Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: September 22, 2024
By: Laura Deni
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MID AUTUMN FESTIVALS LOOK TO THE MOON

The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated in many Asian countries, including China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. It's also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival. The festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which usually falls in September or October. It's a time to give thanks for the harvest, and to celebrate the full moon, which is believed to be good for romance and fertility.

Chang'e flies to the moon. Photo: Handbook of Chinese Mythology

One version of the story is as follows, as described in Lihui Yang’s Handbook of Chinese Mythology: In the ancient past, there was a hero named Hou Yi, who was excellent at archery. His wife was Chang’e. One year, the ten suns rose in the sky together, causing great disaster to the people. Yi shot down nine of the suns and left only one to provide light. An immortal admired Yi and sent him the elixir of immortality. Yi did not want to leave Chang’e and be immortal without her, so he let Chang’e keep the elixir. However, Peng Meng, one of his apprentices, knew this secret.

So, on the fifteenth of August in the lunar calendar, when Yi went hunting, Peng Meng broke into Yi’s house and forced Chang’e to give the elixir to him. Chang’e refused to do so. Instead, she swallowed it and flew into the sky. Since she loved her husband and hoped to live nearby, she chose the moon for her residence. When Yi came back and learned what had happened, he felt so sad that he displayed the fruits and cakes Chang’e liked in the yard and gave sacrifices to his wife. People soon learned about these activities, and since they also were sympathetic to Chang’e they participated in these sacrifices with Yi.

The celebration is marked with lighting lanterns to help a legendary moon-bound figure back to Earth. Lion dances are commonly performed by traveling troupers who go from house to house to perform for a fee.

Don't forget the mooncakes, a rich pastry typically filled with sweet-bean or lotus-seed paste, are traditionally eaten during the festival.

In 2021 Chinese consumers spent $3.38 billion on mooncakes. In 2023 sales were up continuing the growth trend. However, this year sales were expected to fall by 10% due to families tightening their food budgets - even for special occasions.

Many types of fillings can be found in traditional mooncakes according to the region’s culture:

Cut moon cakes showing lotus seed paste filling around the (crumbled) egg yolk "moon." Photo: Fresh International Market

Lotus seed paste considered by some to be the original and most luxurious mooncake filling. Red bean paste, made from azuki beans, is the most common filling worldwide. Jujube mooncakes are made from the ripe fruits of the jujube (date) plant.

Over 3000 years, people in China keep their traditions and eat mooncakes during Mid-Autumn Festivals. Meanwhile, food companies developed new production methods and skills for mooncakes to attract a broader customer base.

Don't associate Maine only with lobsters. Think mooncakes. Really.

Jeff Mao of Knead & Nosh in Maine not only operates a store, he offers on line and in person classes on the art of making just about everything Chinese.

Knead & Nosh is a passion project led by Mao, an avid baker, educator, and technologist. By combining these three, Knead & Nosh hosts online and in-person baking and cooking classes, recipes, and informational articles to help home bakers and cooks!

In early September he offered a class making the traditional Chinese Mooncakes.

The Maine Tasting Center,"a non-profit that provides meaningful educational programs centered around Maine's dynamic foodways" presented the classes in which instructor Mao emphasized making mooncakes using Maine ingredients from local farms and producers. He taught how to make the dough, mix up a variety of traditional and non-traditional fillings and, most importantly, learn how to use special molds to create the beautifully intricate pastries.

Okay, so there is a downside to everything. Did we mention calories? Mooncakes are traditional, beautiful and deicious. Mooncakes are high in everything you're not suppose to eat.

However, you've got to celebrate, so just don't binge eat.

As for regular mooncakes, you’re looking at up to 800 calories, 40 grams of fat and 60 grams of sugar!!

The most well-known kind of mooncake is made of lotus seed paste, salted egg yolk and lard – Cantonese style – which explains why a palm-sized cake can contain about 1,000 calories.

Mooncakes are just one aspect of what the Chinese brought to America. Those with Chinese heritage are an important part of the American tapestry. The leading states for Chinese Americans to call home are California, New York, Hawaii, Texas and New Jersey.

In a spot check around the country, the celebrations are full swing.

Philadelphia staged their 29th annual Mid-Autumn Festival on Saturday, September 21st. Thousands attended The Mid-Autumn Festival held at Philadelphia's Chinatown to reconnect and give thanks under the Harvest Moon. The event was a culmination of the efforts of hundreds: youth volunteers running activities, restaurants donating food, artists performing, and businesses large and small supporting the cause.

The Festival is a family-friendly event centering the Asian community—one of Philadelphia's fastest-growing demographics.

AAU’s Mid-Autumn Festival started as a way for homesick Chinese Americans in Philadelphia to partake in celebrating a holiday when they could not travel back to China. The festival stresses: "It is important that the tradition continues so that Asian Americans can place some priority into cultural traditions that are at risk of fading away."

