TM
2011 SEASON
THEATER
DANCE
MUSIC
PRESENTED BY
QUEENS STATEN ISLAND MANHATTAN
MAINSTAGE BROOKLYN BRONX
PRIVATELY FUNDED PUBLICLY ENJOYED City Parks Foundation is a non-profit organization. Contributions are used to support our free programs in Sports, Education, the Performing Arts, and Community Building, all helping to keep parks throughout New York City vital centers of civic activity. SummerStage is privately funded by people like you. Visit CityParksFoundation.org and click the DONATE NOW button or mail checks payable to City Parks Foundation, 830 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10065.
WELCOME TO THE 2011 SEASON OF SUMMERSTAGE, PRODUCED BY CITY PARKS FOUNDATION This is the complete guide to the 2011 Season of SummerStage— New York City’s largest free performing arts festival. Brought to you by the City Parks Foundation, SummerStage brings free concerts, dance, theater, word and film to parks in ALL FIVE boroughs. This season introduces mini-festivals—consecutive runs of programs in neighborhood parks. And, this season brings another incredible slate of emerging and established artists to neighborhood parks near you. The booklet you’re holding is organized in chronological order. Then, each borough has its own color key: Brooklyn . . . . . . . . . Bronx . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens . . . . . . . . . . . Staten Island . . . . . Manhattan . . . . . . . Mainstage in Central Park . . . . .
Don’t forget, SummerStage needs your support. To support the festival, go to SummerStage.org to become a member - or to donate.
SummerStage City Parks Foundation Privately Funded. Publicly Enjoyed. Follow us:
300+ ARTISTS 100+ PERFORMANCES 18 PARKS 5 BOROUGHS 1 FESTIVAL 1 CLICK AWAY SUMMERSTAGE.ORG
MAINSTAGE Music Yo-Yo Ma / The Silk Road Ensemble / Silk Road Connect Students / Medeski Martin & Wood / Josh Roseman & The King Froopy / Jim Black’s AlasNoAxis / Zülfü Livaneli / maNga and Special Guests / Mart’nália /Ben L’Oncle Soul / Catherine Ringer / Reggie Watts with Guest Appearance by Natasha Leggero / Lee Fields & The Expressions / Fitz & The Tantrums / Andreya Triana / Rich Medina / Hugh Masekela / Freshlyground / Somi / Roy Ayers and The Jazz Mafia Symphony plus Special Guests / Ram / Group Doueh / Baloji / Globesonic Sound System / Jarabe De Palo / Ely Guerra / Novalima / Mr. Pauer / Chocquibtown / Rita Indiana / Ursula 1000 / Que Bajo?! / The Verve Pipe / The Zany Umbrella Circus with Oko Sokolo / Oran Etkin / Thunderbird American Indian Dancers / The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series / Pink Martini / Marcelo D2 / Pitty / DJ Nuts / Wanda Jackson / Imelda May / Yemen Blues / Watcha Clan / Shabate / Awesome Tapes from Africa / Friendly Fires / The Naked And Famous / Cults / Joe Bataan / Johnny Colon / Dj Turmix / Henry Santos / Donald Lawrence and Special Guests / Hosted by Hezekiah Walker / Tiken Jah Fakoly / Meta And The Cornerstones / Los Rakas / Rakim / EPMD / Funkmaster Flex / Jagged Edge / Avant / Melanie Fiona
DANCE Armitage Gone! Dance and Special Musical Guest Vijay Iyer / Dance Grand Moultrie / Keigwin + Company / Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn with Special Guest Dancin’ Downtown At The Joyce Contest Winner / Forces of Nature Dance Theatre / Cecilia Marta Dance Company THEATER “Sangre” by Mando Alvardo / Adapted from “Blood Wedding” by Federico García Lorca / Directed by Jerry Ruiz WORD The Moth Hosted by Andy Borowitz with Stories by Pam Grier and Other Special Guests / Comedy Central Park Starring Jim Gaffigan with Special Guest John Pinette / Shelebration! A Tribute to the Works of Shel Silverstein FILM “Elza” / “Gainsbourg and His Girls” FAMILY The Verve Pipe / The Zany Umbrella Circus with Oko Sokolo / Oran Etkin / Thunderbird American Indian Dancers
For information regarding what not to bring, rain policy, additional directions and important FAQ’s please visit www.SummerStage.org
BROOKLYN Music EPMD / Funkmaster Flex / Special Ed / B.T. Express / Rhythm Review with Felix Hernandez / Tye Tribett / Nice And Smooth / The Awesome 2 / Jon B / Olivia / Meadowland / Black Girls Rock! / Phony Ppl / Bed-Stuy Veterans / Urban Word / Talib Kweli / Ozomatli / We Are Scientists / Milagres WORD Reggie Watts / Natasha Leggero / DJ Stormin’ Normin DANCE Passion Of Tap / Shlank Squad / Elite Force / Ladies Of Hip-Hop With Mawu / Dance Grand Moultrie with Malcolm Low / Formal Structure Inc. Theater “Indomitable: James Brown”
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
NIGHT AT THE CARAVANSERAI: TALES OF WONDER
YO-YO MA / THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE / SILK ROAD CONNECT STUDENTS tuesday, June 7 / DOORS AT 5:30PM / 6:30pm (music)
Join SummerStage on opening night for a collaboration unlike any other: an evening of music, dance, art and stories with legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma, his Silk Road Ensemble and NYC students. Former ballet star Damian Woetzel will direct this one-of-akind program featuring renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the internationally acclaimed Silk Road Ensemble, The Knights chamber orchestra, surprise guests and NYC sixth graders from Edward Bleeker JHS 185, Frederick Douglass Academy III, Granville T. Woods MS 584 and PS/MS 161 Pedro Albizu Campos School.
SILK ROAD CONNECT STUDENTS
YO-YO MA
Yo-Yo Ma founded the Silk Road Project in 1998 to promote innovation and learning through the arts. Taking inspiration from the cultural traditions of the historical Silk Road, which connected Asia to the Mediterranean, the Project is home to the Silk Road Ensemble, a collective of internationally acclaimed performers from more than 20 countries. This performance is supported in part by Hyosung Corporation, Rolex, Ford Foundation, MetLife Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Presented in association with The Silk Road Project.
JUNE 7
SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE
BROOKLYN BETSY HEAD PARK
SALUTE TO HIP-HOP
EPMD / FUNKMASTER FLEX Tuesday, June 7 / 7PM (MUSIC)
EPMD (“Erick and Parrish Making Dollars”) are famed as one of the pioneers of hip-hop. Their debut album, Strictly Business, topped the R&B album chart and went gold, as did their follow-up, Unfinished Business. They continued releasing hit singles such as “It’s My Thing,” “You Gots to Chill,” and “Rampage” which revealed their talent in rhymes and their feel for a good groove. Although they split to pursue solo careers, the duo reunited with the album, Back in Business. While working on their solo projects, they continued to record as EPMD, bringing them to the studio in 2008 for the acclaimed album, We Mean Business. With their rhyme delivery over minimal beats, EPMD influenced gangsta rap as they took listeners on “a funky joy ride through a gangster-fantasy universe,” according to Rolling Stone magazine.
EPMD
For more than a decade, DJ Funkmaster Flex has reigned as America’s number one hip-hop radio personality and reaches more than two million listeners a week on his radio show. Join Funkmaster Flex as he hosts Salute to Hip-Hop, a nationwide series of concerts that celebrates hip-hop and honors the generations of artists that have shaped it and carry on its influence today. Presented in association with Globe Star Media
JUNE 7
FUNKMASTER FLEX
BROOKLYN BETSY HEAD PARK
SPECIAL ED
Wednesday, June 8 / 7pm (MUSIC) Special Ed “got it made” as a rising star in hip-hop when he was just 16. Ed’s talent to throw out line after line of flowing lyrics with a rapid-fire delivery got him his big break after impressing the respected hip-hop producer Howie Tee. Hailing from Brooklyn, Ed used his neighborhood landscape to inspire some of his lyrics as he described the sights and sounds of Flatbush. His 1989 debut album, Youngest in Charge, was on the Billboard charts for 38 weeks and featured, “I’m the Magnificent” and “I Got It Made,” which achieved “classic” status in the hip-hop community. In 1990, Ed released his second record, Legal, which included “Come On, Let’s Move It” and “The Mission.”After a four-year hiatus, Ed came back with Revelations, which highlighted his free-flowing rhymes, even against a heavier beat as rap music began to evolve. His recent album was released in 2009 to celebrate his 20 years as a music artist and features songs from his previous albums as well as new material.
JUNE 8
SPECIAL ED
BROOKLYN BETSY HEAD PARK
B.T. EXPRESS / RHYTHM REVUE with FELIX HERNANDEZ Thursday, June 9 / 7pm (MUSIC)
Grammy-nominated B.T. Express zoomed onto the music scene in the early 70s and quickly distinguished themselves as one of the premier dance and funk bands of the era. Their debut single, “Do It ‘Til You’re Satisfied,” immediately climbed to the top of the charts with its sly lyrics that cleverly captured the mood of the nation. The group’s second single, “Express,” went gold and cemented the group’s popularity. This was just the beginning of much more success to come, which included several U.S. hits, and multiple television appearances. Their subsequent albums yielded two more R&B top ten singles: “Give It What You Got/Peace Pipe” and “Can’t Stop Groovin’ Now, Wanna Do It Some More.” Whether tying a dance groove around a popular catch phrase or simply jamming while repeating an infectious hook, B.T. Express knows how to get people onto the dance floor. Felix Hernandez is in the business of remembering the good ol’ days. Hernandez’s wildly popular Kiss FM show, Rhythm Revue, takes on a life of its own weekly at New York’s Roseland, where three thousand disciples regularly come to hear Fernandez spin the sounds of the past and boogie down. Felix Hernandez will rock the crowd once again at SummerStage with his mix of soul, Motown, funk, salsa and disco dance classics. Bring your dancing shoes.
JUNE 9
FELIX HERNANDEZ
BROOKLYN VON KING PARK
PASSION OF TAP
Hip-Hop Master Class with Shaun T
Friday, June 10 (DANCE) 7pm Hip-Hop Master Class by Shaun T 8pm Performance
Omar Edwards, artistic director of Passion of Tap draws from years of training with tap masters like Henry Letang, Jimmy Slyde and Marie Brooks. Earning national acclaim for his grand prize win on the famed TV show “Star Search,” Edwards has embarked on a career that spans the worlds of music, dance, television, theater and film. As an originator of the idea of “Foot Music,” music created by the sound of a dancer’s tap shoes as the lead instrument, Edwards recorded a tap dance album entitled Tap Dancin is Music, making him the first of his generation to release an album where the dancer is the leader of the band as well as the lead instrument. This unique take on music sparked numerous collaborations with music heavyweights including Alicia Keys and Common. Passion of Tap is Edwards’ foray into a further exploration of the sounds, energy and force of tap. Passion of Tap starts like a jazz concert with soloist Omar Edwards, and grows to an epic, melodramatic and full-cast dance drama, finishing with an exhilarating freestyle jam session that will leave audiences screaming for more. Master Class Shaun T is a nationally recognized dance and fitness instructor famous for creating numerous fitness programs including Hip Hop Abs® and INSANITY. Join him as he teaches an all-ages, hip-hop master class that will have everyone dancing.
JUNE 10
PASSION OF TAP
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
BLUE NOTE JAZZ FESTIVAL
MEDESKI MARTIN & WOOD / JOSH ROSEMAN & THE KING FROOPY / JIM BLACK’S ALASNOAXIS
PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH UNDEAD JAZZ Saturday, June 11 / DOORS AT 5:30PM / 6:30PM (MUSIC)
Wide open: That’s the phrase that describes Medeski Martin & Wood’s musical sensibilities, attitude and the spirit of adventure that the band has pursued for over two decades. The trio’s combination of jazz, funk, “avant-noise” and a million other musical impulses is nearly impossible to classify. Although the “jazz spirit” has been ever-present in their songs, the group has won over a substantial audience that is packed with alternative-rock lovers, jam-band aficionados and jazz heads.
MEDESKI MARTIN & WOOD
The King Froopy All-Stars is an electric 12-piece project from celebrated trombonist and composer Josh Roseman. Featuring some of the edgiest voices harvested from Brooklyn’s new jazz scene, this electro-acoustic supergroup focuses world beat, spontaneous improvisation, dub, satire and psychedelia through Roseman’s unconventional lens. Able to simultaneously compel both your feet and the neocortex, this is what AAJ has called “jazz-tinged party music with a master’s degree.”
JUNE 11
AlasNoAxis is the culmination of famed jazz drummer Jim Black’s years of experience on stage and in the studio with some of the world’s greatest composers and improvisors. The band’s 2000 self-titled debut established a new standard for the cross-fertilization of rock, electro-acoustic and jazz, becoming the standard-bearer of “future jazz” and thrilling listeners with its powerhouse combination of virtuosity, rock emotion and noisy catharsis. JOSH ROSEMAN
JIM BLACK’S ALASNOAXIS
BROOKLYN VON KING PARK
SHLANK SQUAD / ELITE FORCE / LADIES OF HIP-HOP / MAWU Hip-Hop Master Class with Members of Shlank Squad / Elite Force / Ladies of Hip-Hop
Saturday, June 11 (DANCE) 7pm Hip-Hop Dance Master Class by: Members of Shlank Squad, Elite Force, Ladies of Hip Hop 8pm Performance
Hip-hop dance pioneers Shlank Squad, Elite Force, Ladies of Hip-Hop and special guests will awe audiences with their breakneck speed and tight, hard-hitting moves. Featuring a mix of choreographed as well as freestyle dance including jumps, breaks and rotations, these dancers exemplify the charisma of hip-hop dance. Showcasing a wide range of styles including breaking, locking, popping, house & freestyle, these unique companies will unite to celebrate life through dance. Founded in 2007, MAWU is an all-female urban dance company whose mission is to embody strong, positive images of women in the urban dance community, and to create fierce and creative works that will both educate and inspire new audiences. Born out of New York’s underground house community, MAWU’s strength lies in the diversity of its members, all of whom represent different backgrounds, ethnicities and performance genres ranging from house to hip-hop, modern to Jazz and classical ballet to traditional African. Sharing a passion for house and the art of freestyle, the ladies of MAWU are taking over the urban dance scene one dance floor at a time.
SHLANK SQUAD
Master Class Learn hip-hop moves from the members of Shlank Squad, Elite Force and Ladies of Hip-Hop.
JUNE 11
LADIES OF HIP-HOP with MAWU
BROOKLYN VON KING PARK
TYE TRIBBETT
Tuesday, June 14 / 7pm (MUSIC) Although Tye Tribbett has toured and performed with some of the biggest artists in the secular world, including Justin Timberlake, Whitney Houston, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Elton John and Jill Scott, this Grammy-nominated artist’s musical talents lie in the realm of Gospel music. Tribbett passionately spreads the goodness of God through his music. His musical ministry’s songs use the “buildups of rock power ballads, the slow strut of P-Funk and churchy, organ-driven call-and-response” to touch the hearts of many, according to The New York Times. With his solo debut at #1 on the Billboard Gospel chart, his album Fresh positions Tribbett to step forth boldly with a new message of renewal. According to The Washington Post, this “wondrous album” highlights Tribbett’s songwriting skills as he wrote or co-wrote each song, showcasing a variety of powerful music, including the first single “Fresh.” Tribbett’s previous chart-topping albums Victory Live! and Stand Out! feature his former musical ensemble and gospel choir, Greater Anointing. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and WLIB
JUNE 14
TYE TRIBBETT
BROOKLYN VON KING PARK
NICE AND SMOOTH / THE AWESOME 2 Wednesday, June 15 / 7pm (MUSIC)
East coast hip-hop duo Greg Nice & Smooth B are famed for writing smart, tongue-in-cheek rhymes that ride bangin’ hooks. Released in the late 1980s and early to mid 90s, Nice & Smooth’s albums, including Nice and Smooth and Ain’t a Damn Thing Changed, are acknowledged hip-hop essentials. Their biggest hit, “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow…,” is fondly remembered for its moderately somber rhyme with introspective lines about poverty, AIDS and drugs that was set to the guitar loop of Tracy Chapman’s hit single, “Fast Car.” Known for their humorous rhymes and catchy hooks, they often appeared as guest emcees on albums by the Beatnuts, Gang Starr and Tony Touch among many others. Teddy Tedd and Special K, better known as the legendary DJ duo The Awesome 2, are regarded as power players in hip-hop’s radio and DJ scene with shows on such famed stations such as 105.9 in NYC and on Sirius and AOL. Regulars on the international party scene for over twenty years, they have played all over the world, establishing themselves as hip-hop tastemakers.
THE AWESOME 2
JUNE 15
BROOKLYN VON KING PARK
JON B / OLIVIA
Thursday, June 16 / 7pm (MUSIC) Jon B is an accomplished musician, noted songwriter and producer who combined 1970s soul with hip-hop influences in his debut album, Bonafide. A soulful album that highlighted his dulcet tenor, it earned him both critical and commercial success, especially with the Grammynominated song “Someone to Love” featuring Babyface. Jon B’s success continued with his platinum album, Cool Relax, fueled by the success of “They Don’t Know,” which topped the R&B charts. In the album Stronger Everyday, Jon experimented with sounds and textures to accompany his vocals that gave his music a deeper, mature vibe. Hopeless Romantic showcased his songwriting skills, featuring the single “Ooh So Sexy” with Paul Wall. In 2011, Jon B will release Comfortable Swagg, which celebrates Jon’s journey as a family man.
