T: Is for the terrifying F.A.C.T.S

Does the thought of convicted attacker getting out of prison early make you feel sick. Convicts who have thrown victims from a moving vehicle, beat them until welts and bruises covered their bodies and then raped them are being released. This same criminal also was convicted of coercion and tampering with a witness. An "oversight" allowing violent offenders to get out early if they have a consecutive term that includes a non-violent crime has just passed. As budget deficits grow and the economy tumbles, governors and legislators are cutting costs by allowing inmates, mostly low-risk offenders, to leave prison earlier than laws previously permitted. Nationwide, more states are beginning to release thousands of inmates early by increasing "time off" provisions. Last week, figures from the U.S. Department of Justice indicated that in 2008 the growth of the prison population was slower than in any year since 2000. Inmates to be release 1,000, which could save $5 million a year. A panel of federal judges ordered California to reduce its prison population by 40,000 because of overcrowding. Governor Schwarzenegger proposed releasing 27,000 inmates. Officials say inmates released early usually were incarcerated for drug offenses or property crimes. The early release provisions will save $21.4 million in one state alone. A Pew Charitable Trusts study found, state spending on corrections soared to $49 billion a year, up from $11 billion 20 years before. Prison costs are the top expense in some states, sometimes higher than the amount spent on education.

It seems crime does pay and soon there will be no stopping it because the punishment will be a slap on the hand. Now this is a terrifying F.A.C.T.

C: Is for Electronics Clean-Up

'Tis the season of buying new and replacing old electronics, and to commemorate its one year anniversary, the Broadway Green Alliance will be hosting an industry-wide electronic waste (e-waste) collection for actors, stage crew, producers, general managers and theaters from across the Great White Way, sponsored by WeRecycle! There will be a presentation featuring Wicked and Next to Normal producer David Stone, Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and David Hurd, Director of Office of Recycling Outreach and Education, Council on the Environment of New York City.
Members of the casts of BGA shows, including Finian’s Rainbow, Guys & Dolls, Mamma Mia! 9 to 5, Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime, South Pacific, The Little Mermaid and Wicked, will perform two songs including an original song by composer John Mercurio.

You can learn more about this at http://www.broadwaygreen.com/

Where: DUFFY SQUARE, South side (between 45th + 47th streets; Broadway + 7th avenue)
When: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2009 12:00pm – 12:30pm
What is the Broadway Green Alliance: The BGA was created in 2008 as an Ad Hoc Committee of the Broadway League. It is an industry-wide initiative that seeks to educate, motivate and inspire the theater community and its patrons to adopt environmentally friendlier practices in all aspects of theatre production and everyday life. Working closely with the NRDC, the BGA identifies and disseminates better practices for theatre professionals and reaches out to theatre fans throughout the country.

What is E-waste? E-waste, or electronic waste, refers to old computers, cell phones, printers and other electronics that are no longer wanted. These products contain dangerous toxins like lead and mercury that should not be thrown in with the rest of the trash, but reused or recycled instead.

How can theatre fans help? Today's e-waste drive was organized by the BGA but theatre fans can do their part by taking their old electronics to retailers with recycling programs, mailing them back to manufacturers, or organizing a recycling event in their community – visit www.nrdc.org/ewaste to find out how. And to make it easier in the future – New Yorkers can tell the Governor and their state representatives we need a statewide electronics recycling program.

The Broadway Green Alliance (BGA), established in 2008 as an Ad Hoc Committee of The Broadway League, is an industry-wide initiative that seeks to educate, motivate and inspire the theater community and its patrons to adopt environmentally friendlier practices in all aspects of theatre production and everyday life. Working closely with the Natural Resources Defense Council, the BGA identifies and disseminates better practices for theatre professionals and reaches out to theatre fans throughout the country.

twitter at “broadwaygreen” and that is a green F.A.C.T.

A: Is for stars joining Art revived

Producers David Richenthal, Eric Falkenstein and Randall Wreghitt are pleased to announce that Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee Matthew Modine (“And the Band Played On,” Short Cuts), Jennifer Morrison (Fox series “House M.D.,” the film Star Trek) and Tony Award winner Elizabeth Franz (Death of a Salesman) have joined the cast of the first revival of The Miracle Worker. The Tony Award winning play celebrates its 50th Anniversary of opening on Broadway.

Previously announced, The Miracle Worker will be directed by Kate Whoriskey (Ruined), will star Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) and Tony Award nominee Alison Pill (The Lieutenant of Inishmore) as Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan, iconic roles made famous by Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke in the Tony Award winning play and landmark feature film adaptation.

