Cover Stories

Big Laughs, Big Hearts and an Ultimate Triumph for ‘Joke Man’ Coming to ChappPAC on Feb. 12

January 19, 2022 by Grace Bennett

Tickets available now for a preview screening of Joke Man on February 12 at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center

It stopped me in my tracks to learn about Joke Man, Ian Karr’s heartfelt documentary about comic genius Jackie Martling which will be presented in a preview screening for the public on February 12, 8-10 p.m., at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. Lucky Chappaqua. Lucky theatre goers who can anticipate jokes live from Jackie too after he is interviewed by Karr at the same evening event.

Three words, after an advance media screening of my own, DON’T MISS IT!

Directed by Karr, produced by Jonathan Jacobson and edited by Ronni Thomas, the filmmakers describe the film to a T: “Jackie Martling just may be America’s last great joke teller…

“His savant-like ability to remember every joke he’s heard since he was eight years old, combined with his lightning fast wit and infectious laugh, helped establish him as a comedy icon. Famous for being the head writer of the Howard Stern show for 15 years, and infamous for leaving that position, Jackie’s story is fascinating, funny and surprising, In an age of political correctness, Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling helps us belly laugh at ourselves with a kindness and sincerity that defuses his unfiltered punch lines.”

Aside from Karr, and Jackie Martling, of course, the cast boasts ‘big names’ in their own right–all passionate Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling fans extolling Jackie including Artie Lange, Willie Nelson, Mark Cuban, Billy West, Sean Young, Gilbert Gottfried, Penn Jillette, Stuttering John Melendez, Steve Grillo and many other familiar faces. Those closest to Jackie, including his ex-wife Nancy and his present-day girlfriend Barbara (the two, as noted in the movie, are friends) weigh in too about Jackie’s person and career with considerable affection. If it’s a Jackie love fest, the movie also makes clear that he has earned it.

There’s priceless footage of Jackie chumming it up with Rodney Dangerfield, and of the two horsing around in Vegas.

The film delves as much into ‘what happened’ as it does the impact that leaving as head writer of Stern’s show for 15 years had on Jackie’s life. Jackie stands plenty proud in recollecting not only the break from Stern but his contributions to Stern and the show. Footage of Jackie diving into the ocean (at the craziest hours!) for his regular swims are included perhaps to explain at least one secret behind his resilience and continued energy and focus.

I won’t say another word. Well, maybe a few more.

Just Between Us: I had met Jackie on several occasions, the first time as a guest to one of his stand-up gigs in the city. 70 something now (that’s all I could get out of Karr!), Jackie still widely tours and has an intensely devoted following. Some say ‘cult like,’ but you’d be surprised by his more mainstream fans, too. So hey, there’s a side to me that you never knew, as Adele sings, and yes, I like raunchy humor, remembered Jackie’s antics from the Howard Stern show, and even teased him after his gig, too. A lighthearted flirtation ensued, so lo and behold I was invited to appear as a guest on Jackie’s Joke Hunt at Sirius. Then finally, during a photo shoot at the Kittle House for a Father’s Day cover of Inside Chappaqua Magazine. I included Jackie on a cover photograph with Ian and four other mega accomplished Chappaqua dads. How Jackie, who lives on Long Island, landed on that cover too, I can’t fully explain. But he did!

Me with Ian Karr and Jackie Martling on Jackie’s Joke Hunt

Inside Chappaqua cover, June 2014. Photo by Todd Shapera

I caught up with Chappaqua’s Ian Karr, director of the IKA Collective, a NYC and LA creative agency, to talk about the film and about Martling’s resilience despite the break from Stern, and of his ultimate triumphs, too. Ian has known Jackie since 2001 when he first met him at the Friar’s Club and in 2006 produced Jackie’s Joke Hunt, an important comeback show for Jackie. “I have always been fascinated by how unique he is,” he said. “Anyone who has ever known him knows he is a one of a kind person–especially people who have listened to him.”

