Broadway Presents: Stars in the Alley

Photo By: Shanice Lewis

Music could be heard down the street as Broadway fans cheered and sang as they gathered in the Shubert Alley early Tuesday, May 21st for the annual "Stars in the Alley"event. Fans watched performers from over 20 Broadway shows put on a free concert with the help of a 12-piece orchestra.

Crowds filled Shubert Alley for the annual "Stars in the Alley" event. Photo By: Shanice Lewis

    The concert sponsored by United Airlines and hosted by Norm Lewis, Broadway's New Phantom from The Phantom of the Opera was in light of the upcoming Tony Awards on June 8. The concert featured performances from some of Broadway's most notorious musicals such as, The Lion King, Wicked, Kinky Boots, Newsies, Rock of Ages and so many more. Many of the performances came from 2014 Tony nominated actors and actresses. Musical theater fans enjoyed the free performance and also got a preview at some of the new plays coming to Broadway this fall.

For information on tickets and show dates for any Broadway shows visit : http://www.broadway.com/

MTA Holds Auditons for the 27th Annual Music Under New York Program.

Photo By: Shanice Lewis

   Singers, drummers, and guitarists anxiously waited on line to audition as The Metropolitan Transportation Association held its 27th annual Music Under New York program on Tuesday, May 13th. 
  Auditions were held at Grand Central Terminal where 60 soloists and groups were expected to perform in front of a panel of 35 judges.
     The Music Under New York program (MUNY) gives musicians the chance to perform in MTA subways on a scheduled basis. The auditions were being held to find new talent to be apart of the program and add to the already thousands of performances that take place in MTA subways everyday.
     MUNY provides New Yorkers and visitors with live performances as they travel while, also giving musicians a chance to express their art.
     The auditions featured artists from all over the world covering a variety of genres from jazz, rock opera, bluegrass to Chinese orchestral music. The musicians gave a five minute performance and were judged on the quality, variety and appropriateness of their music for the mass transit environment. However, of the 60 acts only 20 performers will be added to the MUNY program.
     Noah Jackson is a professional bass player who was apart of the audition as an invitation from a friend.
     Jackson, 25, originally from Detroit moved to New York four years ago to attend grad school at Manhattan School of Music. He's deep in the jazz scene and has played all around New York City, internationally as well and, was excited to be apart of MUNY'S event to help out his friend.
     Although, Jackson believes an event like this has it's benefits he said, "doing something like this to get famous is not the way to go."
     Jackson has been working at his profession for years and is a strong advocate of persistance and hard work. "Be true to yourself and be great; good isn't good enough, it takes work said Jackson as he shared his advice to young upcoming musicians.

Musicians wait in line to be called to perform at MUNY. Photo By: Shanice Lewis

     Stephanie Apperio came to Tuesday's event as not only a music fan but, a strong appreciator of musicians and the work that they do. She checks out subway musicians all the time and was actually invited by Eric Paulin's the Meetles Band (who play under the MUNY program) to play percussion.
  Apperio always wanted to play in a band , she even played piano as a child but, recalls dance as her "first love" and later got into theater. She came to the event because, she wanted to experience the audition process and called it a "great experience for everybody."
  "Any kind of playing and being in front of an audience is good for their development", Apperio said of the musicians in the auditions.
    The winners of the MUNY auditions will be announced by MTA in the upcoming weeks and will then be allowed to perform in the subway as long as the abide by the New York City Transit's rules.

Jackson on the right, waiting in line for his friend. Photo By: Shanice Lewis

    

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Students, seniors and members of the Jamaica community gathered at the Milton G. Bassin Performing Arts Center at York College for a theater production of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Photo By: Shanice Lewis

   On Tuesday May 6th, shortly after noon York College's theatre department put on whimsical play about the fight for true love. The play depicts Theseus, the Duke of Athens who is preparing for marriage but, is sought by Egeus who needs the Duke's help. Egeus is trying to convince his daughter, Hermia, to take Demetrius as her husband but, she is already in love with Lysander. Lysander and Demetrius are both in  love with Hermia but, Demetrius once loved Helena, who is still in love with him. The Duke tells Hermia that she must obey her father's wishes or be put to death. She and Lysander decide to run away from Athens and elope but, Demetuis is informed of this and decides to follow them into the woods.
  In the woods filled with mystery, magic and fairies Oberon, King of the fairies and his wife Queen Titania have a disagreement and, Oberon sends his servant to find a herb that will make people fall in love with the first creature they see. While in the woods King Oberon overhears Helena pleading for Demetrius' love and, instructs his servant to sprinkle the herb in Demetrius' eyes so that he may love Helena back. However, the servant accidentally sprinkles the herb in Lysander's eyes and Lysander awakens to Helena with whom he immediately falls in love with.

