ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS’ JANUARY SHOWCASE AT THE CELL

Join Artists Without Walls for its January Showcase at The Cell, 338 West 23rd Street, Manhattan, Tuesday, January 24th. Presenters include jazz fiddler Michi Fuji, author and lecturer Suzanne Bernier,  singer/songwriter Martina Fiserova, artist and singer Maia Nero, writers Billy Barrett and Mike DeLucia, playwright Brendan Connellan and actor Faye Franzini. Charles R. Hale and Niamh J. Hyland are the evenings hosts and emcees. 

The doors and the bar open at 6:45. Performances begin at 7:30. This is a free event. 

Artists Without Walls’ January Showcase at The Cell Theatre in NYC

Artists Without Walls’ January Showcase at The Cell Theatre, 338 West 23rd Street, Manhattan, will take place on January 24th. The doors and the bar open at 6:45pm. The presentations begin at 7:30pm. The evenings presenters included playwright Brendan Connellan, actor Faye Franzini, writers Billy Barrett and Suzanne Bernier and musicians Martina Fiserova, Michi Fuji and Maia Nero.

CAT DWYER'S PHOTOS: ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SHOWCASE, 3/26/14

 

Cat Dwyer’s photos from the Artists Without Walls’s Showcase, 3/26/14. The names of the photographed appear above the photo. 

Billy Barrett

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Jerry O’Sullivan

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Jerry O’Sullivan and Connie Roberts

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Tara O’Grady, Miguel Vias, Brendan Connellan and Alessia Sushko

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Warren Malone

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Maeve Higgins

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Noah Hoffeld

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Joe McElligott, Charles R. Hale and Niamh Hyland with students from Lehman College

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Noah Hoffeld and Salina Sias

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Kate McLeod

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Bernadette Fee and Pat Coyne

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Intermission

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JOIN AWoW on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 7PM: "ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SHOWCASE at THE CELL."

Join Artists Without Walls for its next Showcase at The Cell Theatre on Wed.,  March 26, 7pm. A great night is planned including, Comedian Maeve Higgins, singer/songwriter Warren Malone, playwright Brendan Connellan, singer/songwriter Salina Sias, performing together will be poet Connie Roberts, Niamh Hyland and uilleann piper Jerry O’Sullivan, playwright/author Kate McLeod, writer Billy Barrett,  and the duo of fiddler Bernadette Fee and guitarist Patrick Coyne. Charles R. Hale, emcee.  

 

It’s going to be an incredible evening of entertainment and fun. See for yourself what all the buzz is about. Stay tuned, more info to follow.  The Cell Theatre, Wed., March 26, 7pm. 

Photo montage by Vera Hoar

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"SPOTLIGHT ON" WRITER BILLY BARRETT

Billy Barrett

Who is Billy Barrett?

 

Writer, driver, friend

 

What are you working on at the moment?

 

I’m writing an autobiogrphical piece called Highway Star. I’ve recently entered into a partnership with LA publishing consultant Maureen O’Brien. Maureen opened her own agency after many years as executive editor at Harper/Collins and Hyperion. She will edit my manuscript in its entirety and then represent me to agents when we start looking for a publisher. The deadline for finishing the book is St. Patricks day.

 

 salon_sideWho are the writers, past and present, you admire?

 

Jim Carroll  (Basketball Diaries)- Nicholas Pileggi (Wiseguy)- Black Dahlia Avenger (Steve Hodel) I Heard you Paint Houses (Charles Brandt)-Nick Flynn (Another Bullshit Night in Suck City) Peter Quinn (Looking for Jimmy)

 

 What are three of your favorite literary works?

 

To Kill a Mockingbird…The Art of Racing in the Rain…Profiles in Courage (The book sucks but I find the author endlessly fascinating)

 

 Who is your greatest inspiration and why?

 

 Muhammed Ali (A stunning mix of talent, charisma and balls) John Walsh (He helped reshape law enforcement and made a difference in catching the animals) Stella Panagos (Who created safety and balance in my life)

 

If you could dream of trying something in the arts you haven’t tried, but would like to, what would that be?

 

Ballet Dancing (Don’t know much about the routines but the outfits sure look great…)

 

 

 

AWoW ROCKS THE LIVING ROOM: THE WRAP-UP

“A muggy summer evening on Ludlow Street, a packed house, and a serving of artistic delights–what you get when you mix AWoW with the Lower East Side.” said Jim Rodgers, as the crowd from the Living Room spilled onto the street. 

 

Billy Barrett
Billy Barrett

Sarah Fearon kicked off the successful evening of performers with a funny set of stand up. She offered her theories, with a twist, on the subjects of the economy, yoga, being a people person, optimism, hoarders, why she can’t read the newspaper, and why she will be shopping for a “smart clone.”

