Events
One of T2C’s Recommendations For Best Musical Broadbend, Arkansas To Live Stream
T2C is excited to announce that the Transport Group filmed a performance of its world premiere musical Broadbend, Arkansas and it will be available for video streaming beginning Monday, July 20 for four weeks. An original cast recording will be released by Broadway Records later this month.
Audiences can stream Broadbend, Arkansas, which is hosted by Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper,at transportgroup.org free of charge. In lieu of a ticket fee, the company encourages contributions be made to the Black Theatre Network at blacktheatrenetwork.org.
A special live discussion with the cast and creative team will take place on July 23 at 7pm ET with guests Marcia Pendelton of Walk Tall Girl Productions and Black Theatre Network President Andre Harrington, moderated by NYU Associate Professor Michael Dinwiddie. To register, visit transportgroup.org.
Broadbend, Arkansas, presented in association with The Public Theater, with Act 1 (“Just One Q”) book and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh with music by Ted Shen and Act 2 (“Ruby”) book and lyrics by Harrison David Rivers with music and additional lyrics by Ted Shen, directed by Transport Group Artistic Director Jack Cummings III (two-time OBIE winner), played last fall at The Duke on 42nd Street, with a cast featuring Justin Cunningham (Netflix’s When They See Us) and Danyel Fulton who received a Drama League Award nomination for her performance. The production recently received three Antonyo Award nominations, including Best Book, Best Score, and Best Actor in an Off-Broadway Musical for Ms. Fulton. In Broadbend, Arkansas, a Black family grapples with decades of inequality, violence, and oppression in the South. As the ‘60s Civil Rights Movement grips the nation, a nursing home orderly named Benny delicately balances his role as caregiver to an ornery white resident with that as provider for his own family. Thirty years later, his daughter Ruby struggles to understand an incident of police brutality against her 15-year-old son. Spanning nearly half a century and three generations, Broadbend, Arkansas contemplates the cycle of violence in our country and the struggle to find hope and create change against a backdrop of hate that plagues America. The lighting design for Broadbend, Arkansas is by Jen Schriever; costume design is by Peiyi Wong; sound design is by Tony Award nominee Walter Trarbach. The scenic consultant is Dane Laffrey. Casting is by Nora Brennan Casting, CSA. Music direction is by Deborah K. Abramson. Orchestrations are by Tony Award winner Michael Starobin. The production stage manager is Jason Hindelang.
Transport Group is the recipient of a special Drama Desk Award recognizing its “breadth of vision and presentation of challenging productions,” a special citation from the prestigious New York Drama Critics’ Circle, and a special OBIE Award, as well as numerous other awards and award nominations from the Outer Critics’ Circle, Lucille Lortel Awards, Obie Awards, Off-Broadway Alliance, Drama League, and others. Founded in 2001, Transport Group stages new works and re-imagined revivals—both plays and musicals—that explore the challenges of relationship and identity in modern America. Currently headed by founder Jack Cummings III (Artistic Director) and Denise Dickens (Executive Director), Transport Group most recently produced the revival of Meredith Willson’s The Unsinkable Molly Brown(starring Tony nominee Beth Malone) nominated for seven Drama Desk awards, and the world premiere musicalBroadbend, Arkansas. Other recent productions include the critically acclaimed revival of The Trial of the Catonsville Nine, Carmel Dean and Dick Scanlan’s world premiere musical Renascence (Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical), Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke (starring Tony Award nominee Marin Ireland) with Classic Stage Company, Eugene O’Neill’s Strange Interlude starring David Greenspan (Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance as well as an Obie Award for Greenspan and Cummings), and Picnic & Come Back, Little Sheba: William Inge in Rep, which received two Drama Desk nominations and three OBIE Awards (Jack Cummings III for Direction, Heather MacRae for Performance, Dane Laffrey for Scenic Design). Additional recent productions include the first off-Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress, starring Jackie Hoffman and John “Lypsinka” Epperson; Three Days To See, a world premiere theatrical exploration of Helen Keller through her own writings; Broadway’s Lysistrata Jones, the critically acclaimed revival of John Cariani’s modern classic Almost, Maine; Michael John LaChiusa’s Queen of the Mist (winner of the Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical), and a re-imagined revival of the John Van Druten’s classic I Remember Mama which was included in The New York Times’ Top Ten Productions of 2014 and The New Yorker’s Top Cultural Moments of 2014. In addition to mainstage productions, Transport Group also produces one-night-only, star-studded concert events, often featuring the productions’ original orchestrations performed by as many as 60 actors and musicians. Concert titles have included Baby (2012), The Music Man (2014), Peter Pan (2016), A Man of No Importance (2016), Man of La Mancha(2017), Promises, Promises (2018), and Sweet Charity (2019).
