THEATER

Swish and flick and help Harry Potter-inspired Puffs get filmed

Ilana Keller
Asbury Park Press

A year ago, a comedy about a boy wizard (no, not that one) made the move to off-Broadway.

Stephen Stout (from left), Eleanor Philips, Madeleine Bundy, Andy Miller, Langston Belton, Zac Moon, Julie Ann Earls, Jessie Cannizzaro and Nick Carrillo in "Puffs."

Now, "Puffs, Or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic & Magic" is looking to make the move to homes worldwide — and you can help.

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The production, which tells the story of Harry Potter's wizarding world's battle with evil through the eyes of the lovable misfit Puffs house, currently is running at New World Stages.

"For seven years a certain boy wizard went to Wizard School. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of The Puffs… who just happened to be there too," as the show puts it. "This is a play for anyone who has never been destined to save the world." 

Langston Belton (from left), Julie Ann Earls and Zac Moon in "Puffs."

"Puffs" has been the little show that could, moving to the Elektra Theater and then onto bigger digs at New World Stages after getting its start at Peoples Improv Theater in 2015.

Now, they hope to bring it to an ever bigger audience with a multi-camera production filmed live over two performances in February that will be available to stream and download.

Jessie Cannizzaro (front, from left), Zac Moon, James Fouhey and Stephen Stout, and Madeleine Bundy (back, from left), Langston Belton, Andy Miller and Eleanor Philips.

The show launched a Kickstarter to help it reach that goal, with a variety of bonuses available including thanks in the credits, a download of the show, T-shirts, meet-and-greets with the cast and creative team and more.

Visit kickstarter.com/projects/269018729/puffs-live-off-broadway to contribute.

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"Puffs" was written by Matt Cox and directed by Kristin McCarthy Parker. The company of "Puffs" includes Langston Belton, Madeleine Bundy, Jessie Cannizzaro, Nick Carrillo, Anna Dart, A.J. Ditty, Julie Ann Earls, James Fouhey, Jake Keefe, Andy Miller, Zac Moon, Eleanor Philips and Stephen Stout.

Andy Miller (from, from left), Jessie Cannizzaro, Zac Moon and Madeleine Bundy, and Nick Carrillo (back, from left), Julie Ann Earls, Langston Belton and Eleanor Philips in a scene from "Puffs."

Currently, performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. The weekend matinees are family friendly performances. Visit Telecharge.com for tickets.

Broadway comes to iPlay America

Five Broadway vocalists will hit the iPlay America stage in Freehold on Sunday, Dec. 17, for a holiday dinner show.

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Scheduled to perform are Jennifer DiNoia ("Wicked"),  Matthew Hydzik ("West Side Story"), Craig Schulman ("Les Miserables,” “The Phantom of the Opera,”  Kissy Simmons ("The Lion King") and Scarlett Strallen ("Mary Poppins").

Above: In Freehold, stroll through the City of iPlay America, an indoor amusement park, on streets like City Square and Broadway.

The performers will re-create their favorite musical moments, sing holiday tunes, share behind-the-scenes anecdotes and hold a question-and-answer session with the audience. 

A buffet meal starts at 4:30 p.m., and the show will start at 5:30. For more information and tickets ($45 to $55), visit iplayamerica.com/event/broadway-spotlight/

Middletown Arts Center offers classes

Middletown Arts Center has expanded its offerings, with a slew of new classes coming up.

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Some of the new workshops include social media for seniors, creating a photo book, advanced photography and painting courses, figure drawing, group singing lessons for children, teens and adults, private voice and flute lessons, food classes and much more. 

For the Winter/Spring brochure, where information on all classes can be found, visit
middletownarts.org

Have an fundraiser or event coming up that relates to the stage? Tell us about it. Email ikeller@gannettnj.com, call 732-643-4260 or connect on Twitter @ilanakeller