Richard Deane

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 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 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**

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.

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.

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

**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.

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**

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’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.

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 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.

BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES at ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' NOVEMBER SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE

“AWoW dips into the magic of New York City each month and unfurls it on the stage for the lucky audience. Huge gratitude to Charles R. Hale and Niamh Hyland who come up with one compelling Showcase after another.” Brendan Connellan

“The artistic directors of Artists Without Walls have helped so many incredibly talented people do remarkable things — they give them a stage in the center of the universe, something only a select few would otherwise see.” Mitch Traphagen

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The evening was off to a great start when native New York poet Justin Colón-Rabinowitz recited his poetry with grace and authority. Justin shared a number of powerful and intimate poems in front of the standing room only audience, many of which spoke about his family members’ emigration from Puerto Rico to New York City, their ephemeral joys and pains, and the resiliency they showed while adapting to life in the borough of the Bronx. Justin will be graduating from Hofstra University’s MFA program in December, 2015, and he will be reading his poetry at the KGB club in Manhattan on Friday night, December 11th.

Justin Poindexter and Tara O'Grady — **Justin Poindexter and Tara O’Grady**

The very popular–with good reason–Celtic-jazz songstress Tara O’Grady jammed with the extraordinary guitarist Justin Poindexter from the band Silver City Bound (formerly The Amigos) who accompanied Tara on her original blues and folk songs. The pair have collaborated on three of Tara’s cds including “Good Things Come to Those Who Wait” (2011), “A Celt in the Cotton Club” (2013), and most recently, “Irish Bayou” (2015).

When Stella Pulo started, the audience started laughing. And they didn’t stop! Stella is quirky, hilarious, entertaining and, at times, poignant. With “Shrimp Shells in Her Cleavage,” she transported the audience to a place where she once was, vacuuming cockroaches and rabbit pellets from the bed of a “Dolly Parton” knock-off. Stella is an wonderful writer and performer, Sophie Kinsella and Tracey Ullman rolled into one.

When the silence gets thick enough to eat with a spoon, you know something good is happening on stage. Faye Franzini and Tue Hoe bared their own hearts and ripped each other’s in a scene from Brendan Connellan’s “Kill the Bid.” Two people can love each other very much but, sadly, it doesn’t mean they always agree. Wonderful courage from both actors to risk putting it all out there.

Richard Deane returned to the Artists Without Walls’ stage with 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.

How does someone who has spoken a different language all their life, write such evocative tunes in their second language? Martina Fiserova, Prague born singer songwriter does just that, delivering heart felt songs in spell binding performances as she did on Friday night. Martina performed a number of songs from her new CD “Shift”, which she is currently promoting. With the support of highly experienced soundman Paul Bevan, Martina captivated the audience; Her music was the evening’s icing on the cake. “Thank you for having the angelic Martina Fišerová on the bill last night – as always, her performance brought me to tears,” said Suzanne Bernier.

The next Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre will be on December 22. Hope to see you there for AWoW’s “Holiday Showcase.”

Photographs by Mitch Traphagen.

MITCH TRAPHAGEN'S PHOTOS of ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SHOWCASE at THE CELL, NOV 20, 2015

Mitch Traphagen’s photos from Artists Without Walls’ November 2015 Showcase at The Cell Theater in Manhattan. Performers and presenters included Tara OGrady, Stella Pulo, Tue Hoe, Faye Franzini, Richard Deane, Martina Fiserova and Alejandro Colon-Rabinowitz. Produced by AWOW’s artistic directors Charles Hale and Niamh Hyland. www.artistwithoutwalls.com.

Tue Ho and Faye Fazini

Justin Colon-Rabinowitz and Connie Roberts

Justin Poindexter and Tara O’Grady

Martina Fiserova

Justin Colon-Rabinowitz

Tue Ho and Faye Franzini

Richard Deane

Stella Pulo and Alison Armstrong

Tara O’Grady

Charles R. Hale

Gary Ryan, Sam Adelman, Pandora Maclean-Hoover, John Moran, Lynnell Herzer, Eric Hoover, Charles R. Hale and Annette Homann

Tara O’Grady and David Goldman

OUTSTANDING LINE-UP of TALENT for FRIDAY'S SHOWCASE at THE CELL

11998814_10153064976681109_797891839802251318_n-2 — **Tara O’Grady**

Tara O’Grady is the band leader of a dynamic group of elite NYC jazz musicians who have performed with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie to Debbie Harry. Her voice is usually compared to Billie Holiday, but she has a distinct sound all her own. The New York born singer-songwriter with Irish roots has four cd releases, and she has appeared in the BBC film Danny Boy – The Ballad That Bewitched the World which was nominated for Best Documentary at the Irish Film & Television Awards in 2014. Her recording of the famous song, Danny Boy, was recently ranked the #6 best selling jazz/blues mp3 in the UK.

Stella Pulo is a writer and performer. In 1992 she became the first Australian to be made lifetime member of The Actors Studio. Shrimp Shells in My Cleavage is a collection of stories, each set in a different country where Stella has lived and worked.

A longtime AWOW member, Brendan Connellan has written and staged multiple productions in New York City. Among them, Kill the Bid, Pompa Pompa, Death, Please and Python. He is currently completing two new ones called Gash and Savage and working on his novel.

Tue Hoé, who will be performing a scene from Connellan’s play, is originally from Denmark. He has lived and has worked in New York for the past five years since graduating from The William Esper Studio. He has worked both with theater and film in New York as well as Denmark.