In the end the servant realizes his mistake and is forced to correct it by the King. Each person is now with their intended love as they all marry off and live happily in love.

  The play directed by York College assistant professor of Performing & Fine Arts, Tom Marion, featured several York students as well as members of The Gloria Eve Dance Company in Hempstead. It was my first time attending a York play and I really enjoyed it. There was great music, dance and comedy that the rest of the audience enjoyed as well.

Clifford Shouter ,who attends Theodora Jackson Adult Center in Jamaica said, they told him about the production going on at the school. He said it was his first time attending and he didn't know what kind of show it was but, he "wanted to experience it." 

"It was very nice, I really enjoyed it and yes, I will come back" said Shouter.

The cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream receive a standing ovation. Photo By: Shanice Lewis

Timothy Bowden

Photo By: Shanice Lewis

My blog is dedicated to performers and artists many of who want to start off careers in the music industry. They're performing in subways and on sidewalks to hopefully grab the attention of some music executive or earn enough money to start an album but, I wanted to take a look at someone who formerly performed in train stations and see where they've gone. I'm often curious myself as to what these subway performers do when they don't reach stardom or they don't get to where they want. I was able to catch up with one artist who was extremely grateful that he took that chance in performing in the subway.
 Timothy Bowden is a Queens rapper who has his first performance at 34th St. Penn Station to thank for such a huge growth in his music career. Bowden first started performing in subways back in 2011 and from the positive feedback he was able to release several mix-tapes his first being Time Is Money (TIM) released on popular rap site DatPiff. From that first performance Bowden has done so many performances on channels like BCAT and for companies such as Time Warner. He has even landed himself a manager and labeled himself as an independent artist. Growing up in church and playing the drums, music has always been a part of him but, he eventually wants to venture out and try his hand at other interests.

S: When was the first time you started performing in the subway?

                        TB: That was when I was molding myself to learn the streets because, that’s what artists have to do to be one with the fans and that was back in 2011.

S: And how was that first experience?

           TB:  Nervous. Nervous and at the same time you don’t know the reaction of a fan because, the song that I was doing was called “Throw Ya Hands and Take 2 Steps” and I was actually worried about someone really doing the dance. You know it’s busy people are going to work or just lolly-gagging so, it was kind of a mixed feeling. It’s amazing how I did get a lot of people’s attention.

S: Why’d you choose the train station as a place to start performing?

TB: The train station is good place to perform any type of song because, you have a different audience. You have all types of cultures coming through. You get a lot of good reactions and some bad like, “I didn’t like that song because, it had a lot of cursing or I really like the message." You get all types of responses.

S: So, at what age did you start performing in general? When did you realize that I  want to be a rapper, this is what I want to do?

           TB: To be honest with you, I first performed when I was eleven but, I didn’t really look at it as performing, I was just in front of people rapping. [laughs] But, to seriously say when I was really performing I would say I was about 23/24 and I had a chance to do a café karaoke contest which you had to pay for because, it was a prized winner. I came in second place; I remember that like it was yesterday.

S: Who are your influences, who inspired you to start in music?

           TB: My first influence to this day is my grandmother Vernell Bowden ‘cause she started her own corporation, her own studio company and she helped start SWV which is a girl group that is still well known today. When I go to her house she has plaques all over and, it inspires me and lets me know that there’s better tomorrows and you might not see your blessings now but, down the road you will. Also, my father plays the piano and my uncles are DJ’s but, my grandmother really supports me by buying my music and giving me feedback on it.

S: What’s the most interesting thing that has happened to you while performing?

           TB: I met 50 Cent and I got to talk to him. I have a song called “Queens” after hearing it he really gave me some encouraging words. You know, he’s a busy man and for him just to take the time out to talk to me a little bit made me feel really good.

S: Would you say that your confidence has boosted since that first time you performed in the subway?

