Maeve Price

BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES at ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

“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.” Connie Roberts, poet and author of Little Witness.

—–

Singer/songwriter Terry McCarthy got the evening got off to rocking start. Performing solo for the first time at The Cell, Terry opened the show with two songs from his latest CD The Charm, and followed those with two tunes from his new EP Go Fourth. We’re looking forward to Terry’s upcoming show, Words in Music: An Artists Without Walls Presentation at The Cell Theatre, Nov 15th, which will feature a number of AWoW’s members, including Jack O’Connell, Connie Roberts, Noah Hoffeld, Liv Mammone and Cecil Hooker.

Kathleen Frazier read from her recently released memoir, SLEEPWALKER: The Mysterious Makings and Recovery of a Somnambulist accompanied by cellist and vocalist Serena Jost. Their collaboration was hauntingly beautiful and emotionally stirring. Kathleen is a Norman Mailer Fellow, member of The Actors Studio and envisions a reality show in which Serena plays alongside her day and night:) For more on her memoir visit www.kathleenfrazier.com and for more on Serena’s otherworldly music: www.serenajost.com

Maeve Price debuted a very charming performance piece based on a singing engagement at Maple Grove Cemetery. Looking splendid in her very own civil war era dress, she regaled a delighted AWoW audience with a pithy and charming true tale that included music blowing in a ghostly wind, a chat over champagne with Frederick Douglass and a cameo appearance by a local Raccoon. Clearly everything that could have gone wrong at this gig, did go wrong – but Maeve lived to tell the tale with a little singing and a dash of graveyard humor! Connie Roberts summed up Maeve’s performance perfectly, “H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S. Brilliant Maeve.”

.
Jim Hawkins brought to life the wit, humor and wisdom of Frank O’Connor’s story, “My First Confession.” He built layers of humor clearly segueing through the plots of the story and the characters as they were introduced. He demonstrated his acting skills bringing to life the characters with a variety of facial expressions and vocal intonations. There were moments in Jim’s telling when the audience were in howls of laughter. Great showcase Tuesday night. Mark Donnelly commented, “Wonderful performance! And Jim even got me examining my conscience about Bad Confessions I’d made, oh so many years ago.”

Brian Carbee is a choreographer, dancer, writer & performer who began his dance career in Cambridge, and has since performed all over the world. Brian performed a scene from a play he and Sarah Carradine wrote called Perch, in which Perch answers an ad to watch over Susan while she sleeps, and arrives dressed as an owl. Of Brian’s performance, Richard Stillman said, “His sense of mimetic movement was impeccable.” Perfect description.

Flutist Sean Schulich heralded in Autumn with the opening few notes from Johnny Mercer’s “Autumn Leaves.” The audience at times was enraptured and at others hypnotized by the Sean’s fluid sounds, which were the perfect denouement to an evening filled with performance art, singer-songwriter music and theatrical scenes. Sean will be appearing at Carnegie Hall, Sunday, Nov. 1st as part of the The Phantom and the Illharmonic Orchestra.

The next Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre will be on October 27.

Photos by David Goldman.

DAVID GOLDMAN'S PHOTOS from ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SEPTEMBER SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE

David Goldman’s photos from AWoW’s Showcase at The Cell Theatre, September 22, 2015

Serena Jost and Kathleen Frazier

Terry McCarthy

Jim Hawkins

Sean Schulich

Brian Carbee

Niamh Hyland

Maeve Price

Charles R. Hale

WONDERFUL COLLECTION of TALENT for ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SEPTEMBER SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE

“Performing at Artists Without Walls is a deep privilege and a pleasure. To appear as part of a lineup of such talented artists is simultaneously thrilling and humbling. I always leave AWoW with a soaring spirit, full of gratitude for the gifts of my fellow artists, and newly energized and encouraged in my own work. Mille Grazie to Charles Hale and Niamh Hyland for creating this warm, welcoming community.” Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, poet/author

Jim Hawkins has spent decades telling stories. He combines story and song–both American and Irish–to tell folksy and witty tales. Just like the seanchaís of old, Jim tells with a gentle easy-going manner and warmth, which he says is his contribution to keeping this wonderful art-form alive and well. You can hear and meet Jim tomorrow, September 22nd at The Cell Theatre when Jim tells a story of one of the great Irish writers and storytellers of the 20th century, Frank O’Connor. If you haven’t heard Jim, you’re in for a great treat.

Here’s what actress Ellen Burstyn said about Kathleen Frazier’s book “Sleepwalker.” “Frazier has a story to tell and she knows how to tell it. I read it in one day…just couldn’t put it down. It’s a terrifying, compelling and fascinating tale that takes us deep into the horrors of sleepwalking and then reveals to us how she managed to end a twenty year nightmare.”
You meet and hear Kathleen read a passage from her book at AWoW’s Showcase. Kathleen will be accompanied by cellist, Serena Jost.

