Mae West and Diamond Lil Bring Sin Back to the Big Apple in August and November

New York, NY, August 07, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Mae West was the controversial Broadway playwright City Hall couldn't tame and the screen queen The Hays Office couldn't refrain from censoring, a bi-coastal bombshell who dominated the box office and the front page for decades. The legendary entertainer will be back in our midst with her gaudy retinue in 2013 during August and during November.

Cue up "Frankie and Johnny" and prepare to be entertained by her enduring alter-ego, hip-swaying Diamond Lil, Queen of the Bowery.

Introduced on The Great White Way in 1928, “Diamond Lil” written by and starring Mae West remained popular on the main stem until its final performances in 1951. The 3-hour "melodrama of the underworld" set in Chinatown and on the Bowery during the 1890s has been adapted into an 85-minute version by playwright LindaAnn Loschiavo, whose work "Courting Mae West" was last seen in Melbourne, Australia. Actress Darlene Violette stars as the irresistible diamond-draped Queen of the Bowery and is supported by a fine cast featuring Sidney Myer, Anthony DiCarlo, Joanna Bonaro, Gary Napoli, Juan Sebastian Cortes, Kimmy Foskett, Jim Gallagher with live music by Brian McInnis.

- Who, What, When, Where and How Much
- On 5 Dates: August 12th, August 17th, August 18th, November 22nd and November 23rd
- What: Five events timed to celebrate the 120th birthday of Mae West, born in Brooklyn, NY on August 17, 1893
- On Monday, 12 August 2013 at the Hudson Square Library
- One afternoon only.
- When: Monday, August 12, 2013 from 4:00pm — 5:45pm [Seating from 3:45pm]
- Where: Hudson Branch Library, 66 Leroy St., NYC 10014; not accessible to wheelchairs
- Who + What: "Diamond Lil" by Mae West as a Reader's Theatre Experience with words and period songs and live music — a unique and unforgettable presentation
- Cast: Costumed in 1890s Bowery style, actress Darlene Violette and actor Sidney Myer present the 1932 novel "Diamond Lil" written by Mae West in Mae's words — enhanced with period songs and live music by Brian McInnis. At intervals, historian and playwright LindaAnn Loschiavo leads an "Armchair Tour" through the boisterous Bowery and Chinatown of the 1890s with rare vintage images you have never seen before.
- August 12th Admission and Mae West Raffle Tickets: Free.
- RSVP: Email MaeWestDiamondLil (at) gmail (dot) com
- Closest MTA subway stations: Christopher St. or West Fourth St.; or the M7 bus
- Closest PATH station: Christopher St.
- The public is invited (suitable for age 18 and over)
- All of the zest and none of the censorship ...
- The novel "Diamond Lil" closely follows the 3-hour production Mae performed onstage from 1928 - 1951, and it is much more exciting than the family-friendly screen version. Playwright LindaAnn Loschiavo massaged Mae's classic opus into an 85-minute adaptation featuring all of the sexiness and none of the censorship. No intermission.
- There will be two stagings of "Diamond Lil" on August 17th and August 18th in NYC.
- Cast: Starring Darlene Violette as Diamond Lil, Queen of the Bowery and also featuring Sidney Myer, Anthony DiCarlo, Joanna Bonaro, Gary Napoli, Juan Sebastian Cortes, Kimmy Foskett, Jim Gallagher and live music by Brian McInnis
- The public is invited (suitable for age 18 and over)
- On Saturday, 17 August 2013 at 7:30pm on West 38th St.
- Where: John Strasberg Studios, 555 8th Avenue, Suite 2310, New York, NY 10018; accessible to wheelchairs
- August 17th Admission: $10 — must be pre-paid. Raffle tickets are free.
- RSVP: Advance sale tickets: you must email MaeWestDiamondLil (at) gmail (dot) com
- Closest MTA subway stations: 42nd St./ Times Sq. via A, C, E, 1, 2, 3
- On Sunday, 18 August 2013 at 7:00pm on West 46th St.
-Where: Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC 10036; T. (212) 757-0788
- RSVP: August 18th Admission: $15.00 cover charge plus a two drink minimum; raffle tickets are free.
- Reservations: www.donttellmamanyc.com
- Closest MTA subway stations: 42nd St./ Times Sq. via A, C, E, 1, 2, 3
- Join them as they turn the iconic NYC nightspot Don't Tell Mama into Gus Jordan's "Suicide Hall"
- Updates: facebook.com/MaeWestDiamondLil
- On Friday, 22 November 2013 from 7:00 - 8:30 PM
- On Saturday, 23 November 2013 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM
- Where: Jefferson Market Library in the very room where Mae went before a judge
- Address: 425 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY
- RSVP: Admission is free but you must RSVP via email MaeWestDiamondLil (at) gmail (dot) com

FYI: "Courting Mae West" received a six-page spread in the July-August 2013 issue of THE DRAMATIST. The article will be part of a presentation on November 22nd and November 23rd, 2013 at Jefferson Market Library on Sixth Avenue -- in the same room where Mae West faced off with Judge Donnellan in 1927.