And now for something completely different ….
The Newton Nomadic Theater reason for being is theater and over the last three years we have done some first rate theater. From the start though we’ve always loved the idea of using the theater as an umbrella for all sorts of other things. At this point, our Nomad Story Slams are a local institution (we just held the 11th one last Friday). We’ve hosted a film premier (The Winding Stream). We’ve presented various musical performers (Emerald Rae, Andrew Cook, Newton North’s The Newtones).
Now we’ve got something new in store, and you’re going to like it – The Cabtivist.
John McDonagh has been a New York cab driver for the last 35 years. I think he’s been involved in more crazy situations then anyone I’ve ever met … and he is hysterically funny. His one man show “The Cabtivist” weaves together all kinds of stories with real world video in a way that will have you gasping for breath, you’ll be laughing so hard. Said the New York Daily News – “Cabbie John McDonagh takes passengers and theatergoers on a hell of a ride”
That’s just what happened last Friday. John made a special appearance at our Nomad Story Slam as the featured guest. He did a 5 minute excerpt from The Captivist that had the crowd roaring. His tale of how he ended up going head-to-head with FoxNews and the video of a bewildered Neal Cavuto reacting to him had the audience howling … and that’s before he got to how he found himself running through the FoxNews studio with half the staff in hot pursuit. Trust me, that story is just a tip of John’s storytelling iceberg.
We’ll be presenting The Cabtivist for two nights only. Friday April 28 at Gregorian Rugs and Saturday April 29 at Patty Simon’s Studio In Newton Highlands. We’re nearly certain these shows will sell out, so don’t wait to get your tickets. You won’t be disappointed.
Long time Upper Falls residents will be interested to know that Mr. McDonagh is the son-in-law of Kay Mullen and the late Attorney John Mullen of Elliot Street in Elliot Street in Upper Falls. I was lucky enough to sit near Mr. McDonagh’s wife and daughter at the last story slam.
The humor of his performance was enhanced by this local tie. I look forward to his full performance with great eagerness.
City Councilor Brian Yates
We’re very excited about The Cabtivist coming to Newton but surprisingly New York is very excited too.
Here’s John’s fellow NYC cabbie Seth Goldman with a message for Newton audiences.
Ever more startling, the “Fearless Girl” of Wall Street was spotted wearing a Newton Nomadic Theater T shirt this week.
Even the deceased lead singer from the Clash is catching Newton Nomadic fever. The iconic mural of Joe Strummer on New York’s Lower East Side was also suddenly sporting a Newton Nomadic Theater T shirt yesterday
Sat sold out. Sunday matinee just added – April 30, 3PM
Both Friday (4/28) and Saturday (4/29) are already sold out. We’ve added a Sunday (4/30) 3 PM matinee show but those tickets are going quickly. Get tickets ($20) while they last.
A few word from Seth Goldman to those of you who have been planning on getting tickets to our upcoming show – John McDonagh’s The Cabtivist.
Actor, author, and Green Party candidate for New York governor Malachy McCourt has a few words for the people of Newton.
John McDonagh wow’ed us all with three sold out performances of The Cabtivist this weekend.
Man this guy has enough outlandish but true stories for any ten people’s lives. Aside from immersing us all in the world of being a NYC cabbie, we heard about three near-misses of John becoming the next reality TV star, bringing Stephen Fry to a Queens mafia social club, causing an international incident that caused Times Square to be shut down and Margaret Thatcher to summon the US ambassador to 10 Downing Street, being pummeled (with good reason) by Bernie Madoff’s victims, being chased out of Fox News studio after blindsiding Neil Cavuto on the air, and sharing a stage with Salmon Rushdie.
To hear it all, you’d definitely think that John likes to tell tall tales … except his multi-media presentation includes all sorts of video clips and press clippings that back each of these stories up 100%. Even more startling, I’ve heard other stories that didn’t even make it into the show.
We definitely have to get this guy back to Newton again for those who couldn’t get tickets. As Malachy McCourt says, “all of you who missed this show are a bunch of omadons.”.