There’s a powerful art exhibit at Rockefeller center and our roving photographer has captured the essence. We have highlights of last week’s awesome Renewal Summit. Valerie Smaldone says for wonderful writing and rich dialogue, The Minutes, now on Broadway, is a play to see. There’s LIVE entertainment and events galore right now. The Hungary LIVE Festival starts this Monday.  Song and dance man Lee Roy Reams will be honored in star studded event. Acclaimed jazz singer Sue Matsuki has a new show at Feinsteins/54 Below. And see a powerful documentary for a good cause.

June 4. Calling All Talented Tomatoes

Cheryl Benton, Randie Levine Miller, and Roni Jenkins invite you to audition for the next Tomatoes Got Talent show. Here we are with last year’s 12 finalists. You could be one this year. GET THE DETAILS.

Renewal Summit Highlights 2022 

Our fifth Renewal Summit was a glorious live event connecting fabulous women at the beautiful Scandinavia House in NYC and panels that enlightened, educated and entertained us.  Here are a few highlights of the day and a shout out to our wonderful sponsors and exhibitors.  We will have videos of the full panels shortly and will be posting them. CHECK OUT THE HIGHLIGHTS.

Powerful Art Exhibition at Rockefeller Center

Our roving photographer, Nicole Freezer Rubens has captured some fabulous photos of an exhibition created by MASA Galeria of Mexico City that is spread throughout NYC’s Rockefeller Center. Outside on the main plaza surrounding the famous skating rink is an impactful new work of art by Pia Camil. It is titled Saca Tus Trapos Al Sol, Air Your Dirty Laundry. This is her most massive public work to date.

The sheer volume of clothing installed on laundry lines replacing the usual 193 flags that are a staple at Rockefeller Center, span a full array of colors and styles that blow in the breeze and change color with the sun. Laundry drying in the open air is a shared universal sight all over the world. The garments are used clothing exchanged by the citizens of Mexico City. Camil recorded stories by the people about their personal memories attached to their clothing evoking individual stories and emotions also universal to us all. The artist says the items “contain our sweat and secrets; they bear witness to our moments of joy and sadness”. We all have dirty laundry to air and share. Nicole is the author of The Long Pause and the Short Breath.  Follow her on Instagram@nfrconsult.

June 12. Lee Roy Reams Lifetime Achievement Award

Our favorite song and dance guy, Lee Roy Reams, will be honored by the American Popular Song Society, APSS, at a benefit co-produced by Sandi Durell at The Cutting Room. The evening will be filled with performers you know and love. Tickets are available now.

May 23-29. Hungary’s Most Renowned Theater Productions

It’s here! The Hungary Live Festival starts May 23-29 with the “most renowned theater productions from Hungary” (Broadway World). Don’t miss this long-awaited festival full of multi-disciplinary works by critically-acclaimed artists that push the envelope of performance and storytelling. With exhibitions, 3 films, 3 panel discussions, 4 live concerts, 4 intimate workshops, and 6 contemporary live performance works, each piece offers a compelling and unique experience for all. For More Info and to RSVP CLICK HERE. 

June 2. Sue Matsuki at Feinstein’s/54 Below

Come join this multi-award-winning cabaret/jazz performing artist in an evening celebrating her life in the business. This show is a retrospective of all her favorite tunes and arrangements. Known as “The Godmother of Cabaret” and for her eclectic taste in music, Sue Matsuki will perform jazz, American Songbook, standards, blues, and even a few show tunes (done her way) celebrating this incredible milestone in her career! Featuring Musical Director/Arranger Gregory Toroian on piano, Skip Ward on bass, David Silliman on drums, and back-up singers Maria Corsaro and Kati Neiheisel. Directed by David Sabella.

Sue Matsuki is a multi-award winning singer/songwriter, producer, teacher, columnist and the co-author (with David Sabella) of So You Want to Sing Cabaret. She is a Bistro Award winner for Outstanding Collaboration with her Musical Director, Gregory Toroian; she was the very first recipient of the Julie Wilson Award; and she is a 3-time MAC Award Winner for Jazz Vocalist, Jazz Duo and Songwriter. With mentors like Trudi Mann, Jan Wallman, Julie Wilson and Marilyn Maye, Ms. Matsuki knows how to entertain because she learned from the best! For more information please visit: https://www.SueMatsuki.com

June 4. Benefit Movie Night: “Pray the Devil Back to Hell”

Come to a screening of a powerful documentary film and support an important cause, produced by one of our Tomatoes, Deborah Roth. It’s the sprint benefit for for 4thU Artivists‘ Spring Benefit, our first-ever Movie Night! They’ll be showing the powerful award-winning documentary “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” and a live Q&A afterwards with the director, Gini Reticker.

This documentary film tells the remarkable true story of the coalition of Christian and Muslim women who came together to pray, protest, and bring about a peaceful end to the bloody civil war in their native Liberia. The film won numerous awards when it was originally produced in 2008 and the leader of this peace movement, Leymah Gbowee, went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.

“Pray the Devil…” will be presented in the sanctuary of the Fourth Universalist Society at 76th St. and CPW (not live-streamed) and you can get tickets to our benefit HERE .  Ticket prices are by donation from $5 –$500 and net proceeds will go to support the work of the Audre Lorde Project.”