laugh in person - and I'll never forget it.

You might think his laugh is infectious and unique when you hear him on screen, but when it's in person it's just hard to describe. His laughter makes you laugh involuntarily, and it puts you in a good mood. He's got different kinds (pun intended) of laughs - it's just not one standard laugh. And some are knee-slapping- literally. Here's one of them:

Feel - Good Interview: Meet Courtney Reed of "Aladdin" and "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" — 10 Things To Know About Her

 By: Markos Papadatos

Courtney Reed is a Broadway actress who originated the role of Princess Jasmine in "Aladdin" on Broadway, and she recently starred as Satine in "Moulin Rouge! The Musical."

Reed will be starring in the Off-Broadway production of "Reunions," which will be performed at New York City Center. She shared 10 interesting and fun things about herself.

Marilu Henner, Gianmarco Soresi, Laura Benanti, A Night of Soul, Broadway Sessions and So Much More Happening at The GreenRoom42 This Holiday Season at Beyond in NYC

The GreenRoom 42 presents a fine line up of stars and acts for the holiday season and beyond. Marilu Henner comes to the stage on November 15th and 26th with special guests Bonnie Milligan and Michael Orland. Following that in November and December comes Gianmarco Soresi with Laura Benanti, Kyle Selig and Erika Henningsen.

You may like: Get to know Marilu Henner HERE. 

Teaneck International Film Festival Runs November 6-13th - Opening Film "The Disappearance of Miss Scott" and Closing Film, "Lilly" Sandwiches a Festival Packed with Doc, Shorts, Student Films and More for All In-Person and Streaming

The Teaneck International Film Festival unveils its 20th anniversary roster!  A project of The Puffin Foundation Ltd., the 20th anniversary festival will be held November 6-13, 2025, featuring over 25 films, panel discussions, awards, and parties with filmmakers, actors, elected officials and industry guests attending.     The film festival with a social conscience is committed to telling stories that need to be heard, and inspiring thoughtful discussion, involvement, and activism. The narrative features, documentaries, and shorts cover a broad range of subjects that are of concern to all: civil rights, women’s rights, immigration, threats to free speech, the unhoused and food insecurity, LGBTQ+ concerns, the environment, and more.

NY/NJ Area Event: Experience a Magical Holiday Season at New Jersey Performing Arts Center: Shows Include Chevy Chase, Trisha Yearwood, A John Denver Christmas, Cece Winans and More, Many Family-Friendly

 

Looking for something fun to do with the family for the holidays? NJ Performing Arts Center, located in Newark, NJ, conveniently located less than an hour from New York City and available by many forms of transit, has a host of events sure to get you in the holiday spirit.  Experience the magic of celebration through spectacular concert performances and beloved holiday classics. This season promises to be filled with laughter, cheer, and the spirit of togetherness as NJPAC transforms into a holiday haven for everyone. Be captivated by the enchanting melodies of Trisha Yearwood (12/5) as she brings heartfelt warmth to the season, or enjoy the nostalgic charm of "John Denver Christmas" a heartfelt tribute led by renowned performer Rick Schuler on (11/30) Don’t miss the soul-stirring holiday gospel sensation of CeCe Winans as she will perform for two nights (12/19 and 12/20) to what will be a sold out audience.