WELCOME

Saturday January 23rd, 2021

Tune in to see Sam Vartholomeos (LaG '13) who stars as Ed Burns' son in the new series "Bridge and Tunnel" on Epix, beginning Jan. 24, 2021!
When talking about his Queens accent, Sam Vartholomeos shares that one of his LaGuardia drama teachers said, "plenty of actors work with an accent. One day, hopefully, you’ll get to play Ed Burns’s son." Dreams can come true!!

Set in a 1980s version of Burns' hometown of Valley Stream, Long Island the filmmaker’s new series captures the post-college period when “you’re not quite an adult but no longer a kid,” Burns said.
www.nytimes.com/2021/01/22/arts/television/edward-burns-bridge-and-tunnel.html ... See MoreSee Less

Edward Burns Returns to Long Island with ‘Bridge and Tunnel’

www.nytimes.com

Set in a 1980s version of his hometown, the filmmaker’s new Epix series captures the post-college period when “you’re not quite an adult but no longer a kid,” he said.

Thursday January 21st, 2021

Nora Lum (LaG '06), aka Awkwafina, is on the February cover of Harpers Bazaar! She took time out of her busy schedule to talk about how she got her nickname (from her high school friend Kim) and to make slime. Maybe we can get her favorite slime recipe? Check out Awkwafina in FAME 4.0 - a benefit for LaGuardia on February 11th 2021. SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube page so you don't miss it! www.youtube.com/channel/UCK7Bnh5JkMsHLuTcwJeIWIg

www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a35215866/awkwafina-nora-lum-february-2021-cover-story/ ... See MoreSee Less

You Know Awkwafina, But Have You Met Nora Lum?

www.harpersbazaar.com

This year, the actor will star in a Marvel movie, a Disney movie, and her own Netflix show. Over a virtual slime-making session, Lum opens up to E. Alex Jung about family, depression, and the highs an...

Thursday January 21st, 2021

Read a great piece and listen to a podcast with Sarah Paulson (LaG '93)!
Sarah began acting onstage in New York City before graduating high school, making her screen debut on “Law and Order” and climbing Hollywood’s ranks all the way to an Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award. She’s delivered compelling work in “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” “Game Change,” “12 Years a Slave,” “Carol,” “Blue Jay,” “American Crime Story: The People v. O. J. Simpson,” “Glass,” “Mrs. America,” and Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s “American Horror Story” anthology, in which she’s played upwards of 10 characters. Sarah now executive produces the Netflix drama “Ratched,” starring as Nurse Mildred Ratched, and recently led Hulu’s Aneesh Chaganty thriller “Run.”
www.backstage.com/magazine/article/sarah-paulson-ratched-acting-career-advice-podcast-interview-7... ... See MoreSee Less

Sarah Paulson Boils Down Her Secret to Giving a Great Performance

www.backstage.com

Paulson’s trick for acting in horror projects like “Ratched”? “Go full tilt boogie.”

Friday January 15th, 2021

Shout out to Pauline Chalamet (LaG '10) who is the lead in Mindy Kaling's upcoming HBO Max comedic series “The Sex Lives of College Girls.”
Pauline made her feature debut in a supporting role in the Pete Davidson-led “The King of Staten Island." She has also written, directed, and starred in several short films, including a few projects in French.
wwd.com/eye/people/eyes-on-actress-pauline-chalamet-1234689855/ ... See MoreSee Less

Eyes On: Pauline Chalamet

wwd.com

The actress — and sister of Timothée — is filming series “The Sex Lives of College Girls” and has starred in a slate of indie and short films.

Tuesday January 12th, 2021

Wednesday, January 13, 7pm - join a conversation with best-selling author, illustrator and artist Maira Kalman (M&A '67) and former Talking Heads frontman and multimedia artist David Byrne to discuss their new collaboration, a book inspired by Byrne's award-winning musical "American Utopia" (Bloomsbury, October 2020). The two will sit down for a virtual conversation with WNYC's Alison Stewart about creating the book and their decades-long careers as New York artists.
This is a virtual event which will take place via Zoom. Registrants will receive a link to watch in advance.
www.mcny.org/americanutopia ... See MoreSee Less

American Utopia: David Byrne and Maira Kalman in Conversation

www.mcny.org

David Byrne talks with artist Maira Kalman about their book collaboration, American Utopia and their experiences as New Yorkers. Moderated by WNYC's Alison Stewart.

