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Great Games to Play This Winter

The nights are drawing in and the mercury is dropping as we hurtle rapidly towards the holiday period. This means we’re putting away the garden furniture, hanging up our summer clothes, and turning on the heating in our homes.

As we move indoors for several months, many of us will be turning to games as a form of entertainment. If you’re one of those people, and you’re looking for something new to play this winter, then look no further than these.

Grand Theft Auto Online

Despite being more than seven years old, Grand Theft Auto V remains in the top-ten best selling video games list. This is thanks to the constantly-evolving world of Grand Theft Auto Online, with Rockstar Games regularly adding new missions and features.

GTA Online is available to anyone who owns a copy of Grand Theft Auto V on Xbox, PlayStation or PC. It’s free-to-play, though you can buy additional in-game cash to use on buying weapons and other items.

With GTA Online, you can do just about anything from car parkour to open-wheel racing, and from bank heists to playing card games in the Diamond Resort Casino. The possibilities really are endless.

Poker

Poker is one of the most popular card games played today. It’s a great game to enjoy with loved ones over the holiday period, no matter whether you’re a seasoned player or complete beginner.

The basic poker rules are easy to pick up, so you can be up and running in minutes, and because you only need a deck of cards, that’s no fiddly setting up like with other board games.

Alternatively, you could always play online via your computer or smartphone. That doesn’t mean you can’t play with your friends though. Many online poker sites now also give you the ability to set up your own poker room and invite people to it.

Minecraft

Minecraft has beaten GTA V to the top spot in the list of best selling video games of all time. The nine-year-old game has been released on practically every platform ever in the last decade and offers a blank canvas for players to release their creativity.

In Minecraft, you have the freedom to build just about anything you can think of and the game even includes its own programming language to help you make your creations interactive.

There’s also an AR mobile version of Minecraft that lets you bring your creations into the real world by using your phone’s camera.

Monopoly

Monopoly is a board game that has been enjoyed by millions of people around the world for the best part of a century. It’s a classic that’s often played during the holiday period, though it has been known to be the cause of the occasional tantrum and argument.

If you enjoy this property trading board game, then you have hundreds of different options, with many regional and special editions of the game being released in the last few decades.

There’s now also an official mobile app that you can buy to play on your own or with others, without the need to set up and tidy up the board. It has two multiplayer modes. One that lets you compete against people over the internet and another where you can pass your device around, with each person taking their turn on the same device.

These games should keep you going through the winter months!

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: games, great, play, winter

STEEL PANTHER TO PLAY ANOTHER VIRTUAL CONCERT ROCKDOWN IN THE LOCKDOWN ON AUGUST 16th SPONSORED BY MONSTER ENERGY

Proceeds From Ticket Sales To Benefit a Local Los Angeles Animal Rescue and Live Nation’s Crew Nation Fund Tickets now available here: https://lnk.to/steelpantherlive

California rock legends, global philanthropists and stripper connoisseurs Steel Panther continue to set new career goals for themselves. After effectively saving the world (we are all reading this press release after all) with the very successful Concert To Save The World in June, the band is now back with another virtual concert event, Rockdown In The Lockdown. The concert will take place on Sunday, August 16^th from the ultra-sanitized, production-filled, multi-camera Drum Channel Studio at Drum Workshop located in Oxnard, CA. The show will be live globally at 2:00PM Los Angeles time, 5:00PM New York City time, 10:00PM (22:00) London time, 11:00PM (23:00) Berlin time, 5:00AM (Monday morning) Hong Kong time and 7:00AM (Monday morning) Sydney time.

Rockdown In The Lockdown will be slightly different from what fans saw last time. Steel Panther has filmed a series of sketch comedy pieces that will be played throughout the show giving the virtual experience more depth and laughs. The band will again be interacting with fans around the globe via a live chat. Tickets for the virtual concert will cost $15.00 each; with proceeds from each ticket sold going to benefit a local Los Angeles animal rescue and Live Nation’s Crew Nation Fund (benefitting all touring personnel affected by the Covid-19 pandemic). All fans who purchase tickets to the concert will get access to Steel Panther’s Rockbuster Video Store. The Rockbuster Video Store will be a place where fans can access exclusive content to stream for a period of time. Currently, The Concert To Save The World and the classic Live From Lexxi’s Mom’s Garage will be available with ticket purchase and more content will be added. Anyone who has purchased the band’s latest effect pedal The Butthole Burner prior to the concert will get a free ticket to the event. The “You Can’t Beat The Meat & Greet” VIP upgrade is also available that includes access to a virtual one-on-one meet & greet, private video chat with 2 band members and a screen shot selfie.

Rockdown In The Lockdown is being sponsored by Monster Energy and all tickets and VIP upgrades are available here: https://lnk.to/steelpantherlive.

“More Music! More Comedy! More Spandex! More Panther! Steel Panther would like to inform you that it is STILL totally legal to attend this concert naked, but please wear a mask if you’re around strangers!”

Steel Panther continue to make headlines with their daily video vignettes helping folks know what day of the week it is. A short musical intro gives way to a band member explaining which day it is for their viewers. The series has gained such popularity that various entertainment friends have made cameos as well. Corey Taylor of Slipknot/Stone Sour, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Chris Kael and Jason Hook of Five Finger Death Punch, Kid Rock, George Lopez, Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge, Rob Riggle and Joey Fatone of ‘N Sync have all shown up on the popular video series. The videos can be seen daily on all social media platforms. The band also recently released a music video for their newest single “Let’s Get High Tonight” as their original boy band incarnation F.P.C. (Four Pump Chumps) from their chart-topping album Heavy Metal Rules (https://lnk.to/HeavyMetalRules).

The Frankie Nasso directed video was unearthed from the band’s archives and can be seen here: https://youtu.be/W2FQM2j8Lss.

