Mitch Traphagen’s photos from Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre, April 26, 2016.
AWoW’s SHOWCASE at THE CELL: PHOTOS by MITCH TRAPHAGEN
AN EXCITING and DIVERSE EVENING of ENTERTAINMENT: ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS’ APRIL SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE
“Artists Without Walls has has gotten off to a fantastic start this year. I’m so very thankful for the artistic, cultural and social benefits I have reaped from this organization. Thanks, Charles and Niamh. Thanks everyone for your support.” Mark Donnelly
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We’ve got a great evening of diverse entertainment planned for Artists Without Walls’ April Showcase at The Cell Theatre, Tuesday, April 26. One of the group’s newest members, songwriter Rick Cashman, will be making his first AWoW appearance. Joining Rick will be jazz pianist John Ambrosini and saxophonist Premik Russell Tubbs, who has performed with Lady Gaga, Sting, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, Jackson Browne and James Taylor. Rick is also the creator, writer and producer of a weekly comedy podcast called “The Hickory Bench Playhouse”
Actress Gina Costigan will be performing a scene from Honor Molloy’s short play, “And in My Heart. ” The play is a young woman’s account of love and revolution during the 1916 Easter Rising, which is drawn from Honor’s Great Aunt Florence Kane’s eye witness account of the week when Ireland changed, changed utterly.
Mala Waldron, a New York City native, balances local performances with regular tours in Europe and Asia. Currently, the songstress is excited about her upcoming solo release, “Deep Resonance.” The project is an intimate, unplugged, personal glimpse into the heart of the artist, featuring her lush vocals and piano accompaniment. Mala’s recordings include her CD debut, “Lullaby,” a tribute to her godmother, Billie Holiday and a duo project with her father, pianist/composer Mal Waldron, “He’s My Father” and “Always There,” which, in addition to being her first U.S. release, was also licensed by Columbia Records (Japan) and voted one of the Top 20 Jazz CDs of 2006 by JazzUSA.
Jenai Huff, NYC based singer/songwriter composes songs that address life with its nuances, contradictions, and challenges. Working with acclaimed cinematographer and cameraman, Arthur Jafa (Selma, Crooklyn, Seven Songs for Malcolm, Beyonce, Lauren Hill), has put two of her songs to film, which she will be showing at Tuesday’s Showcase. One of the songs, “Just Like Me,” subtly addresses racism and how we really are all mostly a like.
Michelle Macau will be presenting a reading of selected poems from “The Surrender Tree” by Margarita Engle about Cuba’s struggle for freedom, experimenting with percussive sounds to enhance the story. Joining Michelle will be Al Foote III, Celeste Muniz, Paul Roberson and Kabuki Kozuru.
Storyteller Jim Hawkins will pay tribute to the men and women of 1916 Ireland, with passages from Sean O’Casey’s writings and the song, “The Foggy Dew.” Jim has spent decades telling stories, with a sly, folksy understated humor, like the seanchaís of old, whom Hawkins emulates. Jim tells the stories of nearly vanished Irish folkways to audiences far and wide, in public libraries, pubs, churches, universities, in Ireland and here in the United States. “I wish to be a vehicle that carries the history, culture and traditions of the Irish people, and to share the stories, songs and poetry of this great culture with the world. It will be my contribution to keeping this wonderful art-form alive and well.”
Artists Without Walls’ Artistic Directors Niamh Hyland and Charles R. Hale will be hosting and emceeing the event. The Cell Theatre is located at 338 W23rd. St., NYC. The doors and bar open at 6:45. The Showcase begins at 7:30. For more information about the event click here.
THIS WEEK'S ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' EVENTS
Charles R. Hale will be presenting “Breathing from an Ancestor’s Space and Time,” a series of short films that combine family stories and historical events, including his latest film, which tells the story of his family’s sixteen year old neighbor who was sentenced to die in the electric chair. Lehman College, The Studio Theater, 250 Bedford Blvd, West. Bronx, NY. Thursday, 11/6, 12:30-2.