Friday January 8th, 2021

On Tuesday, January 11 at 7pm, watch a live video stream as Alison Stewart, host of WNYC’s "All of It," continues her virtual book club series with Jonathan Lethem (M&A '82). 75 Dollar Bill also performs a special set for the event. Register at the link below.

"All of It" joins in the New York Public Library’s Love Letter to New York series by reading the quintessential New York classic "Motherless Brooklyn," winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. "Motherless Brooklyn" follows Lionel Essrog, a detective with Tourette’s syndrome, across the city as he hunts for his mentor’s killer.

They’ll also discuss Lethem’s newest novel "The Arrest," a genre-bending story of a world where technology no longer works.
www.thegreenespace.org/event/get-lit-with-all-of-it-jonathan-lethem/ ... See MoreSee Less

Get Lit with All Of It: Jonathan Lethem | The Greene Space

www.thegreenespace.org

Watch a live video stream as Alison Stewart, host of WNYC’s All of It, continues her virtual book club series with Jonathan Lethem. 75 Dollar Bill also performs a special set for the event. This hol...

Tuesday January 5th, 2021

Read about Isaac Mizrahi's (PA '79) latest musical performances! And catch Isaac in our upcoming "Fame" 40th-anniversary tribute on 2/11/21!
americansongwriter.com/at-cafe-carlyle-isaac-mizrahi-concert-interview/ ... See MoreSee Less

Isacc Mizrahi Says He Will Never Stop His Musical Performances

americansongwriter.com

Isaac Mizrahi is a world-famous fashion designer—but he’s also an accomplished performer, as he proves in a series of virtual concerts, ISAAC@CAFECARLYLE,

Wednesday December 23rd, 2020

Read and watch a powerful dance piece featuring LaGuardia freshman Naomi Southwell, who appears in choreographer Tiffany Rae's production "Unearth Birmingham," a response to the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church by members of the Ku Klux Klan. Four young girls were killed and many others injured. www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/arts/dance/tiffany-rae-birmingham-church-bombing.html
"Ms. Rae’s film, shot at Gymnopedie, the basement of Bushwick United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, brings the girls’ perspectives to life through an inventive, vibrant tapestry of dance — brimming with hip-hop, modern, jazz and moments of improvisation — and music, starting with Cheryl Lynn’s “Got to Be Real” and ending with Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
You can watch the video on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/tv/CIoKv9SFrk-/?hl=en ... See MoreSee Less

A Choreographer and Her Girls Retell a Tragedy Through Dance

www.nytimes.com

Tiffany Rae explores the Birmingham church bombing of 1963, in which four Black girls were killed, in a new dance video.

Wednesday December 23rd, 2020

Check out the new album by trombonist Clifton Anderson (M&A '74). Clifton has recorded with McCoy Tyner, Dizzy Gillespie, Slide Hampton, Lester Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Keith Richards, Paul Simon, The Mighty Sparrow, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Muhal Richard Abrams, Wallace Roney, and Abdullah Ibrahim.
www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Clifton-Anderson-Releases-Been-Down-This-Road-Before-20201222 ... See MoreSee Less

Clifton Anderson Releases 'Been Down This Road Before'

www.broadwayworld.com

Been Down This Road Before is the title track from ​Clifton Anderson’​s new album, which shares the same name. ​

Thursday December 10th, 2020

Read a great interview from Rolling Stone magazine with Sterling Campell (M&A '82), drummer with Cyndi Lauper, David Bowie, Duran Duran, Soul Asylum, and so many more!

"Rolling Stone interview series Unknown Legends features long-form conversations between senior writer Andy Greene and veteran musicians who have toured and recorded alongside icons for years, if not decades. All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public. Here, these artists tell their complete stories, giving an up-close look at life on music’s A list. This edition features drummer Sterling Campbell."
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/sterling-campbell-drummer-interview-david-bowie-duran-d... ... See MoreSee Less

Drummer Sterling Campbell on His Years With David Bowie, Duran Duran, and Soul Asylum

www.rollingstone.com

He was Bowie’s go-to dummer for the last 20 years of his career, but Campbell also toured with Cyndi Lauper and played on Soul Asylum’s “Runaway Train”

Wednesday December 9th, 2020

Check out "Healthcare Rocks," a great event on Thursday, December 10, 7:15-8:15pm, featuring the premiere of a new song and video from LaGuardia's New Music Ensemble! The event is brought to you by New York City Health Business Leaders (Peter Frishauf, M&A '66 is a founding director).

