Saturday, June 13, 2015

Parents turn into children in God of Carnage, playing at the Hangar Theatre

Last Friday I had the pleasure to attend opening night of the Hangar Theatre's first play of their 2015 season, God of Carnage, by Yasmina Renza, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by Steve Pacek.


Winner of the 2009 Tony award for best play, God of Carnage, starts out as an uptight, polite conversation between two sets of parents. Their sons had had an altercation on the playground, and the parents felt it necessary to meet. Refined conversation quickly devolves into a hilariously uncivilized situation that had the audience roaring with laughter. All four cast members, Hillary Parker; Amy Tribbey; Brendan Powers and William Langanare are remarkably talented, and I especially enjoyed Tribbey as the benevolent, endlessly tidy Veronica. While God of Carnage is definitely not a show for kids, (it contains strong adult language and mature themes), it is definitely a show parents can relate to. God of Carnage is playing this Sunday afternoon and next Saturday afternoon, as well as and every night through June 20.


Also opening this week, the first show of Hangar's fantastic Kiddstuff series, The Emperor's New Clothes. More info on the Kiddstuff shows can be found in my last blog post here.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Hangar Kiddstuff 2015 is coming!

Are you itching for some awesome summer theatre for kids? Hangar's got your back! It's time for Kiddstuff shows at the Hangar Theatre! Every summer, Hangar produces high quality, energetic, super-fun plays for children (and their adults) to enjoy. The shows are all one-act (no intermission) around an hour long, so even squirmiest preschoolers will stay riveted. All shows are Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10am and noon.
You can subscribe now to the entire season to get reserved premium seats, exchange privileges, discounts, and more! A subscription is just $34 for all five shows! To learn more, go to http://www.hangartheatre.org/subscription.htmll.

If show-by-show is more your speed, all tickets are just $9 each. Tickets can be purchased online at the Hangar Box office, or by calling 607.273.8588.

On top of the Kiddstuff shows, Hangar will also present two mainstage shows that may be especially interesting for parents. "The Hound of Baskervilles" is a mystery comedy appropriate for older kids as well as adults, and "God of Carnage", a hilarious comedy about parents meeting to discuss a playground altercation between their children.

Details of the 2015 Kiddstuff season:
June 18 - 20  
Marcus the Third has just been crowned the new Emperor, but how can he possibly run an empire when he’s only 14 years old?! Dressing the part might do the trick!  After purchasing the most fashionable (and magical) royal wardrobe money can buy, Marcus finds himself at the center of a terrible prank.  This musical version of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale reminds us to be true to ourselves.
July 2-4   
Stuart Little is an extraordinary mouse born into an ordinary New York City family.  Through a series of adventures - a boat race in Central Park, a drive in a gasoline-powered model car and a chase to find his best friend, Stuart Little expertly navigates the challenges of being a small mouse in a big world. Join Stuart on a journey that won't soon be forgotten!

July 9 - 11    
Unable to fall asleep at grandmother’s house, Bridget and Stephen take to acting out their favorite fairy tale. As their imaginations take over it becomes hard to tell what is real and what is make believe. See what happens when they find themselves in the deep dark woods with the big bad wolf! This musical adaptation of Little Red Riding hood brings a whole new meaning to ‘storytime’.
July 23 - 25   
Follow the adventures of Wilbur, a pig with a problem and Charlotte, a spider with an incredible talent. This unlikely duo work together to help Wilbur avoid becoming pork chops. Charlotte weaves a solution which not only makes Wilbur a prize pig, but ensures his place on the farm forever. This treasured tale, featuring mad-cap and endearing farm animals, explores bravery, selfless love, and the true meaning of friendship.

August 6-8   
The year is 1958, and the much-adored rock-and-roll idol, Conrad Birdie, is about to join the ranks of the US Army. Birdie will perform one last publicity stunt, before he ships out: giving one lucky fan a kiss. This musical theatre classic is tops in imagination and good old-fashioned fun!

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

$1 movies at Ithaca's Regal Cinema all summer!

Regal Cinemas has announced they will again be offering $1 movies all summer long!

Beginning June 30, Regal will offer children's movies every Tuesday and Wednesday for 9 weeks this summer, Regal Cinemas will show a PG or G-rated movie at 10 a.m. Both movies play both days. Admission is just $1 for everyone.
BOTH MOVIES PLAY ON BOTH DAYS

Regal Ithaca Mall Stadium 14 Schedule
Week 1
Tue June 30 Nut Job
Wed July 1 Annie

Week 2
Tue July 7 Earth to Echo
Wed July 8 Boxtrolls

Week 3
Tue July 14 Paddington
Wed July 15 Turbo

Week 4
Tue July 21 Rio 2
Wed July 22 How To Train Your Dragon 2

Week 5
Tue July 28 Mr. Peabody
Wed July 29 Book of Life

Week 6
Tue August 4 Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
Wed August 5 Penguins of Madagascar

Week 7
Tue August 11 Wed August 12 Dolphin Tale 2, Madagascar 3

Week 8
Tue August 18
Wed August 19
Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Muppets, Most Wanted

Week 9
Tue August 25
Wed August 26
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, The Lego Movie