Young Jean Lee’s The Shipment in HD at BAM
October 9, 2011
BAM’s Performance in HD program brings opera, dance, and theater from around the world to the screen. But next week, BAM will show the first of two works this fall by emerging, provocative artists. Young Jean Lee’s The Shipment will be screened in HD on October 17th. Called “a subversive, seriously funny new theater piece” in The New York Times (it premiered two years ago in New York), The Shipment is a “black identity politics show” that dares audiences to question their own preconceived notions about race and culture. It’s sharp, smart, and witty – and definitely worth seeing if you missed it in 2009 (or, if you did see it, come watch it again!). Tickets are now on sale. And mark your calendar for December 5th, when choreographer Diana Szeinblum’s Alaska will screen in HD. Both The Shipment and Alaska in HD were filmed by On the Boards as part of OntheBoards.tv.
Kevin Spacey on Crucial Impact of the Arts
April 14, 2011
As part of Arts Advocacy Day 2011 in Washington, actor Kevin Spacey gave the Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy at the Kennedy Center. Below is an excerpt from his speech, in which he quoted President John F. Kennedy regarding the necessity of the arts. Kennedy said, “There is a connection, hard to explain logically but easy to feel, between achievement in public life and progress in the arts…Art is not a form of propaganda. It is a form of truth.”
Spacey also shared his own views, saying, “I genuinely believe that the United States’ preeminence in the arts and creative industries is one of this nation’s most powerful, natural resources.”
Also, check out Kevin Spacey discussing the importance of the arts on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews.
Thanks to Eva Yaa Asantewaa for sharing these videos.
MADE HERE Screening
June 16, 2010
MADE HERE is a documentary series and interactive website dedicated to exploring the challenging and eclectic lives of New York City performing artists. On Monday, June 21st, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, there will be a screening of the episode DAY & NIGHT JOBS and a discussion moderated by Jennifer Wright Cook, Executive Director of The Field.
For the issue of DAY & NIGHT JOBS, MADE HERE explores performing artists and the myriad things they have to do to support their art.
Screening, lively conversation, and refreshments will be held on Monday, June 21st, 6:30 PM at The Chocolate Factory, 5-49 49th Avenue, Queens.
Event co-hosted by HERE and The Chocolate Factory.
Space is limited. Please reserve by Friday June 18th by emailing rsvp (at) madehereproject (dot) org
The Whiz: Obamaland
June 13, 2010
Photo by Steven Schreiber
Ease on down the road to recession and back from the brink of fantasy in Nicholas Leichter and Monstah Black’s take on “The Wiz/ard of Oz” for the Obama generation. Featuring choreography by Leichter and a commissioned score by Black with added musical selections, The Whiz: Obamaland is a full-spectrum original show of song, dance, and theatrical extravaganza that revisits The Wizard of Oz and its black version, The Wiz, through the prism of American euphoria, expectation, disappointment, and acceptance of the imagined promise of a post-racial society. The 75-minute work showcases an array of different dance, performance, and music styles – house, funk, postmodern, drag, hip-hop, contemporary, and psychedelic – which traverse a landscape of hopes, fears, dreams, and home.
Performances take place Wednesday through Saturday, June 16th thorough 19th at 8 PM at Abrons Arts Center, 466 Grand Street (at Pitt Street) in New York City. Tickets are $20 at Ovationtix or by calling 212.352.3101.