More information for all things Steel Panther can be found at www.steelpantherrocks.com.

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Play the Anime in “My Hero One’s Justice 2”!

MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 welcomes brand new heroes to the playable character roster, including Gang Orca, Seiji Shishikura, and Camie Utsushimi! Full Cowling 100% Izuku and Overhaul Ver. 2 make an appearance to show off their powerful moves in the brand new trailer as well!

MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2 also showcases new ways to play with various game modes in “Play Mode”! In Mission Mode, players can scout their favorite characters to their office and complete missions using teams of heroes and villains. In Arcade Mode, players can enjoy unique battles and special conversations with every character. Story Mode also returns in MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE 2, enabling players to experience the riveting story of the anime from both the Hero and the Villain side!

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Filed Under: Game Headlines Tagged With: 2, anime, hero, justice, play

TV-inspired Video Slots You Need to Play

There are thousands of online slots available, many of which are based on original or unique themes. However, there are other dozens of video slots which are all based on television shows and movies. These fun slots include unique features and symbols inspired by the show or film and can be much more fun to play than ordinary slots.

Some of these licensed slots are better than others, which is why we’ve decided to round up the five best-licensed video slots you need to play.

Game Of Thrones by Microgaming

Game Of Thrones is an online slot developed by Microgaming which is based on the TV show of the same name. While most fans dislike how the show ended with its eighth season, the Microgaming slot is still incredibly fun to play.

The slot uses a 5×3 layout with 243 paylines, and it has an RTP (Return to player rate) of 96.4%. Symbols in the game include the show’s logo and the four houses; Targaryen, Lannister, Stark, and Baratheon. Each of the four houses has an accompanying unique feature which includes free spins of up to 18 plus Multipliers of up to 5x. The game also includes Stacked Wilds as well as a Scatter symbol resembling the Iron Throne. Game Of Thrones also comes with a unique Gamble Trail Feature where players move across four points on a map and gamble their winnings.

Narcos by NetEnt

NetEnt’s Narcos has been praised by both slot players and fans of the show. The video slot uses a 5×3 layout with 243 paylines and has an RTP of 96.23%. Symbols in the game are all based on the show and include characters such as Steve Murphy and Javier Pena. Other symbols include Planes, Cartel members, Flamingos and more.

The slot includes various special features including Wild symbols and substitutions, Walking Wilds, a Drive-by feature where symbols are transformed into higher-paying symbols, Lock Up symbols, two Locked Up features, and Free Spins.

NetEnt slots are widely available at the various sister sites of Skill On Net.

The Goonies by Blueprint Gaming

In October 2018, Blueprint Gaming released a video slot based on The Goonies film. The firm’s slot uses a 5×3 layout with 20 paylines and has an RTP of 96%. This fun slot includes various symbols inspired by the film, including pirate flags, skulls, and treasure.

It’s also packed with special features including Scatter symbols which award players with the One-Eyed Willy’s Bonus. Other promotions include Wild substitutions, as well as various game modes including Free Spins, additional Wilds, Multipliers, and so much more.

American Dad by Playtech

Playtech is a game developer known for creating dozens of licensed slots. One of their most popular slots is based on Seth McFarlane’s American Dad TV show. Released in 2017, the American Dad slot uses a 5×4 layout with 40 paylines and has an RTP of 94.14%. The symbols in the slot are all based on the show’s characters; Roger, Stan, Francine, Hayley, Steve, and Klaus.

The game also includes several unique features including Wild substitutions. There’s also the Schmooblydong Wheel which can reward players with Re-Spins and Free Spins, along with Stacked Stan symbols, Roger’s Random Wilds, Francine’s Holy Grail which awards additional wins, Hayley’s Progressive Multipliers, and so much more.

Vikings by NetEnt

One of the most recent licensed slots to have been released is NetEnt’s Vikings which is based on the show of the same name. This video slot uses a 5×3 layout with 243 paylines and an RTP of 96.05%. Symbols in the slot are based on characters from the show as well as shields, the show’s logo, and traditional playing card letters and numbers covered in blood.

The special features offered include the Raid Spins of up to 5 spins, the Shield Wall which generates winning combinations, Hotspots symbols, Expanding Wilds, Scatters and so much more that helps you make more winning combinations.

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: play, slots, tvinspired, video

SEBASTIAN BACH TO PLAY 1ST SKID ROW ALBUM IN ENTIRETY IN CELEBRATION OF 30TH ANNIVERSARY ON UPCOMING TOUR

CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF SKID ROW’S LANDMARK, SELF-TITLED DEBUT WITH U.S. TOUR TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY!

Revered vocal powerhouse SEBASTIAN BACH will celebrate the 30th anniversary of SKID ROW’s acclaimed, self-titled breakout debut album with a U.S. Tour where he’ll be performing the record in its entirety plus other songs from his celebrated catalog. The tour will kick off in Nashville, TN on August 30th and will end in Pinellas Park, FL on November 2^nd. Tickets and VIP Meet N’ Greet upgrades go on sale Friday, June 7^th at http://www.sebastianbach.com/.

In a statement from Bach: “In 1989 we put out the first record ‘Skid Row’. 30 years later, people still dig the music we created in a garage all those years ago. In commemoration of this 30th Anniversary digital deluxe release, my band is going to perform the first Skid Row record, in its entirety, on the road, LIVE this fall! It’s going to be fun to do something that has never been done live before! We are looking forward to seeing you all for this one time event! Note: This concert is 100% live in every way! All real! All the time! No tapes! No fakes! Come and see a real rock band while they still exist! We give it to you straight from the heart ‘cuz that’s the only way we know how! See you on the road!”

