On Tuesday the New Dramatists’ 71st Annual Benefit Luncheon was held at the New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, Broadway ballroom 6^th floor.

Suzan-Lori-Parks photo by Michael Hull

Tony® Honor recipient and the nation’s premier playwright development laboratory, was honored with its 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award at their 71st Annual Spring Luncheon Tribute

Kenny Leon photo by Michael Hull

Tony Award winner, Kenny Leon, director of Parks’ recent revival of Topdog/Underdog lead the tributes.

photo by Michael Hull

In Attendance were:

Ben Platt (Parade) photo by Michael Hull

Annaleigh Ashford  (Sweeney Todd) photo by Michael Hull

Brandon Uranowitz (Leopoldstadt) photo by Michael Hull

J. Harrison Ghee  (Some Like It Hot) photo by Michael Hull

Kevin Cahoon (Shucked) photo by Michael Hull

Natasha Yvette Williams  (Some Like It Hot) photo by Michael Hull

Wayne Cilento (Dancin’) photo by Michael Hull

Betsy Wolfe (& Juliet) and Linedy Genao (Bad Cinderella) photo by Michael Hull

Justin Cooley (Kimberly Akimbo), Ben Platt (Parade) and  Colton Ryan (New York, New York) photo by Michael Hull

Justin Cooley (Kimberly Akimbo), Brian Stokes Mitchell, Suzan-Lori Parks, Victoria Clark (Kimberly Akimbo) and Bonnie Milligan (Kimberly Akimbo) at The New Dramatists Spring Luncheon. photo by Michael Hull

Also Artistic Director Emily Morse and Executive Director Joel Ruark,

Executive Director Joel Ruark photo by Michael Hull

Jeannie Tessori photo by Michael Hull

Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi), Betsy Aidem (Leopoldstadt), Steven Boyer (Kimberly Akimbo), Faye Castelow (Leopoldstadt), Rashad Chambers (Topdog/Underdog), Ben Davis (New York, New York), Eisa Davis (New York, New York), Micaela Diamond (Parade), Delia Ephron (Love Loss & What I Wore), Corey Hawkins (Topdog/Underdog), Jessica Hecht (Summer, 1976), Amy Herzog (A Doll’s House), Robert Horn (Shucked),  Mark Jacoby (A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical), LaChanze (Here Lies Love, Kimberly Akimbo), event co-chair   Caissie Levy (Leopoldstadt), Judith Light (Other Desert Cities), David Lindsay-Abaire (Kimberly Akimbo), Neil Meron (Some Like It Hot), Alli Mauzey (Kimberly Akimbo), Lauren Mitchell (A Bronx Tale), Arian Moayed (A Doll’s House), Casey Nicholaw (Some Like It Hot), Linda Powell (A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical), Daryl Roth (Kinky Boots), Sarah Ruhl (in The Next Room), Stark Sands (& Juliet), Miriam Silverman (The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window), Marcel Spears (Fat Ham), Katy Sullivan (Cost of Living), David Stone (Wicked), Jeanine Tesori (Kimberly Akimbo), Paula Vogel (How I Learned To Drive), Sharon Washington (New York, New York), Scott WIttman (Some Like It Hot), Kara Young (Cost of Living), David Zayas (Cost of Living).

Performing were:

Suzan-Lori-Parks photo by Michael Hull

Daniel Fulton, Orville Mendoza, Suzan-Lori-Parks, Lauren Molina and Leland Fowler photo by Michael Hull

Brandon and Jason Dirden photo by Michael Hull

New Dramatists resident playwrights at The New Dramatists Spring Luncheon. photo by Michael Hull

Suzan-Lori-Parks and New Dramatists resident playwrights at The New Dramatists Spring Luncheon. photo by Michael Hull

Suzan-Lori-Parks New Dramatists resident playwrights at The New Dramatists Spring Luncheon. photo by Michael Hull

Suzan-Lori-Parks photo by Michael Hull

Tony Kushner photo by Michael Hull

NYC Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, Suzan-Lori-Parks photo by Michael Hull

Stay tuned for our interviews.