JON B
Olivia is not only a singer but also a composer, producer and arranger who was brought on by super-producer Dr. Dre and rap icon 50 Cent as the First Lady of G-Unit. Hits with G-Unit like “Candy Shop” and “Best Friend” brought her sultry voice to radio stations around the world. Since then Olivia has pursued numerous projects including finishing her newest album, Show The World, which showcases her harmonious vocal and writing talents and includes collaborations with Missy Elliott, Neyo and many more. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and WBLS
JUNE 16
OLIVIA
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
ISTANBULIVE III: Sounds of Civilizations
ZÜLFÜ LIVANELI / maNga and SPECIAL GUESTS Friday, June 17 / DOORS AT 6PM / 7pm (MUSIC)
Nestled in the cradle of civilization where East meets West lies Istanbul, a Euro-Asian capital with a rich musical history. Istanbulive will celebrate its third year at SummerStage with the extraordinary virtuosity and diversity found in Turkish pop, folk and rock music today. Acclaimed and multi-talented writer, politician, film director and musician Zülfü Livaneli has been a mainstay in Turkish culture for decades – in fact, he is celebrating 40 years in the arts in 2011. While his book Bliss has been published in the U.S. and became a bestseller across the world, he is best known in the world of music for his fusion of Turkish traditional songs with contemporary stylings. Livaneli has composed hundred of songs, won numerous international accolades and performed with U2, Joan Baez, Haris Alexiou, Jocelyn B. Smith, George Dalaras, Zubin Mehta, Mikis Theodorakis and Maria Farantouri, among many others.
ZÜLFÜ LIVANELI
maNga’s fusion of Anatolian melodies, rock and hip-hop with electronic elements is internationally recognized as evidenced by their Best European Act award at the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards. Additionally, their panEuropean hit “We Could Be the Same” came in second at the 2010 Eurovision Song contest. Named after the globally popular Japanese comic books, maNga strives to create a similarly universally accessible sound. Performing before Zülfü Livaneli, the SummerStage performance will mark maNga’s U.S. debut.
JUNE 17
Presented by Serdar Ilhan & Mehmet Dede and supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism
maNga
BROOKLYN VON KING PARK
“INDOMITABLE: JAMES BROWN”
Featuring BURNT SUGAR THE ARKESTRA CHAMBER / BRANDON VICTOR DIXON Directed by Patrica McGregor Friday, June 17 – Saturday, June 18 / 8pm (THEATER)
Indomitable: James Brown is a testament to the musical, political and entrepreneurial impact of James Brown’s indomitable spirit, creativity and business wiles on American culture. The format of the show, moving from hard-hitting musical homage to direct testimony to innovative remixes of his biggest hits, provides for a spectacular experience that is dramatically riveting, visually stunning and highly danceable. Burnt Sugar’s full complement of male and female vocalists, instrumentalists and dancers allows the show to deftly portray those aspects of Brown’s life and lifestyle that provoked his variations on the battle of the sexes. Featuring Brandon Victor Dixon as James Brown, Dixon’s stellar possession of Brown as a performer and complex human being will leave audiences in awe. Director Patricia McGregor’s shaping of dramatic elements including music, dance, and video projection set against a backdrop of critical historical moments creates a vibrant, fastpaced and unforgettable concert event.
JUNE 17–18
Burnt Sugar Freaks the James Brown Songbook (An Opera in Progress) was originally presented as part of the Apollo Theater Salon Series. The original music was commissioned as part of a national series of works from Meet the Composer/ National Commissioning Network program. SummerStage Theater Presented by
“INDOMITABLE: JAMES BROWN”
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
9th CINE FEST PETROBRAS BRASIL NY
MART’NÁLIA / Screening: “ELZA”
Sunday, June 19 / DOORS AT 6PM / 7pm (MUSIC & FILM) This annual event honors the best and the brightest of Brazil’s innovative new cinema. The closing night film of The 9th Cine Fest Petrobras Brasil NY, presented outdoors at SummerStage’s Mainstage, will feature directors Izabel Jaguaribe and Ernesto Baldan’s groundbreaking documentary “ELZA,” following a live performance by Brazilian samba superstar, Mart’nália. Daughter of Brazilian samba legend Martinho da Vila, Mart’nália was born and bred in the heart of the Rio de Janeiro samba scene. Today she is one of Brazil’s most exciting artists, ready to carry the classic rhythms of Rio into the future. With an extensive history of working with some of the biggest names in the Brazilian music scene, she is considered by many to be the reigning “Queen of Samba” Mart’nália’s infectious rhythms and smooth, lilting voice are known around the world to drive people to the dance floor.
MART’NÁLIA
Elza Soares is renowned as one of Brazil’s original samba superstars whose career has spanned fifty years. A remarkable singer and showwoman, Soares was known for uniting traditional samba sounds with modern touches that leant her songs a multi-generational appeal. Directors Izabel Jaguaribe and Ernesto Baldan’s documentary “ELZA” explores her repertoire’s diversity and presents a series of encounters with renowned Brazilian artists such as Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben Jor, Paulinho da Viola and Maria Bethânia.
JUNE 19
“ELZA”
BROOKLYN VON KING PARK
BROOKLYN TEEN FAMILY DAY
BED-STUY VETERANS / PHONY PPL / MEADOWLAND / BLACK GIRLS ROCK! / URBAN WORD Sunday, June 19 / 3PM (MUSIC & FAMILY)
SummerStage Kids presented by Disney launches with a special Teen Family Day celebration. This multi-disciplinary program will feature music, dance and spoken word; curated by teens, for teens. The Bed Stuy Veterans are a dance group that is reviving a distinctive Afro-Caribbean freestyle dance called brukup, which utilizes a series of pantomime-like moves that evokes breakdancing, raving and butoh in equal parts, yielding an unforgettable dance experience.
PHONY PPL
Phony Ppl blends jazz, R&B, pop and alternative rock to make undeniable feel-good music–melodies you can’t forget and lyrics you belt when no one’s around. With infectious energy and blistering guitar riffs, Meadowland successfully grabs hold of a crowd and takes them along for a thrilling, fun-filled, musical ride. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! offers multi-faceted youth enrichment and mentoring services to girls through programs that promote youth empowerment through the creative & performing arts. Join BLACK GIRLS ROCK! as they co-host, DJ the day’s events, and give a dynamic vocal performance. Urban Word presents literary arts education and youth development programs and is at the forefront of the youth spoken word, poetry and hip-hop movements.
MEADOWLAND
JUNE 19
SummerStage Kids Presented by ©
URBAN WORD
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
FÉTE DE LA MUSIQUE
BEN L’ONCLE SOUL / CATHERINE RINGER / SCREENING: “GAINSBOURG AND HIS GIRLS”
Presented in Association with Make Music New York and The Cultural Services of the French Embassy with additional support from The French Bureau Export Tuesday, June 21 / DOORS AT 6PM / 7PM (MUSIC & FILM)
BEN L’ONCLE SOUL
CATHERINE RINGER
Ben L’Oncle Soul grew up to the beat of Motown. His considerable talent led him to open for big names in contemporary soul, such as Musiq Soulchild and Raphael Saadiq. In his album, brass instruments and the melodies of Motown dance effortlessly without missing a beat, while his flamboyant interpretations introduce audiences to the intersection of soul music and French language. It is impossible to mention Catherine Ringer without evoking the creative French pop/rock duo Les Rita Mitsouko which she was a part of with Fred Chichin. A unique artist on the French music scene due to her legendary stage presence and colorful, over-the-top artistic image, Ringer has charmed audiences for nearly thirty years with her mesmerizing voice.
JUNE 21
Throughout his life, French singer-songwriter, actor and director Serge Gainsbourg composed for some of the most beguiling songstresses including Jane Birkin and Vanessa Paradis. His lyrical brilliance has left an extraordinary musical legacy. Twenty years after his death, director Pascal Forneri presents “Gainsbourg and His Girls,” an enlightening documentary on one of France’s most provocative figures, seen through the eyes of his many muses. “GAINSBOURG AND HIS GIRLS”
BROOKLYN RED HOOK PARK
TALIB KWELI
Tuesday, June 21 / 7pm (MUSIC) For over 15 years, Talib Kweli has been a king of New York hip-hop with an expansive international audience. Kweli’s work with Mos Def on the famed album Black Star still stands as one of hip-hop’s premier collaborations and was instantly hailed by critics upon its release. Regarded as a virtuoso performer that continues to wow audiences and critics alike, Kweli has performed all over the world, offering fans his unique rhyming style. Famous for his collaborations with artists as diverse as Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige, Norah Jones and many more, Kweli has had a career filled with success and innovation. To many, it comes as no surprise that both Jay-Z and 50 Cent, at the height of their stardom, both counted Kweli among their favorite rappers.
JUNE 21
TALIB KWELI
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
REGGIE WATTS WITH GUEST APPEARANCE BY NATASHA LEGGERO Wednesday, June 22 / DOORS AT 6:30PM / 7:30pm (MUSIC)
Hilarious, brilliant, unpredictable comedian/musician Reggie Watts is a staple of the international performance scene. Reggie’s improvised musical sets are created on the spot using only his voice and a looping machine. No two songs are ever the same. An avowed “disinformationist,” Reggie loves to disorientate his audiences in the most entertaining way. You may not know what Reggie is going to do, but that’s okay – he doesn’t either. By blending the genres of music and comedy, Reggie has appeared on every form of media imaginable, from touring and appearing on TV with late night host Conan O’Brien to releasing his highly acclaimed debut comedy CD/DVD, Why $#!+ So Crazy? Join him as he rocks SummerStage with his impromptu lyrical style and see why The LA Times has called him “deliciously strange.”
REGGIE WATTS
Natasha Leggero is an actress and comedian who can be seen regularly on E!’s “Chelsea Lately” and is famed for her witty humor and appearances in movies and shows as diverse as “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” to stand-up on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” As a star in Comedy Central’s new hit animated series, “Ugly Americans,” she has been gaining notoriety for both her acting as well as her stand-up, touring the country headlining packed comedy clubs.
JUNE 22
NATASHA LEGGERO
BROOKLYN RED HOOK PARK
OZOMATLI
Wednesday, June 22 / 7pm (MUSIC) Ozomatli celebrates the multitude of cultures in Los Angeles with their music – a notorious urban-Latino-and-beyond collision of hip-hop and salsa, dancehall and cumbia, samba and funk, merengue and comparsa, East LA R&B, Jamaican ragga and Indian raga. For 15 years, they have entertained audiences around the world with their unique sound of horns, percussions, strings and vocals while promoting a positive message of peace. They served as official U.S. State Department Cultural Ambassadors and exemplified how diversity promotes change. According to The LA Times, “Ozomatli’s deep community connections and polyglot mix give the band a musical and cultural cachet.” The seven multi-racial members of Ozomatli are committed to addressing social issues of local, national and international importance through fun, yet inspirational entertainment.
JUNE 22
OZOMATLI
BROOKLYN RED HOOK PARK
WE ARE SCIENTISTS / MILAGRES Thursday, June 23 / 7PM (MUSIC)
We Are Scientists impressed audiences with their debut With Love & Squalor, which became a gold-selling hit in the U.K., on the strength of dance floor standbys such as “Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt,” and “The Great Escape.” The band’s sound, part post-punk revival and part indie rock, with a touch of 80s synth-pop, drew parallels to popular bands such as Franz Ferdinand and The Killers. Their second album, Brain Thrust Mastery, continued their rise and debuted at number 11 on the UK Albums Chart. The release of 2010’s Barbara sees the band returning to the stripped-down production sensibilities of With Love & Squalor, while continuing to hone the melodic knack that has made them popular with fans. Billboard notes that “the opening track, ‘Rules Don’t Stop,’ showcases We Are Scientists’ knack for uncomplicated and undeniably catchy rock, while ‘Jack & Ginger’ combines the best of the band’s eclectic sound.”
WE ARE SCIENTISTS
Breathy indie popsters Milagres have been making a name for themselves since the release of their somber and quietly beautiful debut, Seven Summits. Their newest effort, Glowing Mouth, which comes out in September, expands on that sound and takes on a glistening, measured pace with introspective lyrics. The debut single of the same name showcases the band in all their grandeur with Prefix Magazine calling it “a patient, slow burner of a pop record with warm falsettoed vocals and a thumping electronic groove that grips and never lets go.”
JUNE 23
MILAGRES
BROOKLYN RED HOOK PARK
REGGIE WATTS WITH GUEST APPEARANCE BY DJ STORMIN’ NORMAN Friday, June 24 / 7pm (MUSIC & word)
Hilarious, brilliant, unpredictable comedian/musician Reggie Watts is a staple of the international performance scene. Reggie’s improvised musical sets are created on the spot using only his voice and a looping machine. No two songs are ever the same. An avowed “disinformationist,” Reggie loves to disorientate his audiences in the most entertaining way. You may not know what Reggie is going to do, but that’s okay – he doesn’t either. By blending the genres of music and comedy, Reggie has appeared on every form of media imaginable, from touring and appearing on TV with late night host Conan O’Brien to releasing his highly acclaimed debut comedy cd/dvd, Why $#!+ So Crazy? Join him as he rocks SummerStage with his impromptu lyrical style and see why The LA Times has called him “deliciously strange.”
REGGIE WATTS
DJ Stormin’ Norman, founder of the incredible feel-good event series, Sundae Sermon, plays soulful house, disco, classics, afro beats, Latin and other genres with a following that tears it up on the dance floor. Gaining fame as part of the groundbreaking DJ collective who brought the Thunderstorm Mix on NYC’s WBLS 107.5, he introduced live mixing to daytime radio. For over twenty years, he has played major clubs and elite private events around the world.
JUNE 24
DJ STORMIN’ NORMAN
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
LEE FIELDS & THE EXPRESSIONS / FITZ & THE TANTRUMS / ANDREYA TRIANA / RICH MEDINA
Presented in association with Giantstep Saturday, June 25 / DOORS AT 3PM / 4pm (MUSIC)
Lee Fields is a bona-fide, unadulterated soul singer. While the funk and soul community bestowed “legendary” status upon him due to his series of rare 7” singles and one LP released on his own labels in the 70s, he’s never been one to sit in a dusty corner. After linking up with Truth & Soul’s house band The Expressions, he has successfully created a sound that can hold court with the sweet soul bands that came before them.
LEE FIELDS & THE EXPRESSIONS
FITZ & THE TANTRUMS
Six musicians, five dapper suits and irresistible songs are the backbone of Fitz & The Tantrums. With the release of their five-song EP, Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1, and their newest release, Pickin’ Up The Pieces, the band has begun its quick ascent towards fame. Having performed with bands like Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings and Maroon 5, it’s obvious that their brand of soul-clapping, get-down-onthe-floor music is here to stay.
JUNE 25
A self-taught singer and songwriter, Andreya Triana had an early love of improvisation, hugely influencing her “Freeflo Sessions,” a hypnotic one-woman show using a sampler to loop vocals, percussive sounds and beats. 2010 saw the release of her highly anticipated debut, Lost Where I Belong, a beautifully honest album, combining the best of soul, folk and jazz. Rich Medina has taken crowds on a journey through hiphop, house, funk and soul for twenty years. From NYC to Tokyo, music lovers know not to miss a night when Medina is manning the decks as DJ. ANDREYA TRIANA
RICH MEDINA
BROOKLYN RED HOOK PARK
DANCE GRAND MOULTRIE with MALCOLM LOW / FORMAL STRUCTURE Inc.
Contemporary Modern Master Class with Jamel Gaines
Saturday, June 25 (DANCE) 7pm Contemporary Modern Dance Master Class by Jamel Gaines, Director of Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn 8pm Performance Heralded as “obviously someone to watch” by The New York Times, Darrell Grand Moultrie is fast becoming one of America’s most sought after choreographers. The Princess Grace Award winner has carved out an impressive career behind the stage as choreographer as well as on stage as Broadway performer. His many accomplishments as choreographer include works for prestigious institutions such as The Juilliard School, Ailey2, Atlanta Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and Colorado Ballet. Join SummerStage as Moultrie premieres his company Dance Grand Moultrie, for the first time.
DANCE GRAND MOULTRIE
Malcolm Low, director of Formal Structure has performed with a number of premiere companies such as Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, Complexions, and most notably the Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Co. Join Formal Structure as they premiere a brand new work, “60 Degrees of a Space You are to Fill/Collapsing Giant.” Featuring a cast of seven dancers, they will explore the concept of what it means to be a “hero” through an invigorating, multi-media dance experience featuring a mix of contemporary and modern dance.
JUNE 25
Master Class Come experience the joy of movement with this class that teaches contemporary modern dance infused with West African and hip-hop elements. FORMAL STRUCTURE Inc.
