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Selected (Political) Shorts

November
30

People who listen to public radio know Isaiah Sheffer as the man who brings short stories to New York City each weekend, in an hourlong program called “Selected Shorts.”

Others may know him for running Symphony Space, the cultural-arts institution on Manhattan’s Upper West Side where “Selected Shorts” originates.

To the cast of “The Thalia Follies: A Political Cabaret” – another Symphony Space series – Sheffer is the guy they can count on for a snappy parody about Hillary Rodham Clinton.

That talent will be on display tomorrow at the Rosenthal JCC in Pleasantville as Sheffer & Co. head north for their first-ever tour with “The Thalia Follies.”

“The Hillary song should go well in Westchester, since we’re performing near where she lives,” says Sheffer, who breaks into song without any prompting whatsoever:

“Your interns and your shenanigans I’ve had my fill.

I love you, but I don’t know.

Don’t screw up my turn, Bill.”

The “Follies” is coming to Pleasantville as part of the Insights & Revelations Performance Series at the Rosenthal JCC. The appearance will give local audiences a taste of what Symphony Space crowds have been enjoying for years. On six Monday nights throughout the season, co-writer Martin Sage and Sheffer craft evenings of entertainment on a particular theme.

Recent programs have dealt with the drawn-out presidential race and with food. Skits and songs from both of those programs will be on tomorrow’s set list – everything from songs about Clinton and Barack Obama to an ode to arugula and a song by David Buskin about a Tennessee law that allows people to cook roadkill.

Sheffer says “Follies” is “deeper and sharper” than Washington’s Capitol Steps troupe.

“It’s a little more ‘Saturday Night Live’-ish,” he says. “It’s satirically deeper.”

Among the cast are Nora York, Buskin, Kathryn Markey, Mary Brienza and Ivy Austin, who was on Garrison Keillor’s “American Radio Company” when the “Lake Wobegon” creator set up shop in New York. She’ll sing the Hillary song.

Also coming to Pleasantville will be comic Marion Cowings, who’ll portray Obama.

The show will run 90 minutes without intermission and will be followed by a meet-and-greet with the performers, including Sheffer.

He’ll be the one with a song at the ready.

‘The Thalia Follies: A Political Cabaret’
Where: Rosenthal JCC, 600 Bear Ridge Road, Pleasantville.
When: 8 p.m. tomorrow.
Tickets: $25.
Call: 914-764-4028.
Web: deepend.typepad.com.
With: Isaiah Sheffer, Ivy Austin, David Buskin, Nora York, The Chalks, and more. Musical director: Lanny Meyers.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 30th, 2007 at 5:27 pm by Peter D. Kramer.
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If it involves theater in any way -- from grade-schoolers learning Shakespeare to high school musicals to Broadway veterans getting into character -- this is the place to talk about it. We'll have audition notices, casting notices, mini-reviews and plenty of ideas to fill a theater junkie's to-do list.
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    Peter D. KramerPeter D. Kramer has loved theater his whole life. A Rockland County native and 19-year employee of The Journal News, Pete relishes his current role, alerting theater lovers to the possibilities and talking to artists young and old about their craft. A former actor, director, technical director, ticket-taker and bon vivant, Pete has put a theater life behind him, living vicariously through those he interviews.

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