           TB: Definitely, it’s been an inspiration from going to subway performances to literally being paid to perform. It’s allowed me to do so many things and go so many places. Those people that you see performing their talents in the train station it’s a blessing because, it takes a lot of heart, time and it takes patience.  You’re going to have a lot of haters – I don’t really want to call them haters, just people that don’t see your vision.

S: Has there ever been a time where you wanted to just quit and give up?

           TB: I think when I didn’t see the money that I put out come back in, that was the only time.

S: Where do you want to go with your talents?

           TB: Well, I just dropped another album and I’m waiting on feedback from that but, probably by 2018 I’ll be done with music. I really want to get into film because I've enjoyed doing my own videos so, I’m building a reputation to let people know that I’ve done music before.

S: So even if you haven’t gotten where you wanted to be as a musician you’re still going to quit in 2018?

           TB: I’ve truly gotten where I needed to be but, as far as being signed to a major label, I really didn’t want that, I wanted to be independent. It’s the best way because, you get more done that way. I know that I put in enough time to say that I’ve done music. I don't want to say I'm giving up I'm just moving on to new things. Music never stops though, artists just take breaks.

Check out Timothy's Soundcloud: TimgotBars

Jowzay

Meet Jowzay, a singer-songwriter from Africa who has made his way to New York City in hopes of becoming a famous musician. I met him at the Fulton St subway station performing his rendition of Drake's "Hold On We're Going Home." Jowzay's guitar and singing skills allows him to perform wherever there's an audience. He can be found in New York City subways, open mic nights and private events.

Check out his Youtube page where you can find more of his covers to artist like Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars and Daft Punk!

Blog It!

I found a few blogs that have a similar idea to mine they're not exactly what i want my blog to be like but, I was able to get a feel of the direction I want my blog to be like.

• The first is a Tumblr blog which I really love. I have a Tumblr account myself, I think they are they greatest thing ever. This blog provides pictures and videos of street performers from New York to New Zealand and all the way up north to Canada. I love the diversity about it. I'm only centering my blog around NYC but, when I'm able to travel I would love to add performers from other cities and countries as well.
• Concrete Beat was another blog I came across, it's pretty outdated but, my favorite thing about it was the little biography it gave with each artist. That's something I definitely want to do with my blog. After all the whole point of the blog is to let people know what talent is out there. I think its important to give these performers some recognition.
• This last blog was pretty different from the others, it offered tips from veteran street performers on how to up your performance skills and really capture audiences. This may be something I may want to incorporate in my blog too. I think it would be cool to get a tip from each performer and construct a list of my own for upcoming street performers.

No Strings Attached - Shante Marie

Hand in Hand
swinging with so much laughter and joy
a zest for life shared between us like we would live eternally.

Lips to Lips
laying passionate long kisses, some how intercepted by our wondering
tongues
the feeling of soft lips pressing against one another
LOVE!

Eyes gazing into Eyes
I felt as if you saw all my fears and secrets not yet released
like we could see our future together.

One on One
special moments, insiders, love like no other
that no one could ever understand...

WE shared a bond like no other
a bond so tight that even screw drivers or drills couldn't break
APART...

Apart we are now... going our separate ways
talking to other people, distant but yet so close
I miss you! I miss us! I miss we!

I miss my bestfriend, my heart & soul, I miss my everything!
But know that our love is strong enough that like magnets we will be one again
like a puzzle, like the old days..
Remember when we held hands, kissed, stared in each others eyes
ALONE

Ohh that word ALONE explains how I feel now that you're gone!