Serena Jost will be performing at Rockwood Music Hall, 185 Orchard Street, on Nov 6th at 8 pm. Get your tickets asap, just $10 (less than your lunch) and help her pack the joint. For ticket info click here
Niamh Hyland’s band Lily Sparks will be doing a very special live show for the New York, International Pop Overthrow festival at Bar Matchless (557 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn), thisThursday Nov 6th, 9:15pm. Have a listen to some tunes www.lilysparks.com
You’re invited into Deni Bonet neighbor’s living room in Uptown NYC for her second International online streaming concert, coming to you LIVE over the Internet via Concert Window. Deni had such a great response last month that she’s doing it again THIS THURSDAY at 9:30 PM! Tune in to to hear brand new tunes from her upcoming instrumental CD, as well as a few old favorites. She might even take requests. Robin Pahlman will be joining her on guitar & it’s just like you’re there in the room with them! Sign up now and get an online reminder when it’s close to showtime. PAY WHAT YOU WANT. You can even wear your pajamas! For details click here.
And beginning next weekend, November 7-9 there’s this special event: In association with Glucksman Ireland House Nyu – and Poetry Ireland, the Irish Arts Center’s sixth annual PoetryFest, which celebrates Ireland and America’s great literary connection by showcasing an unparalleled array of much-published and award-winning poets. The event takes place next weekend, November 7-9th. The only New York festival of its kind, PoetryFest immerses participants in an intimate and creative atmosphere filled with readings, storytelling, book signings, conversations, and more.
Jenai Huff and Eugene Ruffolo in concert, Friday, November 7 at 7:30pm. Doors open at 6:30pm. It is in Jersey City and only 5 minutes walk away from the PATH train. It is located in the prestigious Paulus Hook area of Jersey City. (Contact Jenai Huff at jenaihuff@hotmail.com or spiralsoundconcert@gmail.com for information or reservations. ) Eugene and Jenai will be performing two sets and introducing new songs there. There will be plenty of delicious treats and wine to accompany the harmonies, the stories and the laughter. Eugene is a highly acclaimed singer/songwriter and session singer from NYC and Jenai who hails from CA, but is now a NYC resident, is an AWOW favorite. There is a lot of information on the Facebook event about the each of them or on the host’s website
Connie Roberts invites all to The 39th Annual National Conference of the American Irish Teachers Association’s Well Versed: A Celebration of Poetry from Ireland and America. With poets Terence Winch, Sean Nevin, and Connie Roberts, musicians Jerry O’Sullivan and Niamh Hyland, and arts journalist Earle Hitchner. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturday, November 8, 2014 Liederkranz, 6 East 87th Street (between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue) Special guests include (visiting from Ireland) the Minister for the Diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan, NY Consul General, Barbara Jones and Deputy Consul General, Anna McGillicuddy.
And in the following week, AWoW is happy to announce its first evening at Rockwood Music Hall, Wed, 11/12, 7pm. We’ve assembled a great array of talent: Deni Bonet, Warren Malone, Aisha Badru, Jack O’Connell, Tara O’Grady and Sasha Papernik. Please come out and support these terrific artists. Our goal is to sell out the room and recognize our very talented members. Tickets are $20 but $15 for AWoW members using the code…awwmember. Click here for tickets
THE SIGHTS and SOUNDS of an ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SHOWCASE: Part II
Haven’t been to an Artists Without Walls’ Showcase? Here are some of the sights and sounds you’ve been missing. Music provided by Warren and Gibson Malone, Sasha Papernik, Jenai Huff and Deni Bonet.
ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' MEMBERS "ON THE TOWN" THIS WEEK
Singer/songwriter Jenai Huff will be performing with Eugene Ruffolo, Ben Wisch and Chris Marshak today, Sunday (9/7) on NYC’s WFUV. Tune in and listen to their interview with host John Platt on his Sunday Breakfast Show; they will be performing 4 songs as well. John’s show airs from 8-11am, 90.7fm on your dial in the NYC metropolitan area or streaming at WFUV. They will likely be on sometime between 9-10:30am EST.
