NYC Area Event: Jonathan Kruk's Superb One Man Performance of A Chistmas Carol Embodies the Essence of Dickens Making it a Truly Immersive Storytelling Experience

 

By Ashton Samson 

5/5 🌝🌝🌝🌝🌝

One thing is certain, witnessing Jonathan Kruk perform is an extraordinarily unique experience. He has been performing one-man-shows of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and A Christmas Carol since 2010 and 2011 respectively. My family and I have attended these two performances every October and December since I was seven. As a loyal fan, and after attending Mr. Kruk’s performance of A Christmas Carol once again this past weekend, I decided to examine why his performances are so unique and why he continues to captivate all who witness his magic. 

Interview: Maureen Van Zandt of the Sopranos and Joanna Bonaro Chat with The Ladies of The Libby Show - Hear about The Sopranos, Their Podcasts, New York City Life and More

Actress, dancer, podcast host and producer Maureen Van Zandt (The Sopranos, Lilyhammer) dishes all about her wedding to Steven Van Zandt, her relationship with the Beatles, her new podcast and so much more as she chats with the ladies of THE LIBBY Show on the episode: What is a Podcast? View Here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z7WE7uB16A

Maureen Van Zandt is joined in this episode by her friend actress Joanna Bonaro, who was also in The Sopranos. They talk about a podcast they did together, called Around the Sun available via the Broadway Podcast Network.

In this interview you'll hear:

- How she met all of the Beatles, saying it's "surreal to her" because she was such as fan since a young age

Interview: Musical Artist Loren Smith Talks about His Song "Our First Christmas", How He Got Started and His Passions

Interview by Suzanne Ordas Curry

Meet Loren Smith. His latest single, "Our First Christmas" is about meeting your significant other's family during the holidays. Composed specifically for the LGBTQIA+ audience but with a message for anyone, it was made by Loren with Erik Kertes (Shakira, Ariana Grande, David Foster). Our First Christmas is the lead single from his upcoming EP "Christmas-From My Heart to Yours". As a soloist, Loren Smith's last single boasted over 750,000 YouTube Views, he has worked with Michael Buble, BTS, and been featured on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE.

Tell me about yourself/profession.    

Loren Smith: I have two passions, people and music. I believe everyday is the chance to learn how to love myself and others better than the day before. Time is what we all have in common, so I try to use the music i create in hopes to strengthen and encourage the listener. 

The 4th Annual International Cutting Room Film Festival 2021 is Live In Person in New York City on December 19th

Miss in-person film festivals? Come to NYC on Sunday December 19th for all the thrill of a film festival in a city all decked out for the holidays at the 4th Annual Cutting Room International Short Film Festival. Tickets are available for this festival, which is focused on emerging yet overlooked filmmakers and writers. Details below, it's held at the Cutting Room 44 East 32nd St, New York, NY 10016. 10AM-6:30PM. Kat Miccio is the Festival Director.

There are 3 Blocks of films.2.5 hrs each. 7:00PM Red Carpet Holiday Cocktail Hour. 8PM Awards. Tickets will go on Sale Dec 1st through indiefilmonline.com.

Interview: English Actor Anna Rust of Carnival Row and Legends talks about her Short Film Satiety, Voice Acting in Video Games and More

 

Interview by Harry Sherer

Anna Rust is an award winning actress, writer, and director, with supporting roles in Amazon’s Carnival Row, TNT’s Legends, and voice acting roles in Cyberpunk 2077 and Final Fantasy.

For 2021’s Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival in which she was a juror, I sat down with Anna Rust to discuss her short film Satiety, her transition from acting to filmmaking, her love of video games, work as a voice actor, and more. Check out some highlights from our conversation, as well as the full interview on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHwJlOM0s5c

Harry Sherer: What was it like being on the other side... being a juror at a film festival?

Perfect Strangers' Mark Linn-Baker and Carolyn McCormick Star in Benefit Reading of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf for Katonah Classic Stage in New York

Trent Dawson's Katonah Classic Stage (KCS) will present a benefit reading of Edward Albee’s, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, at the Bedford ()NY) Historical Hall on December 9, 2021. The lead roles of Martha and George will be portrayed by two actors with extensive Broadway credits who are perhaps best-known for their television roles: Carolyn McCormick best known for her leading role in  Law & Order and Mark Linn-Baker most beloved for his role in Perfect Strangers and most recently on Succession.Rounding out the cast is Jaren Zirilli and Evy Ortiz.   

Interview: Kara Mayer Robinson Chats with Patrick Duffy of Dallas, Step by Step and Now On The Verge: Hear about his Dallas Days, the Friends He Made Along the Way and so much more.

Were you a Dallas Fan? Most people remember Patrick Duffy from his role on this iconic show (Who shot J.R?) but what is he doing now? In this exclusive interview Kara Mayer Robinson on her Really Famous Podcast takes a deep dive into the live of Patrick Duffy. View Full Interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoI682BbICo

Iliana Guibert Stars in Superstitions, One of Three Plays by The Pool (NYC) in November 2021

 

Actress Iliana Guibert (co-host of The Libby Show - Lunch with the Ladies) stars in Superstitions, one of three plays produced by THE POOL in NYC in November 2021.

