Flushing Town Hall to Present Exciting Lineup of Music, Dance, Family Programs and More During Fall 2017
By: A.A. Cristi Aug. 23, 2017
Flushing Town Hall illustrates its mission to provide global arts for a global community this fall by bringing the world to Queens with jazz, world music, dance, family programs, exhibitions, and workshops. This fall season, there is something for everyone at Flushing Town Hall.
"We are proud to serve one of the most diverse communities in the world, and are committed to representing that diversity every season," says Flushing Town Hall Executive and Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek. "At Flushing Town Hall, there is always be something to discover, something to excited, and something to inspire, and this fall season is no exception. We also will present global arts for global kids: an array of performances and workshops for families and youngsters alike."
Tickets are on sale now at www.flushingtownhall.org.
Flushing Town Hall's carefully curated, quality family programming will captivate young audiences this season, starting with a delightful interactive arts workshop and performance from Latin Grammy-winning artist 123 Andrés on Oct. 15. Families will sing and dance to rhythms while expanding their vocabulary in English and Spanish during this imaginative show.
Among the season's musical highlights: Enchanted Formosa (Taiwanese Folk-Pop-Alt Rock Music) on Sept. 8; Stillness in Queens on Sept. 15; Jose Conde Eclectric & Ola Fresca on Sept. 22; Florence Price (Classical Music Revolutionary) on Sept. 23; New York Classical Players on Oct. 1; The Garifuna Collective on Oct. 6; The George Gee Swing Orchestra on Oct. 13; Betsayda Machado (Icon of Afro-Venezuelan Music) on Oct. 21; Opera Pomme Rouge on Nov. 12; Fall for Kunqu on Nov. 18; Fairy Tale (World Music from Korea) on Dec. 1; and Queens Opera Theater on Dec. 17.
As always, Flushing Town Hall offers no shortage of jazz shows, including its Monthly Jazz Jam on the first Wednesday of every month; Celebrating 100 Years of Dizzy and Monk (Featuring NEA Jazz Masters Kenny Barron, Jimmy Heath, Jimmy Owens and Jimmy Cobb) on Nov. 3; Astoria Big Band (Memories of Jazz in Queens) on Nov. 17; The Brubeck Brothers Quartet on Dec. 8; and New Music Horizon (Featuring Mike Baggetta and Mark Wade) on Dec. 15.
Beyond music, Flushing Town Hall brings a wide range of unique experiences to Queens this fall, including festivals, tours, exhibitions, dance, and more. On Oct. 22, the Fragrance of the Moon Night fundraiser for Flushing Town Hall returns with generous sponsors Dr. Hsing-Lih Chou and the Glow Foundation. The evening includes a dance party, live band, a catered dinner, and a surprise performance!
Flushing Town Hall is accessible by car, bus, train and foot - located a short distance from the 7 train - at 137-35 Northern Blvd., in Flushing, Queens.
This season, Flushing Town Hall is opening its doors to teenagers - for FREE. Under the "Teen Access Program", all 13- to 19-year-old boys and girls (whether a member or not) will be welcomed to attend any performance for free. The program is designed to appeal to students and help foster a greater love in the arts and culture.
- September -
Monthly Jazz Jam
WED, SEPT 6, 7 - 10 PM
$10/FREE for Members, Students & Jamming Musicians
Held on the first Wednesday of every month, Jazz Jams are a fun way to hone your skills and jam with your peers. The house band is led by saxophonist Carol Sudhalter. All are welcome, regardless of instrument (vocalists, too!). Don't play? Come listen!
Enchanted Formosa
FRI, SEPT 9, 7:30 PM
FREE (online RSVP required); suggested donation $10 at the door
Presented in collaboration with Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York, Enchanted Formosa travels over one hundred years of Taiwanese history, from the Qing imperial era, to the Japanese colonial decades, and to the current republic. With songs from the indigenous tribes, Hoklo groups, and Hakka villages, singer-songwriter Yu-Wei Hsieh and the band brings a spectacular concert The Combines folk, pop, and alt-rock.
Full Moon Drumming Workshop: Juan Gutiérrez
WED, SEPT 13, 7 - 9 PM
$25/$20 Members
Celebrate the full moon with a drum circle in our garden with master drummers from Puerto Rico. Begin with workshops led by the Grammy-nominated director of LP21, Juan Gutiérrez, then jam with the entire group. Space is limited to 20 participants. All are welcome from beginner to professional, just bring your enthusiasm and participate! Bomba and plena drums provided.
Stillness in Queens
FRI, SEPT 15, 8 PM
$16/$10 Members & Students
A collaboration between musician/composer JunYi Chow, flutist Seungmin Cha, and video artist Karen Y. Chan, Stillness in Queens is an experimental video and sound art performance exploring the beauty and quietude of everyday life in Queens. Come and experience the borough in a new way, with an evening of stillness, by engaging in this multi-dimensional dialogue between video and sound.
