Category Archives: Theatre

Arts, Theatre

Clybourne Park Top Play for 2012

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Curtis Mayfield once asked, “If you had a choice of color, which one would you choose?”  Clybourne Park asked, “If you had a choice of neighborhoods, where would you live and who would you prefer to live with?”    Picking up the torch that Lorraine Hansberry’s Raisin in the Sun laid down, playwright Bruce Norris crafted a play that places the issues of race, gentrification and the pursuit of the American dream and puts it right on front street.

It’s won everything known to man and every accolade it’s captured is well deserved.  Clybourne Park is a rare gem – a play that manages to be current and timeless at the same time.  I have no doubt there will be plenty of revivals in its future.

To view F.A.M.E NYC Editor’s review of Clybourne Park, click https://famenycmagazine.com/2012/04/12/if-these-walls-could-talk-clybourne-park-discusses-the-tenets-of-race-and-residence/.

Photo:  Joan Marcus

 

Arts, Theatre

Golden Boy’s Glittering Opening Night

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The Rockefeller Christmas tree wasn’t the only thing attracting visitors this holiday season.  The opening night of Golden Boy brought out the stars.  Check out this video below to see all the interviews and festivities. 

Arts, Theatre

The Little Tramp Leaving Broadway in January

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Charlie Chaplin was an icon and trailblazer, but with the exception of a few reels that pay homage to the golden age of Hollywood, The Little Tramp has pretty much become that short guy with the mustache, cane and funny shuffle.  This year the spirit, talent and story Charlie Chaplin was resurrected into the spotlight once more via Chaplin the Musical.

Chaplin the Musical depicts the life of Charlie Chaplin through song and dance and has given birth to a new Broadway star Rob McClure, who plays the lead character.  The production has provided theatre goers with a touch of nostalgia, but the black and white glory of old Hollywood and its greatest star will be fading soon.  Chaplin the Musical is in its final weeks at the Barrymore Theatre.  The final show is January 6.  There is still time to see the original Dictator before he shuffles back into the annals of time.

To purchase tickets visit. http://chaplinbroadway.com/ .

 

Arts, Entertainment, Theatre

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Ambassadors of Time

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In Interview with a Vampire, the vampire Armand chooses a companion from the current century in order to transition into a new era thereby keeping himself relevant.   So if you are one of the most recognized dance companies and global ambassadors of the arts, how do you maintain your dominance?  You take a page out of Armand’s book.  Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has cultivated a reputation for excellence in dance and this season AAADT continues to stand on top of the Pantheon of modern dance companies by showcasing the future while continuing to preserve the best Ailey.

This season Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater premiered six productions at the New York City Center, two of which were new, three were company premieres and one a world premiere.  Along with staples such as Revelations, Night Creature, Minus 16 and Urban Folk Dance, AAADT confidently prances into the 21st century with athletic grace.

Evolution1_930With the exception of the iconic Revelations, I was privy to view a night of firsts for the company.  On December 5, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed Memoria and The Evolution of a Secured Feminine for the first time this season.  I also was fortunate enough to witness the world premiere performance of Another Night.  

Memoria, choreographed by Alvin Ailey in 1979 and dedicated to the memory of his friend Joyce Trisler, is classic Ailey on display.  The work is celebratory and poignant, evoking spirits and emotion in each move.  To add a modern twist, members of The Ailey School, dressed in vibrant colors, joined the members of AAADT on stage bringing a zephyr of effervescence to an already powerful ballet. 

Like most of works performed by AAADT The Evolution of a Secured Feminine is a piece that is layered in sentiment, athletic perfection and sheer beauty.   Also, it possesses the potential to become iconic.  Choreographed by Camille A. Brown and performed by only one company member, Rachel McLaren, The Evolution of a Secured Feminine is a glorious narrative about love and loss from a woman’s perspective.

AnotherNight_930Another Night truly captured the essence of AAADT’s ability to fresh and contemporary.   Kyle Abraham is a rising star in the dance world, and after viewing this work I’m certain that he will take his place amongst dance royalty someday.  Set to Dizzy Gillespie’s “Night in Tunisia”, Abraham takes a timeless jazz tune and breathes new life into bebop with moves that remain true to Ailey’s Horton roots, but also carry the aesthetic and energy of New York’s underground dance scene.  Another Night reminded me of the countless nights I participated in circles, sprinkling baby powder on the floor.  When one of the dancers broke into a duck walk, I knew they were working for the children (of the night that is) and getting their life on that stage.  I wanted to get up and dance with them.  This season AAADT also bid farewell to Renee Robinson, her last performance with the company was December 9.   It was bittersweet to see her dance in Revelations one last time. 