“Expressions of Black Freedom”, sponsored by Indeed, is an evolution of the Tribeca Festival’s Juneteenth programming that gives a curated look at stories that embody what it means to be free. This year’s theme is Black Music, which ties into the festival-wide celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop. To help us craft the celebration, Tribeca brought in a curator-in-residence, Fab 5 Freddy. The full experience includes films, Talks, lounge discussions, musical performances, immersive experiences, and a Masterclass.

Examples of programming includes: the world premiere of All Up in the Biz, a documentary about New York hip-hop legend Biz Markie; the world premiere of Cinnamon, directed by Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr. and starring Damon Wayans and Pam Grier; the world premiere of For Khadija, starring French Montana and executive produced by Drake and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs; Misty Copeland’s Flower; Gloria Gaynor will perform following the world premiere of Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive; Charlie Ahearn, Lee Quiñones, Fab 5 Freddy, and Grand Wizzard Theodore reunite for a special 40th anniversary celebration of Wild Style, and Tribeca Talks with artists like Billy Porter.

Program combines films, immersive experiences, panels, and events including:

FEATURES:

ALL UP IN THE BIZ

SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY, WORLD PREMIERE | FEATURE | UNITED STATES | 100 MINUTES | ENGLISH

New York native Biz Markie remains a hip-hop icon despite his untimely death in 2021. Best known for his 1989 Top 40 hit “Just a Friend”, Markie was a rapper, beatboxer, songwriter, and producer who was fondly referred to as the clown prince of hip-hop. Markie performed all over the world and made cameo appearances in TV shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, In Living Color, and The Tonight Show, and films including Men in Black II and Sharknado 2.

ANTHEM

SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY, WORLD PREMIERE | FEATURE | UNITED STATES | 98 MINUTES | ENGLISH |

“The Star-Spangled Banner”, written in 1814 using the melody of an old British tune, is a song that evokes a range of emotions from patriotic pride to cynicism and terror. But what would the national anthem sound like if it was based on American music? Anthem follows composer and pianist Kris Bowers and producer Dahi as they journey across the country to find out.

Choir singing the new anthem after the screening, followed by a Q&A

BAD LIKE BROOKLYN DANCEHALL

SPOTLIGHT+, WORLD PREMIERE | FEATURE | JAMAICA | 93 MINUTES | ENGLISH | ENGLISH SUBTITLES |

Bad Like Brooklyn Dancehall explores the ‘80s and ‘90s emergence of dancehall as Jamaican immigrants brought the music, dancing, and vibes of their home to New York City. Nicknamed the 15th Parish of Jamaica, New York City became home to an influential movement that saw dancehall rise alongside hip-hop and eventually spread across the country.

After the Premiere: Performance by Dancehall legends.

CHOIR

TRIBECA TV WORLD PREMIERE  | UNITED STATES | 93 MINUTES |

For the Detroit Youth Choir, everything changed when they entered the spotlight on America’s Got Talent. They’d come a long way from rehearsing in a church basement with a handful of kids, but now their past achievements are old news and the new kids need to step up. With new talent and auditions underway, can the DYC stay relevant both in their hometown and on the national stage?

After the Screening: A conversation with Artistic Director of the Detroit Youth Choir Anthony White, director Rudy Valdez, executive producer Sara Bernstein, and members of the choir, plus a special performance by the Detroit Youth Choir.

CINNAMON

SPOTLIGHT NARRATIVE, WORLD PREMIERE | FEATURE | UNITED STATES | 91 MINUTES | ENGLISH |

Aspiring singer Jodi Jackson (Tony nominee Hailey Kilgore) has a big voice and dreams to match but struggles to make ends meet as a gas station attendant whose boss (Damon Wayans) may not be on the up and up. Enter charming small-time crook Eddie (David Iacono). He would do anything to make her dreams come true. The two lovers hatch a plan to change their lives, but as the old proverb goes, “We plan, God laughs.” What follows is a journey in which they both must use their wits to survive.

DE LA CALLE

TRIBECA TV, WORLD PREMIERE | UNITED STATES | 87 MINUTES | ENGLISH |

De La Calle is a docu-series that takes a journey into the Latino diaspora to explore the evolution of Urbano music and cultures that ignited the musical revolution of Rap, Reggaeton, Bachata, Latin trap, Cumbia and other sounds that are influencing music and culture worldwide.

