Staff Picks No. 104

Vape Kids Cool Zone: The Lost Episode : Excess Materials, Sir Cum Sized, Vape Kid, Jr., Octavia Leona Kohner
The Brick Theater
July 3rd-12th 2025

This was one of my big regretful misses at Exponential Festival and I’m so glad it’s coming back for a run at the Brick - it’s kind of everything I love in one avant-garde hodgepodge (puppets, old media, children’s tv, psyops(?)) and so that’s more than enough to swing myself a ticket. I love a show that makes people do a double-take when you read the credits, so consider that a bonus.

Staffer: Reuven Glezer

When artists make something so good that they are invited back by the venue to do their thing for longer and with more support, you know you gotta get a ticket. Duh.

Staffer: Theresa Buchheister

Time Myer’s Hotdog Eating Contest : Tim Myer, Jordan DeFilippo, Whitley Watson, Mera Caulfield, Ike Ufomadu, Chicken Big, FKA DEB, Kaye Loggins, Honey Drop It, ¿QUÉ?, Neill Lynskey, Hotel Art Thief, and more!
LifeWorld
Thursday July 3rd 2025

Competitors must eat a single hot dog. How they eat the hot dog is up to them. Due to my last name I am contractually obligated to attend this event. I look forward to having my appetite ruined.

Staffer: Leah Plante-Wiener

Jurassic Park: A Drag Show 65 Million Years in the Making: Thee Suburbia, Chola Spears, Sweaty Eddie, Pink Pancake
3 Dollar Bill
Saturday July 5th 2025

Everyone knows I love dinosaurs. The first 100% Party I threw was Dinos, with Pepper Laramie reading dino erotica, Jo Firestone doing Dino Bullshit History, Sam Mickens playing the John Williams theme on electric guitar, Angora Peaks doing burlesque in a Barney head… anyway. Love em. Can’t get enough of em. And this dino-themed drag show has two of my favorite performers in NY - Thee Suburbia and Sweaty Eddie! I am guessing the others are just as fantastic, because Suburbia and Sweaty really know how to put on a show. Put on your khaki short shorts and have a fun night out!

Staffer : Theresa Buchheister

Memnon : Will Power, Carl Cofield
Richard Rodgers Amphitheater @ Marcus Garvey Park
July 5th-27th 2025

Outdoor offerings abound as July slithers forth, and Classical Theatre of Harlem is back at it with its outdoor productions of classical and classical-inspired work in gorgeous Marcus Garvey Park. Will Power (The Seven; Fetch Clay, Make Man; Seize the King) pens a new Greek epic-in-verse directed by Carl Cofield. There are Shakespeares in the Park everywhere for those with eyes to see, but Classical Theatre of Harlem does the fun thing and asks "where do we go beyond?"

Staffer: Reuven Glezer

Berlindia! : Daniel Holzman, Noah Latty, Emma Richmond, Arjun Biju, Rosalie Neal, Pete J Simpson, Rita Wolf, Mike Iveson, Susannah Millonzi, Colleen Murray, Marika Kent, Chris Darbassie, Sam DeBell, Mia Pak, Nicholas Webster, Neeta Thadani
The Tank
June 27th-July 22nd 2025

This is one of my “I've heard great things about the work of everyone involved, so I'm excited to see what these people are making” kind of picks, and it sounds like such a show for the summer (as well as a show for people whose moms are….like that. You know what I mean). Off to Berlin(dia) with you!

Staffer: Reuven Glezer

Sometimes the team assembled is so good, the choices make themselves. Go to this show. Have a good time. Write me a letter and tell me about it.

Staffer: Theresa Buchheister