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L.E.S.
THE
15TH ANNUAL LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
SATURDAY, MAY 29th
JOHNSON THEATER
Please
note - Schedule Subject to change. We will post all changes as soon
as possible.
6:00pm KENNY LOCKWOOD
Kenny Lockwood and Red Road have been performing together for the last year and a half .Thier music is a synthesis of folk, gospel and pop rock.back up vocals shape the stories woven into the music. Red Road is Joe O'Brian,Chris Goffredo, Karen Bauer, Caren Messing, and Kenneth Lockwood
6:22 ALPHA OMEGA THEATRICAL DANCE COMPANY
RADEAU (RAFT). One picture of Haitians caught in stormy sea that stands between the life left behind and a hoped for life ahead. Choreographed by Eleo Pomare, Music Collage by Johnathan Kabak. Music Sources by Steve Reich, Echoes of Nature, and Samite of Uganda. Costumes by Eleo Pomare. Performed by Shuante Henry, Jinah Parker, Brandi Stewart. Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company was founded in 1972 with the primary mission of expanding opportunities to provide a platform for multi-cultural choreographers and dance artists and is an example of the best of the American melting pot. The dances range from urban life to that of tribal influence, from the abstract to the dramatic. This season, the company under the artistic direction of Enrique Cruz DeJesus, proudly celebrates the work of the late master choreographer Eleo Pomare whose works are a reflection of his international experiences and broad humanistic perspective.
6:34 LINDSAY DAVIS
A dance piece that explores our devotion to technology, new media and social networking at the expense of real, deep connections between human beings and honest emotional expression. It is about identity, strength and the struggle to reveal our selves as well as how painful it is to wonder whether love is even alive when we feel very lost and afraid.
6:46 JOHN GRIMALDI, NY LYRIC CIRCUS
6:58 JT LOTUS DANCE COMPANY
Endless, Choreographed by: Jessie Tomanek. Music: "Wind Language" by Indians. Coming Together, Choreographed by: Jessie Tomanek. Music: "Baka Play Baka" By Baka Beyond. Dancers: Cara Heerdt, Mary Horne, Kara Liotta, Christine Moloney, Matt Ting, and Zachary Trac
7:05 RICHARD WEST
Music and Madness (from here to Dystopia). Richard West with Susan Mitchell on Violin.
7:17 BLEECKER STREET OPERA
presents a scene from Act 3 of Rigoletto. Gilda, who was raped and betrayed by the Duke, watches as he seduces a gypsy. Rigoletto plots his revenge. This powerful scene made an opera fan of Victor Hugo, who wrote the play upon which the opera is based. He said that only in opera could characters express such indi vidually profound sentiments at the same time, a feat he imagined no play yet written could hope to achieve. Gilda: Kate Oberjat, Duke: Kevin Cortemanche, Maddalena: Joanna Dionis. The sale of our historic building December 2008, followed by the closing announcement of the Amato Opera Theatre, saddened us all - including our dedicated artists, our loyal audience, and patrons like you. As management of the Amato Opera and members of the family, we truly regret being unable to prevent the closing, and we extend our apologies to all. An outpouring of sympathy from opera lovers and supporters all over the world encouraged us to write and ask you for your continuing support in our efforts to keep our performance legacy alive. We believe that the show must go on - despite the loss of our theatre - and that, with our many decades of apprenticeship and service, we can use our expertise to make this happen. In that spirit, we are pleased to announce the formation of the Bleecker Street Opera Company. To house our productions we have developed an alliance with the Theaters at 45 Bleecker Street, which is down the block from the old theatre. This alliance goes beyond theatre space, as Louis S. Salamone and Calvin R. Wynter, two of the owners of the Theaters at 45 Bleecker Street, will aid in the business organization and promotion of our mission. Our new mission is to continue and enhance the performance work of the Amato Opera Theatre by developing from a chamber ensemble of seven to a full orchestra (yes - we finally have room for strings!). We will continue to offer high-quality productions of beloved operas in intimate surroundings, at a low cost to audiences, and with opportunities for singers to gain experience in all aspects of operatic performance, increasing our educational outreach programs to students of all ages. We will continue to attract new talent, from local to international, by adding a new educational branch to our mission. Our mission is ambitious and will start this fall with a Four-Production Season with each production having ten to twelve performances.
