Sights, Sounds & Surprises!

Our Greatest Gift

Thu, 4 Aug 2011 22:18:00 -0400

It seems like a cliché, surely because it is the oldest saw: health is our greatest asset.
As Hippocrates said:
“A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn by his own thought how to derive benefit from his illnesses.”
I was sidelined recently with no warning. The greatest lesson I’ve derived? Regaining a deep appreciation for my health, and for the kindness of my nearest and dearest, who have nursed and coddled me. Also a deep and abiding respect for those I work with. I recognize it daily, but with distance I see even more clearly: the troupers of Broadway deserve more than a round of applause, they deserve bouquets, kudos, huzzahs and spas. They deserve it all. The gypsies I work with are incredible souls with bodies of steel! How do they do it?! MIRACULOUS MORTALS!
Gratitude, gratitude, such boundless gratitude, for the spirits I am fortunate to know and be near.
And thanks for tea, good simple black delicious tea, which comes in a close second to sleep as the greatest restorative to my health.
Thanks.

Rise Above

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 01:58:49 -0400

The wonderful band Carney (namely Zane Carney, guitar, Reeve Carney, guitar and lead vocals, Aiden Moore, bass, and Jon Epcar, drums, all of whom play Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark on Broadway) will open for U2 tonight in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.
As an homage to the end of the U2 360° tour and the long wonderful haul that any journey is, here is a beautiful music video of Rise Above 1. Reeve Carney, Bono, The Edge (along with gifted members of the Spider-Man cast -- flyers, dancers, performers) give us a moving portrait of letting go and growing.
Hey, and FOLLOW THE FINAL CONCERT on TWITTER using hashtag #U2360MON or #U2360CAN!

Broadway Barks 13!

Wed, 6 Jul 2011 23:59:08 -0400

Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore, the founders (among others) of Broadway Barks, bring the 13th annual event to Shubert Alley on Saturday July 9.

Please do come and see the faces of these beautiful creatures who need homes. That one might belong to YOU!!! Come see us between 5 pm and show curtain! Bernadette and Mary will be there of course, along wth most of your Broadway community! See your favs and get your fav pups!
I will be there, along with Reeve Carney and Jennifer Damiano, and my great friend and fellow “Boy from Oz” alum Michael Mulheren, representing our Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark fellows.
Read more here!
Follow on Twitter!
Are you a FaceBook person?! Friend Broadway Barks!

Impromptu Summer Linguine

Tue, 5 Jul 2011 23:22:42 -0400

This perfect summer day had me yearning for artichoke hearts.
So in the late afternoon, I peeled all the cloves in a head of garlic, and added three more for good measure.
I used my kitchen shears to cut up a good handful of sundried tomatoes into a large bowl, took a fistful of my out of control oregano and threw it in, squeezed a whole lemon on top of that, cut some of the sumptuous rind into tiny slivers and tossed it in with some extra virgin olive oil, ground up my Malabar black pepper on top, with some coarse sea salt, and a shake of red pepper flakes.
I fried up a whole bunch of beautiful artichoke hearts with the garlic until crisp a la Siciliana, while boiling up a bunch of linguine, which I drained and put into my yummy ingredient bowl, and added at least a half pound of the most piquant reggiano.
I stirred that around, divided it between two bowls for my lucky sharer and me.
All of those delectably crisp artichokes with all that garlic: I spooned them onto our pasta bowls and put more parm on top and a handful of parsley on each for beauty.
Definitely BON appetit.
I LOVE SUMMER EATS!

Métrazur: Greatest Hits

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:47:28 -0400

Alexander McQueen at the Met

Sat, 4 Jun 2011 11:43:07 -0400

Breathtaking, skillful, beautiful, otherworldly, disturbing, frightening, ethereal, visceral, earthy, dark, luminous, sensuous, sexy, incredibly moving.
I went finally to experience the McQueen retrospective at the Met.
I see no way I can possibly add to the great wealth of eloquent reviews that exist, except to say that Alexander McQueen, according to what I have read of him, and according to his own quotes as to how he wished his work to affect people, achieved his goals.
I am sad that he is no longer, that his beautiful art has been finally given its due only posthumously.
Please go experience this vibrant and beautifully presented retrospective.
Get the audio tour: McQueen’s work speaks for itself, but many others speak lovingly and eloquently about him and working with him.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art will add Mondays to accommodate the overflowing crowds.
Here is another photo I took of Bergdorf’s windows. After learning more about McQueen, I now believe he would appreciate the reflections of the windows encasing the fashion (and kudos to the gifted window designers and dressers).
More information about the added hours and extension can be had by clicking here.

There’s Something About Spidey

Mon, 23 May 2011 21:37:51 -0400

Henri is a Spider-Man fan. A REALLY HUGE Spider-Man fan (according to his aunt, my friend Bernadette Quigley, he emulates the webslinger whenever possible, and of course, has “the suit”). Bella, Henri’s sister, a wise 7-year-old, knew exactly what she wanted to give him for his birthday: A SPIDEY CAKE. But no ordinary one: a mini-Manhattan full of skyscrapers topped by several Spideys in action; one made entirely of CAKE! Magnificent! Judging from the photo, George Tsypin (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark scenic designer) might have found a protégée?! Such a great young artist!
Happy Birthday Henri! I hope we get to see you at Spidey On Broadway soon! Meanwhile, thanks for keeping the streets safe in your hometown, and for being one of the biggest and youngest Spider-Man fans I know!