Released in the winter of 1989, SKID ROW’s self-titled record is one of heavy rock’s most successful debut albums, landing in Billboard’s Top 10 and going on to sell millions of copies around the world. The record transformed the band from local New Jersey quintet into a global phenomenon whose rebellious attitude and jaw-dropping talent set the bar and tone for rock music in the late 80’s and early 90’s. SKID ROW’s singles, “18 and Life,” “Youth Gone Wild” and “I Remember You,” are among the decade’s most recognizable rock anthems that still receive heavy airplay on radio stations across the country. The group again achieved commercial success with its second record Slave to the Grind (1991) certified multi-platinum, reaching number one on the Billboard 200.

SEBASTIAN BACH is recognized globally as a vocalist, television star, actor and beyond! Bach hit the spotlight in the late 1980’s as the iconic frontman for mainstream heavy metal / hard rock act SKID ROW. Since his departure from Skid Row in the mid 90’s, SEBASTIAN BACH still remains one of the most relevant rock figures in pop culture today, with over 20 million records sold, three solo records, network television appearances on AXS.tv, MTV, VH1 and CMT, guest appearances on “Gilmore Girls,” “Trailer Park Boys,” “Californication” and other popular television shows, and several acting stints on and off Broadway. BACH’s last album, Give ‘Em Hell, impressively, landed on the U.S. Top Hard Rock and Top 200 Billboard charts, proving his prowess decades after his initial debut. BACH’s critically acclaimed Harper Collins memoir “18 And LIFE on Skid Row” was released December 6, 2016.

SEBASTIAN BACH’s band is :

Drums: Bobby Jarzombek (HALFORD, FATES WARNING) 2005-2019

Bass: Rob DeLuca (UFO, SPREAD EAGLE) 2005-2019

Guitar / Backing Vocals: Brent Woods (VINCE NEIL, CHEVY METAL) 2012-2019

SEBASTIAN BACH Tour Dates:
Aug 29 – Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
Aug 30 – Anderson, SC – William A Floyd Amphitheater
Aug 31 – Charlotte, NC – Amos Southend
Sep 2 – Huntsville, AL – Side Tracks Music Hall
Sep 3 – Columbus, OH – Skully’s
Sep 4 – Cleveland, OH – Phantasy
Sep 6 – Stafford Springs, CT – Palace Theater
Sep 7 – Block Island, RI – Ballard’s (afternoon show)
Sep 9 – Laconia, NH – Granite State Music Hall
Sep 10 – Hampton Beach, NH – Wally’s
Sep 11 – Portland, ME – Aura
Sep 13 – Harrison, OH – The Blue Note
Sep 14 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop
Sep 15 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection
Sep 18 – Kansasville, WI – 1175
Sep 19 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
Sep 20 – Lombard, IL – Brauer House
Sep 21 – Dubuque, IA – Q Casino
Sep 22 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall
Sep 25 – New York, NY – Sony Hall
Sep 26 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live
Sep 27 – Lynchburg, VA – Phase 2
Sep 28 – Waterloo, NY – The Vine at Del Lago
Sep 29 – Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s
Oct 1 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
Oct 3 – Wichita, KS – WAVE
Oct 5 – Golden, CO – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse (Outdoor)
Oct 6 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
Oct 10 – Ramona, CA – Ramona Mainstage
Oct 11 – Los Angeles, CA – Whisky A Go Go (Night 1)
Oct 12 – Los Angeles, CA – Whisky A Go Go (Night 2)
Oct 17 – Roswell, NM – Liberty Theater
Oct 18 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
Oct 19 – Waco, TX – The Backyard
Oct 20 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill
Oct 22 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
Oct 23 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater
Oct 24 – Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock
Oct 25 – Lafayette, LA – The District
Oct 26 – Miramar Beach, FL – Village Door Music Hall
Oct 28 – Miami, FL – KISS Kruise Pre Party @ Double Tree
Oct 30 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock
Oct 31 – Savannah, GA – Victory North
Nov 1 – Ft. Myers, FL – The Ranch
Nov 2 – Pinellas Park, FL – England Brothers Park

For More Information:http://www.sebastianbach.com/

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Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: 1st, 30th, album, anniversary, bach, celebration, ...

Prog-rock Pioneers Crack the Sky To Play New York City for the First Time in over 20 Years, April 20 at the Loft at City Winery

NEW ALBUM LIVING IN REVERSE AND CAREER RETROSPECTIVE CRACKOLOGY WERE RELEASED AUGUST 24, 2018

LIVING IN REVERSE CRACKED THE CHARTS WITH THEIR HIGHEST CHARTING DEBUT IN 40 YEARS

L to R: Bobby Hird, Dave DeMarco, Joey D’Amico, John Palumbo, Rick Witkowski, Glenn Workman
Photo Credit: Rei Perri

Prog-rock pioneers Crack The Sky, whoRolling Stone Magazine calls “…the Best U.S. Prog Band You’ve Never Heard,” return to New York for the first time in over 20 years to play a special show at The Loft At City Winery Saturday April 20, 2019. “For the last 20 years, our New York-area fans have had to travel south to come see us, so we are all very excited to finally bring the party to them,” said the band. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to play for them and return to New York City after all of these years. It’s long overdue!”

On January 1, 1976 Stephen Holden of Rolling Stone magazine called the debut album by Crack The Sky “…one of year’s most impressive debuts.” Now, some 40 years later, the band cracked the charts with their highest charting debut in 40 years with their new studio album Living In Reverse. It charted at #7 Heatseekers, #31 Independent Current Albums, and #40 Top Current Albums. The band also released Crackology, a collection of 12 career favorites. Both came out on August 24, 2018 on Loud & Proud Records.