Playwrights Kate Cortesi, Brenda Withers, Emily Zemba, and producer Victor Cervantes Jr. are pleased to announce details for the 2021 edition of The Pool, a temporary consortium of playwrights producing their own plays in rep at the New Ohio Theatre from November 1–20, 2021.

Casting Call: Citrola Casting Seeks Kids 12-17 for Movie Filming in New Jersey with Anne Hathaway, Anthony Hopkins and Jeremy Strong

The team at Citrola Casting is seeking local NJ kids 12-17 years old in the Bayonne/Jersey City area to be extras in feature film “Armageddon Time”. The film is a coming-of-age drama set in the lead up to the 1980 presidential election of Ronald Reagan directed by James Gray and starring Anne Hathaway, Anthony Hopkins, and Jeremy Strong. 

**PLEASE NOTE: All background will be required to be FULLY VACCINATED with either Pfizer, Moderna, or the J&J vaccines as well as be required to get a COVID test. All COVID-19 precautions will be taken on set at all times.**

Interview with Philly Actor/Producer Lloyd Booker - He Talks Roles, his Inspiring friends and about Joshua Coates' New Film Ageless Love - A Poignant Story about his Friend Yale

Tell us about yourself. You do so many things, acting, producing and being a comedian - one of my favorite professions. Tell me about how you got started in the exciting and busy world of  entertainment.

LLoyd Booker: I’m an educator by trade. I worked in the Philadelphia School System, (Liam Neeson was a former teacher also!) I was also a counselor at the Mathematics Civics Sciences Charter School.

This is how and when I got started in film. One of my students  -  a young man Ahmir Covington - well his mother Adrianne Covington worked worked with Mike Lemon  when M. Night Shyamalan was making “UNBREAKABLE” with Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and Robin Wright Penn.

Interview: Kara Mayer Robinson Talks with Mayim Bialik of Blossom, Jeopardy, Call me Kat and the Big Bang Theory - Hear About How Therapy Helped Her become Who She is and More as She Opens Up about her Past

There are not many people that do not know who Mayim Bialik is. If they didn't know her from Blossom years ago, or The Big Bang Theory or Call Me Kat, they surely know her from hosting Jeopardy. Mayim is a household name for sure. But how did she get there? In this interview by Kara Mayer Robinson on her Really Famous Podcast, Mayim opens up opens up about her mental health struggles, childhood, divorce and more. View full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsI0DNNgDpg&t=9s

In this interview, you'll hear about how:

Interview: Filmmaker/Writer Brad Forenza Talks about Creating his Around the Sun Podcast Series During the Pandemic - A Scripted Series about Social Issues with Known Actor from Stage and Screen

Brad Forenza was busy during the pandemic. As a filmmaker and writer he managed to write and produce a new scripted podcast series which attracted award-winning an recognizable talent from stage and screen. And now the fruits of his labor are available on the Broadway Podcast Network (available wherever you listen to podcasts.) Each episode in the series is acted by different people and cover a different topic. The topics are all related to social issues of today - giving one food for thought but also entertaining.

The list of actors is quite formidable: David Alan Basche (The Exes), Joanna Bonaro (Good ‘n Screwed), Dolores Catania (Real Housewives of New Jersey), François Clemmons (Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood), Lilli Cooper (Tootsie), Veanne Cox (Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella), David LaRosa (Clandestine), Marsha Mason (The Goodbye Girl), Christine Nagy (106.7 Lite FM), Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos), Austin Pendleton (My Cousin Vinny), 

NYC Event: Inaugural New York City Gold Standard Film & Arts Festival to be Held in 2022 - Celebrates Film, Theater and Comedy Artists over 50 - Entries Now Being Accepted Via Film Freeway

A new film and Arts Festival is coming to New York City, the Gold Standard Festival. Hosted by the Goddard Riverside’s Community Arts Program, it will be a week long festival to celebrate emerging and established film, theater, and comedy artists 50 years and older. This inaugural festival will be held April 26 - May 1, 2022. Entrants can enter via Film Freeway as of October 28, 2021. For more info visit: https://goddard.org/goldstandard/ . Festival Directors Caytha Jentis and Eileen Katz are spearheading the festival.  Both have extensive background in entertainment and community service and wanted to create an arts festival to showcase and support this underserved demographic.   

Females in Entertainment Interview: Writer/Director Caytha Jentis Talks about her Pandemic Short April Showers with Bill Sage and Lorraine Farris and her Feature Pooling to Paradise

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

I met Caytha many moons ago when her film Bad Parents premiered at the acclaimed Montclair Film Festival (NJ). Bad Parents was her third feature, after And Then Came Love and The One. 

Now she has a short screening at Monclair, one she filmed during the pandemic - because there are some things like creativity that cannot be crushed by Covid.  We talk about her short, April Showers and also about her newest feature, Pooling for Paradise which is streaming just about everywhere now.

Tell me about your latest feature Pooling for Paradise - a road trip movie with a rather interesting group of passengers!  What inspired you to write it?

New Drama Podcast Around the Sun by Brad Forenza Features Actors from Stage and Screen Including Marsha Mason, BD Wong, Sally Struthers, Alysia Riener, David Alan Basche, Francois Clemmons, RHONJ Dolores Catania and More On Broadway Podcast Network

Whether you're an avid podcast listener, or want to try something new, the brand new scripted drama podcast by Brad Forenza called Around the Sun might check off your boxes. In association with Broadway Podcast Network, AROUND THE SUN. features prolific talent from stage and screen, including winners and nominees of every major performance award (Drama Desk, Emmy, Golden Globe, Grammy, Oscar, Screen Actors Guild, and Tony) The podcast was launched  eclusively on the Broadway Podcast Network and is available wherever you listen to podcasts 

Learn more at: https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcast/around-the-sun/ 

Merry Merry and More: NJ's Christmas Con by That's 4 Entertainment is Back with a Star Studded Lineup - See Lacey Chabert, Jonathan Bennet, Melissa Joan Hart, Danica McKellar, Jackee Harry, Caroline Rhea, Beth Broderick, Jen Lilly, Ryan Pavey, Autumn Reeser and so many more in one Magical Weekend!

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

Christmas Con is back! After last year's pandemic winter, the lovely ladies of That's 4 Entertainment have once again put together a marvelous and merry convention for Christmas movie fans in the heart of NJ.

Having been at the inaugural event, this fan/writer will tell you that it won't let you down. Filled with stars from all your favorite holiday movies, you'll get to see them, pose with them, take in the ambience of the holidays, tour the tables, eat the foods, listen to the speakers an oh, oh (or rather ho, ho) SO MUCH more!

Writer/Director Dana Glazer of A Case of Blue Takes A Deep Dive into the Joni Mitchell References in His Movie

Where does creative inspiration come from? We talk here with Writer/Director Dana Glazer whose movie A Case of Blue is now streaming. If you are a Joni Mitchell fan, you might already have has an inkling that the film might have some relationship to her work just be hearing the title. Read more about how Dana used one of his favorite artists as a muse for his film.

SBTS: "A Case of Blue" - tell me about how you were inspired to name the movie after her album "A Case of You". 

Dana Glazer: The film title is an amalgamation of Joni's songs, not from one song specifically. Certainly, the Blue album was a really big influence on me when I was in my 20's and trying to find the right life partner. The tug-pull of Joni's desire to find romance while also having total freedom spoke to me. 

Kilian and the Comeback Kids has NYC Premiere: Taylor Purdee, Lee Grant and more Attend including Photos and Schedule

The indie feature film Killian and the Comeback Kids premiered in New York City on a September night at Cinema Village.

With everyone excited to be at an in-person event -with protocols in place - viewers watched the musical film, enjoyed an in-person Red Carpet and celebrated at the after party down the street.

Killian and the Comeback Kids is the story of a young, mixed race musician who comes back to his hometown after finishing college. With an uncertain future he brings together some hometown friends to form a band in hopes of doing something big. The movie is filled with original music. Written and directed by Taylor Purdee, the cast also includes Nathan Purdee, Kassie DePaiva, John Donchak, Shane Andries, Emily Mest, Shannon O'Boyle, Andrew O'Shanick,Yael Elisheva and introducing Genesis McCaulley. Oscar Winner Lee Grant and YouTube Star Maddi Jane have cameos. The soundtrack is available on most music platforms.

Killian & the Comeback Kids will be in theaters around the country. Please check the website or Fandango for specific dates. All dates subject to change. 

NYC/NJ Event: NJPAC Live Performances for 2021: Chaka Khan, Amy Grant, Ramy Youssef, Jane Lynch, Harry Potter, Thanksgiving Comedy, Christmas Shows and more

The New Jersey Performing Arts  Center in Newark, NJ is back to  business with a schedule of live  performances for the whole family. For tickets visit: https://www.njpac.org/

Review of The Many Saints of Newark: Stellar Performances but Misses its Mark - Does David Chase Have Another Target in Mind?

 

By Ashton Samson  

3/5 🤮🤮🤮

I never thought I would wake up one morning to find myself writing anything critical whatsoever about David Chase's work, but The Many Saints of Newark fell short of Chase's original television phenomenon, The Sopranos.

There are a few positives that may make it worth a watch for an avid Sopranos fan, such as wonderful acting, accurate depictions of the Newark race riots, excellent music reminiscent of the era and a few good ole fashioned mobster shootouts. My recent review of The Sopranos memorialized why I loved the show and why it will remain a legendary television phenomenon. However, it is essentially devoid of the pizzazz that made the show so fantastic.

There is still the question of who made Tony Soprano