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 11:45:58 -0400

Farewell to the Geeks: Gideon Glick, Jonathan Schwartz, Mat Devine and Alice Lee. As we bid good-bye to Julie’s (perhaps unfinished) vision of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, the photo above, taken by our own Edge while on U2’s 360 Tour, seems an appropriate image and homage. Louise Bourgeois is the sculptress, and here is her quote about “Maman,” her 9 meter-high spider-creation:
“The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver. My family was in the business of tapestry restoration, and my mother was in charge of the workshop. Like spiders, my mother was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences . . . helpful and protective, just like my mother.” Louise Bourgeois, on “Maman”

Though people depart and webs change, souls remain. Wishing us all well: here is “Rise Above,” featuring Reeve Carney as Peter Parker and TV Carpio as Arachne.

Outer Space Is Looking Better and Better

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:19:25 -0400

If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Not as easy as they make it seem on TV, but here is an amazing video I found (courtesy Jason Kottke’s website) in case you are contemplating an extraterrestrial holiday,
Meanwhile, since we are all swimming around this blue planet, you can give to Japan at Doctors Without Borders, or directly to Japanese Red Cross (¥8000 = $100).
According to Kottke, “there is no 3-D CGI involved in this amaZzing Saturn fly-by video...it’s made from thousands of hi-res photographs taken by the Cassini orbiter. Wait for the full-frame full-color video starting at around 1:00.”

Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara Going Strong!

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:01:06 -0400

A series of fortuitous meetings and greetings led me to this fantastic rediscovery! Stiller & Meara! That amazing duo of improv and hilarity are still at it! Check out their website and their latest escapades at their video site, which contains at least 23 episodes (and counting) of their social commentary via comedy!
My parents were not comedians but I laughed a lot at their dynamic, not to mention their material, and Stiller & Meara capture that hard-to-describe “I love you and I also could wring your neck right now” that only couples who have been together for forty-some-plus years can. They always had it, but now they got even more of it!
What would mom and dad be? Keating and Rodriguez sounds clunky. Maybe Carmen and Jim?

Doris from Rego Park in Don Rosler’s Ears

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 22:34:53 -0500

If you do nothing else today, please read Ken Plutnicki’s moving and brilliantly laid-out piece about Doris from Rego Park and the homage in song pitched to her from our friend Don Rosler. “Doris from Rego Park,” written and performed by Rosler, has been receiving radio play on Jonathan Schwartz’s weekend shows on WNYC-FM (93.9) since its debut there on February 12, and WFAN-AM (660) featured it in a tribute to Bauer on February 14. “The song is a valentine to baseball and Bauer, for sure,” writes Plutnicki, “but also about connection: the way all those lonely voices reach out on local sports radio, in the wee hours when they should be fast asleep.”
Kudos to the New York Times for posting its blog entry at 2:10 am. At the top of the song Rosler sings:
Doris from Rego Park Calls by day, and calls by dark. She just phoned in at 2:10 a.m. In N.Y.C. on F-A-N.

You can get the song by clicking here, and get the CD on which it is included by clicking here to take you to the album page at CD Baby, and soon at iTunes.

(posting corrected on 3/8/11 at 17:38)

Mark Berman’s Latest!

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 21:34:32 -0500

Mark just returned from DC via Ithaca where he tore up the Steinway with the brilliant Neshama (daughter of Rabbi Schlomo Carlebach). Neshama is a visionary who collaborates with the great Green Pastures Baptist Church Choir (led by the inspiring Reverend Hambrick) to mix the sounds of Carlebach with those of African American spirituals. Follow Neshama at her website!
And be sure to check the Oprah Winfrey Network also, Kidnapped By the Kids, at least for the opening, to hear Mark’s funny and amazing theme song! Show premieres this spring!

Isabel Answers Spider-Fans’ Questions!

Sun, 6 Mar 2011 23:45:06 -0500

Hi guys! I was happy to answer questions you submitted via our Spider-Man facebook page and on Twitter @SpideyonBway. If you want to ask more questions, be sure to stop by and become a friend on facebook, and definitely follow us on Twitter. Check out the Spider-Man blog too, where you can read some great features from our cast and crew! And extra-specially, come and see us at the Foxwoods if you have not already!

Celebrate MLK, Jr. FREE!

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 20:29:25 -0500

Come out for a free concert to celebrate the legendary Martin Luther King, Jr.! Mark Berman plays grooving gospel piano as Neshama Carlebach and Reverend Hambrick with members of the Green Pastures Baptist Church mix it on up with the sounds of Carlebach and African American spirituals. Also featured on the bill are trombonist Craig Harris and choreographer Bridget Moore and dancer Juel Lane, emceed by Ruth Messinger. Keynote address is by Rev. Dr. Suzan D. Johnson Cook. No ticket required! Symphony Space is at Broadway at 95th Street. See you there!