This homegrown festival was initiated in 1996 by AAU middle school students and is a large annual event in Chinatown, actively involving more than 300 high school volunteers and reaching 7,500 festival-goers who gather under the full moon to celebrate.

Youth give a day of service, restaurants donate food, artists offer their talents, businesses and organizations chip in money – hundreds of people work together to make the festival their own. The core leadership of this festival is young adults and youth who have come up through the festival and grown into positions of increased responsibility. This core of young people and young adults meet for months leading up to the festival day and are coordinators or co-coordinators of all aspects of the festival including stage, volunteer coordination, carnival, fundraising, arts activities and media.

Festival goers experienced a day filled with cultural richness and joy. There were lively performances, captivating lion dances, an exciting mooncake eating contest, pay-as-you-play Carnival games, free art activities and culminate the festivities with a lantern parade through Chinatown.

Approximately 9% of New York City's population boasts Chinese ethnicity, with about eighty percent of Chinese New Yorkers living in the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn alone; New York City itself contains by far the highest ethnic Chinese population of any individual city outside Asia, estimated at 628,763.

In New York, jobs with particular interest to those with a Chinese heritage are contract Mandarin document review attorney; deep learning engineer who speak Chinese and Chinese-Taishanese US-based interpreters.

Last September, new legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul made Asian Lunar New Year — typically in January or February — a public school holiday across New York State.

This year's Rochester, New York Harvest Moon Festival offered many cuisines, including Korean barbecue, ramen bowls, bubble tea and Filipino fare.

Of Korean heritage John Ra who moved to Rochester from Los Angeles in 2006 is the man in charge as chair of the Rochesterc chapter of Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs, as first reported in Rochester City Life.

Last year he helped organize the first Rochester Harvest Moon Festival, which returned for its second year on Saturday, September 21 on Schoen Place in Pittsford.

Rochester’s version of Harvest Moon also features workshops, martial arts, music and dance. Entertainment is an important aspect of the festival celebration.

Carmel, California delivered a magical evening under the moonlight on Saturday, September 21, at Midtown Plaza. Citizens had an opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant sights, sounds, and flavors of Chinese culture.

Live music & dance performances captivated. The spectacular Dragon Team took the lead in a parade filled with color, energy, and excitement.

Mouth watering mooncakes & cultural activities invited attendees to participate in interactive activities that showcased the depth and charm of Chinese traditions.

On Friday, September 20, 2024, an appreciation Night for "Dragon Lady" occurred at the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. Dragon Lady is written & Performed by Sara Porkalob. Andrew Russell directs.

The musicians include: Pete Irving on Guitar, Vocals & Band Leader. Jimmy Austin trombone. Mickey Stylin upright bass.

The creatives are: scenic designer Randy Wong-Westbrooke. Lighting designer Spense Matubang. Sound designer Erin Bednarz. Original Music & Lyrics by by Pete Irving. Production stage manager Nick Carvalho. Assistant stage manager Rebecca K. Hsia.

On the eve of her 60th birthday, Maria Porkalob Sr. fires up her new karaoke machine to regale her granddaughter Sara with her astonishing life story. As a lounge singer who escaped a gangster-controlled nightclub in Manila to become a free-range mother of five in the United States, Maria is a matriarch not to be trifled with. Broadway star and storyteller Sara Porkalob embodies dozens of characters in a trigenerational tour-de-force performance that fuses killer karaoke with laugh-out-loud comedy to tell her family’s incredible origin story.

The show is mounted at the Geffen through October 6, 2024.

Those who purchased any price level tickets for the September 20, 2024 AANHPI Appreciation Night learned that 100% of their ticket purchase benefited an organizations they selected: CAPE, East West Players or SIPA - or "Share With All." All tickets for this evening include a post show party with hosted bar, desserts and DJ spinning at the Geffen Playhouse.

It should come as no surprise that San Francisco's China Town painted the place red and gold for the Moon Festival. Over a fifth of the city 's population have Chinese roots. This makes San Francisco the city with the largest percentage of Chinese residents among US cities. The majority of the community's ancestry is from Guangdong province and Hong Kong.

The Chinatown Merchants Association transformed Chinatown into a vibrant public celebration for the 34th Annual Autumn Moon Festival last week. The festivities culminated with the famous White Crane dragon parade.

Last week the the Houston branch of The Asian Association of Texas, considered the "leading force in forging closer ties between Asia and the West through arts, education, policy and business outreach" celebrated the festival with a day long event which included the stage show A Legend of Chang'e based upon the popular book.

A scene from Houston production of A Legend of Chang'e. Photo: Courtesy

In Chinese performance history, transvestism onstage actually antedates by seven centuries the practice of edict-driven all-male casting. Before all-male casting became the major practice employed by Beijing opera artists in the late 18th century, Chinese women had played an integral role in the acting profession. In a nod to that, the Houston event used creative casting with female Zhenni Luo cast as a male.

