ZOMBIE JOE’S UNDERGROUND THEATRE GROUP will make it’s NYC debut on August 27th with Edgar Allan Poe’s “MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH & THE TELL-TALE HEART & THE BELLS” at St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 West 46th Street (west of 8th Avenue).  The company brings three of Poe’s infamous tales of terror and intrigue to life with its ‘tastefully macabre’ theatrical style.  (www.ZombieJoes.com)  The two-act, mini-Poe Fest, serves up torture and madness in its ‘bloody-shoestring’ style of stylized physicality and strange soundscapes – all in under two hours with intermission.  The POE-formance schedule for ZOMBIE JOE’S “MASQUE” is Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays @ 8:00pm and Sundays @ 7:00pm.  All seats are $56.50 (with discounts for groups/seniors/students) and are available through TeleCharge at (212) 239-6200 or www.telecharge.com.

Zombie Joe said: “This is our homage to the late, great master of horror, Edgar Allan Poe.  We are delighted to bring three of Poe’s most dynamic tales to New York audiences. Each of his frightening tales of terror are told, word for word, in our stylized ‘performance fusion’ with the group’s signature staging, choreography and original music.”   Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group sprouted from a small industrial garage in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley in 1992.  Zombie Joe founded the company based on the ground-breaking theatrical doctrines of Antonin Artaud (the 20th Century French dramatist who advocated a theatre of cruelty), Bertolt Brecht, Anton Chekhov, Ivan Turgenev, Fyodor Dostoevsky and George Lucas.  The group won the LA Weekly Award as 2007 Best One-Act Ensemble for “Masque of the Red Death” as well as several Artistic Director Achievement Awards (ADA).

Building on the traditions of these innovators, Zombie Joe developed his own style of ‘progressive’ theatre, blending high impact, fast-moving, tightly-chiseled live theatre.  Zombie Joe’s productions combine classical and original works.  Now based in the No-Ho Arts District of North Hollywood, CA, the company is making its New York debut with their original award-winning adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s “Masque of the Red Death” which has been nominated for 3 LA Weekly Theatre Awards.  The LA Times described Zombie Joe’s Underground as ‘a model of barebones ingenuity’ and LA Weekly called the company ‘one of Los Angeles’ living treasures.’

The Masque of The Red Death: The story follows Prince Prospero's attempts to avoid a dangerous plague known as the Red Death by hiding, along with his 1,000 guests, within the excesses of his luxurious abbey.

The Tell-Tale Heart: The story of one man’s obsession, hatred and dominion over an old man’s haunting blue eye and the beating of his hideous heart!

The Bells:  Poe’s epic four-part poem about the relentless clanging and clamoring of the bells that haunt and preside over us all, set to a score by Christopher Reiner.

Using every word of Poe’s original texts, the company embellishes the conventional first person recitation into a fluid, ever-shifting expressionistic mass.   Audience members are invited to don party masks and join in.  The ‘tastefully macabre’ production is suitable for teens and up.

For more information about Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group, go to www.ZombieJoes.com.

The Big Sky Theatre Company is proud to present a special post-show Talk-Back with Martin Denton of nytheatre.com, following the 8:00 pm performance of Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke at The Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row on August 27th, 2008. The Talk-Back will include the cast of Summer and Smoke and director Tlaloc Rivas. Tickets for this and all performances can be purchased at Ticket Central, 212-279-4200. Summer and Smoke will be performed Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $18.00.You can also purchase tickets online at: www.ticketcentral.com.

MARTIN DENTON is the founder, editor, and chief reviewer of nytheatre.com. He is also Executive Director of nytheatre.com's nonprofit parent organization, The New York Theatre Experience, Inc. (NYTE); the editor of NYTE's annual Plays and Playwrights anthologies, along with the collections Playing with Canons and Unpredictable Plays; and the founding producer of nytheatrecast, NYC's first original, regularly scheduled theatre podcast. Martin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association and the Drama Desk; he's been revieing theatre professionally for nearly 12 years. Martin blogs at the nytheatre I (http://nytheatre.blogspot.com).