The role of an ambassador is to represent his/her country or sovereign.  With Robert Battle now adding new chapters to the legacy Alvin Ailey built over 50 years ago, no one can deny that AAADT has represented their medium of the arts with unparalleled passion and will continue to not only remain majestic, but ageless as well.

Photos:  Andrew Eccles, Nan Melville, Paul Kolnik

 

 

Arts, Theatre

Golden Boy Dazzles with Sweet Science

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Golden Boy

Move over De La Hoya, there is a new golden boy on the scene.  He is 75-years-old and has been here before.  The sweet science of boxing is on display in the revival of Golden Boy at the theater in which the play premiered 75 years ago.  Golden Boy opened November 4, 1937, ran for 250 performances and was playwright Clifford Odets biggest hit.  It seems that everything old is new again at the Belasco Theatre and all that glitters is still gold for Golden Boy.

3.181244The play is set in 1930s Manhattan and focuses on Joe Bonaparte, a budding violinist that is torn between his passion for music and the irresistible attraction to fame and success that can be gained from the blood sport of boxing. Young Joe is exceptional at both, but he must choose one as the wear and tear of boxing will obliterate his ability to play music.  Against his father’s wishes, Joe chooses boxing and gets sucked into the undertow that can come with riding the wave of success, which ultimately leads to his demise.

4.181243It is apparent why the allure of they play is still so appealing.  At the heart of Golden Boy lies the eternal challenge of balancing want and need.  The genesis of the play was born from Odets’ struggle to balance art and materialism, and every character in the play deals with it.  Joe wants to be a great musician, but his need for fortune overpowers him.  Joe’s father wants his son to choose music, but the need for a parent to allow a child to find their own path makes Mr. Bonaparte loosen his grip on Joe.  Lorna Moon, the dame from Newark, wants to be with Joe, but the need to be taken care of and remain loyal to her boss, who also happens to be Joe’s manager, forces her to stay with Tom Moody.  Tom wants to get rid of Joe, but the need to finally be successful clouds his judgment.  No character in the play finds the balance they desperately seek, displaying how difficult it is to achieve it.  The question of balancing want and need was just as imminent in 1937 as it is in 2012 and like the best art; Golden Boy leaves us to brood about the questions that are at the core of life.

4.181245The cast of this revival shine with the shimmer of an unearthed nugget.  Seth Numrich excels as the tragic Joe Bonaparte.  Watching his emotions teeter back and forth as he spirals into the abyss of meaningless fame is like taking a ride on the Cyclone – in one word he is thrilling. Tony Shalhoub is magnificent as Joe’s immigrant father.  His performance is beautifully heartbreaking.  Danny Mastrogiorgio and Yvonne Strahovski are memorable as Lorna Moon and Tom Moody.  Along with the sets of Michael Yeargan and the costumes of Catherine Zuber, the cast splendidly resurrects the time period and material Odets wrote decades ago.

The famed Hailey’s Comet blazes across our atmosphere every 75 years, it appears this play may also share the same time schedule as the legendary solar system body.  Golden Boy will be playing a limited 10-week engagement at the Belasco Theatre.  It is a play that is definitely worth its weight and should not be missed.

Photos: Paul Kolnik

Cover Art courtesy of Serino Coyne

Arts, Going Out, Theatre

The Lamb’s Club and Cast of Golden Boy Creates Winning Combo

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Golden Boy 006

In boxing, having a big power punch is always a good tool to have in one’s arsenal when looking to land a knockout, but generally it is a consistent set of combination shots that wears an opponent down and ultimately wins the fight.  Last Tuesday, The Lamb’s Club, Serino Coyne, Lincoln Center Theater and the cast of the revival of Golden Boy delivered a 24 karat TKO during their buzzmaker event.

Members of the press were invited to visit one of Times Square most elegant eateries and learn more about Golden Boy, now in previews at the Belasco Theatre.  While munching on succulent appetizers from The Lamb’s Club dinner menu such as, Yellowfin Tuna Tartare, Spicy Veal Meatballs and Pork Belly with Puff Rice, bloggers, journalists and photographers were introduced to cast members Danny Mastrogiorgio, Danny Burtstein, Brad Fleischer, Karl Glusman and Seth Numrich (who plays Joe Bonaparte).  Also on hand, were sketches of the costumes designed by Catherine Zuber, which included a blue dress that pays homage to the actress haunting the Belasco Theatre.

The pre-performance event possessed a buoyant atmosphere as cast members answered questions, shared their training routine as well as engaging anecdotes about how they became a part of the 75-year-old revival.  Golden Boy features a glimpse of New York City in the 1930s and the sophisticated, metropolitan ambiance of The Lamb’s Club bar made the perfect compliment to an already blithe and dashing affair.  Outside of meeting the cast, the highlight of my evening was the discovery of my new favorite cocktail – The Gold Rush.

Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and partners have created quite a dining gem in the heart of the theater district.  Along with its swanky décor and exceptional cuisine, The Lamb’s Club possesses an affinity for the arts. The restaurant hosted an event for the cast of Chaplin the Musical in August and features live jazz at the bar on Wednesdays.  And for hungry audience members looking to get a bite to eat before or after attending Golden Boy, The Lamb’s Club is across the street from the Belasco Theatre and offers pre and post theater dinner options.

105982.GB.PinterestKeyArtAll and all this buzzmaker event was a sparkling start to an evening that also included a great night of theater.  Golden Boy premiers December 6 for a 10-week run at the Belasco Theatre, I suggest taking a note from the past this holiday season by getting dressed to the nines, having dinner at The Lamb’s Club at six, catching a performance of Golden Boy at eight and treating yourself to a good old-fashioned night of dinner and a show in the city.  If you are feeling particularly lucky, you may want to enter Golden Boy’s Pinterest contest, http://pinterest.com/lctheater/golden-boy-contest/.

To learn more about Golden Boy or The Lamb’s Club, click www.lct.org or www.thelambsclub.com/.

Photo and Slideshow:  F.A.M.E NYC, Golden Boy Poster courtesy of Serino Coyne

 

 

Arts, Entertainment, FAME, NYC, Theatre

Happy Holidays the Ailey Way

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November and December are two of my favorite months to spend in New York City.  Not because of the brisk temperatures, holiday windows, Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center or tons of tourists and shoppers littering the streets, but because it means that Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is in town at New York City Center.  And yes – it’s that time of year again folks – time to see athletic splendor and dance perfection on stage (and of course, Revelations).

November also marks the third anniversary of F.A.M.E NYC!  And to thank all our FAMERS for their support I would like to share with you an interview with Aisha Mitchell, a feature dancer with AAADT, and give you the opportunity to see her and the rest of the phenomenal dancers of Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in December.  To enter type, “I Love F.A.M.E NYC!” in the comment section below.  The giveaway ends on Cyber Monday at 12:00 a.m.  AAADT’s performances begin at New York City Center on November 28.

Enjoy the interview and good luck!

1.       You will be dancing several key roles throughout the season, is there any one in particular you look forward to performing? 
I’m really looking forward to performing Ulysses Dove’s Vespers this season. It’s a work I’ve always admired growing up. I think it visually showcases the many facets of being a woman from elegance and poise, to power and strength.   It’s an incredibly affirming journey to perform that piece with five other women from the company; it’s almost as if we’re dancing as one. 

2.       Revelations resonates with people regardless of ethnicity, age or cultural background and is Alvin Ailey’s most seminal work.  Could you tell us your thoughts about dancing in this iconic dance masterpiece?
We perform Revelations a lot. It would be so easy to become numb to doing the same steps over and over.   But it’s more than just steps, more than just a dance – it’s theater –  living art that we are creating on the stage.   Mr. Ailey’s choreography and the way he conceptualized the memories of his upbringing in the Baptist church for the stage is masterful.   It speaks to people on a level that they can relate to and that’s why the piece is still relevant after all these years.   I perform three roles in Revelations, in the sections “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel”, “Fix Me Jesus” and “Wade in the Water”.   These are iconic roles in the dance world.  We are so lucky to work with living legends on a regular basis.  Often Judith Jamison will come into rehearsal and work with us on mastering the nuances of the “Umbrella woman”, a role that she is famous for.   And our Associate Artistic Director Masazumi Chaya is in rehearsals daily. He knows most of Mr. Ailey’s work, he’s like a dance encyclopedia, it’s incredible having them around to keep the legacy alive.

3.       You have performed to several genres of music, but what genres, artists or songs personally get your dancer juices flowing?

I really love all music and my musical education is forever continuing.   I play Michael Jackson at the gym, and sometimes my tour roommate and I crank out Dirty South Hip Hop at 8 a.m. to energize our day!   Any time we travel to a different city, if there’s time, I try to catch some live music at a local spot. It gives touring its own little soundtrack and makes some cities more memorable too.

4.       You are a New Yorker, but which city is your favorite to travel to when performing?
Hopefully this won’t sound too cliché, but I’ve fallen in love with Paris.  I’ve been there twice now with the company and we’ve done three to four week runs.  It’s such a beautiful city, so rich in history and culture.   I could really get used to that lifestyle; sipping on a café in the morning with some leisurely reading, performing in historical opera houses and having a glass of Bordeaux to finish the evening. Perfection!

5.       Whether it’s going to practice or hanging out with friends, what three beauty items can you not leave home without?

Definitely lip balm, Nivea hand cream and mascara!

