STELLAR PERFORMANCES at ARTIST WITHOUT WALLS’ SHOWCASE at THE CELL, APRIL 22, 2014

“I’m always amazed at the talent AWoW gathers, and I’m  honored to share the same stage with such talented artists.” Jim Rodgers

 

Michelle Macau and Ron Ryan
Michelle Macau and Ron Ryan

The Showcase opened with Michelle Macau and Ron Ryan bringing to life a slice of Joe Davidson’s new play, The Rekindling.  In the scene, Michelle ‘s Jean Thompson manipulated, seduced and cajoled Ron’s paranoid and confused Barney Morris to agree to murder his wife. Great scene, well served. 

 

Two core members of Church Point Riot, Charles Perkalis, accordion, and Michel Henry, vocals and guitar, joined by Deborah Monlux on the ‘tit – fer, (triangle), gave a snippet of what it would be like sitting on a Louisiana front porch playing Cajun Country and Blues music of Southern Louisiana. They played four traditional French Cajun Music pieces, swinging deflty between two high-energy two-steps, a sultry waltz and a blues. Church Point Riot Kicks off its 4th Annual Bayou ‘n Brooklyn Music Festival at 8:30PM on May 9th, produced by AWOW member Deborah Monlux.

 

Matt Turk
Matt Turk

Unplugged and acoustic Matt Turk opened his performance with the chicken picking country blues original “Hobo Boy.”  Matt got the crowd joyfully scat singing in “call and response. ” Next he brought his friend and fiddler Deni Bonet to the stage to join him on fiddle in performances of “Cold Revival” and “When a Boy.”  “Cold Revival” featured Matt on the mandolin and “When A Boy” had an uplifting audience singing the chorus to round out the showcase. 

 

Jim Rodgers returned to The Cell and read from his novel, “Long Night’s End.”  Jim read the opening chapter of the novel, which, in a very fast-paced and visceral manner, illustrates the origins of the demons that haunt the protagonist, Johnny Gunn. The scene, which takes place in a downtown club as Johnny performs his guitar solo, sets the stage for the moral and emotional battles that Johnny must endure in the months to come. Switching from humor to heartbreaking tragedy without allowing the listeners to catch their breath, the narration left no doubt that Johnny Gunn is steaming through some very dark and dangerous waters. The only question that remains is whether or not Johnny will survive those waters. Jim has a way of getting the audience involved in his readings. That’s a talent. Great read, as always. 

 

Charles R. Hale
Charles R. Hale

Violinist Annette Homann, who has performed from the classical repertory a number of times at The Cell, took a different performing route. Annette performed two songs for solo violin/voice. She opened with a humorous version of “When I’m Sixty-Four,” during which the audience hummed and sang along.  Her second tune was “If We Go” by the band Youth in a Roman Field. The second tune, a love song, was accompanied by a strummed violin, a unique and unusual way of using the violin. Everyone loves Annette. 

 

First time presenter Richard Deane read a scene from his novel-in-progress “When Yesterday Comes”. The scene poignantly explores the existential conflict between a cabdriver’s skittish trepidations and the allurement of his prurient desires as he drives two menacing street pimps uptown to Harlem on Christmas Day.

 

Sasha Papernik
Sasha Papernik

Sasha Papernik, classical pianist, singer, and songwriter closed the evening performing two original songs: “Carolina” from her sophomore album, Love in a Box, and a brand new song called “Not The One in the Footage that You See.” She was thrilled to play on the Cell’s beautiful piano, which was moved onto the stage just for the event.  Sasha will be appearing next at Carnegie Hall for eight shows the week of May 5th as part of their popular school series, Musical Explorers. For more music and information about future performances, you can find her on facebook at facebook.com/sashatheband or on her official site sashatheband.com

 

The next Showcase at The Cell will be on Tuesday, May 27th, 7pm. For more information about Artists Without Walls contact info@artistswithoutwalls.com.

 

All photos were taken by Vera Hoar except Sasha Papernik’s, which was taken by Richard Velasco. 

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT "ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS"

 Why become an Artists Without Walls’ member? Here’s what some of our friends are saying:

 

Eimear O'Connor
Eimear O’Connor

“The atmosphere is electric; it encourages creativity, imagination, and very importantly, friendship and discussion between like minds amongst the audience and the performers. Everybody is welcome at Artist’s Without Walls.” Eimear O’Connor, Ireland, author, Sean Keating: Art, Politics and Building the Irish Nation.

 

Jack O'Connell
Jack O’Connell

“This is a note of thanks for supporting my efforts through pictures and words these past months. I’ve been working as an actor for at least twenty five years now and I’ve never before been involved in anything quite like this.  AWoW is a unique blessing.  So happy to be a member.” Jack O’Connell, actor, New York

Koro Koroye
Koro Koroye

 

“Artists Without Walls feels like home to me. I just feel like I belong there.” Koro Koroye, poet and spoken word artist, Nigeria.

 

Jim Rodgers
Jim Rodgers

“I’m always amazed at the talent AWoW gathers, and I’m  honored to share the same stage with such talented artists. Once again AWoW proved they are the United Nations of the NYC cultural scene at NYC’s “Living Room.” The performers and audience included folks from Germany, Israel, Egypt, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Ireland and the United States.  Great night!” Jim Rodgers, writer and attorney, New York

 

Carl Capotorto
Carl Capotorto

“Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to present to the group, last night.  And I was delighted to read a few pages from my book Twisted Head for the wonderfully diverse and highly sophisticated audience. It’s great work that AWoW is doing!” Carl Caportorto, “Little Paulie” in the Sopranos, New York

 

Colin Broderick
Colin Broderick

“It was a privilege to read for a packed house at the Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre. It feels like home to be in the midst of such talent and support. Artists Without Walls is a family that I’m extremely grateful to be a part of.” Colin Broderick, author That’s That, Belfast, Ireland and New York.

