Mary Tierney – Artists Without Walls

"Soaring Spirit" at Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre

“Performing at Artists Without Walls is a deep privilege and a pleasure. To appear as part of a lineup of such talented artists is simultaneously thrilling and humbling. I always leave AWoW with a soaring spirit, full of gratitude for the gifts of my fellow artists, and newly energized and encouraged in my own work. Mille Grazie to Charles Hale and Niamh Hyland for creating this warm, welcoming community.” Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, poet/author

A witty and humorous beginning to the evening as Giovanni Villari, Janine Hegarty, and Paul Eisemann entered the stage to perform a scene from David Loughlin’s play, “Millennial Discourse.” Soon, ripples of laughter were coming from the audience as David’s comedic look at contemporary relationships began to unwind. Commitment-phobe Emma (Janine) feels as if she’s stuck between a rock and a hard place when her cat-loving work-partner, Anthony, (Giovanni) asks her to marry him. And when the grouchy, eaves-dropping Old Guy (Paul) tells her his tale of commitment-phobe woe, she’s left to contemplate the possibility of moving to Alaska and spending the rest of her life with Anthony. Is this what she wants? Whoever thought an afternoon ride on the New Jersey Transit could tell us so much about how we think and feel?

Singer/songwriter Janet Burgan brought three of her newest songs to the Showcase. With her Guild guitar glinting in the lights, she sang about love…all aspects of love. In “Snow Moon,” she told the story of a love that “freezes my soul in endless gloom.” She followed that with a song only a few weeks old, “So Why Am I Crying?,” a funny, in your face song about the end of a relationship. She closed her performance with a screening of her music video, “Seize The Day,” the first single from her new album, Nothing But Love Songs, which you can view by clicking here. High energy, precise and talented, Burgan is the real deal. Go see her the first Tuesday of the month at Bar Chord, 1008 Cortelyou Street in Brooklyn at 9:30PM. Click here for Janet’s complete performance schedule. Don’t miss her!

Eliana Gonzalez captivated the audience with a touching rendition of the song “She Used to be Mine”, by Sara Bareilles. Her sensitivity and grace shone through her performance. The joy was palpable during “Andar Conmigo”, the song we all tried to sing along to in Spanish. Martin Fuks, acclaimed producer and composer, skillfully accompanied this singer and actress with a flawless domain of the acoustic guitar. These two Argentinian-born performers are, no doubt, a perfect blend.

The cast from Peter Welch’s Autumn Stage performed an excerpt from scene two of the first act, and was enthusiastically received by the audience. The playwright and actors Mary Tierney and Larry Fleischman received dozens of compliments about the work afterward. A number of Artists Without Walls’ folks immediately bought tickets to see the show, which will premiere in two weeks, running from September 4th to September 11th at Theater for the New City’s Dream Up Festival. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

Anana Kaye and Irakli Gabriel were joined at the end of the evening by the world renowned violin virtuoso Deni Bonet and captivated the audience with passionate original compositions – a beautiful ballad “Broken”, funky rocker ” Ain’t Dead Yet” and a particularly poignant “American Smile”, the last two co-written with the acclaimed songwriter Freddie Stevenson. Anana and Irakli, who are originally from Republic of Georgia, are not only first rate songwriters and performers, they are also talented photographers and videographers. They recently released a beautifully crafted an EP “Sentient,” which contains five original songs and is accompanied by music videos which they directed, filmed and edited themselves. You can click here to see them.

Zhana Roiya,….is one of the newest additions to Artists Without Walls. When actor Sedly Bloomfield asked her to be part of an emotional excerpt from the the Play “Fences” by August Wilson, she jumped at the chance, an opportunity to home her skill in a more intimate setting. This exerpt of the play, takes us on a journey of betrayal, trust and lust, taking the audience on an emotional roller coaster of torment, pain agony defeat and surrender. The passion felt by these two dynamic actors was riveting, an electric clash of two titans….each expressing themselves in ways that left the audience wanting to see more.

