New York Theatre Ballet Legends & Visionaries

NEW YORK THEATRE BALLET

presented

LEGENDS & VISIONARIES

NYTB 2016 Premiere of Jerome Robbins' Antique Epigraphs set to Debussy's "6 Epigraphes  Antiques" staged by Krya Nichols

Melissa Payne Bradley's Chemical Bond set to "Serenade Op. 98 Après un Rêve" by Gabriel Fauré

Richard Altson's Such Longing set to "Mazurkas" by Frédéric Chopin, restaged by Martin Lawrence

Philip Glass' Song Before Spring, Piano Etudes Nos. 1-10 choreographed by Zhong-Jing Fang and Steven Melendez, featuring NYU Steel Drum Ensemble led by Director Josh Quillen and his colleague, Jonathan Haas, Director Percussion Studies at NYU Steinhardt

New York Live Arts
219 West 19th Street, New York City

Call 212-691-6500 or visit http://newyorklivearts.org/event/nytb_2016
February 24-27, 2016

The New York Theatre Ballet (NYTB) presented four ballets by acclaimed choreographers staged by emerging choreographers. The programming represented revivals of masterworks (Philip Glass and Richard Altson), a new work, Chemical Bond, by Melissa Payne Bradley that originally premiered in San Francisco, and of course, Kyra Nichols who staged NYBT 2016 premiere of Antiques Epigraphs (Jerome Robbins). NYBT's repertory programming maintains fidelity to the original movements, gestures, costumes and props, according to historical documents when it's based on a revival. As for new programming, it's a combination of dynamic movement, storytelling, and wit.

The ballet troupe performed as individuals, duos, trios, quartets, divided into subunits, all with creative costume designs to depict the scenes whether classical or contemporary (Costume Design: Sylvia Taalson Nolan and Florence Klotz). The dancers soared, jumped, pirouetted, fell elegantly to the floor, demonstrated excellent footwork, intertwined with one another in melodious movements sometimes sensual, other times flippant--all in all, it felt like harmony between the music and movement (Dancers: Steven Melendez, Amanda Treiber, Michael Wells, Elena Zahlmann, Joshua Andino-Nieto, Carmella Lauer, Mayu Oguri, Alexis Branagan, Guilia Faria, Chloe Slade, Amanda Smith and the rest of the company).

The four ballets were performed to live music. The musicians were superb (Piano: Michael Scales, Zheng Ma. Cello: Amy Kang. Flute: Mira Magrill). The last piece Song Before Spring with music originally composed by Philip Glass and arranged by Josh Quillen, NYU Steel Drum Director, turned out to be mesmerizing and surreal. I liked all the ballets but this one impressed me the most.

I think it's a pity it had such a short run but I would highly recommend to go to NYBT's other performances throughout the year. They also perform one hour storybook ballets for families which is tailored to the short attention span of children.

For more information, visit www.nytb.org

NYBT, Founder and Artistic Director: Diana Byer

By

- Laura Thompson -

http://www.loralia.com   @LORALIA

The Coaching Game with Laurie Lawson and Laura Thompson

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

THE 47th STREET THEATRE

presents Rockefeller Productions U.S. Premiere of

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW

Created by

Jonathan Rockefeller

based on Eric Carle's beloved children's picture books

The 47th Street Theatre
located at 304 West 47th Street, New York City

Tickets available at www.ticketcentral.com or by calling 212.279.4200
Opening is Sunday, February 7 at 3PM and will run through March27, 2016

Creative team also includes Eric Wright (Puppetry), Raul Abrego (Set Designer), Nicholas Rayment (Lighting Designer), Nate Edmondson (Sound Designer & Composer), The Puppet Kitchen (Puppets), Cesa Entertainment (General Management).

Eric Carle has delighted three generations of readers with his distinctive collage art and iconic characters in his children's picture books often linked to nature. Jonathan Rockefeller cleverly adapted four of Carle's books for the stage: The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Mister Seahorse, The Very Lonely Firefly, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the grand finale. A menagerie of 75 colorful and magical puppets during a fantastical 60-minute show mesmerized the children as well as their parents and grandparents. It's a great occasion to bring your young ones from age 2 to 9 to enjoy this show.

The painter in the first scene produced stunning paintings in the primary colors and each time he presented his painting, the children murmured, "oooohhhh." Mister Seahorse and a myriad of sea creatures were procreating with lots of little fishes being born centered around the theme of family. The lonely firefly lost his way and was looking for light to refind his way back to his tribe. And, of course, the very hungry caterpillar who ate too much but turned into the most magnificent butterfly. Imagine all this is done by enchanting puppets with dazzling colors and expertly performed by the puppeteers and actors.

