Advance Notice: Discount Tix for October's Wrathskellar

A few of my pix from last year.

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FRI 10/5 (thru SUN 10/28)

8pm
"The Wrathskellar"
at Davis Square Theater, 255 Elm St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$11.25 or $16.50 Goldstar price / $25 door or $27 advance

At last year's Wrathskellar, an empty storefront was transformed into a pseudo-Brechtian tavern setting for a well-paced, funny, and sexy theater experience. Now they're settling into the theater below the Burren where adult beverages will be available.

Far from being a cheesy attempt to scare folks around Halloween, it's just a darker than average burlesque during the season with morbid humor.

While the program changes slightly from year to year, pay attention from the beginning and you might pick up clues for the narrative that emerges throughout the show.

While it's slightly above the usual 'cheap thrill', consider it the "Goldstar Pick o' the Week". You have to sign up, but it's not more offensive than any other emails. (See a recent preamble for my usual Goldstar disclaimer.)

They have discounted tickets for:

FRI 10/5, SAT 10/6, SUN 10/7,
THUR 10/11, FRI 10/12, SAT 10/13, SUN 10/14,
THUR 10/18, FRI 10/19, SUN 10/21,
and THUR 10/25.

I meant to post this earlier, but the cheapest offers are available for:
SUN 10/7, THUR 10/11, SUN 10/14, and SUN 10/21 -- if you act quickly.

Goldstar Pick o' the Week -- Romeo & Juliet

(Original photo from Wikipedia)

The Goldstar people approached me to spread the word about their website, so I decided to share one of their deals now and then. I had already used their service, so I know it works.

They offer various 50% (or more) discounts to a variety of events like theater, comedy, music, etc.

Yes, you have to register. And they send emails on a regular basis -- but you can read/delete them as you like. I suggest reading them more often than not, because some early-bird discounts provide almost free admission.

Yes, they're "free" tickets have service charges so it's not really free -- but I have and will try to represent the true costs.

I screwed up and meant to post this earlier in the day. My bad.

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FRI 8/10 (thru SAT 8/25)

Various Times
"Romeo and Juliet"
at Plaza Theatre, Boston Center for Arts, 539 Tremont Street, Boston (South End)
$4 or $7 to $16 Goldstar price (vs $24)

A few years ago I saw a performance of "Romeo and Juliet" where the characters spoke the Bard's original words yet they were modern clothes as if they were people like you or I. The play made more sense than any other time I've seen it live or on screen.

Based on the promotional photo, it could be the same kind of situation with a better cast and director.

Unfortunately, the cheapest tickets are only available today. (You could've seen it early if you were already on their mailing list.

Goldstar tickets to the preview on FRI 8/10 (8pm) are $4 or $9 versus the full price of $12.

When the full price is $24, they are offering $7 tickets today only -- then $16 to the following dates:

SAT 8/11 -- 8pm
THUR 8/16 -- 7:30pm
FRI 8/17 -- 8pm
SAT 8/18 -- 8pm
THUR 8/23 -- 7:30pm
FRI 8/24 -- 8pm
SAT 8/25 -- 8pm

It's not free Shakespeare in the Common and we all know the ending, yet we're still open to seeing new versions...

Goldstar Pick o' the Week -- A Sci-Fi Gangster Fairy Tale

(Original photo from Wikipedia)

The Goldstar people approached me to spread the word about their website, so I decided to share one of their deals now and then. I had already used their service, so I know it works.

They offer various 50% (or more) discounts to a variety of events like theater, comedy, music, etc.

Yes, you have to register. And they send emails on a regular basis -- but you can read/delete them as you like. I suggest reading them more often than not, because some early-bird discounts provide almost free admission.

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THUR 8/9 (thru SAT 8/18)

Various Times
"The Third Story"
at Arsenal Center for the Arts, Black Box Theatre, 321 Arsenal St, Watertown
$7 or $19 Goldstar price (vs $25.50)

I can't tell you how funny this is. Seriously, I can't tell you.

When I saw a photo of a not-quite-handsome man in drag, my gut senses that it may be a gutbuster. Set in the '40s, "The Third Story" takes a wild ride through Hollywood, the Midwest, romance, witchcraft, gangsters, and cloning.

Playwright Charles Busch has written many comedies (e.g. "Psycho Beach Party", "Die, Mommy, Die!", "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife"), and this play has received many positive reviews since it debuted in 2008.

No offense to the fine performers, but I'm more likely to take a chance for $7 instead of $25. Act soon for the lowest price tickets available on THUR 8/9 and SUN 8/12.

Note: "This show is not suitable for children. The performance includes the use of strobe lighting and simulated gunfire."

ALSO:

At Club Oberon on Fridays, you can catch the boozy sketch comedy show "Bye Bye Liver: The Boston Drinking Play". There are $10 (plus $3.50 service fee) tickets which is better than the $20 full price.

Want to see Rufus Wainwright & Ingrid Michaelson on SUN 7/29? You could save $15...

Goldstar Pick o' the Week: "Roller Disco the Musical!"

