"Showgirls! The Musical" Moving to "Different Places" With an Off-Broadway Run!

Audiences can't get enough of drifter Nomi Malone, so it's time for "Showgirls! The Musical! to drift over to its own Off-Broadway stage at XL Nightclub, on W. 42nd between 10th & 11th Ave.  From May 15 through June 15, "Showgirls!" will really shine in its new home home at XL's 200-seat theater. Actress Rena Riffel will even be reprising her role as "Penny" from the Showgirls and Showgirls 2 films, through May 25.

Talented stage acting, witty writing, catchy tunes and, of course, nudity, make this a show that is heading to the top, even if it has to push you down the stairs to get there.

Purchase tickets now for upcoming performances on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at 8pm. For more info, watch the show's trailer, check out the slightly-NSFW website, and read WGINY's in-depth review from the show's premiere at the Kraine Theater.

"Trust the Thurst," Darling, With New Parody: "Showgirls! The Musical!"

"Showgirls! The Musical!" 

Remember when the zany "Zack Attack" came back in "Bayside! The Unmusical!"? Well the devious minds behind that unauthorized parody have created yet another sensational show that's wilder and more naked than anything you'd ever see at Bayside High -- "Showgirls! The Musical!"

With their musical interpretation of the 1995 cult classic film, "Showgirls," Medium Face creators want you to "Trust the Thrust" as you follow drifter "Nomi Malone" on her hilariously despondent journey to rise through the ranks of topless starlets in Las Vegas. This show forces audiences to do some serious soul searching to find the answers to hard questions, such as "Will Nomi lick that pole?" "Will Nomi's past come back to haunt her from different places?" "Will Nomi and Molly give in to the tension and become 'special' best friends?" Actress and Elizabeth Berkley look alike, April Kidwell, who also played "Jessie Spano" in "Bayside", portrays a tenacious Nomi Malone, complete with a fair share of freak outs and french fries. Her crazy eyes are so crazy, you'll forget she's acting!

The love-hate chemistry between "Nomi Malone" and "Cristal Conners," played by the dazzling Rori Nogee, is electric as they toggle for top-billed performer in the revue, "Goddess". Nogee thrusts herself far into the spotlight with her Southern Rock stylings, as she belts out "Look at Me," a song in which she tells of her superior status as Vegas Royalty. Marcus Desion, who portrays both Nomi's best friend "Molly" and one of Nomi's several love/lust interests, "James," also impresses with his talents as a skilled singer and dancer. Desion clearly excels as a physical movement artist, and brings a special comedic flair to an already absurd stage.

Recreated scenes at famed movie locations such as the "Krave Club," "The Cheetah," the "Boat Show," and "Kyle MacLachlan's pool" are wildly entertaining and completely over-the-top, as well as under the top, topless, on top of laps, and around poles. Kidwell's pole performance at "The Cheetah" is so incredibly athletic and poised, that the audience must wonder whether she has some classical dance or pole training, as she could probably match wits with some seasoned pole dancers.

Trust the Thrust! with April Kidwell as "Nomi Malone"

As if it couldn't get any more awesome, "Showgirls! The Musical!" is full of memorable dialogue and one-liners from the movie such as "You burn when you dance," "Dancing Ain't F*king," (also the title of one of the songs in the "Showgirls!" score) and "If you're the only one left standing, they'll hire you."

Unfortunately, any parody of "Showgirls" could not be complete without some references to the grievous sexual assault scene. The topic is at first addressed only suggestively, in passing comments, but the Medium Face team carries it out just a tad more than to a suggestion, and that part could probably be left out. Don't worry though, the show overall more than makes up for this faux pas, and Nomi climatically returns to kick some serious behind, and front, to the man who hurt her friend.

You won't want to miss this "Pollyanna's" limited engagement at the Kraine Theater, starting April 17. At only $18 each, tickets will sell out faster than Elizabeth Berkley did. Even if you're not familiar with the movie -- Come for the Dancing! Come for the Debauchery! Come for the Costumes, or lack thereof... Catch the show's trailer here and visit the "slightly NSFW" website to learn more.

Promotional photos used with permission.

