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The Tony Nominations were announced
by Nikki
M. James and Andrew
Rannells at
The Diamond Horseshoe in the basement of The
Paramount Hotel. The next day, the nominees received
their certificates and were photographed. There were
few surprises.Hamilton received
16 nominations, the most ever for a show on
Broadway. Most of the nominees attended, and I
eagerly await Sunday, June 12, when I will
photograph the winners at the Beacon Theatre.
Off-Broadway, Dear
Evan Hansen, book by Steven
Levenson, music and lyrics by Benj
Pasek & Justin Paul,
at 2econdStageTheatre, is a musical about teenagers.
Five of them dominate the stage. Four are outsiders
in their school, and miserable. One commits suicide.
For various, unbelievable reasons, they become
popular and famous. Although the musical arrived
with much publicity, I was not impressed.
Crude, by Jordan
Jaffe, at Ars Nova, has an apt title.
Although it refers to an oil spill in the Gulf of
Mexico, the play itself contains crude language, and
is full of cliches. Diversity on stage is proved by
the four member cast, directed by Kel
Haney. They are a white man, a white woman, a
black man and a latino, who is a drug dealer. They
consume drugs, drink alcohol and act like total,
irritating fools. I was not amused.
I attended a Meet & Greet for Himself
and Nora The Musical, book, music and lyrics
by Jonathan
Brielle, directed by Michael
Bush, at Signature Theater Rehearsal Studios,
which opens on Monday, June 6 at Minetta Lane
Theatre. We photographed the five member cast and
creative team, after we saw five selections,
performed by the cast. I eagerly await the opening
night.
I attended the Awards Ceremony and
Gala performance of the Valentina
Kozlova International Ballet Competition 2016,
at Symphony Space. It was an amazing and delightful
evening. The talented dancers from age 11-26-years
of age displayed their skill and technique in
classical and contemporary dance, and in original
choreography in the gala performance. Everyone was
very good, but some were exceptional. Eun Soo
Lee in Harlequinade, Seung
Min Yoo in Don
Quixote, Jun
Yu Lee in Sacred
Blade, all from South Korea, and Nikita
Boris from
USA in Esmeralda were
phenomenal. I congratulate Valentina
Kozlova for
her contributions to the world of dance.
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The New York Pops 33rd Birthday Gala Do You Hear The
People Sing, at
Carnegie Hall, was one of the finest programs they
have ever done. They honored Alain
Boublil and Claude-Michel
Schonberg, who created the magnificent
Broadway musical Les
Miserables. A wonderful cast performed their
music, including Patti
LuPone, Laura Osnes, Norm Lewis Jeremy Jordan, Lea
Salonga, Montego Glover, Stephanie J.
Block and
many others. Musical Director Steven
Reineke conducted
the orchestra. After the concert, an elegant dinner
dance was held in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
After New York, my favorite state is
now Kentucky. Why? Because I attended a reception
with charming visitors from that state, who came to
the Phillips Club, 155 West 66th St, before The
National Chorale and The National Chorale Orchestra
performed theRequiem,
by Giuseppe
Verdi, at David Geffen Hall, conducted by
Artistic Director Everett
Mccorvey. They brought specially baked rolls
with ham, boxes of chocolates laced with bourbon,
and Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Other
food, like shrimp, tea sandwiches, without crust on
the bread, platters of various cheeses and fruit,
plus dishes of strawberries, accompanied by three
fine wines, made the reception a beautiful party to
enjoy the music that followed. The program began
with The
Professional Performing Arts High School Choir singing
two selections by Mozart,
and Va,
pensiero, from Nabucco,
by Verdi. The
Soldiers Chorus of the United States Army Field Band sang
six selections, which included Battle
of Jericho and Lean
On Me, conducted by Colonel
Jim R. Keene. This was a memorable night of
delicious food and drink and glorious music.
The
34th Annual Fred and Adele Astaire Awards 2016
Nominations were
announced by Michael
Riedel at
a cocktail reception at the Friars Club. Many of the
nominees attended including Savion
Glover, Sergio Trujillo,
the three nominees from Cagney,Robert
Creighton, Ellen Zolezzi and Jeremy
Benton and
many, many others. It was a lovely occasion. The
Awards take place at Skirball Center for the
Performing Arts, 566 LaGuardia Place, on Monday, May
16. I plan to be there.
The
Jewish Museum held
a press preview for Roberto
Burle Marx, a Brazilian Modernist, who
revolutionized garden design and artistic expression
in Brazil. The exhibition began on May 6 to
September 18. It also featured Gamboa
II, five hanging sculptures, by another
Brazilian artist Beatriz
Milhazes. They are well worth a visit.
The
Morgan Library & Museum,
225 Madison Avenue, held a press preview of Dreams
in Dust: The Pastels of Lucas Samaras, May
6-August 21, of dreamlike seascapes and interiors,
self-portraits, nudes and still life. At the same
time, we were invited to see two other exhibitions Warhol
by the Book, to May 15 and Sight Reading:
Photography and the Legible World, to May 16.
All three are fascinating. |