Photos:  Richard Calmes, Andrew Eccles

Arts, Theatre

Harlem’s Hey Day Lives Vicariously through Cotton Club Parade

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As a child I learned not to fool with the art of resurrection.  It is an act that should only be performed by the gods. Tinker with it, and you guarantee folly – The Exorcist taught me that –but when music is involved, you can almost ensure success.  And when a musical titan the likes of Wynton Marsalis is overseeing the music, you know it will be a masterpiece.  Such can be said about Cotton Club Parade; it revitalizes the era of The Harlem Renaissance with toe-tapping pleasure, pizzazz and the elegance of Ellington.

Imagine getting on the A train and instead of it taking you to the Harlem of today, it transports you back to a Harlem that buzzed with intellectuals such as W.E.B Dubois and Paul Robeson, luminaries like Zora Neale Hurston, Claude McKay and Langston Hughes and at night sizzled from the red hot jazz of Cab Calloway, Count Basie and Sir Duke.  Well hep cats, I’m here to tell you that time machine is Cotton Club Parade.

Cotton Club Parade ignites a spark that captivates the audience for 90-minutes without ever diminishing its flame.   For jazz lovers, the musical revue reintroduces the music and arrangements of Duke Ellington, and for audience members not familiar with music of The Cotton Club the show acquaints them with a vivacious, harmonious time in American music and pop culture that has long rested in the shadows of the  “15-minute” sensationalized society we have become accustomed to.  And in an effort to recognize the art of a more modern era, Cotton Club Parade infuses urban dance techniques like the moonwalk, made famous by Michael Jackson and is a staple in hip hop dancing.  But what I found most interesting about the connection explored in the dancing is how art and pop culture is a constant evolution of itself.  Cab Calloway did early variations of the moonwalk in the 1930s. 

Along with the modern dance elements, the choreography of Warren Carlyle was spot-on.  I haven’t seen such spectacular live hoofing in ages!  The Nicholas Brothers and Josephine Baker would’ve been proud.  The ensemble and Jazz at Lincoln Center All Stars work like a well-oiled machine – no cracks in this production – no sir.  It is a buffet for the eyes and ears.  Audience members feast on selected texts from poet Langston Hughes and wonderful renditions of classics like “Diga Diga Doo”, “Ill Wind”, “Stormy Weather”, “I’ve Got The World on a String”, “Don’t Mean a Thing” and “Creole Love Call” courtesy of Glee’s Amber Riley, Joshua Henry, Carmen Ruby Floyd and others.

Last year Cotton Club Parade played at New York City Center, and Encores! jumped at the opportunity to showcase the production again this year.  And why wouldn’t they?   It is a wonderful awakening of The Harlem Renaissance and the artisans that made it such a significant movement in American history.  The show played its last performance at the City Center on the 18th, but it is my sincere hope that this production will play other famous theaters in NYC such as the Apollo and Lincoln Center and will tour nationwide so others can marvel at the brilliance of this show the way I did.

Photos:  Broadway World.com

Arts, FAME, NYC, Theatre

LOL! Ticket Giveaway

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With the way this economy is going, we could all use some laughter. Wouldn’t you say? 

F.A.M.E NYC can supply you with two tickets for a night of laughter with Old Jews Telling Jokes if you can tell me, who was the New York comedian that insisted that he got “No Respect”.

Comment as much as you like.  Every comment increases your chances of winning. 

Contest ends on October 5th at midnight.  This is a quickie giveaway, so act fast!

GOOD LUCK FAMERS!  I JUST LOVE A QUICKIE…DON’T YOU?

Tickets courtesy of Serino Coyne.  To learn more about Serino Coyne visit, http://www.serinocoyne.com/.

To learn more about Old Jews Telling Jokes visit, http://oldjewstellingjokesonstage.com/.

Arts, Theatre

Gefilte What…Gefilte Who?

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Hey FAMERS, how many of you have know what Gefilte Fish is?  If you don’t, don’t feel bad, seems most visitors in Times Square don’t know either.

Do you guys remember me telling you about a hilarious new Off-Broadway comedy titled Old Jew Telling Jokes?  Well, if you don’t this video below well serve as a reminder of some of the zaniness that is offered up on stage during the show.  Recently, OJTJ cast member Audrey Lynn Weston took to Times Square to test people’s knowledge about the delicacy and the responses are funny as H-E-Double hockey sticks!

Old Jew Telling Jokes is billed as the comedy that will make you laugh until you plotz, and I guarantee you will.   If you think that clip is funny, then you need to get yourself down to The Westside Theatre and get your laugh on. 

But if you keep checking out F.A.M.E NYC, you might just win some tickets for Old Jews Telling Jokes.

To learn more about Old Jews Telling Jokes, visit www.OJTJOnStage.com or check them out on Facebook, Facebook.com/OldJewsTellingJokesOnStage.

Video courtesy of Serino Coyne