Art Comes Alive in NYC with "Season of Cambodia: A Living Arts Festival"

Officially kicking off this Saturday, April 13, Cambodian Livings Arts (CLA) presents "Season of Cambodia," a "living arts" festival of culture, performance and visual art across the city. Music and dance performances, theater, and film, populate April and May, while visual art exhibits continue through early summer.

CLA has humble beginnings as a creative arts organization founded in 1998 to revitalize and promote artistic development in a region debilitated by the Khmer Rouge regime. Cambodia has come a long way since then, and CLA proudly sets a model for other international non-profits to follow. With its "Season of Cambodia: A Living Arts Festival," CLA highlights over 125 visual and performance artists, bringing these talented artists right to New Yorkers' backyards.

The festival had its "soft" opening on February 23, with the visual art exhibition, "Cambodia Rattan: The Sculpture of Sopheap Pich," at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Pich uses natural and organic materials such as rattan and bamboo to create abstract forms often inspired by anatomy and biology. "Cambodian Rattan" is the longest running exhibit of the festival, showing through July 7. If you visit this exhibit on April 14, you may even get a chance to meet the artist himself and learn more about his inspirations. Learn more about others artists' talks and symposiums here.

The festival's official Opening Ceremony event takes place on Saturday, April 13, from 3pm to 5pm at the Rubin Museum of Art, a local museum known for its focus on Himalayan art and sculpture from ancient through modern times. The opening ceremony is set to coincide with the celebratory start of the Cambodian New Year, and will feature traditional Cambodian music and chanting.

What else can you expect to see, hear and experience during this "Season of Cambodia"?

If performance art is what you seek, consider purchasing coveted tickets to the festival's first major production, "A Bend in the River," which is currently playing at the Joyce Theater, through April 14. SOC notes that renowned Cambodian performance and visual artists collaborated to produce a richly narrated story of "love, heartbreak, vengeance, consequence and redemption," interpreted by Cambodia's own Khmer Arts Ensemble, as choreographed by transcendent choreographer Sophiline Cheam Shapiro. "A Bend in the Rivier" is set to an original, live musical score composed by Him Sophy, and also features puppets created by Sopheap Pich ("Cambodia Rattan" sculptor).

Put yourself right in the middle of the arts festival by taking a Master dance class in general movement, Cambodian Classical Dance or Khmeropedies III. If you'd rather be off the dance floor watching others perform, there is a great lineup of dance performances at the festival throughout the beginning of May. You may want to marvel at the opulent costumes and gracefulness of the performers of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia at "The Legend of Aspara Mira," which will be showcased May 2 through May 4 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

For indie rock fans, you'll want to head to Le Poisson Rouge this Saturday night at 7:30pm
to catch "Dengue Fever," a band based out of Los Angeles that mixes Cambodian pop with American indie rock styles. Preview their dynamic music here. Learn about other musical performances sponsored by SOC here.

Photography and visual art fanatics have a plethora of options to choose from as well. Exhibit themes include the U.S. bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam War, rare images of female Royal Ballet of Cambodia principal dancers from 1927, as well as contemporary art and sculpture exhibitions throughout the city.

Finally, a living arts festival wouldn't be complete without a film series. Season of Cambodia's documentary film series features films that explore multifaceted themes in Cambodian culture and history, ranging from "Five Lives," a collection of documentary shorts about modern life in Cambodia's capital city, Phnom Phen, to "S21: The Khmer Rouge Death Machine," which explores atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge regime from the point of view of former prisoners and the very guards who essentially enslaved them. All films will be screened at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

"Season of Cambodia: A Living Arts Festival" presents an incredible opportunity for Americans to experience Cambodia like we've never seen it before, raise cross-cultural awareness, and promote and inspire artistic expression and more importantly, artistic freedom, worldwide. Browse the festival's Program of Events to find the experiences that most strike your fancy, though I can't promise it will be easy to choose!

5 Things I Want To Do In NYC When I Win The Lotto.

WGINY guest author, Li Chen, of Vimbly, tells What's Good in New York what she would do in NYC if she won the lottery, in her own words. 