As Karr set out to tell the story of Jackie’s life from his earliest days to get to the heart of what shaped him, he expressed a fascination with the Stern split too: “It’s amazing that people still talk about it 20 years later. Jackie was willing to walk away from all the money. Psychologically speaking, I wanted to know how he did that,” he said.

But Karr, I extrapolated in watching the film, had a larger goal: he also wanted to convey Jackie Martling’s essence in a way that would surpass the Stern era, and emphasize the triumphs in his life: “We’d bring people on the show and then go have epic lunches or dinners at Carnegie’s after where people could see the light in Jackie, and how much they enjoyed being in Jackie’s company.”

Joke Man, running at one hour and 14 minutes, is a chronological account of Jackie Martling’s life. It tells the story of his childhood, the trials and tribulations of becoming a comedian, and all the twists and turns that got him on the Stern show. The film visits with key people in his life who speak openly and warmly about Jackie. The film also includes an array of personal photos from the Stern show and interviews with cast members from his inner circle.

The goal is to portray a man who many call ‘the last American joke teller,’ to help preserve his unique style, related Karr.

Mission accomplished, as I agree that it’s a touching movie with lots of laughs–a combo that Jackie, being Jackie, will surely appreciate.

The show, for persons 16 and over, will be shown at ChappPAC on Feb. 12, 8-10 p.m. ChappPAC is located at 480 North Bedford Road in Chappaqua.

Advance ticket sales: https://jokeman.brownpapertickets.com

‘From the Wings: Broadway Behind the Scenes’ Exhibit: Works by Photographer Chad David Kraus

January 14, 2022 by Rich Monetti

Opening January 23 Inside the Radius Gallery of Arc Stages in Pleasantville

From January 23 through April 30, the Radius Gallery at Arc Stages in Pleasantville is going to give you a front row seat to a behind the scenes look of the Broadway stage. From the Wings: Broadway Behind the Scenes comes courtesy of Chad David Kraus and the five years he has spent documenting the day to day of numerous shows. So just imagine an actual camera stealthily perusing the landscape of a big time production and putting you in the photographer’s place. But that’s not quite how the Pleasantville resident has gone about conveying the heart and soul of the Great White Way.

“I get to know a lot of the actors really well throughout the process,” Kraus said. “I feel like In many ways I’m part of the team,” and as a result of the connection, people are put at ease. A real true display of emotion then emerges, he added.

The very nature of Broadway already gives him a pretty good lead in. “They have all been incredibly kind and caring people. I’ve worked with Tony Award winners Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Platt, Kristen Chenowith, Lauren Patten, and Katrina Lenk, and they all show the utmost respect for everyone involved in bringing a piece of theater to life, Kraus said. “Whether that be their interactions with a make-up artist, costume designer, stage manage or photographer, the theater community that I’ve been around has embodied nothing but inclusiveness.”

He’s certain that the true spirit of collaboration and emotion will come across at the Gallery, and so will an insight into the nuts and bolts of any artistic endeavor. “My hope is that the exhibit will give people who love the arts and love theater an insider view into the whole process,” he asserted.

That said, Kraus’ own passion puts him very good position to deliver. Growing up on the Upper West Side, the city kid got to know the guys who owned a little one hour photo, and a strong interest developed. Self reliance then got him on his way. “I saved up money from the lemonade stand I had and bought my first camera,” said Kraus.

However, the hobby aspect of photography remained into adulthood. He studied theatre in college, and afterwards, became a sales rep for a record company.

The needle eventually skipped a beat when making a photography career serendipitously appeared in a flash. Kraus was at a Bat Mitzvah, and according to the hosts, his pictures were better than those of the photographer for hire. “That was my light bulb moment,” he revealed, and first posting on Craigslist about 12 years for events evolved into a full time business with five other photographers in tow.

The Broadway gig took flower via his brother. The VP of a major digital marketing firm, their search for a photographer to do social media marketing and campaigns for Broadway shows landed on Kraus.