Living In Reverse showcases 12 new genre-defying Crack tracks that Vintage Guitar calls “…heavy Beatlesque pop” including “Talk Talk” – the lyric video was included in the recent Rolling Stone feature, “RainingRain” which Billboard Magazine premiered, and “Living In Reverse” which Relix premiered. The retrospective Crackology chronicles a dozen of the best re-recorded gems as culled from the band’s rich and storied 40-year catalog. Goldmine Magazine said, “…on both albums, Crack the Sky surges with the vitality and energy of a young band, bringing so much ‘crack’ to the older songs that Crackology sounds just as fresh as Living in Reverse.” Vintage Guitar said “…Crack The Sky is rockin’ better than ever.”

Tickets for their April 20 New York show are on sale now through The Loft At City Winery here.

Crack The Sky is
John Palumbo – Lead Vocals, Guitars, Keys
Rick Witkowski – Guitars & Vocals
Joey D’Amico – Drums & Vocals
Bobby Hird – Guitars & Vocals
Glenn Workman – Keyboards & Vocals
Dave DeMarco – Bass & Vocals

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Actor Ian Shaw talks about portraying his father in his new “Jaws”-inspired play.

As many of you readers know, both myself and Mike Gencarelli (your favorite “Mikes”) appear in the brilliant “Jaws” documentary entitled “The Shark is Still Working.” The film tells the story of the making and the impact of the 1975 blockbuster. But there are stories still to be told. Ian Shaw, whose father Robert portrayed Quint in “Jaws,” has written a play, based on stories his father told him about the production, entitled “The Shark is Broken.”

Like his parents (his mother was the brilliant actress Mary Ure), Shaw is an accomplished actor with many film and television credits to his name. In what I call a stroke of irony, Ian portrayed Colonel Paul Tibbets, the pilot who dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan in the television film “Hiroshima.” “Jaws” fans will remember that Quint was a sailor on board the U.S.S. Indianapolis, the ship that carried the bomb to the island of Tinian, where Tibbets began his mission.

Mr. Shaw took some time out recently to speak with Media Mikes about his latest project.

Mike Smith: What can you tell us about “The Shark is Broken?”

Ian Shaw: It’s 1974. Martha’s Vineyard. Three iconic actors are confined together during the tortuous filming of what will one day be regarded as the greatest blockbuster movie of all time Forced into close proximity by studio politics, endless delays and foul weather, the three must deal with violent outbursts, squabbles, rampant egos, petty rivalries and the fact that the mechanical shark keeps breaking down. This causes their insecurities to run riot. Is this film going to ruin their careers? Who is going to want to see a film about sharks with hardly any shark in it? And who is the star of the movie anyway?

MS: What inspired you to take on this project?

IS: Like so many people, I’ve always loved the film, except of course I have the personal connection of being Robert Shaw’s son. The film is a rare combination of elements combining to maximum effect: the performances, the music, the design, the writing, the direction, the cinematography and editing all combine to create a fantastic amount of tension and emotional reaction from the audience. That’s really hard to do. When I was a little older, I read Carl Gottlieb’s spellbinding account of how they managed to achieve it, The Jaws Log. What particularly fascinated me were the problems they had with “Bruce”, the nickname for the shark, named after Steven Spielberg’s lawyer. Then there’s the sheer audaciousness of filming at sea, the relationships with the locals, and the tensions between my father and Richard Dreyfuss. Both of whom I admire hugely, I might add.

MS: You started your professional acting career in your mid-20s. Was there any reticence on your part to pursue the profession, being th son of two very distinguished actors?

IS: No. I had a wonderful drama teacher at my school, Michael Walsh. From the age of eight, I was performing in school plays, and I fell in love with the process. And I think if your parents are actors, you think it’s a perfectly normal thing to do. Later on I discovered how hard it was for other actors from different backgrounds to make the leap. I just made a promise to myself one day that I would pursue the path of an actor. I can remember the exact moment, as if it was yesterday. I was standing outside the school gym, where we used to put on plays. Even though I was very confident, probably with the arrogance of youth, I told myself it might take a long time to become successful! So there was never any question about what I would do. You can’t break a promise to an eight year old!

Your older brother, Colin, portrayed your father’s character as a young boy in “The Deep.” You bear a striking resemblance to your father. Would you consider portraying him in a project?

IS: Well, here we go – I’m playing him in The Shark Is Broken. Wish me luck…

MS: What else are you working on?

IS: I’m also performing with the actors Duncan Henderson and David Mounfield in our adaptation of three Damon Runyon stories – the show is called Broadway Stories, and it will alternate nightly with The Shark Is Broken at the 2019 Edinburgh Festival, Venue – Assembly Festival, George Square. Damon Runyon is best known for being the source material for the musical “Guys and Dolls.” His short stories, which centered around the world of New York’s Broadway, took in what might be seen as the seedier side of life; a place of gamblers, molls, hustlers, dames and gangsters. With an utterly distinctive vernacular he described this hard, and often illicit world, but without the usual judgement or dismissal. The first story is about a woman who murders her husbands for the life insurance. The second is a study of the relationship between a half blind cat and a mobster holed out in a derelict hideout. The last is a comedy about an eating contest.

NOTE: Readers interested in helping get THE SHARK IS BROKEN to the sage can click HERE

Information about the upcoming performances of THE SHARK IS BROKEN and BROADWAY STORIES will soon be available HEREh

Top 5 Most Popular Online Casino Games You Can Play

When you think of industries that have really seen rapid and massive growth online, the online casino games industry has really carved a niche for themselves. People love playing games online, especially at sites such as 666casino.com, the proof is visible in the numbers. In the recent past, online gaming was literally non-existent, by 2008 the industry was earning roughly under 10 billion $ annually. Fast forward to a few years, and the numbers were more than triple. This is the real definition of exponential growth! If you are wondering where the growth is being cultivated from, it is simple, people love to have fun gambling, online gaming also offers convenience. Some websites like onlinecasinos.net help players, and review online casinos you can see example here.