Tuesday they will be performing an hour set during the “On Your Radar” concert series at Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen St., NYC, which is hosted by WFUV. The show starts at 7pm but you will want to get there early to get a seat. The doors open at 6:30pm. Also performing that night is a wonderful trio from Nashville, TN called Harpeth Rising .
Actor Jack O’Connell plays Uncle Richard, a tile store owner on Coney Island Ave, in the film The Quitter, which opens for a one week preview at Regal Cinemas, 247 W 42nd St, NYC on Friday September 12th. There are five screenings per day for one week. This great little gem of an Indie was filmed mostly in Brooklyn and directed by Brooklyn native Matt Bonifacio.
Singer/songwriter Martina Fiserova will perform a solo set of her originals at the Way Station, located at, 683 Washington Ave (Btw Prospect and St Marks), Prospect Heights, Brooklyn 11238, on Wednesday Sept 10th at 8pm. No cover.
BRILLIANT EVENING OF PERFORMANCES at AWoW's SHOWCASE at THE CELL 6/24/14
“How many more amazing things can I say about Artists Without Walls? It’s an amazing community and an incredible lineup of diverse artists. Thank you for the plug on my show and for the major hugs of support. I love these people.” Erin Layton
“Yes! Last night’s Artists Without Walls Showcase was exhilarating as was evidenced by the energy and smiles at The Cell . Thanks for putting together another evening of performances for the memory book.” Marty Plevel
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Honor Molloy began the evening by reading “What’s Taken,” an expressionistic segment that was dropped from her novel Smarty Girl – Dublin Savage. This piece features Noleen O’Feeney and her father trapped in the ruins of her childhood home. Afterwards, someone asked Honor why it was taken out of the book. “Because it was far too abstract for the audience I wanted…but not too abstract for the gang at AWoW.”
- Honor Molloy
The silvery voice of Jenai Huff combined with the critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Eugene Ruffolo in a performance of two original tunes written by Jenai and one by Eugene. Eugene followed with a song written in Italian, which will be part of his next CD scheduled to be released in the fall. His beautiful timbre and romantic language delighted the audience.
From the moment Yvonne Cassidy began to read from her latest novel How Many Letters Are in Goodbye? she held the audience spellbound. Cassidy read the first letter from the novel title, a letter from seventeen-year old Rhea Farrell to her mother, Allison who died when Rhea was only three. Writing from Penn Station, Rhea begins to share with her mother her homeless experience but quickly lapses into questions she has always had, questions she wants her mother to answer. Judging by the book sales at the intermission, the audience members too, were keen to find out the answers to these questions! For anyone who didn’t get their hands on a copy, click here.
A delightful new presence on the music scene in New York has arrived from the heart of Europe, the city of Prague. Martina Fiserova’s humor and energy shone through her music and lit up the room. Her soulful authentic approach delivered an emotional urgency; even a melancholic story felt uplifting. The exciting chord work she does sets her apart from being “just another girl with a guitar.” We need more of these European invasions.
- Martina Fiserova
Dan Yurkofsky premiered two song compositions from his new CD, Hoverhill. The songs, titled “The Time Zone” and “Walking” featured Mr. Yurkofsky’s melodic singing voice and contemplative lyrics. He was deftly accompanied by two fine musicians, Matt Turk on acoustic guitar and Noah Hoffeld on cello . To learn more about Hoverhill, and to hear listening examples from the CD you can click here.
First time performer, Kathleen Bennett Bastis’, opened the second half of the show with an hilarious and “spot on” perspective of internet dating. Kathleen claimed that this was the first time she had been on stage since she performed in Scheherazade in fifth grade; hard to believe given her poise, charm and insouciance. “As always, a terrific evening of great entertainment and talent,” Kathleen said after the show.