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
HUGH MASEKELA / FRESHLYGROUND / SOMI Sunday, June 26 / DOORS AT 2PM / 3pm (MUSIC)
Legendary South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela is an innovator in the world music and jazz scene and is active as a performer, composer, producer and activist. Renowned for his talent and ability to bring to life the energy of South African music, he has collaborated with numerous artists internationally and also co-created the Broadway smash musical “Sarafina.” Masekela’s Grammy-winning single, “Grazing in the Grass,” sold over four million copies and propelled him to international stardom. Freshlyground is the musical voice of a nation’s adolescent democracy. The diverse backgrounds of seven members from the different ethnicities of South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe means they weave musical magic that is highly infectious and undeniably groovy. With four celebrated albums, an MTV Award and a collaboration with Shakira in the 2010 World Cup song, “Waka Waka-This Time For Africa,” Freshlyground has established their place on the international music map.
HUGH MASEKELA
SOMI
Often compared to famed chanteuses Sarah Vaughan and Miriam Makeba, Ugandan vocalist Somi blends African & jazz-inspired rhythms into a unique global sound and is a rising star in the jazz world. The Boston Globe has exclaimed of her latest album, If The Rains Come First, “[it] glistens with the sheen of an almost impossibly perfect cosmopolitanism.” Singing in English and three east African languages, Somi’s vocal delivery is subtle, yet the power she exerts is enormous.
JUNE 26
FRESHLYGROUND
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
THE MOTH Hosted by ANDY BOROWITZ With stories by PAM GRIER, and other special guests Tuesday, June 28 / DOORS AT 6:30PM / 7:30 pm (WORD)
Join acclaimed storytelling organization The Moth for Big Night, a summer night of stories, hosted by comedian and writer Andy Borowitz (The New Yorker, BorowitzReport. com) with stories by Pam Grier (“Foxy Brown,” “Jackie Brown”) and other special guests. The Moth, hailed as “New York’s hottest and hippest literary ticket” by The Wall Street Journal and “brilliant and quietly addictive” by The London Guardian, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. Each show features first-person stories by wildly divergent raconteurs who develop and shape their stories with The Moth’s directors. Through its ongoing programs – The Moth Mainstage, The Moth StorySLAMs, MothSHOP Community Program and MothSHOP Corporate – The Moth has presented more than three thousand stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. The Moth is a staple of the literary and art scene in New York City, but also tours throughout the United States and abroad. The Moth podcast is downloaded more than one million times a month, and the peabody Award-winning “The Moth Radio Hour,” produced by Jay Allison and distributed by PRX, airs this summer on two hundred radio stations nationwide.
JUNE 28
THE MOTH
BRONX Music Music Funkmaster Flex / Larry Harlow and The Latin Legends Band / Hector Tricoche / Chris Alfinez / Bill Harley / Moona Luna / IllStyle & Peace Productions / Secret Agent 23 Skidoo / David Gonzales / Lavoe All Stars Cantando Renzo Padilla / 8 Y Más / Tony Vega / Ray Sepulveda / Slick Rick / DJ Brucie B / Xcstacy / The Manhattans / Rhythm Revue with Felix Hernandez / The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series Dance Pasión Y Arte / On Tap / Opus Dance Theater / Dance Iquail! Theater “Sangre” / Summer Shakeup! Workshop
BRONX SOUNDVIEW PARK
SALUTE TO HIP-HOP
FUNKMASTER FLEX AND SPECIAL GUESTS Tuesday, June 28 / 7PM (MUSIC)
For more than a decade, Funkmaster Flex has reigned as America’s number one hip-hop radio personality and reaches more than two million listeners a week on his radio show. Join him as he hosts Salute to Hip-Hop, a nationwide series of concerts that celebrates hip-hop and honors the generations of artists that have shaped it and carry on its influence today. Presented in association with Globe Star Media
JUNE 28
FUNKMASTER FLEX
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
Comedy Central Park starring JIM GAFFIGAN with special guest JOHN PINETTE Wednesday, June 29 / DOORS AT 7PM / 8pm (WORD)
Comedy Central Park is back for its fifth straight year to celebrate an evening of FREE comedy with New Yorkers. This year’s show will star one of the most respected stand-up comedians working today, Jim Gaffigan with special guest John Pinette. Make sure to get there early because Comedy Central Park ends up being standing-room-only every year! Jim Gaffigan has proven himself a major talent to a wide range of audiences, achieving accolades and awards for his stand-up comedy, acting and writing. His clever, quiet style has made him one of the top five most successful touring comedians in the country today with his CDs and DVDs achieving platinum status. Famous also for his numerous appearances on late night’s “Late Show with David Letterman” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” he is also a noted talent on many comedies and dramas ranging from cult hits such as “Flight of the Conchords” to dramatic roles in all three versions of “Law & Order.”
JIM GAFFIGAN
JUNE 29
John Pinette has been entertaining audiences around the world for over twenty years and has enjoyed a long acting career in television, film and stage. He is a former American Comedy Awards Stand-Up Comedian of the Year, appeared on “The Tonight Show” and “The View,” and has a hit Comedy Central Special. John has also starred on Broadway in the hit musical “Hairspray” and has appeared along side Gwyneth Paltrow, Arnold Schwarzenegger and John Travolta in major films. AddressTheMess will return to distribute free reusable tote bags to fans. Presented in association with Comedy Central JOHN PINETTE
BRONX SOUNDVIEW PARK
LARRY HARLOW and THE LATIN LEGENDS BAND Wednesday, June 29 / 7pm (MUSIC)
With over 40 years in the music industry, Larry Harlow has made significant contributions to Afro-Cuban music, taking instruments and rhythms and infusing them with his personal musical style. At the famed Latin music label, Fania Records, he became one of the leading Latin music producers in the world, producing over 300 CDs and garnering several Grammy nominations. With his group, The Latin Legends Band, he has spread the infectious rhythm of Latin music to audiences around the world. The group has a famed “thick sound” composed of high pitches from the horn section mingled with the fast, steady beats of a variety of percussions, the harmonic voice of a piano and the vocals of four or five musicians. Larry Harlow and The Latin Legends moves audiences with their music, especially “when the energy builds, the riffs, the singing, the solos, the percussion all lock in…moving at different times but for the same purpose,” according to The New York Times.
JUNE 29
LARRY HARLOW
BRONX SOUNDVIEW PARK
HECTOR TRICOCHE / CHRIS ALFINEZ Thursday, June 30, 7PM (MUSIC)
One of the Original Salsa Kings, Hector Tricoche is an internationally acclaimed Latin pop and salsa musician who is noted for his impressively high and melodic voice and richly textured versatile musical compilations. Critics have praised him for combining a harmonious voice with the creative snappiness of an improvisation artist. His live performances roar to life with a swinging brass and bass orchestra. As one of Latin music’s rising stars, Chris Alfinez is set to conquer the music world with his silky-smooth voice combined with a traditional salsa sound. The result is a singing style that is filled with emotion and passion. By combining traditional Caribbean rhythms with a distinct modern flavor, his debut single entitled “La Distancia” puts him in line to become the next big thing in Latin music.
HECTOR TRICOCHE
JUNE 30
Chris Alfinez
BRONX SAINT MARY’S PARK
PASIÓN Y ARTE / ON TAP
Friday, July 1 (DANCE) 7pm – Flamenco Dance Master Class by: Elba Hevia y Vaca, Artistic/Executive Director of Pasion y Arte 8pm – Performance Inspired by current and past generations of flamenco artists, Pasión y Arte is an all-female dance company that creates unique Flamenco works that maintain a deep respect for the form’s classical integrity. The company’s creative process and tools are boundary-pushing and embrace a progressive cultivation of feminist ideas that are expressed in its works. By incorporating other dance forms, musical genres, mixed media and theater, the company bridges the gap between modern and traditional approaches to flamenco. Pasión y Arte celebrates its 10th Anniversary by featuring excerpts of the company’s four major works, choreographed by artistic director, Elba Hevia y Vaca.
PASIÓN Y ARTE
On Tap celebrates the extraordinary talent of tap dancers and aims to share the art with new audiences. Join On Tap for an electric night of choreography and improvisation. The dancers include tap all-stars and members of the new generation of tap artists and ensembles breaking ground today. Featuring excerpts from the hottest tap shows in development, this will be a thrilling evening that celebrates the artistry of tap dancing. The performance will include excerpts from “Jazz Suite,” choreographed by Ray Hesselink; “Broadway Underground,” featuring DeWitt Fleming; “Possibly Maybe Know,” featuring Chikako Iwahori and Lynn Schwab and recent choreographic works by Michelle Dorrance and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards.
JULY 1
Master Class Join Pasión y Arte for a scintillating dance class that will introduce students to flamenco rhythms by teaching posture, footwork, torso & shoulder exercises and palmas.
ON TAP
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
EVERYBODY LOVES THE SUNSHINE
ROY AYERS and THE JAZZ MAFIA SYMPHONY plus special guests Saturday, July 2 / DOORS AT 6PM / 7pm
Join SummerStage as we celebrate the 70th birthday of famed jazz, funk and soul pioneer Roy Ayers with world premieres of commissioned works from The Jazz Mafia Symphony, which has re-envisioned Ayers’ classic works. The performance will include select students from Harlem School of the Arts. Though he has gained renown for his funky, soulful and jazzy compositions, Roy Ayers’ signature sound is the vibraphone, incorporated into virtually all elements of his music. With hits such as “Brother Green” and “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” Ayers set the stage for modern R&B artists over the course of his 40+ year career with his innovative use of synthesizers and modern production techniques. Widely considered to be one of the most sampled artists of all time, Ayers’ music continues to engage and inspire audiences of all ages.
ROY AYERS
JULY 2
The Jazz Mafia Symphony, an intricately woven collective of jazz virtuosos, top MCs, singers, arrangers and composers that include many of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most innovative and prolific musicians, had a break-through year in 2010, performing their critically acclaimed 45-piece symphony, “Brass, Bows & Beats,” in front of tens of thousands at major festivals including the Montreal and Newport Jazz Festivals. They return to the road in 2011 to premiere the Jazz Mafia Symphony #2, “The Emperor Norton Symphony.” The Jazz Mafia Symphony is bravado post-modern orchestration, blistering solos, spoken-word, Latin poly-rhythms, boom-bap rhymes, and emotive ballads, all spun together with the spirit of improvisational jazz. THE JAZZ MAFIA SYMPHONY
BRONX SAINT MARY’S PARK
OPUS DANCE THEATRE / DANCE IQUAIL!
Saturday, July 2 (DANCE) 7pm – Contemporary Modern Dance Master Class by Jamel Gaines, Director of Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn 8pm – Performance OPUS Dance Theatre promotes the full spectrum of the Pan-African experience through performance. The company’s repertoire consists of works that present visual and emotional images of the human experience embodied through dynamic energy and purpose, spirit, tradition and innovation in performance. Every performance is an opportunity in time that gives OPUS the means of perpetuating culture through the universal experience of sight, sound and thought.
OPUS DANCE THEATER
Iquail Shaheed, artistic director of DANCE IQUAIL! has a career that spans some of the most prestigious names in the dance world, from PHILADANCO to The Lion King. To pay homage to the beauty of dance and its inspirational tendencies, he incorporated all of his tutelage and skills to form DANCE IQUAIL! The company speaks in the universal language of movement, and is committed to creating works that confront the destructive nature of racism, violence, substance abuse and poverty and promote the importance of family and unity. DANCE IQUAIL! will feature a sizzling program of works by multiple guest choreographers, to music ranging from J.S. Bach to Stevie Wonder.
JULY 2
Master Class Come experience the joy of movement with this class that teaches contemporary modern dance infused with West African and hip-hop elements.
DANCE IQUAIL!
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
RAM / GROUP DOUEH / BALOJI / GLOBESONIC SOUND SYSTEM Sunday, July 3 / DOORS AT 2PM / 3PM (MUSIC)
RAM, a long-running band from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, exemplifies Haiti’s love of its uptempo Carnival melodies known as meringues. Unifying the sounds of Africa with its Creole influences, RAM’s musical style has been described as “Voodoo rock and roots,” a mixture of traditional Voodoo folk music rhythms, lyrics and instrumentation into a new sound that incorporates elements of rock and roll and American pop music.
RAM
Group Doueh plays raw and unfiltered Saharawi music infused with western pop and rock music influences from the former colonial Spanish outpost of the Western Sahara. The band’s leader, Doueh, is a master of the electric guitar who is influenced by music greats such as Jimi Hendrix and James Brown. Playing SummerStage as their U.S. debut, Group Doueh’s sound is distorted, loud and unhinged with an impressive display of virtuosity and style. Baloji’s sound is a riot of pan-African sounds and musical styles consisting of acoustic/electric and hip-hop. Effortlessly switching between singing and rapping in French, Swahili and other African languages, his words seem to travel across continents as he tells the personal story about his life between Belgium and the Congo. His first release, a biographic album entitled, Hôtel Impala, debuted to critical acclaim, and his follow up, Kinshasa Succursale, has further established him as a powerful emcee and boundary-crumbling artist.
GROUP DOUEH
JULY 3
For over a decade, the DJs of GlobeSonic Sound System have connected the dots between global traditions and dancefloor beats at nightclubs and festivals throughout the world.
BALOJI
BRONX SAINT MARY’S PARK
BRONX FAMILY DAY
BILL HARLEY / MOONA LUNA / ILL STYLE & PEACE PRODUCTIONS / SECRET AGENT 23 SKIDOO / DAVID GONZALEZ Sunday, July 3 / 3PM (MUSIC & FAMILY)
SummerStage Kids presented by Disney presents Bronx Family Day, a special event that will inspire creativity in children and adults alike through its interactive activities and musical delights. Featuring a lively mix of Latin and American inspired music, hip-hop dance, puppetry, story tellers, and art workshops; the entire family will be engaged and entertained! Bill Harley is considered a premier storyteller for his comic narrative songs and spoken works. Called “the Mark Twain of contemporary children’s music,” by Entertainment Weekly, Harley will tell stories from his Grammy nominated CD, The Best Candy in the Whole World. Moona Luna offers familyfriendly music that shares the simple messages of joy and discovery. Piñata Party, their 2011 release of bouncy, Latininspired, bilingual music offers delicious ear candy to engage and satisfy all ages.
JULY 3
BILL HARLEY
MOONA LUNA
SECRET AGENT 23 SKIDOO
DAVID GONZALES
Illstyle & Peace Productions creates works rooted in hip-hop, blended with an eclectic mix of performance disciplines. Their gravity defying dance moves will captivate families. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo introduces kids to hip-hop with witty lyrics and magnetic storytelling, it’s no wonder USA Today dubbed his debut, “…one of the best family CDs of the last decade.” Expect an old school dance party! With speech, sound, mime, dance and above all, inspired imagination, nationally acclaimed master storyteller/performer David Gonzalez is keeping the ancient art of storytelling alive. SummerStage Kids Presented by ©
BRONX SAINT MARY’S PARK
LAVOE ALL STARS CANTANDO RENZO PADILLA / 8 Y MÁS Tuesday, July 5 / 7pm (MUSIC)
Lavoe All Stars featuring lead singer Renzo Padilla reunites the original Héctor Lavoe band members, including Professor Joe Torres, Jimmy Delgado, Danny Rosado, Jose Mangual, Eddie Montalvo, Jhon De Jesus and Reynaldo. These talented musicians have reunited with the sole purpose of bringing back the magical sound that only Lavoe’s band had. As the band begins, listeners are instantly transported back to the 70s glory days of Salsa. Tonight, the band celebrates the musical legacy of the late, beloved Fania Records salsero, Héctor Lavoe. 8 y Más is one of the hottest new bands on the contemporary Latin music scene today. Comprised of a team of internationally recognized musicians considered by many to be some of the best in NYC and beyond, 8 y Más boasts a group of stellar veteran musicians, including Bobby Allende, Angel Fernandez, Ricky Gonzalez and Marc Quiñones. In 2006, the band released its first production, Juega Billar to much acclaim by salsa music lovers. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and LaMega
JULY 5
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
JARABE DE PALO / ELY GUERRA / NOVALIMA / MR. PAUER
Presented in Association with LAMC (LATIN ALTERNATIVE MUSIC CONFERENCE) WEDNESDAY, July 6 / DOORS AT 6PM / 7pm (MUSIC)
Jarabe de Palo is a Latin rock group from Spain led by Pau Donés. With a sound that is characterized as a fusion of rock and blues with Latin American rhythms, the group is regarded as among the most original contemporary Spanish groups. With hit singles such as “La Flaca” and “Depende,” as well several successful albums, they have also had many international collaborations with artists such as The Pretenders and Italian superstar, Jovanotti. Mexican songstress Ely Guerra is a staple of the Latin music scene, with a cadre of successful albums such as Lotofire and Sweet, Sour, Hot & Spicy under her belt. Her unique sound has successfully mesmerized audiences. In 2010, her Grammy-winning album Hombre Invisible was released to rave reviews, including that of The New York Times, which said her music is infused with “passion [that] is profound and all-consuming, a matter of ecstasy or desperate need.”
