Catching Up With Debbie Gibson

Long Island native reflects on relationships, Trump and her upcoming Huntington charity event.

In an age when gay couples struggle for their legal chance at the altar as others clamor to keep them away, it's hard to imagine that somewhere in the mix lies a third dimension. That's where you'll find Debbie Gibson. Between the white picket fence existence of her Long Island electric youth and the current surroundings of her Los Angeles home, the former teen sensation has discovered the unconventional bliss of committed non-commitment, of which she currently practices with her beau.  "I don't have any urgent personal reason to want to have the government or a priest tell me that I'm in a committed relationship," Gibson said this week. Her four-year alliance with her man is probably more committed than most married people she knows, says…

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Paramount Extends Free Ticket Offer to Brush Fire Responders

Free passes available to Augustana, Big Shot and Dennis DeYoung shows next week in Huntington.

The Paramount Theater in Huntington has extended their free ticket offer to those who continue to help with the fire-affected areas on Long Island. Because of the ongoing fire problem, theater officials extended their free ticket giveaway to include three shows next week — Augustana, Big Shot and Dennis DeYoung. "All emergency personnel or residents that were affected by the incidents have a chance to enjoy complimentary admission to any show," according to a theater press release Wednesday. Last weekend, the Paramount handed out 50 tickets to two shows.  The offer is in appreciation to the more than 100 fire departments and other groups including the Guardians of Rescue and Suffolk County Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals, …

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Arts Organization Flourishes Despite Hard Times

New partnerships, fundraising resources, and resolve sustain Northport Arts Coalition as grants dry up.

Northport Arts Coalition Executive Director Daniel Paige diligently worked a room full of prospective members after a poetry reading in the basement of Northport Library last week, shaking hands and connecting with what has become the lifeblood of his organization. "It's tough to get grants now, you ask for $3000 you get $90, but we're getting more and more members," he said, surveying the room. "We used to get a grant from Suffolk County for venues like this at the library. One day we got an email, maybe two years ago, saying no more grants, so we had to foot the bill to pay the artists-- you can't just expect them to do something for free. Fortunately we continued with the memberships and it's really the backbone of the money we're …

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Northport One-Act Play Festival Returns to St. Paul’s

Three days of one-act plays written and performed by Long Island playwrights and actors will be on tap at St. Paul’s this weekend.

For the third year in a row, The Playhouse at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on Main Street will play host to the Northport One-Act Play Festival on March 30, 31, and April 1, featuring a mix of 25 comedies and dramas written by Long Island playwrights. Organized by theme, Friday’s plays are entitled  “Accentuate the Positive.” Saturday night’s program highlights “The Human Condition” and Sunday afternoon celebrates “April Fool.” As in years past, each program will culminate with the presentation of The Rising Star Awards. Saturday’s matinee, which centers around the theme of  “Combating Bullying”, consists of plays written and acted primarily by Long Island teenagers. The show is free to the public, and will also feature a live …

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Theater Review: 'The Sunshine Boys' at Engeman

Laughs abound as Vaudeville legends Lewis (Chip Zien) and Clark (Lewis J. Stadlen) reunite to perform their old act one last time.

The John W. Engeman Theater's current production of Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys is a never-ending laugh fest, ripe with relatable humor and slapstick comedy that is sorely missing from plays today. This endearing story, coupled with a clever cast of skilled actors, makes for an incredibly fulfilling and fun experience in theater. Lewis (Chip Zien) and Clark (Lewis J. Stadlen) are The Sunshine Boys’ two faded vaudeville legends, but what they are lacking for in youth they make up for in zingers and nagging bites. We meet them in the 70s as they reunite to perform their old act one last time, despite the fact that they hate each other. The basis for most of the comedy comes through watching these two old men attempt to get past the issues…

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Photos: 'The Sunshine Boys' at Engeman

Ticket sales to support Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York.

The John W. Engeman Theater is teaming up with Bethpage Federal Credit Union to raise money for the Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York through special ticket sales for the new comedy 'The Sunshine Boys,' running from Feb. 2 through March 25. Nominated for a Tony Award on Broadway, this laugh-out-loud comedy follows two faded vaudeville legends, Lewis and Clark, as they reunite to perform their old act one last time. This nostalgic comedy by Neil Simon is packed with the slapstick comedy sketches that embody the golden days of vaudeville. Ten dollars from each ticket purchased with a special code will be donated to the Long Island-based children’s medical facility offering health care services to screen, diagnose, and treat a wide …

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Tell Us Your Top Tunes for Valentine's

Name some of your favorites and we'll make a Spotify playlist for you to enjoy.

What's Valentine's Day without appropriate music? A box of chocolates, some flowers and fine food will get you just so far. We want to know what your favorite romantic song is. Tell us and we'll add it to Spotify to create a romantic playlist, which we'll share with you on Valentine's Day. What's your favorite? Is it something by Norah Jones or Frank Sinatra? The Beatles or Beyonce? Marvin Gaye or Mariah Carey? Tell us in the comments and we'll start working on the list.

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Video: Northport Chorale Celebrates 30 Years of Song

Highlights from recent performances by the Northport-based volunteer singing group.

It's the Northport Chorale's 30th year, and they're busier then ever. The group began the month by singing at the Vanderbilt Museum's Annual Tree Lighting ceremony on Dec. 3. and rendered the audience speechless at their annual holiday concert at Northport High School last Friday.  At the concert, Mayor George Doll presented the group with a proclamation recognizing their service to the community. The group also teamed up for several songs with the Northport High School Orchestra and the reverberations of Middle Island Presbyterian Church's bell choir. Check out the video to see highlights from their recent performances and hear what they had to say about 30 years of singing in the Northport community. The volunteer group says it's always …

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Review: 'A Wonderful Life' at Engeman

Discovering the true meaning of Christmas with a classic film brought to stage.

The quest to discover the true spirit of Christmas often involves a spiritual journey where someone takes an introspective look at the path their life has taken in order to see themselves as they truly are. Suddenly there is a transformation, where they can finally discard the fears and attachments associated with money, and celebrate the joy and love in their life which is truly priceless. This journey is captured perfectly in two stories that are as synonymous with Christmas as turkey is with Thanksgiving. The first is "A Christmas Carol," and the second is "It's a Wonderful Life." For George Bailey, in "It's a Wonderful Life," this journey is a vision of what the world would be like if he never existed, and is brought to him by Clarence…

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Arts Groups: Town Budget Cuts Devastating

Huntington's 2012 budget has left arts and cultural programs searching for solutions.

If culture can be defined as that which is excellent in the arts, Huntington has plenty of it. But unfortunately, maintaining such a status quo seldom comes cheap. The town's cherished arts and cultural society, for years the benefactor of a generous economic climate, now finds itself in an era of uncertainty as a troubled economy and stagnant property values have forced the need for essential services and lower taxes to the top of the pecking order in terms of town funding. "It's disappointing but times are tough," said Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum Executive Director Paul DeOrsay.  The museum and other organizations are bracing for $254,000 in approved across-the-board town budget cuts next year to arts and non-profit funding which …

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