Greetings Community,

I’m excited to let you know about a new business venture we are embarking on.  Over the last several years, many of you have contacted me either looking to purchase/rent property or to inform me that you have property available.  We’re pleased that we have been able to assist some of you in  finding your new homes etc.   

As a result of this unexpected twist in our day to day operations, we have teamed up with Real Estate Agent Kevin Ryan-Young of Bond New York Properties (http://www.bondnewyork.com).

So, if you or someone you know is looking to rent/purchase a new home or have property you would like to sell or rent, please contact me and together with Kevin Ryan-Young we will get you into the perfect home and/or find you the perfect buyer.  I look forward to hearing from you and visiting properties together. 

We guarantee you a professional and pleasant experience, so give me a call or drop me a line and be certain to pass this a long to your friends and associates. 

Greetings Community,

The season is off to a great start.  I have been receiving so much information about upcoming shows that I don’t know how I’m going to see everything.  Some of those shows are listed below.  Please be certain to make your reservations early and see as many of these shows as you can.  Also don’t forget to share this list with your own circle of friends and peers.  And if you know of any shows/events coming up please feel free to forward those to me, this list is about you.  Let’s plan to support as many shows, Artists etc that we can.  Make your reservations early and I will see you all behind the lights.

As Always,

Kevin-Anthony

http://about.me/kevinanthony

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You and a Guest Are Invited To a Rare New York Performance TONI SEAWRIGHT LIVE: ONE NIGHT ONLY Friday, January 20, 2012 Sugar Bar 254 West 72nd Street (between Broadway and West End Avenue) New York, New York 10023 6:00 p.m. Doors Open for Dinner 8:00 p.m. Sharp Showtime $10.00 Cover Charge 2 Drinks Minimum (All Major Credit Cards Accepted) Make your reservations NOW, please call the Sugar Bar at 212.579.0222 or visit:  http://www.opentable.com/sugar-bar-reservations-new-york?rid=75583&restref=75583  For further information, please email: GwendolynQuinn@aol.com  Toni Seawright Live: One Night Only Produced by Toni Seawright and Gwendolyn Quinn

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Thurs, Jan 12: Steve James visits STF with the most acclaimed documentary of last year THE INTERRUPTERS (see the Monday Memo for more).

Now is the time to buy a STF Season Pass and get all 10 films below for $100 ($80 for IFC members), plus free popcorn at all STF shows, and a free DVD from Docurama. To purchase, follow the ticket links below.

THE INTERRUPTERS

PRE-SEASON SPECIAL

THURSDAY Jan. 12 @ 8pm

Q&A with director Steve James     

Hoop Dreams director Steve James delivers another non-fiction epic set on the streets of Chicago, following an organization called CeaseFire, comprised largely of former gang members who are trying to break the cycle of urban violence. James, teaming up with producer Alex Kotlowitz, author of the acclaimed book There Are No Children Here, immerses us into a world that feels like a real-life version of The Wire.

Buy tickets or season pass here (click on 8:00pm)    

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Do not miss AZIZA this month………

Tuesday - January 10, 17, 24 & 31 – NUTTIN’ BUT THE BLUES   

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Join HSA for their Spring Open House and Registration Day January 14th 9am-4pm!

It is a great opportunity to introduce new families and friends to HSA.  They will be featuring the wide array of quality-arts programs offered in music, dance, theatre and visual arts: Photography, Teen Shakespeare, New! Early Childhood Program for ages 2 – 3, Musical Theatre classes, Ballet, Children’s Choir, Adult Dance & Fitness classes and much more.  Enjoy special performances by talented HSA students at 12noon, sign up for a free class, meet their staff and world-renowned faculty, observe ongoing classes, and tour the facilities.  It’s a great day to discover HSA!

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Best Docs of the African Diaspora International Film Festival

The African Diaspora Film Festival 2011 – held in Manhattan between Nov. 23 to Dec. 13 – showcased a selection of documentaries that impressed both the audiences and the press. Diverse in subject matter, approaches and styles, these documentaries made ADIFF 2011 a very interesting event. 

Filling The Gap by Tyrone Young, is a film about the incredible contribution made by African-Americans to the American nation in the early parts of the19th century;The Storm That Swept Mexico is a well-documented documentary about one of the most important revolution of the 20th century; Menelik Shabazz, in his incredible work The Story of Lovers Rock, describes how Black Brits defined an identity trough song and dance. These are some of the remarkable works that appeared in ADFF 2011 to be showcased, with other documentaries, from January 13th to the 15th as part of the Best Docs of ADIFF 2011 series to be held at Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street – 263 Grace Dodge. 

