Saturday, singer/songwriter Honor Finnegan, An Anniversary Celebration of Join Mitchell’s “Blue” at the Grounds for Sculpture, 18 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton, NJ. Saturday, May 11, 7:30pm. Phone 609 586-0616
Saturday, a reading of short new plays, including playwright Kate McLeod’s “”Ice Floes or don’t stay, please go . . . no wait” at the Hudson Opera House, 327 Warren Street, Hudson, NY, 12534. Saturday, May 11, 7pm. Call 518 822-1438 for reservations. Ten dollar suggested donation.
“It was a privilege to read for a packed house at the Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre. It feels like home to be in the midst of such talent and support. Artists Without Walls is a family that I’m extremely grateful to be a part of.” Author Colin Broderick spoke those words before he read from the opening of his memoir That’s That, which, beginning May 7th, will be on sale everywhere books are sold. Colin’s reading opened a small window into the life of a Northern Irish family in the1970’s, a time of great strife. A great work by an extraordinary talent.
The crowd was called to order on Tuesday night in a slightly different way. Niamh Hyland walked to center staged and began the evening with a stirring rendition of the opening to Brendan Connellan’s play Pompa Pompa. “It was a fun experiment to open our ‘Showcase’ in a different way,” Niamh said. “Having another opportunity to relive moments from Pompa Pompa and being accompanied by Moley ‘O Suilleabhain and Anthony Minto on beatbox was a treat.”
Jim Rodgers
Brothers from Ireland, Owen and Moley Ó Súilleabháin teamed up once again with the dynamic spoken word poet from Nigeria, Koro Koroye. They performed a new work that brings together sacred song from ancient Ireland, Latin Gregorian chant and rap, with poems in Koro’s ancient tribal language and her contemporary themes of identity and individual expression. Ideas of family, home, migration, self-discovery and transformation were seamlessly presented in a dynamic performance that honors tradition and rejoices in innovation.
Jim Rodgers read his short story, “The Green Hills of Jamaica,” a sailor’s tale of Sam Brown, who, in the embraces of a loving Jamaican woman and the warmth of the “ska” music, finds a home–one he never had growing up–in the rugged highlands of Scotland. Later, as his ship founders in a storm and the rushing sea envelops him, his thoughts return to the green hills, the loving woman, and the ska music of Jamaica. A compelling work and beautifully read.
Hannah Dahm
Kate McLeod’s monologue, “End of Times” was given a brilliant reading by Hannah Dahm, a vocal major at New York’s LaGuardia High School for the Visual Arts. The world has just ended and fifteen-year old Kate hates the dress she bought yesterday and is looking for the mall so she can return it. But she can’t find the mall where she’s to meet her friends. Where are her friends? Her iPod is running down. Where is her mom? She would keep the dress if only she could find her Mom. Sheri Bauer Mayorga composed and sang music for Kate’s spellbinding monologue.
Violinist Annette Homann began the second half of the program with a choreographed version of Adele’s “Skyfall.” Annette mesmerized the audience with her dance movements while mixing improvisational sections into the popular tune. Annette employed her athletic skills as well, impressing the audience with a far back bend at the end of the performance. One of the members of the audience commented,
Annette Homan
“You know you have a great performer when you get the feeling that he or she is looking only at you and then you realize that everybody in the room feels that way.” Annette has that rare quality.
Cherie Ann Turpin’s essay “The Naked Self” captured the audience with her real-life story of her inner battle to dismantle internalized perceptions of the gendered and racialized body while struggling with body weight issues. Her story encourages women of all colors and body types to embrace their sensuality and to refute sexist and racist practices of body size shaming, all too common in popular media.
Honor Finnegan sang three new songs: Movie Star, Roses and Victory, and Sweet Something, while accompanying herself on ukulele. Her newer material is poetic and more serious thematically, while retaining the word play and strong melodic sensibility of her songs from her CD, The Tiny Life. Plus, the girl can sing. Might there be a possible collaboration between Koro Koroye and Honor in the future? Stay tuned…
Vince Nauheimer
Writer and poet, Vinnie Nauheimer, made his debut reading two poems from opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. The first, “Morning Glory”, a tribute to a glorious sunrise, of which an audience member commented, “I’ve seen a thousand sunrises, but never one as beautiful as that!” The second reading was the debut of his poem “Marathon Day”, which was an emotionally charged encapsulation of the tragedy at the Boston Marathon.
