Summer Shakespeare, Standup and more

Posted OnMay 16, 2019

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Summer Shakespeare, Standup and more: Shakespeare in the Park, On the Sound, On the Farm, plus Seth Meyers, Colin Jost, and Fabulous Funny Females in Bedford.

June

Free! Much Ado About Nothing, Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park, Tuesday, 5/21-Sun, 6/23: 8pm: Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun) directs a new take on Shakespeare’s comedy of romantic retribution and miscommunication, Much Ado About Nothing. In this modern production, we find the community of Messina celebrating a break from an ongoing war. But not all is peaceful amid the revelry, as old rivals engage in a battle of wits, unexpected foes plot revenge, and young lovers are caught in a tumultuous courtship – until love proves the ultimate trickster, and undoes them all. (Delacorte Theatre, Central Park, NYC; www.publictheatre.org)

Tar Beach, Hudson Stage Co. at North Castle Public Library, Fri, 5/31: 7:30pm: HSC presents a staged reading of Tammy Ryan’s rites of passage story that takes place between two sixteen year-old girls on the roof of an Ozone Park row house when a citywide blackout punctuates the heated tensions of the 1977 Summer of Sam. (Whippoorwill Theatre, North Castle Public Library, Kent Place, Armonk; www.hudsonstage.com)

Theatre on the Farm! All’s Well That Ends Well, Muscoot Farm, Fri-Sat: 5/31-6/8: 7:30pm & Sun, 6/2-9: 4pm: Theater on the Farm returns to Muscoot with this production of William Shakespeare’s fairy tale comedy of ring swapping and bedroom trickery, All’s Well That Ends Well. The production is held rain or shine in Muscoot’s 1900’s Dairy Barn. Chairs provided. (Rt. 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

Norm Lewis, Emelin Theatre, Sat, 6/1: 8pm: Norm Lewis brings his famous baritone voice to the Emelin again this June. Star of Phantom Of The Opera, Les Miz, Porgy & Bess, The Little Mermaid and more, Lewis is “among the most reliably impressive voices on Broadway” (NYT) and one of its most sought-after leading men. Lewis made history as The Phantom of the Opera’s first African American Phantom on Broadway, and performed in the NBC television special, “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!,” alongside John Legend, Sara Bareilles, and Alice Cooper. (153 Library Ln., Mamaroneck; www.emelin.org)

More Cowbell! Dick Cavett Interviews Christopher Walken, Ridgefield Playhouse, Sun, 6/2: 4pm: We love this new series at the Ridgefield Playhouse. After debuting the series with Blythe Danner, Dick Cavett sits down for a chat with Hollywood’s scariest actor to have never starred in a horror movie, Christopher Walken. A seven-time host of Saturday Night Live Walken has starred in Annie Hall, Pulp Fiction, The Dogs of War, Batman Returns, True Romance and The Deer Hunter for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. (80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Ballet Hispanico, Emelin Theatre, Sat, 6/8: 8pm: Since 1970 Manhattan based Ballet Hispánico has performed for more than two million people in the United States, Europe, and South America, and has created a repertoire of over 75 works and has commissioned nearly 80 more. Much as Alvin Ailey did for the African-American community Ballet Hispánico has given Hispanic culture its place in American dance. (153 Library Ln., Mamaroneck; www.emelin.org)

Seth Meyers, Ridgefield Playhouse, Sun, 6/9: 9:30pm: A night of stand-up from the Emmy Award-winning writer and host of Late Night with Seth Meyers! Meyers was the head writer at Saturday Night Live for nine years and was a writer and cast member for 13 seasons, hosting the show’s popular “Weekend Update” segment. He has received twenty Emmy nominations throughout his career. (80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Much Ado About Nothing, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, Sun, 6/9-Sat, 8/31: 7:30pm: Scandal abounds in Shakespeare’s hilarious, biting comedy about lies, courtship, and the chaos created in pursuit of true love. The famous bantering lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, trade barbs while matching wits (and hearts) in this celebrated romantic romp. (1601 Route NY-9D, Garrison; www.hvsf.org)

