Sex in Mommyville

Recently I had the opportunity to attend a reading of a unique and hilarious play reading, Sex in Mommyville.*

I chose to take my amazing friend Donna with me to the reading,  I love you girl!

The reading of Sex and Mommyville was at The Snapple Theater. When we first arrived at the theater, we headed straight for the ladies room. I must say, this theater had the cutest bathroom I've ever seen. The sinks were wearing skirts!

They made me feel a little underdressed for the show!

Our next stop was a wine and cheese display, which we naturally indulged in.

The show commenced, and we sat back and enjoyed our girl's night out!

Sex in Mommyville is about what it feels like to be a mother and cope with one's desire to remain sexual. The protagonist, Artemis, played by Anna Fishbeyn (who is also the writer of the show) struggles between the role of mother, and sexual being. Not only is Artemis a mother and a wife, but she is also a writer. Her inner writer's voice is characterized by Greek muses who speak for Artemis' desires. 

Other characters who play a part in the story are Artemis' Russian immigrant parents, Poseidon and Athena, her daughter, Aphrodite, her infant son, and her husband Zeus. 

Sex in Mommyville is brutally honest, raw, and hilarious! I deeply related to the character of Artemis with regard to her want to feel wanted by her husband, and having tremendous difficulty balancing those wants with the wants of her children. 

Though Donna doesn't have children yet, she remarked that she related to the dynamic between the Artemis and her husband. It seemed like the two were trying so desperately to be understood by each other. This theme can be a challenge in any marriage, and I, too, felt like I related to these characters. 

Sex in Mommyville was a literary, engaging, thoughtful, and hilarious show. I can't wait to see where it goes from here!

For more information on Sex in Mommyville click here. 

*Tickets to the reading of Sex in Mommyville were provided by the lovely and amazing Holly from Mamadrama

Ahoy Matey! Help Wanted: Pirates!

Ari loves to go to Playtime! where he gets to create art while I see great theater. I recently got an email from Kristina over at Sitter Studio letting me know about a new musical starring the Artist Sitters rom Sitter Studio! These are the same Artist Sitters that create art with Ari at Playtime!

The show was called Help Wanted: Pirates! When I heard the title, I knew my kids would go bananas over it. Even Samara likes to dress up like a pirate at home!

Help Wanted: Pirates! is an interactive kid's show that enlists the help of the audience members to become pirates! Ari and Samara were happy to get in on the action! Check it out:

Help Wanted: Pirates! was written with children in mind. The show takes into account how active kids are, and how they need to move around often. The show fully engages the audience, kids and adults, and invites both into the exciting world of piracy and treasure seeking!

Ari and Samara both had an awesome time at the show!

If your little one loves to be a pirate, this is a ship he or she will love to join.

So what are you waiting for matey? For more information on Help Wanted: Pirates: click here!

Old Jews Telling Jokes- With Jeff Fader's Review

Yesterday I had the opportunity through Playtime! to see Old Jews Telling Jokes.* Playtime! is a fantastic program that allows parents (of children ages 4-12) to go to the theater while their children are engaged in an artistic projects led by artist sitters!

Read more about Playtime! here.

When I first heard the title of the show, I knew exactly who to take with me to see it, my dad.

For those of you that know Jeff Fader, you're aware that he is always telling a corny joke, and he's Jewish. I just knew that this was the show for him!

I was positive that my dad would like Old Jews, because that's his style of humor. But I wasn't sure how I would feel about it.

After seeing it, I can report that "Old Jews Telling Jokes" was hilarious. There are all kinds of jokes in the show, religious jokes, birth jokes, sex jokes and old age jokes.

You might be wondering how actors telling jokes could hold your attention for an hour and a half. The jokes are told in various ways, some are told like stories and some jokes are acted out in little vignettes complete with scenery and props. This I can promise you, you won't be bored. The show is fast paced, and your attention is always held.

Here's what the joke connoisseur, Jeff Fader (and a surprise guest) had to say about the show:

Jewish, gentile, whatever you are, if you love to laugh this is the show for you!

For more information on Old Jews Telling Jokes click here.

*Full disclosure, tickets to the show were provided to me courtesy of the amazing ladies over at MamaDrama.

For more information on my experience with playtime, click here.

Playtime! How I Went to the Theater While Ari Made Art With an Artist

Today, my mom and I went to the theater. We saw a black comedy called Assistance about trying to stay sane while working for a crazy abusive boss.

While we went to see a show, Aunt Mimi and Uncle Mike watched Samara at their house. I'm told she had a great time playing with toys, eating a banana, and attempting to say the word "banana." Thanks guys!a

I cannot remember the last time I've been to the theater, which is bizarre since I'm an actor myself and come from an extensive performing arts background. I was a theater major at LaGuardia High School of Music and Art & Performing Arts and went on to study theater at Ithaca College and New York University.

This day would not have been possible if it hadn't been for an awesome organization called Playtime

I found out about Playtime on Twitter. Once my nemesis, now Twitter and I are becoming friends.

Leslie Marcus, Managing Director at Playwrights Horizons and mother of two, along with her co-workers, dreamt up Playtime.

Playwrights Horizons noticed that there was a lapse in theater goers who were parents. The reason for this was that it was too expensive for parents to hire a babysitter, and they felt guilty leaving their kids at home while they went off to enjoy a cultural experience.

Enter Playtime, a program that provides childcare for kids ages 4-12 while parents go to the theater. There is something very unique about the childcare provided by Playtime; the "babysitters" are also artists. They are musicians, photographers, actors, and writers from an organization called Sitters Studio. Here's how it works: you buy tickets to a Playwright's Horizon's show. For $15 you can purchase a slot in a Playtime for your child. While you attend the performance, your child is engaged in a artistic experience with real artists.

After my mom and I saw the show, I had a chance to sit down with Leslie to talk a bit about Playtime. Here's what she had to say:

My mom and I loved Assistance. It was very clever, dark, unique and entertaining. I'm thinking about dragging Wil to see it.

Ari had a blast with the Arts Sitters from Playtime.

I felt great knowing that while I was watching a play, he was involved in creative projects too!

o

For more information about Playtime visit their site here