After the Screening: A conversation with series host Nick Barili and additional special guests.

FOR KHADIJA: FRENCH MONTANA

GALA WORLD PREMIERE | FEATURE | UNITED STATES, MOROCCO | 90 MINUTES | ENGLISH |

French Montana is many things, including an entrepreneur and Grammy-nominated rapper. But what did it take for a hungry talent from Africa to reach those lofty heights? The Moroccan-born and New York-bred multi-platinum artist behind hits such as Pop That, Unforgettable, and No Stylist is giving us a deeper look through his lens. This globe-spanning showcase provides views of French we haven’t seen, including the unbreakable bond he shares with his single mother, Khadija.

After the Premiere: A performance by French Montana, Triplets Ghetto Kids, and Very Special Guests.

GLORIA GAYNOR: I WILL SURVIVE

SPOTLIGHT +, WORLD PREMIERE | FEATURE | UNITED STATES | 99 MINUTES | ENGLISH |

Gloria Gaynor forever cemented her place in popular culture with the disco classic “I Will Survive”. In the four decades since, her career has been stalled by health issues, as well as abuse and mismanagement from her now ex-husband. Yet in keeping with the title of her most famous song, Gaynor struggles onward as she works to release a new gospel album in her seventies.

After the Premiere: A performance by the one and only Gloria Gaynor.

HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK

RETROSPECTIVE | FEATURE | 125 MINUTES |

Through good times and bad, Stella (Angela Bassett) and Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg) have always had each other. Now, Stella’s so busy building a life that she’s forgotten to really live. But Delilah is about to change all that. What starts as a quick trip to Jamaica, ends as an exhilarating voyage of self discovery as Stella learns to open her heart and find love – even if it’s with a man 20 years her junior. Directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan. Written by Terry McMillan, Ron Bass. Produced by Deborah Schindler. With Angela Bassett, Taye Diggs, Whoopi Goldberg, Regina King. A 20th Century Fox release.

After the Movie: A panel with Kevin Sullivan and Angela Bassett, moderated by Torell Shavone Taylor.

INVISIBLE BEAUTY

SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY, NEW YORK PREMIERE | FEATURE | UNITED STATES | 114 MINUTES |

Frédéric Tcheng, the director of 2019’s Halston, returns to Tribeca with another documentary about a fashion world titan: co-director Bethann Hardison. Featuring in-depth interviews with Hardison herself, Invisible Beauty is an elegant account of the model-turned-fashion industry insider’s life and career, culminating in her tireless advocacy for more diversity both on the runway and off.

LOST SOULZ

US NARRATIVE COMPETITION, WORLD PREMIERE | FEATURE | UNITED STATES | 95 MINUTES | ENGLISH | ENGLISH SUBTITLES |

Sol (Sauve Sidle) is an aspiring young rapper living with his best friend Wesley (Siyanda Stillwell), whose family has embraced him as a brother. After a raucous night causes Wesley to overdose, Sol abandons him at a house party, and eventually chooses to leave home for good and join a touring group of hip-hop artists. As they travel across Texas creating and performing, he discovers who he is as an artist and person.

MELODY OF LOVE

VIEWPOINTS, WORLD PREMIERE | FEATURE | ARGENTINA, BELGIUM, ETHIOPIA, GERMANY | 85 MINUTES | ENGLISH | ENGLISH SUBTITLES |

Clad in slim jeans and a leather jacket, with his electric guitar strapped to his back, jazz musician Michael (Elijah Reid) cuts an effortlessly cool figure as he moves through the streets of Addis Ababa. Playing the nightclubs of his beloved city and excited by the promise of an upcoming tour, Michael is every bit the working musician. When his mother asks him to join her in Brussels, the guitarist falls into deep existential dread at the thought of leaving and becoming part of the diaspora in a continent defined by its history of white entitlement and mistreatment. Michael sets out to bid loved ones goodbye, enjoying the simple pleasures of the city one last time. He comes to find a deeper purpose and a revolutionary reason for being in this jazzy, intimate look at the emotional toll of colonialism and the forced displacement at its cruel center.

