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Broadway is Back in Stony Point! Penguin Rep Theatre Announces Fall Lineup

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Experience live local theater at the Penguin, starting on October 30 with Neil Berg’s Broadway’s Back! Other highlights of the fall season include tributes to Tony Bennett and Carole King.

ROCKLAND, NY (October 26, 2021) — Celebrate the reopening of Broadway—without leaving your own backyard—with The Penguin Rep Theatre. We’re pleased to announce our Fall 2021 lineup of musical events, returning to the live stage at the Penguin Rep Theatre, 7 Crickettown Road, in Stony Point, New York.

First up is Neil Berg’s Broadway’s Back!, on Saturday, October 30, at 7 p.m. “There is no better time to salute Broadway—the source of so many of America’s most memorable and beautiful songs—than now, and no better messenger than Neil Berg and company!” says Joe Brancato, Artistic Director for the Penguin Rep Theatre. Join Rockland’s own superstar composer and performer Neil Berg, as well as Broadway singer and actress Rita Harvey, star of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera and Fiddler on the Roof; and Craig Schulman, who played the title roles in both The Phantom of the Opera and Jekyll and Hyde, and starred asJean Valjean in Les Misérables, as they light up the Penguin stage with songs from Broadway classics and its newest hit shows.

Also showing this fall are the following concerts:

Taking the stage on Saturday, November 20 at 3 pm is Eddie Bruce’s Tribute to Two Tonys. Following his sold-out show this summer, crooner Eddie Bruce and his band are back with a salute to two musical greats: Tony Bennett and Anthony Newley. “We’re thrilled to welcome back Eddie Bruce, who kicked off our ‘One Step Closer’ concert series this summer, with his salute to two Tonys who made such an indelible mark on the American songbook,” Brancato says. Bennett—the prolific 95-year-old singer who most recently shared the stage with Lady Gaga—is known for hits such as “Rags to Riches” and “(I Left My Heart in) San Francisco,” among many others. Actor, singer, and songwriter Anthony Newley teamed up with the late Leslie Bricusse to produce the Academy Award-nominated film score of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Together, they also created two hit Broadway shows, Stop the World – I Want to Get Off!, and The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd. “Roar of the Greasepaint is especially dear to my heart,” says Brancato, “as it was the first show Penguin ever produced, more than 40 years ago!”


Experience the Yacouba Sissoko Trio on Saturday, November 27 at 2 pm. “It is a thrill to present Yacouba Sissoko, a master player of the magical string instrument, the kora, and his trio,” says Brancato, “as they bring alive the vibrant music of West Africa.” Descended from generations of djelys, the traditional musicians and storytellers of Mali, Sissoko incorporates a variety of musical influences into his repertoire and, according to Brancato, “opens to the door to a unique musical experience.”

Broadway singer Carter Calvert provides an unforgettable evening of music by the legendary Carole King in Natural Woman: A Carole King Celebration on Saturday, November 27, at 7 pm. King’s songs have been part of the soundtrack of our lives since her LP Tapestry was released in 1971 and went on to became one of the best-selling albums of all time. “The incredibly talented Calvertreturns to the Penguin stage following her sold-out Patsy Cline tribute this summer, bringing her own powerful and warm interpretations of the music of the legendary singer/songwriter,” Brancato notes.

To close out the season, be sure to catch A Very Cocomama Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 4, at 7 pm. “After the past year, we are ready to celebrate a joyous holiday season and the Cocomama band will have you dancing in the aisles with their irresistible renditions of holiday favorites in their incomparable style,” says Brancato. Expect traditional holiday songs with an irresistible Latin twist.

Penguin’s fall season is made possible with support from Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable Trust, GMG Public Relations, New York State Council on the Arts, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Rockland County Tourism, The Shubert Foundation, Town of Stony Point, and Wright Bros. Real Estate.

For tickets, contact the Box Office at 845-786-2873 or visit us online at www.penguinrep.org.

PLEASE NOTE: Penguin Rep Theatre is committed to the health and safety of our staff and guests. We require all those entering the theatre to provide proof of vaccination at the door. (Proof of vaccination can be your actual vaccination card, a photo of your card, the Excelsior Pass, or proof provided by a foreign government.) In keeping with the CDC’s updated guidance, we require all patrons and staff to wear masks inside the theatre.

