THEATER: Frankenstein (Mortal Toys) is a “miniature spectacle that follows the haunted alpine journey of Victor Frankenstein, as he confronts the loneliness and rage of his alienated monster.” The production stars elegantly handmade puppets based on 18th century portrait paintings, lush sets inspired by Romantic era landscape painting, an eerie musical score by Severin Behnen, played live on toy piano, organ, bells and accordion. The Times calls it “an inspired melding of material and medium. It evokes the Romantic sublime with unflagging inventiveness: Arctic floes with icy blue light, lands of ‘mist and snow,’ the delicate flight of a bird over mountains.” – John Del Signore
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John Mulaney, Comedian
Tonight striking writers and friends will take the stage again for a 2nd Strike Night! Joining John Oliver (The Daily Show), Liz Cackowski (Saturday Night Live), Andy Secunda (Conan) and Maggie Carey, Joe Grossman (Letterman) is John Mulaney -- possibly one of our favorite young comedians today. Mulaney helped host one of our Movable Hype shows last year and currently can be seen on stages around town and on screen at Best Week Ever. Buy...
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EVENT: Tonight Duncan Sheik (ah, we still remember when he sang "Barely Breathing" at the Peach Pit After Dark) and Steven Sater pair up for a Spring Awakening book signing. They will be joined from 5–5:30pm by Spring Awakening cast members Jennifer Damiano and John Gallagher, Jr., who will perform acoustic versions of two song selections from the show at the signing. 5 to 7pm // Drama Book Shop [250 W 40th St] // Free...
Patton Oswalt, Comedian and Actor
The Comedians of Comedy are performing at Irving Plaze on October 27th at 6 and 10:30 PM. Both shows will be hosted by Patton Oswalt, who will be joined by Brian Poshein, Maria Bamford, Eugene Mirman, John Mulaney, and some yet to be announced special guests. Last year's surprises included performances by David Cross, Nick Swardson, Jon Benjamin, and Jon Glaser. With such a line up, the event is certainly a night not to be missed. Gothamist got a hold of Patton to get his opinion on some of his past roles, politics, and where he likes to eat when he's in town.
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FILM: BAM features the work of Al Santana tonight. The Brooklyn filmmaker "has been a fixture on the independent film and video scene for years and his work ranges from documentaries about the transatlantic slave trade to coping with 9/11." Santana will be on hand for a Q&A tonight as well.
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THEATER: Described as Damn Yankees meets Ed Wood, the screwball musical LOST IN HOLLYWOODLAND is a goofy retelling of the Faust myth, with a lowly production assistant’s assistant standing in for the good doctor. (Naturally, a film producer serves as the devil.) The fun begins when the peon signs away his soul for fame and fortune. Having killed ‘em in Buffalo, the production now takes Manhattan via the New York Fringe Festival. - John Del Signore
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MUSIC: There's no better way to end the week by heading over to the Seaport Music Festival on a Friday evening. Sit on the pier with a glass of wine and watch some bands as the sun goes down. The water and ships provide the perfect summer backdrop. Tonight Fujiya & Miyagi will get you moving with some dance beats and Black Moth Super Rainbow will stick to the synth-rock.
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We can't possibly choose only one music event for the weekend, so check out OhMyRockness for the jam packed weekend listings. We will say, however, that one of the openers for Snowden at Maxwell's tonight...is We Are Scientists, trying out some new tunes. Though closer to home are The Clientele and Beach House at Bowery Ballroom. Listen: Apple Orchard.mp3 - Beach House
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MOVIE: By now you've probably seen Grizzly Man. The Werner Herzog directed documentary depicts one (slightly off kilter) man's relationship with nature. Over the course of 13 summers, Timothy Treadwell lived amongst the animals - most notably the bears, in the Alaskan wild. You know this doesn't end well.