Cymbeline, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Tues, 6/11-Sat, 7/27: 7:30pm: In this mad stepmom romp, Imogen swaps the skirt for the pants and makes for the magical wilds to find her banished love disguised as a boy. In this fantastical work where the improbable becomes probable as kind strangers, dastardly villains, ghosts, gods, and long-lost princes pave the high road to Happily Ever After. (1601 Route NY-9D, Garrison; www.hvsf.org)

Local! Fabulously Funny Females, Bedford Playhouse, Thurs, 6/13: 8pm: It’s comedy night at the Bedford Playhouse with three fab/fun femmes. Including Carmen Lynch (Colbert, Letterman, Comedy Central) who is at that age where she’s dating both fathers and sons. She loves 40 year old men because “they’ve lost hope”. Plus, Jane Condon, (NBC’s Last Comic Standing) who was named one of 10 Comedy Best Bets in Back Stage’s annual comedy issu and Karen Bergreen (Comedy Central). (633 Old Post Rd., Bedford; www.bedfordplayhouse.org)

Gladstone Hollow The Farm Play, Schoolhouse Theatre, Croton Falls, Thurs-Sun, 6/13-30: 8pm, 3pm on Sun: Two-time Emmy-winner Dorothy Lyman stars in her new play about three generations of women who gather in the Catskill’s to decide the fate of their family farm. Ms. Lyman was Opal Gardner in the daytime drama All My Children and Naomi Oates Harper in the TV sitcom Mama’s Family with Vicki Lawrence. Behind the camera she produced/directed 75 episodes of The Nanny with Fran Drescher. (3 Owens Rd., N. Salem; www.schoolhousetheatre.org)

Randy Rainbow, Ridgefield Playhouse, Thurs-Fri, 6/13-14: 8pm: Political satirist and internet sensation, Randy Rainbow is best known for his musical tribute to the first presidential debate of 2016, Braggadocious, that received 28 million views on YouTube in its first two days. He has performed in NYC’s Birdland, 54 Below, XL Nightclub and at Therapy NYC where his weekly show ran for two years. (80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Paula Poundstone, Paramount Hudson Valley, Sat, 6/15: 8pm: Number 88 on Comedy Central’s list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time, Poundstone was the first female comedienne to win a CableAce Award for her HBO Special Cats, Cops and Stuff. She followed up with another HBO special Paula Poundstone Goes to Harvardand a Bravo special Paula Poundstone: Look What The Cat Dragged In. She is currently the host of NPR’s Live from the Poundstone Institute. (1008 Brown St., Peekskill; www.paramounthudsonvalley.com)

Twelfth Night, Shakespeare on the Sound, Pinckney Park Rowayton, CT, Thurs, 6/20-Sun, 7/7: 7:30pm, except Mon: In Shakespeare’s Yuletide comedy, Viola, disguised as Cesario, falls in love with Duke Orsino who is in love with Countess Olivia who falls for Viola who she thinks is a man. Got that? Shakespeare on the Sound plays are produced in the “round” as the “groundlings” did at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater 400 years ago. You can stake out your picnic space as early as 4pm. (Pinckney Park, 177 Rowayton Ave, Rowayton, CT; www.shakespeareonthesound.org)

Tom Papa, Emelin Theatre, Fri, 6/21: 8pm: If you had trouble with fourth grade math and think eating kale is like eating mulch, you’ll love Tom Papa. Head writer on Live From Here, the new incarnation of The Prairie Home Companion, Papa is a regular on Colbert and Conan, just recorded his third hour-long special and has guest starred on Gaffigan and Inside Amy Schumer. (153 Library Ln., Mamaroneck; www.emelin.org)