 

As the crowd filled to standing room only, the cocky slink of Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly rumbled through the crowd. It was Billy Barrett time. Highway Star’s his anthem and he loves to sing it. Last night he tracked the bloated stretch of an LA Superfly. “Coulda killed him, didn’t…” so now in the May swelter of a New York City nightclub, we can all have a good laugh about it.

 

Tara O'Grady, Niamh Hyland, Tami Lynn, Sasha Papernik and Jack O'Connell
Tara O’Grady, Niamh Hyland, Tami Lynn, Sasha Papernik and Jack O’Connell

Singers/songwriters Tara O’Grady and Sasha Papernik collaborated on vocals and piano. These songbirds have modernized the music of their cultures and given them new life. Sasha joined Tara in beautiful harmony on a soulful version of “The Water is Wide,” from Tara’s first album Black Irish. Pianist Sasha, whose parents were born in Moscow, Russia, then treated the audience to a song from the famous Russian cartoon, “Cheburashka.”  You can hear Sasha live with her ensemble at Cornelia Street Cafe on July 8th at 8:30pm and Tara with her full band at Swing 46 Jazz & Supper Club on June 19. 

 

Koro Koroye
Koro Koroye

Three unscheduled guests added spice to the event: Karyn Oliver–part Joan Osborne, a touch of Janis Joplin and a bit of EmmyLou Harris – effortlessly oscillated from bluesy to country with two songs, “Candy Dish” and “Right Now.” Her musical inspiration comes primarily from the eclectic mix of music to which she was exposed while growing up in the musically diverse culture of Washington.  Tami Lynn, who scored a big hit in the seventies with the song “I’m Gonna Run Away From You,” sang a soulful, “Smile,” while AWoW favorite and spoken word artist Koro Koroye performed two of her poems, “Michele” and “What’s In A Name.”

 

Awow co-founder and Irish born singer/songwriter Niamh Hyland, beat-boxer Anand Gan and guitarist Art Lamonica followed. Demonstrating her versatility and wide range, Niamh sang the blues, stylizing two tunes with smoky overtones and emotional punch. The songs “When the Moon Hangs Low” and “Ray Anne” were co-written by Niamh, Anand and Arthur.

  

Silbin Sandovar
Silbin Sandovar

Singer/songwriter Silbin Sandovar performed “Loving In The Worst Way” and “Beggars” The first tune is newly written and has not been recorded yet. The second is on my album “Brian & Silbin and Friends”  “Good times, very cool event,” said Silbin and the end of the evening.

 

 

Jim Rodgers read from his novel Long Night’s End, where Johnny Gunn is back playing with his band on the Bowery, drinking heavily and trying miserably to forget the recent tragedies visited upon the good people of Sunnyside, Queens. It appears, however, that Johnny’s own self-destructive behavior is the real threat to his survival and that of his family.  Another slice of the dark side from the urbane Mr. Rodgers. 

  

Liam O'Connell and Henry O'Connell
Liam O’Connell and Henry O’Connell

 The O’Connells, no strangers to AWoW Showcases, closed out the show. Henry hammered out some piano loops while his brother Liam beat-boxed and rapped “If Your Mother Only Knew.” Film and television actor Jack, O’Connell—Henry and Liam’s father—got into the act, performing a monologue from the Lyle Kessler play “Orphans” which just completed a shortrun on Broadway, while Henry knocked out Paul Desmond’s “Take Five” on the piano.  Jack’s character, Harold, tries to explain the dangers of going too far for financial gain. It’s a  story about his orphaned protege who dies from pneumonia after selling his last two newspapers that he wore for insulation during the winter.  Later in the evening Jack said, “As a father I thought the use of this metaphor could also be applied to the music industry and the “Rap” world that my sons have flirted with. 

 

Charles R. Hale and Tara O'Grady
Charles R. Hale and Tara O’Grady

With that, the evening, which Liam O’Connell called, “high energy, high attitude,” came to a close.  Future AWoW events include “The Ethiopian Street Children’s Benefit” a collaboration with the HOpe Charity at the Fitzpatrick Grand Central Hotel on June 19, 6pm–Niamh, Koro and Honor Finnegan will be performing–and an AWoW Showcase on June 25th, 7pm at The Cell Theatre. 

 

 

 

GREAT POSTER FOR AWoW'S LEHMAN COLLEGE EVENT, APRIL 25, 7PM

Artists Without Walls will be appearing at The Studio Theater, Lehman College on April 25, 7PM.  Thanks to Lehman’s Timothy Marquart and Joe McElligott for designing a terrific poster for the event. Also, thanks to Cat Dwyer for providing the photos of Koro and Billy Barrett. Here’s the poster: 

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