Grove 34 is a cute little venue spot off Broadway and 34th Street in Astoria. I had regularly…read morepassed by and this place came off as rather snooty, even more so than one would expect My opinion changed when I went to attend a reading/lecture/meeting in support of Robert Singleton of The Greater Astoria Historical Society and Nathalia (saw lady) Paruz) whose recent composition had just been the backdrop for a major movie that was being released nationwide. This venue also hosts podcasts in a backroom and can offer some very basic refreshments. Anyway, that is another story . The lighting is a little poor, but the acoustics were fine for the nearly two-hour meeting, with just enough seats for the complete audience. All in all a spot for and with great potential!

Basically a perfect small Comedy Club!…read more Very chill neighborhood spot with killer talent - I saw Rob Rego, Pedro Salinas, Joe List, Greg Stone & Raanan Hershberg here last night (11/30/2023) and they were all super solid. Great, clear sound system, friendly owners & self-seating - I'll def be back here again!

Knowing is half the battle. I was talking with the director of this theater group whom told me…read moreabout his groups production of As You like it. It's a large space that the Ophelia theater group worked hundred's of hours to put together. Very awesome that they are giving back to the community within the Boys and Girls club while also entertaining theater goers. It's a little tricky to find the theater but we eventually did. It was night and we walked passed the sign but the second entrance to the Boys and Girls club directs you to go back. (They are working on improving signage). There are beverages available and eventually they will have hot drinks as well. Great for the cool weather ahead. The show was great, it was the first Shakespeare play for me and I enjoyed it. It was humorous and musical. I honestly didn't understand all that was said but the context is easy to pick up and by the end of the show I got it. I look forward to the groups future productions and what they do with the space next. There was mention also of the space being available for others to rent out. That'd be cool if you have a show or production you want to put on. Check them out.

Long time fan, first time reviewer of this wonderful company! Passionate people making quality…read moretheatre accessible in the middle of Astoria. The professional level they're able to achieve in a black box space they legitimately converted from a dance studio is inspiring! I've seen multiple shows here, from Shakespeare to LaBute to Musical Theatre they always exceed my expectations. They usually provide cheap drinks and a friendly environment as well. :)

Q.E.D. = quod erat demonstrandum…read more Q.E.D. Astoria is a mellow and welcoming venue that focuses on comedy but also hosts a range of interesting programming for adults and kids. Most events seem to be under $20, and you can purchase tickets on their website. It's set up so there are a couple of tables around a stage; if you're a small party, you could share a table with other folks. I suggest going when the doors open so you can pick out your preferred seat. The staff are super kind and cool. They do sell food and drinks which you can consume during the performances, but there are also a zillion restaurants nearby too. I've seen a comedy show and a movie screening and had a blast at both. Excited to check out more Q.E.D. events this year!

This is a very intimate storefront Comedy Club in cool hood Astoria that's 100% worth checking out…read moreto see great comics in a cool setting! They have an inventive food & drink menu and prices are super reasonable - you'd be hard pressed to find better value for show and vittles just about anywhere. The Wife (Kambri Crews) & Husband (Comedian Christian Finnegan) Team that owned it for years recently sold it to a young woman Hannah Lieberman who has kept the magic alive. Support Live Comedy & See a Show!!!

Speakeasy Dollhouse is a truly fun immersive theater event where you can be as involved or as…read moreuninvolved as you prefer, and all the action/romance/violence/intrigue happens in the space around you. You arrive through a relatively creepy outdoor alleyway guarded by some probably-corrupt policemen. If you get there early enough, you'll witness what appears to be an assault of some kind (more on that later). After passing through a tiny Alice-in-Wonderlandesque door, you find yourself in the 1920s. It's hard to tell at first what's going on and where to look, but if you ask around, you'll eventually find Frank Spano, the proprietor. From there the love triangle surrounding him becomes apparent, and story starts to unfold. There's good swingy jazz, varied drinks (served in teacups or paper bags, a la prohibition style), a lot of good looking people, and a fair amount of pageantry (burlesque, singing, fighting, a funeral, gunplay, a murder trial, etc.). Look to get paid off by local mobsters to lie in court, gossip with local crooked politicians over poker and whiskey, walk in on an illicit affair or marital spat, or get into the smuggling business by brokering a deal between Spano and the local authorities to release his impounded truck full of Canadian Club. If you've got a strong back, become a pallbearer at Frank's funeral. Don't miss seeing the nude corpses in the medical examiners office, including the person on the losing end of the assault I mentioned earlier. Not for the faint of heart. The best part of the story is that its all based on actual events in creator Cynthia von Buhler's family history. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction, but whether or not it's all really true, you will have fun one way or another. My advice is not to come with people you haven't seen in a while, because I t's better if you have to strike out on your own a bit to mingle and become a part of the story. Even if you just go for a night out on the town with no intention of talking to anyone other than your SO, dress up in your 1920s finest so you can be an extra in everyone else's fantasy, which is a great way to spend a Saturday evening.

