This show has has not officially opened yet and they are getting tremendous buzz from the theatre community and reviewers alike. Spain’s internationally acclaimed, multi award-winning comedy theater troupe Yllana (ee - YA - na) will make its long awaited Off-Broadway debut when Psycoductions (Juan Urrutia, Producer), with Executive Producer Aldo Scrofani, present 666, Yllana’s dirtiest and most demented show ever. Following its smash hit, jaw-dropping, sometimes cringe-inducing, and altogether gut-bustingly funny run at New York’s Fringe Festival last summer, 666 will begin performances at Off-Broadway’s Minetta Lane Theater (18 Minetta Lane, NYC) on April 21st.

After speaking with someone who went to a preview performance they described 666 as what Saturday Night Live would be like if they were not censored. While only and hour and a half long, the show will keep you laughing the entire time.

Synopsis
666 begins when three dangerous criminals (Fidel Fernandez, Joseph O’Curneen and Juan Ramos Toro) and one misplaced innocent (Raul Cano) arrive on death row. Incarceration ironically sets free their wildest fantasies as, trapped between the iron gates and an electrified fence, they interact with each other and with the audience. At the end of all the comically bungled executions, all hell, quite literally, breaks out. No one is safe, least of all the audience! 666 is a rude and ribald collision between wordless Commedia dell’arte, physical theater, and slapstick.

The show is 100% for adults and not for the easily offended. Get your tickets now as this show is a can’t miss.

It is a proven fact, 4 out of 5 dub scientists state that SKA is good for your health. Throw in some singjay style to the prescription and you have just added at least an additional week to your life. This is exactly what the reggae doctor has ordered for you at BB Kings on April 13th when the originators of SKA, The Skatalites perform live with legendary reggae singjay phenomenon, Eek-A-Mouse who clocks in at 6 feet 6 inches.

One blog post could never do justice to the story of the Skatalites, or Eek-A-Mouse for that matter, and both their impact on not only reggae but music in general. Most of the original members of the Skatalites hailed from the historical Alpha Cottage School in Kingston where they were musically educated. The members then went on to record at Coxsone Dodd’s Studio 1, not only as a band but also as studio musicians on endless artist recordings shaping the distinct, never to be repeated Studio 1 sound. Tommy McCook, Rolando Alphonso, Lloyd Brevett, Don Drummond, Jah Jerry Haynes, Jackie Mittoo, Johnny Moore and Jackie Opel made up the original members. Most of the original members are now deceased but the legend continues strong with Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks, Lester Sterling and Doreen Shaffer to name a few historical stalwarts. Having caught a recent performance of the legendary SKA band at a show in Dublin, Ireland, I was blown away with the tightness of the band and their retention of that original sound. Mix in Eek-A-Mouse, with his nasal, high-pitched voice and “biddy beng-beng, biddy meng-meng” scatting and a vocal style that has set him apart from the pack of veteran DJs and you are set to embark on a historical, one-night journey into reggae music.

Mostly considered amateur night by many, this never stops thousands of people from forging out in any weather to enjoy a cold pint on St. Patty’s Day. No matter where you are from or where you live you can’t seem to get away from becoming wrapped up in the excitement that is St. Patty’s Day.

While I have an affinity for cold beer, this day is simply another excuse (something that is now a must with a child) to go out and sample one of the worlds great creations. Lovely, frothy, liquid gold…BEER.

If you are in NYC you should check out what is being hailed by Pubcrawls.com as the Worlds Largest Pubcrawl that takes place over 70 blocks. So big that this pubcrawl goes on for 3 days. Not sure my liver could handle such a spanking.

You should also check out McSorleys Old Ale House in the east village and by far one of the best Irish Pubs I have ever been to. Sawdust on the floors, old school bartenders breaking out into song and only 2 choices of beer. LIGHT or DARK. St. Patty’s day may not be the best time to hit this pub as people have been known to line up for a spot at the bar starting at 6 am.

If you are on the Left Coast the Tam O’Shanter is the bar legends are made of. Located in Atwater Village this place is out of control on St. patirck’s day with a huge outdoor beer garden, live music and authentic Irish Fare. The only downside is the price of cold beer which seems to get a bit pricey in March.

If you want to avoid celebrating on the 17th, you can get your green on the Sunday before at the St. Patrick’s Day Festival at the Taglyan Complex. Fifty bucks gets you an all you can drink ticket and a food voucher good for select pork products in tube form. All proceeds will go to charity which will make you feel better about soaking your liver. I guess.

Let us know your favorite St. Patty’s Day hot spots.