Here’s what Jack Silbert, DJWriter at satin wound.com said about singer/songwriter Terry McCarthy. “Terry really turns on the charm on his album, The Charm, with a warm strum and even warmer vocals throughout. With tremendous backing musicians, the record presents a wide variety of sounds, never falling into a folky funk….but the secret weapon is McCarthy’s sharp, melodic songwriting, on Beatlesque tracks such as “Loneliest Boy” and the should-be-a-hit “Just Today.”

Jazz Review. com calls Sean Schulich’s flute playing “staggering,” and it’s one of the reasons we’re really excited that Sean will be performing for us at AWoW’s September Showcase Sean hails from Woodstock, NY, and after earning his Masters from Yale, he won Artists International, selling out his debut at Carnegie’s Weill Hall. Being a multi-genre musician, he then went on to co-found the fusion group Alpha Mosaic, winning a Sony Jazz Competition. Sean has played with the Funky Meters, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the New Orleans Suspects, Bernie Worrell, Meshell Ndegeocello and Zigaboo Modeliste. He’s played Jazz Fest in New Orleans, at The Mint in LA, and at BAM, BB King’s, Webster Hall, Brooklyn Bowl and the Bowery Ballroom here in New York City. Sean’s packed the house several times at The Blue Note’s Late Night Groove Series.

**Brian Carbee and Mildred, the barn owl.**

Brian Carbee is a choreographer, dancer, writer & performer who began his dance career in Cambridge, and has since performed all over the world. His debut feature film script was Accidents Happen, starring Geena Davis. Sarah Carradine is a write & director for theatre & opera, with works ranging from dirty underground cabaret to the stage of the Sydney Opera House. Brian and Sarah will be performing from their play, Perch, in which Perch answers an ad to watch over Susan while she sleeps, and arrives dressed as an owl.

Maeve Price originates from Dublin, Ireland but now lives in NYC. She has performed in many theaters in Dublin and around Ireland, including its National Theatre, The Abbey. She has performed in plays all over NY and toured the U.S. with a children’s musical theatre company. Recent roles include “Jenny Lind” in the musical Barnum in CO, and “Grainne” in “Devine Intervention,” which debuted at AWoW’s salon last November and was part of a short play series in An Béal Bocht in The Bronx this past April. We’re thrilled that she will be sharing a short piece, she likes to call “Rocky and Me at Maple Grove”.

The Cell Theatre is located at 338 W23rd St., NYC. The doors open at 6:45pm. Hope to see you there.

"UNBRIDLED SPIRIT and JOY" at AWOW's LATEST SHOWCASE

“I am always so impressed by the level of talent I witness at any Artist Without Walls’ event. It is rare to witness a room filled with that kind of unbridled spirit, charisma and joy even in NYC. An incredible ensemble of artists are represented at an AWoW showcase!” Erin Layton, actress/playwright

Gregory Harrington began the evening with a stirring performance of the Prelude from the Cello Suite by J.S. Bach, which he arranged for violin and is on his upcoming CD – Bach: Transcriptions and Variations on CDBaby. Greg was then joined by Leon Boykins on double bass and for a virtuosic performance of U2’s “With or Without You. “Had a great time and really loved the space,” Greg added.

DJ Sharp took us back to Tennessee Williams’ days at New York City’s historic Elysee Hotel with a scene from his one man show, “Tennessee Williams.” Here’s what an audience member said, “Tonight I saw D J Sharp knock it out of the park–no, much farther than that. He knocked it out beyond the parking lot, past the interstate and well into the corn fields of Nebraska. A performance to be seen.” I’m flattered,” DJ said. “Thanks again to Artists Without Walls for creating a evening with great performers and a wonderful audience!”

**Devon McCarthy, Terry McCarthy and Andy Sandel**

Terry McCarthy tore into the room with four of his brashly melodic original songs. In honor of his wife’s first attendance at an AWoW Showcase, he opened with “Queen of the World” a tune recounting the second time they met and marking the thirty years they’ve been together. He then performed “And a Little Girl Closes Her Eyes” an anti-war song in the Celtic folk tradition. Next was a rocking version of “Down For The Day” a tribute to the people of the Rockaways who are rebuilding their lives after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. He closed with a fan favorite “Sorrow Salsa,” a Tejano flavored tune of triumph over depression. Terry was joined by the brilliant guitarisist, his nephew Devon McCarthy who wowed the audience with his talent and a special guest, Andy Sandel, who proved why he is known as the “Master of the Squeezebox.” All of these songs and many more are available @ TerryMcCarthymusic.com as well as ITunes and Cdbaby.com

Irish playwright, director and actor, Don Creedon, presented his very funny short play “Divine Intervention.” In this charming, revelatory, two-hander, we meet Grainne, a woman with an extremely colorful past, who goes to Confession for the first time in thirty-one years. Maeve Price was both hilarious and touching as Grainne, a woman with a delightfully anarchic sense of what’s right. Don did a wonderful job as Father Divine, a priest caught between following his true heart’s desire and the dictates of the Catholic Church.