Artists Without Walls next event will be a performance as part of Origin Theatre Company’s 1stIrish Fest, called “New York City: A Shining Mosaic.” The performance will take place at Pier A, Harbor House, Battery Place in Manhattan. For further info click here. For tickets, which are $15 in advance with a small convenience fee, click here.

Photos by Mitch Traphagen

Mitch Traphagen’s Photos from Artists Without Walls’ August Showcase at The Cell

Mitch Traphagen’s photos from Artists Without Walls’ August Showcase at The Cell Theatre, August 23, 2016.

**We told you AWoW events were fun: Janine Hegarty and Giovanni Villari**

**Gripping performance: Zhana Rioya and Sedly Bloomfield**

"America Smile"...beautifully message and performance: Anana Kaye and Irakli Gabriel — **“America Smile”…beautiful message and performance: Anana Kaye and Irakli Gabriel**

**Everything about this is perfect! Larry Fleischman, Peter Welch and Mary Tierney**

Talented beauty and groupie: Janet Burgan and Charles R. Hale — **Talented beauty Janet Burgan and groupie**

**Tom Myles: AWoW supporter non-pareil**

**Exquisite: Martin Fuks and Eliana Gonzalez Scannell**

GREAT PERFORMANCES at AWOW'S SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE, 1/26/16

Superb night of entertainment at Artists Without Walls’ Showcase this past Tuesday night at The Cell Theatre. Some familiar faces as well as some new and all extremely talented. Singer/songwriters Izzy Levine and Ella McDonald, high school students from Montclair New Jersey, made their New York City debut, displaying beautiful vocal harmonies and poise. The talented team performed three songs in front of an enthusiastic, full-house audience. Remarkable musicians! I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about them in the future.

Ron Vazzano opened the night with a series of seven poems, collectively entitled Notes on Slumming Through the Continuum, which was accompanied by a dramatic visual presentation. The poems were said to be inspired by a quote of his own making, “Time waits for no man in its mad rush to infinity” (to which he noted, “Yes, in a ‘Trumpian’ fit of self-adoration I’m actually quoting myself”), it was highly applauded by an audience that seemed to hang on every word.

The Mountain Maidens, including Lorraine Berger, Candice Baranello and Marie Mularczyk O’Connell, captured the Awow audience with tight modal Appalachian harmonies wonderful energy and spirit. The room soon became a magical “sing along,” with old familiar mountain tunes and high energy remincent of a Pete Seeger concert. The audience loved the ancient sounds, particularly the “magical two sisters’ sibling rivalry” and its funky lyrics.

Laughter filled the room as David Loughlin and Mary Tierney took the stage in David’s play, THE SENIOR CASE MANAGER. Mary’s touching, yet comedic portrayal of a woman’s desperate need for love, and David’s beleaguered civil servant, who clings to his sanity in a world where the sane don’t always survive. Their quest for love touched our hearts, and made us laugh—what more could one ask for on a cold winter night?

Multifaceted performer Richard Stillman and guitarist Flip Peters gave us a wonderful taste of Jazz Age Vaudeville. Richard started off with a story about Moishe Fiedlespieler and the All Star Klezmer Hot Shots and then went into a tap dancing hat trick dance. Then he wove the narrative into an Irish theme and broke into an Irish step dance while simultaneously playing jigs and reels on the mandolin. The final song was about an old time song and dance man in need of a bit of rejuvenation. Richard’s mix of storytelling, singing, instrumental music and tap dancing always leaves AWOW audiences with a warm glow in their hearts. Richard and Flip will be performing their Spirit of Vaudeville show in Brooklyn, NY on Feb 16, in Montclair, NJ on Feb 21 and in Watchung, NJ on Apr. 16. For details click here.