JULY 6
JARABE DE PALO
ELY GUERRA
NOVALIMA
MR. PAUER
Since 2001, Novalima has been breaking down boundaries, uniting seemingly irreconcilable genres, communities and generations to create an inspiring movement that has revolutionized the music scene in their native Peru. By deftly blending traditional Afro-Peruvian music and modern DJ culture, Novalima searches for the common ground between past and future, between tradition and innovation. As a Latin Grammy nominee for Best Alternative Album, Novalima has garnered critical acclaim from both mainstream and underground media.
BRONX SAINT MARY’S PARK
TONY VEGA
Wednesday, July 6 / 7PM (MUSIC) Enthralled by Afro-Caribbean rhythms, Puerto Rico native Tony Vega honed his talent on the conga drums with several salsa legends such as Raphy Leavitt and Eddie Palmieri. After much success playing with others, Vega decided to go solo by forming his own band and debuted with the gold album, Yo Me Quedo!. Vega remained successful with his follow-up platinum album, Uno Mismo, which peaked at number two on the Billboard Tropical albums chart. For over 20 years, Vega has been captivating audiences with his music which is “salsa with class and swing, a fresh sound, modern and uncomplicated, with a romantic fair and with traditional roots,” according to LA Splash Magazine. Embracing his Puerto Rican roots, Vega has been able to share the fast rhythmic beat and romantic lyrics of salsa with audiences around the world. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and LaMega
JULY 6
TONY VEGA
BRONX SAINT MARY’S PARK
RAY SEPULVEDA / CHRIS ALFINEZ Thursday, July 7 / 7PM (MUSIC)
Salsa singer Ray Sepulveda was inspired at an early age by Latin artists, including his father who was a bolero singer. Sepulveda sang and recorded with Orquestra Sociedad 76 and Johnny & Ray before branching off and starting his solo career with his debut album Un Poquito Mas. His follow-up album Con Sabor reached the top 20 on the Billboard Tropical Albums Charts. Sepulveda’s albums and performances highlight his smooth voice, which is full of passion and emotion and is complimented with the quick salsa percussion rhythm. As one of Latin music’s rising stars, Chris Alfinez is set to conquer the music world with his silky-smooth voice combined with a traditional salsa sound. The result is a singing style that is filled with emotion and passion. By combining traditional Caribbean rhythms with a distinct modern flavor, his debut single entitled “La Distancia” puts him in line to become the next big thing in Latin music.
RAY SEPULVEDA
Presented in association with Globe Star Media and LaMega
JULY 7
CHRIS ALFINEZ
BRONX SAINT MARY’S PARK
“SANGRE”
By Mando Alvardo / Adapted from BLOOD WEDDING by Federico García Lorca / Directed by Jerry Ruiz Friday, July 8 – Saturday, July 9 / 8pm (THEATER)
**Bi-lingual – Spanish and English** Sangre is a special commission by City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage that explores the effects of violence within the community. A gritty, raw, intense perspective into modern urban culture and how men’s choices affect loved ones and the community at large, this powerful theater piece is not to be missed. Federico García Lorca is one of the most popular Spanish playwrights of the early 20th century. His seminal work, “Blood Wedding,” is based on a newspaper fragment which tells the story of a family vendetta and a bride who ran away with the son of the family’s enemy. Lorca investigates desire, repression and the constraints and commitments of the rural community in which the play is rooted. Mando Alvarado, noted playwright, screenwriter and actor, has re-interpreted this classic for SummerStage by fusing Lorca’s vision to his own. Alvarado’s “Sangre” is a powerful, spirited telling of the original work that takes the newspaper, pulp element of the original play and sets it in the present-day Bronx. This work contains the same visceral issues but refocuses on the choices the characters make based on personal desires versus family duty.
JULY 8–9
Director Jerry Ruiz directs a fast-moving, pavement-pounding contemporary urban retelling of this classic love story, set against a backdrop of crowded sidewalks and vibrating subway platforms. SummerStage Theater Presented by
Mando Alvardo
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
CHOCQUIBTOWN / RITA INDIANA / URSULA 1000 / QUE BAJO?! Presented in Association with (LAMC) LATIN ALTERNATIVE MUSIC CONFERENCE Saturday, July 9 / DOORS AT 2PM / 3PM (MUSIC)
ChocQuibTown is Colombia’s most popular hip-hop group. Their innovative sound fuses funk, hip-hop, reggae and electronica while incorporating traditional rhythms from Colombia’s Pacific coast. ChocQuibTown won a Latin Grammy in 2010 for “Best Alternative Song” for their hit, “De Donde Vengo Yo.” Beyond a simple career accolade for the Afro-Colombian group, the Grammy win was a major accomplishment for a region often marginalized within Colombia. An acclaimed writer, Rita Indiana soon set her sights on the music world. In 2008, Indiana’s musical project, Miti Miti, released the album Altar Epandex –which was declared by The New York Daily News as “one of the top 5 indie jewels [of the year].” In 2009, she formed Rita Indiana y Los Misterios, which debuted in 2010 with El Juidero, a fusion of raw, street-oriented “Dominicana” that blends punk, rock, reggae, electronic and Afrocaribbean rhythms.
CHOCQUIBTOWN
JULY 9
URSULA 1000 is the alter ego of producer/DJ/multiinstrumentalist Alex Gimeno, whose albums and mix sessions have taken on a broad scope of retro grooves, Latin disco-funk, electro and glam rock and numerous other genres. His collaborations with artists such as Los Amigos Invisibles and Federico Aubele have garnered praise for their eclectic sound. With several acclaimed releases under his belt, his newest E.P., FUZZ, explores garage punk and is a taster for his new summer album, Mondo Beyondo! Que Bajo?!, NYC’s acclaimed tropical dance party, and its DJs are at the forefront of a global music scene that mixes the folkloric music of Latin America with modern electronica. RITA INDIANA
URSULA 1000
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
CENTRAL PARK FAMILY DAY
THE VERVE PIPE / THE ZANY UMBRELLA CIRCUS with OKO SOKOLO / ORAN ETKIN / THUNDERBIRD AMERICAN INDIAN DANCERS Sunday, July 10 / DOORS AT 2PM / 3PM (MUSIC & FAMILY)
THE VERVE PIPE
THE ZANY UMBRELLA CIRCUS
Enjoy City Parks Foundation’s spectacular, first-ever commission in honor of SummerStage’s newest program, SummerStage Kids presented by Disney. This family affair celebrates international culture and will awaken the kid in all of us through engaging performances, puppetry, music, workshops and magical mayhem! Celebrated rockers The Verve Pipe have found inspiration in family music with their release, The Family Album, consisting of family-friendly songs celebrating everything from the joys of cereal to bedtime.
JULY 10
Known for their stunning circus performances, The Zany Umbrella Circus unites with European circus arts master Oko Sokolo to premiere “Mirette’s Circus,” an original commissioned work celebrating the art of the tight-wire. Witness a young girl find her calling through a friendship with an unlikely tight-wire superstar. Oran Etkin has been described as a “great clarinetist” by The New York Times. His musical travels around the world inspired him to create Timbalooloo music classes & concerts for kids - a fun new approach praised by parents. Led by Louis Mofsie, Thunderbird American Indian Dancers have helped perpetuate American Indian culture. Specializing in the songs and dances of various tribes, their repertoire includes a variety of regional dances.
ORAN ETKIN
SummerStage Kids Presented by ©
THUNDERBIRD AMERICAN INDIAN DANCERS
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA SUMMER RECITAL SERIES Monday, July 11 / DOORS AT 7PM / 8PM (MUSIC)
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series, first presented in 2009, returns this year with six performances across five boroughs. This inaugural performance features favorite rising stars soprano Angela Meade, tenor Dimitri Pittas and mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano accompanied by pianist Bradley Moore. For more information on the entire series, please visit Angela Meade has appeared at the Met as Elvira in Ernani (debut, 2008) and the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, and returns next season as Elvira and in the title role of Anna Bolena. A 2007 winner of the Met’s National Council Auditions, she was featured in the documentary film, The Audition, about that competition. Dimitri Pittas’ season highlights include Macduff in Macbeth at Covent Garden, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Houston Grand Opera, and the title role of Faust with the Santa Fe Opera. His Met roles include Tamino in The Magic Flute and Nemorino in L’Elisir d’Amore. He returns to the Met next season as Rodolfo in La Bohème and Macduff.
Angela Meade
Jennifer Johnson Cano
Jennifer Johnson Cano made her Met debut in 2009 in Le Nozze di Figaro followed by the Sandman in Hansel and Gretel and this past season sang Wellgunde in Das Rheingold at the Met and Lyudmila in the Met/Juilliard School joint production of The Bartered Bride.
JULY 11
Bradley Moore is currently an assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera. He has performed with the world’s greatest artists and symphonies, and continues to work with notable conductors at leading opera houses.
Dimitri Pittas
BRONX CROTONA PARK
SLICK RICK / DJ BRUCIE B Tuesday, July 12 / 7PM (MUSIC)
Slick Rick foreshadowed and epitomized the pimpster attitude of many rappers during the late 80s and early 90s, with gold chains, his trademark eye-patch and recordings that were controversial. His first release, “Treat Her Like a Prostitute,” became an underground hit in 1988, though it was justly criticized for its view of women. His 1989 album, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, was a certified-platinum classic, loaded with hip-hop classics such as “Children’s Story,” “Mona Lisa” and “Hey Young World.” With his unique sense of style and flow, Slick Rick brought a new kind of hiphop hero to light. Suave, debonair and capable of both great poignancy and bawdy humor, his influence on a generation of rappers – from Snoop Dogg to the late Notorious B.I.G. – continues to be felt through contemporary times. DJ Brucie B is known as one of one of hip-hop’s leading DJs. As a pioneer of the mixtape and infamous for his ability to get people on the dance floor, this legendary DJ still knows how to get a party started.
SLICK RICK
JULY 12
DJ BRUCIE B
BRONX CROTONA PARK
Xcstacy
Wednesday, July 13 / 7pm (MUSIC) Xcstacy takes audiences on a musical journey through Latin America and the Caribbean especially with their Garifuna roots, which includes descendants of Carib, Arawak and West African people who inhabit Central America along the Caribbean Sea coast. Staying true to their Garifuna culture, they perform “punta music,” which is traditional Garifuna music usually played during social events. Known as a percussion-driven sound featuring the fast, rhythmic beat of conga drums and other percussions, vocalists throw in free-flowing lyrics that make this an irresistible sound for high-energy dancing. Xcstacy’s musical library is expansive as they also perform Caribbean styles like reggae, calypso and soca, as well as Latin styles such as meringue and bachata, and hip-hop and R&B. By embracing and incorporating these worldly influences into “punta music,” they have created their own distinctive sound for an audience that spans many Afro-Caribbean cultures and generations. Xcstacy’s ability to cross musical boundaries exemplifies their talent and passion to share Garifuna culture with the world.
JULY 13
Xcstacy
BROOKLYN BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA SUMMER RECITAL SERIES Wednesday, July 13 / 7PM (MUSIC)
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series, first presented in 2009, returns this year with six performances all five boroughs. This performance features favorite rising stars soprano Angela Meade, tenor Dimitri Pittas and mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano, accompanied by pianist Bradley Moore. Angela Meade has appeared at the Met as Elvira in Ernani (debut, 2008) and the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, and returns next season as Elvira and in the title role of Anna Bolena. A 2007 winner of the Met’s National Council Auditions, she was featured in the documentary film, The Audition, about that competition. Dimitri Pittas’ season highlights include Macduff in Macbeth at Covent Garden, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Houston Grand Opera, and the title role of Faust with the Santa Fe Opera. His Met roles include Tamino in The Magic Flute and Nemorino in L’Elisir d’Amore. He returns to the Met next season as Rodolfo in La Bohème and Macduff.
Angela Meade
Jennifer Johnson Cano
Jennifer Johnson Cano made her Met debut in 2009 in Le Nozze di Figaro followed by the Sandman in Hansel and Gretel and this past season sang Wellgunde in Das Rheingold at the Met and Lyudmila in the Met/Juilliard School joint production of The Bartered Bride.
JULY 13
Bradley Moore is currently an assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera. He has performed with the world’s greatest artists and symphonies, and continues to work with notable conductors at leading opera houses.
Dimitri Pittas
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
ARMITAGE GONE! DANCE and Special Musical Guest VIJAY IYER / DANCE GRAND MOULTRIE
Friday, July 15 – Saturday, July 16 / DOORS AT 7PM / 8PM (DANCE) Join SummerStage for the world premiere of a special commissioned work featuring the innovative Armitage Gone! Dance company and set to an original composition by Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Vijay Iyer. Celebrated director and choreographer Karole Armitage, dubbed the “punk ballerina,” launched Armitage Gone! Dance in 2005 and dedicated the company to redefining the boundaries and perceptions of contemporary dance. By building on classical and modern idioms from the Balanchine to the Cunningham tradition, Armitage infuses experimental thinking into the geometric balance, speed, rhythm and beauty of dance steps. She derives inspiration from sources such as physics, Japanese aesthetics, fashion, pop culture and new media, and from her dancers’ diverse cultural and dance backgrounds.
ARMITAGE GONE! DANCE
JULY 15–16
DANCE GRAND MOULTRIE
BRONX CROTONA PARK
“SANGRE”
By Mando Alvardo / Adapted from BLOOD WEDDING by Federico García Lorca / Directed by Jerry Ruiz FRIDAY, July 15 – Saturday, July 16 / 8pm (THEATER)
**Bi-lingual – Spanish and English** Sangre is a special commission by City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage that explores the effects of violence within the community. A gritty, raw, intense perspective into modern urban culture and how men’s choices affect loved ones and the community at large, this powerful theater piece is not to be missed. Federico Garcia Lorca is one of the most popular Spanish playwrights of the early 20th century. His seminal work, “Blood Wedding” is based on a newspaper fragment which tells the story of a family vendetta and a bride who ran away with the son of the family’s enemy. Lorca investigates desire, repression and the constraints and commitments of the rural community in which the play is rooted. Mando Alvarado, noted playwright, screenwriter and actor has re-interpreted this classic for SummerStage by fusing Lorca’s vision to his own. Alvarado’s “Sangre” is a powerful, spirited telling of the original work that takes the newspaper, pulp element of the original play and sets it in present day Bronx. This work contains the same visceral issues but refocuses on the choices the characters make based on personal desires versus family duty.
JULY 15–16
Director Jerry Ruiz directs a fast moving, pavement-pounding contemporary urban retelling of this classic love story, set against a backdrop of crowded sidewalks and vibrating subway platforms. SummerStage Theater Presented by
Mando Alvardo
BRONX CROTONA PARK
PUBLIC THEATER presents
Summer ShakeUp! Workshop
Saturday, July 16 10am Registration for Summer ShakeUp! 10:30am–1pm Summer ShakeUp! Workshop 8pm Blood Wedding performance of “sangre” Summer ShakeUp! is a fun and special theater event for students in 6th grade and up. Participants will experience the workings of a major American theater company, participate in an exciting dramatic encounter with Shakespeare led by professional artists from the renowned Public Theater, investigate Shakespeare’s text through games and improvisations and even have the opportunity to perform on stage at the newly renovated Crotona Park Amphitheater. Families and all ages are welcome! Refer to above for information on “Sangre.” Summer ShakeUp! is made possible with the support of Bank of America. SummerStage Theater Presented by
JULY 16
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
PINK MARTINI
Sunday, July 17 / / DOORS AT 6PM / 7pm (MUSIC) Embracing a multilingual, international style of music that utilizes the band members’ diverse multi-national backgrounds, Pink Martini will have you feeling like you’re in the middle of a samba parade in Rio de Janeiro one minute, and in the next moment, a French music hall of the 1930s. By drawing inspiration from music from all over the world, and crossing genres of classical, jazz and oldfashioned pop, the band has referred to itself as “musical archeologists, digging through recordings and scores of years past and rediscovering beautiful songs.”
JULY 17
PINK MARTINI
BRONX CROTONA PARK
THE MANHATTANS / RHYTHM REVUE with FELIX HERNANDEZ Sunday, July 17 / 7pm (MUSIC)
The Manhattans have a celebrated career that has spanned over four decades. A classic R&B vocal group who managed to achieve incredible career longevity by adapting their style to fit changing times, they formed in the 60s as a doo-wop influenced R&B quintet but reinvented themselves as smooth soul balladeers during the 70s. In doing so, they became more popular than they’d ever been, landing a chart topper with the single “Kiss and Say Goodbye.” The Manhattans continued their success with a long string of R&B hits that continually had them at the top of the R&B charts such as “I Kinda Miss You” and “Crazy.”
THE MANHATTANS
Felix Hernandez is in the business of remembering the good ol’ days. Hernandez’s wildly popular Kiss FM show, Rhythm Revue, takes on a life of its own weekly at New York’s Roseland, where three thousand disciples regularly come to hear Fernandez spin the sounds of the past and boogie down. Felix Hernandez will rock the crowd once again at SummerStage with his mix of soul, Motown, funk, salsa and disco dance classics. Bring your dancing shoes.
