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Special Halloween double-feature: MARCUS SLABINE & JEREMIAH KIPP

Born and raised in Stoughton Massachusetts, MARCUS SLABINE has always had a passion for film and making movies. He watched movies nonstop growing up of all kinds which would eventually lead him to creating the now defunct website, KICK ASS HORROR REVIEWS.
After moving and graduating from New York Film Academy, Marcus started working in the film industry full time working on films and TV shows such as THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, THE AMAZING SPIDER MAN 2, PREMIUM RUSH and TV shows such as GOSSIP GIRL, MYSTERIES AT THE M– USEUM and indie films like DISAPPEARANCE OF ELENOR RIGBY, and ANGRIEST MAN IN BROOKLYN. He has since gone on to solely direct, write and produce.
Marcus has since directed 16 Short films with his most recent being JANICE AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE which won Audience choice award, THE AUDIT starring William McNamara and is currently hired to shoot a feature film NICK AND NICKY which stars Sean Young. Marcus is currently prepping to begin production on a new horror film called THE LAST CALL which he wrote and will direct starring DAY OF THE DEAD’s Terry Alexander.
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JEREMIAH KIPP credits include THE SADIST starring Tom Savini, THE POD starring Larry Fessenden, CONTACT (commissioned by Sinister Six annual screening series), BAGGAGE starring Rob Dimension, THE DAYS GOD SLEPT, CRESTFALLEN, THE CHRISTMAS PARTY (Cannes and Clermont-Ferrand), EASY PREY (commissioned by NYC's annual VisionFest), DROOL (commissioned by Mandragoras Art Space), SNAPSHOT and THE APARTMENT (commissioned by Canon to premiere their XL2 at DV Expo 2004).Producing credits include the feature films SATAN HATES YOU (created by Glass Eye Pix, starring Angus Scrimm, Michael Berryman and Reggie Bannister), GOD'S LAND, LET'S PLAY, IN MONTAUK, THE JONESTOWN DEFENSE and THE BED-THING (directed by Pulitzer Prize-nominated Matt Zoller Seitz).Assistant director credits include I SELL THE DEAD starring Dominic Monaghan, SOMEWHERE TONIGHT starring John Turturro, ONE NIGHT starring Melissa Leo, and the Sundance Award-winning MAN (dir: Myna Joseph). 

Chris Williams looks under the HOOD!

Chris Williams tells us all about his new web series - TALES FROM THE VILLE. 
 
 "Tales From Da Ville." A horror anthology web series. Synopsis: A Count of Brooklyn tells scary stories to three young women. In each scary story it surrounds race and racism.