Craig MacArthur, actor and Fitzmaurice voice work instructor, made his AWoW debut on Tuesday with a riveting performance from “Misterman” by Enda Walsh. Using multiple voices and dialects Craig held the audience rapt with a stunning performance. The full show, which runs 85 minutes, had its Western Regional premiere in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, last year. Upcoming roles for Craig include Kaffee in A “Few Good Men” by Aaron Sorkin.

The next Artists Without Walls’ Showcase–its Anniversary Showcase, which will be a great evening of entertainment–is on Tuesday, February 23rd at The Cell Theatre. Also, next Thursday, February 4th, keep in mind “Marty Plevel and Artists Without Walls presents “A Night at Sid Gold’s.”

Photos by Mitch Traphagen.

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS, TONIGHT, at THE CELL THEATRE in NYC

Artists Without Walls December Showcase at the cell theater in New York City, NY. December 23, 2014. Charles Hale, Niamh Hyland, Joseph Goodrich, Ron Vazzano, Ed Romanoff, Michael Sheahan, Nicholas Garr, Honor Molloy, Marion Stein, Grainne Duddy. — **Ron Vazzano**

“It made for an event the likes of which you will rarely, if ever, experience. A melding of artists within the walls… it was a memorable night. Yes, it was that good,” said writer Ron Vazzano about a recent Artists Without Walls’ Showcase in Kathleen Bennet Bastis’s art gallery. Ron will be opening tonight’s (Tuesday, January 26) Showcase at The Cell Theatre with a new multimedia creation.

Richard Stillman, accompanied by Flip Peters, perform a few numbers from, “The Spirit of Vaudeville,” a show that won the Best Concert Award at the 2014 United Solo Theater Festival in New York City. Richard writes and performs shows that combine music, storytelling, singing and percussive dance, and plays a wide variety of folk instruments from around the world. As an actor, Richard has performed on Broadway, the Kennedy Center, National tours, PBS Television and in regional theaters from New Jersey to Alaska. He was in “Hamlet” with Rip Torn and Geraldine Page and he performed with Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee in “Take it From the Top.”

Craig MacArthur, actor and Fitzmaurice voice work instructor, will be making his AWoW debut on Tuesday. Craig received his MFA in Acting from Rutgers University and he will be sharing a monologue from “Misterman” by Enda Walsh. The full show, which runs 85 minutes, had its Western Regional premiere in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, last year. Upcoming roles include Kaffee in A “Few Good Men” by Aaron Sorkin.

Not only does Artists Without Walls strive to bring diverse cultures together in artistic achievement, but we aim to give young performers an opportunity to step onto a New York stage as well. Performing at tonight’s Showcase at The Cell will be Izzy Levine, daughter of AWoW member Phoebe Farber, and Ella McDonald. Izzy and Ella are juniors at Montclair High School in Montclair, New Jersey and have been performing together for the past two years. We are thrilled to be presenting them to our AWoW audience.

First time presenters, “Mountain Maidens,” including Marie Mularczyk O’Connell , Candice Baranello and Lorraine Berger, are three voices blended in splendid harmonies that will lift your spirits and warm your heart. They sing ballads, folk songs, love songs, country and gospel songs, including themes of social justice, to the accompaniment of guitars, banjo, dulcimer, mandolin, spoons and castanets. Marie, Candice and Lorraine are greatly inspired by Appalachian mountain music and have brought the deep modal harmonies of this tradition to their repertoire.

AWoW regulars, actress Mary Tierney and playwright David Loughlin will be performing a scene from David’s “The Senior Case Manager, a comedy about civil service, devil’s food, red-headed rivals,space aliens, intense loneliness, and unrequited love… and all in less than twelve minutes.

Niamh Hyland and Charles R. Hale, Artists Without Walls’ Artistic Directors, will be emceeing the event. The doors and the bar at The Cell Theatre, which is located at 338 W23rd St., open at 6;45. Hope to see you there.

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' AUGUST SHOWCASE at THE CELL, TUESDAY, AUGUST 25TH.

