Sunday, December 22, 2024By Cristina Arroyo (and NOT by Jeff Myhre, despite what Wordpress says -- we're working on it). Follow any LI comic or club on Instagram, and count the number of women or comics of color in the photos; you’d be hard pressed to get past single digits. The Long Island comedy scene in New York is very male and very White–I’m not trying to be controversial, just factual. Lack of diversity (race, gender, and even comedic style) is a glaring issue that, if continued to be pushed aside, will render LI comedy obsolete. Many seasoned comics and show producers and bookers dismiss
Features
The O.G. Surfer Girl: A Chat With Sarah Utterback
The O.G. Surfer Girl: A Chat With Sarah Utterback By Megan Lohne Sarah Utterback, who certain Greys Anatomy devotees may know as Nurse Olivia from earlier seasons aka “Syph Nurse” is joining with Animus Theatre Company and The Dirty Blonde’s to bring the New York Premiere of Leslye Headland’s Surfer Girl to life. A monologue about the perils and joys of couch surfing, Surfer Girl was Headland’s first play in her seven deadly sins cycle and IAMA, an LA based company which both Headland and Utterback are members of is about to produce the seventh and final piece: Cult Of Love. I had a chance to chat
Riding The Waves of Surfer Girl: An interview with Amy Northup
Animus Theatre Company is an ensemble of artists that develops new work and realizes the full potential of infrequently produced plays that explore the fragility and resilience of the human spirit. Currently, they’re producing one of Lesyle Headland’s Seven Deadly Sins Cycle. Headland known for Bachelorette and Sleeping With Other People had vowed years ago to write a play about each sin and the last and seventh is about to open with IAMA Theatre Company in LA. With the New York Premiere of Surfer Girl, a female driven monologue which will be embodied by eight ladies over the course of it’s
A Dancer In A Million Places: Danielle Marie Fusco
Headshot by Joi Ong, Dzul photos by Chris Comfort, Jazzy photos by Jan LaSalle for Ladies for Luigi Project, Aerial photos by Tyler McAuley Educational photo by Eastern Suffolk Boces C3Squared Dance has always held a significant place in my heart. Though I only took dance classes in high school for 4 years what I gained mostly, other that the ability to bust out a buffalo step, is how impenetrable the dancers work ethic is. One can be a mediocre actor or singer and still get work in the entertainment industry. One can’t really be a bad dancer and work in this business. One
From the Horse’s Mouth: A Celebration of Egyptian Dance in All its forms and Traditions
The evening begins with an invocation to Egyptian goddess Hathor, praising her as “mistress of dance,” and “lady of jubilation.” But the woman who takes the stage is more evocative of Egyptian goddess Bastet with feline features and a catlike stride. Her stature barely surpasses 5 feet and yet she commands the entire space of the Theater at the 14th Street Y with her stately presence. This is Magda Saleh, the woman of honor and inspiration for this week long series of events and performances celebrating Egyptian dance, “in all its forms and traditions.” Ms. Saleh sets the tone with an
Radio Plays in the 21st Century
Radio Plays in the 21st Century Interview with Cat Parker, Artistic Director of The Articulate Theatre Company Jeff Myhre, Interviewer Before television, there was the "Golden Age of Radio." Plays on the radio were a major form of entertainment, from kid shows like "Little Orphan Annie" to the "Guiding Light" (yes, the show started on the radio), from "The Shadow" to "The Jack Benny Show." Techonology has rendered the form less popular, but it's still one of my favorite things in the entertainment world. Over the holidays, the Articulate Theatre Company staged "ON AIR/On Stage," its exploration into the world of the radio play. Artistic Director
Under the Radar Festival at the Public Theater and Japan Society
Under the Radar Festival Presented by The Public Theater Antigonon Un Contingente Epico at The Public Theater Mugen Noh Othello at Japan Society Snapshot Review: Vivid and Engaging The Public’s Under the Radar Festival is an annual theatrical feast for New Yorkers and visitors alike to see cutting-edge new works from both the U.S. and abroad, representing 229 companies from 42 countries over the past 14 years. Their international work is always particularly interesting and not likely to be seen in such an accessible way at such affordable prices. The plays featured in this review come from two islands on opposite ends of the world whose
KTW: A Whale of an Odyssey with Daniel Emond
KTW: A Whale of an Odyssey with Daniel Emond Caveat NYC Film Premiere Megan Lohne, Interviewer I had a chance to chat with Daniel Emond, an actor/singer/musician who over the past year has been working on an epic double sided record and musical film Kill The Whale inspired by the classic Melville novel Moby Dick with a pinch of The Beatles and a dash of Beyonce. Previously seen in Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet at A.R.T. and with his bands The Blue Eyed Betty's and Lion & Spaniel at venues all over NYC and beyond, he's a sharp talent to be reckoned with
Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Dmitri Hvorostovsky (1962-2017) An Apprciation Patricia Contino, Author One of the best things about the arts is following an artist’s journey. I first heard Dmitri (“Dima”) Hvorostovsky sing at in person at a 1995 New York Philharmonic concert conducted by Valery Gergiev. They performed Mussorgsky’s “Songs of Dances and Death”, which they recorded the previous year. I was already familiar with the baritone’s persuasively smooth voice – the combination of his 1989 victory at the first Cardiff Singer of the World competition along with his silver hair and black eyes certified a regular spot on WQXR’s playlist – but the song cycle was still
Backstage at Prague-New York Effects #7
Backstage at Prague-New York Effects #7 Talking Humor with Robert Janc, Mirenka Cechova and Quentin Heggs, Jacquelyn Claire, Interviewer Czech Center New York started a project entitled “Prague-New York Effects” two years ago. It’s a transatlantic cultural program that sees an artist from Prague collaborating with an Artist from New York. The artists meet in NYC for a residency that culminates in a performance. The team then travel to Prague to perform there. This is the 7th performance in the series and blends three styles of stand up comedy from ironic storytelling to clown humor to improvisational stand up. For this production