Closing out the evening and in celebration of International Jazz Day, singer/songwriter Tara O’Grady spoke of spending the day at Louis Armstrong’s house in Queens, and shared stories of the jazz legend. Tara ended with “What a Wonderful World,” a song Armstrong said reminded him of the kids in Corona who used to sit on his
Tzila Levy, Mary Ann Pierce and Tara O’Grady
front steps while he played his trumpet. Tara’s CD launch party for her new release, A Celt in the Cotton Club, is Thursday, May 23 at 7:00pm at Mary O’s, 32 Avenue A. If you haven’t heard her with a live band, this is the night.
And this from Jim Rodgers, “I’m always amazed at the talent AWoW gathers, and I’m honored to share the same stage with such talented artists. Once again AWoW proved they are the United Nations of the NYC cultural scene. The performers and audience included folks from Germany, Israel, Egypt, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Ireland and the United States. Great night!“
All photos except Colin Broderick’s are by Cat Dwyer
That really depends on who you’re talking to. To some I’m a carpenter, to others, a writer, to a small handful I’m an ex husband, to others, I’m that crazy Northern Irish guy who drank a lot and now writes and makes movies, and to my four year old, Erica, I’m just daddy.
What are you working on at the moment?
At the moment I’m in that rare terrain where it’s all about publicity and selling my new memoir That’s That, which was published by Crown Publishing Group.
Do you have upcoming events you’d like people to attend?
Tuesday night, April 30th, 7pm I’ll be reading from That’s That at the Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theater, 338 W. 23rd Street.
Everyone should come to my book launch at Barnes & Noble, Warren street in Tribeca, May 14th at seven pm. The actor Josh Brolin will be there to introduce me, so that should be fun. I believe he is going to interview me about the process of writing this memoir which Random House are billing as “The first book to paint a detailed depiction of Northern Ireland’s Troubles.” There will be an afterparty at the Scratcher Bar all are welcome to come along with us after the reading.
Who are the writers, past and present, you admire?
Philip Roth, Hemmingway, Graham Greene, Fitzgerald, Jonathan Franzen, Bukowski, Adrienne Rich, and Woody Allen, to name just a few.
What are three of your favorite literary works?
A Moveable Feast; Hemmingway
The Great Gatsby; Fitzgerald
The End of The Affair; Graham Greene
Who is your greatest inspiration and why?
My daughter because she brings me into the moment and reminds me that innocence is still attainable.
Name five things you’d like to do or accomplish in the next five years.
Buy a little house in the country.
Write a novel.
Direct this feature movie that I’ve written and complete another.
Win both an Oscar and a Pulitzer.
Stop worrying so much.
If you could dream of trying something in the arts you haven’t tried, but would like to, what would that be?
I’m going to start playing the Bodhran shortly.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I don’t have much of that at the moment, but if I do get a few hours I love to watch movies. I’m addicted to the screen; aren’t we all.
“It was great to see AWoW in action once again doing what it does so beautifully — making great art accessible and connecting artists with each other and with new audiences.” That’s what filmmaker Barbara Rick said after the Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at Lehman College.
Billy Barrett
The lights dimmed at 7:15, followed by the slow tolling of a bell, a driving guitar and the crashing of drums. And to AC/DCs lyrics’ “I’m rolling thunder,” Billy Barrett walked onto the stage.
“The first thing you need to know is that I was raised by sociopaths,” and with those words a great evening of entertainment was set into motion. Billy’s upcoming memoir, Highway Star, smacks of unique storytelling genius. He moves words around so that his stories pop off the page with a crispness and clarity. And there is no shortage of stage presence, which is sure to cause a stir in the literary community. Billy and award winning, best-selling author Peter Quinn will soon begin editing Highway Star.
Danny Mixon, Antoinette Montague and Charles Hale
Jazz and blues vocalist Antoinette Montague and legendary jazz pianist Danny Mixon lit up the room with some welcoming blues’ notes, “Let The Good Times Roll. “Noting that it was the “First Lady of Song” Ella Fitzgerald’s ninety-sixth birthday, Antoinette followed with one of Ella’s big hits, “A Tisket A Tasket.” Antoinette and Danny slowed the tempo with a soulful rendition of Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child” and a rarely heard tune “I’m a Little Blackbird,” popularized by Florence Mills. They ended with a quick out, an “AWoW” blues theme. You can hear this great duo at The Baha’i Center, 53 East 11th St, NYC, on May 14.
Marni Rice and Xio Evans
Marni Rice, chanteuse-accordionist and theater artist from New York City and Xio Evans, dancer choreographer from Costa Rica, co-wrote and performed a riveting work called “Have You Seen My Son?” a performance piece about gun violence. The text is in Spanish and English and the performance is dedicated to the issue of social justice. If this duo comes your way you must see them. This act is stirring, compelling and timely. Brilliant.
