Kiss Me, Kate is about actor/director Fred Graham trying to mount a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew with his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi in the leading role. Also included in the mix are musically inclined, gangsters. Featured will also be Cole Porter’s most classic tunes, “Another Openin’ Another Show,” “So in Love,” “Too Darn Hot,” and “Always True to You.”
Jahmar Ortiz as Fred Graham and Briana Gantsweg as Lilli Vanessi.Maclain Rhine and the company.
Leading the cast as Lily Vanessi is Briana Gantsweg, previously seen on the CRT stage in Born Yesterday and Rough Crossing. Playing Fred Graham is Jahmar Ortiz, who also continues their role as Director of Culture and Inclusion as they did for CRT’s production of Hair earlier this summer. Many different CRT interns perform in the production as well.
Kiss Me, Kate is directed by Mark Reynolds, who previously won the SALT award for Newsies (Best Musical), CRT’s record-breaking production of Footloose, Born Yesterday, The Rat Pack Lounge, The Kitchen Witches, and more. Choreographer Bryan Knowlton returns for a third summer after working on Mamma Mia! and Saturday Night Fever in the past.
Jahmar Ortiz as Fred Graham with Company.
The Cortland Repertory Theatre will also offer a “Friday Night Talk Back” after the evening performance on July 8th, with a Q&A session with the actors, director, designers, and crew. Tickets are also on sale for the rest of the summer season, which includes Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express and Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins.
The 30th annual Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg is back with over 80 performers on five stages during July 21-24 at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds.
The festival is held at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds in Trumansburg which is located about 10 miles north of Ithaca on the west side of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region of Central New York. Since the birth of the festival, the guiding quote has always been “to create joy in the midst of crisis is a powerful thing and brings magic to the table.”
Grassroots was founded by Donna the Buffalo, and is a mission-based organization that focuses on nurturing local artists and talent while reaching around the globe to bring world music and culture to new audiences to inspire creativity and foster community building. Four days before the festival there is a Culture Camp, which helps community building by having attendees going to four days of music and dance workshops led by regional and national artists.
Grandstand of Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance.
The festival is a one-day celebration of music featuring folk, psychedelic, experimental, jazz, and indie music, with local artists and more.
From The Ground Brewery is a New York State Farm Brewery that is committed to using New York State grown ingredients. It will be a beautiful backdrop for the day of music.
The lineup features a lot local and national artists. There are also a wide variety of genres going to be played during the day. Dominick & the Family Band will bring their country rock music to the stage while Joseph Allred will have a blend of soulful bluegrass and fingerpicked folk songs.
Artists like Elkhorn will play deep psychedelic folk anthems, and Ashley Paul brings a mix of free jazz and shoegaze. The show will find Chris Forsyth pairing in a one-time trio with percussionist and perennial collaborator Ryan Jewell, and experimental luminary Bill Nace.
To end the show, Wet Tuna brings their dubstep tunes contrasted with Jeffrey Alexander and The Heavy Lidders’ wiry psychedelic Americana and experimental blues. The legendary Laraaji will bring the show to a close with a sunset set.
For more information about the Deep In The Valley Festival and to buy tickets, go here.
The inaugural Unfiltered Jazz Festival presented by Fotografiska New York announced its lineup featuring some of the international music scene’s leading voices at one of the most unique venues in NYC.
Fotografiska New York
Fotografiska is a museum experience founded in Stockholm in 2010. It is a place to discover world-class photography, broad-ranging programming, amazing dining options, and more. It produces dynamic and unparalleled rotating exhibitions, spanning various photographic genres, with the mission to inspire a more conscious world through photography.
The Unfiltered Jazz Festival will happen on July 7, 14, 20, 21, and 22 and will be hosted in the museum’s stunning Loft space, celebrating New York City’s diverse musical heritage.
July 7 Unfiltered Jazz Festival Night I
Kicking off the festival is the record release for keyboardist/composer Erik Deutsch‘s eighth album La Nuit Blanche. The album translates as the white night and expresses what we all consider an all-nighter. The night will begin with Stuart Bogie’s newest improvising group, who was in the likes of Arcade Fire, Antibalas, JRAD, and more.
July 14 Night II
Night II includes a reunion show for Jennifer Hartswick’s beloved band of the 2000s, presented in collaboration with Dezron Douglas.
I am thrilled to spend the evening with three of my dearest friends, Dezron Douglas, Conor Elmes, and Joe Davidian. We have all been making music with each other since childhood, but it’s been years since we were on the same bandstand together…it is sure to be an epic reunion.