The Texas Asia Society is one of the twelve centers of Asia Society. This society strengthens relationships between Americans and the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia. The Texas Asia Society hosts public programs and exhibitions to increase knowledge of Asia, enhance dialogue, and generate new ideas across the fields of art and culture, business, and education."

"The Asia Society is a 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on educating the world about Asia. It has several centers in the United States (Manhattan, Washington, D.C., Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco) and around the world (Hong Kong, Manila, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Melbourne, and Zurich). These centers are overseen by the Society's headquarters in New York City, which includes a museum that exhibits art from countries in Asia and Oceania"

The National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC became the Smithsonian’s first art museum on Washington, DC’s, National Mall in 1923. Since then, they've grown their collections, expanded their buildings, and earned a reputation for excellence through a century of exhibitions, research, conservation, and cultural exchange. Our centennial year is both a milestone and a springboard for a transformative vision for their next 100 years: to become a global resource for learning, research, and cultural connection.

"We draw on cultural traditions from across Asia in festivals and events that bring the museums to life for visitors of all ages. Immerse yourself in celebrations featuring art, music, theater, dance, and food that highlight local and international artists and communities."

The Chinese American Museum, also in Washington DC, celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with their third annual Community Day on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Participants could make a mooncake out of clay, build a lantern, and enjoy a guzheng musical performance.

Everyone can take part in an informational webinar on Saturday, August 3 at 8pm ET with the winners of the Overseas Chinese Humanist Photography Awards Competition! The winning entries are currently exhibited at the Chinese American Museum DC.

This competition collected 605 entries from a total of 100 people participants from all over the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, Spain, and 605 works from other countries.

The Cincinnati Moon Festival will take place at Fountain Square on September 28, 2024. Cincinnati Moon Festival is an annual family-friendly event that celebrates the Cincy Region's Asian community, its traditions and the arrival of the autumn harvest moon. The Festival showcases the beauty and traditions of Asian culture with various fun activities, delicious food and unique exhibits. Live performances that combine music with storytelling about the Asian-American experiences will also be a part of the festivities.

The 10th Annual AsianFest Presented by Collins Aerospace took place at Newbo City Market in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on September 21, 2024.

In 2023, 9630 people who were born in china were among the foreign-born population of Iowa. Chinese is the most widely spoken Asian language in Iowa with 7,928 people speaking it at home in 2022.

Asians in Iowa have the highest proportion of college graduates of any race.

Crowds gathered for the free celebration to recognize culture and heritage from all over Asia located in Eastern Iowa. They dined, danced and developed a further appreciation of the Asian communities with local food vendors, cultural villages, a kid zone, live performances and, of course, the annual fashion show!

Interest in and promotion of Chinese culture extends beyond the Moon Festival.

Yellow Face begins on Broadway this week. In this Obie Award-winning and Pulitzer finalist play about the complexities of race inspired by real events, the playwright’s fictionalized doppelgänger protests yellowface casting in Miss Saigon, only to mistakenly cast a white actor as the Asian lead in his own play.

Yellow Face features Daniel Dae Kim, Kevin Del Aguila, Ryan Eggold, Francis Jue, Marinda Anderson, Greg Keller and Shannon Tyo.

With: Paul Juhn, Olivia Oguma, Zach Shaffer, and David Ryan Smith.

The creative team for Yellow Face includes Arnulfo Maldonado set design, Anita Yavich costume design, Lap Chi Chu lighting design), Caroline Eng and Kate Marvin sound design & original music, projection design by Yee Eun Nam, hair and make-up Design by Will Vicari, vocal coach Patrick Mulryan, production stage manager Charles Means.

Yellow Face opens officially on Tuesday, October 1 and is a limited engagement through November 24, 2024 at the Todd Haimes Theatre on Broadway.

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre is the award-winning, pioneer Asian American theatre company on the East Coast and the 2nd most veteran in the nation.

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre’s annual festival of new experimental works by Asian American artists, featured brave, bold voices that play with form, mix disciplines, and center the Asian American experience. NuWorks 2024 features an eclectic range of voices from Japan, Korea, Filipinotown, and West Virginia with motifs of butoh, opera, poetics, puppetry, and stand up. They are:

L’Oera! A fun-loving, Japanese and Filipino American opera singer gets into The Juilliard School…. then loses his voice. By Kurt Sanchez Kanazawa. Co-directed by Jeff Liu & Kalina Ko.

Parity was a law of physics until a Chinese American woman Chien-Shiung Wu, Queen of Nuclear Research disproved it against all odds. By Howard Ho. Performed by Jully Lee. Co-directed by Austin Ku & Jully Lee.