BEST DOCS OF ADIFF 2011 

	ADIFF 2011 OPENING NIGHT FILMTHE STORY OF LOVERS ROCK     Friday, January 13 @ 7PM  Saturday, January 14@ 6PM
	THE STORM THAT SWEPT MEXICO Saturday, January 14 @ 1:30PM
	THE FIRST RASTASaturday, January 14 @ 4PM
	OUR GENERATIONSaturday, January 14 @ 8PM
	FILLING THE GAP  Sunday, January 15 @ 2PM
	THE BIG BANANA  Sunday, January 15 @ 4PM
	Winner, ADIFF 2011 Best Film Directed by a Woman of Color A LOT LIKE YOU  Sunday, January 15 @ 6PM

WHAT: BEST DOCS OF ADIFF 2011

WHEN: January 13 – 15, 2012

WHERE: 

 525 West 120th Street – Room 263 Macy

 Train 1 to 116th Street

 FREE PARKING on weekends

Photo ID required to enter the building

Ticket price: $11, $9 for seniors and students

Tel: (212) 864-1760 

 Buy $50 Weekend Pass Online HERE 

Buy tickets for a specific show HERE 

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Greetings Community,

Happy New Year to you all, sending you love and light that 2012 will be a great year for everyone.  The following will serve as the 1st Blog of 2012, can’t believe we are here but we are.  There are already great shows lined up, some have been running and some will be opening soon.  Let’s plan to support as many shows, Artists etc that we can.  Make your reservations early and I will see you all behind the lights.

As Always,

Kevin-Anthony

http://about.me/kevinanthony

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Coincidents is the final opera by renowned composer, improviser, and violinist/violist Leroy Jenkins. Through song, documentary footage, interviews, and video art, the opera explores whether two people from radically different worlds — Jenkins, a son of the Great Migration who grew up in the hustle of Chicago, and Griffin, who grew up in Wales during the German air raids of WWII — could possibly be related. Jenkins and Griffin use the lens of personal biographic details to look at universal issues of human identity and the great diasporas of history and the present day, the assumption or infliction of a new identity as a necessary adaptation to place, and the search for sustaining connections — to our ancestors and to each other. Coincidents, A New Opera Music: Leroy Jenkins Libretto & Video: Mary Griffin Graphics, Video & Video Design: Hisao Ihara Musical Direction/piano: Myra Melford Vocal Direction: Chris Berg Singers: Diana Solomon Glover, Steven Herring, Robert Hughes, Peter Stewart Performance Schedule Saturday, Jan 5 @ 7pm Sunday, Jan 6 @ 7pm Monday, Jan 7 @ 7pm Tuesday, Jan 8 @ 7pm Wednesday, Jan 9 @ 7pm Tickets: $10 or complimentary for APAP* participants. Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue at Third Avenue, Brooklyn For tickets, more information and map: www.roulette.org /917.267.0368 APAP conference participants should rsvp directly to providenceprod@gmail.com. For travel arrangements, please contact Amy Cassello at 203-510-8420. 2/3/4/5/D/M/N/R/B/Q trains & the LIRR to Atlantic Terminal or A/C/G to Hoyt-Schermerman. *For more information about APAP (Association of Performing Arts Presenters) and its 2012 conference in NYC, Jan 6-10, visit www.apapnyc.org. Production support for Coincidents is provided by Providence Productions International, a 501(c)3 organization which solicits and administers grants from private and public agencies and tax-free contributions from individual donors. Providence Productions, Inc. 115 Montague Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. THIS PRESENTATION IS SCHEDULED TO LAST 40 MINUTES.

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ANDY MILNE & DAPP THEORY

Andy Milne – piano/keyboards/vocals
Aaron Kruziki – reeds/vocals, John Moon – poet
Chris Tordini – bass/vocals
Kenny Grohowski – drums/guitar

Saturday, January 7th
8:45pm – 9:35pm
WinterJazzFest – The Bitter End
147 Bleecker St. (between Thompson & La Guardia Pl)

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Thurs, Jan 12: Steve James visits STF with the most acclaimed documentary of last year THE INTERRUPTERS (see the Monday Memo for more).

Now is the time to buy a STF Season Pass and get all 10 films below for $100 ($80 for IFC members), plus free popcorn at all STF shows, and a free DVD from Docurama. To purchase, follow the ticket links below.

THE INTERRUPTERS

PRE-SEASON SPECIAL

THURSDAY Jan. 12 @ 8pm

Q&A with director Steve James     

Hoop Dreams director Steve James delivers another non-fiction epic set on the streets of Chicago, following an organization called CeaseFire, comprised largely of former gang members who are trying to break the cycle of urban violence. James, teaming up with producer Alex Kotlowitz, author of the acclaimed book There Are No Children Here, immerses us into a world that feels like a real-life version of The Wire.