It's ALIVE! ... onstage ... with Articulate Theatre Company

after a wildly successful reading, Articulate Theatre Company's production of Doctor Frankenstein gears up for a limited run in November. Articulate is thrilled to have George Allison's new play DOCTOR FRANKENSTEIN inaugurate their residency at the historic West End Theatre. 
A commanding cast charged with mastering the macabre and dramatic elements of George Allison’s engrossing version of the Shelley novel but taken from a different side of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, has been assembled to breathe life into the work opening at ATC’s new home, the West End Theatre, 263 W 86th Street, NYC, running November 8 – 23. In this version taking place after-the-fact, Dr. Victor Frankenstein asks "What if Mary Shelley got it wrong... on purpose?"
The cast features Tammy McNeill*, Steve Humphreys*, Loren Bidner*, J. Dolan Byrnes*, Chris Robertson, and Brianna Kalisch* and John Blaylock* as Dr. Victor Frankenstein
Production company: Producer - Articulate Theatre Company; Director - Cat Parker; Playwright/Set Design - George Allison; Managing Director - Brittney Venable; Co-Producer - Tekla Gaughan; Co-Producer - Judith Manocherian LLC; Lighting Designer - Dennis Parichy; Sound Designer - Morry Campbell; Video Designer - Eric Siegel; Costume Designer - Jim Buff; Stage Manager - Sabrina Morabito; Props Manager - Diana Sadova; Costume Manager - Anna Rumberg; Fight Choreographer - Michael Hagins
Articulate joins Prospect Theater Company, The Bang Group, and Hunger & Thirst as one of the resident companies of West End Theatre's "Consortium," located on the second floor of the historic Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew (263 W 86th St, New York City). "We are very excited to have a home base from which to continue our work and to have the chance to share energy with the other wonderful companies that call this space home," said Brittney Venable, Articulate's managing director. "The stunning architecture is a perfect location for our next production, Doctor Frankenstein, by George Allison."
Cat Parker, Articulate's founding artistic director, was recently made a part of the new leadership of New York Innovative Theatre Foundation. She joins Ariel Estrada, Producing Artistic Director of Leviathan Lab Projects; Jazmyn Arroyo, Co-Founding Artistic Director of Step 1 Theatre Project; and Akia Squiteri, Artistic Director of Rising Sun Performance Company as Directors of the organization. "It is a terrific honor," said Parker, "I look forward to working with my new partners to support the Indie theatre community by continuing to provide a setting that recognizes the amazing work that we all do, and by advocating for the artistic and social needs of all our artists" she concluded.
Articulate Theatre Company is an ensemble driven company who thrive on being storytellers. Our simple mantra is 'good stories, told well.' Guided by the three definitions of articulate, -clarity, structure and connectivity- we are committed to challenging and connecting audiences and artist with clearly structured work that is intelligent, thought-provoking and visually striking. Storytelling is the heart of theatre. And the stories we like to tell involve myth, magic and the mundane: Mythical creatures bringing new perspective to our mundane lives, or typical people doing epic things. Gods, faeries, artists, plumbers, teachers, heroes, villains, accountants, florists - when these elements combine, we see our reality in a new way. Learn more and get tickets at http://bit.ly/ArticulateDF
The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation was created to bring recognition to the great work being done in New York City's Off-Off-Broadway, to honor its artistic heritage, and to provide a meeting ground for this extensive community. The organization advocates for Off-Off-Broadway and recognizes the unique and essential role it plays in contributing to American and global culture. We believe that publicly recognizing excellence in Off-Off-Broadway will expand audience awareness and appreciation of the full New York theatre experience.

THE MARY WEEKEND PART II: MARY ELIZABETH MICARI

Performance artist, Mary Elizabeth Micari, continues her acclaimed journey of self-discovery filled with great humor and memorable music. This time she tackles her [first] marriage, her exploration into spirituality, and the 90s so the show is peppered with tunes from that emotional period - both popular and rare tunes. This time, she's joins forces with MAC Award winner, Tracy Stark, to create a breath-taking night of music and memories. Utilizing unique instrumentation, the event will feature classical harpist, Richard Spendio, and rock drummer, John Dinello, playing an array of international instrumentation. This is Mary's second appearance at the famed East Village club after a performance of the latest installment of her rousing retro show, Granny's Blu-Mers.
The Lady in Black 2: Between the Sun and the Moon, premieres at Pangea, the trendy cabaret club at 178 2nd Ave in NYC on Saturday October 26, 2019 at 9:30 PM.http://www.pangeanyc.com/show/mary-micari-lady-in-black-2-between-the-sun-and-the-moon-930pm/
Micari, a specialist in Jazz & Blues, has appeared at Pangea, Don't Tell Mama, The Duplex, Pianos, Freddy's, Otto's, and even The Augusta Music Festival Blues Week in West Virginia. She also creates her own healing music (including original compositions) using traditional instruments like harp, drums, bowls and tuning forks as well as her voice. Mary began her career in a band doing Jefferson Starship before moving into the classical realm and becoming a trained opera singer, performing at some of NYCs most respected opera companies, before venturing into Blues and Jazz. She currently serves as artistic director of Genesis Repertory, a non-profit arts & education organization designed to create opportunities for emerging artists and make quality theatre accessible to new audiences. For a long time, her day job was doing makeup and hair in live theater and film. Her credentials in that arena include a dozen Broadway shows, independent films, as well as events at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Roundabout Theater. Mary is also a healer and an ordained Minister utilizing Reiki, Herbalism, Homeopathy, Acupressure, Sound Healing and more. The Magic Apothecary is her line of magickly-infused products for health and healing.

