NORM LEWIS – NJPAC In Your Living Room (Thursday, Dec 31 at 12 a.m.)

By Mabel Pais

Norm Lewis and his holiday shows at ‘Feinstein’s/54 Below’ have become a New York City tradition over the past five years and this year will be no different as Broadway’s charming and acclaimed leading man returns to perform a very special concert this year—online!

Each December, Norm’s festive sold-out shows help ring in the season and audiences travel from across the globe to join in the hottest party in town. This year, NJPAC brings Norm and his holiday cheer directly from Broadway’s Living Room into your home. Norm will be joined by his swingin’ band: Musical Director Joseph Joubert on keyboards, George Farmer on Upright & Electric Bass and Perry Cavari on Drums & Percussion. He and the “boys” will perform material from past shows, songs from ‘The NORM LEWIS Christmas Album’ and some new songs he’s excited to debut for you as he reflects on 2020.

For more information, visit events@broadwayworld.com

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HIP-HOP CINDERELLA – MUSICAL

  “We are thrilled with the positive response. Virtual Theater, Rap, Hip Hop, TikTok, Pop, combined with Musical Theatre are exciting new voices for female empowerment and diversity.” – Linda Chichester: Co-Founder, HipHopMusicals.com

“HIP HOP CINDERELLA – A NEW MUSICAL”

A FAMILY-FRIENDLY VIRTUAL THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE

FEATURING ALUMNI STUDENTS OFTHE ROSETTA LENOIRE MUSICAL THEATRE ACADEMY

NOW STREAMING THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2021

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer) in association with HipHopMusicals.com (Linda Chichester and David Coffman, Co-Founders) announce that they are extending “Hip Hop Cinderella – A New Musical,” a family-friendly intergalactic romp with a cool, hip hop vibe, laughs, adventure and unforgettable songs. This virtual theatrical experience had its online launch on December 10 and will now be available on demand until January 31, 2021.

In this reimagining of the classic fairy tale, teenage Cinderella and her rapping robot companion Runka live on planet Zolla. They toil under the thumb of Cinderella’s stepmom, Lady Zurka, and her two social media obsessed stepsisters, Zig and Zag. The galaxy has lost its groove, and the Prince is throwing a Hip Hop Ball and Rap Competition to turn the beat around. Traveling via a quantum time warp, Cinderella transforms into “Ella C” and fights to win the competition. Upon returning to planet Zolla, Ella C is forced into a royal rap battle against Lady Zurka

Directed by Christopher Scott, Amas Artistic Associate, with musical direction by Evan Alparone, the cast features alumni students of the Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy. They are: Alexis Aguiar, Cassandra Barckett, Jamiel Tako L. Burkhart, Brian Criado, Emily Lang and Lexy Piton. The stage manager is Benjamin A. Vigil and Nikki Wen is assistant stage manager. Video Editor is Matt Gurren.

Tickets

For more information about Amas Musical Theatre, and Ticket price-levels, visit amasmusical.org

To learn more about Hip Hop Musicals, visit HipHopMusicals.com

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT PRODUCTIONS (FFTP)

Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Presents in Collaboration withNational Action Network (NAN)

A Special Taped Presentation In Atlanta

On The Day Of Georgia’s Senate Run-Off Election

January 5th, 2021 At The Atlanta Chapter Of NAN

When Truth Is Not Enough

by Susan Charlotte

Directed By Antony Marsellis

Excerpts from Oscar® Nominee Liz Garbus’ film

“All In: The Fight For Democracy” with Stacey Abrams

and “Rigged” – part of the program

 

Followed By An Audience March To TheEbenezer Baptist Church, And Voting!

The award-winning theatre company, “Food For Thought Productions,” and the National Action Network, a not-for-profit civil rights organization founded by the Reverend Al Sharpton are presenting “WHEN TRUTH IS NOT ENOUGH,” a compelling play about voter suppression. FFTP and NAN will present a filmed version of the play with Sean Dougherty, Ebony Jo-Ann, Angela Pierce and Dominique Sharpton, directed by Antony Marsellis at the NAN chapter in Atlanta, Georgia on Jan. 5, 2021 (Election day for the Senate run-offs). Excerpts from Oscar® Nominee Liz Garbus’ film “All In: The Fight For Democracy” with Stacey Abrams and “Rigged” will also be part of the program.

A Q & A will follow with Dominque Sharpton, Director Antony Marsellis, and Susan Charlotte. The audience which will consist of approximately 15 people who have not voted, will leave NAN headquarters and go to the Ebenezer Baptist Church (Martin Luther King was its most famous member). Rev. Raphael Warnock has been the senior pastor of the Church since 2005 and is running for the Senate. Rev. Sailor, the Southeast Regional Director for the National Action Network, will speak for a few minutes at this site which is considered the spiritual home of Dr. Martin Luther King. This will be followed by audience members going  to the different polling sites to vote. Rev. Sailor, Dominque Sharpton, Antony Marsellis and Susan Charlotte will then go to Rev. Sailor’s polling site where Rev. Sailor will vote.

 “When Truth Is Not Enough” takes place on Election Day in an old rural town in the South. An elderly black woman, Margaret, has come to vote. She has been voting all her life. But today is different. Today she must show a picture ID. As she says, “I don’t have no passport.  But that doesn’t mean I can’t vote. And they lost my birth certificate. But that don’t mean I wasn’t born!”

Originally produced in 2012 by Susan Charlotte’s Cause Celebre, a not-for-profit theatre company that connects theatre and film with causes, this play was part of a Project called the “Rosa’s Registration Ride” in honor of Rosa Parks.  The RRR, which first presented the play, offers audience members a chance to vote on site, has travelled throughout the country — from Macon, Georgia to Washington D.C. to New York City. Students registered over 100 people in the field after it was presented at the Democracy Prep HS in Harlem. FFTP recently presented the play in New York City in October just before the November 2020 election.

Tickets for the January 5th presentation are FREE, but extremely limited, by calling +1.678.732.0405 and speaking with Edith. The National Action Network’s Atlanta Chapter is based at 632 Peoples Street, Atlanta GA 30310. The event starts at 2:00pm and will run through, 4:00pm followed by the March to the Ebenezer Baptist Church (101 Jackson St NE, Atlanta, GA 30312), and then to Reverend Sailor’s Polling site at 4:45pm.

To learn more about NAN, visit www.nationalactionnetwork.net

To learn more about FFTP, visit www.foodforthoughtproductions.com

Atlanta Contact for FFTP & NAN’s presentation, march & voting event on January 5th, 2020: Dwain Smith, TDS Communications, 1.770.354.7678, tdwain@tdscommunications.net

( Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness)