Emotion Packed Evening at Artists Without Walls' Showcase at The Cell Theatre

“Artists Without Walls creates the space—literally and figuratively—for artists of all stripes to be their best selves, to push boundaries, to experiment, to collaborate in a safe, nurturing environment.” That’s what Connie Roberts, poet and author of “Little Witness” has said about an Artists Without Walls’ Showcase.  Connie’s words provide a perfect description for Tuesday’s Showcase, which was one of the finest and most emotion packed Showcases in the last few years. 

 

Kathleen Bennett Bastis
Kathleen Bennett Bastis

Kathleen Bennett Bastis started the evening with her reading “Man in the Desert” a touching, funny story about how heart break lead her to a spontaneous trip to Burning Man where she found a renewed strength and determination. Who knew that eight days in the desert without a shower could be so cathartic!

 

 

Jenna Nichols
Jenna Nichols

Jenna Nicholls delighted the audience with her voice, singing songs that felt like they were torn from the pages of a 1920’s American Songbook. Songs including “Take Me Out Tonight” and “Back to You” reminded us of a forgotten era…

 

 

 

 

 

Kimberly Kelly Adams, Derek Murphy and Karin de la Penha
Kimberly Kelly Adams, Derek Murphy and Karin de la Penha

Karin de la Penha and Kimberly Adams were wickedly funny in a hysterical scene from Dublin born playwright Derek Murphy’s new play “Dyin’ For It.” The audience were certainly dying for more of Murphy’s very dark, extremely funny, look at what happens when a very unloved loved-one returns home to die, and potentially ruining Christmas. The writing and the acting were razor sharp. Murphy definitely takes no prisoners with his writing, and his actors thrive because of it.

 

Alexander A. Wu and Annette Homann
Alexander A. Wu and Annette Homann

Annette Homann and Alexander Wu recently began collaborating after meeting at an Artists Without Walls’ Showcase. The duo started with Gershwin’s virtuosic “It Ain’t Necessarily So.” Their performance of Piazzolla’s Tango “Milonga de Angel” can best be described as stunning, erotic and breathtaking. Their last piece, Bernstein’s “America” got the audience off their seats. 

 

Walter Parks and Annette Homann
Walter Parks and Annette Homann

Here’s what singer Judy Collins said about Walter Parks, “Walter is an extraordinary singer whose songs can break your heart as well as get you dancing….Walter is a musical treasure, an artist of the highest caliber. To hear him is to be lifted into a mystical sphere.” How true, as we once again experienced Walter’s lofty talents, performing songs he wrote “Comin’ Home Holler,”  “So Bad, So Good,” and “Butta.” He then asked Annette Homann to join him in “Angel’s Point of View.”  What followed was a special moment–exquisite music filled with tension and emotion from two incredible artists.  Standing ovations and many hugs followed, particularly for Annette, who announced she will be returning to her native land, Germany,  in the very near future.  A wonderful evening of artistic expression, good feelings and friendship. 

 

The next Artists Without Walls’ Showcase will be at The Cell Theatre on August 23. Doors and bar open at 6:45. The performances begin at 7:30.

 

All photos by Vera Hoar. 

Vera Hoar's Photos from Artists Without Walls' July Showcase at The Cell Theatre

Vera Hoar’s photos from Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre, July 26, 2016

Paul Bevan and Walter Parks
Paul Bevan and Walter Parks
Annette Homann and Michelle Macau
Annette Homann and Michelle Macau
Kimberly Kelly Adams, Derek Murphy and Karin de la Penha
Kimberly Kelly Adams, Derek Murphy and Karin de la Penha
Kathleen Bennett Bastis
Kathleen Bennett Bastis
Richard Deane
Richard Deane
Jenna Nichols
Jenna Nichols
Walter Parks
Walter Parks
Alexander A. Wu and Annette Homann
Alexander A. Wu and Annette Homann
Closing shot: Joe McElligott, Connie Roberts, Tom Myles,  Marty Plevel, Niamh Hyland, Kathleen Bennett Bastis, Charles R. Hale, Annette Homann and Walter Parks
Closing shot: Joe McElligott, Connie Roberts, Tom Myles, Marty Plevel, Niamh Hyland, Kathleen Bennett Bastis, Charles R. Hale, Annette Homann and Walter Parks

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS PRESENTS: A NIGHT of SUPERIOR TALENTS, JULY 26th at THE CELL THEATRE

Great line up on tap for Tuesday’s Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre.

 

Walter Parks
Walter Parks

Over the past three decades, Walter Parks has forged a distinctive international career as the lead guitarist for Woodstock legend Richie Havens, half of the folk-duo The Nudes, and guitarist and leader of the swamp/blues-outfit Swamp Cabbage. His original music is inspired by the swampy gospel blues that wails from storefront churches and roadhouses in and around the southeast Georgia low country. We’re looking forward to Walter’s return to an Artists Without Walls’ Showcase. 

 

Playwright Derek Murphy and actors Karin de la Penha and Kimberly Kelly Adams will be making their Artists Without Walls’ debut when they present a scene from a new play Derek is currently writing, a dark comedy set in NY and Dublin, titled “Dyin’ For It.”

 

Derek Murphy, Kimberly Kelly Adams and Karin de la Penha
Derek Murphy, Kimberly Kelly Adams and Karin de la Penha

 

Jenna Nicholls
Jenna Nicholls

Would you like to hear a great singer who has performed all over the world and has toured and performed with artists such as Oscar winner Glen Hansard, Amanda Palmer,  Angela McClusky (Telepop), Rob Moose, Thomas Bartlett (BonIver /Doveman), Nouvelle Vague and many others? Then you’ll want to come and hear Jenna Nicholls on Tuesday evening. Jenna’s music has been featured in film and television. She’s toured and released two full albums: “Curled Up Toes in Red Mary Janes” and “The Blooming Hour” Her third release is scheduled for 2016.

 

Richard Deane
Richard Deane

Richard Deane’s last appearance on an Artists Without Walls’ stage featured an emotionally provocative reading of the opening scene from his novel in progress, “When Yesterday Comes.” His use of poignant atmospherics and straight to the heart exposition pulled the audience into the midst of the dramatic conflict between his vividly constructed characters. Richard’s unabashed exploration into an uncomfortable subject was both captivating and moving.

 

Annette Homann and Alexaner A. Wu
Annette Homann and Alexaner A. Wu

Pianist and arranger Alexander A. Wu and violinist and composer Annette Homann recently presented “Strings n Keys – Three Centuries of Global Music,” celebrating the popular collaborative tradition of piano and violin. Alexander and Annette will be performing a variety of musical styles from their show including works of  Ástor Piazzolla, Leonard Bernstein and more. 

 

Kathleen Bennett Bastis
Kathleen Bennett Bastis

Kathleen Bennett Bastis has written prose and poetry all her life and, as a former producer for talk radio, she wrote hundreds of short descriptive “rip and read” segments about neighborhoods, restaurants, product alerts or shopping experiences in the New York tri-state area. She’s had two observations published in The New York Times Metropolitan Diary, and last year she performed her piece on Cyber Dating at an Artists Without Walls’ Showcase.  Kathleen is also an accomplished artist whose work is inspired by the hue, shape and texture of salvaged materials she finds on the river, street and scrap yards. She reinterprets the history of these “found objects” by constructing them into a contemporary visual narrative.

 

The Cell Theatre is located at 338 W23rd St in Manhattan. The show will be hosted by Artists Without Walls’ artistic directors Niamh J. Hyland and Charles R. Hale. The doors and the bar open at 6:45. Presentations begin at 7:30.