Catskills Come to Queens
SAT, SEPT 16, 6 - 9 PM (5 - 6 PM VIP HOUR)
$60/$100 VIP (20% discount for Members)
Catskills Come to Queens brings together and all-star roster of NYC chefs to serve up creative dishes made with ingredients sources from various farms in the Catskills. Sample delicacies, including cheese and charcuterie, paired with local wines, beers, and ciders. Presented by New York Epicurean Events.
Jose Conde Eclectric & Ola Fresca
FRI | SEPT 22 | 7 PM (DANCE LESSONS) & 8 PM (CONCERT)
$16/$10 Members & Students
Featuring original tropical Latin roots dance music with Cuban rhythms that explores the crosscurrents of son, salsa, timba, funk, rock, afrobeat, Haitian compass, and more. Jose Conde Eclectric and his Cuban salsa band Ola Fresca take you on a dance-inspiring musical journey from Miami to New York to Havana and back!
Florence Price: Classical Music Revolutionary
SAT, SEPT 23, 3 PM
FREE (No RSVP required)
Orchestra of St. Luke's presents a free chamber concert focusing on trailblazing composer Florence Price, who was the first black female composer to have a work premiered by a major American orchestra. Her story will be brought to life with dramatic monologues that are performed alongside her music. Bring a contribution of canned goods for a local food drive.
The Moth StorySLAM: Lifelines!
MON, SEPT 25, 7 PM (DOORS OPEN) & 7:30 PM (STORYSLAM)
$10 (order online at themoth.org)
Open to anyone with a true story to share on the night's posted theme. Prepare a five-minute story about a saving grace. When the doors open, storyteller hopefuls put their names in The Moth Hat. A half hour later, names are picked, and storytellers take the stage. Your story may be heard on NPR. Sign up of just enjoy the show!
- October -
New York Classical Players
SUN, OCT 1, 3 PM
FREE (online RSVP required)
The New York Classical Players collaborate with world-renowned pianist HaeSun Paik, top prize winner at Queen Elisabeth, Leeds, William Kapell and Tchaikovsky competitions, performing as soloist in Beethoven's lyrical Piano concerto No. 4. The program opens with rising star composer Eric Nathan's "Omaggio a Gesualdo" as the premiere performance in string orchestra version. NYCP also performs Shostakovich's Scherzo and Allegro as well as Saint-Saens' well-loved virtuoso violin work featuring musical polymath Ken Hamao.
Monthly Jazz Jam
WED, OCT 4, 7 - 10 PM
$10/FREE for Members, Students & Jamming Musicians
Held on the first Wednesday of every month, Jazz Jams are a fun way to hone your skills and jam with your peers. The house band is led by saxophonist Carol Sudhalter. All are welcome, regardless of instrument (vocalists, too!). Don't play? Come listen!
The Garifuna Collective featuring Umalali
FRI, OCT 6, 7 PM (DRUM WORKSHOP) & 8 PM (CONCERT)
$16/$10 Members & Students
With roots in Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, the Garifuna Collective and Umalali pay tribute to the rich heritage carried forward by Garifuna women. Evocative melodies and powerful call-and-response songs are backed by traditional Garifuna drums, maracas, turtle shells, acoustic and electric guitars, and bass. The group tells its stories through music, dance, and traditional dress, demonstrating why UNESCO officially proclaimed the language a cultural treasure. Join us for the pre-show drum workshop (a limited number of drums will be available). The Afri-Garifuna Jazz Ensemble will open the concert.
The Sport of Kings in Queens: Celebrating 350 Years of Thoroughbred Horse Racing
SUN, OCT 8, 2:30 PM
Opening Reception: SUN, OCT 8, 2:30 PM at Kingsland Homestead
(Kingsland Homestead is located at 143-35 37th Avenue, Flushing, NY)
Exhibition Dates: SUN, OCT 8 - SAT, JUNE 30, 2018
Exhibition Hours: SAT & SUN, 12-5 PM
$5 Suggested Donation/FREE for Members & Students
King Charles II of Great Britain, upon seizing New Netherland from the Dutch, promptly renamed it the Province of New York. An avid breeder, owner, and racer of thoroughbred horses, Charles established the first official race course in 1667 in Queens, Province of New York. This exhibition relates the remarkable history of thoroughbred horse racing in Queens and is co-located at Flushing Town Hall's Greenroom and the Queens Historical Society.
FRI, OCT 13, 8 PM; 7 PM (DANCE LESSON) & 8 PM (CONCERT)
Free (Online RSVP Required)
The George Gee Swing Orchestra sets new standards for modern big band performance, elegantly balancing genuine big band traditions with exhilarating modernism. This swingin' versatile ensemble can deliver everything from a sweet foxtrot ballad to rock and soul party favorites to all-out rollickin' roadhouse boogie! The band is enduringly popular with jazz concert and swing dance audiences throughout the United States and around the world.
123 Andrés
SUN, OCT 15, 1 PM & 2:15 PM
INTERACTIVE ARTS WORKSHOP, 1 PM
$7/$4 Children/FREE for members with tickets to 2:15pm show
123 Andrés provides families with strategies to expand their children's dual language. A natural facilitator, Andrés creates an open space to experience songs, movement, and play that support early learning.