Jennifer Hartswick
July 20 Night III
Composer/trumpet player Jeff Beal returns to his roots in an evening of intimate chamber jazz, featuring world-renowned bassist John Patitucci and guitarist Steve Cardenas. Beal’s music has been featured in House Of Cards, having composed the score and played trumpet in the main title theme.
July 21 Night IV
Grammy-nominated harpist Brandee Younger and critically acclaimed Blue Note Records recording artist, vibraphonist Joel Ross. Younger is a classically trained musician and is known for expressive interpretations of traditional harp repertoire. Ross refines an expression true to himself and his generation, and in 2019 released Edison Award-winning Record KingMaker.
July 22 Night V
The final night features Brooklyn Raga Massive in a tribute to John McLaughlin with The Emerald Beyond. They continue to bring the world’s hottest fusion of Indian Classical and Jazz to Fotografiska.
For more information about the Unfiltered Jazz Festival and to buy tickets, go here.
The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival returns for its 24th season with five shows throughout August, following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Founded in 1999 by flutist Linda Chesis, the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival has been bringing world-class chamber music performances to the Cooperstown area. The festival has featured performances by the American, Juilliard, St. Lawrence, Jupiter and Jasper, String Quartets, and more.
This season, we are offering the Cooperstown community a collection of performances spanning an exceptionally wide range of musical styles and traditions.
Festival Founder and Artistic Director Linda Chesis
Grammy-nominated quintet Imani Winds are famous for their innovative programming and dynamic performances. They bring fresh energy and technical expertise.
The Verona String Quartet are multi-award winners and are returning to the festival with a program of Puccini, Beethoven, and Dvorak’s beloved “American” Quartet.
Beloved bar Union Pool in Williamsburg is closed temporarily due to a fire that injured 14 people and left seven hospitalized.
Union Pool damage.
According to fire department officials, a total of 14 people, including as many as 11 firefighters, required medical treatment at the scene near the corner of Meeker and Union avenues. The fire was underway before 6 A.M. and raged until close to 8 A.M.
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in Brooklyn that draws in young people with its chic boutiques, trendy cafes and buzzy restaurants. The waterfront has a great view of Manhattan, and seasonal venues provide live entertainment and great food.
The Union has a little bit of everything, great live entertainment, food, and bar spaces. As the area has grown, the bar has grown with it. From being a little neighborhood bar, the Union Pool is now something locals and beyond can enjoy.
Due to the fire, the bar posted on its Instagram “we will be closed for the next few days as we assess the damage.” The fire also engulfed a neighboring bodega and Peruvian restaurant.
Nightmare scene in Williamsburg this AM – huge fire at Union and Meeker, two buildings with massive losses (several apartments and two businesses, including long-time Peruvian fave Chimu) and damage to the neighborhood’s premier pickup bar (Union Pool). Hope everyone’s okay. pic.twitter.com/WhhqlElh0J
— Repositioning Play (@GoodGuyGuaranty) July 1, 2022
The cause of the fire is still being investigated. Latin soul icon Joe Bataan was supposed to perform a free set there at July 3, and Reverend Vince Anderson and his Love Choir were to have played at the venue on the 4th.
A new contract with theater owners and management allows hundreds of Broadway’s custodians, elevator operators, and restroom attendants to get a pay bump and an increased pension contribution from their employers.
Photo credit: Simon Davis-Cohen
In the new contract, the essential workers will get wage increases, increased pension contributions, and continued paid family healthcare 100% covered by their employers. The deal establishes a $15-per-week minimum payment to any workers who regularly do heavy lifting involving transporting playbills.
Lorraine Feeks who has worked on Broadway with Jujamcyn Theaters for 29 years spoke about the excitement of the new contract in a statement.
We have gone through a lot over the past two years. When Broadway returned, we were given all sorts of new cleaning duties. We do the hard jobs and we are risking infection, that makes us essential.
About 230 cleaners from four companies — Jujamcyn, Nederlander, Shubert, and Circle in the Square, which collectively manage 16 Broadway theaters — were represented by Local 32BJ in the contract negotiation. The contracts got pushed back because of the pandemic, and as a result, workers didn’t receive any wage increases in more than three years, despite their jobs becoming more demanding due to the pandemic.
Martha Aristizabal.
Martha Aristizabal, who has worked for the Shubert Company for more than 12 years, spoke about how more complicated their jobs have gotten, and the need for wage increases.