Top 5 Most Popular Online Casino Games

Below is a list of the most popular online casino games by the number of gamers.

1). Online Slots.

The online slots utilize a virtual, online casino gambling machine that contains four or more reels that spin when a given button is pressed. Over the years the online slots have grown to become an all-time fan favorite because of the different pay lines and reels that have had gamers glued to them. The online slot games have become really popular because they also offer high payouts to customers apart from being easy to learn.

2). Online Blackjack.

Blackjack has a very simple premise that enables it to be enormously popular. To win, one must use the numerical values on a playing deck to total 21. As a game, it accounts for almost 31% of all casino game plays globally. The game has often been said to be a “gateway game” which attracts a lot of gamers and it is a surefire way of entertainment. Online blackjack is no different from the real game you would get on the Strip. Two key features that have allowed the blackjack to gain in growth is the fact that it allows for free-play modes in addition to joining bonuses.

3). Roulette.

In the game, gamers choose to make bets either on a single number, various grouping of numbers,colors black or red, whether a number is even or odd or on a low (1 to 18) or high (19 to 36). The roulette accounts for almost 24% of the total online casino game-play. The game offers lots of fun plus a relatively good payout to its gamers whenever they beat the house. The game is very popular because of the various varieties the game offers in addition to the many betting options one can place for a hefty payout.

4). Poker Games.

Poker is a card game that combines strategy, skill, and gambling. Most poker variants entail betting as an integral part of their play and determine a winner of each hand in accordance to the final combinations of players cards. The different poker games account for about 21% of the overall online casino game play. The game has proved to be very popular because of its ability to offer good payouts and progressive jackpot bets in certain levels.

5). Baccarat/ Punto Banco.

The Baccarat is a comparing game of cards played by two people, the “banker” and the”player”. Baccarat has many variations including the Punto Banco. In the Punto Banco variation, each player’s move is forced by the group of cards the given player is dealt. About 90% of the total income from Macau island casinos in 2014 was generated from punto banco. Globally, it accounts for about 9% of the total online casino game-play.

Some might not knowhow to play baccarat so here is a video on how to play

Conclusion.

What is the future of online casino games? Well, we can not predict it, but we clear thing is that human nature is not going to change in the recent future. With the growing penetration of internet access, the market for online casino games is only going to grow exponentially.

DVD Review “Muppet Babies: Time To Play!”

Voice Cast: Matt Danner; Melanie Harrison; Dee Bradley Baker; Ben Diskin; Eric Bauza; Jessica DiCicco; and Jenny Slate
Number of discs: 1
Rated: Not Rated
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 14, 2018
Run Time: 92 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Growing up in the 80’s, I was a huge fan of the original “Muppet Babies” series and when I heard that the show was being re-imagined for Disney Junior audience, I couldn’t have been happier, now with a 6 year old of my own to enjoy. Let me start with the fact that my daughter honestly has never been a fan of The Muppets at all, so I was hesitate introducing this show. Let me tell you from the moment that theme song hit her eyes lit up and she was hooked. Since her first viewing, this show has people her favorite to watch, she has seen each episode numerous times now.

The voice cast is legit for this re-imagination. There is some amazing talent brought in here for this show including Matt Danner as Kermit the Frog; Melanie Harrison as Piggy; Dee Bradley Baker as Animal; Ben Diskin as Gonzo; Eric Bauza as Fozzie Bear; Jessica DiCicco as a brand-new Muppet Baby, Summer Penguin; and Jenny Slate as Miss Nancy. Disney went all out for this one and delivered for the parents as well as kids.

“Muppet Babies: Time To Play!” is the first volume DVD released for this The episodes included “Sir Kermit the Brave/Animal Fly Airplane”; “Super Fabulous vs. Captain Icecube/Piggy’s Time Machine”; “The Great Muppet Sport-A-thon/You Say Potato, I Say Best Friend”; “Hatastrophe/Fly South”; and even two bonus episodes “How Kermit Got His Groove/One Small Problem” and “Playground Pirates/The Blanket Fort”.

There are also 10 “Muppet Babies: Show & Tell” Shorts with each of the characters. Other special features include The Great Muppet (Short) Musical and 6 Music Videos including “What’s So Scary About The Dark?”; “Never Have To Say Goodbye (To The Summer)”; “Get Back In The Game”; “Good Things Come To Those Who Wait”; “You Can Be A Dancer”; “Muppet Pirate Shanty”. Honestly I was impressed to see so many special features on a kids DVD but this one is jam packed! Can’t wait for future volumes!

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: babies, dvd, muppet, play, review, time, ...

Disney’s THE LION KING Performances Begin on Wednesday, February 14 and Play for Four Weeks Through Sunday, March 11 at Dr. Phillips Center

Buyi Zama as “Rafiki” in THE LION KINGNorth American Tour. ©Disney. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Orlando, FL, January 29, 2018 – Casting has been announced for the Orlando return engagement of Disney’s The Lion King. The show’s first appearance in the Walt Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and it’s third time to Orlando, the four-week engagement runs from February 14 through March 11.

The production features Mark Campbell as “Scar,” Gerald Ramsey as “Mufasa,” Buyi Zama as “Rafiki,” Nick Cordileone as “Timon,” Greg Jackson as “Zazu,” Ben Lipitz as “Pumbaa,” Gerald Caesar as “Simba,” Nia Holloway as “Nala,” Keith Bennett as “Banzai,” Martina Sykes as “Shenzi” and Robbie Swift as “Ed.”

The role of “Young Simba” is alternated between Joziyah Jean-Felix and Ramon Reed and the role of “Young Nala” is alternated between Danielle W. Jalade and Gloria Manning.

Rounding out the cast are Derek Adams, Kayla Rose Aimable, Andrew Arrington, William John Austin, Eric Bean, Jr., Kolin Jerron, Thabani Buthelezi, Sasha Caicedo, Kyle Robert Carter, Thembelihle Cele, Erynn Marie Dickerson, Tony Freeman, Mukelisiwe Goba, Deidrea Halley, Jalen Harris, William James Jr., Jane King, Gregory Manning II, Christopher L. Mc Kenzie, Jr., Nhlanhla Ndlovu, Aaron Nelson, Selloane Nkhela, Phylicia Pearl, Christopher Sams, Jordan Samuels, Mpume Sikakane, Sadé Simmons, Kimber Sprawl, Kevin Tate, Jennifer Theriot, Courtney Thomas, Shacura Wade, Zola Williams and Krystal Worrell.

Coming to Orlando as part of the 2017 – 2018 FAIRWINDS Broadway in Orlando season tickets start at $35.25 and may be purchased online at drphillipscenter.org, by calling 844.513.2014 or by visiting the Dr. Phillips Center Box Office at 445 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. Online and phone ticket purchases are subject to handling fees. For groups of 10 or more please contact Group Sales at [email protected] or calling 407.455.5550.

Ticket buyers are reminded that Dr. Phillips Center is the only official retail ticket outlets for all performances. Ticket buyers who purchase tickets from a ticket broker or any third party should be aware that Dr. Phillips Center is unable to reprint or replace lost or stolen tickets and is unable to contact patrons with information regarding time changes or other pertinent updates regarding the performance.

The North American touring productions of The Lion King have been seen by more than 19 million theatergoers. Having already played more than 70 cities across North America, The Lion King now proudly returns to Orlando to make its debut in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Shows, dates, times, prices, and artists are subject to change.

Dashaun Young as “Simba” in THE LION KINGNorth American Tour. ©Disney. Photo by Joan Marcus.

ABOUT THE LION KING

In its 20^th year, THE LION KING continues ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 24 global productions have been seen by more than 90 million people. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is the only show in history to generate six productions worldwide running 15 or more years. Performed in eight different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese), productions of THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway, London’s West End, Hamburg, Tokyo and Sapporo, Madrid, Scheveningen, Holland, and on tour across North America, for a total of eight productions running concurrently across the globe. Having played over 100 cities in 19 countries on every continent except Antarctica, THE LION KING’s worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.

THE LION KING won six 1998 Tony Awards^®: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical. THE LION KING has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.

The show’s director, costume designer and mask co-designer Julie Taymor continues to play an integral part in the show’s ongoing success. The first woman to win a Tony Award for Direction of a Musical, Taymor has in recent years supervised new productions of the show around the world.

The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s music from The Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer; and music from “Rhythm of the Pride Lands,” an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer. The resulting sound of THE LION KING is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy Award®-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to the haunting ballad “Shadowland.”

The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed The Lion King animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay. Other members of the creative team include: Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), John Stefaniuk (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor) and Doc Zorthian (production supervisor). Anne Quart serves as co-producer.

For more information worldwide, visit LionKing.com.

# # #

About the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization operating the state-of-the-art performing arts center in downtown Orlando, Florida. With its opening in November 2014, the performing arts center launched its vision of Arts for Every Life by being a gathering place for creativity and discovery; a vibrant urban destination where artists, audiences and students come to experience, explore and learn. The two-block community destination features the 2,700-seat Walt Disney Theater, 300-seat Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, Seneff Arts Plaza, Dr. Phillips Center Florida Hospital School of the Arts, the DeVos Family Room, and other event rental spaces. Future expansion includes Steinmetz Hall, a 1,700-seat acoustical theater, along with rehearsal, classroom, office space and commercial development spaces. Dr. Phillips Center is a private non-profit collaborating with the City of Orlando, Orange County, the City of Winter Park, the State of Florida and generous donors.

FAIRWINDS Broadway in Orlando is presented in partnership with Broadway Across America and Florida Theatrical Association. FTA is a non-profit civic organization with a volunteer board of trustees established to ensure the continued presentation of quality touring Broadway productions and the promotion of arts education throughout the state of Florida. For more information, visit FloridaTheatrical.org .

Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of The John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes LionKing.com and The Broadway Channel. Led by 11-time Tony-winning producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 44 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Current and past productions include Beautiful, Cats, Chicago, Dear Evan Hansen, Groundhog Day, Hairspray, Hello, Dolly!, Million Dollar Quartet, On Your Feet!, The Producers, School of Rock and Waitress. LionKing.com is the premier theater website for news, exclusive content and ticket sales. For more information please visit LionKing.com and Broadway.com.

Product Feature “Wicked Cool Toys 6″ Egg Babies Basic Plush”

Kids these days are obsessed with mystery box and toys like Hatchimals where what you get is a surprise. These Egg Babies are super cute and a great alternative to the Hatchimals craze. They are priced at only $12.99 on Amazon, which is a steal to some other products that are similar. Series 1 features 6 different plush animal babies. These animals were very cute and VERY soft and squishy (my daughters words).

Here is a breakdown of each of the characters you see in the picture to the right:
Turtellini is a colorful turtle who’s outgoing, caring and livens up the party. She’s a true gift to those around her! Bubble Gum is a fluffy pink bunny full of confidence. She is a natural leader, has a true rock and roll spirit and loves to express herself through music.

Hamlet is a cheeky and mischievous pig. He can sometimes be found stirring up trouble but don’t worry, he’s sweet enough to clean up his mess. Kiwi is a true extrovert. This fun-loving chick loves to be in the spotlight.

Kiwi can usually be found center stage as lead singer of the band, Deviled Eggs. Patches is an energetic and determined puppy. He knows good sportsmanship and is more important than the final score.

Snowflake is a sweet and lovable kitty cat. She makes new friends wherever she goes. Her cheerful personality is truly infectious.

Wicked Cool Toys delivers another winner for your kids! Perfect time just for the upcoming holidays. Get those stockings filled with these great toys and get ready to see your kids enjoy opening their egg to reveal which FURRiendly surprise they receive and end up loving forever!

Concert Review: The Machine, Ridgefield Playhouse – Ridgefield, CT

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Filed Under: Toys Tagged With: dash, feature, monster, play, product, ultra, ...

Eight Fun Mobile Games to Play When You are Really Bored

We’ve all been there, bored out of our wits, stuck at home, waiting for the train or traveling with the bus, and we have all wished to be relieved of that boredom. So, what can be done about it? There are actually lots of things you can do. One of them is playing online casino games, and if you don’t already then we suggest giving it a try. It is an amazing way to deal with boredom. There are so many games on offer, meaning, so many ways to kill time.

Neo Monsters. Let’s start with a real old-school game, we are talking about Neo Monsters, available on both iOS and Android, it is monster collecting battle with cool graphics reminscient of Game Boy and old Super Nintendo. We are very happy to recommend this game for all of you.
Townsmen. This is an awesome game, reminiscent of the game settlers, which was a big thing a few years back. It’s a simulator, where the goal is to create a town, by using resources and by creating new ones. The idea is to be strategic as well as a good tactician, in order to complete different assignments with respects to the town you are building, in order to succeed.
Jackpot Paradise. It is not possible to recommend games to kill the boredom, without recommending this extraordinary Casino site, this is quite a new name in the online gambling world, and yet, it is already well known and well liked. The site offers a great Welcome Bonus for new players. How about 10 free Slots and up to £200 matching bonuses? Go to Jackpot Paradise and check it out.
KleptoCats. One might argue that this is a game for children, however, we couldnt disagree more. Who does not love cats? And why cannot an adult play game be both cute and funny? Why not play a game where you own a bunch of adorable cleptomaniac cats that will bring you all kinds of stuff for your room? Sounds weird? It is, but we promise you will also find it interesting and hilarious. The game is available on both iOS and Android.
Bet365. There is no way presenting a list of hilarious and fun online games without mentioning Bet365. This is a great Casino and Sports Betting site that offers its own Casino application. The site’s Casino app is powered by Playtech, and as such, it offers some of the best games around. There are Slots as well as Live Casino games on offer, such as Roulette and Blackjack.
Trivia Crack. Here is yet another great game, fun to play, together with your friends. This is an application, a multiplayer application in reality, that offers a trivia game concerning completely useless information. We liked it a lot when trying it out, it gave us quite a few laughs. If you have great remote friends, then this is the game for you, and you will most likely share a lot of laughters from afar.
Lucky Nugget. We present to you, yet another great Casino appliction. This is a great site with a good reputation that has been around for more than 10 years in total. When the site receantly launched its own Casino application few were surprised as it was a great way for it to notch up its success a bit. Lucky Nugget is powered by the amazing Microtech and installing on your mobile device unlocks 50 free spins for real money.
Twofold. This beautifully designed puzzle game is a real mental challenge, it offers great gameplay as well as lots of fun. For those of you that have played Candy Crush, this game is the perfect continuation of your gaming career. However, the game is a bit tricky from the get go and it requires a little bit of getting used to. The tutorial is great though, and so with lots of help, the players are eased into the role of Twofold-players.

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: 8, bored, fun, games, mobile, play, ...

A New Way to Play: Why Canadians Love Casino Games

Canadians love to gamble. In fact, they love it so much that’s it’s one of the hottest forms of entertainment across the country right now. According to Statista, Canadian casinos raked in more than $6 billion over a 12-month period in 2016, which is up more than $500 million compared to 2006, according to statcan.gc.ca. Much of the recent rise in gaming activity has been down to growth of online casinos.

With virtual platforms offering easy access to traditional games such as roulette and blackjack, more Canadians have had the opportunity to dip their toes in the gaming waters. In fact, to increase participation further, many of the major operators actually offer free-play games. Identical to the real thing but without the cost, these games have served as a great introductory tool which has then given more people the impetus to play some casino classics.

As more Canadians take to the Internet or their local casinos to play the odds, we thought we’d take a look at some of their favoured games and features.

A Little Extra Something

“6/365 I’m All in !!!!” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by RTD Photography

Everyone loves something for nothing and that becomes clear when you look through the roster of Canadian casinos out there. For example, at https://top-canadiancasinos.com/, a casino review site, you’ll notice that the top ranked sites have more than $4,000 in free (or bonus as it’s called) cash available.

In contrast to live casinos, online sites actively reward new players with a bonus and this review site’s top six is a prime example of that. Indeed, if you look at the top of the shop, 888casino, the site’s reviewers have found that you can claim as much as $2,388 in bonus cash. Deals like this not only show how Canadians want something more when they ante up, but they want variety and depth so they can find a deal that suits their needs.

Slots Are a Money Spinner

“Winning Slot” (CC BY 2.0) by cletch

When it comes to games, Canadians appear to have an affinity for slots. Look through the lobby of any leading operators, from All Slots and Spin Palace to 888 and beyond, slots are the most numerous games. Although each site will have a different line-up, it’s not uncommon to see in excess of 100 games inside a single lobby. One of the reasons these games are appealing is their themes. Much like pinball machines like Stern’s Spiderman offering, slots take stories and icons from popular culture, from movies to video games, as we’ve discussed on mediamikes.com before, and turn them into a high-octane game.

In terms of specifics, progressive jackpot slots are the most popular variant. From Mega Moolah to Leprechaun’s Luck, these games take a small percentage from each player’s bet, put it into a communal pot and then pay out a prize when someone hits the magic combination. The result of this system is jackpots that often top $1 million. Unsurprisingly, being able to stake a few dollars and win a life-changing sum is hugely appealing and that’s why these games are now popular with Canadian players.