JULY 17
FELIX HERNANDEZ
BRONX CROTONA PARK
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA SUMMER RECITAL SERIES Tuesday, July 19 / 7PM (MUSIC)
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series continues with soprano Layla Claire, mezzo-soprano Renée Tatum and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, accompanied by pianist Bradley Moore. Layla Claire recently made her Met debut as Tebaldo in Don Carlo and sang the role of Marenka in The Met/Juilliard School’s joint production of The Bartered Bride. She returns to the Met next season as Helena in The Enchanted Island and Gianetta in L’Elisir d’Amore. Renée Tatum recently made her Met debut as Inez in Il Trovatore and sang Háta in the Met/Juilliard School’s joint production of The Bartered Bride. Other recent engagements include Amando in Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre with the New York Philharmonic and Flosshilde and Grimgerde in Wagner’s Ring cycle in San Francisco.
Layla Claire
Ryan Speedo Green
Ryan Speedo Green is a winner of the Met’s 2011 National Council Auditions. Current engagements include Jake in Porgy and Bess with the Berlin Philharmonic and Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor and Audebert in the world premiere of Kevin Puts’s Silent Night with Minnesota Opera. Bradley Moore is currently an assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera. He has performed with the world’s greatest artists and symphonies, and continues to work with notable conductors at leading opera houses.
JULY 19
renee tatum
QUEENS Music Kool Moe Dee / Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes / Rhythm Revue with Felix Hernandez / Funkmaster Flex / Shine & The Moonbeams / David Gonzales / JoSunJari / Robbi Kumalo / Matt Brown / Donell Jones / Olivia / The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series / Hezekiah Walker / Chrisette Michele Dance Creative Outlet Dance Theatre Of Brooklyn / Waheed Works Theater “Tunde’s Trumpet”
QUEENS QUEENSBRIDGE PARK
KOOL MOE DEE Tuesday, July 19 / 7PM (MUSIC)
Grammy-Award winner Kool Moe Dee started his solo career by teaming with Teddy Riley. His underground hit “Go See the Doctor” highlighted his style of story telling rapping, which he continued in with albums including his platinum record, How Ya Like Me Now and his gold record, Knowledge Is King. His skillful speed-raps challenged other rap artists of the time and provided commentary on popular society, including “urban problems and the need for black pride and knowledge,” according to The New York Times. With mounting success, Kool Moe Dee became one of the first rappers to win a Grammy and to perform during the Grammy Awards ceremony, paving the way for the mainstream success of hip-hop.
JULY 19
KOOL MOE DEE
QUEENS QUEENSBRIDGE PARK
HAROLD MELVIN’S BLUE NOTES / RHYTHM REVUE with FELIX HERNANDEZ Wednesday, July 20 / 7pm (MUSIC)
Based in Philadelphia, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes has withstood the test of time with their classic songs from a time when music touched the heart, body and soul. As one of the most popular groups that exemplified the sound of “Philly Soul” during a time when Motown held the ears of most listeners, the group’s repertoire included elements of soul, R&B, doo-wop and disco. While recording with Gamble and Huff’s Philadelphia International label, they reached gold and platinum status as well as a Grammy nomination with their classic love ballad, “If You Don’t Know Me by Now.” It topped the R&B charts and helped them rise to great success with remarkable songwriting, production and powerful vocals, especially from Teddy Pendergrass. With other singles like “The Love I Lost,” “Bad Luck” and “Wake Up Everybody,” the Blue Notes’ hits have become timeless, soul-stirring tunes that have captivated audiences around the world for several generations.
HAROLD MELVIN’S BLUE NOTES
Felix Hernandez is in the business of remembering the good ol’ days. Hernandez’s wildly popular radio show, Rhythm Revue, takes on a life of its own weekly at New York’s Roseland, where three thousand disciples regularly come to hear Fernandez spin the sounds of the past and boogie down. Felix Hernandez will rock the crowd once again at SummerStage with his mix of soul, Motown, funk, salsa and disco dance classics. Bring your dancing shoes.
JULY 20
FELIX HERNANDEZ
QUEENS QUEENSBRIDGE PARK
SALUTE TO HIP-HOP
FUNKMASTER FLEX AND SPECIAL GUESTS Thursday, July 21 / 7PM (MUSIC)
For more than a decade, DJ Funkmaster Flex has reigned as America’s number one hip-hop radio personality and reaches more than two million listeners a week on his radio show. Join Funkmaster Flex as he hosts Salute to Hip-Hop, a nationwide series of concerts that celebrates hip-hop and honors the generations of artists that have shaped it and carry on its influence today.
JULY 21
FUNKMASTER FLEX
STATEN ISLAND CLOVE LAKES PARK
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA SUMMER RECITAL SERIES Thursday, July 21 / 7PM (MUSIC)
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series continues with soprano Layla Claire, mezzo-soprano Renée Tatum and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, accompanied by pianist Bradley Moore. Layla Claire recently made her Met debut as Tebaldo in Don Carlo and sang the role of Marenka in The Met/Juilliard School’s joint production of The Bartered Bride. She returns to the Met next season as Helena in The Enchanted Island and Gianetta in L’Elisir d’Amore. Renée Tatum recently made her Met debut as Inez in Il Trovatore and sang Háta in the Met/Juilliard School’s joint production of The Bartered Bride. Other recent engagements include Amando in Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre with the New York Philharmonic and Flosshilde and Grimgerde in Wagner’s Ring cycle in San Francisco.
Layla Claire
Ryan Speedo Green
Ryan Speedo Green is a winner of the Met’s 2011 National Council Auditions. Current engagements include Jake in Porgy and Bess with the Berlin Philharmonic and Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor and Audebert in the world premiere of Kevin Puts’s Silent Night with Minnesota Opera. Bradley Moore is currently an assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera. He has performed with the world’s greatest artists and symphonies, and continues to work with notable conductors at leading opera houses.
JULY 21
renee tatum
QUEENS QUEENSBRIDGE PARK
CREATIVE OUTLET DANCE THEATRE OF BROOKLYN / WAHEED WORKS
Friday, July 22 (DANCE) 7pm – Contemporary Modern Dance Master Class by Jamel Gaines, Director of Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn 8pm – Performance Jamel Gaines is the artistic director and founder of Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn, a professional dance company that marries rigorous classical and modern technique with African-American soul and spirit. Having choreographed works for a diverse range of audiences including Jacob’s Pillow and Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” the company is a beloved favorite by reviewers, who have hailed it for its “richness of dance tone” and “contagious vitality.” The company will perform three works from Jamel Gaines’ repertoire celebrating love, nature, and freedom.
CREATIVE OUTLET DANCE THEATRE OF BROOKLYN
Waheed Works is a dance project by Tommie-Waheed Evans, a celebrated choreographer. As a former member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Philadanco!, Waheed was guided by some of the industry’s biggest names prior to establishing his own company. Waheed Works’ philosophy is grounded in a mix of intricate ballet with a modern earthiness and infused with powerful jazz moves that bring to life a full range of human emotions that will leave you feeling uplifted. Watch the company premiere “Crossroads,” an exploration of what it means to be poised in a position of pure potential.
JULY 22
Master Class Come experience the joy of movement with this class that teaches contemporary modern dance infused with West African and hip-hop elements. WAHEED WORKS
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
KEIGWIN + COMPANY / CREATIVE OUTLET DANCE THEATRE OF BROOKLYN
Special Guest: Dancin’ Downtown at The Joyce Contest Winner Saturday, July 23 / DOORS AT 7PM / 8pm (DANCE)
Founded in 2003 by Artistic Director Larry Keigwin, KEIGWIN + COMPANY creates and shares Keigwin’s electrifying brand of contemporary dance. K+C engages audiences and invigorates diverse communities with a vision of dance that embodies wit, style and heart. Since K+C’s premiere performance, K+C has created 16 dances and presented performances nationwide. K+C will make its SummerStage debut with a restaging of “Bolero NYC” and a cast of fifty, celebrating city life. The New York Times raved: “Bolero NYC [is a] tour de force.” The program also includes “Megalopolis,” set to M.I.A. and Steve Reich, and audience favorite, “Love Songs.”
KEIGWIN + COMPANY
JULY 23
Jamel Gaines is the artistic director and founder of Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn, a professional dance company that marries rigorous classical and modern technique with African-American soul and spirit. Having choregraphed works for a diverse range of audiences including Jacob’s Pillow, Lincoln Center and Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” Gaines has made the company a beloved favorite by reviewers in the United States and Europe, who have hailed it for its “richness of dance tone” and “contagious vitality.” The company will perform three works from Jamel Gaines’ repertoire celebrating love, nature and freedom. Dancin’ Downtown at The Joyce is a collaboration between Dancers Responding to AIDS (DRA) and The Joyce Theatre. Dance studios are adjudicated by top names in the dance world with the award winner performing at SummerStage. CREATIVE OUTLET DANCE THEATRE OF BROOKLYN
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
MARCELO D2 / PITTY / DJ NUTS Sunday, July 24 / DOORS AT 2PM / 3PM (MUSIC)
Join SummerStage as we celebrate the newest generation of musicians making a mark on the Brazilian music scene. Marcelo D2 is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Latin hip-hop. From his beginnings fronting the popular Brazilian band, Planet Hemp, to the international recognition gained during his solo career, this Rio de Janeiro native has been credited with creating a unique blend of traditional samba and hip-hop. His style consists of live Latin loops, beats, samples and scratches that has landed him performances around the world alongside artists such as Stevie Wonder and Erykah Badu. You don’t need to speak Portuguese to appreciate this act - words might not always translate, but rhythm and passion certainly do.
MARCELO D2
Pitty is one of the most successful Brazilian rockstars of her generation. Influenced by the sounds of rock greats such as The Beatles, Nirvana and Metallica, her strong, assertive voice accompanies her hard-hitting rock sound. Her solo debut, Admirável Chip Novo made her an instant star and was on heavy rotation on MTV Brazil. Her follow up albums Anacrônico and Chiaroscuro cemented her as a regular on all of Brazil’s major radio stations and garnered her the title of one of the “100 Most Influential Brazilians in 2010,” by the Brazilian magazine Época. DJ Nuts is an astute and rigorous historian of Brasil’s vast and varied musical culture. Known for his legendary collection of music, he plays Brazilian classics and mixes it with the best of modern Brazilian music.
JULY 24
Presented in association with Brasil SummerFest
PITTY
QUEENS QUEENSBRIDGE PARK
QUEENS FAMILY DAY
SHINE & THE MOONBEAMS / DAVID GONZALES / JOSUNJARI / ROBBI KUMALO / MATT BROWN Sunday, July 24 / 3PM (MUSIC & FAMILY)
SummerStage Kids presented by Disney presents Queens Family Day, a fun-filled day for kids and kids at heart that focuses on arts and culture from around the globe. Indulge your imagination with interactive storytelling, arts and crafts workshops, puppet performances and powerful music featuring an eclectic mix of soul, classical and folk. Shine & The Moonbeams features the best of soul music revamped to excite children of all ages. Take pleasure in Shine & The Moonbeams as they invite kids to stomp their feet, clap their hands and sing to melodic and bubbly tunes. Robbi Kumalo honed her chops singing backup for everyone from Harry Belafonte and Aretha Franklin to Jewel; now she’s groovin’ to jams from her award-winning albums Keep the Beat and Music Makes Me Happy.
DAVID GONZALES
MATT BROWN
Matt Brown performs American roots music with an expansive repertoire of toe-tapping square dance tunes, and a variety of songs from the blues to ballads. An innovative fiddler, banjo and guitar player, he delights his audiences with a wry sense of humor and a sound that is both authentic and inventive.
JULY 24
With speech, sound, mime, dance and inspired imagination, acclaimed master storyteller/performer David Gonzalez is keeping the ancient art of storytelling alive. SummerStage Kids Presented by ©
ROBBI KUMALO
QUEENS SPRINGFIELD PARK
DONELL JONES / OLIVIA Tuesday, July 26 / 7PM (MUSIC)
Chicago native Donell Jones is a known R&B force and has also delved into writing and producing. He got his big break with his debut album, My Heart. He was recognized as a force in R&B after his sophomore album, Where I Wanna Be, went platinum with the singles “Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)” and “U Know What’s Up” featuring Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes of TLC. The success continued with his chart-topping albums, Life Goes On and Journey of a Gemini. Jones’ latest album, Lyrics, harkens back to the traditional jazzy sound of R&B, while his legato voice connects each note over smooth rhythm. Olivia is not only a singer but also a composer, producer and arranger who was brought on by super-producer Dr. Dre and rap icon 50 Cent as the First Lady of G-Unit. Hits with G-Unit like “Candy Shop” and “Best Friend” brought her sultry voice to radio stations around the world. Since then Olivia has pursued numerous projects including finishing her newest album, Show The World which showcases her harmonious vocal and writing talents and includes collaborations with Missy Elliott, Neyo and many more.
DONELL JONES
Presented in association with Globe Star Media and WBLS
JULY 26
OLIVIA
QUEENS SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK JULY 26
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA SUMMER RECITAL SERIES Tuesday, July 26 / 7PM (MUSIC)
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series continues with soprano Layla Claire, mezzo-soprano Renée Tatum and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, accompanied by pianist Bradley Moore. Layla Claire recently made her Met debut as Tebaldo in Don Carlo and sang the role of Marenka in The Met/Juilliard School’s joint production of The Bartered Bride. She returns to the Met next season as Helena in The Enchanted Island and Gianetta in L’Elisir d’Amore. Renée Tatum recently made her Met debut as Inez in Il Trovatore and sang Háta in the Met/Juilliard School’s joint production of The Bartered Bride. Other recent engagements include Amando in Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre with the New York Philharmonic and Flosshilde and Grimgerde in Wagner’s Ring cycle in San Francisco.
Layla Claire
Ryan Speedo Green
Ryan Speedo Green is a winner of the Met’s 2011 National Council Auditions. Current engagements include Jake in Porgy and Bess with the Berlin Philharmonic and Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor and Audebert in the world premiere of Kevin Puts’s Silent Night with Minnesota Opera. Bradley Moore is currently an assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera. He has performed with the world’s greatest artists and symphonies, and continues to work with notable conductors at leading opera houses.
renee tatum
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
WANDA JACKSON / IMELDA MAY
Wednesday, July 27 / DOORS AT 6PM / 7pm (MUSIC) When Wanda Jackson, the reigning “Queen of Rockabilly,” recorded her first hit single, “Let’s Have a Party,” she made it into her own even after one-time boyfriend Elvis Presley had released a version of it. As a recent inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for her pivotal role in the evolution of popular music, Jackson was the first woman to perform unadulterated rock and roll. With a remarkable career that has spanned over fifty years, her latest album, The Party Ain’t Over, which was produced by Jack White III, indicates that this feisty septuagenarian artist is as galvanizing as ever. Imelda May is unmistakable both in her music – a fusion of surf guitars, blues and rockabilly – and her style, a classic pin-up girl brand of chic accompanied by a solitary curl and shock of blonde in her jet black hair. In her native Ireland, her debut album, Love Tattoo, has gone five times platinum, making her a household name. May has also shared the stage with numerous music luminaries including Eric Clapton, Lionel Richie and David Gilmore. 2010 saw May performing at the Grammys with Jeff Beck and the release of her newest album Mayhem, which is further propelling this rising star.
WANDA JACKSON
JULY 27
IMELDA MAY
QUEENS SPRINGFIELD PARK
HEZEKIAH WALKER Wednesday, July 27 / 7PM (MUSIC)
For over 25 years, Bishop Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir have spread the Gospel of Jesus to a variety of audiences, changing the lives of many around the world. They have performed and recorded with several major secular artists, including Celine Dion, Ray Charles, Brian McKnight, Justin Timberlake, Enrique Iglesias, Brandy and Baby Face to name a few. Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir have received numerous Grammy nominations for their fifteen critically acclaimed albums, including their wins for Live in Atlanta at Morehouse College and for Love is Live. With their nomination for the NAACP Image Award for Best Gospel Artist, Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir have further cemented themselves as a power player in the Gospel music world. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and WLIB
JULY 27
HEZEKIAH WALKER
QUEENS SPRINGFIELD PARK
CHRISETTE MICHELE Thursday, July 28 / 7PM (MUSIC)
New York native Chrisette Michele is a “soulful songbird” as described by Entertainment Weekly, who has been shining on the R&B music scene since 2007. She released her debut album I Am to critical praise, including her first Grammy for “Be OK” featuring will.i.am. Her sophomore album, Epiphany, fortified her success by debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. It highlighted her “fiery vocal performance” as she backs up every word with strong emotion. Her latest album, Let Freedom Reign, is driven by Michele’s self-confidence and charged with a “blissful marriage of fiery spirit and artful musicality.” Throughout the album, her “timelessly sleek voice” has room to shine over crisp, understated backdrops. Michele’s “meaty voice” powerfully stimulates her albums as “her voice has real pain in it, with a cry at the back of the throat that lends complexity to even the happiest love songs,” according to the NY Daily News. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and WBLS
JULY 28
CHRISETTE MICHELE
MANHATTAN JACKIE ROBINSON PARK JULY 28
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA SUMMER RECITAL SERIES Thursday, July 28 / 7PM (MUSIC)
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series continues with soprano Layla Claire, mezzo-soprano Renée Tatum and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, accompanied by pianist Bradley Moore. Layla Claire recently made her Met debut as Tebaldo in Don Carlo and sang the role of Marenka in The Met/Juilliard School’s joint production of The Bartered Bride. She returns to the Met next season as Helena in The Enchanted Island and Gianetta in L’Elisir d’Amore. Renée Tatum recently made her Met debut as Inez in Il Trovatore and sang Háta in the Met/Juilliard School’s joint production of The Bartered Bride. Other recent engagements include Amando in Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre with the New York Philharmonic and Flosshilde and Grimgerde in Wagner’s Ring cycle in San Francisco.