Grateful for the lucky break, a portion of the sales of the framed prints will go to Arc Stages, and either way, hoping for a good turnout on opening night is good for everyone, according to Kraus. “It will be a nice time to gather with friendly faces and support the arts,” he concluded.

Seasonal Fun Galore in Chappaqua with a Holiday Parade, Magic Show, (a First Ever for New Castle!) Bonfire, and More

December 20, 2021 by Megan Klein

Sirens rang through the air all throughout town the night of December 18, but not because of faulty carbon monoxide alarms or burnt cookies filling kitchens with smoke (admit it, we’ve all had an alarm go off at 2 in the morning, right?)

Over the course of two hours, the decorated firetrucks and ambulance vehicles lit the rainy, misty evening starting at the Chappaqua Fire House, making its way down several streets and then ending at the Chappaqua Train Station.

Around 6 p.m., the parade made its way to my street. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it was Fire Chief Russ Maitland and his pup Quincy in the back of his chief truck, driving behind the first fire truck and leading the way for the rest.

“Driving through our town spreading holiday cheer is a hallmark event that is the epitome of small-town community, spirit and unity,” Maitland said.

Sure, it was pitch black outside. Sure, it was cold and rainy. But that certainly didn’t stop people from standing outside their homes to wave to Santa and the local first responders.

While waiting for the trucks to drive by, I saw families from nearby streets all come together at my neighbor’s house, forming a sort of parade watch party!

“It was an opportunity to see something different right outside my door,” Chappaqua resident Eric Alani said. “The kids loved the sirens, and especially loved catching the candy being thrown from the trucks.”

Now as if a holiday parade on Saturday was not ‘enough’ to brighten spirits this season, New Castle dialed it up a notch with an energetic magic show, followed by a holiday bonfire, a visit from Frosty, and a group of Christmas carolers, all of whom drew hundreds to Recreation field. See our Instagram coverage at https://www.instagram.com/insidepress/

On Sunday, a full moon over the fire and the firetrucks in the distance only accentuated the magic of the weekend.

“Who wants a bonfire?!!” exclaimed New Castle Town Supervisor Lisa Katz to a wide circle of excited spectators waiting to watch volunteer firefighters from both the Chappaqua & Millwood Fire Departments light up the wood as they assembled for the occasion, and after thanking the event sponsors, including the New Castle Recreation & Parks Department, Sari Shaw of the Westchester Living Team, and Bobos Cafe for hot chocolate. “I hope you all got to see Santa come by your neighborhood!” Katz added, along with her best wishes for a happy holiday & healthy new year, full of good health, happiness, laughter and love.”

Ike Kuzio, superintendent of New Castle Recreation & Parks, extolled a “total team effort from within the fire department and parks department which took a month of planning and reaching out to local vendors.” He said the bonfire was a first for Chappaqua, and “a new great community event,” and that “it was all worth it to see all the smiles on faces.”

Kuzio said he “felt comfortable enough with it being an outdoor event. Our mantra in these times has been: ‘let’s put the programs and events out there, and make them as safe as we can make them, and let people make decisions on their own.'”

Grace Bennett contributed to this report.

All Aboard the Great Holiday Train Show at the New Castle Historical Society

December 11, 2021 by Grace Bennett

“Every Train Tells a Story”

Chappaqua, NY–Have you purchased yours and your family’s tickets yet to the quintessentially adorable train show that’s the talk of the town in New Castle? The Great Holiday Train Show at the New Castle Historical Society in progress through January 9^th was an idea initially brought to the NCHS by Chappaqua’s Richard Diefenbach, a New Castle Historical Society trustee and a trained collector, as is his son, Michael, a senior at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains; the family immediately offered their classic, turn of the century cars of the New York Central Railroad Company–all in all, fine trains with which to kick start a train show.

In between multiple tours: Georgia Frasch, vice president, New Castle Historical Society tending to NCHS trustee Rich Diefenbach’s trains, a set which initially set the stage for the Great Holiday Train Show at the New Castle Historical Society. The show, with each train set and assorted memoribilia (and related gift items too!) housed in the individual rooms of the Greeley House, grew to include over a dozen exhibits from local residents and beyond. The show continues on Saturdays and Sundays through January 9, 2022.

