The hysterically entertaining BALLS: The Monster-Catchin’ Musical Comédy continues its popular summer residency at Caveat NYC, the acclaimed Lower East Side comedy venue that “champions nerdy, funny art—and sells cheap drinks.” Leading the cast of talented comedic performers is voiceover legend Stuart Zagnit, the original voice of Professor Oak from the English-language version of the Pokémon television series.

With pop up performances through August, audiences will have several chances to join The Professor on this epic musical adventure featuring improvised battles, an immersive Splash Zone, and a never-ending parade of adorable/violent puppet monsters.

In April, TDF listed BALLS as one of the top five shows to stream in the country. Nintendo Life call it “a proper laugh-fest [that] wears its Pokémon inspiration proud [sic] on its sleeve.” TimeOut New York says it’s the tenth best (out of 111!) thing to do in the city this weekend.

And JapanCultureNYC highly recommends BALLS! It’s weird, nostalgic, and thoroughly entertaining. Splurge for the Splash Zone; it’s worth it. I had a great conversation with Zagnit, so stay tuned for an in-depth look at his connection to the early days of Monster-Catchin’ and his involvement with this comedic musical.

Stuart Zagnit as The Professor and Harrison Bryan as Warlordturtle in *BALLS*

Created by Brandon Zelman (“Who’s that Pokémon? Podcast”, “Cat in the Hat Podcast”) and Harrison Bryan (“A Hanukkah Carol," “NY Innovative Theatre Award” Winner), BALLS features new music by an Elite Team of award-winning composers spanning Broadway, Hollywood, The West End, and TikTok, with an evocative score built around nostalgia. Composers include Lena Gabrielle (Six, Emojiland), Pippa Cleary (My Son’s a Queer, The Great British Bake Off Musical), Joriah Kwamé (Little Miss Perfect), Aaron Kenny (The Little Mermaid, A Hanukkah Carol), and Grace Yurchuk (Caesar: The Musical). Additional Music by Allan Nalven ("LSDJ") and Matthew Ryan Hunter (NBC) with Orchestrations, Arrangements, and Music Supervision by Lena Gabrielle.

BALLS Cast

Stuart Zagnit (Pokémon, Little Shop of Horrors) as "The Professor"
Teresa Attridge (Avenue Q, Fun Home) as “The Rival”
Harrison Bryan (Hand to God, “Handy Award” Winner) as “Warlordturtle”
Ebony Deloney (Hairspray, Beautiful) as “Fat’Chance”
Kurt Cruz (Asian AF, UCB) as “Pocket Pedia”
Katie Luke (Bandstand, Hairspray) as “Spittle”

“While BALLS wears its fandom on its sleeve, it’s not just a spoof. At its core, the show is a love letter to anyone who grew up catching monsters and dreaming big—and a reminder that growing up doesn’t mean giving up adventure.” (Artist Weekly)

To purchase tickets, please visit Caveat’s website. Learn more about the mayhem at BALLSmusical.com, and make sure to follow @ballsmusical on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for updates, discount codes, merch, and prizes.

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Susan McCormac 11/21/23 Susan McCormac 11/21/23

All AAPI Cast to Perform “Allegiance”

54 Sings Allegiance

Monday, November 27 at 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)

54 Below – 254 W. 54th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues)

Admission: $100.50 Premium Seating | $51-$62 Main Dining and Bar Seating

54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club, presents an entirely AAPI cast in 54 Sings Allegiance on November 27 at 7:00 p.m. This celebration is in honor of the London premiere of Allegiance, a musical inspired by the real story of Star Trek icon George Takei’s life with music and lyrics by Jay Kuo and book by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo, and Lorenzo Thione. 54 Below invites the audience to enjoy the story of Allegiance through the performances of these incredible AAPI talents.

The show will feature highlights of the score, including “Higher,” “Wishes on the Wind,” “Stronger Than Before,” and more.

Performers

Carol Angeli (Here Lies Love, Miss Saigon)
Sondrine Bontemps (Disney Cruise Line’s Aladdin)
Delphi Borich (Camelot, Into the Woods)
Flynn Jungbin Byun (White Plains Performing Arts Center’s Miss Saigon)
Victoria Chen
Jen Chia (Magic School Bus national tour)
Brayden Co
Bryan Chan
Bryan Freedman
Rose Van Dyne (1776)
Joomin Huang (The Prom, & Juliet)
Yoosep (Joseph) Im (White Plains Performing Arts Center’s Miss Saigon)
Brian Jose (Miss Saigon national tour)
Dongwoo Kong (The King and I national tour)
Joseph Lee
Rina Maejima (National Anthem singer at Citi Field on Japanese Heritage Night)
Clark Mantilla (Musicalized!, TikTok Takes Broadway)
Joowon Shin (Squid Game on Netflix)
Patima Watcharintrawut

The concert is produced and directed by Flynn Jungbin Byun and associate produced by Gyurin Kim, with music direction by Rose Van Dyne.

Representation in the arts is so crucial and becoming more and more important, so please support this unique production.

To purchase tickets, please visit 54 Below’s website. Please note that ticket prices include a 10% ticketing fee and a $1.50 facility fee. There is a $25 food and beverage minimum. Tickets on the day of performance after 4:00 p.m. are available only by calling 646-476-3551.

About 54 Below

54 Below, a recipient of the 2022 TONY AWARDS® Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, is a non-profit organization with a mission to preserve the music of Broadway and expand the art of the cabaret while growing opportunities for diverse communities of emerging and established artists and providing unparalleled audience experiences.

It was founded as a place for the Broadway community to celebrate Broadway performers, both established and new, who sing not only the music of Broadway and the Great American Songbook, but also new material intended for Broadway and off-Broadway stages.

Safety Information

54 Below is committed to the health of its performers, staff, and guests and has created a Safety Plan to ensure safe conditions along with optimum performing conditions. 54 Below has installed improved air circulation and filtering systems. Based on CDC and New York State guidelines at the time of performance, safety protocols and seating capacity may change, and policies may be adjusted as is appropriate. Additional information on their safety protocols can be found at their website.

Catch BALLS at Caveat

BALLS: The Monster-Catchin’ Musical Comédy”