Singer/songwriter Robin Pahlman played three original songs “Miss Lonelyhearts,” which is the first single off his debut solo EP, out on Monkey Records click for video, “Man Overboard,” also on the EP and a previously unreleased song called “Rain Clouds”. Robin’s been moving around a great deal in the past few years–he’s lived in Seattle, WA; Helsinki, Finland; Vienna, Austria; and now New York City), and he tends to write songs about how places and memory define us, and what “home” really means. Musically, Robin owes a lot to the American folk/country/roots tradition, even though as he says, “A certain element of melancholy probably comes from my Finnish heritage, as Finnish music traditionally is very sad and minor-key. Click here for Robin’s Facebook band page.

Jim Hawkins has spent decades telling stories. On this night, Jim combined story and song–both American and Irish–to tell a folksy and witty tale of two young men–Jim and his friend Billy–coming of age in the early 1970s. Just like the seanchaís of old, Jim told the story, “Driving Across America with Billy Zuckerman” with a gentle, easy-going manner and warmth, which he says is his contribution to keeping this wonderful art-form alive and well.

For more information about Artists Without Walls contact info@artistswithoutwalls.com. AWoW’s next Showcase will be at The Cell Theatre, 338 W23rd St., December 23rd, 7pm.

All photos by Vera Hoar.

TOP NOTCH TALENT LINED UP for AWOW'S SHOWCASE at THE CELL, TUESDAY, 11/25/14

We’ve been fortunate to have a number of great violinists and fiddlers at Artists Without Walls’ Showcases, including Deni Bonet, Annette Homann and Bernadette Fee. On Tuesday we will feature another great violinist, Gregory Harrington. Gregory, who has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Boston’s Symphony Hall and venues around the world, will be performing a few pieces, including Bach and Nirvana. You won’t want to miss this brilliant performer.

Jim Hawkins has spent decades telling stories, with a sly, folksy understated humor, just like the seanchaís of old, whom Hawkins emulates. With a gentle, easy-going manner and warmth, Jim tells the stories of nearly vanished Irish folkways to audiences far and wide, in public libraries, pubs, churches, universities, in Ireland and here in the United States. “I wish to be a vehicle that carries the history, culture and traditions of the Irish people, and to share the stories, songs and poetry of this great culture with the world. It will be my contribution to keeping this wonderful art-form alive and well.” Come hear him perform an excerpt from his story, “Driving Across America with Billy Zuckerman.”

Finland native and guitarist Robin Pahlman, who has been performing around town with Deni Bonet and who’s wonderful performance at AWoW’s recent Showcase at Rockwood recently, was a big hit with the audience, will be making debut appearance at an AWoW Showcase at The Cell.

We’ve had some incredible performances at AWoW’s Showcases during the past year and right up there with the best was David Sharp’s performance from his one-man show Tennesse Williams. His tour-de-force performance was spellbinding and brought down the house. David will be performing another scene from his work at Tuesday’s Showcase.

Terry McCarthy was born in New York City and grew up in Breezy Point, writing songs as he wandered the winter beach. After surviving both a Catholic and public school education, Terry attended SUNY, College at Purchase where he received a BFA in Theater Arts, all the while knowing his first love and passion was music. Terry who ended a recent Showcase with three terrific tunes from his most recent album, The Charm, will once again be joined by the great guitarist Devon McCarthy.

Joining AWoW for his first appearance is folk singer/songwriter Mickey Coleman. Mickey’s talent for penning songs has been well documented in songs such as Culdaff, Duffy’s Cut, Undocumented Man, The Brantry Boy, My Coalisland Girl, The Holylands Belfast and Kilkeel Fishermen. Mickey has released three albums Carefully Crafted, A Mother’s Lullaby and the critically acclaimed Last Glance and he’s shared the stage with some of the world and Ireland’s top folk artists such as The Chieftains, Cara Dillon, Francis Black, Liam Reilly and Bagatelle, Steve Cooney and many more.

Don Creedon is an award-winning playwright, director, and actor originally from Dublin, Ireland. In October 2010, Don received the 1st Irish 2010 Theatre Festival Audience Award for Best Play for Guy Walks into a Bar. Also in 2010, Don was nominated for Best Director 1st Irish 2010 Theatre Festival for the US premier of Dermot Bolger’s one-woman drama The Holy Ground, featuring Katherine O’Sullivan. Don will present a scene from his one act comedy Divine The Cast with Maeve Price and himself in the role of Father Divine.

Get there early to get a good seat. The Cell Theatre, 338 W23rd St., NYC. The show begins at 7pm.