“They (Artists Without Walls) create the space—literally and figuratively—for artists of all stripes to be their best selves, to push boundaries, to experiment, to collaborate in a safe, nurturing environment. They are also the glorious pied pipers who keeps bringing us back again and again to these marvelous events.” Connie Roberts author of Little Witness.

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Over the past three decades, Walter Parks has forged a distinctive international career as the lead guitarist for Woodstock legend Richie Havens, half of the folk-duo The Nudes, and guitarist and leader of the swamp/blues-outfit Swamp Cabbage. His original music is inspired by the swampy gospel blues that wails from storefront churches and roadhouses in and around the southeast Georgia low country. We’re looking forward to Walter’s first appearance at an AWoW Showcase.

Actor/dancer/singer/writer Melissa Ritz will perform an excerpt from her award-winning one-woman show Journey of a Bombshell: The Ina Ray Hutton Story, which is now appearing at the Soho Theatre in New York City. Based on true events, 1930’s famed Big-Band leader Ina Ray Hutton found success and heartache on the stages of Broadway and beyond, with a secret she couldn’t afford to reveal at that time.

Mary Deady, a member of the National Folk Theatre of Ireland for many years, will also be appearing at her first Showcase this Tuesday. Mary has performed extensively throughout Ireland, Europe, the United States and Canada. A resident of New York City, Mary has appeared in a wide variety of venues and, most recently, with Jeff Cubeta on piano, at the Laurie Beechman Theatre/West Bank Café, where she musically traced her journey from Ireland to America through the richness of the American songbook.

Veteran stage, film and television actor Jack O’Connell, an AWoW charter member and frequent performer, will soon be starring in “Stoopdreamers,” which will be directed by Kira Simring and will be running through the month of September at The Cell Theatre. Jack will be performing a short scene from “Stoopdreamers” during Tuesday’s Showcase. Jack has appeared in many popular TV programs including The Sopranos, Law and Order, Blue Bloods, and Boardwalk Empire and films such as Doubt with Meryl Streep and Men In Black 3.

Mary Tierney, Ron Ryan and Larry Fleischman will be performing in a short play, The Perfect Cup of Coffee, written by award winning playwright David Loughlin at Tuesday’s Showcase at The Cell Theatre. Gus and Shorty, two cowboys from Wyoming, set-off across America in search of the perfect cup of coffee. After more than a hundred disappointments, they end-up in Sally’s Place, a diner in Vermont, wondering if they’re searching for something that doesn’t exist—the perfect cup of coffee. Playwright: David Loughlin is a member of the HB Studio Playwright’s Unit, The Dramatist Guild, and The Pulse Ensemble Theater’s Playwright’s Lab. His award-winning plays have been produced from New York to Brooklyn, Florida, California, and beyond.

Charles R. Hale’s show “The Musical History of the Lower East Side” was performed by AWoW members at Rockwood Music Hall in the Spring. Charles has created a companion piece film, which he will debuting at AWoW’s Showcase. Charles is a co-founder and artistic director of Artists Without Walls.

Join us on Tuesday, August 25th for an evening of great fun and conviviality at The Cell Theatre, 338 W23rd St., NYC. The doors and bar open at 6:45. We hope to see you there.

"TALENTED PERFORMERS, FRIENDLY PEOPLE and TIME to MINGLE": AWoW's SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE, TUESDAY 3/24

“As a first time visitor of an AWoW Showcase, I enjoyed everything about the evening…. Talented performers, friendly people, time to mingle … fantastic. I will be back for certain.” Clyde Berger

Ashley Galvani Bell has performed as a soloist in the United States, Italy, Spain, France and Russia. Recent performances include Donna Anna in Don Giovanni in Narni, Italy, Musetta in La Bohème at the National Opera Center, and Norina in Don Pasquale with Rioja Lirica in Spain, where she was called unstoppable in her brilliant singing and a true “stage animal” with her hilarious interpretation of the two sided character of Norina/Sofronia. This will be the popular soprano’s third appearance at an AWoW Showcase.

