by Sandy | Aug 18, 2008 | Blogroll, Culture, Dance, Live Performance, Movies, Theater
There will be another revival of this ground breaking musical as a celebration of its 50th birthday. Previews will begin at the National Theatre in Washington DC on 12/16/08, the same theater where it first opened in 1957. It will then move on to Broadway in March 2009.
I love “West Side Story” and I love that I can revisit the ‘61 film on DVD, on CD and at the occasional theater revival. Based on Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet”, it was transplanted to the 50’s west side of Manhattan with music by Bernstein, lyrics by Sondheim, choreography and direction by Robbins.
On its Broadway opening night, Sept. 26, 1957, there was a question as to whether this musical was a hit or a miss. Neither the critics nor the audience were sure of what they had just seen. But in its existing 50 years, it has proven itself to be the perfect meld of dialogue, music and dance. A supreme example of the Broadway musical, “West Side Story” is a successful vehicle for a much used, tragic scenario.
Many of the songs, “Something’s Coming”, “Maria”, “America“, “Somewhere”, “Tonight”, are still being heard today at weddings, song recitals and Jazz venues. Some are universal love songs, but others are just fun – “Dear Sgt. Krupke”, “I Feel Pretty”.
(“When you’re a Jet you’re a Jet all the way – from your 1st cigarette ‘til your last dying day…”)
by Sandy | Aug 9, 2008 | Blogroll, Culture, Exhibits, Museums, Photograhy
The 100th birthday of photographer Yousuf Karsh (1908 – 2002) is celebrated at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9/23/08 – 1/19/09.
Known mostly for his portraits of the famous and the infamous, Karsh, born in Armenia but then moved to Canada and the United States, began his successful career in the 30’s with his images of kings & queens, heads of state, movie stars, accomplished writers of the day. He continued throughout his life giving a still face to the famous in books and magazine covers with much acclaim.
The photos on view are just a small example of Karsh’s work. Included will be Winston Churchill (1941), Albert Einstein (1948), Pablo Picasso (1954), Georgia O’Keeffe (1956), Ernest Hemingway (1957), Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy (1960), Sophia Loren (1981), and Jessye Norman (1990).
Image: Fidel Castro – 1971, Havana, Cuba
Btw: the most recent images of Castro are of an old man in slippers and a red track suit. I think Karsh captured the intensity and coiled energy of the revolutionary we came to know as “Fidel”.
Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Karsh * 9/23/08 – 1/19/09
http://www.mfa.org
by Cybel Martin | Jul 25, 2008 | Art, Artist, Culture, Exhibits, Galleries, Museums
(Reprint from Auntie Carrie’s Speak Easy blog)
Why I Love NYC (For Art’s Sake)
Walking through NYC today was much like wading through a bowl of luke warm, New England clam chowder. Nasty. Still, I left the comforts of AC, inspired by my friend, Michelle Haimoff’s mention of a Keith Haring “exhibit downtown”. One of the greatest aspects of living in New York, is even when you spend every waking hour seeing, experiencing, hearing art, you will still miss out on some great shows. The Haring piece has been up since April and I had no idea. (more…)
by Sandy | Jul 24, 2008 | Art, Blogroll, Culture, Museums
Newark Museum hosts “Glass Beads of Ghana” thru June 15, 2009
The making and the use of decorative beads has been a tradition in Africa for over 400 years. The same styles have been maintained and updated in the west African country of Ghana.
To explore this art form, the exhibit uses video and photographs to show how the Krobo people of Ghana melt powdered glass into bead molds. And, there are also tons of examples of the beautiful beads themselves. Pretty and colorful!
The Newark Museum
49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ, 973-596-6550
http://www.newarkmuseum.org/
(Woman dressed for dipo, a ceremony celebrating coming of age, January 2005, Akosambo Ghana, photo by Christa Clarke, Collection of The Newark Museum)
by Sandy | Jul 16, 2008 | Blogroll, Culture, Film, Movies
In this age of email and text messages, every once in awhile you need a stamp! Why not choose one that is pretty, historical and a celebration of black movies?
Ms Josephine Baker’s 1935 movie, “Princess Tam-Tam”, is one of only 4 films she made. It is included in 5 presented on a sheet of 42 cent U.S. postage stamps released on 7/16/08 to highlight black cinema of the 20’s and 30’s. The images are copies of the posters used in black only movie theaters back in the day to announce the coming attractions.
Other stamps in this 42-cent group are:
“The Sport of the Gods”, 1921, the poster proclaims, is based on a book by Paul Laurence Dunbar, “America‘s greatest race poet,” and it adds that the film has “an all-star cast of colored artists.”
“Black and Tan”, a 19-minute film released in 1929 featuring Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra.
“Caldonia”, is another short at 18 minutes, which was released in 1945. It showcased singer, saxophonist and bandleader Louis Jordan.
“Hallelujah”, a 1929 movie released by MGM. It was one of the first films from a major studio to feature an all-black cast.
http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008/sr08_074.htm
by Sandy | Jul 8, 2008 | Art, Creativity, Culture, Dance, Dancers, Education, Events, Exhibits, Lecture, Live Performance, Poem, Writers
NBAF *Atlanta – July 18, thru July 27, 2008
Music, dance, film, theater, poetry, literature – all presented here, all celebrating the vibrant life and art of people of color.
There will also be special tributes to Gladys Knight, minus the “Pips”, and Judith Jamison of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (did you ever see her perform “Cry”?, Stunning).
National Black Arts Festival – 7/18 thru 7/27/08
1230 Peachtree St., NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA
“The mission of NBAF is to engage, cultivate and educate diverse audiences about the arts and culture of the African Diaspora and provide opportunities for artistic and creative expression.”
www.nbaf.org
(Image credit: Shannon McCollum/National Black Arts Festival)