It can be hard to see the important work we do on Broadway, cleaning tirelessly to keep theatergoers safe. Since we came back to work, we have been asked to do a lot more to keep everyone safe. It feels good to get a new contract that reflects the contribution we have made during the pandemic. We deserve these raises, we deserve continued health coverage, and we deserve better retirement security!
– Martha Aristizabal, Shubert Company
This news comes just after The Broadway League announced that all 41 theaters on Broadway will go “mask optional” for the month of July and that the policy will be re-evaluated on a monthly basis going forward. Most theatres have also dropped their vaccine requirements.
The 2022 Summer at the Plaza Festival lineup has been announced. The festival will be at the Empire State Plaza in Albany and it will feature family-friendly concerts, movies, and festivals, starting with the annual July 4 celebration.
New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy announced the lineup and spoke about the festival in a statement.
Thousands of people come to our free Summer at the Plaza events each year with their family, friends, and neighbors to enjoy the great entertainment, delicious food, and beverages, and the amazing fireworks at New York State’s Independence Day celebration. We have an exciting lineup of concerts, festivals, and movies this year with something for everyone. I want to thank our generous 2022 sponsors whose support makes it all possible.
Summer at the Plaza 2022Events
July 4, 5 – 10 P.M. New York State’s 4th of July Celebration Presented by Price Chopper/Market 32 with a performance by Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas.
This annual event features live music and fun for the whole family, including a fireworks show. Each year more than 20,000 people gather on the Plaza and in the surrounding neighborhoods to enjoy the day, which includes a naturalization ceremony, dozens of food and craft vendors, activities for kids, and an evening of live entertainment leading up to the big pyrotechnics show.
Starship featuring Mickey Thomas.
July 16, noon – 5 P.M. Kids Day Presented by MVP Health Care featuring “Dino Ranch”
Kids Day is a day dedicated to activities that kids can do. There will be live music, face painting, horses, rock wall, balloon twisting, and more. Kids Day will feature characters from the animated series “Dino Ranch” and will be held in the parks on the east and west side of the state Capitol.
August 6, 2 – 7 p.m. Black Arts & Cultural Festival Presented by UpState New York Black Chamber of Commerce featuring SWV
The Black Arts and Cultural Festival is an updated take on a classic celebration of the traditions and cultural contributions of the Black community through music, art, dance, and more. The celebration will feature a performance by R&B group SWV, one of Billboard’s “Top 40 Female Groups of All Time.”
SWV
August 17, 11 A.M. – 9 P.M. New York State Food Festival featuring the Eli Young Band
The annual Food Festival pairs a wide variety of delicious food and beverages with an exciting lineup of free entertainment, featuring a country music performance by the Eli Young Band.
Eli Young Band.
September 14, 5 – 9 P.M. Hops & Harvest Festival
The Hops and Harvest Festival was first held in 2018, and it celebrates the best of what autumn has to offer in upstate New York. Headline performer to be announced.
September 24, 5 – 9 P.M. Hispanic Heritage Celebration featuring Charlie Cruz, Amarfis, & Fulanito
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the state’s annual cultural celebration, featuring live music and dancing inside the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. This year’s celebration will feature performances by musical acts Charlie Cruz, Amarfis, and Fulanito.
Amarfis.Fulanito (Photo by Brian To/FilmMagic)Charlie Cruz.
The Capital Concert Series presented by Miller Lite and DeCrescente Distributing Company offers four Wednesday evening concerts free to the public. Each performance starts at 5:30 P.M. with a list of award-winning and diverse artists.
Rock band moe. is the first act to kick off the Capital Concert Series Lineup. They formed at the University of Buffalo in 1990, and are known for their unique sounds and epic concert performances. They have played with well-known bands, like the Allman Brothers Band, Robert Plant, members of the Grateful Dead, and more.
Grammy-award-winners Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will headline the July 13 date of the concert series. Benatar and Giraldo, whose hits include “We Belong,” “Invincible,” “Love Is A Battlefield,” “Promises In The Dark,” “We Live For Love,” “Heartbreaker,” and “Hell Is For Children,” have created two multi-platinum, five platinum, and three gold albums, as well as 19 Top 40 hits.
Grammy-award-winning Jamaican-bred quintet Inner Circle has had a long string of successes stretching back to the 1970s. The King Yellowman Show won a contest and then went on to play reggae for crowds all over Jamaica and the rest of the world.