THE MARY WEEKEND PART I: MARY SETRAKIAN

No need for a spotlight when Mary Setrakian Lets the Sun Shine!
Mary Setrakian: Let The Sun Shine will be at The TRIAD THEATER, 158 W. 72nd St (between Broadway & Columbus; theater upstairs) for ONE-NIGHT-ONLY; Friday, October 25. Doors open 6:30PM / Show 7:00PM. Tickets: TriadNYC.com
After a joyous engagement at THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE in her one-woman show, musical luminary, Mary Setrakian, returns to the opulent Triad Theatre on the Upper West Side with her rousing musical event, LET THE SUN SHINE! Mary effortlessly jumps from Puccini to Punk, musically, while sharing her adventures her international career has given her. Broadway might be the main course but we are also treated to Italy Australia and everything in between. She also relates fun tales of her Armenian heritage.
Mary is a familiar face thanks to her appearance in Hello, Dolly! (starring Carol Channing) as well as national and international appearances in Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Hello, Dolly and Evita, to name a few. She was also featured at Carnegie Hall in Jubilee directed by Herbert Ross. Mary was recognized with Best Actress in a Musical awards for her roles as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, Trina in Falsettos, the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and her critically acclaimed one-woman show, A New York Romance at which the LA Times exclaimed "Chanteuse Setrakian is dazzling!"

Tuning In with Classic TV's High Priest: HERBIE J. PILATO

ABOUT HERBIE J
Herbie J Pilato is a TV host, writer, producer, performer, and entertainment executive who has worked on several television shows including Bravo’s hit five-part series, The 100 Greatest TV Characters, Bewitched: The E! True Hollywood Story (the seventh-highest rated True Hollywood Story in E!’s history), A&E’s Biography of Lee Majors, TLC’s Behind the Fame specials on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Hill Street Blues, and L.A. Law, among others.  Herbie J has also served as a consulting producer and on-screen cultural commentator on various classic TV DVD documentaries for Sony, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros., including The Six Million Dollar Man boxed set, Kung Fu, and CHiPs.
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Herbie J’s long list of top-selling, critically-acclaimed pop-culture/media tie-in books include Mary: The Mary Tyler Moore Story, Dashing, Daring and Debonair: TV’s Top Male Icons from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, Glamour Gidgets and the Girl Next Door, The Essential Elizabeth Montgomery: A Guide To Her Magical Performances, Twitch Upon a Star: The Bewitched Life and Career of Elizabeth Montgomery, Bewitched Forever, The Bewitched Book, The Bionic Book, Life Story: The Book of Life Goes On, The Kung Fu Book of Wisdom, The Kung Fu Book of Caine, and NBC & ME: My Life as a Page in a Book, personally-signed copies of each book may be ordered by visiting Herbie J's Shop. 
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Herbie J began his career as an NBC Page in 1984 (where he worked The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson), after which he became an actor and appeared on TV shows like Highway to Heaven, The Golden Girls, General Hospital, and The Bold and the Beautiful, in addition to various film and live stage productions (some of which he has also directed, such as Leonard Malfi’s Birdbath).
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In 2010, Herbie J founded the Classic TV Preservation Society (CTVPS), a formal 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the positive social influence of classic television programming; a core function of which is the Classic TV & Self-Esteem Seminars that are brought to schools, colleges, business, community, and senior centers.  Seniors, in particular, respond enthusiastically to the seminars, which many times include six-week programs that allow participants to explore their true life experiences in theatrical productions. 
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Herbie J, born in Rochester, New York, and today living in Los Angeles, was inspired to ignite the CTVPS due to the positive family values presented on classic TV shows, the inspiration he received from Bewitched star Elizabeth Montgomery (who he befriended, and who was active in charitable organizations), and because of his dedication as primary caregiver to his parents in their later years (which see Herbie J's Family Blog).  
 