Buy tickets or season pass here (click on 8:00pm)    

 ………………..

Do not miss AZIZA this month………

Tuesday - January 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 – NUTTIN’ BUT THE BLUES   

………………..

Greetings Community,

So I had the pleasure to see Stick Fly with our new Blogger: Joseph Riley Land and let me say what a treat it was.  Even more so for me because I didn’t have to worry about writing this review, but I digress.  Stick Fly opens tonight, Thursday December 8th 2011 @ the Cort Theatre.  Get your tickets now, wether it’s for yourself or as a Holiday gift and I will see you all behind the lights!

As Always,

Kevin-Anthony

Review by Joseph Riley Land:

“I must be seen.” That’s a line from the last scene of playwright Lydia R. Diamond’s searing new Broadway offering, Stick Fly, and it resonates throughout the Cort Theatre. It resonates in my ears, days after seeing the play. It… resonates. In a world where the concept of the nuclear family is shattered, ideas of race, class, identity, love and the infrastructure of the Black Family come into question. The play, which has been dancing around off-Broadway since 2006, is set to open Thursday, December 8, directed by Broadway veteran Kenny Leon (The Mountaintop, Fences).

The opening scene establishes very quickly, and very certainly, that the LeVay family is extremely wealthy. Not nouveau riche; they come from old money and the family continues to do well, with Dr. Joseph LeVay (Ruben Santiago-Hudson) heading the family. His son Flip (Mekhi Phifer in his Broadway debut) is a plastic surgeon and his other son, Kent (Dulé Hill) is… well, well-educated, with numerous degrees under his belt, but no real job to back them up. He does have, however, a finished manuscript for his first novel. It’s a long weekend in the summer of 2005 and the LeVay boys bring their significant others (Rosie Benton playing Flip’s girlfriend Kimber and Tracie Thoms playing Kent’s fiancé Taylor) to visit the family in Martha’s Vineyard. Not Oak Bluffs, the Black enclave in the Vineyard, but the ritzy White side of the island – a point that is driven home to, once again, clarify that these are rich folks. Rounding out the cast is Condola Rashad in the role of Cheryl.

Overall, the cast does an excellent job, working with extremely well-written material. Hill starts out a bit stiff, but as the play progresses, he seems to ease into the rhythm. Phifer, too, at times seems stiff, but seems to have a firmer grasp. Santiago-Hudson plays his role with such ease, one would think he had played Joe LeVay for years, not days. Benton, on the other hand, has played the role of Kimber before and it shows. In what would stereotypically be a formulaic role (she’s the white girlfriend), Benton fleshes out her character, making her quite different than popular culture has taught us to expect from such a role. The heart of the play, however, is the duality of Thoms’ and Rashad’s characters, both outsiders; one trying to fit in and the other not already there. Both women give bravura performances, one hyperactive and the other nuanced.

Race matters are bandied about, but this play is primarily about class and identity. Look no further than the tone used when speaking to Cheryl (the daughter of the family’s long-time maid). Both Joseph and Flip are clear on the hierarchy when addressing her and poor Taylor cannot seem to get it right and comes across condescending even when she thinks she’s trying to be helpful. And, even more clearly, each character clarifies their invisibility, their lack of identity. Joe is living in his wife’s family’s home, and well-aware that it will never be known as “the LeVay House.” Kent could stand on his head and recite the entirety of “Gray’s Anatomy” and his dad wouldn’t care. Taylor’s dad pretty much ignored her from the time she came out of the womb. Cheryl, too, was ignored from childhood. Everyone is trying to find his/her voice. At times the play evokes thoughts of Ellison’s Invisible Man and his struggle for relevance.

It’s refreshing to see a story about a black family that – while still drama-filled and engaging – does not embrace the clichés that have been force-fed to us and now have become the expected. Perry’s Madea would have no place with these characters: they understand the power of nuance. Things that would, in other, less capable hands, be gratuitous or clumsily handled, are dealt with in a deftness that really makes one appreciate the intelligence of the theatre. And, wish that television and film would take notes.

Go see Stick Fly. You will enjoy it. More than likely, it will resonate.

http://youtu.be/Iw7a9iDyJgs

Greetings Community,

I’m thrilled to announce that we have added a new member to the B2: Productions team.  Joseph Riley Land is our new blogger.  I will of course continue to write the email blasts about upcoming shows etc. but Joseph will be handling the blog aspect and writting about your various shows.  So if you have an upcoming event/show and would like to have it reviewed and/or covered  for our subscribers please reach out to me and we will make it happen.  So with that in mind, here is the first contribution by Joseph Riley Land…enjoy…and see you all behind the lights!

As Always,

Kevin-Anthony

I’m going to admit my ignorance. I went to Aaron Davis Hall Friday night knowing only one thing about the featured performer, Lillias White, and that was that she is a Tony Award winner. All of that changed during the course of the ninety-minute show that ran through roughly a dozen songs and not one, not two, but three – yes, three – standing ovations. From a New York audience. I was impressed. I was also her “Big Fat Daddy,” but we’ll get to that in a minute. The show started out with White introducing the band and very graciously thanking everyone for being there.

She then proceeded to pay tribute – pour libations – to “those who have moved on,” listing names of performers who have passed in recent years, then asking the audience to join in. From there she moved into a collection of songs that ranged from covers of Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson to classic Broadway show tunes.

At times bawdy, at times humble, White worked the stage – and the audience – like the veteran she is. She danced. She did high kicks that would make half the Rockettes jealous. She showed out. And then, then came… Irene Reid’s “Big Fat Daddy.” I saw it the second she started the song. She was singing to me, looking me squarely in the eyes. She moved around the stage, singing, dancing, shaking, shimmying, doing all of the things a lady does when she sings a song about a man who gets her going. She traded her mic for a cordless one, came to the front of the stage, standing directly in front of me and said, “Come here.” What’s a reviewer to do but comply?

After her first standing O, White moved back to the stage, and tore into more classics. It’s easy to see (and hear) why this woman has an Emmy and a Tony on her mantle (not to mention the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards). As the kick-off performance of the season, the folks at Aaron Davis Hall couldn’t have chosen a better performance. The theater was packed, the audience enthralled and Miss White picked up at least one new fan.

Greetings Community,

I’m so excited to let you know, if you don’t already, and remind you if you do about two incredible shows.  Tony Award Winner Ms. Lillias White will bring her outstanding talents to Aaron Davis Hall in concert on Friday, November 4th, 2011 followed by Broadway’s Chester Gregory & Friends with special guest Jared Grimes rocking out The Traid on Monday, November 7th, 2011.  Mark your calendars for two great nights of music.  These are two of Broadway’s finest so let’s show them our love and support.  How you ask….good question… purchase your tickets in advance, forward this to your individual email lists and post to your social networks; facebook, twitter, tumblr etc.  I know that it would mean alot to both of them to have your support and to see you in the house.  It would make me happy too…fyi….so see you all behind the lights!

As Always,

Kevin-Anthony

 

 

Greetings Community,

I’m so excited to let you know that Chester Gregory with be performing at The Triad on Monday November 7th in “A Night Of Music with Chester Gregory and Friends”.  This is going to be a great night and I know you want to be sure to be in the house.  Special guest for the evening is the extraordinary Jared Grimes….and from what I’m told there will be other surprise guests in store and knowing Chester they will be well worth the wait.  So I hope that you will  join me on Monday, November 7th, 2011 9:30pm at the Triad Theater on W. 72nd.  And if you can’t make it please tell a friend…better yet, post this on your social networks and let’s tear the roof off of the Triad!  See you all behind the lights!

As Always,

Kevin-Anthony

Here’s a special invite from Chester Gregory:

Greetings Community

Recording Artist and Broadway Star CHESTER GREGORY presently starring in Whoopi Goldberg’s Broadway production of “SISTER ACT” along with Entertainment Entrepreneur Ryan Glen are hosting a VIP Launch Party for their UnWord Mobile App game “UNWORD” on Sunday, October 16^th, 2011 at Nectar Wine Bar in the Heart of Harlem.

“UNWORD” is a highly addictive word puzzle game. The concept is simple, you are given a word and must make as many words out of that one word as possible. Each new word is assigned points based on their complexity, the more difficult the word the higher the point value. This allows you to challenge yourself and be creative all in one and makes gameplay interactive for all ages.

Join us @ Nectar Wine Bar in Harlem on Sunday, Oct. 16th, 2011 7:30pm – 9:30pm and be one of the first to experince the excitement of this new word game.

7-30pm – 9:30pm Cash bar all other beverages

Available in the Apple App Store soon!

Greetings Community,

Tomorrow is an another exciting day.  We are happy to be sponsors of “Picture Incomplete” the creation of  Mr. Trent Armand Kendall.   This funny, musical, talented and poignant piece is something that I hope you all come and see.   Tomorrow, Oct 2nd, 2011 7 PM let’s come out and laugh,clap and stomp our feet in support of Trent Armand kendall in “Picture Incomplete”  See you all behind the lights.

As Always,

Kevin-Anthony

Picture Incomplete: starring Trent Armand Kendall

After a SOLD OUT run at Luna Stage, West Orange, NJ, Abingdon Theatre Company’s Sunday Series presents Picture Incomplete. It’s one man’s analysis of this world through the use of monologues, character studies and original songs. Come on the journey and meet Clarence (a homeless man), Mavis (a know-it-all neighbor), her two sons De Ron (a pretend thug) and Fred Jr. (an emerging gay fashion designer living life on his own terms). We also spend time with Grandpa, Sista Goins, a pill-pushing psychiatrist called Dr. Feelgood! and a prophetic preacher called Righteous Reverend who urges his congregation to “Be Complete!” Click HERE for tickets!

Greetings Community,

So much is going on in NYC at the moment and so many worthwhile shows are up and running and some opening soon.  Don’t forget to support these incredible Artists and productions by purchasing your tickets in advance.  Let’s keep great theatre and music alive.  See you all behind the lights. 

As Always,

Kevin-Anthony

“SEED” A New Play by Radha Blank

Directed by Niegel Smith

Presented by  Classical Theater of Harlem  and  Hip-Hop Theater Festival

Burnt-out social worker Anne Colleen Simpson decides to leave the field on a high note, with a book detailing her career, but when Chee-Chee, a gifted twelve-year-old from the ‘projects’ collides into her life, she’s forced to confront his young mother and the shadows of her past. Anne and Chee-Chee develop an unlikely friendship that leads to an explosive encounter threatening both their futures.

Infused with the vibrant rhythm and verse of Hip-Hop culture, Seed weaves through the fault lines of a gentrified Harlem, begging the question: How far are you willing to go to protect the future of a community and its children? To view a clip about the play, go to: http://www.seedtheplay.com/about/

September 16 – October 9, 2011
The National Black Theatre
2033 5th Avenue Btw 125th St & 126th St
New York, NY 10035

http://www.seedtheplay.com/

Enjoy a special ticket offer for this exciting production. Get your tickets now!

Adult $30 – $48 | Senior & Student $20 | Group (10+) $20

For group tickets please call 718.703.2260 or email kadija.wicg@gmail.com

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I’m so excited to be producing Lee Truesdal’es CD Release/Listening Party this coming Friday at The Dwyer Cultural Center in the Heart of Harlem.  I hope that you can all attend this celebration.  Special guest as you can see the always beloved Lee Summers.  We should have called it One Night Two Lee’s….lol…but we are very excited about this event.  Come celebrate.  Lee Truesdale will perform several numbers from the album and we will listen to “Lee Truesdale….Unfinished Business”….going to be magical

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This is a reminder that we will be sponsoring Trent Kendall Armond’s show, PICTURE INCOMPLETE  this Sunday night Oct 2nd @7pm @ The Abingdon Theatre 312 W 36th Street . I really hope that you will come out for a wonderful evening of music and laughter.  I’ll be there, I hope to see all of you there as well.  Tickets are ONLY $18 www.AbingdonTheatre.org (search special events)   http://www.pictureincomplete.com/

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Brandie Sutton, lyric soprano, will make her Manhattan solo recital debut on Saturday, October 1, 2011, 7:30 p.m., Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street (@ Broadway), New York, NY 10023. Ms. Sutton is being presented by B. Arts Presenter, an arts firm dedicated to providing professional performance opportunities for outstanding artists. The program will include selections by Strauss, Schubert, Wolf, Liszt, Debussy, Delibes, Duparc and Ellington. Ms. Sutton will be accompanied by Ramon Bryant Braxton, a pianist and conductor who currently serves as assistant conductor and accompanist for the Howard University Choir. Click here to for more information about Ms. Sutton and to listen to her glorious voice! Ms. Sutton is a recipient of the Alma Blackmon Graduate Scholarship Award. Her competition successes include first place in the Albert Lane Scholarship competition, first place in NATS (Alabama) for her division, a finalist in the Palm Beach Opera Competition (Junior Division) and first place in the Birmingham Music Club Scholarship Competition including Best Overall Audition. She placed first in the Vocal Arts Competition for Emerging Artists sponsored by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., district and nationals level, and most recently, first place in NATS (Maryland), and first place in NATS mid-Atlantic Regionals in advanced college women division. To purchase tickets: Tickets are $50 ($40 for seniors and students) 1) Click here to order tickets online. 2) Call 212.501.3330 to purchase tickets by phone. 3) Buy in person at the Kaufman Center Box Office (129 West 67th Street @ Broadway).

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