Goodbye Letter to Satan -Cristina Small

Dear Lucifer,

        Thank you for the past 17 years of my life we've spent together. It was great but I have to leave you. Do you remember when I always looked for reassurance in relationships like, Baby tell me you need me or please tell me you love, just because I needed to hear it. But now I know not from you, from him. The only man to lay his life not on the line but on a cross, cross my heart and pray on bruised knees and bleed tears from blind eyes because I was afraid to see the shame in the reflection from the rain God wept to let me know he's hurt too. Since he's a man that never lied, I aiming to be a woman that always tells the truth, so listen. I remember the first time we met. You took the form of a mother and you placed to weight of the world on my pre-pubescent body, I cracked. At the age of 9, you told me that I was a woman now and I’d have to defend myself. Discouragement fell from your lips like the walls of Jericho and that was the first time you broke my spirit. I was raised with a hate so strong we grew closer. By the age of 12 you took the form of a man and you hugged my body so tight I had mistaken you for Christmas sweaters. Daddy said that this was only supposed to be between husband and wife, so I pushed you away. That was the first time I told you no. One year later, you turned into my first love and you told me that we'd grow old together. After we separated, you turned my womb into a tomb and I figured that you were all I had so I made tally marks across my skin to count the days we spent together. I was certain that this is where I needed to be. I finally grew up and you explained the luxury of college. Me living on my own is what I needed and I'd succeed in anything I wanted to be. We made plans for bright futures with no dull moments. There was no looking back. Then one day, you took the form of a senior advisor and told me that you didn't see the end that you promised but I knew promises were made to be broken, so I’m breaking the promise I made you 17 years ago that binded me to the world from birth where I showered in sin and hid from God since he knew what was right. But doing wrong felt so right so I confided in you. But all you ever did was kill spirits and break bodies and crush unborn dreams so they couldn't awaken the dead soul and wounded flesh you have made of me. I will no longer fall victim to I love yous with warm embraces in cold arms. No longer search for kisses from dead lips, you no longer complete me. But I got a man now and they call him Jesus. He is a stronger force then you could ever match up to so I dare you try him. Not tryna sound clichéd but you lost a good thing and you lost a soul because I believe in him now. So once again thank you for the past 17 years of hell you put me through because heaven never looked so much brighter.

                                                                                                 Sincerely,

                                                                                                       Your Lost Love

Winter's Here, Summer's Lost

Art's Direction

When people think of art, they usually think of paintings and drawings but, to me its so much more. Art is a combination of feelings and thoughts that are expressed through any outlet, wheteher it be photography, music, poetry or drawing. A piece of art can tell so much but only the artist can really explain what they were thinking when they created their creation. Art is really something deep within each person. I use to be bitter at the fact that I could not draw but, that wasn't MY art. I had a great ear for literature and a perfect hand that always carefully caressed a pen and paper. My art was writing, and my thoughts streamed from my brain down to my hand and spilled out on paper. So I really admire artists of all aspects because it takes a lot to find YOUR art but, when you do its the best discovery ever made.

Faded

Def Jam Poetry Slam

People can read you through your eyes. They tell a story, your story and it's up to you whether you want to reveal it or not.

Something to Think About ..

I've never thought about this until I came across this quote.

Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean is a fairly new artist and his music is amazing. He's so smooth and he talks the truth in all of his songs. He's an artist that doesn't hold back his true feelings which is really admirable, especially coming from a man.

Poetry was never really an issue for me, I would have to read the poem a few times in order to understand it but, I think that's pretty normal. However, I would just read a poem just becasue I had to, I didnt really care about the connections the author was trying to make or the even tone and theme. Now, when I read poetry I want to get more out of it, there's always a hidden message I believe. Its a way to better understand language. The theme and tone of a poem definitely allows one to connect emotionally and mentally on another level.When you understnd the theme and tone of a poem there's so much more life to it. Each time you read it you learn something new, which is really remarkable. I really applaud poets for all the thought and time they put into their work. Even if it is really short, it is still a masterpiece in it's own way. Writing poetry isn't easy, it takes time, effort and patience but, the outcome is always pretty tremedous.

Savoring the Moment

Music is often used as a form of therapy, we turn to it when we are feeling down or when we just want to forget about everything and just dance. We know every lyric, pause and break in a song, but what we fail to realize is that music is poetry. To sum it all up it is poetry with a nice beat and captivating hook. The themes and tones of many songs and poems often complement each other. It can be the most overplayed song such as Nicki Minaj’s “Moment for Life”, that can have a great connection to two poems like “A Dream within a Dream” and “Alzheimer’s.” This song and these two poems share a theme of savoring the moment and share a tone of optimism.

