SPOTLIGHT on BROADWAY

     

 Spotlight on Broadway launches new website—Spotlightonbroadway.com—featuring videos about broadway’s 40 theaters and interviews
with 100 storytellers who made their mark on the great white way

Videos Celebrate the Unique Legacy of Broadway with Interviews Including Alan Cumming, Tony Kushner, Nathan Lane, Angela Lansbury, Chita Rivera and More

Permanent In-ground Map Featuring All 40 Theaters to be Installed in Times Square

Spotlight on Broadway—an interactive website and multi-media project featuring the history of Broadway—has officially launched with 40 videos that chart the evolution of Broadway’s 40 official theaters and honor the thousands of men and women who have worked on Broadway. Developed by the City of New York Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, in partnership with The Broadway League, each video was filmed inside one of the Broadway theaters and features insightful interviews with some of Broadway’s most legendary performers and creative professionals.

“New York City’s Broadway theater district is unlike anywhere else in the world, and Spotlight on Broadway brings its unique history together in a fun, new way,” said Commissioner Katherine Oliver, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. “Broadway is an important part of our City, contributing $11 billion to the local economy and attracting visitors from around the world. Spotlight on Broadway is a veritable who’s who of Broadway legends, and we’re grateful to everyone who took the time to share their experiences. Spotlight also pays tribute to those individuals whose names may never have appeared on a marquee, but whose contributions to Broadway are just as significant.”

“Spotlight on Broadway is a way to preserve the history of Broadway in a modern way that will surely engage all audiences,” said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. “The interactive media component is a treat for all who love the magic that happens inside a Broadway theatre, and the map installation will lead the way. This worthwhile and impressive project reflects the iconic collaboration between Broadway and New York City: past, present, and future.”

“Broadway is the most influential of all live entertainment mediums in our national culture, and Spotlight on Broadway is another way to delight the millions of fans who will be entering the doors of our theatres,” said Nick Scandalios, Chairman of The Broadway League, Executive Vice President of the Nederlander Organization and Chairman of the Spotlight on Broadway advisory board. “The photo galleries showcasing architectural details and the insights into careers in the theater are just some of the unique features on the website of this tremendous and exciting project. The in-ground map installation in Duffy Square will honor New York City and our 40 Broadway theaters, while helpfully showing the way.”

Over 100 storytellers share their experiences of Broadway—from renovating and designing the theaters, to constructing sets and choreographing legendary numbers or unlocking the key to a successful performance. Performers featured in Spotlight include: Matthew Broderick, Zoe Caldwell, Kristin Chenoweth, Glenn Close, Alan Cumming, Arlene Dahl, Harvey Fierstein, Sutton Foster, Victor Garber, Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Lansbury, Nathan Lane, Laura Linney, Joel Grey, David Hyde Pierce, Jeremy Irons, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Cynthia Nixon, Mary-Louise Parker, Adam Pascal, Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune and Ben Vereen, among others. Many of the interviews take place on stage or in the seats of the theater they’re discussing.

Playwrights, composers, directors and choreographers, including Tom Kitt, Tony Kushner, Kathleen Marshall, Alan Menken, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Diane Paulus, Bartlett Sher, Charles Strouse, Julie Taymor and George C. Wolfe, are also interviewed, along with creative professionals like scenic designer Eugene Lee, lighting designer Natasha Katz, costume designer William Ivey Long and many others. The videos are narrated by Eric Bogosian, David Hyde Pierce, Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell.

Another feature of the website is ‘Spotlight on Professions,’ which takes a look at the different careers in theater through interviews and conversations with various union and guild members who offer insights into jobs like composer, stage manager and sound mixer. SpotlightonBroadway.com also includes photo galleries showcasing architectural details of the individual theaters that most theatergoers never get to see, like the view of the audience from the actor’s point of view on stage. A mobile version of the site is also available designed to help people discover the history of the theater district during their visits to the area. Half hour editions of Spotlight on Broadway, introduced by actor Victor Garber, are scheduled to air on NYC life (Channel 25), the official network of the City of New York, later this month, beginning Sunday, October 27 at 9pm. NYC life is available in the New York tri-state area on broadcast, cable and satellite channels.

