Thursday, May 26, 2005
June is Black Music Month
As reported online at Rap News Network, Target, the Minneapolis-based retailer, celebrates Black Music Month this June with singer/songwriter John Legend. Target will sponsor a private concert with the R&B star on Sunday, June 19, 2005 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Canal Room in New York City.
The event is part of its month-long commemoration of Black music and musicians featuring concerts and a donation of $25,000 to the Harlem School of the Arts to fund scholarships in the disciplines of music, theater, dance and visual arts.
The piano-playing singer/songwriter is committed to furthering arts in education, a philosophy that Target also shares. Target gives back more than $2 million a week to support arts, education and social services organizations across the country.
Harlem School of the Arts
Founded in 1964 by world-renowned African-American opera singer Dorothy Maynor, the Harlem School of the Arts serves more than 3,000 students in the New York Metropolitan Area each year. Harlem School of the Arts is one of the few institutions in the nation offering comprehensive pre-professional and post-secondary arts training primarily to African-American and Latino students, many who are from economically disadvantaged families.
John Legend
Legend has been hailed as a contemporary Donny Hathaway, and hit-makers from Kanye West to the Black Eyed Peas have worked with him, making his debut a must-have.
"Black music is such an important part of the cultural heritage of this nation, and the rest of the world for that matter," says Legend. "I'm grateful to be a part of this amazing tradition. To have the platform and the opportunity to travel the world and share my talent and passion for this music is something I truly appreciate. Thanks to Target for playing their part in helping me do that."
"Target is committed to supplying its guests with a diverse selection of music from the finest artists in the industry," said Darrell Tucker, vice president of entertainment, Target.
Music fans can go online to Target.com or visit Target - which recently opened its fifth New York Metropolitan area store at Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn - to purchase the exclusive compilation CD honoring Black Music Month. The CD pays tribute to inspirational African-American musicians from the past, as well as those who will continue to make musical history well into the future. Retailing for $5.99 and available during the month of June, the CD features artists as diverse as Queen Latifah, Barry White, Donna Summer, Boyz II Men and more. Target is a premier destination for music, featuring music of all genres, new artists and Target exclusives.
The event is part of its month-long commemoration of Black music and musicians featuring concerts and a donation of $25,000 to the Harlem School of the Arts to fund scholarships in the disciplines of music, theater, dance and visual arts.
The piano-playing singer/songwriter is committed to furthering arts in education, a philosophy that Target also shares. Target gives back more than $2 million a week to support arts, education and social services organizations across the country.
Harlem School of the Arts
Founded in 1964 by world-renowned African-American opera singer Dorothy Maynor, the Harlem School of the Arts serves more than 3,000 students in the New York Metropolitan Area each year. Harlem School of the Arts is one of the few institutions in the nation offering comprehensive pre-professional and post-secondary arts training primarily to African-American and Latino students, many who are from economically disadvantaged families.
John Legend
Legend has been hailed as a contemporary Donny Hathaway, and hit-makers from Kanye West to the Black Eyed Peas have worked with him, making his debut a must-have.
"Black music is such an important part of the cultural heritage of this nation, and the rest of the world for that matter," says Legend. "I'm grateful to be a part of this amazing tradition. To have the platform and the opportunity to travel the world and share my talent and passion for this music is something I truly appreciate. Thanks to Target for playing their part in helping me do that."
"Target is committed to supplying its guests with a diverse selection of music from the finest artists in the industry," said Darrell Tucker, vice president of entertainment, Target.
Music fans can go online to Target.com or visit Target - which recently opened its fifth New York Metropolitan area store at Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn - to purchase the exclusive compilation CD honoring Black Music Month. The CD pays tribute to inspirational African-American musicians from the past, as well as those who will continue to make musical history well into the future. Retailing for $5.99 and available during the month of June, the CD features artists as diverse as Queen Latifah, Barry White, Donna Summer, Boyz II Men and more. Target is a premier destination for music, featuring music of all genres, new artists and Target exclusives.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Happy Birthday: The Lincoln Turns 90
As reported on NYPress.com, Harlem's first black theater is turning the ripe old age of ninety.