Wash n Fold a heartwarming chance encounter between two strangers who are polar opposites, but find commonality and healing. Written and directed by Patrick Lee. Performed by Kendrick Carter and Robert Zhu. BodyCount a comic riff through a female Asian American lens of shitty relationships, sexuality, and family dysfunction. Written and performed by Joy Regullano. Directed by Fran de Leon.

Peach Boy an irreverent puppet show based on Momotaro, the classic Japanese folk tale of the boy born from a peach and his quest to fight the ogres of Onigashima. By Kenjiro Lee. Directed by Alexandra Darcy Haddad. Performed by Kana Seiki and Kenjiro Lee. Illustrations by Sophie Craig. Puppet and crankie construction by Kenjiro Lee and Hyun-Soo Lee.

Origen Story a biomythographical play collage about the life experiences of queer Korean playwright, Nina Ki. By Nina Ki. Directed by Chris Yejin. Performed by Zoë Kim & Sarah Shin.Dramaturgy by Amrita Ramanan.

Solitude a Butoh-infused dance creation that explores identity and ancestral memories through visceral metaphor and expressionistic symbolic lighting. Created and performed by azumi O E.

Halfanese: Two Halves of a Whole Idiot a stand-up roller coaster meets clowning show as Cody shares his journey to New York City where he finds himself, his Asian identity, and... his dad? Written and performed by Cody LeRoy Wilson. Sound design by Cameron Williams.

In February Tisa Chang, Founding Artistic Director, Presents the World Premiere of My Man Kono by Philip W. Chung, directed by Jeff Liu.

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This is not your typical, totally boring textbook.

In the pages of How To Earn A Living As A Freelance Writer (the first to be lied to and the last to be paid) you'll find sex, celebrities, violence, threats, unethical editors, scummy managers and lawyers, treacherous press agents, sex discrimination; as well as a how-to for earning money by writing down words.

ART AND ABOUT

UNFORGETTABLE BEHAVIOUR is the American Museum's new Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, curated in partnership with the Natural History Museum.

Showcasing some of the most incredible animal behavior moments ever captured on camera, this inspiring exhibition reflects nature at its most glorious, and offers a timely reminder about the need to conserve it.

This global show was previously hosted by The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, USA.

The American Museum & Gardens is the first museum in the UK to host Unforgettable Behaviour, which will feature a range of creative family activities and invitations to play, as well as a Young Person's Wildlife Photography competition –September 28 December 31, 202.

The American Museum & Gardens is set on 125 acres of rolling green topography, with breathtaking views over the Cotswolds. The gardens were designed by U.S. landscape architects Oehme, van Sweden, an arboretum and sweeping parkland.

The museum itself is over 3 floors and has some very fine exhibits of North American folk art, reconstructed rooms, quilts, native American artifacts.

THE ART OF DINING: FOOD CULTURE IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD

The Art of Dining. Photo: Detroit Institute of Arts.

opens to the public on Sunday, September 22, 2024.

This new exhibition brings together 230 works from the Middle East, Egypt, Central and South Asia, and beyond to explore connections between art and cuisine from ancient times to the present day.

Paintings of elaborate feasts, sumptuous vessels for food and drink, and historical cookbooks show how culinary cultures have thrived in the Islamic world for centuries.

Highlighting the relationship of these works to preparing, serving, and enjoying food, the exhibition engages multiple senses and invites us to appreciate the pleasures of sharing a meal.

On display at the Detroit Institute of Arts in Detroit, Michigan.

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SWEET CHARITY

ASIAN AMERICAN DRUG ABUSE PROGRAM (AADAP’s) 52ND ANNIVERSARY BENEFIT CONCERT took place Saturday, September 21, 2024 at the Aratani Theatre in Los Angeles.

Titled "Showtime 2024", the proceeds from the event will support AADAP’s continued programming through community-based addiction treatment and prevention services.

This year, AADAP, in a first-time producing partnership with LXV Enterprises, LLC, featured the talents of: Mark Dacascos, Host. Performances by: Tia Carrere, the two-time Grammy winner, showcased her remarkable vocal talents. 4th Impact, the Filipino girl group known for their electrifying performances and global success, delivered a high-energy set. The group’s meteoric rise began with their standout performance on "The X Factor UK," and they’ve continued to make waves internationally. Janice Javier, a celebrated singer with over 30 years of experience, brought her powerful voice to the stage. Leo Mercedez, a dynamic funk soul singer, added a unique flavor to the concert with his infectious energy and soulful performances.

This benefit concert delivered an evening filled with memorable performances from some of the most talented and beloved figures in Filipino entertainment. The event included an Online Auction, Opportunity Drawing, and a VIP Reception for VIP ticket holders.