A sensuous story of longing and rebellion, Tennessee Williams' Summer & Smoke was hailed by The New York Times as "a gently torrid parable of body and soul ... charged with passion and anguish". A lonely minister's daughter, Alma Winemiller (Mary Sheridan), lives in her stifling parent's home in a small-minded Mississippi town. Her only solace: a secret lifelong love for the former boy-next-door, Dr. John Buchanan (Michael Frederic), now a fully-grown, wandering-eye bachelor. Tortured by her unrequited passion, Alma's spiritual devotion becomes pitted against John's sensuous need for physical desire, and their turbulent relationship becomes an emotional battle of wills that will irrevocably alter each of them forever.

Cast members: Mary Sheridan; Michael Frederic; Samuel Adams, Jessica Angleskhan; Mia Bankston; Harry Barandes; Lena Hurt; Clyde Kelley; Jorge Montenegro; Stu Richel; Melodie Wolford; Rachael Hip Flores.

The Lighthouse Theatre Company presents “Night Maneuver” by Howard Korder, Off Broadway at The American Theatre of Actors at 314 West 54th Street (bet 8th & 9th Ave.). Previews begin on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 and the opening is Friday, August 29th at 8:00 p.m for the limited engagement of this revival.  It is directed by Tom Bain, with lighting design by Judy Merrick and costume design by Brittany Holmes and stars Anthony Caronna, and Alexander Smith.

“Night Maneuver” is the story of Lou, a 26 year-old auto parts clerk and his 18 year-old brother, Tim. The two share a roach infested run down studio apartment in one of America’s biggest cities. It becomes apparent both are not playing with a full deck of cards. Tim is an emotional infant, and Lou is an outrageously perverse sociopathic who trade banter that touches on sex, booze and the almost mythical exploits of their older brother, Monty. There is a drug deal unfolding around the two that could possibly change both their lives forever.  As the lies and deceit begin, they both try to claw their way without the other one realizing what’s going on for a showdown of sibling rivalry halfway between life and death.

Written in 1982 this play was one of the first of Howard Korder’s career and has not been staged in New York City until now. Some of Howard Korder’s other plays include "Boys' Life" (which is being revived this season), "Five Very Live," and "The Lights".

The Lighthouse Theatre Company is proud to be the first to put this show on in well over 20 years. It’s been an incredible journey getting this show on its feet. The Companies mission is to put up plays that are brilliantly written, but are rarely seen. To show them in a way that is unlike any other, with talented actors and cutting edge direction; taking these shows out of the dark and presenting them to the world re-worked with a modern point of view.  The goal of the company is: To reach out and show the world that good, well crafted, raw theatre is still around and better than ever.         

Performances are Monday – Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m for the limited engagement through September 7th.  Tickets are only $10 and they are available at Smarttix.com.  You can also make reservations and get information by calling (206) 683-9789.

In 16 days even the most intrepid theatergoer can only sample a small fraction of the over 200 offerings at the New York International Fringe Festival. Now in its third year, the FringeNYC Encore Series gives theatre lovers a second chance at seeing some of the Festival's favorite shows. Beginning August 27, the 2nd annual FringeNYC Encore Series will present nearly a dozen works in rotating repertory at two downtown venues: Soho Playhouse (15 Vandam Street between 6th Ave & Varick -- off the #1 to Houston Street or C, E to Spring) and The Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street at 7th Avenue, South of Christopher Street -- off the A C E B D F V to West 4th Street). The performance lineup and times will be announced on August 25.

Note: the FringeNYC Encore Series is NOT a production of The Present Company or The New York International Fringe Festival. The FringeNYC name is used with permission.

FringeNYC Encore Series runs August 27 - September 14. Tickets are $18 and go on sale at noon on Monday, August 25. For more information visit www.FringeNYC-EncoreSeries.com or call 212-691-1555.

Gateway Playhouse, Long Island's premiere professional Equity musical theatre, presents the award winning hit musical, "The Producers" at the Patchogue Theatre, 71 E. Main Street, Patchogue, August 27 - September 13. It is directed by Larry Ravon; choreographed by Matthew Vargo; Jeff Buchsbaum is musical director; lighting design by Paul Miller; with original scenic design by Robin Wagner and original costume design by William Ivey Long. The cast stars Michael Kostroff (Max), Adam Wylie (Leo), Christine Cherry (Ulla), David Edwards (Roger Debris), Stephen Ted Becklar (Franz), Garth Kravits (Carmen Ghia), with Anne Bloemendal, Sarah Burns, Will Cohen, William James Daniels, Erik Floor, Abeku Hayes, Patrick Oliver Jones, Denis Molnar, Kevin Murnane, Linda Neel, John O'Malley, Candice Pennefather, Jessica Sheridan, Elizabeth Sousek, and Lindsay O. Travis. (subject to change)