I highly recommend this delightful show that brought smiles and a sense of wonder to all.

- Laura Thompson -

http://www.loralia.com   @LORALIA

The Golden Bride

THE NATIONAL YIDDISH THEATRE FOLKSBIENE at the MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE

presented

THE GOLDEN BRIDE

Music by JOSEPH RUMSHINSKY

Lyrics by LOUIS GILROD

Libretto by FRIEDA FREIMAN

Co-Directors: BRYNA WASSERMAN & MOTL DIDNER

 

Edmond J. Safra Hall at Museum of Jewish Heritage
36 Battery Place, New York City 10280

Call 212-213-2120 or visit http://www.NYTF.org
December 2, 2015 - January 3, 2016

The Golden Bride was last staged on February 27, 1948 on New York's Lower East Side and has been restored through scholarly research to produce the new musical score on which this production is based. It's an operetta with a live orchestra and sung in Yiddish with supertitles in both English and Russian. The theme is about Jewish immigrants already established in America and those migrating from the Russian Empire and the rest of Eastern Europe in the millions during the early to mid-twentieth century. It did appear as an old-fashioned musical comedy with  beautiful stage settings (Scenic Design by John Dinning).

Goldele (Rachel Policar) abandoned by her mother and father in Russia, brought up as an orphan in a shtetl, later learned she inherited a fortune from her deceased father in America. She had already fallen in love with Misha (Cameron Johnson) but out of folly demanded that her many suitors find her mother and the one to find her mother would be her groom. Much of the story was about dreaming of riches whether in Mother Russia or America with a farcical twist performed by a large cast of talented performing artists. The songs sung by Goldele and Misha were beautiful accompanied by the fine orchestra, conducted by Zalmen Mlotek. There was also a second pair of lovers to add a bit of frivolity to the piece.

Overall, I'd recommend going to the more stage productions by the National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene at the Museum of Jewish Heritage and also, take a tour of the museum to learn more about Jewish culture and its history as a nation.

- Laura Thompson -

http://www.loralia.com   @LORALIA

Classical Chamber Music

Metropolitan Playhouse

presented

Iris String Quartet



Entela Barci, Yibin Li,  Muneyoshi Takahashi, Sean Katsuyama

with

YIBIN LI, Violin

MUNEYOSHI TAKAHASHI, Violin

ENTELA BARCI, Viola

SEAN KATSUYAMA, Cello

 

December 8, 2015

220 East 4th Street between Avenues A and B 

Metropolitan Playhouse located in the East Village was pleased to present the IRIS STRING QUARTET in a concert of major works by Mendelssohn and Haydn, along with the World Premiere of MICHAEL KOSCH'S Strokes of Sky: Paris.  The program included: Joseph Haydn, String Quartet in B Flat major, Op. 76, No. 4 "Sunrise," Felix Mendelssohn, String Quartet in D Major, Op. 44, No. 1 'The American," and Kosch's world premiere. 

The Iris Quartet has played in most of New York's finest venues like Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully, Steinway, Merkin, and Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center so it was a pleasant surprise to listen to them in a small chamber; especially, for the classical chamber music lover. Apparently, the quartet is named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow. These young musicians come from different countries and some were educated at Juilliard and others at respective renowned schools in their country of origin as well as having trained with the masters in their field. 

Haydn's "Sunrise" was symbolic of the Age of Enlightenment and was played with utmost seriousness. Kosch's world premiere followed and is the first of a four-part quartet inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's latest works while in France with the idea that art inspires musical composition. If the intention was to portray bustling city streets and contemporary life, it succeeded. Actually, it looked difficult for the musicians to perform so was that the composer's intention or does it need to be improved? 

After a short intermission, the quartet finished with a beautiful rendition of Mendelssohn that was music to the ears and played with confidence and expertise. This energetic string quartet unfolded in pleasing, sweet melodious patterns. It was my favorite piece. Mendelssohn was an icon of Romanticism and died at the age of 38. This energetic string quartet unfolded in pleasing, sweet melodious patterns. 

For more information about the Metropolitan Playhouse, visit www.metropolitanplayhouse.org.

For more information about the Iris String Quartet, visit www.irisquartet.com.