Hollow Bones, Hudson Stage Co. at North Castle Public Library, Fri, 6/31: 7:30pm: Brad McKnight Wilson’s family friendly love story explores the depth of connection between a teenage girl and a bird who can truly speak her language. A meditation on language, partnership and parrots. Whippoorwill Theatre, North Castle Public Library, Kent Place, Armonk; www.hudsonstage.com)

July

Chris Delia, Follow the Leader Tour, Tarrytown Music Hall, Fri, 7/12: 8pm: Recently chosen as one of four American comedians for the Netflix 2019 series Comedians of the World which will showcase 47 comics from 13 regions, Delia has three comedy specials on Netflix including his first Comedy Central special White Male, Black Comic. He also starred on NBC’s Undateable from 2014-16. (13 Main St., Tarrytown; www.tarrytownmusichall.org)

Colin Jost, Ridgefield Playhouse, Sun, 7/14: 7:30pm: Colin Jost, the award-winning, co-anchor of “Weekend Update” on Saturday Night Live! returns to the Playhouse after a sold-out show in 2016. Colin has been a writer for the show since 2005, and is currently one of SNL’s head writers. He has won four Writers Guild Awards, a Peabody Award and has been nominated for multiple Emmy Awards for his writing on SNL. Recently, Colin co-hosted the 2018 Emmy Awards, alongside “Weekend Update” co-anchor and fellow head writer, Michael Che. (80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Free! Coriolanus, Public Theatre/s Shakespeare in the Park, Tues, 7/16- Sun, 8/11: 8pm: For the first time since 1979, Free Shakespeare in the Park presents Coriolanus, the Bard’s blistering drama about a general voted into power by a populace hungry for change, and the unraveling that follows. Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan (Proof, Shakespeare In The Park’s Troilus and Cressida) directs a modern-day version of this riveting epic of democracy and demagoguery. (Delacorte Theatre, Central Park, NYC; www.publictheatre.org)

Free Local! Lawn Chair Theatre, Much Ado About Nothing, Fri, 7/21: 6:30pm: The Lawn Chair Theatre brings it’s 2019 production of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing to Recreation Field next to Town Hall in Chappaqua. In the event of rain the performance will move indoors to ChappPac. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets to this free event. Donations suggested. (200 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua; www.lawnchairetheatre.org)

TJ Miller, Ridgefield Playhouse, Fri, 7/26: 8pm: This actor and stand-up comedian has been making people laugh for more than 15 years, performing his absurdist, observational standup act worldwide. He is known for his roles in Ready Player One and the Deadpool films, as well as the HBO show “Silicon Valley.” And, he has voiced characters in more than a dozen animated films, including The Emoji Movie and Big Hero 6. (80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Theatre in the Sanctuary presents Godspell Jr., Westmoreland Sanctuary, Fir-Sun, 7/26-28 & 8/2-4: Larry Berkowitz and Denise Simon direct this 60-minute, family friendly production of Godspell. In this production the audience will follow the cast through the Sanctuary woods as the tale is told. (260 Chestnut Ridge Road, Mount Kisco; www.westmorelandsanctuary.org)

August

Into the Woods, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, Thurs, 8/1-Sun, 9/8: 7:30pm: HVSF presents it’s first every musical with this production of the beloved Tony Award-winning Broadway hit, Into The Woods from Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. Into the Woods combines fractured fairy-tale favorites, spinning a dark (and campy) tale of magic and its many consequences. (1601 Route NY-9D, Garrison; www.hvsf.org)

Sinbad, Ridgefield Playhouse, Sun, 8/11: 8pm: Ranked by Comedy Central as one of the “100 Greatest Stand-ups of all Time,” Sinbad’s storytelling comedic style is a throwback to the day’s of Robert Klein and Richard Pryor. He has done 6 one hour comedy specials in his long comedy career, 4 on HBO and the last 2 on Comedy Central. He recently appeared on Disney’s “Planes,” “Comedy Bang Bang,” “The Eric Andre Show,” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. (80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)