SPREADING THE WORD

THE RECORDING ACADEMY'S MUSIC ADVOCACY DAY is set to mark its 10-year anniversary on Tuesday, October 1, continuing its mission to directly influence music policy at the congressional level. This annual event, previously known as District Advocate Day, represents the largest grassroots music advocacy effort in the nation, designed to connect Academy members with their respective congressional representatives to voice issues vital to the music community.

Top of the agenda list is advocating for the passage of the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act, which aims to establish a national standard for protecting creators’ likenesses against unauthorized use by artificial intelligence. This consensus piece of legislation would also hold accountable any company, individual, and platform that facilitates the unauthorized distribution of AI-generated replicas, enforcing artists’ agency over their voices and visual likenesses.

Since its inception, Music Advocacy Day has played a pivotal role in advancing legislative measures beneficial to music creators. Last year, the event witnessed participation from over 1,700 Academy members who engaged in nearly 100 meetings with lawmakers, setting the stage for significant policy introductions and revisions. These interactions have spurred several legislative milestones including the introduction of the Fans First Act, enhancing transparency and accountability in ticket sales, and the passage of the PEACE Through Music Act, promoting global peace through music diplomacy.

LUCIE ARNAZ will open Kean Stage’s 2024-2025 season on Sunday, September 29 Enlow Recital Hall in Hillside, New Jersey with her show "I Got The Job! Songs From My Musical Past."

Celebrating a life on stage, Lucie Arnaz returns to her theater roots looking back at some of the roles she has had on stages throughout the world. From her first role at 14 as The Cheshire Cat in "Alice In Wonderland" to a grandmother hanging upside down on a trapeze while singing about the preciousness of life in "Pippin", Lucie and Musical Director Ron Abel offer audiences this brand new concert sharing stories and songs that Lucie has long been known for. With anecdotes and fond memories about her co-stars, directors, and musical collaborators, Lucie offers iconic songs and hidden treasures from some of Broadway’s greatest shows and a look at the backstage magic it takes to create them.

MAMA, I'M A BIG GIRL NOW From Broadway Babies to Broadway Mamas reunited for the first time ever the original Tracy, Penny, and Amber Tony Award-winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (Hairspray), Tony Award-nominee Kerry Butler (Xanadu), and Tony Award-nominee Laura Bell Bundy (Legally Blonde The Musical).

They will perform in two shows on Thursday, September 26 at the Bram Goldsmith Theater Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, CA.

Tony Award-winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (What We Do in the Shadows), Tony Award-nominee Kerry Butler (Xanadu), and Tony Award-nominee Laura Bell Bundy (Legally Blonde The Musical) will spend the evening not only telling stories about the show that launched all their careers but the many shows after— singing from the hits that made you fall in love with them.

The three have 16 Broadway shows and over 200 episodes of television between them from Beetlejuice to Big Brother … from Mean Girls to Legally Blonde The Musical… Dancing with the Stars to Beauty and the Beast … Wicked to Gypsy … and even the Country Music Awards!

Join these mamas - along with the Ramone C. Cortines School of the Visual and Performing Arts student choir - on a hilarious and meaningful musical journey about their origins, friendship, careers, and children!

78-YEAR OLD CHER TO HEADLINE Victoria's Secret New York's lingerie signature fashion show in Brooklyn on October 15, 2024.

HOT CHOCOLATE WITH HANDEL takes place Saturday, September 28, 2024 at the Handel Hendrix House in London.

Georgian cooking comes back to London with live demonstrations at this event. Join in for a taste of 18th-century decadence with a celebration of Georgian hot chocolate at Handel Hendrix House the home of the great composer George Frideric Handel.

Handle is recorded as enjoying hot chocolate at breakfast with mutton broth. Handle and his buddies also enjoyed drinking a luxurious hot chocolate made with port wine.

In this event, the cooks follow original recipes, use original techniques and replicas of historic kitchen tools to demonstrate how Georgian cooked worked. All ages are welcome but only over 18s will be able to sample the hot chocolate made with port wine.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were also hot chocolate aficionados.

Jefferson once wrote to his pal John Adams predicting that hot chocolate would surpass coffee and tea to become the favored beverage of Americans according to the luxury brand Jacob Bromwell.

SLASH: BENDING THE BLUES Inside The Making Of “Orgy Of The Damned” with Slash and Producer Mike Clink takes place at the Grammy Museum on Friday, October 4, at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

SLASH, the iconic, Grammy Award-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, guitarist, and songwriter will visit the Ray Charles Terrace at the Grammy Museum for an evening discussing his latest album "Orgy of the Damned", a star-studded, vibrant homage to the Blues.

Grammy Hall of Fame Producer and longtime SLASH collaborator Mike Clink will join the conversation to discuss the creative process for the album, and an intimate acoustic performance will follow. Attendees will also have an opportunity to enjoy rooftop views and a cash bar prior to the program.