Layla Claire
Ryan Speedo Green
Ryan Speedo Green is a winner of the Met’s 2011 National Council Auditions. Current engagements include Jake in Porgy and Bess with the Berlin Philharmonic and Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor and Audebert in the world premiere of Kevin Puts’s Silent Night with Minnesota Opera. Bradley Moore is currently an assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera. He has performed with the world’s greatest artists and symphonies, and continues to work with notable conductors at leading opera houses.
renee tatum
QUEENS SPRINGFIELD PARK
“TUNDE’S TRUMPET”
By Chisa Hutchinson / Directed by Kristin Horton / Lyrics by Sarah Gancher / Music by Elliot Goldman Friday, July 29 – Saturday, July 30 / 8pm (THEATER)
Join SummerStage Theater presented by Time Warner for Tunde’s Trumpet, a commissioned musical production from noted playwright Chisa Hutchinson that celebrates the magical effect of music on the life of a young boy, performed with hand-crafted puppets that will captivate audiences of all ages. Tunde is a normal kid with a mischievous streak that continually drives his parents up a wall. For Tunde’s tenth birthday, his jazz trumpeter father gives him the trumpet he used to practice on when he was a boy with the hope that Tunde will focus some of his energy on the instrument. He works through frustration, around distractions, past laziness, doubt and jealousy to become an accomplished trumpeter who makes his parents proud. In this story however, Frustration, Distractions, Laziness, Doubt and Jealousy are actual characters, like Tunde and his parents. Watch as these puppets come together in a music-packed, high-energy show with a funkified soundtrack that celebrates the determination inherent in all of us.
JULY 29–30
Chisa Hutchinson’s plays have been presented by such companies as the Lark Play Development Center, and Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. The recipient of many honors, Tunde’s Trumpet is her second commission for City Parks Foundation, her first ever musical and her first play with puppets. Director Kristin Horton transforms everyday materials and objects into a dynamic, imaginative and playful world peopled by puppets, jazz musicians and spirits. SummerStage Theater Presented by
Chisa Hutchinson
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
FORCES OF NATURE DANCE THEATRE / CECILIA MARTA DANCE COMPANY
Special Guest: Dancin’ Downtown at The Joyce Contest Winner Saturday, July 30 / DOORS AT 7PM / 8pm (DANCE)
Founded in 1981, Forces of Nature Dance Theatre has become a major player in the dance world, having produced numerous high-quality ballets and performed around the world. With a creative matrix centered between the African and American cultural diaspora, its aesthetic has been critically acclaimed. By utilizing a unique blend of styles including contemporary, traditional West African, ballet, house, hip-hop and martial arts, the company has been at the forefront of redefining the experience of AfricanAmerican dance.
FORCES OF NATURE DANCE THEATRE
SummerStage is pleased to present “The Best of Forces,” four works that highlight the company’s 30th anniversary. After many years of traveling the globe, Cecilia Marta had a vision to bring together a diverse and extraordinary group of dancers that would create the Cecilia Marta Dance Company (CMDC). The company’s speaks through the language of dance about the ritualistic rhythms and magical experiences Cecilia encountered throughout her life, and as a child growing up in Panama. As a multicultural dance company, CMDC is committed to celebrating diversity by melding contemporary and traditional ballet, Latin roots, and nuances of earthy funk and soul.
JULY 30
Dancin’ Downtown at The Joyce is a collaboration between Dancers Responding to AIDS (DRA) and The Joyce Theatre. Dance studios are adjudicated by top names in the dance world with the award winner performing at SummerStage.
CECILIA MARTA DANCE COMPANY
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
YEMEN BLUES / WATCHA CLAN / SHABATE / AWESOME TAPES FROM AFRICA Sunday, July 31 / DOORS AT 2PM / 3PM (MUSIC)
Yemen Blues, a supergroup of top musicians founded by Ravid Kahalani and Omer Avital, is an original and fascinating meeting of traditional Yemenite melodies influenced by the world of blues, jazz and funk. The flavor of West African roots and enhanced modern compositions come together to create a breathtaking experience and mixture of complex grooves. Their unique sound is the powerful outcome of Kahalani’s musical journey from his Yemenite roots to Western influences. Through its compelling mix of languages and musical styles, Watcha Clan is aspiring to be the sound of global society. With the 2011 release of their newest album, Radio Babel, Watcha Clan is poised to break down the barriers of what is considered “world” music. With a visionary eclecticism that incorporates everything from hip-hop to indigenous music, the band rolls out thriving, bass-heavy pulsations anchored by mesmerizing vocals.
YEMEN BLUES
WATCHA CLAN
SHABATE
AWESOME TAPES FROM AFRICA
If you unite Ethiopian rhythms, traditional Jewish melodies and prayers with be-bop, it would probably sound something like Shabate. Playing SummerStage as their firstever North American appearance, this culturally diverse band, led by Abete Brihorn, interweaves African and Middle Eastern sounds with blues and funk underpinnings. Shabate is a merging of the secular and religious that will appeal to all audiences.
JULY 31
Enjoy a danceable journey featuring the best of rare and obscure African music as Brian Shimkovitz DJs the music he shares through his famed MP3 blog, Awesome Tapes from Africa.
STATEN ISLAND Music The Sugarhill Gang / The Budos Band / Andy Cooney / The Metropolitan Opera Recital Series
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STATEN ISLAND TAPPEN PARK
THE SUGARHILL GANG Tuesday, August 2 / 7pm (MUSIC)
Where would hip-hop be without The Sugarhill Gang? Their single, “Rapper’s Delight,” brought hip-hop out of its underground music scene and into the mainstream when it became a multi-platinum seller and radio hit in 1979. Its infectious beat from Chic’s “Good Times” made it an instant hit, selling more than eight million copies. The famous trio of Master Gee, Wonder Mike and Big Bank Hank went on to have several other hits including “Apache” and “8th Wonder,” both from their sophomore album, 8th Wonder. Originators of the hip-hop sound, they showcased their rapping talents by writing a complex set of lyrics and placing them over a rhythmic beat, making it easy for people to get into the groove and dance. The intricacy of the lyrics in songs like “Rapper’s Delight” made hip-hop stand out when it was first introduced, setting a standard for other hip-hop artists to follow. The Sugarhill Gang faded from the scene in the mid-1980s, only returning in 1999 with Jump On It, a rap album for children. With their inaugural hit in hip-hop history, they continue to have a profound influence on hip-hop today.
AUG 2
STATEN ISLAND TAPPEN PARK
THE BUDOS BAND Wednesday, August 3 / 7pm (MUSIC)
With their eclectic array of influences like the Cairo Jazz Band, J.C. Davis, Mulatu Astatke and Black Sabbath, The Budos Band brings an explosion of sound and styles with the juxtaposition of tight rhythms, blistering breakbeats and blaring horns, creating “instrumental, Staten Island afro-soul,” according to The New York Times. Their third album, Budos III, expresses the band’s tight-knit and creative bond that they have come to share since the tenpiece ensemble’s inception in 2003. With the tight musical vision shared between the members, The Budos Band has been successful with album sales and worldwide tours, playing at rock clubs and large festival stages. Reaching out to a variety of fans, their music is enjoyed by a fan base that spans all genres and ages. The Budos Band’s energy and passion drives their live performances from start to finish. With each show, they hypnotize audiences with their riffs, as the percussions and horns create rhythms that blend together, keeping the audience wanting more.
AUG 3
THE BUDOS BAND
STATEN ISLAND TAPPEN PARK
ANDY COONEY
Thursday, August 4 / 7pm (MUSIC) With an outstanding voice and dynamic stage presence, Andy Cooney has been a leading artist in the IrishAmerican music scene and has been dubbed “An American Gift to Ireland’s Heritage” by The Daily News. He has won the hearts of audiences with his renditions of songs ranging from all-time Irish favorites like “Galway Bay” and “Danny Boy” to his hit records “The Irish Wedding Song,” “Boston Rose” and “Daughter of Mine.” His latest show production, “American Voices,” has been receiving high critical acclaim as it highlights heritage, faith, friendship and American patriotism. This show features Crystal Gayle and Larry Gatlin, who also make guest appearances in Cooney’s latest album, It’ll Be Me. Ronan Tynan, a world renowned Irish tenor, also collaborates with Cooney on this album. Out of his 15 albums, this one truly showcases Cooney’s vocal talents. Recorded in Ireland with the RTE Concert Orchestra, Cooney’s vocal range and ability are exemplified, placing him in a league of his own. As a musician, songwriter, vocalist and entertainer, Cooney is known to be a true professional, bringing the best of Irish entertainment wherever he tours.
AUG 4
ANDY COONEY
MANHATTAN Music Rob Base / Funkmaster Flex / Vashawn Mitchell / Ryan Leslie / Bachata Heightz / Henry Santos / Andy Andy / Step Afrika / Border Crossing Collective / Tito Rojas / The Cold Crush Brothers / Wavves / Toots Thielemans / James Carter / Tia Fuller / Cécile McLorin Salvant / Archie Shepp Quartet / Madeleine Peyroux / Anat Cohen / The Gerald Clayton Trio
Dance Forces of Nature Dance Theatre / Dash Ensemble / Cecilia Marta Dance Company / Francine E. Ott / The Walk / dre. dance / White Wave Young Soon Kim Dance / Step Afrika / Border Crossing Collective Theater “Henry V” / “Tunde’s Trumpet” / “Oedipus Rex” / “Seven Against Thebes”
MANHATTAN MARCUS GARVEY PARK AUG 5–6
“HENRY V”
by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE / Co-produced by CLASSICAL THEATRE OF HARLEM Friday, August 5– Saturday, August 6 / 8PM (THEATER)
The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) is a professional theatre company founded at the Harlem School for the Arts. In each of its productions, which have included numerous works by playwrights such as Shakespeare and Euripides, CTH is dedicated to returning the “classics” to the stages of Harlem, to nurturing new, young and culturally diverse audiences, and to producing theatre that truly reflects the diversity of ideas and the racial tapestry of America. Explore the brutally thoughtful, fiercely funny, belligerent diplomacy of King Henry V with The Classical Theatre of Harlem as they interpret William Shakespeare’s classic. Our young King Henry V takes the throne, his dying father’s advice to “busy giddy minds with foreign quarrels” ringing in his ears. His reputation as a fun-loving lad who’s lived among the common folk inspires love from commoners and disregard from his enemies. He lays claim to France, and invades the country with a “band of brothers.” Join CTH’s powerful exploration of what it means for a king to bear the burdensome expectations of the crown – and the people to bear the expectations of the king – as Henry V works to win the hearts of all. Director Jenny Bennett pilots a nonstop, intense scrutiny of kings and citizens in this play that dissects humanity’s warmongering with gripping actors, a thrilling score and fierce dance. SummerStage Theater Presented by
HENRY V
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
SHELEBRATION! A TRIBUTE TO THE WORKS OF SHEL SILVERSTEIN Produced by Hal Willner
Saturday, August 6 / DOORS AT 6PM / 7pm (MUSIC & WORD) Celebrate the wonder and enchantment of famed illustrator, playwright, poet, performer, recording artist and Grammy-winning songwriter, Shel Silverstein. This amazing evening will feature an exceptional gathering of musicians and special celebrity guests performing unique interpretations of Silverstein’s beloved songs and poetry. Join SummerStage as we bring to life the energy and joyfulness of these timeless works and celebrate the virtuosity of a man with whom millions around the world have grown up. Shel Silverstein is best known as the author and illustrator of many iconic books of prose and poetry, including such modern classics as The Giving Tree, Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back, Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic. These works are characterized by their deft mixing of the sly, the serious, the macabre and the just plain silly. As an acclaimed songwriter, Silverstein has enjoyed credits that include “The Unicorn” for the Irish Rovers and “A Boy Named Sue” for Johnny Cash, among others. His unique imagination and bold brand of humor are beloved by children and adults throughout the world.
AUG 6
This evening’s performances have been specially curated by Hal Willner, one of the most well respected and eclectic original producers in contemporary music, TV and live spectacles. Mr. Wilner has been at the forefront of producing unique and engaging events running the gamut from pop to jazz to the avant-garde.
Shel Silverstein
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
FRIENDLY FIRES / THE NAKED AND FAMOUS / CULTS Presented in association with Mean Red Productions
Sunday, August 7 / DOORS AT 2PM / 3PM (MUSIC) Hailing from London, Friendly Fires’ intuitive grasp of kinetic art-funk, electronic euphoria and stadium-sized anthems has led to them becoming one of the most exciting and critically feted new bands of the past few years. Their new album, Pala, is out on XL Recordings, and will continue to have the band rocking dance floors across the world.
FRIENDLY FIRES
New Zealand indie-electronic ensemble, The Naked and Famous, create driving, melodic pop with an 80s post-punk influence. Centered around the talents of vocalist Alisa Xayalith and guitarist/vocalist Thom Powers, the band formed in 2008 and released two EPs prior to releasing their debut album, Passive Me, Aggressive You, featuring the number one electronica-fuelled pop single “Young Blood,” that has propelled them onto the international music scene. Cults is a boy/girl duo consisting of Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin, who have already converted fans with their exuberant, danceable garage rock. Pitchfork said that their first single, “Go Outside,” “has the innocent and balmy feel that brings to mind Swedish indie pop, with a tinkling glockenspiel cutting through humidity, an appealingly lazy bassline, and joyous sing-along vocals.”
THE NAKED AND FAMOUS
AUG 7
CULTS
MANHATTAN MARCUS GARVEY PARK AUG 7–8
“TUNDE’S TRUMPET”
By Chisa Hutchinson / Directed by Kristin Horton / Lyrics by Sarah Gancher / Music by Elliot Goldman Sunday, August 7 – Monday, August 8 / 8pm (THEATER)
Join SummerStage Theater presented by Time Warner for Tunde’s Trumpet, a commissioned musical production from noted playwright Chisa Hutchinson that celebrates the magical effect of music on the life of a young boy, performed with hand-crafted puppets that will captivate audiences of all ages. Tunde is a normal kid with a mischievous streak that continually drives his parents up a wall. For Tunde’s tenth birthday, his jazz trumpeter father gives him the trumpet he used to practice on when he was a boy with the hope that Tunde will focus some of his energy on the instrument. He works through frustration, around distractions, past laziness, doubt and jealousy to become an accomplished trumpeter who makes his parents proud. In this story however, Frustration, Distractions, Laziness, Doubt and Jealousy are actual characters, like Tunde and his parents. Watch as these puppets come together in a music-packed, high-energy show with a funkified soundtrack that celebrates the determination inherent in all of us. Chisa Hutchinson’s plays have been presented by such companies as the Lark Play Development Center, and Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. The recipient of many honors, Tunde’s Trumpet is her second commission for City Parks Foundation, her first ever musical and her first play with puppets. Director Kristin Horton transforms everyday materials and objects into a dynamic, imaginative and playful world peopled by puppets, jazz musicians and spirits. SummerStage Theater Presented by
Chisa Hutchinson
MANHATTAN MARCUS GARVEY PARK
SALUTE TO HIP-HOP
ROB BASE / FUNKMASTER FLEX Tuesday, August 9 / 7PM (MUSIC)
Best known for his platinum hip-hop classic “It Takes Two,” Rob Base, along with childhood friend DJ E-Z Rock, rode their smash hit into R&B radio stations as well as dance clubs around the world and provided a touchstone for the style known as “hip-house,” a mix of hip-hop rhymes infused with the musical stylings of dance music. Massive club and radio airplay helped the album go multi-platinum and earned Rob Base “Single of the Year” honors both in Spin Magazine and The Village Voice. His second single, “Get on the Dance Floor” continued Rob’s dance appeal, with his lyrical skills retaining his street credentials as a rapper. The smash single “Joy and Pain” is a classic hip-hop song that still plays all over the world. For more than a decade, DJ Funkmaster Flex has reigned as America’s number one hip-hop radio personality and reaches more than two million listeners a week on his radio show. Join Funkmaster Flex as he hosts Salute to Hip-Hop, a nationwide series of concerts that celebrates hip-hop and honors the generations of artists that have shaped it and carry on its influence today.
ROB BASE
AUG 9
FUNKMASTER FLEX
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
JOE BATAAN / JOHNNY COLON / DJ TURMIX
Screening “WE LIKE IT LIKE THAT – THE STORY OF LATIN BOOGALOO,” Directed by MATHEW RAMIREZ WARREN Wednesday, August 10 / DOORS AT 6PM / 7PM (MUSIC)
Joe Bataan, called the “King of Latin Soul,” was influenced by the melodic sounds of doo-wop and the energy of Latin music that were the hallmarks of his Spanish Harlem neighborhood. The famed Fania Records found this intersection of sound and culture enticing and propelled Bataan to become a major force in the “Latin Boogaloo” music scene with hits like “Gypsy Woman” and “My Cloud.” Johnny Colón is an acclaimed musician and a pioneer of the “Latin Boogaloo” movement. His celebrated album, Boogaloo Blues, became an instant classic and helped set the tone for this era in Latin music history. With other successful albums such as Boogaloo’67 and Move Over, Colón went on to found the East Harlem Music School, the first music school devoted to salsa music.