 

Barbara Rick
Barbara Rick

“It was great to see AWoW in action once again at Lehman College doing what it does so beautifully – making great art accessible and connecting artists with each other and with new audiences.” Barbara Rick, filmmaker, New York.  

 

Tzila Levy
Tzila Levy

“I was very impressed by the talented individuals I met when I attended one of your “Showcases.” I would love to become a member and participate in the upcoming showcases. I am a screenwriter and playwright from Israel, with professional experience in the Israeli film and theater industry.” Tzila Levy, filmmaker, Israel. 

 

Ed McCann
Ed McCann

“An enthusiastic, standing-room-only crowd filled the Cell Theater last night — an evening showcase of writing, acting, music, and dance. Founders Charles R. Hale and Niamh Hyland’s focus on the interests of the group’s membership suggests that members will shape AWoW’s development — an “open source” approach that foreshadows a future of diverse and experimental performances spanning multiple artistic disciplines.” Ed McCann, writer/producer/editor, New York

 

PHOTOS from "AWoW ROCKS THE LIVING ROOM" 5/24/13

A great time was had by all at AWoW’s Friday night event at the Living Room. Thanks to Vera Hoar who stepped up at the last minute to take all these great photos.  There’ll be more photos tomorrow, as well as a wrap-up of the evening’s events.  Names appear above the photos.

 

Karyn Oliver

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Jim Rodgers

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Sasha Papernik

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Jack O’Connell

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Anand Gan, Niamh Hyland, Art Lamonica

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Tami Lynn, Sasha Papernik,  Tara O’Grady

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In “The Living Room”

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TONIGHT, BECOME PART OF AWoW's SHOWCASE AT THE CELL THEATER

Koro Koroye
Koro Koroye

Join us tonight at The Cell Theatre, 338 W. 23rd St. in NYC for an Artists Without Walls’ Showcase, a great evening of music, theater and readings. A number of the presenters who appeared at AWoW’s Showcase at Lehman College last week, including, singer/songwriter Honor Finnegan, violinist/fiddler Annette Homann, and the trio of Koro, Owen and Moley will be on hand and presenting their work.

 

Kate McLeod
Kate McLeod

Best selling author Colin Broderick, whose highly anticipated book That’s That, a Random House publication that will be released in May, will also be on hand and reading a short excerpt from his book, a memoir, which details his growing up in Northern Ireland. His first book, Orangutan details his first twenty years living in Manhattan, drinking, working in construction and attempting to formulate his life as a writer. 

 

Jim Rodgers
Jim Rodgers

And there will be more. Playwright Kate McLeod’s monologue, “The End of Time” will be performed by Hannah Dahm a vocal major at LaGuardia High School for the Arts here in NYC.  Hannah’s worked several times in session at The Actors Studio and read the lead in a new play that she helped to develop (also at The Actors Studio), Trinity.  Hannah’s also a writer, having won a New York city-wide playwriting contest through Stephen Sondheim’s Young Playwrights Institute.

 

Cherie Ann Turpin
Cherie Ann Turpin

 

 

Jim Rodgers, who has participated a number of Showcases, both as an actor and a reader, will be reading from his novel in progress, Long Night’s End; Professor Cherie Ann Turpin, who has extensively written and researched the African Diaspora, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Multicultural American Literature, will be reading and discussing body image and how women see their own bodies, and poet Vince Nauheimer will be reading from his work while making his first appearance with AWoW.

 

And finally, we’ve learned that AWoW co-founder Niamh Hyland may have a surprise or two up her sleeve. 

 

Join us for a great evening of entertainment, a glass of wine, and some of the nicest folks you’ll ever meet.  

JIM RODGERS' ANCESTORS: FAMINE IMMIGRANTS WHO BUILT NYC


Screen Shot 2013-03-13 at 8.18.49 PMIn stories I’ve written and in videos I’ve produced I’ve commented on my famine-Irish immigrant ancestors.  They were the sandhogs who dug New York City’s tunnels, the bartenders who worked the saloons that lined the Bowery and the street sweepers who cleaned the city. What were they like, the earlier generations that wandered the streets, slept in buildings long since pounded to dust?

 

I’ve often spoken about the  famine-immgrants with Artists Without Walls’ member and friend Jim Rodgers, whose family, the Gallaghers, were also Irish-famine immigrants. But unlike my family, who were laborers, Jim’s ancestors owned a company that provided the materials that built New York’s subways, the bridges and the buildings of the city. 

Jim Rodgers and his daughter Oona in Ireland
Jim Rodgers, right, and his daughter Oona in Ireland

 

This week’s Irish Echo includes a wonderful article written by Peter McDermott about the Gallagher clan, their early years in the city and their ascendance.  From Cornelius Gallagher’s arrival during the famine, through a Gatsby-life lifestyle on the North Shore of Long Island, lawsuits and shenanigans, the mysterious death of Jim’s great grandfather, Peter Gallagher, and finally ending up in bankruptcy and ruin in the 1990’s the story has the makings of a great mini-series. I highly recommend this wonderfully told tale of the rise and fall of Jim’s Irish ancestors.

 

The Irish Echo can be found at many NYC newsstands or a digital version can be ordered on line. Go to The Irish Echo to get  your copy

 

Written by Charles R. Hale