 

By

Laura Thompson

www.loralia.com

Big Apple Circus

BIG APPLE CIRCUS

World Premiere of The Grand Tour!

featuring

Halloween Guest Ringmaster

Best-Selling Author R.L. Stine

at this one special performance celebrating Halloween

October 31, 2015 at 4:40pm at LINCOLN CENTER 

The Grand Tour! show runs until January 10, 2016 

Written and Created by JOEL JESKE

Directed by MARK LONERGAN

Big Apple Circus Ringmaster: JOHN KENNEDY KANE

Animal Trainer: JENNY VIDBEL

Original Music and Arrangements by DAVID BANDMAN, PETER BUFANO, JEFFREY W. HOLMES

BIG APPLE CIRCUS BAND

Executive Director: WILL MAITLAND WEISS

Artistic Director: GUILLAUME DUFRESNOY

Big Apple Circus welcomed Halloween Guest Ringmaster, R.L. Stine, author of the best-selling children's series Goosebumps for this special Halloween performance who loves to scare children. Children were encouraged to arrive in costume and they were allowed to go on pony rides during intermission. It was definitely interactive entertainment focusing on the children and quite amusing.

The Grand Tour! opened with Four-time Big Apple Circus Ringmaster John Kennedy Kane and two clowns Joel Jeske and Brent McBeth who set the stage to transport the audience to the Roaring 20s to begin the most adventurous trip around the world by ships, planes, trains, and automobiles. The trip started out in New York City to Europe, onwards to Arabia, Africa, and Asia and then, back to New York, home of the Big Apple. 

The dog acts aboard the Orient Express train through Europe and dancing horses while in the Arabian desert led by Jenny Vidbel were entertaining; Chiara Anastasini was exceptional with hula hoops depicting the stopover in Andalucía, Spain; international juggling sensation Alexander Koblikov; the Dominguez Brothers defied the law of gravity with their thrilling act on the Wheel of Wonder; the African acrobatic troupe Zuma Zuma; the Dosov Troupe soared on the teeterboard; Chinese hand balancers The Energy Trio; and, aerialist Sergey Akimov gave stunning performances all the while traveling around the world. 

The Big Apple Circus is a nonprofit that engages communities through the joy and wonder of classic circus arts.  They bring joy and laughter to hospitals, nursing homes; provide adapted performances for children with physical and cognitive disadvantages; teach kids life skills after school; and, distribute free and subsidized tickets to schools and nonprofit organizations serving low-income children and families. It's a circus with a heart.

 

To purchase tickets or for more information about Big Apple Circus, visit www.bigapplecircus.org. 

By

Laura Thompson

www.loralia.com

Michael Feinstein, Sinatra Centennial Celebration

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College

Opened is 2015-16 season with

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN

Sinatra Centennial Celebration

October 25, 2015

with

TEDD FIRTH, Piano

and

SEAN SMITH, Bass

and

MARK McLEAN, Drums

 

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN is a two-time EmmyÒ and five-time GrammyÒ Award-nominated singer/pianist known as "The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook". This multi-platinum-selling entertainer opened Brooklyn Center's 61st season with a tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes in celebration of what would have been Frank Sinatra's upcoming 100th birthday on December 12th.

Feinstein's impeccable interpretive skills were brought to the greatest tunes sung by Sinatra in the 20th century. TED FIRTH did an outstanding job playing the piano accompanied by SEAN SMITH on Bass and MARK McLEAN on Drums. Feinstein having once met Sinatra sang some of the family's favorite songs as well as songs from Sinatra's preferred composers and lyricists, along with a commentary about the back story of many of the songwriters who wrote for Sinatra which proved very interesting.

Mid-way through, Feinstein spoke about the Great American Songbook Foundation that he founded dedicated to celebrating the art form and preserving it through educational programs, Master Classes, and the annual High School Songbook Academy. As a delightful surprise, he introduced the winner of the 2010 Great American Songbook Academy, ANNIE YOKOM who sang and performed brilliantly by herself with the trio of musicians and earned laudable applause.

Feinstein returned to the stage and finished with a swinging Sinatra medley, a real crowd pleaser, including "I've Got You Under My Skin, Witchcraft, and ending with New York, New York" but of course, a grand tribute to a great city! 

Overall, it was a wonderful rendition to Sinatra and Feinstein put together a great song selection that turned out to be a nice ode to Ol' Blues Eyes' career with some video footage as a backdrop. 

For more information about the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College

2015-16 season, please visit www.BrooklynCenter.org. 

By

Laura Thompson

www.loralia.com