FAMILY PERFORMANCE, 2:15 PM
$13/$10 Members/$8 Children/$6 Member Children
Join Latin Grammy-winning Andrés on an exciting cultural journey of Latin America through an introduction of language, music, and dance. Families will sing and dance to rhythms while gaining knowledge of vocabulary in English and Spanish. Children will be encouraged to use their imaginations to ride an airplane and join in singing songs that will entice dancing while practicing new vocabulary.
Artist-Presenter Dialogues
WED, OCT 18, 7 PM
FREE (No RSVP required)
A series of conversations intended to help artists and presenters understand each other better and cultivate closer relationships within the arts community. Artists will meet senior staff at Flushing Town Hall, as well as administrators from other organizations, and have the opportunity to ask questions as well as discuss their needs.
Betsayda Machado y La Parranda El Clavo
SAT, OCT 21, 7 PM (DANCE LESSON) & 8 PM (CONCERT)
$16/$10 Members & Students
Betsayda Machado is an icon of Afro-Venezuelan music and culture, listed as one of NPR's Favorite Artists. Experience the passion, color, and contagious beats of the Afro-Venezuelan soul through traditional rhythms and dances of Betsayda Machada and La Parranda El Clavo, her village's own multi-generational percussion band. Join us for pre-show dance lessons accompanied by the master drummers of La Parranda El Clavo.
Fragrance of the Moon Night IV
SUN, OCT 22, 5 PM
$150 (Space is limited, only 100 tickets available)
Fragrance of the Moon Night dance party fundraiser for FTH returns with Dr. Hsing-Lih Chou, the Glow Foundation, and guest artists! Come celebrate the season of gratitude and appreciation among old friends and new. Party package includes: live band with vocalists, a catered dinner, and a surprise performance. Interested in singing with the band? Please contact Dr. Chou at (718) 961-3100.
Diwali Festival: Kathak, Bhangra & Beyond
SUN, OCT 29, 1- 4 PM
$20/$15 Members/$10 Students & Children
Celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, with this all-ages festival and dance party, featuring Kathak classical dancer Abha Roy and the Basement Bhangra's DJ Rekha. Each artist will introduce you to her form and invite you to learn traditional Kathak dance moves and bhangra folk dances mixed with hip-hop. Then hit the dance floor! Join us for Kathak and bhangra dance lessons, cooking workshops, and henna painting, with Indian handicrafts and Indian foods for sale.
- November -
Monthly Jazz Jam
WED, NOV 1, 7 - 10 PM
$10/FREE for Members, Students & Jamming Musicians
Held on the first Wednesday of every month, Jazz Jams are a fun way to hone your skills and jam with your peers. The house band is led by saxophonist Carol Sudhalter. All are welcome, regardless of instrument (vocalists, too!). Don't play? Come listen!
FRI, NOV 3, 8 PM
$42/$32 Members/$20 Students; Table package: $125/$100 Members (reserved table for 2; wine & snacks)
Flushing Town Hall presents a concert celebrating 100 years of jazz icons Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk and their essential contributions to the jazz vernacular, featuring NEA Jazz Masters Kenny Barron on piano, Jimmy Heath on saxophone, Jimmy Owens on trumpet, and Jimmy Cobb on drum, joined by Lew Tabackin on saxophone, and Rufus Reid on bass.
Oasis: Photo Exhibition by Jing "Joy" Hu
SAT, NOV 4, 2 PM
$5 Suggested Donation/FREE for Members & Students
Jing "Joy" Hu is an international award-winning documentary and travel photographer. Her photos have received awards in 14 countries and have been exhibited in Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East. Her passion is bringing out the stories of marginalized people with dignity, and sharing the natural beauty of the world's landscapes through her photographs.
Interactive Meistersinger by Opera Pomme Rouge
SUN, NOV 12, 5 PM
$5/FREE for Members & Students
This family-friendly interactive opera, composed by Wagner, arranged by Opera Pomme Rouge's director and FTH Space Grantee, Anna Tsuri will be an experience of three-dimensional scenes through the integration of audience and performers. The audience's seats will be part of the stage set, so that the audience can take part in the drama.
Astoria Big Band: Memories of Jazz in Queens
FRI, NOV 17, 8 PM
$16/$10 Members & Students
Founded in 1986 by baritone saxophonist Carol Sudhalter, the Astoria Big Band presents the music of Queens' greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Jutta Hipp, Big Nick Nicholas, Sarah McLawler, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, and more. Fronting the band is a group of swing dancers, the Big Apple Lindy Hoppers, who bring zest, color, and movement to this already engaging performance.
Fall for Kunqu
SAT, NOV 18, 1:30 PM
$16/$10 Members & Students
Fusing together poetry, music, and story in a mesmerizing live performance, Kunqu is a classic and elegant form of traditional Chinese theatre, included on UNESCO's list of intangible
cultural heritage. Carefully curated by Kunqu Society, the program showcases a colorful and entertaining selection of music, singing, and dramatic pieces from the Kunqu repertoire to
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