“Rich had suggested that we do a train show,” shared Georgia Frasch–yes, that Georgia Frasch of Chappaqua Moms’ fame, but also the current vice president of the board at NCHS, who gave the Inside Press the lowdown of how the show was brought to New Castle, along with a tour of the train show. Initially, because of Covid, the idea got tabled, she explained.

“In September, however, we started talking about it again as things were loosening up with Westchester becoming more and more vaccinated,” said Georgia. “I said to Rich, ‘You know, let’s consider maybe we can finally do this train show.”

Added Rich: “The idea for the train show came from my son 10 years ago when we would visit the Nauset Model Train Show in Orleans, MA on Cape Cod.” As a new trustee, he told the NCHS board a train show would draw the community and its families together.

“My son Michael was instrumental in helping me set up the tables along with Frank Shiner, and Tom Childs. It was great to work with Georgia Frasch who listened and helped me brainstorm ideas for the show and used her social media to get donations for trees, and loaner trains. It was a collaborative effort,” he said.

“The result speaks volumes – smiling faces of children and parents! People who never knew what the Greeley House have begun to enter its doors. It has been pure joy for the first time in my more than 26 years in this town. My hope is we will continue the tradition moving forward.”

Initially, there was Rich’s beautiful train set. Next stop, while at (Chappaqua resident) Frank Shiner’s house picking apples from his orchard for Intergenerate–community gardens that feed 50 households for Neighbor’s Link–Georgia told Frank about the show. He quickly hopped on board!

“Frank said: “I have a 100-year-old train set in my attic, do you need it?” I said: ‘yes!’”

“And then I put something out on Chappaqua Moms: ‘Anybody have trains?’ and the flood gates opened! We had more trains than we could possibly use!”

And voi la, or perhaps, Toot, Toot–as resident train collectors/proud owners caught the news and considered the grand possibilities, the show grew, and grew, with more than a dozen fascinating exhibits now in place to enjoy and stir young and old imaginations alike.

On the tour, you will receive a cool booklet about the show with colorful details about each train exhibit, with a tip of the conductor’s hat to those residents who graciously contributed to the holiday train show, each adding to its GREAT-ness.

There is significant involvement from ‘beyond New Castle,’ too, including that of “a wonderful train store in Ardsley called Tom’s Trains,” said Georgia. “In fact, we did a little poster for him. He’s a lovely gentleman and during Hurricane Ida, he got wiped out–over $50,000 worth of one-of-a kind merchandise was lost. We reached out to him… he has been a great, great partner… he was a big help! As was Chris Fresiello, who works with Tom a lot, and who contributed one of the exhibits, too.”

There are group tours, non-gratis, happening, as well.

“The Chappaqua Library’s Cathy Paulsen works with a group of disabled adults at Ability Beyond, for example, and we are offering them a day here. Another private tour is taking place for a young boy who is going through chemotherapy, and for his family.”

The show kicked off November 20 for 14 weekends and runs through January 9, every Saturday and Sunday with four, one-hour tours: 11, 12:30, 2 and 3:30.

We discussed Georgia’s motivation for the show. “I was really inspired by the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival and Community Day–seeing parents at both with their children because it felt as if things were returning to a semblance of normalcy.”

And beyond that… “For me, this train show was experiential: it was family, it was community, it was nostalgia, it was children; we have so many new families with young children. I wanted a way for new families to make memories and feel like this is something of value and, in fact, that is exactly the response we’ve gotten… Every train tells a story, and when you look inside the booklet, you’ll see all the people who have lent us trains.”

For more info, please also visit https://newcastlehs.org/event/the-great-holiday-train-show/ which has this ticket link, too: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-great-holiday-train-show-tickets-199269178477

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage… Capturing the Imagination of a Whole New Generation!