In the nearly three decades since its initial debut, the timeless musical “CATS” has become a global Broadway icon.   What began as a risky move on the part of a star composer is now regarded as a masterpiece that revolutionized musical theater, having been translated into more than 20 languages and grossing billions over the years.  Next week, the beloved classic makes its long-awaited return to Los Angeles, with a two-week run at the Pantages.

Andrew Lloyd Webber had just embarked on his solo career when he became inspired to create a musical based on a treasured childhood book of poems by T.S. Eliot.  He teamed up with renown Shakespearean director Trevor Nunn to recognize his vision, and “CATS” premiered in London’s West End in 1981.

Despite having a quirky concept and an unusual structure for a musical, the play was an instant success, winning over audiences and critics with its imaginative aesthetic, brilliant choreography and, of course, the now-legendary tunes.  When “CATS” made its Broadway debut in 1982, it exploded into a bonafide theater phenomenon, and hasn’t really lost momentum since.  It was the longest-running Broadway production until 2006, when it was surpassed by Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera.”

After retiring from Broadway in 2000, “CATS” now tours the country, passing the magic on to a new generation of theater-lovers.  Audiences remain as captivated by the zany cast of felines, who recite T.S. Eliot’s whimsical verse amid Webber’s timeless compositions, which include the show tune mega-hit, “Memory.”

It makes sense that the show’s tagline is “Now and Forever” –since “CATS” remains every bit as brilliant as it was 28 years ago.

“After all of those years being stuck on a page,” says the Cat and the Hat, “did you ever imagine you’d see me on stage?”

Few names in children’s literature are more beloved than Dr. Suess– the writer, cartoonist and master of rhyme who brought us such gems as The Cat and the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Horton Hears a Who.  Though Seuss sadly died in 1991, his legacy lives on in the theater world in the surprise hit Broadway musical, “Seussical.”

Inspired by some of Seuss’ most memorable tales, “Seussical” has been touring the US and UK since its initial Broadway run in 2000.  While “Seussical” is arguably every bit as colorful and imaginative as the classic books, its complex plot and overwhelming cast of characters have caused some to say that it isn’t as accessible to a young audience as it ought to be.  This criticism inspired playwrights Lynn Ahrens and Steven Flaherty to develop a shorter, simpler version of the “Seussical” that could be enjoyed –and performed– by a Seuss-appropriate audience.

A one act rendition of the 90-minute play, the aptly-named “Seussical, Jr.” features all of the most beloved Seuss characters, including Horton, Gertrude McFuzz, and the Whos of Whoville, who romp through the Seussian universe amid a fun musical score that blends everything from Latin to swing to R&B.  Meanwhile, the script is designed to be easy to understand and interpret, making it ideal for adaption by elementary- and middle-schoolers; dramatic licensing agency Music Theatre International provides schools and theater companies with everything they need to produce their own small-scale “Seussical,” including Ahrens & Flaherty’s original music and choreography.

This month, Dallas gives its rendition of the musical adventure, with all-kid performances of “Seussical, Jr.” at Theatre Arlington and University of Texas, Arlington.  *Ticket procees to benefit Doctors Without Borders, as part of StubDog’s Unite for Healing Haiti campaign.*

In light of the recent drastic decrease in donations to Haiti relief organizations, this month, StubDog.com, Flavorpill and more than a dozen venues and arts organizations in NYC, LA, Houston and Dallas are partnering to raise money for Doctors Without Borders.  All proceeds from tickets sold the week of Feb. 22 will go directly to the organization to support its relief efforts in Haiti and around the world.

Since 1971, French humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) has been working to provide emergency medical assistance to populations around the world, specifically those affected by violence, neglect or catastrophe. In 1999, the organization received the Noble Peace Prize for its profound charitable impact.

StubDog is honored to work with such a prestigious organization; we hope the money raised will help enable them to continue their phenomenal work.

Participants in the “Unite for Healing Haiti” event include Ars Nova, ComedySportz, Crown City Theatre, Houston Ballet, Houston Family Arts Center, Main Street Theatre, Musiqa, Murder Mystery Los Angeles, OC Roller Girls, Pacific Resident Theatre, Pocket Sandwich Theatre, SPQR Stage Company, The Duplex, The Kitchen, Unity Theater, and many more.

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For most of us, St. Patrick’s Day means one thing and one thing only: getting our drink on while wearing green.  And in a city like NYC, all the options for places to do this can be overwhelming.  Luckily, Pubcrawls.com has taken the guesswork out of finding the best places to go for cheap beer in NYC, with the largest St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl in the world.