NEW JACK CITY

RETROSPECTIVE | FEATURE | 100 MINUTES |

New Jack City, (United States). Wesley Snipes stars in this hard-edged film based on a frightening true world as Nino Brown, an American success story – with a twist. He’s young, handsome, smart, rich, successful, and prominent in his community. But Nino Brown is a big-time drug baron. Determined to end the remorseless evil of Nino’s drug empire, two street-smart policemen will stop at nothing to destroy his organization. Directed by Mario Van Peebles. Written by Thomas Lee Wright, Barry Michael Cooper. Produced by George Jackson, Doug McHenry. With Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Mario Van Peebles, Judd Nelson. A Warner Brothers release.

After the Movie: A panel with Mario Van Peebles, Michael Michele, and Fab 5 Freddy.

PLANET B-BOY
FREE & OUTDOOR EVENTS | FEATURE | 101 MINUTES |

A powerful documentary about the vibrant global resurgence of break-dancing, Planet B-Boy goes inside the underground hip-hop dance scenes around the world.

After the Movie: A free entry-level breakdancing tutorial led by the instructors of Wondrous – Studio Of Breaking in Brooklyn.

SUNDAY BEST

SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY, WORLD PREMIERE | FEATURE | UNITED STATES | 87 MINUTES | ENGLISH |

Ed Sullivan is rightly considered to be one of the great figures of American television. For 23 years, The Ed Sullivan Show broadcast some of the biggest musicians into millions of homes, including Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles’ record-breaking first appearance in 1964. Sunday Best affectionately recounts Sullivan’s show business career with an emphasis on his support of Black American artists, including his friendship with Bill Robinson.

THE BLACKENING

SPOTLIGHT NARRATIVE U.S. PREMIERE | FEATURE | UNITED STATES | 96 MINUTES

Seven Black friends reunite at a cabin in the woods to celebrate Juneteenth. They ignite in friendly banter as they arrive, referencing old jokes like they just saw each other yesterday. But as night falls, things begin to go awry in the picturesque cabin. Lights go out and a masked archer stalks them from outside. Once they’re trapped in a room, the group must play the ultimate game: figure out who among them is the Blackest — or else they all die. So, who exactly is the Blackest of them all? And who will make it through the night?

WILD STYLE

RETROSPECTIVE | FEATURE | 82 MINUTES |

Wild Style, (United States). Universally hailed as the classic hip hop movie, Wild Style tells the story of Zoro, played by the graffiti legend Lee Quiñones, in his subway art romance with the graffiti queen Sandra “Lady Pink” Fabara. Fab Five Freddy, who helped Charlie Ahearn create Wild Style from its inception, stars as the smooth impresario Phade. Following the outlaw artists through the train yards to the clubs, Wild Style climaxes at a massive outdoor jam, definitely the most famous hip hop party in history! Directed, written and produced by Charlie Ahearn. With Lee Quiñones, Lady Pink, Fab 5 Freddy, Patti Astor, Andrew Witten, Busy Bee, Grand Wizzard Theodore.

After the Movie: A panel with Charlie Ahearn, Lee Quiñones, Fab 5 Freddy, and Grand Wizzard Theodore, moderated by Pitchfork staff writer Alphonse Pierre.

SAY IT LOUD! SHORTS PROGRAM

Freedom of Black expression is explored in these short docs:

BLACK GIRLS PLAY: THE STORY OF HAND GAMES

SHORTS, WORLD PREMIERE | UNITED STATES | 18 MINUTES | ENGLISH |

An illuminating look at the influence that hand games played by Black girls has had on the American creative landscape.

CRUZAN COWBOYS

SHORTS, WORLD PREMIERE | UNITED STATES, US VIRGIN ISLANDS | 12 MINUTES | ENGLISH | ENGLISH | SUBTITLES |

A short documentary chronicling the horse jockey community in Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands – through the perspective of a young aspiring jockey, native to the island.

GOODBYE, MORGANZA

SHORTS WORLD PREMIERE | SHORT | UNITED STATES | 16 MINUTES | ENGLISH | ENGLISH SUBTITLES |

A property dispute led to one family’s displacement from their ancestral home. Today, their youngest daughter is left to pick up the pieces—all of them fitting within two storage units.

LIZZO “SPECIAL”

SHORTS, NEW YORK PREMIERE | MUSIC VIDEO | UNITED STATES | 3 MINUTES | ENGLISH |

In Lizzo’s music video, visuals, empowering lyrics, and energetic performances celebrate self-love, body positivity, and individuality. Bold, colorful, and full of positive energy.