5 Things I Want To Do In NYC When I Win The Lotto 

by Li Chen 

I recently filled out a questionnaire sheet and one of the questions was, "If you woke up as a millionaire, what's the first thing you'd buy?" I gave it a lot of thought. Unlike those chick flicks, I don't care for a Prada or a Porsche. I am not Miss Universe so I won't say "world peace" to every question and I won't donate my share either. Instead, this is what I'd do:

1. Visit the Empire State Building. The day I win the lotto will be the day I visit the Empire State Building. It costs $45 dollars for a NY Skyride and Empire State Building Observatory ticket...that's equivalent to a box of 24 Packs of King Size Kit Kat bars ($41.99!). Unless I get to take a picture with King Kong on top of the Empire State, I am spending my money on curing my sweet tooth cravings. Besides, time is money too. Did you see the line? Waiting in line...heck to the no!

2. Go on food tours everyday. I initially thought of eating at a buffet everyday, but having worked at one, I know waiters and waitresses look at you (they do!) when you go up for seconds or thirds. I prefer food tours where everyone is busy trying out food samples and no one is paying attention to you wolfing down a cannoli. Definitely food tours for the win!

3. Invest in micro apartments. There has been a shortage of affordable housing in New York City since the beginning of mankind. Micro apartments are definitely a better investment than clothes from Macy's. You can either sell it for a higher price when it's finished, or rent it and collect rent. Hey, planning for retirement wasn't that bad after all!

4. Buy parking lots. Wherever you see empty lots, buy it! Space is money in the city. You don't even need to decorate or renovate or anything. Simply put up a sign that spells P-A-R-K-I-N-G and you are guaranteed to make money.

5. Start my own company. There are numerous start startup companies in New York City. If money is not a concern, why not start a company of your own? Yes, you run the risk of failing but what do you have to lose? Most importantly, you are helping your community by creating time-saving web and phone apps like OpenTable for restaurants and Vimbly for recreational activities.

For more info on Vimbly, see WGINY's previous post about how this very nimbly site helps navigates NYC for busy activity-seekers. 

NYBG's Annual Orchid Show is Upon Us Again!

Spring is right around the corner, which means it's time for the New York Botanical Garden's Annual Orchid Show!

Read all about last year's colorful show, and purchase tickets to the 2013 show, which runs through April 22, here. WGINY readers can get a special discount by entering code "9926" when purchasing an All-Garden pass.

Last but not least, don't forget about those steamy Orchid Evenings!

NYC Alumnae Chapter of “TriDelta” Raises Funds for St. Jude Children’s Hospital on March 21

On Thursday, March 21, the NYC Alumnae Chapter of national college sorority, Delta Delta Delta will be hosting its fourth annual “Stars& Crescent Evening,” a fundraiser event for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  “NYC DDD” has a strong philanthropic foundation, and is frequently acknowledged as the top national alumnae chapter for fundraising by St. Jude. At their 2012 fundraiser, hosting over 300 guests, NYC DDD raised $28,800 for St. Jude! Can you help them raise more this year?

Taking place at the elegant Bowery Hotel, the “Stars & Crescent Evening” will be a night to remember with music and mingling to the beats of DJ Brian Gaffey, a high end open bar with signature cocktails, appetizers and dessert fare, and a silent auction with an amazing array of prizes. You can enter to win Knicks tickets, a roundtrip Jet Blue flight, tickets to “Watch What Happens LIVE!,” a helicopter ride around NYC, a Long Island winery experience, and so much more. 

Still not convinced? Watch this video from last year's event. Then check out the invite below and click here to purchase general admission or VIP tickets, or become a sponsor. VIP guests have special access to whiskey, wine and champagne tastings throughout the night, as well as some other surprises. Individual tickets start at $65. 

Even if you can’t attend, consider donating to the fundraiser.

There's Magic in the Air at the SoHo Playhouse!

For the past eight years, world premiere sleight-of-hand artist, Simon Lovell, has been winning over audiences at the SoHo Playhouse with New York City's longest running one-man show, "Simon Lovell's Strange and Unusual Hobbies". Author of at least sixteen books, esteemed recipient of the 2009 Merlin Award (like an "Oscar," "Tony" or "Emmy" for Magicians), and self-proclaimed con-artist, Lovell is also known for acting, writing and consulting on TV shows and movies, such as USA Network's "White Collar".

Lovell, who learned his first magic trick when he was four years old, amazes with impossible card tricks and other close-up magic, and his witty British charm adds a special flair to his "shindigs" at the Playhouse. He has mastered a one-handed shuffle and four-way card cut, and impresses when he asks six different audience members to secretly chose cards from his deck, building suspense as he finds each and every card after it has been mixed back in. He may even teach you ways to cheat your friends and become a "grifter" (aka con-person) yourself!