I.S. Jones is a spoken word poet hailing from Southern California. She moved to New York to pursue her passion for poetry. Her intense fire & honesty brims through every performance; It has been said she has a voice bigger than her body. Her works have appeared in Chaparral, The Harpoon Review, Fat City and various others literary magazine.

Mary Tierney will be directing a scene from Brendan Connellan’s Savage. According to Mary, “We’ve given it the Ingmar Bergman treatment. In Sweden, he’d rehearse actors from the National Theater for six months before a production was ‘ready.’ That’s what our actors, Larry Fleishman and Courtney Torres have done. ” Fleischman, has performed at a number of AWoW Showcases, and Torres, who recently performed at Beal Bocht in Sacred Sow, will be making her AWoW debut.

Prague born singer/songwriter Martina Fiserova has established a following on the NYC music scene with her unique songwriting approach and intimate and emotional vocal performance. She is finishing up an album of her original music, which will be her second release after the jazz oriented debut Clearing Fields.

Alison Sylvia is a “poet.in.progress,” and Tuesday, she will connect her poems with dance. Allison dazzled the audience with a spellbinding performance of her epic poem “Scroll” at her first AWoW appearance. “I am honored to have performed for such a receptive audience and to share the space with such talented artists,” she said. “That was the first performance I’ve done where I summoned the appropriate chutzpah to make the concluding sword trick work.” Her’s was an absolutely mesmerizing performance.

Gabriela Gyergeva was born in Macedonia and studied at University in Bulgaria, majoring in opera and voice. Gabriela performed extensively in Bulgaria and Macedonia before moving to NYC three years ago. Last year she performed at Carnegie Hall and the Mono No Aware film festival in Brooklyn. Currently Gabriela performs at St. Francis Xavier church in the city.

Joanna Migdal is a poet working on a chapbook of centos, one of which she is reading Tuesday night in honor of women poets of the past as part of the celebration of March Women’s History Month. Her cento will be posted 3/31 on a site called www.womenyoushouldknow.com

AWoW’s Showcase is hosted by The Cell Theatre, located at 338 W23rd St., NYC. Drinks at 6:45; the show begins at 7:20. Hope to see you then.

AWoW MEMBERS AROUND TOWN THIS WEEK

Jim Hawkins will be presenting a program of “Stories and Songs from the Irish Tradition” today, Sunday, 2pm at the Glen Cove Gold Coast Library, Glen Cove, LI.

On March 17 and 21, Jim AND Greg Ryan will be playing traditional Irish music and singing Irish ballads at the MacArthur Park Restaurant on Park Ave in Rockvile Center, LI. They will be playing from 5-9 on the 17th and from 1-4 on the 21st, after the Rockville Center St. Patrick’s day parade.

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Singer, storyteller & musician, Richard Stillman will be performing his Irish Balladeer show at 3pm at the Verona NJ Library. For info call 973 857-4848. The family show combines traditional and original Irish music, storytelling and step dancing accompanied on cittern guitar, banjo, mandolin, bagpipes, concertina, pennywhistle, bones, bodhran and harmonica.

Mary Tierney in "Sacred Sow" — **Mary Tierney in “Sacred Sow”**

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Mary Tierney will be appearing today, Sunday March 15, 1:30 pm in the Poor Mouth Theatre company presentation of A Night of Irish Storytelling” “Sacred Sow” written and directed by Ellie Cummings.

Located at 445 W238th St., Bronx, NY. Admission $18 available at the bar

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Nancy Redman won Best Comedian Award United Solo 2014 for her one woman play “THE DOCTOR IS NOT IN” directed by Austin Pendleton. She will be performing “THE DOCTOR IS NOT IN” Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 7pm at Abingdon Theatre Company Dorothy Strelsin Theatre, 312 W36th St. 1st Fl., NYC

Nancy recently performed “The Doctor Is Not In” at the United Solo Theatre Festival 2014 and received the award for “Best Comedian.”