New Mental Health Advocacy Organization InnaVillage Announces Its Launch with Kick-Off Fundraising Concert and Event in West Haverstraw

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Introducing InnaVillage: A new nonprofit on a mission to bolster mental health awareness and create a safe space for teens coping with neurodiversity challenges.

Rockland (October 26, 2021) —  InnaVillage, a new nonprofit organization which aims to support mental health awareness for neurodiverse teens and young adults across Rockland County, is officially announcing its launch. Created by 23-year-old mental health advocate Niko Rodriguez, the organization is working to help remove the stigma around mental health disorders and drive increased attention, funding, and resources in support of young people facing mental health concerns. Rodriguez, a high-functioning autistic youth who has also been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety disorder, processing disorder, and intermittent depression, chose the name, InnaVillage, because he believes, “it takes a village to fully support people like me.”

InnaVillage’s long-term goal is to create an inclusive, village-like space where young people with neurodiversity challenges can come together safely to connect and support one another through various activities and interests. Having such a place, Rodriguez explains, will also serve them therapeutically, while introducing them to vital mental health resources and building a community of acceptance and strength. “At InnaVillage, we believe that building relationships and utilizing interests that can help young people explore career paths and feed their souls is crucial to keeping them engaged and motivated to gain important life skills and invest in their own treatment and independence,” he says.

To celebrate its launch, InnaVillage is hosting a kick-off event, VillageFest 2021: A Mental Health Fundraiser, on Sunday, November 14, 2021 from 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM EST at GARNER Arts Center at 55 W Railroad Ave in West Haverstraw, NY. A great opportunity to learn more about InnaVillage and its support for mental-health awareness, the event includes a hip-hop concert featuring some 20 artists and headlined by The Hoodies—a rap duo from Ellenville, NY who have achieved Instagram fame and appeared on The Ellen Show. The event also includes a special collaborative performance by B-Xtreme, a dance group featured on America’s Got Talent, and Ballet Rockland. Rodriguez, who himself is a successful rap artist and actor, came up for the idea of this combined dance routine to highlight the fact that “our differences are our strengths.” VillageFest will also feature various food vendors and a DJ as well as presentations from local mental health organizations and speakers sharing important information about area mental health resources and services. All ticket purchases provide a raffle entry for the chance to win a smart TV and other great prizes. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales and donations will be going to BRIDGES and NAMI.

Hudson’s Mill Tavern will also be providing VillageFest ticket holders with 10% off dinner from 3pm-8pm the day of the event. Reservations are highly suggested.

In addition to VillageFest, InnaVillage plans to host a series of concerts, street fairs, and other community activities throughout the year to raise funds to donate to struggling nonprofit organizations who are already servicing neurodivergent youth. “It is difficult to find treatment and services for this population, and InnaVillage wants to support those who have found ways to assist and motivate youth and their families,” Rodriguez explains.

Eventually, InnaVillage hopes to open a recreation center for the neurodiverse— “all under one roof, with a village-like feel,” says Rodriguez—filled with activities that enhance their well-being and promote their interests while helping them gain skills, acceptance, and independence. Plans include a music studio, art room and gallery, a video/film and radio room for broadcasting, spaces for culinary, gaming, dance, animal therapy, gardening, and basketball, as well as a park-like community room that would facilitate socialization, host speakers, and provide direct assistance to at-risk youth. “I want members of our neurodivergent community to be able to showcase their works and talents to all. I want it to be a safe place without judgement that crosses all cultural populations and where everyone respects one another,” says Rodriguez.

“InnaVillage is excited and grateful to begin this venture in support of all neurodiversities amongst our young people, including Autism, ADHD, substance abuse, suicide, and other mental health struggles,” Rodriguez says. “I want kids to understand that it’s OK not to be OK, and to remember that it takes a village.”

To buy tickets or purchase VIP passes & access to the artist lounge for the kickoff event, visit https://villagefest.eventbrite.com.

Standard tickets through Eventbrite are $30, $100 for VIP and $40 at the door. To find out more email: innavillageest@gmail.com.

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