Perhaps the most intriguing part of Lovell's show is the sassy way in which he performs his tricks, encouraging audience participation and essentially posing many of his "tricks" like riddles -- you'll have that "aha" moment when he's done, but you never saw it coming. Though the "Strange and Unusual Hobbies" show typically runs 70 minutes, don't expect to be bombarded by magic the entire time, as much of the show comes down to outrageous props and perfect comedic timing.

Lovell's show takes places in a sleek downstairs lounge at the Playhouse, The Huron Club, offering a full bar and seating for about 40 people. Despite playing every Saturday night at 6:00 p.m., the show consistently sells out, so purchase tickets in advance, and get there early to ensure a seat right up front, where Lovell will be most likely to force you to interact with him during the show.

You can read more about the mysterious history of Simon Lovell here. If you happen to be a budding magician yourself, you may want to consider inquiring about Lovell's lectures for performers.

Spoltight on "FM Belfast"

Who or what is "FM Belfast," you ask? Don't expect to be in the dark too long about these guys as they light up the electro-pop music scene. Hailing from Iceland, FM Belfast headlined the 2008 Iceland Airwaves music festival, around the time of the release of their first official album, "How to Make Friends". As often happens with good music, it was their European fan base that really propelled them, but Americans are starting to take notice.

Perhaps they just can't stop singing along to catchy tunes such as "[I'm gonna learn] American" or "I don't wanna go to sleep either," or dancing to the hip beats FM Belfast pours out. Whatever the reason, it is clear that where FM Belfast goes, so does a surge of musical energy and excitement. Whether they are getting low with the crowd, rapping, throwing out confetti and silly string, or singing in their underwear to the tune of their single, "Underwear," FM Belfast knows how to have fun.

According to their website bio, FM Belfast was formed by couple Árni and Lóa in late 2005, because they simply wanted to make a Christmas song recording for friends. However, there was such a clear, cheerful passion and talent evident in their music, that they were encouraged to continue making music and begin performing. They have been doing so since 2006, despite their first album release being delayed until 2008.

Apparently, while the group usually performs with a core of four members, as many as forty musicians have appeared on stage in their shows over the years.  This past Sunday, a moderately-sized FM Belfast lit up the Studio at Webster Hall with their peppy, upbeat tunes, perhaps set to follow in the footsteps of now-well known bands such as Vampire Weekend, Mumford and Sons, Spoon, Florence and the Machine, and so many others. The stage was vibrantly decorated and the sounds of cowbells and maracas merely further accessorized the party in which the crowd became engrossed.

Get more familiar with FM Belfast here, and keep an eye on their tour dates. You don't want to miss their next NYC show.

New York Art Museums You Can't Miss!

Guest Author for Post: Dan Patterson, author bio appears below

Edited by: Heather K., WGINY 

New York City plays host to some of the finest art museums in the world. Art buffs know that any art tour of New York City simply is not complete without a visit to "The Met" and "The MoMA". Of course, you’re not going just to see the buildings, so you’ll need to know which paintings not to miss once you’re there. Some of the most famous are also housed at other Big Apple hot spots. Here’s a quick guide about where to go and what to see once you’re there.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Many people will tell you that no trip to NYC is complete without a visit to The Met, but once you get there, you’ll need to know what not to miss. The Met houses more than two million pieces of artwork and is one of the largest art museums in the world, so it is easy to understand why patrons become easily overwhelmed by the volume of works to see. If you plan ahead, you can easily navigate to the highlights, such as Michelangelo’s The Musicians (1595), Poussin’s The Abduction of the Sabine Women (1633-1634), Stuart’s portrait George Washington (1975-1796), Pollock’s Autumn Rhythm (1950), David’s The Death of Socrates (1787), Dali’s Crucifixion (1954), Picasso’s Dying Bull (1934), Homer’s Snap the Whip (1872), Monet’s Garden at Sainte-Adresse (1867), Van Gogh’s Wheat Field with Cypresses at the Hauute Galline Near Eygalieres (1889), Vermeer’s Young Woman with a Water Pitcher (1662), Manet’s The Monet Family in Their Garden at Argenteuil (1874), Klee’s Static Dynamic Gradation (1923), Matisse’s Nasturtiums with the Painting Dance (1912), El Greco’s View of Toledo (1596-1600), Singer-Sargent’s Madame X (1883-1884), and Cezanne’s The Card Players (1894-1895), to name a few. You may need more than a full day to discover all of the pieces you want to see. While you’re there, make a very worthy detour to the rooftop. It has one of the best views of the city.