“A Dream within a Dream” brilliantly written by Edgar Allen Poe is a favorite of mine. It depicts dreams and how they tend to slip away. We live in a real world but we prefer fantasies because they are ours and go accordingly to how we view them. The line “And I hold within my hand grains of the golden sand. How few! Yet how they creep through my fingers to the deep…” is one of my favorites in the poem. All these hopes, dreams and even memories we have, we so badly want to hold on to but we can’t. In Poe’s poem he talks about losing something he had which appears to be a partner. He says “Take this kiss upon the brow, and it parting from you now, thus much let me avow” which is his way of declaring a good-bye.  He talks about departing from her and questions if what they had was real. He wants to hold on to it so badly, but it’s slipping away from him. This poem relates so much to the song because both poet and lyricist are holding on to a dream (PoemHunter).

Alzheimer’s is a disease closely associated with dementia. It is characterized by memory loss, confusion and emotional instability. The hardest part about having Alzheimer’s is not being able to remember the most enjoyable highlights of your life. The poem “Alzheimer’s” by Kelly Cherry follows an old man who obviously has the disease. He remembers parts of his younger years but not his wife. This poem may act as a counter point to the theme savoring the moment, but it actually contributes to it. Alzheimer’s is all about memory loss, but there are still parts in one’s life that are clearer than say what one did yesterday. In the poem the old man, “remembers the walkway he built in between the front room and the garage, the rhododendron he planted in back” (16-17); these were significant moments that the old man remembered. Alzheimer’s victims tend to remember moments most dearest to them. These are moments that they savor because they are historically great and memorable.

 The song “Moment for Life” talks about finally living a dream and wanting to savor that moment for life. It is about appreciating and holding on to the little moments because we do not know how long they will last. Nicki Minaj is a fairly new rapper who has become a mainstream phenomenon. She went from rapping on mix tapes to selling millions of albums and going on sold out tours. This was her dream and it has become real and she wants to hold on to it as long as she can. Throughout the song there is the use of rhyme scheme, in one particular line she says. “I wish that I could have this moment for life, because in this moment I just feel so alive”, which reassures the listener that this time in her life and career is huge (MetroLyrics). No one wants to see their dream deferred, so that is why a perfect theme is savoring the moment. In the song she talks about how she came from a neighborhood in Queens and now she is in Hollywood. Her tone is appreciative but yet optimistic, she’s eager to find out what’s next in store for her.

Optimism is a great tone because in both poems and song there’s a sense of curiosity. Poe questions “Is all that we see or seem a dream within a dream?” He’s searching for more. Minaj also demonstrates optimism as she says “And I will retire with the crown, yes!” which is a bit of a stretch considering her reign has just begun. In “Alzheimer’s” when the old man actually remembers it is a sign of optimism. It takes a lot for an Alzheimer’s patient to remember and the ability to remember even for a minute is the most satisfying action. In both poems and the song the tone really stretches the emotion that the writers are trying to give. Minaj is really appreciative of all that she’s accomplished, but she’s not ready to throw in the towel just yet. Poe left his love, but he wants to go on to see what else is out there for him. Cherry provides the old man with the strength to remember. All these writers show optimism in their pieces because they are searching for something more. They may have come to a brick wall, but they are finding a way to move around it.

            The themes and songs of many songs often complement each other. Savoring the moment has been a reasonable theme for both poems as song. The tone optimism has also shown to fit well. In a Dream within a Dream by Edgar Allen Poe we see a man departing for his love but being grateful for the moments they shared.  His optimism shows as he questions whether his time with her has been a dream. Kelly Cherry shows an old man remembering himself years ago, he savored those special moments of his younger years. In the song Moment for Life, Nicki Minaj raps about how much she’s achieved and how she will forever cherish these moments. All of these works of art show optimism and moments being savored.

Freedom

One quote that we discussed that I really connected to was "Freedom is never volunteerily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." People sometimes allow themselves to be oppressed. They're scared to use the voice they were given, so they go along with what they are told to do or what is expected of them. Some don't have the courage to declare for themselves. In life nothing's ever handed to you; you have to fight for what you believe in and speak up when you think equality is being overlooked. Nothing is free especially "freedom", many people take it for granted, but its something that should be cherished. One's own freedom defines them. Throughout American/World history our own people had to fight for their freedom. We went through wars and slavery so that one day we could stand on our own two feet and make a decision for ourselves. There were episodes like the Civil Rights Movement and the Holocaust that went on for years because the people knew they deserved better and were't going to stop unless they got it. Overall, its just important to educate yourself and know what you want in life and just strive for it. No one pushes you harder than yourself.

This is such an amazing song and the video is even better. I love when artists tell stories with their music and videos.