JOE BATAAN
DJ TURMIX
DJ Turmix, originally from Barcelona, arrived in NYC in 2008. He is a specialist in 60s Latin Boogaloo and an inveterate vinyl collector. He hosts the monthly LET’S BOOGALOO party at Nublu.
AUG 10
In 1965, on the verge of abandoning Latin music, a generation of young Latinos in NYC discovers Latin Boogaloo, a musical style mixing English and Spanish lyrics, with Afro-Cuban, jazz, rock and R&B rhythms and melodies. Featuring original interviews with legends like Joe Bataan, Johnny Colón, Ricardo Ray and others, Mathew Ramirez Warren’s documentary, “We Like It Like That” explores the story of the Latin Boogaloo era and seeks to understand its legacy and context in history. JOHNNY COLON
MANHATTAN MARCUS GARVEY PARK
VASHAWN MITCHELL Wednesday, August 10 / 7pm
Chicago native VaShawn Mitchell has made noteworthy contributions to the Gospel music scene that have defined and impacted churches and Gospel communities nationwide. A noted songwriter and worship leader, his songs have been recorded by Gospel’s most celebrated artists, including Smokie Norful, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and Bishop Paul Morton. On his Grammy-nominated album Triumphant, he incorporates pop and rock sounds with a traditional Gospel vibe that has thrilled audiences. Mitchell was inspired after connecting with people who have faced immense hardships, and many of his songs on Triumphant “express empathy as his voice implores, and embodies, optimism,” according to The Chicago Tribune. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and WLIB
AUG 10
VASHAWN MITCHELL
MANHATTAN MARCUS GARVEY PARK
RYAN LESLIE
Thursday, August 11 / 7pm (MUSIC) Channeling musical talent from an early age, Ryan Leslie went from Harvard grad to music mogul. He rose to stardom in the music industry as a producer and songwriter with a mix of industry heavy-hitters such as Beyoncé, LL Cool J, Britney Spears, and, notably, Cassie on “Me&U,” which went to number one on the R&B charts. While supporting other artists, Leslie also dabbled in the music scene with his own music, releasing two albums within nine months – Ryan Leslie and Transition. The latter received a Grammy Award nomination and highlights Leslie’s songwriting while telling the story about the rise and fall of a summer romance. Later this year, Leslie plans to release his third album, Les Is More. He premiered the first single, “Beautiful Lie,” in Paris and “Breathe” in San Francisco. As famous for his savvy social media presence as his production talent, Leslie is quickly gaining worldwide attention for his unique R&B styling and sensual voice. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and WBLS
AUG 11
RYAN LESLIE
MANHATTAN MARCUS GARVEY PARK
FORCES OF NATURE DANCE THEATRE / DASH ENSEMBLE Friday, August 12 (DANCE) 7pm Dance Master Class by Theresa Lavington 8pm Performance
Founded in 1981, Forces of Nature Dance Theatre has become a major player in the dance world, having produced numerous high-quality ballets and performed around the world. With a creative matrix centered between the African and American cultural diaspora, its aesthetic has been critically acclaimed as thought-provoking and creatively brilliant. By utilizing a unique blend of performing arts including contemporary dance, traditional West African dance, ballet, house, hip-hop and martial arts, the company has been at the forefront of redefining the experience of African-American dance.
FORCES OF NATURE DANCE THEATRE
SummerStage is pleased to present “The Best of Forces,” four works that highlight the company’s 30th anniversary. The DASH Ensemble, founded by artistic director Gregory Dolbashian, is a diverse company of dance artists with a shared commitment to expanding the physical and theatrical boundaries of contemporary dance in the twentyfirst century. The company has performed at venues all over New York including The Skirball Center, Dance Theater Workshop and Symphony Space, to much critical and audience acclaim. The DASH Ensemble will present several works including an excerpt from their thrilling debut work, “SUNDOWNING,” and highlights from their newest work, “Like the Eagle.”
AUG 12
Master Class A fun, energetic, and easy-to-follow dance workout fused with hip-hop, funk and the latest dance moves. DASH ENSEMBLE
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
HENRY SANTOS
Saturday, August 13 / DOORS AT 2PM / 3PM (MUSIC) Aventura’s Henry Santos is stepping into new territory with his premiere as a solo artist at SummerStage. Hailing from the Dominican Republic, Santos had an interest in music since he was a child and further developed this passion when he moved to the United States at age 14. As “a diehard music fanatic,” Santos has helped Aventura achieve phenomenal international success as a singer and composer. His compositions have secured Aventura as one of the most recognizable names in bachata music worldwide, catering to young Latinos in the U.S. as well as audiences across Europe and Latin America. His hybrid “bachata with R&B, hip-hop and big-city attitude” sound has created a “juggernaut,” according to The New York Times. With a successful track record with Aventura, Santos’s solo debut is highly anticipated by numerous fans. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and LaMega
AUG 13
HENRY SANTOS
MANHATTAN MARCUS GARVEY PARK
CECILIA MARTA DANCE COMPANY / FRANCINE E. OTT THE WALK Saturday, August 13 (DANCE) 7pm Dance Master Class by Camille A. Brown 8pm Performance
After many years of traveling the globe, Cecilia Marta returned to NYC with a vision to bring together a diverse and extraordinary group of dancers that would create the Cecilia Marta Dance Company (CMDC). The company’s objective is to speak through the language of dance about the ritualistic rhythms and magical experiences Cecilia encountered throughout her life, and as a child growing up in Panama. As a multicultural dance company, CMDC is committed to celebrating diversity and unity by melding contemporary and traditional ballet, Latin roots infused with a world attitude, and nuances of earthy funk and soul.
CECILIA MARTA DANCE COMPANY
Francine E. Ott is an accomplished dancer, choreographer and educator with numerous credits under her belt including Jacob’s Pillow and The Mark Morris Dance Center. Ott’s debut at SummerStage will find her company, The Walk, performing “A Delicate Balance” a work that is inspired by verses in the biblical books Ezekiel and Ephesians. This piece shows how God can transform, restore and protect the human spirit. The choreographic movement is a spiritual hybrid of hip hop, house, modern and African dance. These diverse styles of dance have been organically fused together to create a constant flow of the body, while unfolding a universal story of loss and redemption.
AUG 13
Master Class This class combines elements of all dance styles and focuses on discovering ways to “color” one’s movements with a dancer’s grace and strength, and will feature live drumming. FRANCINE E. OTT
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
GOSPEL EXPLOSION
DONALD LAWRENCE AND SPECIAL GUESTS / HOSTED BY HEZEKIAH WALKER Sunday, August 14 / DOORS AT 2PM / 3PM (MUSIC)
Producer, composer and recording artist Donald Lawrence is one of the most influential figures in modern Gospel music. Having worked with several groups, including the Tri-City Singers, before tackling his solo career, he transformed the group into an internationally acclaimed choir, with hits such as “The Best Is Yet to Come” and “The Blessing of Abraham,” which topped the Gospel charts. Lawrence’s debut solo album, I Speak Life, earned him a Grammy nomination and seven Stellar Gospel Music Awards, including Song of the Year for “Healed.” After a highly celebrated first album, Lawrence’s success continued with his sophomore album, The Law of Confession Part 1, when it peaked at number two on the Billboard Gospel Album charts. The album highlights the unique gospel sound of Lawrence and his ten-plus member backing ensemble, The Co.
DONALD LAWRENCE
Bishop Hezekiah Walker is a Grammy-award-winning Gospel singer as well as the founder and pastor of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle – The Kingdom Church located in Brooklyn, NY and Bensalem, PA. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and WLIB
AUG 14
HEZEKIAH WALKER
MANHATTAN HIGHBRIDGE PARK
BACHATA HEIGHTZ Tuesday, August 16 / 7PM (MUSIC)
Born and raised in Washington Heights, Jerry Garcia, Jonathan Garcia, Jeffrey Cruz, Aneudy Hernandez and Diego Capellan formed Bachata Heightz to explore their musical interests while staying off the streets. The group was inspired by the tropical music of their Dominican roots as well as hip-hop and R&B. Combining these varying sounds, Bachata Heightz created urban bachata, which highlights their Latin heritage yet incorporates modern beats. As one of the first pioneers of this unique sound, they showcased it on their recording debut with Hector Acosta on Me Puedo Matar, which reached the top five on the Billboard Latin Tropical chart. Soon after, they released their inaugural full-length album, The First, featuring the singles “Te Busco” and “No Sabes Del Amor,” becoming one of most influential groups in the Latin music scene. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and LaMega
AUG 16
BACHATA HEIGHTS
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
“SANGRE”
By Mando Alvardo / Adapted from BLOOD WEDDING by Federico García Lorca / Directed by Jerry RuiZ Wednesday, August 17 / DOORS AT 7PM / 8pm (THEATER)
**Bi-lingual – Spanish and English** “Sangre” is a special commission by City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage that explores the effects of violence within the community. A gritty, raw, intense perspective into modern urban culture and how men’s choices affect loved ones and the community at large, this powerful theater piece is not to be missed. Federico Garcia Lorca is one of the most popular Spanish playwrights of the early 20th century. His seminal work, “Blood Wedding,” is based on a newspaper fragment which tells the story of a family vendetta and a bride who ran away with the son of the family’s enemy. Lorca investigates desire, repression and the constraints and commitments of the rural community in which the play is rooted. Mando Alvarado, noted playwright, screenwriter and actor, has re-interpreted this classic for SummerStage by fusing Lorca’s vision to his own. Alvarado’s “Sangre” is a powerful, spirited telling of the original work that takes the newspaper, pulp element of the original play and sets it in present day Bronx. This work contains the same visceral issues but refocuses on the choices the characters make based on personal desires versus family duty. Director Jerry Ruiz directs a fast moving, pavement-pounding contemporary urban retelling of this classic love story, set against a backdrop of crowded sidewalks and vibrating subway platforms.
AUG 17
SummerStage Theater Presented by
Mando Alvardo
MANHATTAN HIGHBRIDGE PARK
HENRY SANTOS
Wednesday, August 17 / 7PM (MUSIC) Aventura’s Henry Santos is stepping into new territory with his premiere as a solo artist at SummerStage. Hailing from the Dominican Republic, Santos had an interest in music since he was a child and further developed this passion when he moved to the United States at age 14. As “a diehard music fanatic,” Santos has helped Aventura achieve phenomenal international success as a singer and composer. His compositions have secured Aventura as one of the most recognizable names in bachata music worldwide, catering to young Latinos in the U.S. as well as audiences across Europe and Latin America. His hybrid “bachata with R&B, hip-hop and big-city attitude” sound has created a “juggernaut,” according to The New York Times. With a successful track record with Aventura, Santos’s solo debut is highly anticipated by numerous fans. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and LaMega
AUG 17
HENRY SANTOS
MANHATTAN HIGHBRIDGE PARK
ANDY ANDY
Thursday, August 18 / 7PM (MUSIC) Dominican singer Andy Andy has emerged as one of a handful of musicians on the cutting edge of the bachata craze, beginning with his debut album, Aqui Conmigo. Infused with traditional Dominican folk music and contemporary bachata, Andy juxtaposes new and old sounds to reach a wide audience. With his sophomore album, Necesito un Amor, he was nominated for the Latin Grammy award for Best Contemporary Tropical Album. Andy Andy has topped the Billboard’s Top Tropical Albums charts with Ironia, which featured Andy Andy’s staple sounds – guitar and percussion-driven, mid-tempo bachata rhythms and his mellifluous vocals that bring it all together. Its hit single “Que Ironia” was multi-formatted as a ballad and in bachata and reggaeton styles. Andy Andy’s success continued with the album Tu Me Haces Falta with his latest, Placer y Castiga, peaking in the top 20 on the Billboard’s Tropical Album chart. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and LaMega
AUG 18
ANDY ANDY
MANHATTAN EAST RIVER PARK
DRE. DANCE / WHITE WAVE YOUNG SOON KIM DANCE COMPANY Friday, August 19 (DANCE) 7pm Dance Master Class by Germaul Barnes 8pm Performance
Founded in 2005 by Andrew Palermo and Taye Diggs, dre. dance has garnered praise from publications including The New York Times, which has called its style a mix of “high energy, deliberate athletic gesture and checked power.” They have since presented six full-length NYC seasons, with performances and residencies around the country. dre.dance’s debut at SummerStage will offer the company premiere of a movement-theatre interpretation of NPR/ Radiolab’s beloved story “Goat On A Cow.” The company will also perform excerpts of their most recent piece, “dre. diohead,” and repertoire pieces.
DRE. DANCE
Since its birth in 1988, WHITE WAVE Young Soon Kim Dance Company has demonstrated the artistic dexterity and tenacity vital to a NY-based modern dance company and is committed to the creation and expression of the union between the natural rhythm of the planet and the primal essence of the human spirit. Elizabeth Zimmer wrote in Dance Magazine: “Stunning performers, passionate dancing… Kim’s choreography is highly charged.” The company will be performing “So Long for Now,” a dynamic collaboration with composers Sam Crawford and Zeb Gould that forges a new artistic path exploring the body’s limitless capacity for expression.
AUG 19
Master Class Director of Germaul Barnes/Viewsic Expressions Dance gives a fun, high energy contemporary modern dance class fusing a broad range of movements: athletic, gestural and theatrical. WHITE WAVE YOUNG SOON KIM DANCE COMPANY
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
TIKEN JAH FAKOLY / META AND THE CORNERSTONES / LOS RAKAS Saturday, August 20 / DOORS AT 2PM / 3PM (MUSIC)
Tiken Jah Fakoly has established himself as one of the figureheads of the new reggae scene in Africa. Fusing his infectious reggae beat with politically charged lyrics, Fakoly has become a spokesperson for an entire generation, speaking out on political and social injustices through his songs which have led to his exile from several African countries including his homeland, the Ivory Coast. On his latest album, African Revolution, Fakoly delivers the same poignant messages promoting social justice intermingled with catchy reggae melodies and African instruments. Considered “the future of reggae music” by National Geographic, Meta and the Cornerstones fuse afropop, hiphop, rock and soul with an international mixture of vocals. This synthesis of reggae and soul with powerful lyrics and feel-good melodies creates something that transcends oceans, borders, and language barriers. Consisting of members who are as diverse as their music, each brings their own unique background to create a unifying and soulpounding experience for audiences.
TIKEN JAH FAKOLY
META AND THE CORNERSTONES
AUG 20
Los Rakas represent pan-American flows. Cousins who grew up in Panama before spending their teens in Oakland, California, Raka Dun and Raka Rico put a distinctive “Panabay” twist on hip-hop and reggae. Drawing on Panamanian plena’s faithful approach to reggae and the Bay Area’s idiosyncratic hip-hop scene, Los Rakas merge dancehall melodies with a lyricism all their own that has received accolades from tastemakers like The FADER and NPR for their hit single, “Abrazame.”
LOS RAKAS
MANHATTAN EAST RIVER PARK
STEP AFRIKA / BORDER CROSSING COLLECTIVE
Saturday, August 20 (MUSIC) 7pm – Dance Master Class by Step Afrika 8pm – Performance
Step Afrika! is the first professional company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping. The company is critically-acclaimed for its efforts to promote an understanding of and appreciation for the art of stepping, a mix of traditional African dance and the stepping perfected by African American fraternities and sororities. The Washington Post has said of the company: “this percussive style of performance…peppers the audience with vibrations. You feel it in your eardrums and elsewhere. Each jackhammer step stamps you.” Border Crossing Collective is a Brooklyn-based dance company with a vision of bridging street and contemporary dance utilizing new and original music as well as visual art. The company’s work embodies a theatrical style that explores the human condition through the constructs of everyday existence.
STEP AFRIKA
Border Crossing Collective will present “¡Holy New York!,” a collection of choreographic perspectives exploring the effects of a city relentless in energy and pace. The dancers weave through experiences, as the emotional manifestations of survival, love, addiction and a search for oneself is at times all-consuming but always redemptive. Master Class Learn the basics of stepping with members of Step Afrika!
AUG 20
BORDER CROSSING COLLECTIVE
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
RAKIM / EPMD / FUNKMASTER FLEX
Sunday, August 21 / DOORS AT 2PM / 3PM (MUSIC) Join SummerStage as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rakim’s iconic album, Paid in Full which has garnered praise from outlets such as Rolling Stone, who has deemed it “the greatest hip-hop album of all time.” Few artists have had as great an impact on the development of hiphop as Rakim. Recognized as one of the “Masters of the Microphone,” Rakim first exploded onto the scene with the release of the iconic single “Eric B. Is President,” which showcased his intricately intellectual lyrics.