This event celebrates 2020's heroes with a stellar lineup of musical performances, candid conversations with frontline workers, and insights from industry leaders. It’s all to benefit three NYC-based charities addressing the major issues New Yorkers face - food insecurity, mental health access, and children's health: The Child Center of NY, Food Bank For New York City, and Vibrant Emotional Health.
www.eventbrite.com/e/healthcare-rocks-virtual-benefit-concert-registration-128165082211 ... See MoreSee Less

Healthcare Rocks! Virtual Benefit Concert

www.eventbrite.com

We're paying tribute to the heroes of 2020 and supporting those in need.

Wednesday December 9th, 2020

Read a great piece about Alvin AIley dancer Linda Caceres Sims (LaG '94): www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/arts/dance/sims-ailey-dancers-retiring.html
and watch her virtual performance Wednesday, December 9, a new film of the romantic central duet in “The Winter in Lisbon,” a celebratory work to Dizzy Gillespie by Billy Wilson; and a discussion led by the choreographer Ronald K. Brown.
www.alvinailey.org/performances/repertory/winter-lisbon ... See MoreSee Less

The Winter in Lisbon | Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

www.alvinailey.org

Dizzy Gillespie's brilliant music sets the tone for this sizzling ballet celebrating four decades of his work. Choreographed in 1992 by Billy Wilson, The Winter in Lisbon pays tribute to Mr. Gillespie...

Tuesday December 8th, 2020

Read a wonderful piece about Betty Lo Francisco (LaG '87, Art) and the many ways she has helped the LatinX community.
When speaking about LaGuardia Betty says, “There I got a great education. It was sort of the first time, too, that I got to see so much diversity of people, of students. There were both really rich kids and really poor kids, because they were there for the arts."

"Betty is an entrepreneur, business executive, attorney, and community leader. She is known as a powerful convener and changemaker, unapologetic about creating visibility for Latinx and POC leaders. The Boston Business Journal named Betty as one of the 2020 Power 50 – Extraordinary Year Extraordinary People, and in 2018, Boston Magazine named her as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Boston."

news.northeastern.edu/2020/12/07/betty-francisco-is-working-to-help-the-latinx-community-climb-to... ... See MoreSee Less

Betty Francisco is working to help the Latinx community climb to the top like she did

news.northeastern.edu

Betty Francisco, a graduate of the Northeastern School of Law and D’Amore-McKim School of Business, is an entrepreneur, business executive, attorney, and community leader who sits on five boards. Sh...

Monday December 7th, 2020

Congratulations to the 12 YoungArts winners from LaGuardia for 2021 (see list of names below)!
These winners were supported by YOUR generous contributions -- enabling them to take summer study courses to further enhance their area of study and participate in masterclasses and other programs made possible by Alumni & Friends of LaGuardia!

YoungArts winners gain access to one of the most comprehensive programs for emerging artists in the United States, offering financial, professional and artistic development opportunities over the course of their careers.
Go LaGuardia!! www.youngarts.org/winners

Finalists:
Classical Music - Violin: Leah Amory
Dance - Jazz: Wyatt Florin
Dance - Modern/Contemporary: Kelsey Lewis
Dance - Modern/Contemporary: Leon Powell
Dance - Modern/Contemporary: Charles Rosario
Theater: Kate Louissaint (Dance Department '20)
Voice - Singer-Songwriter: Noga Cabo

Honorable Mention:
Design Arts: Laura Sternbach
Film: Cayla Kushner
Theater: Tachynel Merveille
Voice - Singer-Songwriter: Elijah Frechtman
Voice - Jazz: Anaïs Reno
www.youngarts.org/winners ... See MoreSee Less

Winners | YoungArts

www.youngarts.org

Selected through a blind adjudication process conducted by an independent panel of highly accomplished artists, the winners typically represent the top 10 percent of applications. Application opens Ju...