7:29 ANDRE BROWN
7:35 LONGING (OH WELL)
Greek Theater by way of the East Village. The chorus is three drag queens, the blind seer can change gender at will, the kids are majorly yucked up, anachronisms abound, and wildness prevails in this outrageous musical vaudeville with a serious message of love and forgiveness. Written by Alexander Borinsky, Directed by Lissa Moira. With Danny Ashkanasi, Claire Felicity Barron, Anne Elyse Chambers, Bob Homeyer, Trino Maldonado, Zen Mansley, Josh Meier and George Trahanis. Longing (Oh Well) will be performed as part of TNC's Chrysalis Program on Saturday, June 12th.
7:47 KATHERINE ADAMENKO
TOMATO HANDS/KNIFE FEET. A Butoh dance work about the cutting edges and vulnerabilites of relationships. Choreographed by Katherine Adamenko, Ladypants Productions. Performers: Zen Mansley and Katherine Adamenko
7:54 RWM PLAYWRIGHTS LAB
Justin Bieber Stampede, Written & Directed by Larry Myers. Featuring Lissa Moira, Bina Sharif, Janice Bishop, Eva Visco, Carol Nelson, Kate Reed, Alex Bartenieff, Briana Bartenieff, Lee Sebastianny, Lillian Rodriguez, Vincent Diaz. RWM PLAYWRIGHTS LAB (under direction of LARRY MYERS) for 2 decades about service, spirituality & history. Myers worked several years with Dr. Maria (Mrs. Erwin) Piscator (The Dramatic Workshop at The New School) & Sonia Moore(served on Board of Directors for American Stanislavski Association). Drama therapy/playwriting workshops working with severely disabled,the homeless & P.ersons Living with AIDS on both coasts. Myers was a post-Katrina volunteer& twice artist-in-residence at Mt. St Francis, Indiana's Mary Anderson Center researching the 19 century tragedienne. HEM THEATER COLLECTIVE (the group's acting ensemble) appeared in Lowell, Mass. honoring Jack Kerouac & at the Stephen Crane Home/Museum in Asbury Park.Dr. Myers is at work on two books: THEATER ALBEE & THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF FLOWERS (about Tennessee Williams).The group was in residence at John Raitt Theater in Hollywood.
8:08 DAVID AMRAM
David Amram has composed more than 100 orchestral and chamber music works, written many scores for Broadway theater and film, including the classic scores for the films Splendor in The Grass and The Manchurian Candidate; two operas, including the ground-breaking Holocaust opera The Final Ingredient; and the score for the landmark 1959 documentary Pull My Daisy, narrated by novelist Jack Kerouac. He is also the author of three books, "Vibrations," an autobiography, "Offbeat: Collaborating With Kerouac," a memoir, and "Upbeat: Nine Lives of a Musical Cat" published by Paradigm Publishers. A pioneer player of jazz French horn, he is also a virtuoso on piano, numerous flutes and whistles, percussion, and dozens of folkloric instruments from 25 countries, as well as an inventive, funny improvisational lyricist.Ê He has collaborated with Leonard Bernstein, who chose him as The New York Philharmonic's first composer-in-residence in 1966, Langston Hughes, Dizzy Gillespie, Dustin Hoffman, Willie Nelson, Thelonious Monk, Odetta, Elia Kazan, Arthur Miller, Charles Mingus, Lionel Hampton, E. G. Marshall, and Tito Puente. Amram's most recent work "Giants of the Night" is a flute concerto dedicated to the memory Charlie Parker, Jack Kerouac and Dizzy Gillespie, three American artists Amram knew and worked with. It was commissioned and premiered by Sir James Galway. Today, as he has for over fifty years, Amram continues to compose music while traveling the world as a conductor, soloist, bandleader, visiting scholar, and narrator in five languages. He is also currently working with author Frank McCourt on a new setting of the Mass, "Missa Manhattan," as well as a new orchestral work commissioned by the Guthrie Foundation, "Symphonic Variations on a Song by Woody Guthrie." premiered Sept. 29 2007 in San Jose California by the Symphony Silicone Valley, who have also comissioned him to compose a new piano concerto.
