The New York City Ballet Robins
100 presented another fine program. The
Four Seasons, music by Giuseppe Verdi,
was the first ballet, which featured many of
the leading dancers in the company. like Sara
Means, Tyler Angle, Teresa Reichlen, Tiler
Peck and the always brilliant Daniel
Ulbricht, Circus Polka, music by Igor
Stravinsky, has the adorable children
from the School of American Ballet. They
were delightful. A Suite of Dances, music
by Johann Sebastian Bach, was a solo
by the always brilliant Joaquin De Luz.
A new ballet Easy, music by Leonard
Bernstein, choreography by Justin
Peck, was a disappointment. Something
to Dance About, direction and musical
staging by Warren Carlyle, was
another new ballet celebrating Jerome
Robbins' work on Broadway. It featured a
singer, Jessica Volk, and all the
major principal dancers performed selections
from many shows like The King and I and Fiddler
on the Roof. Andrew Litton conducted
the orchestra.
Another program of Robbins
100 began with Interplay. In the
Night, music of Frederic Chopin,
followed. See the Music, in which
Associate Conductor Andrews Sill explained
the score of The Cage, by Igor
Stravinsky, which followed with a
wonderful performance by Sterling Hyltin as
the Novice. Other Dances, again music
of Chopin, with The superb Tiler Peck and Joaquin
De Luz. The program concluded with a
delightful Fanfare, music by Benjamin
Britten. Jerome Robbins deserved these
fine programs revealing his genius as one of
the finest choreographers of the twentieth
century.
I attended Take
Wing And Soar, Spirit of Excellence Awards
for Excellence in the
Classical Tradition,
which celebrated its fifteenth anniversary.
It took place in the Event Hall at Columbia
University, Broadway at 115th St. Among the
honorees were my good friends Stephen C.
Byrd and Alia Jones-Harvey of Front
Row Productions, Inc, who both received
the Take Wing and Soar Spirit of
Excellence Leadership Award. I sat at
their table with Alia's husband and her
charming parents. Another honoree was John
Douglas Thompson, who received his award
first, because he had to perform the matinee
of Carousel on Broadway. He received
the Earl Hyman Award for Excellence in
Classical Acting. I have seen every role
he has performed in New York, and he is a
brilliant actor. Condola Phylea Rashad received
the Jane White Excellence Theatre Award,
but was not present, because she is starring
on Broadway in Saint Joan, and had to
perform that demanding role in the matinee.
A delicious brunch was served with
cocktails. It was a delightful event.
The 2018 New York Drama
Critics' Circle Awards were
presented at Feinstein's/54 Below.
Special Awards were given to Park Avenue
Armory, Transport Group and Harry
Potter and the Cursed Child.
Off-Broadway, Mary Jane won Best
Play and Hangmen Best Foreign
Play.
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No Broadway
musical was given an award. Among the presenters
were Michael Urie, Carrie Coon and Noma Dumezweni..
As always, it was a lovely event.
I photographed the three member cast headed by Michael
O'Keefe, director Kim Weild and
the playwright of First Love, by Charles Mee.
It opens at the Cherry Lane Theatre on June 14, and I
hope to attend opening night.
Emilio and Gloria
Estefan were honored at the Ballet Hispanico
Carnaval Gala 2018 at the Plaza Hotel. Sergio
Trujillo was the presenter on this splendid
occasion.
The Caron Recovery Center 24th Annual Gala was
a glorious affair at Cipriani 42nd Street. Among the
guests were Katie Couric, Ron Delsener, Clive
Davis and David Johansen (Buster
Poindexter). It was a lovely event.
2018 Drama Desk Nominees received their
nomination certificates at a reception
at Friedman's, 228 West 47th St. Among those who
were present, I congratulated Joe Mantello,
Christopher Gattelli, Harry Hadden-Paton, Lindsay
Mendez, Denise Gough, Ethan Slater and Jocelyn
Bioh. It was an enjoyable party.
Columbus Library presented High Society,
by Charles Walters, USA, 1956. With music
by Cole Porter, and stars like Grace
Kelly (her last film), Bing Crosby,
FrankSinatra, Celeste Holm and Louis
Armstrong, it is a delightful, entertaining
film. I miss listening to pleasant music, seeing
lovely ladies like Grace and Celeste and hearing
singing voices like the immortal Bing and Frank.
Those were the good old days.
53rd Street Library presented To Sir, With Love, by
James Clavell, USA, 1967. It is a sweet,
sentimental film about an inspirational teacher, the
wonderful Sidney Poitier, teaching a class of
troubled teenagers in a London high school. It is a
far-fetched story, and the title which is also the song
that became a big hit says it all. For 30 years I was,
for 10 years, a teacher of Spanish, and for 20 years an
assistant principal in the New York City Public School
System. For 4 years, I was in charge of the college
bound program at Haaren H. S. considered the Blackboard
Jungle in Manhattan; in fact, Up the Down Staircase was
filmed there. I am proud that many of my disadvantaged
students went on to college. A dedicated educator can
have a tremendous influence on his students.
The Gentleman Caller, by Philip
Dawkins, is
a production of The Abingdon Theatre Company at the
Cherry Lane Theatre. The two character play is directed
by Tony Speciale.
The two actors are excellent. Juan
Francisco Villa as
Tennessee Williams is outstanding, and Daniel
K. Isaac, as
William Inge, interviews Williams in the first act in
1944, and then meets him in Chicago the same year, after
having his first success with The
Glass Menagerie.
It is a fascinating play |