Julian McCullough, Comedian
Julian McCullough's a highly sought after comic in the New York scene. He just recorded a killer set for Comedy Central's Live at Gotham and this month he's opening for the likes of Colin Quinn and Richard Lewis. But it's not just headliners that love him. His peers sing his praises too. Just ask VH1 Commentator and comedian John Mulaney. "What makes Julian so damn good is that he is a comic with smart, really well written jokes. You can put him in front of any crowd and he can gauge the room, work with it, and then crush with his material."
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THEATER: The Ledge is a multi-media solo show based on a 1959 short story by Lawrence Sargent Hall. The production uses video projection as the only source of stage lighting to tell the haunting tale of a fisherman who becomes stranded with his son and nephew on a small reef off the New England coast in winter. When his wife ultimately finds his frozen body, he is compelled by her eyes to relive his last hours holding the boys above the icy waters. Martin Denton praised the Dixon Place workshop production of The Ledge as “a theatrical experience of rare power and beauty: an exploration of our humanity that has the profound capacity to move and uplift its audience.” - John Del Signore
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EVENT: The avant-gourmands from Radiohole (who have been blogging about their adventures in Vermont) will be giving “private-dingy palm readings and psychic-portraits featuring Peek-a-Boo Technology” at the grand opening party for Three Legged Dog. The company’s new home, which is at the World Trade Center site, was recently heralded by the Times as a sign of “hope” for the other stalled projects at Ground Zero. The party is free and boasts performances by League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots, Aldo Perez and other hopefuls. - John Del Signore
Mike Birbiglia, Comedian
It was good. I did Oh, Hello, Invite Them Up, and last night I did a show that Eugene did for the first time in Brooklyn at a place called Union Hall. It was Todd Barry, A.D. Miles, Eugene, and myself. It was great. A really cool local Parkslope sort of crowd.
Laughable Hype 2.0ver
Thank you to all of the comedians: Eugene Mirman, Aziz Ansari, Todd Barry, Daniel Kitson and John Mulaney. Daniel Kitson was a last minute addition and we couldn't be happier he could join us. Since we're more music than comedy, we'll just say this, he was like...the Arcade Fire of comedians. Luring us in to his well crafted tales of everyday life, leaving us with cheeks hurting from laughing so hard. If you want to catch him before he heads back cross the pond, you can do so tonight (and only tonight!) at his "Stories for the Wobbly Hearted" show. Tickets and info here.
Laughable Hype 2.0 is Next Week!
One of them had the funniest interview to date on Gothamist. Another is on a label with some of our favorite bands. And another just opened for Radiohead at Bonnaroo, well, sort of.
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COMEDY: Our favorite duo, Gil Faizon (Nick Kroll) and George St. Geegland (John Mulaney), will be bringing their "Oh Hello" show to UCB. Drop by, even if it's just for their famous Tuna-tina recipe. In addition, there will be NEW drink recipes...and special guests.
Enrique Goldfarb Returns
We received the following note from the lucite desk of Enrique Goldfarb (Northern New Jersey's #3 bar mitzvah entertainer):
Weekly Comedy Roundup: The Old and the New School
Comedy Legends Live: The inimitable Carl Reiner speaks with Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Susie Essman. Reiner—comedian, actor, novelist and director— was a creator, writer and producer for The Dick Van Dyke Show. In 1999, he was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor by the Kennedy Center and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. Come check out a legend.
Let Us Eat Cake!
We hope you had a good time at Movable Hype 6.0 last night, which also served as a third birthday party for Gothamist (we really turn three next week, but details!). Thank you (and "Oh, hello!") to hosts Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, and thank you to the great lineup of bands, Burnside Project, Metal Hearts, and Slowlands. And big thank yous to Amelia and Loreal for making us wonderful birthday cakes. We enjoyed a chocolate skyline from Loreal's chocolate (with some coffee!) cake and Amelia's "Jerry Orbach Goes Undercover as a Panda" cake was almost not eaten because we wanted to preserve it.
Movable Hype 6.0 + Gothamist's 3rd Birthday is TONIGHT!
Tonight is the night, come celebrate Gothamist's 3rd Birthday at our Movable Hype 6.0 show. Important details are:

