New York City to Host First-Ever New York Oud Festival in April
by Blair Ingenthron - Apr 20, 2024
At the end of this month, music lovers in New York City will have an exciting opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of the oud - the short-necked fretless lute prominent in Arabic Music and throughout the Near East, North Africa, and beyond.
Cast & Creative Team Set for TRAVELS World Premiere at Ars Nova
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 14, 2024
The cast and creative team has been revealed for the Off-Broadway world premiere of Travels, a sonic narrative collection by James Harrison Monaco, at Ars Nova. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.
KIMBERLY AKIMBO & ORATORIO FOR LIVING THINGS Lead Nominations for 2022 Lucille Lortel Awards
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 7, 2022
Nominations for the 37th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were announced today by theatre veterans Lilli Cooper and Lea DeLaria, stars of Broadway’s POTUS. With COVID safety in mind, rather than having one host and multiple presenters, this year the Awards will be handed out by a few Host/Presenter pairs on Sunday, May 1, 2022 at NYU Skirball beginning at 7:00pm EST. The Lucille Lortel Awards are produced by the Off-Broadway League and Lucille Lortel Theatre, with additional support provided by TDF.
Ars Nova Extends Heather Christian's ORATORIO FOR LIVING THINGS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 31, 2022
Ars Nova is extending the world premiere commission of Oratorio for Living Things to May 15. Composed by Obie Award-winner and 2015 & 2016 Ars Nova resident artist Heather Christian and directed by Obie Award-winner Lee Sunday Evans, the event fuses music and theater, surrounding the audience with 18 virtuosic singers and instrumentalists.
RBA Season Opens With the New York Debut Of Nibal Malshi
by Stephi Wild - Oct 14, 2021
Robert Browning Associates, Lotus Music & Dance, and Roulette in association with Brooklyn Maqam present the opening concert of Robert Browning Associates’ 2021/22 season, with the NY debut of soulful vocalist Nibal Malshi.
PHARAOH Comes to Theater For the New City
by Stephi Wild - Feb 26, 2020
THEATER FOR A NEW CITY has announced the world premiere production of Rabbi Misha Shulman's PHARAOH, directed by Michael Posnick. PHARAOH will play a three-week limited engagement at Theater for the New City (155 First Avenue, New York, NY). Performances begin Thursday, March 19 and continue through Sunday, April 5. Opening Night is Saturday, March 21 (8 p.m.). Tickets are $18 and available at BrownPaperTickets.com.
James & Jerome's THE CONVERSATIONALISTS Extends Through February 1
by Stephi Wild - Jan 15, 2020
The Bushwick Starr presents the world premiere of The Conversationalists, created by the popular downtown musician-storyteller duo James & Jerome (Piano Tales at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, Ink at the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and developed with and directed by Annie Tippe (Octet at Signature Theatre, Ghost Quartet at The Bushwick Starr, etc.).
James & Jerome's THE CONVERSATIONALISTS Comes to the Bushwick Starr
by Stephi Wild - Dec 23, 2019
The Bushwick Starr will present the world premiere of The Conversationalists, created by the popular downtown musician-storyteller duo James & Jerome (Piano Tales at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, Ink at the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and developed with and directed by Annie Tippe (Octet at Signature Theatre, Ghost Quartet at The Bushwick Starr, etc.).
The Bushwick Starr Presents James & Jerome's THE CONVERSATIONALISTS
by Stephi Wild - Dec 10, 2019
The Bushwick Starr will present the world premiere of The Conversationalists, created by the popular downtown musician-storyteller duo James & Jerome (Piano Tales at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, Ink at the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and developed with and directed by Annie Tippe (Octet at Signature Theatre, Ghost Quartet at The Bushwick Starr, etc.).
The Bushwick Starr Presents James & Jerome's THE CONVERSATIONALISTS
by Stephi Wild - Nov 26, 2019
The Bushwick Starr will present the world premiere of The Conversationalists, created by the popular downtown musician-storyteller duo James & Jerome (Piano Tales at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, Ink at the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and developed with and directed by Annie Tippe (Octet at Signature Theatre, Ghost Quartet at The Bushwick Starr, etc.).
BWW Guest Blog: The Story Behind 'Drama Club'
by Guest Blog: Brittain Ashford - Oct 1, 2019
In February of 2018, my good friend Shenandoah Davis paid me a visit. I was having a hard time, I felt a little aimless. We had a vague plan to make a cover album and some recently procured recording gear. She filled my fridge with food and assured me that all would be ok-- we had a good idea. She wasn't wrong.
Wajde Ayub Comes to Roulette
by Stephi Wild - Sep 9, 2019
The renowned Wajde Ayub, born in Aleppo, is a classically trained Syrian mutrib (principal vocalist) who has been acclaimed for his exquisite and commanding renderings of the repertoire of Aleppo, one of the great cultural centers of the Middle East; wasla, a musical suite that incorporates composed and improvised parts; and muwashahat, sung poetry. Since immigrating to the US in 2017, he has been a leading proponent of Syrian vocal music here. He is dedicated to maintaining the ancient musical traditions of Syria a?" traditions that have been put in danger by the civil war that has devastated the country. His performances, which include layali (melismatic vocalizations) and mawwal (unmetered song), are reminiscent of those of his mentor, the great Sabah Fakhri, and resonate with the musical ecstasy known as tarab, a heightened state of emotion similar to duende in flamenco. His ensemble is composed of a chorus and instrumentalists on oud (lute), violins, cello, nay (flute), qanun (zither), bass, and percussion who are highly regarded in the field of Middle Eastern music in the US.