A veteran of over 50 feature films Matthew Modine will make his Broadway debut in The Miracle Worker. He starred in Birdy, Married to the Mob, Vision Quest, Full Metal Jacket, Orphans, Pacific Heights and On Any Given Sunday. He earned Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations for his performance in HBO's critically acclaimed and Emmy Award winning drama “And the Band Played On.” On stage he starred in the critically acclaimed Hartford Stage production of To Kill a Mockingbird and in the world premiere of Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas at the Geffen Playhouse, a satire about the film industry.

Jennifer Morrison will make her Broadway debut in The Miracle Worker. She is best known for her role as “Dr. Allison Cameron” on the critically acclaimed television series “House M.D.” She recently appeared in the feature film Star Trek as “Captain James Kirk’s” mother “Winona.” Following making her film debut opposite Richard Gere and Sharon Stone in Intersection she has appeared in the feature films Stir of Echoes, Grind, Surviving Christmas and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Morrison studied with the celebrated Steppenwolf Theatre Company and earned a theater degree from Loyola University.

Tony Award winner Elizabeth Franz returns to Broadway for the first time since starring in the 2002 Tony Award nominated production of Morning’s at Seven for which was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. She is best known for her Tony Award winning performance as “Linda Loman” in the 1999 production of Death of a Salesman.

The Miracle Worker will be staged in the round for the first time at Circle in the Square Theatre (235 West 50 Street) and will opening Wednesday, March 3, 2010. Additional casting will be announced shortly.

Set in the South in the 1880s, THE MIRACLE WORKER tells the story of real-life blind and deaf Medal of Freedom winner Helen Keller, who suddenly lost her sight and hearing at the age of 19 months, and the extraordinary teacher who taught her to communicate with the world, Annie Sullivan.
THE MIRACLE WORKER originally opened at The Playhouse Theatre on October 19, 1959 and was awarded the 1960 Tony Award® for Best Play in addition to garnering leading lady Anne Bancroft a Tony Award® for Best Actress in a Play for the role of Annie Sullivan and a Theatre World Award for newcomer Patty Duke for her portrayal of Helen Keller. Both actresses received Academy Awards® for their work in the feature film adaptation.

www.miracleworkeronbroadway.com

Now this is a revival of a F.A.C.T.

F: is for finding shelter

This year in Manhattan there’s been a bumper crop of hotel openings — and a few old ones getting a spruce up. Sadly, the stratospheric room rates, which normally start at about $600 a night in the top hotels, mean that staying in them is beyond the reach of most of us mere mortals. But that doesn’t mean you can’t dip in for an hour or two: hotels host some of the hippest restaurants and bars, and it’s often no harder to get a table than anywhere else in the city. Top ticket for dinner right now is Le Caprice, which opened last month as part of the relaunch of the Pierre after an 18-month renovation. The hotel is a towering monument to the days when the Astors, the Vanderbilts and the Carnegies threw up vast hotels at a rate to rival present-day Dubai. Last month the Crosby Street Hotel opened its doors in SoHo, the first outpost of British-owned Firmdale Hotels. Cucumber sandwiches beneath a set of Warhol-style pictures of the Queen — what could be more British? Locanda Verde is absolutely brilliant, offering unpretentious, hearty Italian food that won’t break the bank: $20 buys the portion of the most succulent garlic-roasted chicken. Tribeca, fast becoming movie central: DreamWorks has just moved in, the Weinsteins have set up home in the neighbourhood and Robert De Niro, who owns the Greenwich, has his office just around the corner.
The Ace Hotel has rooms that start at $99 a night.

From swanky chic to retro charm:

Crosby Street Hotel: Lime, pink and gold striped sofa — giddy-print fabrics and luxury bathrooms. Doubles from $495.

The Surrey: Muted greys and creams, with nice touches from the 1930s and sumptuous beds. This is a hotel for locals — ex-Upper East Siders, or their relatives — utterly bling-free and with fabulous, warm service. Doubles from $629.

The Greenwich: Shabby chic. Nice touches include in-room saunas and free soft drinks and sweets — but, best of all, some rooms have balconies overlooking the charming walled garden. Doubles from $459.

The Ace: Retro — huge 1950s-style Smeg fridges for minibars, turntables rather than iPod docking stations and 1970s furniture — but don’t come looking for glam. Bunkbed doubles from $99 per night.

Now these are F.A.C.T.S. for out of town guests.