Yuri Juarez and his Afroperuano band are proof that the music of Peru is fast occupying a prominent part of the world stage. If you haven’t heard these musicians perform you are in for a great treat. Yuri and the members of his band are internationally acclaimed and their shows are nothing short of fabulous.
Come hear Yuri and the Afroperuano group at Lehman College, May 3, 12:30pm at the Studio Theatre. There is no charge for this event, which is co-sponsored by Artists Without Walls and the City and Humanities Program at Lehman College…thanks to Professor Joseph McElligott. Charles R. Hale emcees the program.
Today, Sunday, April 27th, 1:20-2pm, jazz singer Antoinette Montague will be at the Duke Ellington Statue on 105th and Fifth Ave, NYC . Duke Ellington Center For the Arts.
Angela Alaimo O’Donnell
Celebrate Poetry Month by attending a free poetry reading with Angela Alaimo O’Donnell. Her most recent book of poems, “Waking My Mother” is a collection of elegies focused on the relationships between mothers and daughters. Her previous book, “Saint Sinatra & Other Poems” was nominated for the Arlin G. Meyer Prize in Imaginative Writing. The event is sponsored by Poets @ St. Paul’s, a writing collective that gathers monthly at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle to read, discuss and learn more about the art and craft of poetry. All are welcome to this reading which begins at 7pm on Monday, April 28th at 405 W 59th Street, the parish center.
Artists Without Walls’ “Rise Up Singing”
Experience a wonderful collection of actors and musicians on Thursday, May 1, 7pm, at Lehman College, 250 West Bedford Park Blvd, Bronx, NY, as they perform in an Artists Without Walls’ production, “Rise Up Singing.” The show, a multimedia presentation, explores the problems confronted by women and children in the workforce, past and present, through the use of song, live theater and film. This a free event. Reception to follow.
“Cherry Smoke”
Saturday evening, May 3rd at 6pm, Bob Arcaro will be hosting “Bob’s Night” a wine and cheese reception in the lobby or at a nearby venue before the stage presentation of Cherry Smoke at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th St., NYC. The show is currently running and will run through May 18th. Tickets are $25 but there is a special 20% discount for Artists Without Walls’ members. Click here or call 212-868-4444 and mention code BOB!For more information about CHERRY SMOKE, please click here
Kickoff your St. Patrick’s Day by tuning into NBC’s Today Show on Monday morning! Darrah Carr Dance will be performing on the plaza at 8:00am & 8:30am EST
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Artists Without Walls, Lehman College: The City and Humanities Program and The CUNY Institute for Irish Studies are co-hosting a concert by the University College of Dublin Choral Scholars on March 18, 6:30pm at Lehman College, 250 Bedford Ave, Bronx, in the Studio Theatre. Reception to follow.
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Honor Finnegan
Honor Finnegan will be appearing at the BWC Coffeehouse at the Bronxville Women’s Club, 135 Midland Ave., Bronxville, NY, Friday March 21st 8:00 – 10:30. Honor will be co-billed with Kelly Flint and will be accompanied by guitarist Aviv Roth. $5 suggested contribution.
Honor will be appearing at the Acoustic Cafe, at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Park Ridge, NJ, Saturday, March 22nd, 8pm. Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 at the door. Proceed benefit the OLM Haiti scholarship fund. Aviv Roth will accompany Honor on guitar.
The University College of Dublin Choral Scholars will be at Lehman College for a concert on March 18. The event is being co-sponsored by The Cities and Humanities Program, the CUNY Institute for Irish-American Studies and Artists Without Walls. AWoW cofounder Niamh Hyland was a member of the Choral Scholars when she attended UCD.
Last year the widely acclaimed and highly honored UCD Choral Scholars recorded “The Parting Glass” and it went to #2 on the Irish Music charts, an incredible feat for a choral group. Have a listen:
The “Friends” theme song, “I’ll Be There for You” was released 48 hours ago and already has 180,000 hits. Don’t miss these three lads and the rest of the UCD Choral Scholars when Lehman and AWoW host them in concert, March 18, 6:30pm.
At a performance of “Rise Up Singing: Women in the Labor Movement” last Tuesday, December 3rd, Artists Without Walls awarded each of four Lehman College students $250 for their role in supporting the arts at Lehman College.
Artists Without Walls also thanks Professor Joseph McElligott of The City and Humanities Program and Deirdre O’Boy, Executive Director of CUNY Institute for Irish-American Studies for their continued support of Artists Without Walls.
Pictured in the photo from left are: Vincent DiGeronimo, Dahlia Ward, Salam Hassan and Shannon O’Connor with Professor Joseph McElligott and Artists Without Walls’ cofounder, Charles R. Hale.
“Eloquent writing, beautiful voices, charismatic performers who connected with each other — it was an inspired evening.” Justine Blau, author of “Scattered: A Mostly True Memoir,” after attending “Rise Up Singing: Women in the Labor Movement” at Lehman College.
On Tuesday night, The City & Humanities Program, in conjunction with the CUNY Institute of Irish American Studies and the Department of African American Studies at Lehman College, presented writer/creator Charles R. Hale and a brilliant cast of Artists Without Walls’ members in “Rise Up Singing: Women in the Labor Movement” a multi-media event incorporating storytelling, film, photographs and music.