Cross-Channel Entertainment

“Sport bets” (CC BY 2.0) by tjschloss

As much as casino games are great, too much of anything can become tedious. To counter this, many of the top Canadian online casinos offer something on top of their table games. For example, online-casinogames.ca notes that its top ranked sites offer a wide variety of betting options. From classic casino games like blackjack and roulette to live dealer tables (games with real people on the screen), dice games and “number based games” are all available in the online arena.

Having some sort of diversity is crucial because every player is different. Indeed, to ensure the casino industry remains a mainstream endeavour, operators have to cover as many bases as possible. Much like social gaming developer Zynga.com has everything from Words with Friends to poker to cover a broad spectrum, the top Canadian online casinos will offer the widest variety of betting options as possible.

Casino gaming isn’t a niche activity anymore. Thanks to the online world’s bonuses, variety and accessibility, everyone of legal age is now finding some fun in the casino arena.

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: canadians, casino, games, love, play

Book Reviews “Disney Poster-A-Page – Disney Junior: Let’s Play & Frozen: Magical Moments”

Series: Disney Poster-a-Page
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Disney
Release Date: September 2, 2014

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Time Home Entertainment Inc has been behind a great Poster-A-Page series featuring some of the most popular Disney franchise characters recently. They feature not only our favorite character but also key story points, and memorable moments. It is what it says it is, this is literally a poster on every page along with nine supersize pull-out posters. that can function as fantastic door signs, room decorations, or background for their fantasy worlds.

Official Premise: “Disney Frozen Poster-A-Page”: Magical Moments relives the magic of the second highest grossing Disney movie of all time. With wintry scenes and cherished characters, this book follows Anna and Kristoff as they encounter Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman, in their epic journey to find Elsa.

Official Premise: “Disney Junior Poster-A-Page: Let’s Play” features the lovable characters from one of the highest rated children’s TV series. This new book introduces us again to the whole Disney Junior team: six-year-old Doc McStuffins; Mickey Mouse and his lovable clubhouse friends Goofy, Donald, Minnie, Daisy, & Pluto; Jake and his faithful Never Land Pirates crew; and Sofia the First along with her family and friends.

“Frozen” has won over everyone in the world with its lovable characters. These are great posters. My daughter already has asked us to hang up at least five different ones. If your kids love Disney Junior, they will love seeing all their favorite characters as well. We get posters of Doc McStuffins, the gang from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the crew of Jake and the Never Land Pirates and Sofia the First.

Chazz Palmenteri talks about his one-man play of “A Bronx Tale”

Chazz Palmenteri is known best for his roles in films like “The Usual Suspects”, “A Bronx Tale”, “Bullets Over Broadway”, in which he received an Oscar nomination. Chazz brought his one-man play “A Bronx Tale” back to Broadway in 2007 and since then he has been continuing to tour each year with this show. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with him about the show and what he has planned next.

Mike Gencarelli: “A Bronx Tale” hit Broadway in 2007 and hasn’t stopped since; tell us about your journey you are taking with this one-man show?
Chazz Palmenteri: I originally did this back in 1989 and I brought it back to Broadway in 2007 since there was a whole generation of people that didn’t get to see it. It was just going to be Broadway for six months and that’s it. It was such a huge success, they wanted to do a National Tour and I thought I would finish in Vegas. So I did it again in Las Vegas in 2009 after the tour and then it became show of the year and they just keep calling me back. Now I do the like two or three dates a month traveling it around. I want to keep doing it. I can’t stop because people keep wanting to see it.

MG: The show is a real physical workout; how do you prepare for it each night?
CP: I just stay in really good shape. I work out a lot. I am on the treadmill a lot. I watch my weight. I just take care of myself and that is the only way that you can prepare for this. You really just have to be in really great physical condition.

MG: How long do you see yourself touring with this show?
CP: I still am doing plenty of film and TV but I am going this in between gigs. I love doing it. I don’t know, I will continue to do it until I can’t physically or people don’t want to see it.

MG: Ever considered filming it and releasing it on Blu-ray/DVD?
CP: I have thought about that but I haven’t decided what I wanted to do with the show yet. But we will see.

MG: What else you got in the cards next?
CP: I do have a big film that I wanted to talk about. I will be in London this month shooting, “The Kray Brothers” with Tom Hardy. I am really looking forward to that.

Here are the rest of the upcoming show dates for the tour of “A Bronx Tale”:

July 12th – Atlantic City – The Golden Nugget
Oct 4th – Buffalo NY – Kleinhans Music Hall
Oct 10th & 11th – Huntington LI – The Paramount Theater
Oct 17th – Morristown NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center

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Filed Under: Art/Theatre, Film Interviews, Interviews Tagged With: bronx, chazz, oneman, palmenteri, play, tale, ...

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Tag: play

Great Games to Play This Winter

Grand Theft Auto Online

Poker

Minecraft

Monopoly

STEEL PANTHER TO PLAY ANOTHER VIRTUAL CONCERT ROCKDOWN IN THE LOCKDOWN ON AUGUST 16th SPONSORED BY MONSTER ENERGY

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TV-inspired Video Slots You Need to Play

SEBASTIAN BACH TO PLAY 1ST SKID ROW ALBUM IN ENTIRETY IN CELEBRATION OF 30TH ANNIVERSARY ON UPCOMING TOUR

Prog-rock Pioneers Crack the Sky To Play New York City for the First Time in over 20 Years, April 20 at the Loft at City Winery

NEW ALBUM LIVING IN REVERSE AND CAREER RETROSPECTIVE CRACKOLOGY WERE RELEASED AUGUST 24, 2018

LIVING IN REVERSE CRACKED THE CHARTS WITH THEIR HIGHEST CHARTING DEBUT IN 40 YEARS

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Chazz Palmenteri talks about his one-man play of “A Bronx Tale”