8:30 YANGTZE REPERTORY THEATRE OF AMERICA
Prison. Choreographer: David Chien Hui Shen. Performers: Carl Ka-Ho Li, HaYan Kim, Ajia Maximillian, Stephanie, Ae-soon Kim, Saki Masuda and Anna Woolf. The Chinese word for prison means to bind a person in a square. In real life, there are physical boundaries, and there are metaphysical ones. Every man is under some sort of boundary. This dance works through the reac tions between the bodies of the dancers and spandex tapes to communicate the tension between human relationships, which is a co-dependent and unavoidable bondage. Yangtze Repertory Theater Company of America was co-founded by Joanna Chan in 1992 to produce works for and by Asian artists. Since then, it has become New York's most significant entry point for dramatic works from Chinese-speaking countries and a place of collaboration for artists from various parts of Asia, especially Hong Kong, Taiwan and China proper. This is notable considering that for years, Chinese from these areas have not come together socially. YangtzeÕs 1997 production of Between Life and Death, a Beckettian play by Gao Xingjian (commissioned by the French Ministry of Culture), was the only play by that author ever produced in America before Mr. Gao won the 2000 Nobel Prize for Literature. To accompany that production, which was staged at Theater for the New City, Yangtze Rep presented a month-long exhibition of Mr. Gao's ink paintings in the lobby of Pace University's Schimmel Center for the Arts in 1997. These events are the only full-length presentations of Mr. GaoÕs work in the U.S. Much of Yangtze's work has been to dramatize the forces of Chinese history. The company has presented 56 events including works by choreographers from China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, India and Taiwan, and associates of Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey Dance Companies and Centers. Four musical concerts presented new compositions by famed novelist/composer/vocalist, Sola Liu with the African American pianist, Amina Claudine Myers; and pianist Margaret Leng Tan, a noted collaborator of John Cage. The Company co-presented 16 month-long exhibitions featuring 36 Asian painters including the Japanese dyework master, Tomonosuke Ogo, photographs of Chinese-American photojournalist Corky Lee, and paintings of Eric Ernst, grandson of the German surrealist, Max Ernst.
8:42 DESIPINA & COMPANY
HUSH, a monologue written by Rehana Mirza and performed by Jessica Devi. Desipina is a non-profit theater and film company founded in 2000 by sisters Rohi Pandya and Rehana Mirza, to tell stories that would otherwise go unheard, and launch voices that speak to the diversity of the Asian and South Asian American experience.Ê Desipina exists to promote cross-pollinations of artistic, political, and cultural dialogues. Through the use of self-definition, we wish to nurture the works of underrepresented multi-ethnic individuals, as well as empower female artists to tell their stories. www.desipina.org
8:54 JUDY GORMAN
Judy Gorman will perform a special program of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger's music. Judy is a singer songwriter who perfoms throughout the US and Europe."Real music in a sea of mediocrity" German Public Radio
9:16 THE LOVE SHOW
A Cabaret set, choreographed by Angela Harriell, performed by Love Show Dancers Valton Jackson, Angela Harriell, Shannon "Shantastic" Turner, and Rachael Ma.
9:28 NIKKI JENKINS
DENIAL! Time to Face the Musical, Book, Lyrics, and Music by Nikki Jenkins, Directed by Aaron Pratt, Music Director/Orchestrator/Pianist Brad Gardner, Choreographer Camille Theobald, Costumes: Rachel Soll, Hair/Make-Up: Amanda Ochoa, Mai Shimura. It's amazing how far people will go to avoid reality... "DENIAL!" is a bold new musical comedy about Amanda Gottadolla, a sassy socialite who doesn't know (or doesn't want to know) she's Black. Musical numbers: "I See You", "We Three Queens" , "When You're White." Performers: NIKKI JENKINS as Amanda Gottadolla, KRISTIN MULARZ as Ashley-Sue, JONATHAN GRUNERT as Daniel Goodman, MATTHEW CORR-ADDINGTON as Madame Dragonfly, BRANDON HIGHTOWER as Retha Queen O' Soul, JEROME AMANQUITON as The Queen Mutha
9:40 JOE FRANKLIN
Known as "The King of Nostalgia," Joe Franklin was the pioneer of the modern TV talk show format. During 40 consecutive years of The Joe Franklin Show on TV, Joe interviewed an astonishing 300,000+ guests! For a time, Joe employed Bette Midler and her accompanist Barry Manilow as his in-house singer. Woody Allen, Dustin Hoffman, Barbara Streisand, Bill Cosby, and Liza Minelli are among those who got their first exposure on his show. Joe Franklin's lovable and funny persona prompted comedian Billy Crystal to imitate him on NBC's Saturday Night Live. In addition to his TV Talk Show, Joe also played himself in the films Manhattan, Ghostbusters, and Broadway Danny Rose, and was recently honored by The Museum of Television and Radio. You can currently get your cup o' joe (Ha! Get it?) on Saturday nights on WOR's Memory Lane (710AM in NYC, 12 midnight). Joe can also be heard daily on Bloomberg Radio's
"Lifestyles" segment.
