Feature: Leonard Bernstein’s Secular Liturgical Music

Saturday, August 25 is the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein's birth.  During the upcoming weekend, Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony's Berkshires summer home where "Lenny's" conducting career began as a student in 1940 and ended with his last concert months before his death in 1990, and London's BBC Proms offer non-stop Bernstein.  The classical music streaming service Medici.tv is offering a week of Bernstein archival footage and documentaries.  For those who want to keep the music going there is Sir Antonio Pappano and the The Santa Cecilia Orchestra's new release of Lenny's three symphonies.  Additionally, since musical milestones are aimed at

Vic Dibitetto: July 28th 8pm at The NYCB Theater at Westbury

Anyone who knows anything about comedy could never deny the influence Long Island has had on the stand up comedy scene since it's inception. The endless list of greats that call Long Island their home and cut their teeth doing comedy here is well known in the annals of comedy history. That rich history continues with the great talent that Governors Comedy produces on a daily basis on Long Island. In the mid 1990's I had the opportunity to work as and usher and backstage at what was then The Westbury Music Fair, which has a history of it's own that

Being a Latina Comic in Long Island, NY

By 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

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

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