Monday December 7th, 2020

Congratulations to dancer Bryan Arias (LaG '04) whose work "The Ninth Wave" just premiered in Russia with the Bolshoi Ballet! Enjoy this interview with Bryan.
www.pointemagazine.com/bryan-arias-bolshoi-ballet-2647781398.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1 ... See MoreSee Less

The Bolshoi Is Back Onstage: We Went Inside Bryan Arias' Latest Work

www.pointemagazine.com

This summer, when parts of the world were slowly emerging from the COVID-19 lockdown, all live performing arts events having been canceled or postponed, choreographer Bryan Arias found himself in Mosc...

Saturday December 5th, 2020

We say goodbye to David Lander (Performing Arts '65), best known for his role as Squiggy in "Laverne & Shirley." variety.com/2020/tv/news/david-lander-dead-dies-squiggy-laverne-shirley-1234847158/ ... See MoreSee Less

David Lander, Squiggy in ‘Laverne & Shirley,’ Dies at 73

variety.com

Actor David Lander, best known as Squiggy on the ABC sitcom “Laverne & Shirley,” died Friday evening at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his family confirmed to Variety. …

Thursday December 3rd, 2020

Congratulations Awkwafina (LaG '06)!
Awkwafina will be honored at New York Women in Film and Television’s 41st MUSE Awards virtual ceremony on Dec. 17, from 1 to 3 p.m. ET, an annual event that celebrates women of vision and achievement in television and film.

Awkwafina is receiving the "Made in NY" award from the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME). Established in 2006, the “Made in NY” awards recognize the achievements of people and organizations that have made significant contributions to New York City’s entertainment and digital media industries over the course of their careers.
www.amny.com/entertainment/awkwafina-wins-made-in-ny-award-excellence-acting-music-rap/ ... See MoreSee Less

Award-winning actress and Queens-native Awkwafina scores 'Made in NY' honors for homegrown excellence | amNewYork

www.amny.com

Awkwafina, who was born Nora Lum, serves as executive producer and star of the popular Comedy Central show "Awkwafina is Nora From Queens."

Thursday December 3rd, 2020

Check out the incredible "PRINZE: THE ONE-MAN SHOW" written and performed by Jose Sonera (LaG '96). “PRINZE: THE ONE-MAN SHOW” tells the story of Freddie Prinze (Performing Arts), the 1970s comedian and star of the tv show "Chico and the Man," who quickly rose to fame and whose life ended all too soon. Prinze dropped out of Performing Arts to pursue comedy and acting and died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 22. "PRINZE" has been airing on WNET's "All Arts" channel and can also be seen FREE on their website: allarts.org/programs/house-seats/house-seats-prinze-the-one-man-show-aysrbq/
"PRINZE" played a limited 22-performance engagement in 2018 at The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture in the Black Box Theater.

PRINZE is written and performed by Jose Sonera, an actor/writer who, like Prinze, grew up in New York City. Interlacing Prinze's iconic comedy sets of the 70's with gripping original monologues, Sonera offers a dynamically portrayal of Prinze - the half Hungarian, half Puerto Rican who starred on the groundbreaking television comedy "Chico and The Man" and paved the way for Latino entertainers. In PRINZE, Sonera takes us on an unforgettable journey that illuminates the life of the late comedian and boldly addresses the race, culture, and socio-political topics that are still at the forefront of today's social justice conversations.
allarts.org/programs/house-seats/house-seats-prinze-the-one-man-show-aysrbq/ ... See MoreSee Less

S1 E2: Prinze The One Man Show | House Seats

allarts.org

Sonera wrote and performs in this one-man performance titled “Prinze” that tells the story of the 1970s comedian who quickly rose to fame and whose life ended all too soon.

Friday November 27th, 2020

Debbie Allen, who starred in the "Fame" tv series and film, has a new documentary out today on Netflix, “Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker."
The film is "about the vibrant and charming reimagining of the holiday classic that the Debbie Allen Dance Academy presents each season. But it is just as much about Ms. Allen herself."
www.nytimes.com/2020/11/24/arts/dance/debbie-allen-dance-dreams-hot-chocolate-nutcracker.html ... See MoreSee Less

Debbie Allen’s Technique? It’s All About Tough Love

www.nytimes.com

The documentary “Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” shines a spotlight on Ms. Allen and her academy as it prepares for the holiday classic.