RAKIM
EPMD is famed as one of the pioneers of hip-hop. Their debut album, Strictly Business, topped the R&B chart, as did their follow-up, Unfinished Business. They continued releasing hits such as “It’s My Thing” and “You Gots to Chill,” which showcased their talent and stylistic delivery over minimal beats. EPMD revolutionized rap as they took listeners on “a funky joy ride through a gangster-fantasy universe,” according to Rolling Stone magazine. For more than a decade, DJ Funkmaster Flex has reigned as America’s number one hip-hop radio personality and reaches more than two million listeners a week on his radio show. Join Funkmaster Flex as he hosts Salute to Hip-Hop, a nationwide series of concerts that celebrates hip-hop and honors the generations of artists that have shaped it and carry on its influence today.
EPMD
AUG 21
FUNKMASTER FLEX
MANHATTAN EAST RIVER PARK
TITO ROJAS
Tuesday, August 23 / 7PM (MUSIC) Over the past three decades, Tito Rojas has escalated to become one of salsa’s biggest singers. With his natural vocal talent, Rojas “uses almost no ornamentation when he sings” and melodically accompanies salsa’s upbeat rhythm. Hailing from Puerto Rico, Rojas started his solo career with his hit song “El Campesino,” and went on to become a leading member of several well-known bands, including his own, Conjunto Borincano. Renowned as a top “salsero,” Rojas pursued a solo career in the 1990s with the romantic salsa album, Sensual. He reached a new pinnacle in his career when his 1995 album, Por Derecho Propio, went double platinum, and he was awarded “Best Salsa Artist” in Puerto Rico. A constant on the Latin music scene, Rojas has “reached the area where pop music turns into art, where signs of emotionalism by the performer bring an entire audience together,” according to The New York Times.
AUG 23
TITO ROJAS
MANHATTAN EAST RIVER PARK
THE COLD CRUSH BROTHERS Wednesday, August 24 / 7pm (MUSIC)
When hip-hop first hit the music scene in the late 1970s, The Cold Crush Brothers were among those who contributed to the art form’s inception into musical history. Consisting of Grandmaster Caz, Almighty KG, JDL, Easy AD, DJ Charlie Chase and DJ Tony Tone, they set the standard for emceeing as they “rapped in a declamatory style over minimalist beats,” which proved that, “the basic repertory of clever, vigorously delivered self-mythologizing can make for entertaining hip-hop,” according to The New York Times. As they gained mainstream popularity, many groups battled them to gain street credibility and hip-hop supremacy. The Cold Crush Brothers released a number of singles, their most successful being “Fresh, Wild, Fly and Bold.” With a memorable stage presence that featured harmonies and melodies as they sang and rapped free-flowing lyrics to a beat, they took hip-hop to an international audience and continue to tour the U.S. today.
AUG 24
THE COLD CRUSH BROTHERS
MANHATTAN EAST RIVER PARK
WAVVES
Thursday, August 25 / 7pm (MUSIC) Nathan Williams has been on a major ascent in the indie rock world since the first two albums’ worth of naïve punk rock he recorded behind his parents’ San Diego home as Wavves became a sensation in the world of indie music. His newest release, 2010’s King of the Beach, is an adventurous and ambitious record. It cuts deeper into the bleeding throat catharsis and 60s sunshine soul that Wavves is known for. It also unexpectedly flips out with elements of primitive electronics and psychedelic studio experimentation. Unlike Wavves’ previously released material, recorded in haphazard bursts on Williams’ laptop, King of the Beach was toiled over for three months, producing an end result that is multi-layered with inspiration and hailed by numerous critics as a top album of 2010. Rolling Stone notes “a one-man bedroom experiment blossoms into a real band, with Jay Reatard’s feisty backing duo and Modest Mouse’s producer beefing up low-fi strumming, smiling melodies and zonked studio whimsy.”
AUG 25
WAVVES
MANHATTAN MARCUS GARVEY PARK
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival TOOTS THIELEMANS / JAMES CARTER / TIA FULLER / CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT Saturday, August 27 / 3pm (MUSIC)
NEA Jazz Master Jean ‘Toots’ Thielemans is the preeminent player of the jazz harmonica. With a musical career that has spanned nearly 70 years, Thielemans has taken a simple instrument and brought it into the contemporary jazz ensemble. In 1962, Thielemans recorded his most enduring composition, “Bluesette,” which remains a jazz staple. James Carter is a powerhouse musician who has mesmerized audiences with his multi-instrumental talents. Of his numerous critically acclaimed albums, Rolling Stone says “… Carter is as near as jazz gets nowadays to a Young Turk— a cocky scene stealer with…a knack for coming up with noticeable records.”
AUG 27
TOOTS THIELEMANS
JAMES CARTER
TIA FULLER
CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT
When Tia Fuller plays the saxophone, the full notes and reverberations fill the room. Fuller’s artistic fearlessness and full-bodied sax lines effortlessly convey a number of moods and grooves. She has maintained a blossoming career with three albums and performs as a member of the all-female band touring with R&B star Beyoncé. Hailed by The New York Times as a jazz singer “who stamps out lines with authority and power,” Cécile McLorin Salvant is one of the brightest stars in the jazz world. Growing acclaim highlights her interpretations of standards and her ability to tackle compositions rarely performed among jazz vocalists. NEA Jazz Masters Live is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest that celebrates the living legends who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz.
MANHATTAN EAST RIVER PARK
“HENRY V”
by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE / Co-produced by CLASSICAL THEATRE OF HARLEM Saturday, August 27 – Monday, August 29 / 8pm (THEATER)
The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) is a professional theatre company founded at the Harlem School for the Arts. In each of its productions, which have included numerous works by playwrights such as Shakespeare and Euripides, CTH is dedicated to returning the “classics” to the stages of Harlem, to nurturing new, young, and culturally diverse audiences, and to producing theatre that truly reflects the diversity of ideas and the racial tapestry of America. Explore the brutally thoughtful, fiercely funny, belligerent diplomacy of King Henry V with The Classical Theatre of Harlem as they interpret William Shakespeare’s classic. Our young King Henry V takes the throne, his dying father’s advice to “busy giddy minds with foreign quarrels” ringing in his ears. His reputation as a fun-loving lad who’s lived among the common folk inspires love from commoners and disregard from his enemies. He lays claim to France, and invades the country with a “band of brothers.” Join CTH’s powerful exploration of what it means for a king to bear the burdensome expectations of the crown – and the people to bear the expectations of the king – as Henry V works to win the hearts of all. Director Jenny Bennett pilots a nonstop, intense scrutiny of kings and citizens in this play that dissects humanity’s warmongering with gripping actors, a thrilling score and fierce dance.
AUG 27–28
SummerStage Theater Presented by
“HENRY V”
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
JAGGED EDGE / AVANT / MELANIE FIONA Sunday, August 28 / DOORS AT 2PM / 3PM (MUSIC)
Jagged Edge has sold over eight million records, won countless awards and gained impressive nominations while solidifying their place in R&B history with hit singles such as “He Can’t Love U,” “Let’s Get Married,” “Promise” and “Where the Party At.” With catchy lyrics and hypnotic beats, numerous albums, including A Jagged Era, J.E. Heartbreak, and Jagged Little Thrill, have held spots at the top of the Billboard charts. As a singer and songwriter, Avant has gained critical acclaim for his musical achievements. Several of his albums, including My Thoughts, Ecstasy and Private Room, went platinum and featured numerous top 10 singles such as “Separate,” “Makin’ Good Love” and “Read Your Mind.” His soulful songs reflect the ups and downs of relationships. His latest album, The Letter, hones in on his ability to create successful love ballads and mood records.
JAGGED EDGE
Melanie Fiona shares her passion for music with her debut album, The Bridge, which is a collection of soulful songs that highlights her retro sound and combines the traditions of classic soul with modern music R&B stylings. Several of her singles have climbed the Billboard charts, including “It Kills Me,” which peaked at number one on the R&B/HipHop Song Charts. Presented in association with Globe Star Media and WBLS
AUG 28
AVANT
MELANIE FIONA
MANHATTAN TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK AUG 28
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival ARCHIE SHEPP QUARTET / MADELEINE PEYROUX / ANAT COHEN / THE GERALD CLAYTON TRIO Sunday, August 28 / 3PM (MUSIC)
Saxophone player, composer, pianist, singer, politically committed poet and playwright, Archie Shepp is a jazz legend and has been entertaining audiences for nearly 50 years. At the head of the Avant-Garde Free Jazz movement, his music highlights the juxtaposition of American music: blues and spirituals. Madeleine Peyroux began her music career as a teenage busker on the streets of Europe, where she enhanced her vocal and guitar skills. Best known for intimately arranged covers of early American blues and jazz repertoire, The New York Times has claimed, “she could inhabit Billie Holiday and Edith Piaf, doing the tragic, pinched-voice thing perfectly.”
ARCHIE SHEPP QUARTET
MADELEINE PEYROUX
ANAT COHEN
THE GERALD CLAYTON TRIO
An established bandleader and prolific composer, idiomatically conversant with modern and traditional jazz, classical music, Brazilian choro, Argentine tango and an expansive timeline of Afro-Cuban styles, Anat Cohen has established herself as one of the primary voices of her generation on both the tenor saxophone and clarinet. Gerald Clayton’s sophisticated yet modern style on the piano has entertained audiences around the world. Clayton’s trio, with Justin Brown (drums) and Joe Sanders (bass), creates “arrangements full of broken or stuttered rhythm [and] pinpoint dynamics,” according to the New York Times.
MANHATTAN EAST RIVER PARK
“OEDIPUS REX”
By Sophocles / Co-produced by The Faux-Real Theatre Company
Tuesday, August 30 , THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 / 8pm (THEATER) The Faux-Real Theatre Company transcends boundaries traditionally placed between artists and the public by inviting audiences to engage and interact directly with performers in environments that challenge theatrical conventions. The name “Faux-Real” embodies an aesthetic in which the extraordinary and the quotidian meld into dynamic stage life. The company aims to deliver challenging texts, both classical and contemporary, in multi-dimensional productions that are engaging and accessible.
AUG 30, SEP 1
The Greeks, like us, knew that Oedipus was going to gouge his eyes out, even before the play began. And yet they still came out in droves. Come see what all the fuss was about as The Faux-Real Theatre Company stage their Dionysian depiction of Oedipus, featuring an all-male cast of twelve utilizing the performance techniques of the ancient Greeks including: brightly colored wigs, fantastical costumes, and masks that act as megaphones. By incorporating the colorful aesthetic of these ancient performances and utilizing a broad physical style of acting powered by live music, songs and dancing, this work looks beyond the “fate versus free will” interpretations of this classic, to explore the alluring underbelly of this primal text. Their heightened approach reveals what is terrifying and vital in this most tragic of tragedies, enhancing the story’s power to roil our subconscious and to awaken the heroes within. SummerStage Theater Presented by
OEDIPUS REX
MANHATTAN EAST RIVER PARK
“SEVEN AGAINST THEBES” By Aeschylus / Co-produced by The Faux-Real Theatre Company
Wednesday, August 31 & friday, september 2 / 8pm (THEATER) The Faux-Real Theatre Company transcends boundaries traditionally placed between artists and the public by inviting audiences to engage and interact directly with performers in environments that challenge theatrical conventions. The name Faux-Real embodies an aesthetic in which the extraordinary and the quotidian meld into dynamic stage life. Written in 467 BC, Seven Against Thieves is the New York premiere of a fresh translation of Aeschylus’ classic by NEA recipient, Aaron Poochigian. This rarely performed play begins with the city of Thebes preparing for an invasion led by seven warriors as their leader Eteocles tries to silence the protests of the city’s women. Faux-Real spins the Greek tradition of all-male theatre on its head by presenting this classic with an all-female cast of twelve. Clad in largerthan-life masks and a chariot-full of colorful costumes, these actresses revel in song, dance and combat, as Aeschylus’s words find new meaning in the mouths of these feisty females. The play ends with a post-mortem visit from Oedipus’s daughter Antigone, as Aeschylus chisels an early exploration into the modern themes of gender politics and the negative impact of war.
AUG 31 & SEP 2
This production combines the ribald street aesthetic of The Faux-Real Theatre Company with the classical sensibilities of Verse Theater Manhattan for a show that makes the erudite entertaining and the classic contemporary. SummerStage Theater Presented by
SEVEN AGAINST THEBES
MAINSTAGE CENTRAL PARK
BENEFIT CONCERTS Benefit concerts help to support the more than 100 free SummerStage programs presented by City Parks Foundation. Thank you for your support. All benefit concerts will be performed in Central Park on the MainStage. For ticket information visit www.SummerStage.org BOWERY PRESENTS
Florence and the Machine
Levon Helm Band
Emmylou Harris
Florence and the Machine / Twin Shadow / Bubbles Friday, June 24 / DOORS AT 5:30PM / 6:30PM SOLD OUT BOWERY PRESENTS
RATATAT
Wednesday, July 13 / DOORS AT 5:30PM / 6:30PM BOWERY PRESENTS
Levon Helm Band / Emmylou Harris with Special Guest Hayes Carll Monday, July 18 / DOORS AT 5PM / 6PM AEG LIVE PRESENTS
Wiz Khalifa
Lykke Li
Wiz Khalifa
Monday, JULY 25 / DOORS AT 5:30PM / 6:30PM BOWERY PRESENTS
Lykke Li
Monday, August 1 / DOORS AT 5:30PM / 6:30PM BOWERY PRESENTS
Guster / Jack’s Mannequin Monday, August 8 / DOORS AT 5PM / 6pm SOLD OUT
Guster
THANK YOU TO OUR MEDIA SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FASHION AND LIFESTYLE FOR CITY WOMEN
SPECIAL THANKS TO Brand Strategy & Design by
Graffiti Lettering by
SUMMERSTAGE THEATER PRESENTED BY
SUMMERSTAGE KIDS PRESENTED BY
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SUPPORTING SPONSORS
In cooperation with
Additional support is provided by The Arthur Ross Foundation; The Harkness Foundation for Dance; Mertz Gilmore Foundation; The Shubert Foundation; Lila Acheson Wallace Theater Fund established in The New York Community Trust by the Founders of the Reader’s Digest Association; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; National Endowment for the Arts through the Access to Artistic Excellence program; New York State Council on the Arts; NEA Jazz Masters Live; NYC Council Member Rosie Mendez; NYC Council Member Joel Rivera; NYC Council Member James Sanders Jr.
Accommodations upon 48 hour request by calling 212-360-2789
City Parks Foundation thanks all of its SummerStage members, including: PARTNERS ($10,000) Rick & Danielle Arnstein Benefactors ($5,000) Claire Goodman P. Cloud David Boonshoft Patrons ($2,500) Wendy vanden Heuval Robert & Margaret Fagenson Directors ($500) Marshall Alston Eduardo Frias Mason & Geri Haupt John Levy Dianne McKeever Selina Plotkin Helene Rosenthal Peter Shapiro
Producers ($1,000) Jonathan Abrams Vincent Cloud Sandy Cook, Jr. Reggie Elliott Anthony Gordon Zachary Gronich Ben Holzman Woody Mann Patrick J. Mulvey & Barbara Ann Hall Andrew Simmons Sabrena Silver & Abraham Stein
List current as of April 26, 2011. Please visit our website for the most up to date list of the many individuals whose contributions support our work. Thanks to you all!
AT&T is the presenting sponsor of City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage.
AT&T believes in strengthening communities. That’s why AT&T is proud to be the presenting sponsor of City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage which brings people together through music. ©2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. Service provided by AT&T Mobility. All rights reserved. AT&T and the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY 2011 SUMMERSTAGE THEATER INDOMITABLE: JAMES BROWN VON KING PARK Fri, June 17 / 8pm Sat, June 18 / 8Pm
TUNDE’S TRUMPET SPRINGFIELD Park Fri, July 29 / 8PM SAT, July 30 / 8pm MARCUS GARVEY Park sun, AUG 7 / 8PM mon, AUG 8 / 8pm
SEVEN AGAINST THEBES EAST RIVER Park WED, AUG 31 / 8PM FRI, SEP 2 / 8pm
SANGRE St. Mary’s Park Fri, July 8 / 8PM SAT, July 9 / 8pm CROTONA Park Fri, July 15 / 8PM SAT, July 16 / 8pm CENTRAL Park WED, AUG 17 / 8PM
HENRY V MARCUS GARVEY Park Fri, AUG 5 / 8PM SAT, AUG 6 / 8pm EAST RIVER Park SAT, AUG 27 / 8PM MON, AUG 29 / 8pm
OEDIPUS REX EAST RIVER Park TUE, AUG 30 / 8PM THU, SEP 1 / 8pm
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SummerStage Theater presented by
QUEENS STATEN ISLAND MANHATTAN
MAINSTAGE BROOKLYN BRONX
PRIVATELY FUNDED. PUBLICLY ENJOYED. City Parks Foundation is a non-profit organization. Contributions are used to support our free programs in Sports, Education, the Performing Arts, and Community Building, all helping to keep parks throughout New York City vital centers of civic activity. SummerStage is privately funded by people like you. Visit CityParksFoundation.org and click the DONATE NOW button or mail checks payable to City Parks Foundation 830 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10065.