Tickets are $20.00 Use Code Doc315 for a $15.00 ticket. Click here for tickets

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Singer/songwriter Vincent Cross will be at Scratcher Cafe, 209 E.5th St., Sunday night, March 15, 7:15

From Vincent: “Traditionally, St Patrick’s Day would be just the day of March 17th, but living here in the US, there seems no end to the various celebratory parades. I’m not complaining of course, as I can claim that my upcoming show at the Scratcher is to commemorate the Saintly man himself; however, I would like to invite folks out to hear some newly written tunes at the one and only Scratcher Bar on the Lower East Side. That day being March the 15th at 7:15pm on the dash. There are usually two acts split over two hrs with fifteen minutes between each. I’m not sure who will be sharing the stage with me, but be sure to catch both sets. Oh…and if you join the Facebook invite here, I’ll be eternally grateful.”

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Singer/songwriter Ed Romanoff, who recently concluded his tour of Germany and Ireland now wraps up in NY next week. He’s bringing along one of his favorite players, Clive Barnes from Kilkenny Ireland. Clive’s a blues powerhouse and has played with many legends. Join them for some new songs and some new sounds.

16th March Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3-NYC 7pm
17th March Parkside Lounge -NYC 8pm
18th March Bearsville Theatre – Woodstock New York 9pm

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Cajun Music — **Brooklyn Cajun Jam Session**

Whatta Weekend! Saturday March 21st, 3PM -12midnight

The next session of the traditional Brooklyn Cajun Jam Session at the fabulous Jalopy Theatre in Brooklyn, will be lead by Tim Kness and open to all musicians at the Jalopy Theatre and School of Music, Brooklyn, NY (Red Hook Neighborhood) 315 Columbia Street (Between Hamilton & Woodhull) Brooklyn, NY, 11231.

Jam at 3PM, Eat at 6PM and Dance at 8PM!

AWoW MEMBERS PERFORMING AROUND TOWN THIS WEEK: 3/8/2015

Singer, storyteller & musician, Richard Stillman will be performing his Irish Balladeer show on Long Island next week. The family show combines traditional and original Irish music, storytelling and step dancing accompanied on cittern guitar, banjo, mandolin, bagpipes, concertina, pennywhistle, bones, bodhran and harmonica. He’ll be at the Amityville, NY Library on March 7th at 2 pm. For information call 631 264 0567. He’ll repeat the show at the Island Park, NY Library on March 12th at 7 pm. For information call 516 432 0122 .

Richard and guitarist Paul Byrne will also be performing their Irish Balladeer show on March 14th at 10 and 11 am at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Boston, Ma. For more information call 617 514 1560. On March 15th Richard performs the show solo at 3 pm at the Verona NJ Library. For information call 973 857 4848.

Jim Hawkins will be doing a program of “Stories and Songs from the Irish Tradition” on the following dates, times and locations: March 8, Williston Park Library, Williston Park, Long Island 2 P.M. March 14 Copiague Library, Copiague, Long Island. March 15 Glen Cove Gold Coast Library, Glen Cove, Long Island. March 22 Deer Park Library, Deer Park, Long Island.

On March 17 and 21, Jim and Greg Ryan will be playing traditional Irish music and singing Irish ballads at the MacArthur Park Restaurant on Park Ave in Rockvile Center, LI. They will be playing from 5-9 on the 17th and from 1-4 on the 21st, after the Rockville Center St. Patrick’s day parade.

Mary Tierney is appearing in the Poor Mouth Theatre company presentation of A Night of Irish Storytelling” “Sacred Sow” written and directed by Ellie Cummings.

Thursday, March 12/8pm, Friday, March 13/8pm and Sunday, March 15/1:30pm. Admission $18 available at the bar

March 12 @ 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Serena Jost returns to Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3, her favorite downtown venue, on March 12, 8:30pm. Come hear new songs, some favorites and hang out with Serena after the show. Special Guests.

