The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, New York's premiere eco-friendly/socially-conscious theatre festival, is proud to announce this year’s line-up which include new works, musicals, adaptations, one-acts, solo shows and more. Each show will partner with a not-for-profit organization and will implement green-theater sensibility into their productions. This year’s Festivity, including over 50 productions, will run June 1 - June 26, 2011 at the Robert Moss Theater (440 Lafayette Street), and the Gene Frankel Theatre (24 Bond Street).

"As we embark on season three, I am delighted by the paths to greatness presented by the new artists and old colleagues," said Glory Kadigan, Executive Director of the Festivity. “The festivity is chocked full of established artists who are ambitiously and professionally producing new works in our fun and festive environment. I always look forward to seeing our artists' productions and know this year, just as in the past, I will amaze at the quality of work our artists put on the stage. As our eco-friendly community blossoms, I watch as our community supports each other and the world at large."

UNCLES, LLC. is pleased to announce the Off-Broadway production of Cary Hoffman’s MY
MY SINATRA. After 16 sold-out months at the Triad Theater, MY SINATRA moves Off-Broadway
with a brand new book at Midtown Theatre (at the Ha Comedy Club, 163 West 46th Street, NYC). Performances begin Saturday, June 4 at 7:30 pm.

Cary Hoffman turns his celebrated PBS Special into a biographical, often hilarious, and poignant one-man musical play about his love and idolization for his hero Frank Sinatra and the perils of wanting to become somebody else.

Hoffman captivates the audience with his intimate journey of what it was like growing up fatherless with three musician uncles, who played on some of Sinatra’s greatest recordings, turning Sinatra into a fantasy father.  Hoffman authentically sings Sinatra “Dead On!” (The New York Times), as he weaves in over 20 classic Sinatra songs, creating a musical score about his lifelong obsession.         

The production features set and lighting design by Jay Ryan and James Daher is the video designer. Brierpatch Productions is the general manager, Bill Hofstetter/Agency 212 is the ad agency, and Leanne Schanzer is the marketing agency.

MY SINATRA plays the following regular schedule through Labor Day:

Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
Mondays at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $75 premium seating/$55 general admission and are now available online at www.mySinatra.com or by calling 866.811.4111. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the theatre box office, ½ hour prior to performance.

Running Time: 90 minutes

DARE TO SPEAK PRODUCTIONS is presenting the World Premiere production of I PLEAD GUILTY, written and directed by Natalia Pelevine, based on the real events of the Moscow theatre siege of 2002. It is adapted from Pelevine's play In Your Hands, which, after a successful London run, was translated into Russian and banned there by the government officials after just one performance. I PLEAD GUILTY is playing a limited engagement at Gene Frankel Theater, (24 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012). Performances continue through Sunday, May 29. Opening Night is Friday, May 20 (7:30 p.m.).

Eight hours into the siege of a theatre, Islamic terrorists have taken the audience hostage, demanding for troops to be pulled out of their land. They insist that if this does not happen, the government will have the blood of many on their hands.

In this midst of this horror, an interaction occurs between two women, the journalist, Natasha, and black widow terrorist, Seda. Their relationship, tense, difficult, and dangerous takes an unforeseen turn, when Seda, removes her veil and reveals her personal story to Natasha whose life is in her hands. In disbelief and agonizing circumstances, the two women are stripped of their roles as victim and villain, and are simply that- women.

Starring Dana Pelevine & Evgeniya Radilova*

The production features scenic design by Jane Stein, lighting design by Jeff Nash and Catriona Rubenis-Stevens is the stage manager and producer.

I PLEAD GUILTY plays the following remaining performances:

Weds May 25th @ 7:30 PM
Thurs May 26th @ 7:30 PM
Fri May 27th @ 7:30 PM
Sat May 28th @ 3 PM and 7:30 PM
Sun May 29th @ 3PM

Tickets are $18 and are now available online at www.smarttix.com or by calling (212) 868-4444. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the theater box office ½ hour prior to performance.

Running Time: 90 minutes

Website: www.daretospeakproductions.com


SPECIAL NOTEWORTHY EVENT NIGHTS:

TUESDAY MAY 24TH AT 6 P.M.
Playwright/director Natalia Pelevine will host Q & A on the topic of the Moscow theatre siege, where guests will include Anastasia Kurbatova, who lost her sister in the theatre siege, famous dissident and author Alex Goldfarb and Human Rights Watch representatives.

The Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) is pleased to announce the extension of Galt MacDermot’s (HAIR) musical, The Human Comedy.
With libretto by William Dumaresq based on the story by William Saroyan, the highly acclaimed production is directed by APAC Artistic Director Tom Wojtunik and music directed by Jeffrey Campos, reuniting IT Award Nominee Christine O’Grady
as choreographer, IT Award Recipient Michael P. Kramer as set designer, Hunter Kaczorowski as costume designer, David A. Thomas as sound designer, and casting by wojcik|seay casting.

The production, originally due to close May 21st, has extended performances one week, until May 28th at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (30-44 Crescent St, Astoria, NY 11102. Entrance on 30th Road.) Performances began Thursday, May 5 and will now continue through Saturday, May 28.

The critics have been raving:

3GRACES THEATER COMPANY presentsthe first NYC revival and 10th Anniversary Production of AS IT IS IN HEAVENby Arlene Hutton (The Nibroc Trilogy, Running), directed by Ludovica Villar-Hauser (The Countess). AS IT IS IN HEAVEN is now playing a limited engagement at the Cherry Lane Studio (38 Commerce Street, NYC). The play is running in rep with GraceNotes presents At the Corner of Faith and Reasontwo World Premiere One-Acts commissioned by 3Graces about faith, Dissonance by Craig Pospisil, directed by Jim Elliot and Parent Teacher by Sharyn Rothstein, directed by Kel Haney. Performances continue through Saturday, June 11.

AS IT IS IN HEAVEN is “a moving portrayal of upheaval caused when the utopian existence of an 1830’s Shaker community in Kentucky is threatened by the arrival of ‘newcomers’ claiming to see angels.”—The Herald

The arrival of Fanny upsets the community's harmony and routine, and her visions reignite their once dramatic form of worship. But the devout Eldress Hannah, who has lived her entire life preparing to walk with angels, finds her leadership threatened and needs proof, no matter the cost to her own soul. Hymns sung a cappella punctuate the scenes of the play, which ends with a joyful explosion of Shaker singing and ecstatic dance.