Ashley Bell was next and she dazzled all with a stirring rendition of the opera staple, “O Mio Babbino Caro.” She followed up the showstopper with an original composition, which showcased her lower register and displayed another level of her vocal instrument.
- Ashley Bell
Digital poet and recent NYU grad, Allison Fichtelberg dazzled the audience with a spellbinding performance of her epic poem “Scroll.” I am honored to have performed for such a receptive audience and to share the space with such talented artists. That was the first performance I’ve done where I summoned the appropriate chutzpah to make the concluding sword trick work.” (You’ll have to see her perform live to understand that comment.) An absolutely mesmerizing performance.
But Allison wasn’t done for the night. Lyndon Achee, steel drummer and percussionist began with a piece dedicated to his sister Beatrice who died of breast cancer. Lyndon than circulated a bag of instruments—tambourines, maracas, drumsticks and bells–through the audience who accompanied Lyndon in an upbeat tune, which ended with Allison coming back on stage and dancing to the sweet sounds of a steel drum. A wonderful, highly spirited, ending to a great night.
The next Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell will be on July 22nd at The Cell Theatre, 338 W 23rd St., NYC. For more info on Artists Without Walls write to info@artistswithoutwalls.com
Photos by Mitch Traphagen.
ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' MEMBERS "ON THE TOWN" TODAY, SUNDAY, 3/30
Artists Without Walls’ member Jenai Huff will be doing a live performance/interview on 90.3 fm WMSC. The show is ‘Radio Nowhere’ and runs from 7-10pm. Jenai will be on about 8pm for 45 min to an hour. It can also be listened to online at http://wmscradio.com./
Bernadette Fee, well-known New York fiddler leads at seisiun at Cannon’s Blackthorn, 49 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre, NY 11570-4604, today, 1-4pm.
Charles R. Hale will be presenting Breathing of an Ancestors Space and Time, a video and spoken presentation, which focuses on the importance of taking the time to find one’s family story. A simple question–Where is your baby sister buried?–sent Charles on a journey of self reflection and discovery. Today, 3pm at Molloy College, 1000 Hempstead Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY.
CAT DWYER'S PHOTOS from the ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SHOWCASE: 10/22/2013
Here are Cat Dwyer’s photos (Cat’s website) from the 10/22/2o13 Artists Without Walls’ Showcase. The names of the photographed appear above each picture.
DJ Sharp
Niamh Hyland
Diana Jones
Deni Bonet and Ed Romanoff
Sana Musasama
Ed Romanoff and Niamh Hyland
Angela Alaimo O’Donnell
Jenai Huff
Ron Vazzano
Alan McMonagle
COMING UP ON TUESDAY, 10/22: ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS’ SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATER
“The atmosphere is electric; it encourages creativity, imagination, and very importantly, friendship and discussion between like minds amongst the audience and the performers. Everybody is welcome at Artists Without Walls.” Eimear O’Connor, Ireland, author, Sean Keating: Art, Politics and Building the Irish Nation.
And this promises to be another great evening, which will include a number of first time presenters.
A number of months ago singer/songwriter Ed Romanoff attended a Showcase at which fiddler Deni Bonet wowed the audience. They struck up a conversation and within a short period of time Deni was signed onto Ed’s tour of Ireland. On Tuesday they will be joined by singer and Artists Without Walls’ co-founder, Niamh Hyland. This promises to be a killer session.
Ceramic artist Sana Musasama will speak about her world travels, what she has seen, experienced and learned and how that translates into her work. “I really see no separation between my life, my travels, my objects, and my interaction with my community,” Musasama said. “The artwork that I make is full of cries, it’s full of tears, it’s full of stories. But when I’m making it and putting it in this object and handing it to you, you are sharing my burden when you take it away and share that story with someone else.”