Here’s what New York Music Daily said about Serena’s 2014 Rockwood Concert: “…a lush, sweeping, richly enveloping, tuneful show by the art-rock cellist/multi-instrumentalist singer (Serena) and her band.” Click here for tickets, which are $10.

Honor Molloy and Kevin Holohan: Beckett in Brooklyn March 14 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Kevin, Honor and Maeve Price, celebrate Nobel Prize Winner Samuel Barclay Beckett

“What do I know of man’s destiny? I could tell you more about radishes.”

“Beckett Out Loud” Saturday, March 14th
4 – 6pm – Free at the Brooklyn Public Library – Dweck Center 10 Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn

RSVP: BrownPaperTickets.com or 718.230.2200

Click here for information.

Nancy Redman won Best Comedian Award United Solo 2014 for her one woman play “The Doctor Is Not In” directed by Austin Pendleton. She will be performing “The Doctor is Not In,” Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 7pm at Abingdon Theatre Company
Dorothy Strelsin Theatre, 312 W36th St. 1st Fl., NYC

Nancy recently performed “The Doctor Is Not In” at the United Solo Theatre Festival 2014 and received the award for “Best Comedian.”

Click here for tickets, which are $20. AWoW members can use code Doc315 for discounted tickets at $15

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS MEMBERS and FRIENDS "ON THE TOWN": WEEK of 11/17/13

Honor Finnegan will be performing Sunday, November 17th, at Music at Lily Pads @ UUCSC. Joni Mitchell’s Blue: A 40th Anniversary Celebration, 3:00pm, 27 North Road, Peace Dale, Rhode Island. $15. Honor will also be performing at The Underground, Sunset Rodeo Wednesday, Nov. 20th, 7:00 – 9:00, 955 West End Ave New York NY. In the round with Sharon Goldman, Fred Arcoleo, and Mangus Ferguson. 2-drink minimum per person

Tara O’Grady will be performing at the Mercy Centre Bangkok Concert at the Irish Repertory Theatre, Monday, November 18 at 8:00pm with a cocktail reception at 6:45pm. $50 donation to Mercy Centre USA includes reception and a concert with some of the top Irish musicians including Joanie Madden, Martin O’Connell and Tony Demarco. All proceeds go directly to orphanage. Tara will also be appearing with her jazz trio on Wednesday, November 20, 6-9pm at Winnie’s Lounge in the Refinery Hotel, 63 W. 38th St.

Peter Quinn returns to theIrish Arts Center Tuesday, November 19, 7:30pm, to read from his recently released novel Dry Bones. This is the final installment of the detective Fintan Dunne series, which centers around an ill-fated OSS mission on the Eastern front during WWII and its consequences more than a decade later. Joining Peter will be Tara O’Grady, Mary Tierney, Honor Molloy and Dan Barry. Peter will follow with a Q&A during which you are sure to learn about his exhaustive research on World War II and the liberties a writer sometimes has to take with history. Call 212-757-3318 and ask for the Artists Without Walls discounted tickets $8.

Darrah Carr Dance and ModErin: The 15th Anniversary Season. The Irish Arts Center, 553, W. 51st St., Nov. 22-Nov 24., Fri and Sat 8pm, Sat and Sun Family Shows 11am. Sunday 3pm . ADMISSION: $25 non-member / $20 member / $15 family show / Use code DCD20 and pay the IAC member rate – while supplies last! TICKETS: www.irishartscenter.org or 866-811-4111

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE: 9/30/13

“No question, if you weren’t there, you missed out on the wonderful and talented performances of a fine group of artists.” Vin Nauheimer

Kathleen Frazier opened the AWoW Showcase with a riveting reading from her memoir in progress, Somniloquies: The Mysterious Makings and Recovery of a Sleepwalker. Kathleen described how her somnambulism turned dangerous at adolescence when her oldest brother first attempted suicide – a sort of nighttime mirroring of his waking pain – and her failed efforts to self-medicate with alcohol. Kathleen’s proposal is currently being shopped to publishing houses… fingers crossed.