"The Producers" is based on the hilarious Mel Brooks film. This is a Long Island premiere professional presentation. The musical opened on Broadway on April 19, 2001 and ran for 2,502 performances. After the opening, The Producers broke the record for the largest single day box-office gross in theatre history and then broke its own record in 2003 when the original stars. It received a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards (the most ever) and also won almost every other award that season. Presented in numerous languages throughout the world, it is one of the most successful musical in theatre history. This comic whirlwind of a musical gives audiences a rare adventure into the backstage shenanigans of the Broadway theatre world. The story is a comedy classic: a crooked producer and his accountant creating a scheme to present a massive trainwreck of a theatrical fiasco (the musical "Springtime For Hitler") - and pocket their investors' money before the final curtain. Max Bialystock, Leo Bloom and a cast of crazy theatre-types creates a laugh-a-minute riot filled with all the shtick only Mel Brooks can think up! With the biggest sets, costumes, clever songs and belly laughs from the mind of Brooks, "The Producers" is a show everyone should see at least once or better yet one-more-time!

2008 marks Gateway Playhouse's (215 South Country Rd, Bellport, NY 11713) 59th year of producing first class entertainment. The state-of-the-art facility surrounded by a beautifully landscaped rustic exterior creates a unique theater going experience; one of the top ten summer theaters in the nation. The seven acres of wooded, grassy land encompass the Mainstage theatre (seats 500), Barn theatre (for acting school classes and projects), scene shop, two rehearsal studios, three dorm-style housing units, a newly remodeled kitchen, costume shop, design office/studio, paint shop, box office, business office, various storage spaces, a recreation room and a large hedge-lined lawn with outdoor swimming pool. All of the actors are professionals, most are members of Actors Equity and the musicians are members of A F of M (Local 802). SSDC© directors (Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers) and USA© designers (United Scenic Artists) are employed. Gateway's Acting School is now in it's 13th year of providing professional training. Their set rental business has grown to over 40 full sets to lease.

The final show for the summer season is "The Wedding Singer" September 17-October 4. The children's theatre shows continue on weekends.

Regular performances of "The Producers" are Tuesday - Friday at 8:00 pm; Saturday at 4:00 & 8:30 pm; Sunday at 2:00 pm with week day matinees Thursday at 2:00 pm and special performances at 7:00 pm Sunday 8/31, and a 2:00 pm matinee on Wednesday 9/10.

Tickets are$39-$43 for adults, and $25 for children 12 and under and can be purchased by calling 1-888-4-TIX-NOW, on the web at www.gatewayplayhouse.com, or in person at the historic theatre in Bellport.

ZOMBIE JOE'S UNDERGROUND THEATRE GROUP will begin performances on Wednesday, August 27th at 8 PM of Edgar Allan Poe's "MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH & THE TELL-TALE HEART & THE BELLS" at St. Luke's Theatre, 308 West 46th Street (west of 8th Avenue).  The company brings three of Poe's infamous tales of terror and intrigue to life with its 'tastefully macabre' theatrical style. The two-act, mini-Poe Fest, serves up torture and madness in its 'bloody-shoestring' style of stylized physicality and strange soundscapes - all in under two hours with intermission.  The POE-formance schedule for ZOMBIE JOE'S "MASQUE" is Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays @ 8:00pm and Sundays @ 7:00pm. The press opening is on Wednesday, September 3 at 8 PM.  All seats are $56.50 (with discounts for groups/seniors/students) and are available through TeleCharge at (212) 239-6200 or www.telecharge.com.

Zombie Joe said: "This is our homage to the late, great master of horror, Edgar Allan Poe.  We are delighted to bring three of Poe's most dynamic tales to New York audiences. Each of his frightening tales of terror are told, word for word, in our stylized 'performance fusion' with the group's signature staging, choreography and original music."   The group won the LA Weekly Award as 2007 Best One-Act Ensemble for "Masque of the Red Death" as well as several Artistic Director Achievement Awards (ADA).