GIBSON is celebrating 130 years of making their world famous guitars. Gibson has been shaping the sound of music since 1894, when its founder Orville Gibson designed and built his earliest-known musical instrument in his workshop. The innovative and forward-thinking carved top design that revolutionized the mandolin and guitar world delivering a louder, more durable, more playable instrument, remains the DNA of every Gibson. To celebrate their 130 years Gibson has released their Custom J-45 Orville Artisan 130th Anniversary Limited Edition. The guitar combines the classic J-45 “Workhorse” with aesthetic details inspired by Orville Gibson’s legendary craftsmanship; it is limited to 30 units, all produced in the 2024 130th Anniversary year.

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER spent last week in Ireland. Among their many stops they attended the opening night performance of Eugene Onegin by Northern Ireland Opera at the Grand Opera House, in Belfast. The royals were received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast, Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle.

In the performance they witnessed: Love, friendship and fidelity collide with devastating consequences in Tchaikovsky’s stunning operatic masterpiece, "a story of passion, pride, a moment’s madness, a duel and a true love lost."

Conductor Dominic Limburg led the performance with a cast that included Mary McCabe, Carolyn Dobbin, Sarah Richmond, Jenny Bourke, Yuriy Yurchuk, Norman Reinhardt, Aaron O’Hare, and Niall Anderson.

SOPHIE, THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH who is President of serves as of GirlGuiding, on October 5, 2024 will attend a planned contact with the International Space Station as part of a visit to promote the engagement and involvement of girls and young women in STEM at Brooklands Motor Museum, England.

This is on ongoing project encouraging girls interest in STEM.

Last February California Girl Scouts make contact with International Space Station and for 10 minutes could ask astronaut Jasmine Moghbeli about her experiences with NASA and her current mission on the ISS.






ERROLLYN WALLEN CBE has been appointed by King Charles as first Master of The King’s Music; the first appointment to this role of his reign.

Ms Wallen succeeds Dame Judith Weir DBE, who was appointed to the role in July 2014 by Queen Elizabeth II.

The Master of The King’s Music is an honorary appointment made by the Sovereign. The appointment is conferred on a musician of distinction who has added to the musical life of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

The office of Master of The King’s Music was created in the reign of King Charles I and the Master served as the head of the Sovereign’s band of musicians. The tradition of a private band formed by the Sovereign ended in 1899 with the creation of a separate Queen’s Band. Since the reign of King George V the role has carried no fixed duties and often the Master will compose pieces for special Royal occasions such as Royal Weddings, Jubilees and Coronations, should they wish to.

Errollyn Wallen CBE is a Belize-born British composer, pianist and singer-songwriter, and has composed works for the BBC Proms and international events including the COP26 summit and the 2012 Paralympic Games. Ms Wallen was commissioned to compose pieces to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees. Her work for string orchestra, ‘Photography’ (2006) was performed by The Honours of Scotland Ensemble at the Service of Thanksgiving for King Charles III and Queen Camilla at St Giles’ Cathedral in July 2023.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

THE LATIN GRAMMY CULTURAL FOUNDATION in partnership with Chase, hosted its fifth Educación Financiera financial health education workshop as part of the Latin Grammy Master Series. Latin Grammy winner and Grammy nominee Pedro Capó kicked off the workshop, "Essentials of Budgeting in the Music Arts Industry".

Chase representative, Ken Frazier discussed the importance of budgeting to build and maintain financial wellness. The event, hosted by Ana Jurka, TV personality and award-winning journalist, at Coral Reef High School in Miami, drew more than 500 students in person. Together the special guests, along with the Foundation and Chase, shared the goal of amplifying the importance of financial education from access to money and credit management in building a career in Latin music and the arts.

Through this session, hundreds of high school students, including emerging musicians, gained an understanding of budget management and resources—along with expert advice.

"Developing financial literacy provides creators a solid base on which to build their careers, serving as an essential vehicle for growth in all areas of their lives," said Raquel "Rocky" Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation. "Individuals with an understanding of budget management have an unparalleled superpower; thank you to Pedro Capó and our partners at Chase for empowering future generations of Latin music creators in building this skillset."

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NO LOVE SONGS from an original idea by Kyle Falconer, lead singer of Scottish indie band sensation The View, and Laura Wilde, his partner with songs by Falconer, and a book by Wilde and Johnny McKnight.

Co-directed by Andrew Panton, Artistic Director at Dundee Rep in Dundee, Scotland.

Co-directed by Tashi Gore.

"In a hopeful and empowering tale of modern romance, No Love Songs tells the story of Jessie and Lana?young and in love one second and pregnant the very next. When Jessie is called away to tour with his band in America and post-partum depression sets in for Lana, they must learn to navigate the unique challenges of their new lives as parents. Through a powerful blend of humor, heart and indie rock music, you’ll be taken on a journey that captures the essence of love and realities of early parenthood. After sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in London, see it here first before it heads to New York."