Moley and Owen ‘O Suilleabhain
Owen and Moley O Suilleabhain, singers from Ireland, and Koro Koroye, a spoken word artist from Nigeria, performed together for the first time. Their performance explored the ancient traditions that they have inherited and how they have transformed this heritage into a voice they can truly call their own. Now living in the melting pot of New York City, they are sharing
Koro Koroye
the common experience of rediscovering their ancient identities with their own contemporary voices. Their wonderful performance represents what Artists Without Walls intends, cultures coming together to create new and exciting works of art. This surely qualifies. A show stopping performance by three talented young performers.
Katherine O’Sullivan and Paul Nugent
Boys Swam Before Me, a play written by playwright and author Seamus Scanlon followed. “Boys” centers on a son, Victor McGowan, who is surreptitiously visiting his mother, May McGowan, in a nursing home. The play, which included stellar performances by actors Paul Nugent and Katherine O’Sullivan, examines memory, loss and longing. Don Creedon masterfully directed this compelling work.
Annette Homann
Violinist and fiddler Annette Homann combined her fascination with voice and violin in her original spring-feeling song “Permanently.” She followed with a fiddle variation of the “Radetzky
March,” a work of the Austrian composer Johann Strauss Sr. Annette called it “The German (speaking) Irish connection” combining the March with rhythmic marching patterns and Irish fiddle stylistics. A very talented fiddler and a delight to watch
Salina Sias, accompanied by guitarist Thad DeBrock shared stories of her journey toward self-identity, acceptance of her Mexican roots while beautifully performing original numbers from her up and coming album, including a personal song she penned in Spanish.
Thad DeBrock and Salina Sias
Honor Finnegan and her guitarist Aviv Roth closed out the evening in rollicking fashion, singing two songs, “Life is Short” and “Internet Junkie from her CD, The Tiny Life,” as well as one of her newer pieces, which has been recorded by critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, Amy Speace. The Tiny Life was #9 on the Folk DJ Charts in February 2012, and Honor was
Honor Finnegan
recently selected as a finalist in the prestigious New Folk Songwriting Contest as part of the Kerville Folk Festival in Kenville, Texas. Honor combines a great (and big) voice with a witty, easy-going stage presence.
A fun evening packed with stellar performances.
One final note, a big thank you to the folks at Lehman College for hosting this event; the Studio Theater, the production crew and the staff are all top notch. And finally, to the people most responsible for putting on the show, Deirdre O’Boy and Joseph McElligott, a hearty, “You guys are the best.”
A number of years ago I decided to take the test to become a New York City tour guide. Why? Why not? Having an interest in New York, past and present, I thought it might be fun. I received the license but never led a tour, that wasn’t my objective; sharing information and stories was, and for that matter, still is. And so I often meet a friend, or a friend’s friend, at McSorley’s Old Ale House where we talk about New York’s history, its politics, buildings and bridges, sports, crime, music or anything of interest.
I stopped in recently and I was greeted by an unforgettable mixture, ale that has seeped into the old floorboards, pine sawdust that once absorbed the spat tobacco, a few raw onions, and a hint of disinfectant. McSorley’s Old Ale House is the perfect balm for whatever ails you.
One of the best spots in the world
As I waited for my friend, playwright Pat Fenton, I wondered if my great great great grandfather John Hale ever visited McSorley’s? John McSorley opened The Old House at Home in February of 1854, a few months before John Hale’s immigrant ship, the Neptune, sailed toward the tip of Manhattan on May 23, 1854. The Hales lived around the corner on the Bowery. My son Chris, just might be the seventh generation of Hales to frequent the place.
Pat Fenton
“Couple of lights, Charlie?” the floor boss, Richie Walsh, asked as I settle into my favorite spot, the small round table, the one with the wood drawn back at the edges, located just north of the potbelly stove.
“Lights, Richie,” I called. You can have anything you want at McSorley’s as long as it’s McSorley’s light or dark ale.
I sat surrounded by the two-room saloon’s countless framed pictures and newspaper articles, browned with age. Behind the bar, relics of glory now gone: a fire helmet, rusted handcuffs, a rocking chair and a pipe. Any time is a good time to visit the Ale House but my favorite time is midweek, particularly a winter’s day. Try it. Go in and sit quietly next to the stove. The heat from the stove radiates along your spine, as the day closes in around you. You’ll soon be wrapped in darkness and congenial shadows, the perfect wintry atmosphere of funereal gloom. You can’t beat it.