The Museum of Modern Art

You may not be able to adequately recover from your affair with one famous painting before you engage with the next at MoMA. Yes, Van Gogh’s The Starry Night (1889) is there and Edvard Munch’s The Scream (1895), normally at home in Oslo, will be there until the end of April. One of the largest works of art on display is Monet’s Reflection of Clouds on the Water Lily Pond (1920), which occupies a very large amount of real estate on its own wall at MoMA. Here you’ll also find, Rousseau’s The Dream (1910), Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907), Dali’s Persistence of Memory (1931), Mondrion’s Broadway Boogie-Woogie (1942-1943), Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans, Matisse’s The Dance (1909), Chagall’s I and the Village (1911), Pollock’s Number 31 (1950), John’s Flag (1954-1955), Wyeth’s Christina’s World (1948), Lichtenstein’s Drowning Girl (1963), and Klimt’s Hope II (1907-1908).

These highlights are simply a snapshot of the great works on display in New York City art museums, but you’ll be delighted to check these off of your “to see” list. 

The Guggenheim

Gaze upon Frank Lloyd Wright's building, and you will see that the modern art experience here begins outside. Inside, The Guggenheim features ever-changing, notable modern art "from the 20th Century and beyond." Many of the paintings and sculpture found in the museum's permanent collection once belonged to founder Solomon Guggenheim and his family. Within the museum's permanent collections, it is impossible to pass by works by such as Cézanne's Man with Crossed Arms (1899) or Still Life: Flask, Glass, and Jug (1877), or Picasso's first Parisian work, Le Moulin de la Galette (1900). Through April 17, 2013, Vasily Kandinsky is once again brought to life as a rotating Guggenheim exhibit that includes Kandinsky's On the Spiritual in Art (1911).

The Frick Collection

The Frick Collection is the former 5^th Avenue residence of Pittsburgh industrialist Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919). It was built in 1914 and is one of New York City’s few remaining Gilded Age mansions, making it a work of art in and of itself—visitors are particularly captivated by the exquisite courtyard. Some of the masterpieces not to be missed are Whistler’s Harmony in Pink and Grey (1881), Degas’ The Rehearsal (1878-1879), Renoir’s Mother and Children (1876-1878), Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait (1658), Goya’s The Purification of the Temple (1600) and Vermeer’s Mistress and Maid (1667).

The Whitney Museum of American Art

The Whitney Museum was created by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in the early 1930s and features a wide variety of contemporary and American art, such as George Bellows Dempsey and Firpo (1924). The Whitney received a substantial donation from the estate of Edward Hopper in 1970, which included around 2,000 pieces of his work, most notably, Early Sunday Morning (1930) and Seven A.M. (1948).

Author Bio: 

This post was provided by Dan Patterson, who works for CityPASS. You can save on admission to some of the museums listed above with the New York CityPASS. To plan the best trip to New York, check out their plan your visit to NYC page. 

Another Superstorm?

Stay safe out there New York City, as another potential "superstorm" barrels our way today.  The storm, or rather, potential blizzard, "Nemo," may dump more than a foot of snow on our city streets tonight into tomorrow morning.

Be sure to check with the MTA frequently to ensure that your subway, bus or train line is running. Long Island Railroad and Metro North have added extra afternoon trains so that commuters who may be able to depart work early will be accommodated.

While public schools did open today, all after-school activities are cancelled. Many city events scheduled to take place tonight and tomorrow are also cancelled. Please confirm before venturing out.

Looking out my window now, I see flurries turning into rain. But weather officials confirm that this could end up being another "storm of the century," quite literally, the likes of which our region has not seen in a hundred years. Take extra precaution and stock up on food and necessities in case of power outages.

Depending on your wireless carrier, you may already be getting severe weather alert messages from the National Weather Service on your cell phone (read more about this here). If you are not, visit weather.com to sign up for their alert service.