Friday November 20th, 2020

Check out the new single by Lisa Gentile (LaG '90)- "Just When I Thought it Would Rain."
www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pop-country-artist-lisa-gentile-pays-tribute-to-her-late-father-... ... See MoreSee Less

Pop, Country Artist Lisa Gentile pays tribute to her late father, legendary Motown producer Mickey Gentile, with her new single "Just When I Thought the Rain Would End"

www.prnewswire.com

/PRNewswire/ -- Motown producer and songwriter, Mickey Gentile (Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra, The Supremes), always knew his daughter's vocal abilities were...

Monday November 16th, 2020

Exciting! The Vermont Symphony Orchestra will premiere a piece by current LaG student Arianelle Arroyo for its second online program, “Music for Days Like This.” This event is prerecorded and will be streamed Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. (chat at 7 p.m.).
www.rutlandherald.com/features/vermont_arts/music-for-days-like-this-vso-streams-on-through-the-p... ... See MoreSee Less

‘Music for Days Like This’: VSO streams on through the pandemic

www.rutlandherald.com

After a successful live-streamed Jukebox, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra will present its second online program, “Music for Days Like This,” prerecorded and streamed Nov. 21. Jukebox is largely fo...

Wednesday November 11th, 2020

Enjoy this piece about artist Betty LaDuke (M&A '50).
"Betty LaDuke is one of Oregon’s most internationally recognized artists. She has been traveling the world for more than 60 years, sketching and painting, telling the stories of people linked to land and community. Her colorful, evocative paintings are rooted in survival rhythms, rites of passage and the expression of joy and sorrow.”
www.opb.org/article/2020/11/10/betty-laduke-reflects-on-eight-decades-of-activist-art/ ... See MoreSee Less

Betty LaDuke reflects on 8 decades of activist art

www.opb.org

Ashland’s Betty LaDuke is one of Oregon’s most internationally recognized artists. She's been traveling the world for over 60 year, sketching and painting, telling the stories of people linked to ...

Friday November 6th, 2020

MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Jonathan Lethem (M&A '82) is releasing his new novel "The Arrest" on November 10, 2020!

"From the award-winning author of The Feral Detective and Motherless Brooklyn comes an utterly original post-collapse yarn about two siblings, the man that came between them, and a nuclear-powered super car.

The Arrest isn’t post-apocalypse. It isn’t a dystopia. It isn’t a utopia. It’s just what happens when much of what we take for granted—cars, guns, computers, and airplanes, for starters—quits working. . . . "
www.amazon.com/Arrest-Novel-Jonathan-Lethem/dp/0062938789 ... See MoreSee Less

The Arrest: A Novel

www.amazon.com

The Arrest: A Novel

Monday November 2nd, 2020

An interesting piece about influencer Cosette Rinab (LaG '17), who has 2.3 million followers on TikTok, and her efforts to successfully save TikTok from Trump’s executive order banning the app.
www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2020/10/31/how-tiktok-won-a-surprise-legal-victory-to-stay-alive-... ... See MoreSee Less

How TikTok Won A Surprise Legal Victory To Stay Alive—And Recruited A 21-Year-Old College Student To Help

www.forbes.com

To combat President Trump, TikTok pursued a two-front legal strategy: It would fight the federal government itself—and press its own users to do the same.

Monday November 2nd, 2020

From one alumnus to another! Read this piece written by folk icon Peter Yarrow (M&A '55) about graphic design icon Milton Glaser (M&A '47):
washingtonspectator.org/milton-glaser-yarrow/ ... See MoreSee Less

The Heart and Art of Milton Glaser

washingtonspectator.org

Milton Glaser—the peerless graphic designer, painter, and visionary for humanity—was a dear and generous friend and ally to me and to Peter, Paul & Mary. His passing, in my life, is that of the lo...