Inner Circle.The King Yellowman Show featuring K’reema & The Sagittarius Band
Melle Mel and Scorpio were members of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five which was the first rap group inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Sugar Hill Gang has released hits such as “Rapper’s Delight,” “Apache,” “8th Wonder,” and “Living in the Fast Lane.”
Melle Mel and Scorpio with The Sugar Hill Gang
The lineup for the Lunchtime at the Plaza Concert Series Presented by M&T Bank has been announced. The free outdoor concert series provides live music from noon to 1:30 P.M. on Wednesdays between June 1 and July 27 at the Empire State Plaza. New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy spoke about the lunchtime events in a statement.
The lunchtime concert series provides an excellent opportunity for state employees and the public to get outside and enjoy a live performance while eating lunch from one of the Plaza food trucks or shopping at the weekly summer farmers market. We want to thank M&T Bank for their generous sponsorship of this Summer at the Plaza event
Lunchtime at the Plaza Concert Series Presented by M&T Bank
The last set of events happening at Summer at the Plaza 2022 are the outdoor move nights in West Capitol Park starting at 8 P.M. for three Wednesdays, featuring classic films.
Capitol Park After Dark Movies Series in West Capitol Park
August 24 — “The Wiz”
August 31 — “Sunset Boulevard”
September 7 — “The Philadelphia Story”
All events for the Summer at the Plaza 2022 celebration are free. For more information on the events, go here.
The unique event features craft beer accompanied by live musical performances throughout the day and evening – topped off with a massive firework finale.
Over 50 NYS craft breweries will travel to share their unique brews with festival-goers, many of who had participated in the NYS Craft Beer Competition.
Heritage Hill sits on 300 acres of protected farmland and resides on one of the highest points and center of New York State. Nine counties can be seen from the venue, creating the perspective of being “top of the world.”
Heritage Hill
Dan Palladino, Owner of Heritage Hill Brewhouse, spoke about the excitement of hosting the BriteVibes Beer and Music Festival.
Our family is excited to be the new host of the BriteVibes Festival and we cannot wait for you to experience the beauty of our farm and location. As host of Empire Farm Days, we know how to host a great event and by partnering with NYSBA we are going to collectively give you a full-day experience you will never forget.
The Supreme Court overturned the landmark case Roe v. Wade this month, which deals a shattering blow to healthcare and reproductive rights, notably ending the constitutional right to an abortion. This passes it back to the states who will each decide what healthcare women can receive, instead of making the decision themselves.
Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The troubling decision comes as SCOTUS Judge Clarence Thomas adds that the Supreme Court “should reconsider” previous cases such as “Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell,” which protect contraception, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage, respectively.
New York is one of the many states who are going to allow abortions to continue. Gov. Kathy Hochul said it was a “dark day for women across this nation” who have “long fought for the right to have control over their own lives.” The ruling means that women will be forced to have “government-mandated pregnancies,” she added.
A lot of musicians took to different social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to show their outrage and frustration at the decision.
Manhattan-born influential singer Carole King took to Twitter to say “taking a right away from more than half the population affects every member of the family.”
More artists born in NYS, like Mariah Carey express their disappointment in the decision, Carey saying “It is truly unfathomable and disheartening to have to try to explain to my 11 year old daughter why we live in a world where women’s rights are disintegrating in front of our eyes.” Cyndi Lauper is rereleasing her song “Sally’s Pigeon” due to the decision.
Maggie Rogers tweeted “abortion is healthcare. bodily autonomy is a human right.” Phoebe Bridgers tweeted “fucking evil.” She also talked about the decision at Glastonbury Festival, while leading an anti-SCOTUS chant.
Olivia Rodrigo did something similar at the festival as well, name dropping each Supreme Court member who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, while also bringing out singer Lilly Allen to sing her song “Fuck You.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpc40dmPlVM
Artists who are not from the United States have also shared their thoughts. Pop-rock musician Yungblud spoke on Twitter, saying “The Supreme Court just ended a constitutional right to obtain an abortion, saying it should be left to each state to decide, this is horrible!” Swedish singer Zara Larsson also tweeted, in all caps, “MAKING ABORTIONS ILLEGAL WONT STOP PEOPLE FROM HAVING THEM, IT STOPS THEM FROM HAVING SAFE ONES.”
There are many many more musicians and celebrities who have shared their disappointment about the decision. Although things look bleak at the moment, hopefully the talk never stops and people keep going out and protesting to promote some real change the country desperately needs.