Later this year, an in-ground map made out of steel and granite will be installed in Duffy Square, the triangle bound by Broadway and 7^th Ave between W. 46^th and W. 47^th Streets in Times Square. The large-scale map provides a fun way for visitors to visualize the density of the world’s largest theater district while standing in the center of Times Square. Approximately 63 percent of Broadway audiences are tourists; in 2012, New York City welcomed 52 million visitors.

Spotlight on Broadway originally grew out of an idea from actress Arlene Dahl who wanted to commemorate the achievements of those who spent their careers on Broadway. Dahl was honored with a Spotlight on Broadway Award last fall and appears in the video about the Palace Theatre: “My dream was always to play the Palace. Like the song goes, unless you played the Palace you were nowhere. I thought this is where I was meant to be.”



Spotlight on Broadway is a project of the City of New York Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment with support from The Broadway League. Additional support has been provided by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Sony Masterworks Broadway, Jujamcyn Theaters, Nederlander Organization, Shubert Organization, the American Theater Wing, Company 3, Deluxe, Museum of the City of New York, New York Public Library, New 42nd Street Studios, Panavision, Playbill, Post Factory, Sardi’s, the Shubert Archive, the Theater Subdistrict Council, and labor unions and guilds.

The Spotlight on Broadway videos were produced, directed and written by Bobbie Birleffi, Beverly Kopf and TVGals Media in association with Ileen Gallagher, ISG Productions and Next Millennium Productions. The website was designed and built by Local Projects; the on-site installation was designed by Doyle Partners and Local Projects in partnership with Snøhetta.

    Article courtesy of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!!!

Hey Y'all,
I attended the Tomato Battle at Brooklyn's Floyd Bennett Field. New York City has copied the yearly tradition called La Tomatina from Bunol, Spain where people gather and have a tomato fight.
Organizers of La Tomatina gather spoiled rotten tomatoes and crush them. They bring them in on a dump truck where they pour them out on the town making distribution easy. Participants come from all over the world to get drenched in tomato sauce and have a huge food fight.
Brooklyn's event was good but it wasn't great. They piled the (whole) tomatoes in the middle of the field and had both sides of the field filled with hungry eager individuals. Once the battle began people went crazy so much so that they knocked down a fence and had people falling over each other. As you can imagine people were pitching those whole tomatoes like baseballs. I got caught three times between my face, rib and leg; it was like getting pelted by paint balls (only bigger). Both me and my combat buddy picked up the tomatoes and crushed them with our hands before tossing them at people (the proper thing to do). Thank goodness no one got hurt. Now, one thing people have to remember is that this event uses spoiled rotten tomatoes which after the event becomes compost (I don't think people would intentionally waste food).
After fifteen minutes the fruit started to melt and and become more of a soupy paste; making it a lot more bearable. People were scooping up the sauce to pour onto others, we stomped the juice on the ground to spray others. It was a good experience, I only hope they make the necessary changes for next year.

http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/185854/tomato-battle-takes-flight-at-floyd-bennett-field

Spain vs Ireland at Yankee Stadium

Hey Y'all,
I caught the Spain vs Ireland match at Yankee Stadium. No one scored in the first half but after half time both sides seemed determined to make something happen. Soldado and Mata managed to score in the second half. A lot of key players on Ireland's team were MIA (injuries, death, surgeries, etc). An offside call happened on an Ireland score which sent the Irish in uproar. Spain beat out Ireland 2-0.
These games are pretty laid back because none of the players want to risk getting injured- regardless I still love these matches!

Made in New York Awards 2013

Hey Y'all,
The Made in New York Awards (MiNY) are given each year to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to various fields in the City’s entertainment and digital media industries.
Honorees include: Tony and Olivier Award-winning actor Allen Cumming; Project Runway host and executive producer Heidi Klum; two time Oscar-nominated director Spike Lee; five time Tony Award-winning singer and actress, Audra McDonald; President of HBO Documentary Films Sheila Nevins; NYC-based blogging platform and social networking website Tumblr; and Harvey and Bob Weinstein, founders of The Weinstein Company and Miramax Films. This year’s “Made in NY” Mayor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to Emmy Award-winning television host and broadcast journalist Barbara Walters. This year’s awards also featured a special performance by Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots with an introduction by Harvey Fierstein. (Source: MOFTB). I was excited to see actor Rob Lowe in the audience (Gorgeous!).
Baked by Melissa staged a huge gumball machine where you can retrieve a miniature cupcake wrapped in those hard plastic globes and The Bosco company had a GIF Booth where you record MiNY moments.
Here are some pictures courtesy of Celina Sze.