Saturday October 31st, 2020

Read a great piece about LaG '19 Art alumnus Shane Araujo, student at Bowdoin College: bowdoinorient.com/2020/10/30/shane-araujo-23-uses-time-away-from-campus-to-reconnect-with-visual-... ... See MoreSee Less

Shane Araujo ’23 uses time away from campus to reconnect with visual art – The Bowdoin Orient

bowdoinorient.com

Over the last eight months of preventative isolation and social distancing, Shane Araujo ’23 has done more than simply pick up a hobby—he has reignited his passion for making art and taken to…

Friday October 30th, 2020

Read this wonderful piece about artist Katy Schneider (M&A '82, Guggenheim Grant recipient and Smith College Professor) and her hundreds of 3x4 inch paintings created during Covid.
Follow Katy on instagram: @katyschneiderpainter
www.gazettenet.com/Living-Broken-Plate-36889326 ... See MoreSee Less

Visions in tandem: Artists Katy Schneider and Jim Armenti team up to get through abysmal time

www.gazettenet.com

Like so many of us, artist Katy Schneider worried about how to face quarantine and its uncertainty. Rather than bake sourdough, she reached for a bunch of discarded 3-by-4-inch aluminum slides from Sm...

Wednesday October 28th, 2020

CASTING CALL! Via Zoom, $500 for a 1/2 day on November 2! All details below.
Nef Jones (M&A/LaG '85) is a casting agent and is
SEEKING FOOD FANS TO SHARE OPINION in BURGER KING VIDEO.

Nef Jones Real People Casting is seeking people ages 25-50's nationwide who enjoy eating at Burger King and would be happy to share their opinion about food for an internal video.

We are not looking for actors - we are looking for people who enjoy Burger King to talk about their real food preferences. Open to individuals, couples, friends, etc.

Looking for people who identify with one or more of these categories in their general food preferences:

- Budget Friendly: People who usually choose value menu items
- Health Aware: People who like a good deal, but generally choose the healthier available menu items
- Taste Focused: People who put taste first - they're focused on good service, good quality, and simple classic flavors.
- Food Adventurer: People who like unique, new foods, and care more about taste than being healthy or budget conscious when trying something new.
- Health Focused: People who generally focus on high quality, fresh ingredients. Health comes first in general in their life.

PAY: Selected participants will be paid $500 for a 1/2 day interview. You will be recorded via ZOOM, from your home.

DATE: Monday Nov. 2nd

Please email nef@nefjonescasting.com:

1. Your name/s, occupation, contact number
2. What category/ies best describes you from above?
3. What restaurants do you eat at from this list (select all that you've eaten at): Burger King, Panera, KFC, Sweetgreen, Subway?
4. 2-3 photos of yourself
5. Please confirm you're NOT an actor and have ZOOM
6. A quick video (selfie mode is fine) answering the following questions (please record in a place that gives of a sense of your space, no blank walls please):

1. Tell us your name, occupation and location
2. What category/ies best describes you, please mention all categories that are a fit (descriptions above), and WHY (please talk about this for 30-90 secs)?
Categories: Budget Friendly, Health Aware, Taste Focused, Food Adventurer, Health Fanatic
3. If you went to Burger King, what would be your order? Is there anything you wish was on the menu?
www.nefjonesrealpeoplecasting.com/ ... See MoreSee Less

NefJones - New York City - Television Commercials - Casting - casting

www.nefjonesrealpeoplecasting.com

Casting Director for television commercials and television shows of Nef Jones

Thursday October 22nd, 2020

#thankfulthursday
Dawnn Lewis (M&A '78) said today: "Some of the best years of my life were spent at M&A! It’s a matchless foundation for the creative growth of our next & future generations."

Learn more about her recent philanthropic work here: www.anewdayfoundation.net/

"Dawnn Lewis hit national TV as Jaleesa in “A Different World.” Not only did she land a leading role, but Lewis also co-wrote the sitcom’s theme song. Her next starring part was in “Hanging With Mr. Cooper,” where she also sang the theme song with Holly Robinson-Peete and En Vogue."
Most recently, Lewis starred as Tina Turner's mom in the Broadway hit "Tina – The Tina Turner Musical." She dedicates much time to motivational speaking and working with underserved youth through her 'A New Day Foundation.'

Fun fact: Dawnn Lewis was one of the LaGuardia 1989 graduation speakers!

Twitter & Insta: @dawnn_lewis ... See MoreSee Less

A New Day Foundation | A New Day Foundation Offers Hope & Empowerment

www.anewdayfoundation.net

Class of 2020 A Message to Class of 2020 Class of 2020 A Message to Class of 2020 Your Support Fuels the Empowerment and Education of Our Youth & Underserved Communities DONATE TODAY Your Support Fuel...