Jack O’Connell
The evening began with Honor Finnegan’s rousing performance of Jack Hardy’s “Aint I A Woman,” a song borne of Sojourner Truth’s speech on gender inequalities. Actor Jack O’Connell followed with an introduction in which he quoted author John Steinbeck: “We learn a great deal about people by listening to their music. Listen to their songs, for into the songs go the anger, fears and frustrations, the hopes and aspirations.”
Throughout American history, activists have adapted the lyrics from spiritual songs and applied them to various causes. Singer Antoinette Montague and pianist Sharp Radway followed a short story, accompanied by photos, of the deadly 1911, New York City, Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire, with an inspired rendition of “We Shall Not be Moved,” a American folk song whose lyrics date back to slave era. One-hundred-forty six women, mostly young immigrants, lost their lives at the Triangle factory fire.
Vincent Cross
A year after the Triangle fire, striking women mill workers in Lawrence, MA were surrounded by the threat of physical harm. They continually sang “Bread and Roses,” a poem written by James Oppenheim, put to music. Honor Finnegan and guitarist Vincent Cross gave rise to the spirit of that event with an intense performance of “Bread and Roses.”
Following the Civil War, racial prejudice kept African American women working in jobs such as cooks, maids and laundresses. Spoken word artist Koro Koroye presented a poem that she wrote, called “The Sickness of Freedom,” which poignantly describes the difficulties faced by African American women, many of whom were slaves and daughters of slaves, in the post Civil War era.
Antoinette Montague and Sharp Radway
Woody Guthrie was an American singer-songwriter whose musical legacy includes hundreds of songs about the experiences of the poor and oppressed. Woody’s song “1913 Massacre” is one of the most powerful interpretations of the Calumet, Michigan tragedy in which seventy-three people, mostly striking miners’ children, were trampled to death on a staircase during a Christmas Eve party. Vincent Cross evoked the spirit of Calumet and Woody with a stirring rendition of Woody’s tune.
Women have written a number of “workers” songs. One of them, Diana Jones, performed two songs she’s written, the heartbreakingly tender “Henry Russell’s Last Words,” in which she was beautifully accompanied by violinist Annette Homann, and “I Told the Man.” Each song tells the story of miners trapped hundreds of feet below ground, writing farewell notes to their families.
Annette Homann and Diana Jones
In the summer of 1968 six miners were trapped for 10 days in a cold, flooded mine in the Appalachian hills of West Virginia. Jeanne Richie wrote a song from a wife’s viewpoint called “West Virginia Mine Disaster.” Honor Finnegan sang and performed from the perspective of a trapped miner’s wife and Jack O’Connell played the trapped miner who describes the horror of the experience. The back and forth between Finnegan and O’Connell was exceptional and one of the evening’s many spectacular performances.
Koro Koroye
Addie Wyatt, who became the first African American woman to retain a high position in an international union, couldn’t do enough for people. She was born into poverty in Mississippi in 1924 and grew up in Chicago during the depression. When Addie was a child she played piano for her church choir…she even sang with the great gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Addie’s life was marked by “getting over” indignities such as discrimination and prejudice. Koro’s poem “Praise,” speaks to the pain of Addie’s setbacks but ends triumphantly with the words “I prayed until I got over.” This was a perfect lead-in to final tune of the evening, “How I Got Over,” which was popularized by Mahalia Jackson. Singer Montague, pianist Radway, violinist Homann and Koro combined to create a unique and rousing ending to the show.
In 1776 Thomas Jefferson wrote: “ We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal.” What he could have written is “We hold these truths to be self evident that ‘all white male land-owners are created equal.’” Women didn’t have a place at the table. They didn’t even have the right to vote until the 19th amendment was ratified in 1920.
Koro Koroye
After the Civil War ended in 1865, cities opened up opportunities for women. They not only broke barriers in the work force but they participated in public protest.
Diana Jones
And often, at the heart of the protest were songs–some began as poems—but whether a song’s lyrics or a poem, what was often expressed was the struggle of timeless demands for respect and the hope for a better life.
Vincent Cross
John Steinbeck said, “We learn a great deal about people by listening to their music. Listen to their songs, for into the songs go the anger, fears and frustrations, the hopes and aspirations.”
Antoinette Montague
Come enjoy the music of Woody Guthrie, Mahalia Jackson, Diana Jones and others. Listen to the songs that united workers and became anthems for the Labor Movement on Tuesday, December 3rd, 7pm, when Lehman College presents Charles R. Hale’s “Rise Up Singing: Women in the Labor Movement,” a multimedia show, which will be performed in The Lovinger Theater, 250 Bedford Park Blvd, Bronx, NY.
Niamh Hyland
Joining Charles will be a great cast of talented performers including, Honor Finnegan, Jack O’Connell, Koro Koroye, Vincent Cross, Antoinette Montague, Diana Jones, Annette Homann, Niamh Hyland and Sharp Radway.
Sharp Radway
There will be a reception immediately following the show.
Honor Finnegan
Directions
By Train:
IRT No. 4 or the IND “D” line to Bedford Park Boulevard. The campus is a three-minute walk to the west. For more information about subway service to the Lehman campus, call the New York City Transit
Annette Homann
Authority at (718) 330-1234. Metro North’s Harlem line has a local stop at the Botanical Gardens station. The campus is about 12 blocks due west on Bedford Park Boulevard. Call Metro North for information about fares and schedules (212) 532-4900.
By Car: http://www.lehman.edu/about/maps-and-directions.php
“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.”