McSorleys photo by Berenice Abbott–1937
“Have a good day, Pepe,” a departing patron called to Pepe, McSorley’s day-manager and barkeep. “It will be when you leave,” he called back. Pepe, who grew up in the East Village neighborhood, has been serving customers for over thirty years, and, as he says, “controls the chaos.” Not without great wit, I might add.
And McSorley’s, is a storyteller’s paradise. Sitting at a table next to the stove, surrounded by NYC memorabilia, you never know who you might share a story with: an actor or news anchor, a governor, a chess grandmaster, an ex-con or a porn star. I’ve shared a story or two with each along the way.
After spending a few hours trading stories with Pat, we readied to leave. “Keep the fire burning,” I said to Pepe, who was bending over the stove, stoking its coals.
McSorley’s Bar by John Sloan–1912
“It’s been burning for 158 years, my friend, and it’ll be burning long after we’re both dead and gone.”
“Yeah, thanks for that cheery reminder, Pepe,” I said as we walked toward the door, past two patrons entering the saloon.
And as we reached the swinging doors the last voice I heard was Pepe’s. ”How come every time I’m bending over you two show up?” Classic, Pepe. Classic place.
Artists Without Walls was created to provide artists of all disciplines an opportunity to experiment with new ideas in front of a live audience; create an environment that fosters collaborative and creative effort and promote members’ careers in the arts, whether they have already established themselves or are at the beginning of their artistic career. All of those objectives will be on display tonight when Lehman’s college’s City & Humanities Program, the CUNY Institute for Irish-American Studies and the CUNY Institute of Mexican Studies host an Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at Lehman College.
Among the evening’s performers:
Koro Koroye
Owen and Moley O Suilleabhain, singers from Ireland, and Koro Koroye, a spoken word artist from Nigeria, will be performing together for the first time. Their performance will explore the ancient traditions that they have inherited and how they have transformed this heritage into a voice they can truly call their own. Now living in the melting pot of New York City, they are sharing the common experience of rediscovering their ancient identities with their own contemporary voices.
Salina Sias
Salina Sias will share stories of her journey toward self-identity, acceptance (and perceived disdain) for her Mexican roots while performing original numbers from her up coming album, including a personal song she penned in Spanish. Salina will be joined by guitarist Thad DeBrock.
Xio Evans
Marni Rice, chanteuse-accordionist and theater artist from New York City, and Xio Evans, a dancer and choreographer from Costa Rica, wiil perform a piece called “Have You Seen My Son?” a performance piece about gun violence. The text is in Spanish and English and the performance is dedicated to the issue of social justice.
Honor Finnegan will be singing songs from her CD, The Tiny Life, as well as one of her newer pieces, which has been recorded by singer-songwriter, Amy Speace. The Tiny Life was #9 on the Folk DJ Charts in February 2012, and Honor was recently selected as a finalist in the prestigious New Folk Songwriting Contest as part of the Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, Texas. Honor will be joined by guitarist Aviv Roth.
Honor Finnegan
In addition, writer Billy Barrett, playwright and novelist Seamus Scanlon, violinist/fiddler Annette Homann and jazz and blues singer Antoinette Montague and jazz pianist extraordinaire Danny Mixon will be displaying their talents.
The show begins at 7pm in the Studio Theatre at Lehman College. Refreshments will be provided. The first Showcase at Lehman last fall was a great success. This one might even top that. Come find out. Hope to see you there.
Jack O’Connell is a frequent presenter at AWoW Showcases and a valued member of Artists Without Walls. He has appeared in many popular television series including Law and Order, Blue Bloods and Boardwalk Empire and in films such as Doubt, with Meryl Streep, and Men in Black 3.
Brazzaville Teen-Ager is a short film adapted from a Bruce Jay Friedman short story and is directed by Michael Cera. Cera is part of the film’s cast, which includes, Jack, who plays Cera’s boss, and veteran actor Charles Grodin, who plays Cera’s father.
The film is produced by JASH, which is kicking off a web-based comedy youtube channel created by Michael Cera, Sarah Silverman, Tim and Eric, and Reggie Watts. JASH‘s intention is to create and produce a new video to the JASH channel every Monday. Late Night host Jimmy Kimmel is one of JASH’s producers.
According to Jack, “We filmed in five days in early March in Manhattan and Greenwich Connecticut. How do you like my Greenwich digs, Charles? Quite a cozy little shack, don’t you think?” Check out Jack’s shack, but better yet, check out his wonderful performance. Bravo, Jack.