Streaming of Broadbend, Arkansas will be available Monday, July 20 through Sunday, August 16 at transportgroup.org free of charge and with registration at http://transportgroup.org/broadbend-streaming. In lieu of a ticket fee, Transport Group encourages contributions be made to Black Theatre Network, an organization comprised of artists, educators, scholars, students and theatre lovers who are dedicated to the exploration and preservation of the theatrical visions of the African Diaspora. For 30 years, the Black Theatre Network has collected, processed and distributed information that supports the professional and personal development of its membership. For more information, visit transportgroup.org.
Park Terrace Hotel
Hotel Chocolat kicked-off the holidays and unveil the Velvetiser‘s pop-up for the season.
Velvetiser’
Apple Pie Hot Chocolat from Velvetiser’
We miss the fireworks at the Bryant Park Christmas Tree lighting ceremony but we did watch Ofreh sing Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). Click here to hear her husband Andy Karl singing “Sleigh Bells”.
Rice paper stuffed with vegetables
Reconnecting with Diva Gals Daily Samantha Bessudo Drucker
Diva Gals Daily Maureen Martin
Diva Gals Daily Delaina Dixon with Hot Chocolat
A salted caramel rum old fashion
From the balcony of the Park Terrace Hotel
From the balcony of the Park Terrace Hotel
From the balcony of the Park Terrace Hotel
There was plenty of holiday cheer, a holiday sing-along and plenty of European style hot chocolate, festive cocktails and bites. What a way to start the season.
Tonights tree lighting was hosted by Broadway performer Mauricio Martínez and Tony Award nominee and Grammy Award winner Jenn Colella, the Tree Lighting event featured live skating performances from Olympic skaters Mariah Bell, Karen Chen, Ryan Bradley, and World Champion skating pair Alexa Knierim and Brandon Fraizer, as well as Ice Theatre of New York, Figure Skating in Harlem, and The Skyliners.
However I was across the street at the Park Terrace Hotel where Hotel Chocolat kicked-off the holidays and unveil the Velvetiser‘s pop-up for the season.
t where Andy Karl and his wife Orfeh. Here is Andy singing “Sleigh Bells”.
The tree before
The tree before
The bottom of the tree
The tree after
The igloos
The ice
The ice skaters
Tomorrow look for the performances from Jenn Colella and Mauricio Martínez.
There is an immersive exhibition devoted to the prolific and unclassifiable painter, Marc Chagall (1887–1985) at the Hall des Lumières, 49 Chambers Street. This unique digital exhibition presents his entire oeuvre, revealing a work rooted in its times, at the crossroads of the artistic and cultural novelties of his century and in constant renewal.
Paris and New York, are the emblematic capitals of modern art and represents two crucial stages in the artist’s long career. Paris was his chosen city, and thanks to the avant-garde movements of the 1910s, it provided the young Russian painter with a pool of experimental work, which he enriched with his own cultural references. New York was primarily a place of exile during the 1940s, and yet it gave the artist’s creativity fresh impetus. After the war, several exhibitions and major commissions reinforced the links between Paris and New York and brought Chagall back to the United States, up until the 1970s.
During this immersive exhibition, all the themes and images present in the artist’s repertoire are projected onto the walls of the Hall des Lumières, like intertwined cut-out images. They are complemented by short extracts of classical music, klezmer, and jazz, which were also part of Chagall’s cultural universe. His fantastic bestiary, his marvellous characters from circuses, fables, and the opera, as well as biblical episodes and references to Russian culture, poetically evoke the artist’s rich life experiences, which naturally resonates with the collective experiences of his people and generation.
Hall des Lumières, mission is to inspire visitors to enjoy art beyond the frame with their exhibitions and unique programming. With the help of advanced visual mapping technology and audio equipment, Hall des Lumières continues to provide dynamic art experiences with a mission to make art and culture more accessible to all.