Jessie will be played by John McLarnon. Lana will be played by Anna Russell-Martin. Both McLarnon and Russell-Martin are Scotland-based actors. Music direction for No Love Songs will be by Gavin Whitworth. Scenic design will be by Leila Kalbassi. Costume design will be by Cate Mackie. Lighting design will be by Grant Anderson. Sound Design will be by Goodspeed’s Audio Supervisor and Resident Sound designer Jay Hilton. Julie Gottfried will be the Production Stage Manager. Casting for this production is by Michael Howell.

The production was originally produced and developed by Dundee Rep Theatre; Dundee, Scotland. The U.S. Premiere will run September 27 - October 20, 2024 at Goodspeed's Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn.

VLADIMIR written by Erika Sheffer.

Directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan.

This haunting world premiere unfolds in Moscow, where an independent journalist covering Putin’s first term struggles to maintain sanity and hope in increasingly hostile circumstances. She finds herself on the brink of an explosive story – but as danger mounts for her and her sources, she questions whether her bravery will make any difference at all. Vladimir is about standing up to immorality no matter the cost, when you know your nation is headed for disaster.

The cast of Vladimir features two-time Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz, Erin Darke, Francesca Faridany, Erik Jensen, Olivia Deren Nikkanen, David Rosenberg, and Jonathan Walker.

The creative team includes Mark Wendland (Scenic Design), Jess Goldstein (Costume Design), Japhy Weideman (Lighting Design), Dan Moses Schreier (Original Music and Sound Design), Lucy Mackinnon (Projection Design), Tom Schall (Fight Direction), Charles G. LaPointe (Hair and Wig Design), Ashley Ryan (Makeup Design), and Charlotte Fleck (Dialect Coach).

Vladimir begins performances on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at New York City Center Stage I. Opening night is Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

EISENHOWER: THIS PIECE OF GROUND by Richard Hellesen, adapted from a vast array of General Eisenhower's memoirs, speeches, and letters.

Directed by Peter Ellenstein.

Tony Award winner John Rubinstein stars as President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground is a candid and fascinating fictional eavesdropping on the 34th President at his Gettysburg, Pennsylvania farm. It is 1962 and The New York Times Magazine has published its first list ranking the American Presidents in order of greatness, and poor Ike is ranked 22nd of 31. Enraged at being called "mediocre," he mounts a defense of his life and career - his Kansas upbringing, his decorated Army career, his victories in World War II, and his two terms as President – contemplating the qualities and adversities that make an American President great.

On stage at the Olney Theatre in Olney, NY.

Opening Night Conversation takes place Saturday, September 28 at the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab. Livestreamed on Olney Theatre’s Facebook and YouTube pages. Olney Theatre’s Artistic Director is joined by Eisenhower playwright to discuss the process of bringing a towering figure of the 20th Century to the stage.

THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA by Jez Butterworth.

Directed by Tony winning Sam Mendes. "What is a song? A song is a dream... a place to be. Somewhere you can live. And in that place, there are no walls. No boundaries. No locks. No keys. You can go anywhere..."

In the sweltering heat of a 1970s summer, the Webb sisters return to their childhood home in Blackpool, an English seaside town, where their mother Veronica lies dying upstairs. Gloria and Ruby now have families of their own. Jill never left. And Joan? No one’s heard from her in twenty years… but Jill insists that their mother’s favorite won’t let them down this time.

The run-down Sea View Guest House is haunted by bittersweet memories of amusement park rides and overdue bills. Back in the 1950s, each night the four young sisters rehearse their singing act, managed by their fiercely loving single mom. But when a record producer offers a shot at fame and a chance to escape, it will cost them all dearly.

The cast features the play’s acclaimed leading London cast members on the Broadway stage – Olivier Award winner and Tony nominee Laura Donnelly as Veronica/Joan; Leanne Best as Gloria; Ophelia Lovibond as Ruby; Helena Wilson as Jill; Nancy Allsop as Young Gloria; Sophia Ally as Young Ruby; Lara McDonnell as Young Joan; and Nicola Turner as Young Jill. The full company also includes David Wilson Barnes, Ta’Rea Campbell, Bryan Dick, Richard Lumsden, Richard Short, Liam Bixby, Ellyn Heald, Max Roll, and Cameron Scoggins. The company understudies are Jessica Baglow, Sawyer Barth, Erin Rose Doyle, Liz Pearce, Q. Smith, and Sadie Veach.

The full creative team includes Rob Howell (designer), Natasha Chivers (lighting design), Nick Powell (composer, sound design and arrangements), Ellen Kane (choreography), Campbell Young Associates (wigs, hair & makeup design), Candida Caldicot (musical supervision and arrangements), Kate Wilson (dialect coach), Amy Ball (UK casting director, Verity Naughton (UK young persons’ casting director), Jim Carnahan CSA, JV Mercanti (US casting director), Zoé Ford Burnett (associate director), Joan Sergay (US associate director), Gemma Fuller (associate choreographer), Sara Brians (US associate choreographer), and Charles M. Turner III (production stage manager).