Photos by Celina Sze 

(Source: Photo from Bosco)

Plié Your Way to Fitness

Hey  Y'all,
I took Ballet Bungee at Chaise 23 in the Flatiron district. Ballet Bungee (BB) was created by co-founder Rachel Piskin. Chaise 23 and Physicalmind Studio is owned by Rachel's mother, Lauren Piskin. Both women come from athletic backgrounds; Lauren was a competitive ice skater and Rachel was dancer at New York City Ballet. BB is exactly what it sounds like: ballet movements conducted while using bungee straps.
The second you walk through the door you are greeted and welcomed with open arms. I don't think I have ever felt more at home on a first time visit. The space has large windows and mirrors that reflect the sunlight everywhere, which I love. The changing area is cute and has everything you could possibly need to freshen up or use to put your hair up if you forgot to bring your hair clips. My class was taught by instructor Seiji Gammage who was great; he explained certain terms he would be using and guided us through the whole class. The class is 45 minutes but it felt like an hour and a half to me.

Because you're using the bungee straps for balance and resistance in combination with ballet movements, your moves must be controlled at all times. I took a ballet class once so I had an idea of what movements we were going to do but I had no idea what this workout was going to do to me. I was sweating up a storm, which is how I know how hard my body is working. BB kicked my butt (literally). Those pliés and turned out leg lifts were fierce. After your class is done you are pulled into a different room, where you put a mat down for some core exercises and stretches using the straps again. It's great way to end the class.
Ballet dancers have great bodies and if you're looking for one this is the place to get it.
For those of you not daring enough, Chaise 23 offers Reinvention Method classes, which is an intense cardio workout using a fitness chair. I'm taking this class next.

FOX Upfronts 2013

Hey Y'all,
The FOX Fall lineup is up. Returning shows include The Following, MasterChef and New Girl. Some of the new shows are Almost Human, Gang Related, Sleepy Hollow. I'm excited to see the comedy Surviving Jack with Christopher Meloni, love him! The show is about a dad named Jack who has taken on the role of parenting his children while his wife attends law school. This should be quite a change from dealing with the melancholy special victim children.

The Bacon Brothers performed! Yes, that is Michael and Kevin Bacon's band. They were great, you can tell Kevin really enjoys singing and playing the guitar, I only wish there was more room to dance.

Happy 20th Anniversary SELF Workout in the Park

Hey Y'all,
I attended SELF Workout in the Park in my New York City and it was amazing! What can possibly be better than working out in the well known Central Park and sampling products from great sponsors that benefit you?

                           

It poured early in the morning but subsided once everyone started lining up. We had great weather, so great that thunderstorms didn't begin until after the event was over and I set foot inside my house OH YEAH!!!

The event had both CancerandCareers and the Robin Hood Foundation charities participating. I love me some Robin Hood!
Special appearance from Bethenny Frankel, founder of Skinnygirl Daily.

                           

To help celebrate, Victoria's Secret gave us a look at their VSX Sport along with a $10 Dollar off coupon.

Rumsey Playfield was transformed into a workout beauty wonderland: three sections consisted of the Main Stage, Quiet Zone and Reebok Toning Zone. The other areas were filled with tents by Calvin Klein Euphoria, Wendy's, Skinnygirl Daily, Sweet'N Low, Zico, CRUNCH, Garnier and Green Mountain Coffee to name a few.

I took the Crossfit (WOD) which kicked my butt and had me drenched, literally. One of our drills was doing push ups (which I suck at) so once I lowered down I couldn't pull myself back up resulting in me hitting the ground with my body and wetting my clothes with the rain that fell hours earlier. I call this my bad ass workout! My goal was to perform every drill regardless how wet and dirty I got. Next was Fat Burning Pilates sponsored by Sweet'N Low. Great workout, I really stretched out; bonus, Sweet'N Low gave away pink yoga mats. With over 20 classes to choose from, they had something for everyone.

Garnier provided us with mini facials, Wendy's fed us a delicious chicken salad and Zico gave us coconut water that was so refreshing after all the sweating we did.
The cost for this event is $20 which you cannot beat, not only do you take all these classes and get free stuff you also receive a year's subscription to the magazine. Can you say AMAZING?
"Happy 20th SELF! I look forward to next year!"