In the words of playwright Arthur Miller, “The audience sat in silence before the unwinding of All My Sons and gasped when they should have…” John Moran and Jason Kirk gave excellent performances as a father and son, bravely grabbing this American classic and wrestling it to the ground. John and Jason asked that we express their gratitude to Artists Without Walls for providing a forum for their development. They said they feel honored to be working with the group’s incredible talent.

Michele Cetera read from “Mickey’s Girl” a section from her monologue memoir. “Mickey’s Girl” is the poignant story of the night Michele’s father was mugged and murdered in May 1975. Michele searches for closure, left with the feeling she did not have a chance to say a proper goodnight to her father. On Monday night she said it in a very special way, through dance, a gift she received from her mother and father. “Dancing celebrates life and the passion to live it.” Michele said, “On the dance floor, there is always a center and light and its one of the happiest places to be.” With her dance partner, Harry Dominicci, Michele celebrated her father’s life and finally got to say “I love you and goodnight” to her father through the rhythms and energy of a salsa dance.

Jack O'Connell and Nancy Oda — **Jack O’Connell and Nancy Oda**

A few months ago, Nancy Oda was part of a scene study group conducted by veteran actor Jack O’Connell. On Monday night Nancy and Jack gave a reading from Eugene O’Neill’s Anna Christie, which they had worked on in the study group. In the scene they chose, Matt tells Anna he has signed onto another ship that will take him far from her, setting off a near deadly confrontation. A dynamic performance by two very talented actors.

First time performers MbiraNYC enlivened the Showcase and delighted the audience with their soulful harmonies, beautiful melodies and complex polyrhythms. The traditional songs of the shona people from Zimbabwe, played on the metallic prongs of mbira, accompanied by rocking percussion, brought people to their feet in dance. It was a wonderful taste of Zimbabwe in Chelsea.

Michele Cetera and Harry Domenicci dancing to the sounds of MribaNYC — **Michele Cetera and Harry Dominicci dancing to the sounds of MribaNYC**

Honor Molloy, author of Smarty Girl – Dublin Savage, and marvelous actor Caroline Winterson read “The Deadevens” in which Noleen O’Feeney waits in the Rotunda Maternity Hospital for her mammy to come out from a visit to the doctor. It’s there in the waiting room that a roadwoman shares an Aerobar and tells her an ancient tale Irish endurance. Wonderfully spirited performance by two great talents.

A scene from Joe Davidson’s play the Rekindling drew plenty of laughs as the foul mouthed Nancy Morris threatened to have her husband Barney Morris incarcerated by exposing an old secret in a game of emotional ping pong. Nancy Morris was performed by Mary Tierney and her husband Barney Morris was played by actor Ron Ryan. Both actor’s performed brilliantly bringing an unmistakable chemistry and energy to this comical yet tragic marriage.

Ray Lindie followed with a stirring performance of the opening soliloquy of Richard III. Ray said, “I think it was probably my best presentation of the piece and I credit the ambiance of the theatre, created by our members and friends, for allowing all presenters the latitude needed for their best performances.” Actress Mary Tierney said, “Best Richard I’ve seen, including some prime-time actors.” Great work.

Singers/songwriters Tara O’Grady and Sasha Papernik, who recently tourned together in Montana, closed the show. Sasha, accompanying herself on the piano, sang “Kiss Me Faster” from her upcoming album. Sasha and Tara then sang a beautiful duet, “Black is the Color” off of Tara’s Celt in the Cotton Club album. And thus, an evening filled with diverse and eclectic talent, ended on the perfect note.

The next Showcase will be at The Cell Theatre, 338 W 23^rd St, October 22, 7pm. For more information about Artists Without Walls write to info@artistswithoutwalls.com