The designation of "oldest" black theater apparently does not belong to the hallowed Apollo. First named the Hurtig & Seamon's Music Hall in 1913 according to NYPress.com, the H & S Music hall "... (did not allow) ... African Americans to cross its door ..."
Of all Harlem's big theaters, only one was desegregated from the day it opened: New York's New Lincoln Theatere. The website found this quote about the Lincoln, "... unique among the playhouses of America is New York's New Lincoln Theatre, located on 135th Street… catering exclusively to a colored clientele..."
The article, from the June 1916 issue of Theatre magazine, praises the Lincoln Theater (which had opened the previous year) for housing what is probably the first African-American stock company in Harlem: "a building and an entertainment in which [patrons] might take pride."
American Theatre of Harlem, we know from whence we came.
The designation of "oldest" black theater apparently does not belong to the hallowed Apollo. First named the Hurtig & Seamon's Music Hall in 1913 according to NYPress.com, the H & S Music hall "... (did not allow) ... African Americans to cross its door ..."
Of all Harlem's big theaters, only one was desegregated from the day it opened: New York's New Lincoln Theatere. The website found this quote about the Lincoln, "... unique among the playhouses of America is New York's New Lincoln Theatre, located on 135th Street… catering exclusively to a colored clientele..."
The article, from the June 1916 issue of Theatre magazine, praises the Lincoln Theater (which had opened the previous year) for housing what is probably the first African-American stock company in Harlem: "a building and an entertainment in which [patrons] might take pride."
American Theatre of Harlem, we know from whence we came.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
The 50th Annual Drama Desk Awards
Next Sunday May 22nd at 9PM, Harvey Fierstein will host the The 50th Annual Drama Desk Awards at the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center.
In New York, the Awards Ceremony will have three airings on television: NYC TV Channel 25 will air the two-hour special on Wednesday, May 25, and Friday, May 27, from 8 to 10 PM each night; Thirteen/WNET/New York, will broadcast the two-hour ceremony on Sunday, May 29, at 12 Noon. The two-hour tape will be delivered via satellite to all PBS stations across the nation by the National Education Association (NETA) on Friday, May 27, for subsequent broadcast in local markets. For the third consecutive year, the awards ceremony will be webcast by TheaterMania.com.
TheaterMania - - the leading website covering theatre in over 40 markets in the United States, plus London and Toronto - - registers almost one-million visitors a month and has nearly 300,000 subscribers.
Visit the Drama Desk Awards Website where you can view the complete list of nominees.
In New York, the Awards Ceremony will have three airings on television: NYC TV Channel 25 will air the two-hour special on Wednesday, May 25, and Friday, May 27, from 8 to 10 PM each night; Thirteen/WNET/New York, will broadcast the two-hour ceremony on Sunday, May 29, at 12 Noon. The two-hour tape will be delivered via satellite to all PBS stations across the nation by the National Education Association (NETA) on Friday, May 27, for subsequent broadcast in local markets. For the third consecutive year, the awards ceremony will be webcast by TheaterMania.com.
TheaterMania - - the leading website covering theatre in over 40 markets in the United States, plus London and Toronto - - registers almost one-million visitors a month and has nearly 300,000 subscribers.
Visit the Drama Desk Awards Website where you can view the complete list of nominees.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Visit the 2005 Tony Awards Website
Just took a peek at the ModFab Blog ... and learned the 2005 Tony Awards website is live. Nominations will be announced next Tuesday, May 10th, by Alan Cumming, Lynn Redgrave, Kate Burton, and Brian Stokes Mitchell.
The Color Purple Musical
In an article in Playbill.com written by Ernio Hernandez, producers of the upcoming "The Color Purple Musical" say they will conduct a summer workshop before hitting Broadway this fall.
A casting notice reveals that the workshop will take place from June 13-July 12 in New York City with a projected production on Broadway this fall. The new musical based on the well known Alice Walker novel (which inspired the better-known film) made its world premiere at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in fall 2004 and is reportedly lined up for the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.
The story of "The Color Purple" centers on Celie, a woman who endures insurmountable hardships within her own family and struggles to find her identity and love. The production warns that it "contains adult situations." For the Atlanta run, La Chanze starred as Celie in a cast that also features Felicia P. Fields as Sofia, Saycon Sengbloh as Nettie, Adriane Lenox as Shug and Kingsley Leggs as Mister. No New York casting has been announced.
