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CORONAVIRUS MASK IN PARK SLOPE

A P A P  Association of Performing  Arts Professionals

APAP, the international performing arts organization develops and supports

the rights  of performing artists offering at their 2020 NY conference  connections to agents, consultants, presenters and venues in theater, circus, world music, jazz, classical  and dance . President Mario Garcia Durham welcomed the 1,000 in

attendance with  its mission of bringing artists together with audiences with meetings, networking, a huge exposition and entertainment venues of  singers, dancers, musicians, magicians and a huge cocktail party serving Korean barbecue and pasta.

This years theme was “Risk and Resiliency”.

The Academy award winner ESTELLE PARSONS spoke about exposure to danger in her life, with her portrayal in “Bonnie and Clyde”.  Lynn Fisher, Co-Chair of the conference and Director of Frontera Arts of Austin, Texas was deeply moved by

the passion of Alice Sheppard’s speech, who risked her disability to learn to dance, and showed a video of performers in wheel chairs hanging on a stage..

From Iran, King Ram showed his movie “Departure” about the struggle his parents had in Iran.  Jamilla Deria from Ecuador spoke about her performance at the Whitney.  And when asked why all the British actors are the best, a London

representative said” it’s all in the water they drink “.

BARBRA STREISAND gave tribute  at the memorial for Metropolitan opera singer JESSYE NORMAN Peter GELB,  GLORIA STEINEM, RENEE FLEMING praised the amazing
vocalist who went to France to sing the Marseillaise at their anniversary for the Bicentenial.
Alvin Ailey  dancers were on stage and a video of Ms. Norman singing from Carmen  was shown. Footage from the 18th and 20th annual Kennedy Center Honors was provided.

A K H N A T E N

This new "must-see" opera at the Metropolitan Opera House is written by the brilliant

composer and great music master,  PHILLIP GLASS, and conducted by Karen Kamensek.

The role of Akhnaten is sung by Anthony  Roth  Costanzo  who  takes us back

to Egypt in 1300 BC  and changes religion from 72 gods to one God, Aten, the Sun God, and builds an entire new city -Armana.

The opening score  starts with low key notes, in a repetitive quiet, hypnotic  and meditative sound

as though we were chanting OMs while mummification was going on. We can feel the deep throat

sadness during this funeral process .  We experience the lamentation by the huge chorus..and dark candlelight quality.The music is exuberant in the coronation ceremonies of the King  his son, King Tut, played by the 12-year old Oscar Rempe-Hiam, poetic in the love duet of the King and Nefertiti, and explosive in the destruction of the regime and city, by the temple priests who wish to regain their power and kill the King., 

The exquisite golden robes match the gigantic golden sun

Mr. Glass incorporates Egyptian, Akkadian, Hebrew languages. 

The unusual staging for this work  which includes nudity and jugglers is created by Phelim McDermott.

Mr. Glass has composed 28 operas, 12 symphonies, piano conceti, film scores.  He has collaborated with DAVID BOWIE,  PAUL SIMON, TWYLA THARP, MARTIN SCORSESE

THE BEST IN NEW YORK

QUEEN, FREDDIE MERCURY TRIBUTE
starring  BRIAN MAY and ADAM LAMBERT 

The sold-out show at MSG was a masterpiece of performance art.  Brian May
and his guitar was accompanied by Adam Lambert  singing the most brilliant
songs  of Freddie and then to top that two holographic videos of Freddie appeared, leading the audience with DaOh..  They are the "champions" all together on stage.  Freddie's brilliant lyrics of Bohemian Rhapsody  thrilled the audience with"Scaramouch" and :"Gallileo".

MEDICAL  MUSICIAN  INITIATIVE

With Freddie's inspiration Andrew Schulman played "Bohemian Rhapsody"   on guitar,using  every conceivable combination of  notes in major and minor bringing out the brilliance of Freddie's writing. coupeling him with Franz Schubert.  . His  concert for  MEDICAL  MUSICIAN INITIATIVE at Carnegie Hall  started with J.S. Bach, a tune that brought him back to life when he was in a coma ,On his recovery he worked with Dr. Marvin McMillen.  Now,  his group goes into intensive care units to play music for ill patients  Andrew's expertise combined classical and modern composers He juxtaposed Bach and George Harrison, Scarlatii Heitor Villa-Lobos, with Scott Joplin,George Gershwin and the Beatles.  Andrew  is the author of "Waking The Spirit: A Musician's Journey Healing Body, Mind, and Soul"...info@medicalmusicianinitiative.org

HERCULES
The Public Theater
at the Delacorte; Theater:
Oskar Eustis-Artistic Director: Music Alan Menken; lyrics - David Zippel
Hundreds took the stage for this magnificent performance in the park The costumes were
shimmering, the songs uplifting this Greek Myth of man and god, hero with two fathers,
earthly, and of Zeus. struggling with his divided nature.Based on the Disney film.

THANK YOU PLANET EARTH
for your series and expose on  MERMAIDS ,and the journey of 60 million years,  with unbelievable documentation and visual  shots of both photography and underwater video camera  of this extraordinary species within our waters.
Also coupled with the extraordinary sound recordings of their voices in dialogue with
dolphins.  Travelling with whale pods and beached with them due to destructive  navy sonars,
,one was found live on the beach  and quickly hidden away, after a cell-phone photo gave proof of its existence and hidden testimony of the worker who took the body and tried to keep it alive.  .
Dr. Clarksons research is superior on  the partial corpse found near Australia as is the reconstruction of the skull by his colleague - all of which was confiscated by government officials. And dont
forget BT Barnum who circulated fliers of this creature, before the great fire burnt his museum.
. Is it any wonder that Israel is offering  ONE MILLION DOLLARS  to anyone who can take a photo  of this extraordinary marine life.

They have been with us for centuries, in cave painting, and  described by all civilizations around the world , written about by major navigators, including Christopher Columbus   Is it truly any wonder
at all  that the  OSCAR WINNING   film of 2018 was  THE SHAPE OF WATER, a love story
about a autistic cleaning lady and a MERMAN,  a fish/man that had been captured, and rescued by her, directed by Guillermo del Toro..Really, have you ever heard of such a thing?????? I have.!!!

THE EYES HAVE IT!
A toast to artist LEAH LANE for her fun show at ChaShaMa Window Gallery, space for artists at 266 W.37 st. She carries on the dramatic tradition of her Tony - award winning parents, Broadway producers STEWART LANE and BONNIE COMLEY..
 Although  the pop art show is called "I'm Just Tired", the subtitle is ...you don't have to face the depression monster alone." Depression can affect work, family and social life and can last up to two weeks. This installation, in conjunction with National Mental Health Month  is an anthropomorphic stylization  of the monster within, with the message that it exists and can be overcome..  The environment when you walk in the space is shocking pink fluffy wall covering with a huge pop eye,  with pink balloons on the floor - a happy scenario. However, the underlying message is about depression, and the signs  to watch-feeling sad,feeling bad, fatigue,, can't concentrate,  tired, aches, suicide thoughts,    The number to call for help. is 1-800-543-3638, or call 311 and ask for LifeNet.
ChaShaMa helps artists with low cost space and venues to show their work. www.chashama.org.
And if you are feeling blue, just step into Leah's world, the wonderland she  has created and you will laugh and be happy for sure.

BONNIE COMLEY & LEAH LANE

                                          STEWART, FRANKLIN, LENNY, LEAH LANE

                                                       DEMETRIA & ERIC
                                                  (all photos by Annie Watts PR agency)