MERMAN

SHORTS, WORLD PREMIERE | UNITED STATES | 11 MINUTES | ENGLISH |

A 58 year-old Black queer man speaks about his life as an emergency nurse, leather titleholder and civil rights advocate.

SAVI THE CAT

SHORTS, NEW YORK PREMIERE | UNITED STATES | 18 MINUTES | ENGLISH |

When a devoted Kenyan husband surprises his new Black-American wife with an adorable kitten, neither are prepared for the destruction it wields upon their home, their life, and ultimately, their marriage.

SHORTS

CUARTO DE HORA

SHORTS, WORLD PREMIERE | FRANCE, CHILE | 16 MINUTES | CREOLE, FRENCH, SPANISH | ENGLISH SUBTITLES |

Alex (25), is a young Haitian man living in Chile who is undocumented and does not speak Spanish. After a car accident he is helped and translated by Daniela (50), a passerby with whom he is going to live what could be his last 15 minutes of life.

FLOWER

WORLD PREMIERE SPECIAL EVENT | 28 MINUTES |

The World Premiere of Misty Copeland’s Flower will screen as a special event at Spring Studios. Flower is a poignant take on community, belonging and intergenerational equity, directed by Lauren Finerman, in which Copeland stars and serves as producer. This film also marks the return to performance for Copeland after a multi-year hiatus. Following the screening, the premiere event will feature live performances by Copeland’s co-star Babatunji Johnson and a group of NYC hip hop dancers choreographed by the legendary choreographers Rich + Tone Talauega, who also worked on the film, and a Q&A with Copeland and the filmmakers.

IN THE SHADOWS OF PALMS

SHORTS, WORLD PREMIERE | SHORT | UNITED STATES | 13 MINUTES | ENGLISH | ENGLISH SUBTITLES |

In the Shadow of Palms is an intimate portrait of three lives on the outskirts of Los Angeles and the creative ways they find hope in this cinematic documentary.

LUNARCODE: THE LIGHT (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

SHORTS, NEW YORK PREMIERE | MUSIC VIDEO | UNITED STATES | 3 MINUTES | ENGLISH |

A powerful music video by award winning rock band Lunarcode.

IMMERSIVE

COLORED

NEW VOICES COMPETITION, NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE FRANCE, TAIWAN R.O.C. | 30 MINUTES | ENGLISH, FRENCH |

Colored is an immersive mixed-reality installation adapted from a biographical essay written by Tania de Montaigne. It’s the story of Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old Black girl who, in Alabama in the 1950s, refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white woman. A Rosa Parks ante litteram whose revolutionary gesture did not receive the same public recognition as that of her elder a few months later, condemning her to oblivion. At 83 years old, Claudette still lives in New York. Published sixty years after the fact, this biography, winner of the 2015 Simone Veil Prize, plunges us into a moment in American civil rights history that keeps resurfacing in our time. The feeling that to be Black is to be an inferior race, especially for a woman.

MASTERCLASS

MASTERCLASS: THE DREAM TEAM – CAREERS IN TALENT REPRESENTATION

TRIBECA TALKS | 75 MINUTES |

Hosted by: The Blackhouse Foundation and Diverse Representation
Discover the unique career paths to the value-added role of Talent Representative with our distinguished panel of agents, managers, attorneys, and publicists. This conversation is about getting in the room to have a seat at the table while building a community of savvy negotiators to help talent realize their dreams. Moderated by Diverse Representation Founder, Jaia Thomas.

About the Blackhouse Foundation

The Blackhouse Foundation was founded in 2007 to expand career opportunities for Black multi-platform content creators and build an enhanced pipeline for executives within film, television, digital, and emerging platforms.

About Diverse Representation
The mission of Diverse Representation is to increase the hiring and exposure of Black agents, attorneys, managers, and publicists in the sports and entertainment industries.

This year the Tribeca Film Festival collaborates with the Blackhouse Foundation and Diverse Prepresentation to provide space for behind-the-scenes discussions on career advancement and thought-provoking conversations with creators and executives.