Faye Franzini is a New York based Brazilian actress and singer. She studied acting with Bill Esper, at the William Esper Studio and improvisation at the PIT. Faye has been part of various theater, music and improv productions as well as written, directed and acted in some of her own projects.

Poet and novelist Justin Colón-Rabinowitz graduated from Dartmouth College in 2005. He has traveled extensively throughout Spain, the Dominican Republic, and lived in Puerto Rico. Justin will also be reading at the well-known literary space, the KGB, Bar next month as part of Hofstra University’s MFA fall program.

Prague born singer, songwriter and musician Martina Fiserova will be making her fourth appearance at an AWoW Showcase. She would also like to invite readers to her release party and introduce you to her latest CD “Shift”, which stamps her mark on the NYC arts scene, and was created both in Europe and in the USA. “Shift reveals the maturing and development of an artist, who is not looking back” – James Nadal, All About Jazz

Richard Deane spends his time between New York City and Rhinebeck and has been continuing to work on his novel “When Yesterday Comes” while free lance writing and editing for a periodical financial publication. Richard will be reading a scene from his novel about a young girl with amnesia who finds herself homeless on the streets of the city in the care of a stranger.

The Cell Theatre is located at 338 W23rd St in Manhattan. The doors and the bar open at 6:45. Hope to see you there.

PHOTOS from the ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SHOWCASE at THE CELL, OCT 22, 2014

Vera Hoar’s photos from the Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre, October 22, 2014. The names of the photographed appear above each photo.

Ron Vazzano

Laurie Lewis, Mike Visceglia and Liz Queler

Gibson and Warren Malone

Noah Hoffeld, Dan Yurkofsky and Melissa Stylianou

Sana Musasama

Richard Deane

Idan Morin

Steve Silver and David Sharp

STELLAR LINEUP for ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SHOWCASE at THE CELL, WED, OCT 22, 7pm

“Artists Without Walls allows the various artists to bring things they ‘make’ to The Cell, to share with others. Sharing my neon animations last night was a real honor. To have been able to offer the crowd a touch of fun and joy is the icing on the cake for an artist.” Jack Feldstein, animator and scriptwriter, after a recent AWoW Showcase.

And they’ll be more of the same on Wednesday, October 22nd, 7pm at The Cell Theatre, 338 W23rd Street, NYC.

Ron Vazzano is a writer and poet, and his monthly on line “Muse-Letter” (a mix of essays, reviews, poems, quotes, wordplay etc) just reached its tenth anniversary this month. Ron’s essays have been posted on the Artists Without Walls’ website and he’s also read his poetry on a number of occasions at Showcases over the past year. In a former life, he spent some years as an actor appearing in theatrical productions in New York City as well as on the road. Ron will be working in both capacities on Wednesday, doing a character monologue that he has adapted from an essay appearing on his website this month, entitled: “Ten Totems of Obsolescence in Passing.”

Laurie Lewis is a nationally and internationally acclaimed composer/producer/owner of Incommon Music, an original music production company, established in 1990. Incommon Music has produced hundred of scores and songs for film, commercials and multi media installations. Joining Laurie will be Liz Queler who is a touring and recording artist. Liz’s first theater piece ‘Still Will be

Heard’ was recently commissioned and produced by Montclair State University to rave reviews. AWoW is delighted to reunite Laurie and Liz – a songwriting and production team that began 25 years ago. They’ve developed a piece called “The Owl and the Pussycat” specifically for Wednesday’s performance.

World traveler, humanitarian and ceramic artist Sana Musasama will be joining us once again this Wednesday to discuss her efforts on behalf of abused young girls around the world and her work, which as she says, “Is about an experience that triggers an emotion, sometimes of a place or a time.” She then submerges herself with information that informs these ideas and concepts. “When I feel this overwhelming presence I poetically call my extra heart beat. I then pick up my clay and begin to build.” If you missed Sana when she visited us six months ago here’s another chance to meet this very compelling woman.

Singer/songwriter Warren Malone loves to sing, write songs and play guitar. “I love traditional folk music as much as I love a great pop song. The first record I ever put on was a Hank Williams’ record when I was four years old. As a kid I loved Elvis.” Joining Warren on the piano for some old time rock ‘n’roll will be his son Gibson Malone. If you haven’t heard these two play together you’re in for a treat

Richard Deane will be reading a scene from his novel-in-progress, “When Yesterday Comes.” At a reading earlier in the year Richard read a scene that 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. We’re looking forward to another excellent passage from Richard’s work.

Singer/composer Dan Yurkofsky will present two songs from his recently released CD “Hoverhill. “Although he now resides in New York City, many of the songs on the record are inspired by life in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he lived for several years. He’ll be joined by two of the outstanding musicians that play on the album: cellist Noah Hoffeld and singer Melissa Stylianou.

Idan Morin, a guitarist who hails from Israel and studied at the Tel Aviv Conservatory of Music and more recently at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary music in NYC, grew up studying the giants of jazz and musicians from all over the world. His ability to communicate without words is cleary present in his music and Improvisation.

Hope to see you at The Cell this Wednesday.

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

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.

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.

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, 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.

VERA HOAR’S PHOTOS from ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS’ SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE 4/22/14

Vera Hoar’s photos from the Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre, April 22, 2014. The names of the photographed appear above the photo.

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Michelle Macau and Ron Ryan