No place in the world can compare with New York City and its love for art, culture and theater. The summer months gave New Yorkers and those who want to be New Yorkers and opportunity to experience cultural events, free throughout the summer. I mean where else can you see the Opera “CARMEN” outdoors for free? Only in New York! So, what do you do now that the summer is coming to a close? Keep the party going! Although these treasures are not ‘free’, the entertainment they provide is ‘priceless.’
In “Through the Night,” a one-man show written and performed by Daniel Beaty and presented by Daryl Roth, portrays Beaty as an entire community of people who experience an unexpected epiphany on the same evening that changes their lives forever. The work is a timely and inspiring story of possibility and hope, weaving together a unique blend of humor, poetry, music, and drama. Performances have begun at The Union Square Theatre, 100 E. 17th Street. The play has star power support from Bill Cosby, Ruby Dee, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Phylicia Rashad.
If you haven’t seen the award-winning Broadway musical “FELA!,” now is the time to get your tickets…fast! Grammy award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist Patti LaBelle joined the cast on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Ms. Diva took over the role of Fela’s mother (Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti)!
“I am both thrilled and honored to be joining the cast of FELA! on Broadway. After seeing the show, I was struck by the choreography and work of Bill T. Jones, and the passion and joy that overflows from the stage. Fela’s mother, Funmilayo, was a strong, truly inspiring woman and I am so privileged to be able to pay tribute to her on the Broadway stage,” said Ms LaBelle.
Legendary artists and Tony Award winners James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave return to the Great White Way this fall in the Broadway Premiere of Alfred Uhry’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Driving Miss Daisy.” “Driving Miss Daisy” will begin performances on Oct. 7, at the John Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street), with an official opening on Monday, Oct. 25, word is in the theater circles, ‘give them the Tony now.’
Okay, what about the kids? Dance Theatre of Harlem’s “Dancing Through Barriers” celebration began National Arts Education Week with a new after-school residency partnership. The dance residency, which began on Sept. 13 with Children’s
Village will run through Feb. 14, 2011.
The residency offers dance classes to teenage students led by Dancing Through Barriers Teaching Artist Charis Moses. On Wednesday, Sept. 15 Children’s Village residency students (ages 12-18) and guests visited DTH for a tour of its studios, where thay had an opportunity to take a short dance class.
Try something new. At the World famous Apollo Theater, The Apollo Salon Series kicks off this October. The Salon Series is an edgy suite of programs that feature mid-career artists presenting new works in the intimate setting of our Soundstage. There are four artist presentations taking place each weekend throughout the month of October. A unique mix of Downtown meets Uptown The Salon Series is not the usual mainstream presentations that you have come to expect from the Theater. Starting the series is “Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber – Burnt Sugar Freaks the James Brown Songbook” (An Opera In Progress) on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 8 & 9 at 7:30 p.m. Created in 1999 by guitarist and noted writer Greg Tate, it explores the totality of Black American music and its offshoots in the 21st century.
Whatever your delight, get outdoors and enjoy New York City’s prized asset – Theater!