TALKS

STORYTELLERS – CHANCE THE RAPPER WITH THELMA GOLDEN

TRIBECA TALKS | 60 MINUTES |

Multi-Grammy award winner Chance the Rapper has built a multi-faceted career across music, film, television, and art. His new body of work, Star Line Gallery, has premiered at art institutions around the world including Art Basel and Los Angeles’ Museum Of Contemporary Art (MOCA).

STORYTELLERS WITH BILLY PORTER WITH IDINA MENZEL

TRIBECA TALKS | 60 MINUTES |

Billy Porter is an Emmy, Tony and Grammy award-winning actor, singer, director, producer, composer, and playwright, best known for FX’s Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated drama “Pose” and Broadway’s Kinky Boots.

STORYTELLERS: JANE FONDA RECEIVES THE HARRY BELAFONTE VOICES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD

TRIBECA TALKS | 60 MINUTES |

Jane Fonda is a two-time Academy Award-winning actor, producer, author, activist, and fitness guru with a career spanning over 50 years. Her body of work includes over 45 films as well as advocacy on behalf of political causes such as women’s rights, Native Americans, and the environment. She is a seven-time Golden Globe winner and was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2021, Stanley Kubrick Excellence in Film Award as part of BAFTA’s Britannia Awards in 2019, AFI Life Achievement Award winner in 2014, and Honorary Palme d’Or honoree in 2007. Fonda also continues to lead the charge on Fire Drill Fridays in partnership with Greenpeace USA, and launched the Jane Fonda Climate PAC last year. The award will be presented by Grammy-winning artist Alicia Keys. Fonda will be joined in conversation by Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts.

SPRING STUDIOS LOUNGE PANELS

HIP-HOP DANCE TUTORIAL WITH WONDROUS STUDIO

Join us for a free entry-level breakdancing tutorial led by the instructors of Wondrous – Studio Of Breaking in Brooklyn.

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On May 31, the  InterContinental New York Barclay hosted a very special and intimate soiree called Veuve Clicquot Terrace. Kicking off the summer season in style at a luxurious soiree, invited guests enjoyed bubbles and VCP burgers, which were served throughout the evening.

Located just off Park Avenue in midtown Manhattan, The Barclay is one of New York’s most storied hotels, originally built in 1926. Fresh from an extensive renovation, the property seamlessly integrates urban history with modern comforts and amenities.

If you are out to visit this lovely hotel this summer you must check out The Parlour restaurant for Jazzy Wednesdays, featuring live music from Café Society Jazz Band.

The Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University announced today that theatre director/teacher Jason Zembuch Young of South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida, will receive the 2023 Excellence in Theatre Education Award.

The Excellence in Theatre Education Award was co-founded in 2014 by the Tony Awards and CMU to recognize top K-12 drama teachers and to celebrate arts education. Zembuch Young will receive his award at The 76^th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, at the historic United Palace in New York City’s Washington Heights.

Making theatre accessible for all audiences has been the hallmark of Zembuch Young’s 20 years as a drama teacher. Each year, he produces two full-length mainstage productions, a play and a musical, in both voice and American Sign Language (ASL). As an advocate for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) population, Zembuch Young has reshaped policies to provide interpreters during and after school to teach his hearing and DHH actors and crew how to communicate and perform.

“As a high school theatre teacher, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many students from different backgrounds with varying exceptionalities. When we are inclusive in the theatre, everyone is better for it.  Everyone deserves to have a voice,” said Zembuch Young.  “It is in the theatre that we have an opportunity to give our students a platform to use that voice, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or what language they use to communicate.”

Zembuch Young runs a one-person, zero-budget public school theatre department with upwards of 150 students participating in performances. He also operates a six-week summer-stock theatre camp for elementary and middle school students, using high school drama students as counselors and mentors. With his South Plantation School students, he participates in International Thespian district and state competitions and is an eight-time South Florida CAPPIE winner for Best Play or Musical. Zembuch Young fundraises annually to provide four $1,000 scholarships to help graduating seniors.

Helping others overcome disability or life circumstances doesn’t stop when the school bell rings for Zembuch Young.  He and his husband Michael have fostered more than 35 abused and underprivileged children.  He’s facilitated the adoption of foster kids in his care and became an adoptive parent himself. He offers free admission to all performances for foster families so that they can experience live theatre.

