Political ice cream may have brief run at theater

By David Spett

It was recently reported that Ben & Jerry’s may be opening an ice cream mega-store at the corner of Union Square East and 15th St., home to the Daryl Roth Theatre since 1996. But both the theater and Ben & Jerry’s dispute the report, which appeared in the New York Observer’s The Real Estate blog.

The theater’s associate general manager, Erika Happel, said the ice cream company “is coming in August for a limited time to promote a new product. We’re staying here. I’m not at liberty to say more.”

A spokesperson for Ben & Jerry’s, Rob Michalak, said the company is promoting a new flavor called American Pie. Besides catering to one’s sweet tooth, Ben & Jerry’s wants to use its new flavor to encourage Americans to question the federal budget and how it’s “sliced up,” pun intended, Michalak noted.

“The goal is to heighten awareness of the billions of dollars the Pentagon spends on nuclear weapons versus a shortfall of spending on basic, unmet needs of children,” stated a press release.

Michalak said the American Pie tour is coming to a location in Manhattan — maybe the Daryl Roth Theatre, he said, but he’s not sure — from July 16-19.

That doesn’t jibe with Happel’s statement that Ben & Jerry’s is coming in August. Michalak couldn’t provide more details by press time.