Manhattanhenge happens at sunset, a Reverse Manhattanhenge happens during sunrise. It happens twice a year when the rising sun perfectly aligns with NYC’s grid. This year Reverse Manhattanhenge takes place on Wednesday, November 29th. The best time to watch this spectacular view is at 6:59am. The next one will occurJanuary 11th at 7:20am.
The best place to catch this phenomena is at the major streets such as 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd and 57th Street
G.H. Harding
A CHER STEAL — This year’s 97th edition of the Macy’s Day Parade was a rather underwhelming one, save for Chicago – inexplicably singing “Your My Inspiration” – and the always, indefatigable Cher, singing a track “DJ Play a Christmas Song” off her new holiday-themed album. The first few bars will terribly auto-tuned, but that seemed to disappear and Cher’s vocals rang full and bold.
She was, typically, a pro. Mixing effortlessly and emotionally with the dancers in a terrific set. Some pundits reported the clip was shot days earlier, but she was live and, just sensational. I wish more of today’s performers possessed her vigor and skills. That’s why most of the current acts, here today, will be gone tomorrow.
As we went to press, we learned that this parade was Macy’s most-watched edition ever! Congrats.
Sacred Songs/Daryl Hall
HALL VS. OATES — Some terrible news appeared in Wednesday’s media that Daryl Hall had taken out a TRO against partner-John Oates. I’ve loved what these two have done for decades and I loved Hall’s solo albums; especially the one he did with Robert Fripp in 1977 Sacred Songs. His record company at the time (RCA) hated it so much, they held up its release for three years.
I also well remember them in the 80’s when it seemed you could’t turn on a radio without hearing their music. 29 of their 33 singles were major chart hits on Billboard. But I do go back to them even in the 70’s, with their terrific “She’s Gone” which basically launched them. And, my favorite album of their War Babies, produced by Todd Rundgren. Quick note: That album sounds as good and relevant as it did when it came out in 1974.
The problem seems to arise from Oates wanting to sell his portion of certain songs to Primary Wave Artists – which ironically owns several of their songs already. It’s a small point, but that seems to be the issue. In all actuality, it’s another case of a classic-rocker selling his music.
In Oates’ book several years ago (Change of Seasons: A Memoir), he hardly mentioned Hall and regrettably that animus has apparently reared its angry head. They’re Philly boys, I’m from Philly and it’s just an awful coda to what was one of music’s major success stories. Sad all around.
SHORT TAKES — Terrific article in this week’s Closer on Micky Dolenz. Check it out here: https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/micky-dolenz-on-telling-stories-on-stage-and-in-his-book/
btw: Dolenz tapes KTLA’s Countdown To 2024 this week in LA …
Phil Quartararo
I first met Phil Quartararo in the lobby of the old Mondrian Hotel in LA with John Sykes and we struck up a friendship that lasted until he passed last week. He was at Virgin for a time and worked with the artists there including The Spice Girls and Paul Abdul. In these fast-changing-times in the music business, he remained somewhat behind the scenes of late, but admitted he missed working with the artists. Phil was a guy you never ever heard a bad word about. Huge loss. Here’s Billboard’s take on Phil:
… As you’ve not doubt read, there is trouble in the Marvel-comic kingdom. The latest Captain Marvel movie (The Marvels) didn’t perform nearly as well as everyone hoped for and their newest star, Jonathan Majors as Kang, is tied up in several court matters.
Dr. Doom
So, we hear that Kang is out and Doctor Doom is in. Stay tuned …
Last week for David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s Here Lies Love. If you’ve not seen this, it is a must-see one. Sad to see it go …
And Forbes’ James M. Clash has released Amplified; culled from his terrific interviews with the icons of rock ‘n roll; including Grace Slick; Art Garfunkel; Ginger Baker; Micky Dolenz; and Roger Daltry. Here’s the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNJZYW2J?ref_=cm_sw_r_apan_dp_WKCSH7AC0ZTK18RZF4ED&language=en-US NAMES IN THE NEWS — Steve Leeds; Kate Hyman; Bono; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Peter Abraham; Bobby Bank; Dina Pitenis; Frank DiLella; Donnie Kehr; Steve Leber; Don Wardell; Anne Adams; Billy Smith; John Boulos; Kimberly Cornell; Sam Rubin; Nexstar; and ZIGGY!
Talking to The Creatives Of War Words
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Bryant Park Tree Lighting and Andy Karl
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