Performances at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City.

THE BEACON by Nancy Harris.

Directed by Marc Atkinson Borrull.

A tragic accident, a dead husband; accusations resurfaced by a true crime podcast. Everyone will have a different interpretation. When you look at it, what do you see?

Beiv, a renowned artist, has left her suburban Dublin home for a secluded cottage on a rugged island off the coast of West Cork, Ireland. Here, there is no escaping the rumors of her shadowy past, and Beiv lets everyone see right in. Her relative peace is disrupted when her estranged son, Colm, returns home with his new wife, searching for answers about his father’s mysterious death. Prying into the past comes with a cost, however, and returning to the island will leave some people searching for a light – and others avoiding its glare.

The Beacon will feature Kate Mulgrew as Biev, Zach Appelman as Colm, Sean Bell as Donal, David Mattar Merten as Ray, and Ayana Workman as Bonnie.

The creatives are:set design by Colm McNally, costume design by Orla Long, lighting design by Colm McNally, sound design by Liam Bellman-Sharpe, and properties by Nicole Rozanski. Pam Brusoski is the Production Stage Manager, Karen Evanouskas is the Assistant Stage Manager, Jane Guyer Fujita is the Dialect Coach, and Rick Sordelet is the Fight Director. Casting is by Geoff Josselson, CSA.

In a limited run through November 3, 2024, on Irish Rep’s Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage, New York City.

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FINAL OVATION

MARY McFADDEN an American art collector, editor, fashion designer, and writer, died from myelodysplasia at her home in Southampton, New York on September 13, 2024. She was 85.

She attended Columbia University, the Ecole Lubec, the New School for Social Research, the Sorbonne, and the Traphagen School of Fashion (1956, Costume Design).

Between 1962 and 1964, McFadden worked as public relations director at Christian Dior in New York and Paris, she then married Philip Harari, a merchant for De Beers. The couple would have one daughter. McFadden relocated to South Africa in the same year and Diana Vreeland arranged for her to become an editor for "Vogue South Africa", she was in the position until 1966 when the magazine was closed. She then worked for"The Rand Daily Mail" as a travel and political columnist.

In 1976 she began the clothing company Mary McFadden Inc. From 1982 to 1983 she was the President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America - the first woman to hold that position. McFadden also licensed her name to many products such as eyewear, footwear, home furnishings, and sleepwear.

In 2024, Drexel University staged an exhibition of McFaadden's fashion creations titled Modern Ritual: The Art of Mary McFadden.

Known for her easy-to-wear silhouettes, opulent beading, hand-painted silks and her patented “Marii” pleated fabric, McFadden created sensual and modern pieces for women who were "not afraid to forge [their] own path," according to a press release for a retrospective of her work currently on display at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute curator Harold Koda deemed McFadden a "design archaeologist".

Her numerous awards included: Coty Award, 1976, 1978. Coty Hall of Fame induction, 1979.
Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime Achievement Award, 1988.
Council of Fashion Designers of America Industry Tribute Award, 1993.
United Nations Women Together Award, 2013.
Included in the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame.
Named the first "Living Landmark" from the New York Landmarks Conservancy.
Received the President's Fellow Award of the Rhode Island School of Design.

McFadden claimed to be married at least eleven times, but declared that some of these marriages were "only spiritual".

McFadden's last partner, Murray Gell-Mann, the 1969 Nobel Prize laureate in physics, died in 2019. Her daughter from her first marriage, Justine Harari, died in 2023. Her brother John is her only immediate survivor.

LESLIE WIEDER music industry. theatre and television veteran died August 21, 2024. He was 81.

His 40-year career included working in the music industry, theatre and television, but his longest stint, 28 years, was teaching theatre and television at California's Moorpark College. He directed more than 72 plays at the college and in Hollywood. He won the LA Ovation award and an NAACP Image Award for his play, Sojourner: The Story of Sojourner Truth.

His play "Voices", based on the slave narrative tapes, premiered in L.A. His fractured fairytale for children, "Zamo," received rave reviews. Les' commitment to civil rights was the theme in his short film Do Something which he co-wrote and produced and is distributed on Tubi streaming service.

Les won an NCAAP President's Award for his dedication to diversity in casting for his plays.

He is survived by his beloved wife Tyree and adored daughter Shavonne.

Next Column: September 29, 2024
Copyright: September 22, 2024 All Rights Reserved. Reviews, Interviews, Commentary, Photographs or Graphics from any Broadway To Vegas (TM) columns may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, utilized as leads, or used in any manner without permission, compensation and/or credit.
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Laura Deni