9:52 GARY CORBIN
will revive"I'll Betcha That" his betrayal of "Miss Scarlet"...."not Miss O'Hara....just Miss Scarlet".....a black gay male in the late 70's who finds himself in a tough situation when he breaks his artificial leg at a remote bus stop. This monologue has been a consistent crowd favorite from Gary'sÊaward winning and critically acclaimed one- man play, Four One-Legged Men that premiered in New York to rave reviews and enthusi astic audiences at venues like the Dixon Place, Performance Space 122, the New York International Fringe Festival, the Greater Newark Black Disabled Arts Festival, in the heart of New York's theater district, and toÊvast critical acclaim and major press in Montreal. Gary Corbin has performed over 100 roles in theater, television, film, multi-arts festivals, national, and international tours. An audience favorite at previous LES arts festi vals, Gary is a recipient of Individual Artist Awards in Playwriting from the Maryland & New York State Council's on the Arts; a Gregory Millard Fellowship from New York Foundation for the Art; Theater Commission from the New York State Council on the Arts; Franklin Furnace's Performance Art Fund administered by Jerome Foundation; Swing Space residency and community arts grants from The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.
10:04 LISSA MOIRA
UNDYING LOVE, a new musical play, inspired by J. Sheridan LeFanu's novella "Carmilla." Written by Lissa Moira, music by Richard West. Scene 1: LOVE BEGINS (before the Vampire's Mark). Directed by Lissa Moira. Featuring Alexandra Grossi &
Tjasa Ferme
10:26 steve ben israel
nonviolent executions, steve ben israel's one-man show, is his latest seance to contact the living. A series of short takes combining humor, poetry, stories of rare poignancy, and his virtuosic acting abilities, nonviolent executions is an evening of entertainment with extraordinary intelligence and heart.
10:48 ELIZABETH RUF
Excerpts from The Iron Heel, adapted from the novel by Jack London by Elizabeth Ruf, with Music composed by Arthur Abrams.
11:00 MATT MORILLO
"Let Them Come Out Already" - the latest rant by the world's fore most Cynical Optimist. In this rant, the Cynical Optimist explains why gay marriage should be legalized...that way he can shop for his pornography in peace! Written and Directed by Matt Morillo and performed by Zen Mansley.
11:12 INMA HEREDIA is an actor, singer, and the first-and only flamenco comedienne. Born and raised in Seville, Spain, she has salero, a distinctive charm and charisma that endow her with broad appeal as a performer. This summer she will premiere her new one- woman show My Audition for Almodovar, written and directed by Alberto Ferreras in the NYC Summer Festival Performing Arts Marathon 2010 by Teatro IATI. Visit www.inmaheredia.com for more info.
11:24 MICHAEL VAZQUEZ
11:36 MISHA SHULMAN
an excerpt from NIGHT OF THE BROKEN EYE, by Misha Shulman, directed by Billy Yalowitz, percussion by Ronda Mann. Night of the Broken Eye is a revival of an ancient tradition of one of the lost wild Jewish tribes of South East Asia, the Negvat Seenaikum, which depicts the Egyptian Pharaoh's descent from power as he struggles to understand the death of his son in the tenth plague. Related both to the bibli- cal account of the Jewish exodus story and to the South Indian Sanskrit Theatre form Kudiyatam, the event was condensed and adapted into a one night event by the last known survivor of the tribe, now living in Sunnyside, Queens.
11:48 ZERO BOY
12:00am RANDY CREDICO
12:12 ADAM WADE
12:36 INFALLIBILITY
Based on a true historical incident. It's 897 and crazed Pope Stephen wants to put his much-loved, liberal and deceased predecessor, Pope Formosa, on trial. Look for a cadaver, some less-than-honest bishops and a young, ambitious, really bad actor. Written by Matthew Barbot, Directed by Zen Mansley. With Devin Block, Scott Hodges, George Isaacs, Zen Mansley and Richard O'Brien. Infallibility will be performed as part of TNC's Chrysalis program on Tuesday, June 8th.
12:48 RAPSCALLION THEATRE COLLECTIVE
THE ALL-AMERICAN GENDERF*CK CABARET, by Mariah MacCarthy. Featuring: Becca Blackwell, John Graham, Brendan Hunt, Tess Paras*, Timothy Ryan, Sofia Urista, Steve White, Yolanda K. Wilkinson*, Miranda Noelle Wilson*.Director: Krystal Banzon, Asst. Director: Jesse Geguzis, Lighting Design: Mike Gugliotti, Costume Design: Nina Vartanian, Set Design: Ashley Pridmore- Abrego, Sound Design: Karla Calderon, Movement: Sarena Kennedy.
AND IN THE LOBBY...
7:00 HUMAN KINETICS MOVEMENT ARTS
Poem #3, a site-specific movement installation. Concept & choreography: Yana Schnitzler. Performers: Elisama Colon, Masumi Kishimoto, Akiko Bo Nishijima, Yana Schnitzler |