I like this play so much I have seen it twice and will probably go again when I'm next in NYC. The…read moreproducers have done an amazing job of recreating an authentic speakeasy ambience in an old LES tenement. I felt like I'd stepped back in time and loved that so many participants dressed up and took their roles seriously. On my first visit, I was cast as Dominick's teacher and I loved my role. Both Mary Spano and her son, Dominick, made me feel as if I was really part of their story. It's hard for me to think of them as actors because I so thoroughly identified with them and their story. Stepping back, though, all the actors were terrific and very welcoming. They seamlessly absorb the crowd in the story. But Mary Spano and Dominick's performances really stood out. I felt for both these characters and especially for Mary. I was there when she was in labor, holding her hand and praying with her. On my second visit, I was cast as Dutch Schultz' girlfriend. Dutch was very quick with the improvised repartee we exchanged and handsome to boot; so I enjoyed that role and got to confront his wife by the bar. Still my favourite spot was in Mary's room - where a lot of the key action unfolds, including the secrets we learn about the Spano marriage. Mary and Dominick delivered poignant performances each time. And the atmosphere inside the Speakeasy is sexy and fun. Highly recommended for a great evening out.

Eric came and did a magic show for my 5 year old boy. He was very good and entertaining. The kids…read moreand parents had an amazing time being wow'd by his tricks. Eric came on time - his performance consisted of 45 mins of magic and 15 mins of balloon twisting for the kids. Glad to have met and hired Eric to do the birthday show. Fun fact: Eric was able to make a balloon dog figure behind his back in under 10 seconds.

Amazing Q was a hit at my recent Friendsmas gathering. A small group of 10 people, the show was…read moreadored by all and Q made sure to include everyone in his show. 10/10 recommend.

This organization is one of the finest I have ever dealt with. Last year my son sustained a sports…read moreinjury and we needed to find a camp quickly so we called Applause New York. From the first phone call I knew this was the place for us. The staff is amazing beyond words - always willing to answer a question or help out in any way they can. Since joining the camp my oldest has gone on to perform in two of their shows and is doing the program again this year as well as the camp. Our youngest son joined the camp this year and he is already talking about signing him up for the whole summer next year. He will also be doing a movie making class this year which is something he began to love through camp. We have had the opportunity to work with talented and extremely professional individuals who have mentored my oldest son. They have transformed my boy into a very confident performer. There are not enough stars to rate Applause. The counselors are exceptional and they make the days fun and my boys feel supported and loved every day. Each person you deal with is nicer than the next. Audrey has built more than a business, she has created a place that nurtures, encourages and helps develop children to reach their ultimate potential. She has built a home away from home and we are happy to be part of the Applause family. If your child has any desire to act, sing, dance or just have a blast - this is the place to go!

BEWARE!!!!! Do not sign up for these classes until the absolute last minute possible and be very,…read morevery sure that your child is going to respond well to the method of teaching and class dynamic. BE VERY, VERY sure. You will hear that "spots are going fast", and the "class is almost full". If you sign up you will never get a single penny back if your child has an injury or medical condition that prevents them from participating (see above), or the class is not the right fit, or if you have a family situation that arises and prevents your child from attending. There are no exceptions. Expect no compassion. Once you send in the your payment, regardless of any ethical or legal requirements for a refund, you will not get it, and the classes are quite expensive.