Chicago director Gary Griffin staged the work featuring a book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman ('night, Mother) based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Music is by pop songwriters Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. The show blends "dance with the sounds and rhythms of blues, gospel, jazz, swing, rural roots and African music," according to a release. The original novel by Ms. Walker was adapted for the screen in 1985 under the direction of Steven Spielberg. The movie version starred Whoopi Goldberg as Celie, Oprah Winfrey as Sofia and Danny Glover as Albert.
Read more.
A casting notice reveals that the workshop will take place from June 13-July 12 in New York City with a projected production on Broadway this fall. The new musical based on the well known Alice Walker novel (which inspired the better-known film) made its world premiere at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in fall 2004 and is reportedly lined up for the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.
The story of "The Color Purple" centers on Celie, a woman who endures insurmountable hardships within her own family and struggles to find her identity and love. The production warns that it "contains adult situations." For the Atlanta run, La Chanze starred as Celie in a cast that also features Felicia P. Fields as Sofia, Saycon Sengbloh as Nettie, Adriane Lenox as Shug and Kingsley Leggs as Mister. No New York casting has been announced.
Chicago director Gary Griffin staged the work featuring a book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman ('night, Mother) based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Music is by pop songwriters Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. The show blends "dance with the sounds and rhythms of blues, gospel, jazz, swing, rural roots and African music," according to a release. The original novel by Ms. Walker was adapted for the screen in 1985 under the direction of Steven Spielberg. The movie version starred Whoopi Goldberg as Celie, Oprah Winfrey as Sofia and Danny Glover as Albert.
Read more.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
The Jazz Museum in Harlem’s series “Harlem Speaks” Runs Through The Summer
A recent article in JazzTimes.com discusses The Jazz Museum in Harlem’s series “Harlem Speaks” which continues its program throughout the summer. There will be featured appearances by Fred Staton, Mercedes Ellington, Dr. Billy Taylor and William C. Rhoden. Tenor saxophonist and senior member of the "Harlem Blues and Jazz Band" Fred Staton will speak on May 5 about his work with artists such as Billy Eckstine and Art Blakey, and about the legacy of the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band.
Dancer and choreographer Mercedes Ellington, granddaughter of Duke Ellington, is the featured guest on May 19 and jazz expert Dr. Billy Taylor will discuss his career and retirement on June 2. This “Harlem Speaks” set will close on June 16 with a discussion with the New York Times sports writer and columnist William C. Rhoden, who will speak on the analogies between jazz and sports and his little-known past as an associate editor at Ebony magazine and a columnist and jazz critic for the Baltimore Sun.
Each event takes place at the offices of the Jazz Museum in Harlem at 104 East 126th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Dancer and choreographer Mercedes Ellington, granddaughter of Duke Ellington, is the featured guest on May 19 and jazz expert Dr. Billy Taylor will discuss his career and retirement on June 2. This “Harlem Speaks” set will close on June 16 with a discussion with the New York Times sports writer and columnist William C. Rhoden, who will speak on the analogies between jazz and sports and his little-known past as an associate editor at Ebony magazine and a columnist and jazz critic for the Baltimore Sun.
Each event takes place at the offices of the Jazz Museum in Harlem at 104 East 126th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
WANTED: ONE-ACT PLAYS
The American Theatre of Harlem is currently accepting submissions for the September 2005 production of its annual play festival, SEASONS.
Created in 2003, SEASONS is an annual one-act play festival, introducing audiences to dazzling new voices as well as the classics. SEASONS gives voice to talented playwrights, directors, and the ATH ensemble.
In the SEASONS tradition, we are seeking pieces that reveal the depth and range of the human experience, filled with all its glory and challenges.
Created in 2003, SEASONS is an annual one-act play festival, introducing audiences to dazzling new voices as well as the classics. SEASONS gives voice to talented playwrights, directors, and the ATH ensemble.
In the SEASONS tradition, we are seeking pieces that reveal the depth and range of the human experience, filled with all its glory and challenges.