A panel of theatre experts from the American Theatre Wing, The Broadway League and Carnegie Mellon University selected Zembuch Young from a nationwide call for entries.

“We are thrilled to present the 2023 Excellence in Theatre Education Award to Jason Zembuch Young,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, President and CEO of the American Theatre Wing. “Jason’s exceptional commitment to empowering every student to make and be part of theatre has won the hearts and appreciation of his local community and now the Broadway community, as well.”

The Excellence in Theatre Education Award recognizes a K-12 theatre educator in the U.S. who has demonstrated exemplary impact on the lives of students and who embodies the highest standards of the profession. Zembuch Young will receive $10,000 for South Plantation High School’s theatre program and tickets to The Tony Awards and Gala. Zembuch Young’s students will also receive a visiting Master Class taught by CMU Drama professors.

“New trails are blazed when teachers challenge paradigms in the name of art, expression and accessibility,” said Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian. “Jason Zembuch Young is an extraordinary educator who has used the power of theatre to profoundly impact the lives of his students. CMU is proud to present this award to Jason in recognition of his positive influence and remarkable achievements.”

The American Theatre Wing’s 76th Annual Tony Awards, presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, will air LIVE on Sunday, June 11, 2023 from the historic United Palace in Washington Heights in New York City from 8:00-11:00 PM, ET/5:00-8:00 PM, PT on the CBS Television Network, and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+.

It’s going to be going to be a splendid June with so many grand events.

Fashion brand AMBUSH and Terminal 27 hosted a pop-up event lfor AMBUSH’s SS23 collection with the help of Volcan Tequila.

Lauren Jauregui attends the AMBUSH x Termianl 27 Pop-Up Event with Volcan Tequila (Doug Krantz/BFA.com)

Jon Batiste and COKE STUDIO released an original track, the “Be Who You Are” anthem and music video. In celebration of the power of staying true to yourself, the song reflects on the idea that it is when people are their authentic selves and accept each other’s differences, the ‘Real Magic’ happens.

Penned by Jon Batiste, he has collaborated with the global breakout group NewJeans, pushing the boundaries of K-Pop; Latin Grammy-Award winning pop artist from Colombia, Camilo; British, chart-topping singer and ‘BRIT Award & Ivor Novello-nominated, chart-topping singer songwriter’ Cat Burns and Atlanta-born eclectic rapper J.I.D.

On June 1, NoMad neighborhood’s CRISP & GREEN is finally bringing its “Living Crisp” movement to NYC and is slated to officially open.Founded by a wellness-industry veteran Steele Smiley, the company not only serves healthy, scratch-made food in a convenient setting, but also provides regular complimentary fitness programming to its guests by partnering with instructors from each community it opens in. Through its mix of healthy meals and physical exercise, the brand aims to promote a culture of living and eating well, or “Living Crisp.”

To kick off their Grand Opening, CRISP & GREEN plans to celebrate with a ribbon cutting, complimentary fitness class by Brianna Joye Fitness, free food and more.

And coming up, the Jackie Robinson Museum is set to have a special night. As part of the I LOVE NY campaign, the season in the sun will take off in a grand way. The Jackie Robinson Museum celebrates the enduring legacy of one of the most important Americans of the 20th century. The exhibition chronicles Jackie Robinson’s trailblazing achievements against the backdrop of United States history, from his birth in 1919 to today. Invoking Robinson’s role as a champion for racial, social, and economic equality, the Museum’s programming places an emphasis on dialogue around critical issues that continue to challenge our society.

Endless ideas for travel adventures in our state are set to also be explored such as trips from Manhattan to Cooperstown where the world-famous  home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is located. Here too is where you can have special tastings from the Cooperstown Distillery .

More fun can be found on June 10 at the New York Rum Festival, hosted by TheRumLab.com. Over 100 rum expressions from around the world, including rare and exotic varieties, will be available to sample, and attendees can learn about the latest trends and developments in the industry. Three tasting session times are available, starting at 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm, with tickets starting at $88.  The event also offers VIP and trade industry sessions with exclusive perks. This event kicks off a week of spirit-focused events in NYC, including the New York Rum Congress and The Brooklyn Bar Convent.