Herbie J is also Creative Director for Television, Ink. (a family oriented TV and film production company), serves as an Editor Emeritus for Larry Brody's heralded www.TVWriter.com, writes about classic television for the Television Academy's distinguished www.Emmys.com, and is a classic TV consultant for Closer Weekly Magazine., among other media outlets.
 
Most excitably, Herbie J is the Host and Executive Producer (with Joel Eisenberg and Steve Hillard, co-creators of The Chronicles of Ara), and producer Lorie Girsh Eisenberg of Then Again with Herbie J Pilato, a new classic TV talk show now streaming on Amazon Prime and Shout Factory TV.   Please feel free to watch and review the show by visiting the following link provided here: Then Again with Herbie J Pilato
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For more news and information, please log on to Herbie J's Main Blog.

With Chris McLennen ... you have EVERYTHING to FEAR

In The Passionpit's latest IN THE DARK segment features Chris McLennen, the creator of PHOENIX FEAR CON. 
https://phoenixfearcon.com/
Phoenix FearCON Independent Horror Film Festival is a community driven event focused on the independent horror film maker, and the obstacles they face trying to get their film projects noticed. In addition, we aim to make our events interactive, so that there are not just film screenings. We invite local performers and local celebrities for performances and meet/greets with their fans. Our volunteer staff work tirelessly and without compensation to make sure the FearCON is the best event visited by our guests and film makers. 
FearCON originally started out in 2006 as the Phoenix Fear Film Festival, showcasing local and international independent horror films at the now defunct Paper Heart, a small art gallery. We have since grown to a large venue and have been a vanguard event, dedicated to strengthening the general understanding of horror genre film culture by providing audiences independent, cutting‐edge, original films – and authentic representations of horror from around the world.
Through time the festival has evolved to include a wider variety of genres for audiences to enjoy, all of which portray a different aspect of terror along with an atmosphere dedicated to the horror movie fan, including special musical presentations, special effects demonstrations, panel discussions, Q&A with cast and crew, fashion shows and more. 
To reflect these changes and highlight the festival’s evolution, the name of the festival has been changed to “Phoenix FearCON”
Phoenix FearCON provides a significant opportunity for audiences to come and see what independent Horror is all about from different perspectives and reflect.
Cinema is a bridge that connects us all. The committee members and our volunteers have a passion and energy dedicated to this event. Although the festival is still young, it is supported by its members with unlimited potential, and we hope to continue this event into the future.
Our aim is to uncover new talent in the Horror film industry through this festival, and to develop and grow together.

Broadway Through the Eyes of a Scribe for our times: PETER FILICHIA

Peter Filichia is the theater critic emeritus for the Star-Ledger in Newark, New Jersey and News 12 New Jersey.
He is a columnist each Friday for www.mtishows.com and www.kritzerland.com.
Filichia is the author of Let’s Put on a Musical, now in its third printing; Broadway Musicals: The Biggest Hit of the Season / The Biggest Flop of the Season and Broadway Musical MVPs 1960-2010: The Most Valuable Players of the Last 50 Seasons. His new book, Strippers, Showgirls, and Sharks will be published in May, 2013 by St. Martin’s Press.
He has been a columnist for Playbill, Theater.com, Theatermania and Theater Week.
Before joining the Theatre World Awards in 1996 as host and head of the selection committee, Filichia served four terms as president of the Drama Desk. He has served on an assessment panel for the National Endowment for the Arts, and is currently critic-in-residence for the University of Cincinnati-Conservatory of Music and the musical theater judge for the ASCAP Awards program.