Next month, thousands of New Yorkers will embark on a five-mile, three-day tour of more than 100 of the city’s finest drinking establishments, ranging from chic lounges to ultra-laidback watering holes.  The epic, beer-guzzling celebration kicks off Friday, March 12, at 5 p.m., with the “Happy Hour” crawl through around 15 Midtown bars.  The next day, things really get underway, with the “Luck of the Irish” crawl– officially the world’s biggest pub crawl, drawing more than 4,000 people.  Starting at 11AM and continuing late into the night, the crawl covers more than 50 bars throughout Manhattan.  The festivities resume on St. Patrick’s Day itself, with the “After the Parade” crawl in the late afternoon through evening.

Revelers will start each day at a designated registration location, where they’ll pick up their “drink maps”–breakdowns of the day’s participating locations, including info about happy hours and freebies.  Then, they’ll hit the street in their green gear to take advantage of unbeatable drink specials, including $1 12-oz. draft beers, $2 bottled beers, $3 house drinks, and $4 Jameson shots.

Pub crawlers can choose to go to a specific crawl, or opt for serious liver damage and buy a discounted pass for all three days.

It’s always kind of exciting when you’re at a show where the band takes audience song requests.  But a show that is composed entirely of requests, woven into hilarious medleys?  A genius idea, and exactly what NYC band Gashole does in their award-winning musical concoction “Hole-a-Matic!”

Performers Michael Holland and Karen Mack, also known as Gashole, are a rare mix of ingenious humor and amazing musical talent. Both have collaborated with some of the city’s top cabaret performers, winning numerous awards for their work, which encompasses singing, songwriting, comedy, and musical performance.  The duo’s brainchild, Hole-a-Matic!, combines these talents with a unique cabaret revue in which chart-toppers from the ’70s and ’80s are ad libbed into unique songs based on the audience’s requests.

The show starts with audience members being given “hole-a-dex”es from which to choose songs they’d like to see performed.  Then, the choices are dropped into a bowl and randomly selected throughout the evening, to be cleverly arranged and interpreted by Gashole.  The musical results are random, brilliant, and brilliantly bad, and comprise everything from Cher to Bad Company to ABBA.

Hole-a-Matic! is both hilarious and musically impressive– a quirky cabaret show performed by Broadway-quality talent, and a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

Everyone was surprised when swing music, of all genres, saw a revival in the grunge-and-punk ’90s.  Bands like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Brian Setzer suddenly dominated the airwaves with their infectious, brass instrument-dominated tunes.  But by the time the swing revival was at its peak, one band had been shaping the scene for almost a decade.

Swing band Royal Crown Revue are equal parts pop culture pioneers and genuine music legends.  The group started out in the close-knit late ’80s rock scene in Los Angeles, wowing audiences at intimate clubs with their big-band sound.  Taking the sounds of legends like Louis Prima and Frank Sinatra and infusing them with punk and rockabilly, Royal Crown’s refreshing take on swing transcended genres and was unlike anything of its time.  The band exploded onto the international scene when it appeared performing in the film “The Mask,” starring Jim Carrey; three years later, they became the inspiration for the hit movie “Swingers.”

By the end of the decade, the swing scene had become very commercial, and today many of the groups who jumped on the swing revival bandwagon have long since faded into obscurity.  But RCR continues to thrive, touring and recording new music, while having performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the world and worked with everyone from Gene Simmons to Bette Midler.

Next month, the swing legends share their iconic sound with NYC, in a one-night-only performance at the BB King Blues Club.

What began as two buskers performing on the streets of Brighton, England has become a global off-broadway sensation that is still going strong after a decade and a half.  Now in its sixteenth year, touring percussion hit STOMP has performed in more than 350 cities and 36 countries around the world, continuing to be met with rave reviews and countless awards, and was named one of Entertainment Weekly’s top 50 greatest productions since 1983.

Creators Steve McNicholas and Luke Creswell founded the dance and percussion troupe STOMP in 1991, which performed in the UK for a time before touring the world and eventually launching into an off-broadway phenomenon with its 1994 debut at NYC’s Orpheum Theatre.  And while it’s hard to believe that a 90 minute show void of costumes, dialogue or any real plot could be so entertaining as to remain a hit ever since, STOMP has captivated audiences in a way that is unlike any other theater performance of its time.

The brilliantly chaotic show takes modern dance and slapstick comedy and pairs them with thunderous percussion –created using non-instrumental items, ranging from trashcans to tires to boxes of cereal– that sounds like fun and infectious tribal music.  Meanwhile, the eight performers’ unique personalities, communicated strictly through sound and motion, charm the audience without saying a word.

STOMP makes its return to Houston next week, and will feature a several 2010 additions, including fresh props and new routines, for an experience that promises to be more toe-tappingly irresistible than ever.