I can't believe I'm the first one to review them!…read more I found their staff to be welcoming, with the one fun snarky staffer which you expect to find at most any smaller theater company. I like what they've done with the church space. They have ample space for larger productions, including ample lighting equipment. The acoustics aren't the best, but they're not horrible. The performers with better, stronger chops were easily heard, and you didn't have to concentrate too hard to hear the lighter voices. The chairs are about as comfortable as padded folding chairs are going to get. There is some wooden bleacher creaking going on, which can get annoying when you have an antsy audience member. And you do have the occasion issue of being able to hear the performers crossing behind you and whispering as they prepare for their entrance. But for $18 tickets, it's really not bad. The production was solid, and the location was easy to find.

Went to see their production of the musical Raisin this week and how great it is. I loved the…read moreoriginal production (1974) and this is the first NYC revival since then. It's a big cast that does well with the material. The set was excellent, the choreography well done and the orchestra very tuneful. The orchestrations were a bit different from the OBC recording - more jazzy I think and We Don't Do That Anymore less caustic/snarky (which is not how I like that song). The theatre is in a church; the folding chairs were really uncomfortable and the basement bathrooms stunk. But i do recommend he production and will keep an eye on them for other interesting theatre choices.

Well, I HAVE attended opera performances in this lovely jewel-box of a theater, both before and…read moreafter their major renovation. The theater is comfortable, beautifully renovated, and intimate (although the acoustics can be tricky if you do auditions there! It's rather dead.). Performances generally are solid, production values are good, and all in all, they usually do a nice job with whatever opera they are producing, and they choose some interesting pieces here and there. Ticket prices have gone up quite a bit over the years -- tickets for the operas will set you back $55 (vs. Met weekend prices: Front Family Circle: $42; Balcony is $80 -- sure you are up high, but it's the MET!). The last opera I attended had a ticket price of $35 .... and I considered that high, as I could go to the Met for less. Still can, obviously.....

I saw the Most Happy Fella at Dicapo, and was very impressed with the production as well as the…read moreTheatre space. What a lovely intimate space for performers and audience members to enjoy! I loved how the actors didn't use microphones and the sound from the orchestra was pure and sweet! I feel like there wasn't a bad seat in the house, and the seats were actually comfortable! Bravo Dicapo! I had such a positive experience attending their performance, that I can only imagine how one of their Operas would look and sound!

I'm embarrassed that I have never been here before. What have I been doing as an artist in NYC for…read morethe past 25 years? Fool me once, shame on me, and all the other euphemisms meant to wag the finger at the accused. This place gives serious Regency Era vibes or is it the Gilded Age? One thing I DO KNOW, I love it here, and this time, sitting in these lavish rooms, I will not be a slave. Someone that looks like me remains in the minority between these stately walls, but yet I feel very at home. Came to see a brilliant adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, choreographed by Benjamin Mellipied and performed by the dancers of the LA Dance Project. Stayed to nestle into the lounge chairs in the lounge area and dream of dance, future excursions and other palatial places to lounge. Maybe drop a bag to be a member so I don't spend the next 25 years missing out on some of the best performance art I've ever seen. The Park Avenue Armory owes me nothing, but I feel I owe it a rousing round of applause, even if my black hands are some of the only ones clapping in the house. Bravo

I visited the Park Avenue Armory for the first time last weekend for the Diane Arbus exhibit, and I…read morewas really blown away. The building is incredible. It was built for the 7th New York Militia Regiment and completed in 1880 (with expansions in the early 20th century). The interior of the building is a masterwork of the American Aesthetic Movement - especially that Veterans Room and Library, which really took my breath away. Decorated by Louis Comfort Tiffany, there is some really incredible stained glass and an amazing fireplace as well. It's been restored beautifully, and since I noticed a sign about tours of the building, the next time I visit I'm definitely reserving some time to learn about and tour the building as well. Since 2007, the Armory has hosted art exhibits and performances, and that's what I was there for - their current art exhibit. "Diane Arbus: Constellation" will be shown at the Armory through August 17, 2025, and is an incredibly comprehensive look at Arbrus's work. The way the work is displayed is incredible (the New York Times article about the exhibit is worth a read if you want to know more or before you visit), and the exhibit was amazing, if a little overwhelming (more than 450 prints?!). The Park Avenue Armory really surprised me. I'm sure I'll return for another exhibit in the future, and that time, I'm taking the tour, too!