(Original photo from Wikipedia)

WED 6/27 & THUR 6/28 (thru THUR 8/30)

8pm
"Roller Disco the Musical!"
at Club Oberon, 2 Arrow St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$7 or $16.50 Goldstar price (vs $25)

It's no contest for the Goldstar Pick o' the Week. Today's email featured this event that will run on Wednesdays and Thursdays from next week through Thursday 8/30.

Putting aside the good buzz I've been hearing, I would be hooked by their tag line:

The unauthorized parody of "Roller Boogie", the classic film that Inspired a generation... For like five minutes.

Who cares that nobody remembers the campy 1979 film when we have a brand new 3-act musical where all of the performers are on roller-skates for the whole production!

Even if the story is vaguely faithful to the original, it's going to ridiculous fun. And you know the camp quotient is going to be turned up by the sheer equation of "roller boogie" + "The 70s".

I read that the actors weren't asked about their skating abilities until after the auditions, so keep in mind that some of them are just acting like they know how to roller-skate.

There is a limited amount of the cheapest tickets ("Free" plus service fee), but it doesn't hurt to save a few bucks with the $12.50 tix. Goldstar offers discounts on a variety of events.

As far as one can tell from the trailer, there was no dialogue in the source material. Gotta love the latitude for parody! (Yep, the roller princess is the kid from "The Exorcist".)

SAT 2/27: RSVP for "Othello" Under the Garage

5pm to 6pm
"Othello": Open Rehearsal
at Downstairs at The Garage, 38 JFK St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE w/ RSVP

After more than 400 years since this play was created, it's great to see that we can appreciate a well-orchestrated tale of jealousy, racism, scheming, betrayal, more jealousy, even more betrayal, and murder. Iago must be one of the most conniving characters in literature. If you don't go see this production at Villa Victoria (3/10 thru 4/4), I recommend the BBC version with Bob Hoskins in this role.

(Shakespeare knew his stuff -- whoever he was...)

The Actors' Shakespeare Project is active with several productions annually, and it seems like they usually have one or two free events associated with each one. People are invited to a rehearsal that will probably begin with some comments from director Judy Braha, and there will be a talk-back session at the end. By the promotional photos, it looks like the setting has been moved to approximately present-day.

I swear I didn't know there was a performance space in the basement of the Garage until I saw that this company was performing last year. I assume it won't be too difficult to find.

When you RSVP, it might be a good idea to give your name and how many people may be joining you.

If you still want to talk more Othello, some people will head upstairs to John Harvard's.

Thru 12/27: "Tru Grace: Holiday Memoirs"

Believe it or not, I get a little "bah-humbug" around this time of the year. As a recovering Catholic schoolboy, I opt for the cafeteria approach to the holidays:

Breathe in the pine scent (tree, wreath, etc), admire colorful light displays, enjoy the seasonal sweets, have a few cups of egg nog...

Be friendlier to people, be more charitable, spend time with loved ones, give some presents (from local and independent sources)...

Of course, there must be feats of strength and airing of grievances; but most of the other stuff doesn't really mean much to me.

I'm not at "war against Christmas". The music can put me in a happy mood (more Ramones, less Killers). I usually watch some of holiday movies too.

I know some people like to see song and/or dance performances. Maybe this program will become an annual tradition. These are the kind of stories that could warm my curmudgeonly heart.

(There's also shows like "The Slutcracker" to warm other parts of your body...)

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FRI 12/11 thru SUN 12/27 (Schedule Below)

Various Times
"Tru Grace: Holiday Memoirs"
at Central Square Theater, 450 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 * with Discount Code (see below) *

The ostensibly misspelled title is derived from the two authors' names that the plays are based upon: Truman Capote's "A Christmas Memory" and Grace Paley's "The Loudest Voice".

I was not familiar with "The Loudest Voice" before this production, but the setting of a Jewish school putting on a nativity play has plenty of potential.

I remember reading "A Christmas Memory" in school and loving it. What I've admired about Capote's writing has been his beautiful style that imparts the characters' humanity. This is a beautiful story of the author as a little boy and his bond with a special cousin. I often squeeze someone's hand three times whether or not they have read "Christmas Memory".

Someone wrote a good, detailed review; but I have a few more thoughts: I like that they have preserved much of the original stories in the manner they've been adapted.

I also like that both plays take place during the '30s as it magnifies the message that we can find joy and be thankful even with meager resources. You also find that good theater doesn't need a gigantic production. This is not overly sentimental pap either, and people will leave in a better mood.

I'm honored to present a really big discount for the show. One of the marketing people over there is one of my 'virtual' friends, so this is the code to purchase $10 tickets to any of the remaining performances:
General admission is $35, so this is a really good deal!

I'd bet that most people don't even know there's a brand-spanking-new theatre in Central Square. Walk down a few doors from the Middle East, and you'll see it way before you hit the fire station.

Showtimes:

FRI 12/11, 12/18

8pm

SAT 12/12, 12/19, 12/26

2pm and 8pm

SUN 12/13, 12/20

2pm

SUN 12/27

2pm and 7pm

WED 12/23

7:30pm

Happy ChristmaChanuKwaanzakah!