December 4, 2021 by Grace Bennett

Cast Dazzles at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center!

Shows are Continuing at ChappPac through December 19, and then it’s on to Broadway, Dec. 20-24

Visit www.ACharlieBrownChristmasLive.com Scroll to bottom for direct links to ticket sales.

Chappaqua, NY, December 4— While the opening show already took place last night, I’d be remiss not to urge families in Chappaqua, Westchester, and beyond, to go and grab tickets while you still can for family and friends, with Saturday night and Sunday performances happening this weekend too, to enjoy this delightful, playful, leaving-to-Broadway soon classic production here in town for a respectable stretch, December 3-19, before it moves to the Palladium in Times Square. Take out your holiday ‘to do’ list and add: Tickets to Broadway Heaven Here First on a Beautiful Stage in Chappaqua.

Todd Gershwin, producer, was on hand at a preview event to relate that the show has been a holiday ‘must see’ in cities across north America since 2017. “We’ve played in the biggest cities and theaters. We’ve been waiting for the right time to bring this show home,” said Gershwin, a Westchester resident for the last 15 years, too. After Westchester, we’re going to New York City and Times Square at the Palladium,” he told press who if I had to guess were as mesmerized as I was by the talented cast’s opening numbers.

“There’s nowhere else that we wanted to launch the show and develop the show but here,” Gershwin said of the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. “The last few weeks in Westchester have been incredible and we plan on bringing many more big shows here.”

Along with the cast performing several opening numbers during a special preview, Director Robert Coulson took to the ChappPac stage as well to first thank Gershwin for his vision, and to also offer a poignant observation of the theatre experience in these pandemic times. “This is the first time a lot of people are seen here after the pandemic, being around our loved ones and our families, and making new memories and new holiday traditions,” said Coulson. “As soon as I found out that we were going to be doing this in Westchester and specifically in Chappaqua, I was thrilled!” said Coulson, who related that he went to school in Chappaqua, too.

He said that there’s a new version to the show, one “that makes it feel like a ‘book musical’… it has the traditional musical theatre element that we love.”

But what struck me most was Coulson relating that Charles Schultz was “a visionary… and that much like Fred Rogers, he did not speak down to children; he really tackled important issues in his comic strips, and that’s an important way to talk to kids, and also to adults,” who grew up with Charlie Brown in the mid ’60s.

“Being able to bring this to a new generation is really exciting,” he said, as was adding a new segment “when Lucy is talking to Schroeder about her crush and asks him to play Jingle Bells, and she finally gets to live her fantasy moment to be “the Christmas Queen.”

“We’re thrilled to share the show with Chappaqua and to people coming from all over the world to experience Christmas in New York.”

The following info was provided to the Inside Press:

More About A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage

Just in time for the holiday season, everyone’s favorite Peanuts holiday special comes to life in A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage, Dec. 3 – 19 at Chappaqua Performing Arts Center (480 N Bedford Rd, Chappaqua, NY). Charles M. Schulz’s Emmy and Peabody award-winning story has been a longstanding tradition, warming the hearts of millions of fans since it first aired on television over 50 years ago. Now, the live stage adaptation of the classic animated television special brings all your favorite characters to life -all set to the original special’s dialogue as well as the unforgettable sounds of the classic Vince Guaraldi musical score. A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage celebrates the timeless television classic as the whole family can join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the Peanuts characters in their journey to uncover the true meaning of Christmas. After the final bow, the show crescendos into a celebration of song as the audience is invited to join the Peanuts gang in singing traditional Christmas songs and carols. A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage, by Charles M. Schulz, is based on the television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson, and adapted for the stage adaptation by Eric Schaeffer, by special arrangement with Arthur Whitelaw and Ruby Persson. A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage is produced by Gershwin Entertainment / Todd Gershwin. A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage comes to The Chappaqua Performing Arts Center engagement prior to the New York City premiere engagement December 21 – 24 at The Palladium Times Square (1515 Broadway, NYC). For more information, click here.