Singer/songwriter Diana Jones will be making her debut at an Artists Without Walls’ Showcase. Diana has won a number of songwriting competitions including the venerable “New Folk” competition at the 2006 Kerrville Folk Festival. Her song “Pony” was nominated as “Song of the Year” by the North American Folk Alliance, and Jones herself was nominated as “Emerging Artist of the Year” for 2006. Joan Baez released a recording of Diana’s “Henry Russell’s Last Words” on her album Day After Tomorrow, which was nominated for a Grammy.
Angela Alaimo O’Donnell will be reading selections from her books Moving House, Saint Sinatra and Waking My Mother. These are poems that engage in myth-making, explore the darkness & complexities of family life, and honor the power of art to redeem our fraught and fractured histories. A species of sacrament, poetry celebrates mystery.
And there’ll be plenty more: Back for her second Showcase appearance will be Jenai Huff. Jenai, with her clear and soulful voice, will be singing songs from her new CD Grace and Elbow Grease. Visiting Irish writer Alan McMonagle will be reading from his newly published short story collection Psychotic Episodes, described by novelist Patrick McCabe as being precise, tender and glitteringly compelling. Ron Vazzano, a poet whose work has appeared in a number of literary journals, will be reading a few poems
from his book Shots from a Passing Car. And rounding out the evening will be playwright and actor DJ Sharp performing a scene from his play “Return to Tennessee.” The play takes place during the last three days of Tennessee Williams” life in his suite at the Hotel Elysee in NYC.
Join the members and friends of Artists Without Walls, Tuesday, October 22, 7pm, at The Cell Theater, 338 W. 23rd Street, NYC. There is no charge.
ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS: “SHOWCASE at the CELL THEATRE” on TUESDAY, AUGUST 27
Artists Without Walls’ growing multicultural community includes singers, dancers, painters, writers, actors, oral historians, poets, and cultural enthusiasts. Joining us for Tuesday night’s showcase will be Samara Adell, the founder of the Mosaic Dance Theater Company, whose objective is not unlike Artists Without Walls’. MDTC develops and presents original dance, theater, and educational programs celebrating the rich diversity of cultures and folkloric traditions of the Mediterranean, including the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Spain. The dances and music, the stories and myths, and the history and legends of this fascinating area of the world form the wellspring of inspiration for MDTC’s creative vision. On Tuesday night, Samara and two members from MDTC’s troupe will be performing original works from MDTC’s extensive repertoire of dance.
Chanteuse-Accordionist and Theater Artist Marni Rice, whose musical repertoire includes vintage French Chanson, Euro Cabaret Songs and original music will be performing songs from herEP (Extended Play) Songs for a Small Chamber, a collection of original ballads. Marni’s goal is to create and present musical and theatrical performance works for an international audience, and to bridge the gap between people across cultural and linguistic barriers.
Filmmaker and writer Stephanie Silber will be reading from The Lemon Tree, a story of the day in the life of a little girl who’s been separated from her many siblings and sent to stay with her grandma following her mother’s collapse from nervous exhaustion. The story contemplates the question of what it means to be wounded; how trauma is experienced, and the redemptive possibility of healing.
Recording artist, composer and trombonist Chris Stover will be playing a brand new solo arrangement of Chico Buarque’s “Apesar de você. ” Chris said, “The song is dedicated to all of his friends in Brazil, fighting the good fight and making things happen over the last weeks – saravá, gente!”
For almost two decades Jenai Huff managed bands because she felt that music could impact the world in a positive way. Now, with her first CD, Transitions, released in 2011 she wants to do just that. And certainly the world could use some positive impressions these days. A little bit folk, a little country and a touch of bluegrass, Jenai is currently recording her second CD and will be performing songs from her new work.
Mark Donnelly will perform a monologue from the climactic scene in his one-act play The Steamfitter’s Dream. The monologue, which occurs in a Manhattan bar, centers around a middle aged, alcoholic construction worker trying to convince a young man that the drinking life is not something to aspire to. The play was published in Best Men’s Monologues of 1998 by Smith and Kraus.
And there will be more. The Showcase begins at 7pm at the The Cell Theater, located at 338 West 23rd St., NYC. Hope to see you there.