Now based in the No-Ho Arts District of North Hollywood, CA, the company is making its New York debut with their original award-winning adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "Masque of the Red Death" which has been nominated for 3 LA Weekly Theatre Awards.  The LA Times described Zombie Joe's Underground as 'a model of barebones ingenuity' and LA Weekly called the company 'one of Los Angeles' living treasures.'

Using every word of Poe's original texts, the company embellishes the conventional first person recitation into a fluid, ever-shifting expressionistic mass.   Audience members are invited to don party masks and join in.  The 'tastefully macabre' production is suitable for teens and up.

For more information about Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre Group, go to www.ZombieJoes.com.

Gateway Playhouse, Long Island’s premiere professional Equity musical theatre, presents the award winning hit musical, “The Producers” at the Patchogue Theatre, 71 E. Main Street, Patchogue, August 27 – September 13. It is directed by Larry Raben; choreographed by Matthew Vargo; Jeff Buchsbaum is musical director; lighting design by Paul Miller; with original scenic design by Robin Wagner and original costume design by William Ivey Long.  The cast stars Michael Kostroff (Max), Adam Wylie (Leo), Christine Cherry (Ulla), David Edwards (Roger Debris), Stephen Ted Becklar (Franz), Garth Kravits (Carmen Ghia), with Anne Bloemendal, Sarah Burns, Will Cohen, William James Daniels, Erik Floor, Abeku Hayes, Patrick Oliver Jones, Denis Molnar, Kevin Murnane, Linda Neel, John O’Malley, Candice Pennefather, Jessica Sheridan, Elizabeth Sousek, and Lindsay O. Travis.   (subject to change)

“The Producers” is based on the hilarious Mel Brooks film.  This is a Long Island premiere professional presentation.  The musical opened on Broadway on April 19, 2001 and ran for 2,502 performances. After the opening, The Producers broke the record for the largest single day box-office gross in theatre history and then broke its own record in 2003 when the original stars.   It received a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards (the most ever) and also won almost every other award that season. Presented in numerous languages throughout the world, it is one of the most successful musical in theatre history.  This comic whirlwind of a musical gives audiences a rare adventure into the backstage shenanigans of the Broadway theatre world.  The story is a comedy classic: a crooked producer and his accountant creating a scheme to present a massive trainwreck of a theatrical fiasco (the musical “Springtime For Hitler”) – and pocket their investors’ money before the final curtain. Max Bialystock, Leo Bloom and a cast of crazy theatre-types creates a laugh-a-minute riot filled with all the shtick only Mel Brooks can think up!  With the biggest sets, costumes, clever songs and belly laughs from the mind of Brooks, “The Producers” is a show everyone should see at least once or better yet one-more-time!

2008 marks Gateway Playhouse's (215 South Country Rd, Bellport, NY 11713) 59th year of producing first class entertainment. The state-of-the-art facility surrounded by a beautifully landscaped rustic exterior creates a unique theater going experience; one of the top ten summer theaters in the nation.  The seven acres of wooded, grassy land encompass the Mainstage theatre (seats 500), Barn theatre (for acting school classes and projects), scene shop, two rehearsal studios, three dorm-style housing units, a newly remodeled kitchen, costume shop, design office/studio, paint shop, box office, business office, various storage spaces, a recreation room and a large hedge-lined lawn with outdoor swimming pool.  All of the actors are professionals, most are members of Actors Equity and the musicians are members of A F of M (Local 802). SSDC© directors (Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers) and USA© designers (United Scenic Artists) are employed.  Gateway's Acting School is now in it's 13th year of providing professional training.  Their set rental business has grown to over 40 full sets to lease.

The final show for the summer season is “The Wedding Singer” September 17–October 4.  The children’s theatre shows continue on weekends.

Regular performances of “The Producers” are Tuesday - Friday at 8:00 pm; Saturday at 4:00 & 8:30 pm; Sunday at 2:00 pm with week day matinees Thursday at 2:00 pm and special performances at 7:00 pm Sunday 8/31, and a 2:00 pm matinee on Wednesday 9/10.

Tickets are$39-$43 for adults, and $25 for children 12 and under and can be purchased by calling 1-888-4-TIX-NOW, on the web at www.gatewayplayhouse.com, or in person at the historic theatre in Bellport.