I’m a classical violinist from Germany. I’ve toured, however, with the Riverdance-like international show Barrage for three years and have since become a fiddler, as well. Last year I began writing music and I enjoy combining the violin with other elements such as singing, acting and dance.
What are you working on at the moment?
My goal is to produce an album this year so with that in mind I’m focusing on writing and arranging music. I also dream of being on stage in a big show as a violinist/actress/singer/dancer. I’m working on collecting experience, auditioning and learning, learning, learning.
Do you have upcoming events you’d like people to attend?
I am a composer/dancer/violinist for the Westfest Dance Festival that takes place at Westbeth on April 28th.
I am part of a six week workshop of the musical/theatrical concert “What I Am Failing to Learn” I play the violin, sing, act and I have stepped in as the musical director (debut) at 13th street Repertory theatre, Wednesdays at 7 pm, Saturdays at 3 pm, from May 15th until June 15th
“Chaconne” for solo violin by Bach, a perfect piece of music.
Who are the musicians and composers you admire?
Prokofiev: He wrote music with a sense of humor. He also composed beautiful melodies, but always in a strange setting. I love that.
Bach: He wrote the most incredible music…and plenty of it. He wrote incredibly high quality compositions every week for most of his life. The solo violin sonatas are absolute perfection.
Musicians: there are so many!
Elvis: One of the most intuitive performers.
Feist: I enjoy her songs so much. She’s always experimenting with new sounds, even when performing, which I love.
Janine Jansen: My favorite classical violinist. She plays with so much soul.
Who is your greatest inspiration and why?
I am a huge fan of Elvis. He wasn’t secure enough to get through his life as a healthy man but he followed his dream and believed in it and never gave up. He was such a big inspiration to so many people. Who knows if the Beatles would have existed without Elvis.
But generally anybody who is innovative and goes for what they love is an inspiration for me. I admire any musician who plays with soul and heart.
What are the top objectives at this point in your life?
1.) Touring with my own music. Wouldn’t that be wonderful if other people would get something out of what I find important to share.
2.) Being a violinist/singer/actress/dancer in a Broadway show. Ever since I saw the show Once I knew that there was a way to connect the instrument with something else and that’s what I am dreaming of accomplishing.
3.) As much as I love to freelance I would love to be in a situation where I would be able to see my family and friends in Germany regularly. I do get homesick.
4.) Find a place that I can call home. I know my homes are Germany and NYC but a bit more defined home would be nice.
5.) Playing with a person or group I admire very much and being able to have some impact on the music I play.
If you could dream of trying something in the arts you haven’t tried, but would like to, what would that be?
I would love to act in a movie. Directing a show would be great, too.
What was the best gift that someone gave you that inspired or facilitated an interest in your art?
Well, first I have to say that my parents never stopped me from doing anything like moving far away, or being a musician, in fact, they were an enormous help. What a wonderful gift. As a teenager I used to travel with an orchestra in Europe and China. Touring and traveling with my violin has opened my eyes to so many other music forms and ways of living.
A reading ofTwo for a Girlstarring Noni Stapleton (co-writer) and Aedin Moloney. The Cell Theatre, 338 W. 23rd St., NYC. Monday, April 22, 7PM Free event
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Maria Deasy
What’s In a Name starring Maria Deasy. The Chain Theatre, 21-28th Road, 45th Road, Long Island City. Tickets$18. Tickets for What’s In a Name. Matinee today, 2PM. April 24-27.
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Guenevere Donohue
Passing Through starring Guenevere Donohue. Theatre For The New City, 155 First Ave., NYC. Tickets $15. Tickets for Passing Through Matinee today 3PM. April 24-28.
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Artists Without Walls’at Lehman College directed by Charles R. Hale. Thursday, April 25, 7PM Lehman College, The Studio Theater, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NYC. Free event
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Artists Without Walls
Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theater. Tuesday, April 30, 7PM. The Cell Theater, 338 W. 23rd St. NYC. Free event
Today, Darrah Carr Dance at the NYC Irish Dance Fest, Sunday May 5, 3pm. Riverside Park So. Pier at W 68th St. New York, NY. For more information on the day’s events click here
Saturday, a reading of short new plays, including playwright Kate McLeod’s “”Ice Floes or don’t stay, please go . . . no wait” at the Hudson Opera House, 327 Warren Street, Hudson, NY, 12534. Saturday, May 11, 7pm. Call 518 822-1438 for reservations. Ten dollar suggested donation.