Tuesday October 20th, 2020

Tonight, October 20 at 7pm! Check out THE FUTURE OF CABARET virtual performance featuring LaGuardia students and alumni: Anais Reno (LaG '21, Drama), Jennifer Poroye (LaG '20, Vocal) and Thomas Hogan (LaG '19, Dance), along with LaGuardia accompanist John Prestianni.

The theme of the October 20 concert will be “the future of cabaret.” Foundation board members Adela and Larry Elow have created an endowment fund to encourage teenagers to learn and perform the Great American Songbook, composed between 1900 and 1970. Participants in the fund’s program are pupils at New York City public performing arts high schools and participate in an annual competition.
www.forbes.com/sites/janelevere/2020/10/19/mabel-mercer-foundations-annual-cabaret-convention-beg... ... See MoreSee Less

Mabel Mercer Foundation’s Annual Cabaret Convention Begins Tonight With First Of Three Free, Virtual Concerts

www.forbes.com

Among those performing will be Stephanie Blythe, Ann Hampton Callaway, Aisha de Haas, Marissa Mulder, Sidney Myer, Mark Nadler, Karen Oberlin, Daryl Sherman and Larry Woodard.

Tuesday October 20th, 2020

Read a great interview with Lynn Nottage (M&A '82), two-time Pulitzer Prize recipient, and MacArthur Fellowship awardee.
broadwaydirect.com/lynn-nottage-on-finding-inspiration-and-the-future-of-theater/ ... See MoreSee Less

Lynn Nottage on Finding Inspiration and the Future of Theater | Broadway Direct

broadwaydirect.com

Lynn Nottage is optimistic about theater and what it will look like post-pandemic. The two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright interviewed with me two days before the Broadway League announced that...

Friday October 16th, 2020

Netflix's new show "Grand Army" is filled with LaGuardia alumni! Watch Amalia Yoo (LaG '20), David Iacono (LaG '20), August Blanco Rosenstein (LaG '19) and Mirabella Raschke-Robinson (LaG '18) star in this exciting new show!
Did we miss anyone?
nypost.com/2020/10/14/meet-the-cast-of-netflixs-gritty-new-nyc-high-school-drama-grand-army/ ... See MoreSee Less

Meet the cast of Netflix’s gritty new NYC high school drama ‘Grand Army’

nypost.com

“Grand Army” — the new Netflix series, which premieres Friday — is the name of a fictional high school near, you guessed it, Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Heights.

Wednesday October 14th, 2020

Shoutout to 17-year-old LaGuardia drummer Bato Aydelotte who volunteers at the Bowery Mission. He founded the group "The Bowery Jazz Messengers" in 2019 and they played outside the Mission on World Homeless Day (October 10) providing music for people waiting on line for meals
newyork.cbslocal.com/2020/10/10/bowery-mission-jazz/ ... See MoreSee Less

Young Musicians Perform Outside Bowery Mission To Lift Spirits Of Those In Need

newyork.cbslocal.com

Seventeen-year-old Bato Aydelotte, who plays the drums, founded the group in 2019.

Friday October 9th, 2020

We sadly announce the passing of Maynard Solomon (M&A '46), "a musicologist and record producer best known for influential, lucidly written biographies of Beethoven and Mozart as well as a hotly debated scholarly article on Schubert’s sexuality."
www.nytimes.com/2020/10/08/arts/music/maynard-solomon-dead.html ... See MoreSee Less

Maynard Solomon, Provocative Biographer of Composers, Dies at 90

www.nytimes.com

Mr. Solomon probed the psyches of Mozart and Beethoven in critically acclaimed works; he was also co-founder of Vanguard, an adventurous record label.

Thursday October 8th, 2020

See the amazing work of Guggenheim Dance Fellow Shamel Pitts (LaG '03) through Jacob's Pillow Dance Residency: www.broadwayworld.com/boston/article/Jacobs-Pillow-Expands-Virtual-Programs-and-Welcomes-Artists-...

"Shamel Pitts is a performance artist, choreographer, conceptual artist, dancer, spoken word artist, and teacher. During his residency, Pitts will develop the second piece in his RED series, Touch of RED. An intensely personal duet performed by Pitts with Tushrik Fredericks, Touch of RED addresses the power of vulnerability and offers its dancers, two Black men, space to soften. As Pitts and Fredericks meet in a performance space akin to a gladiator's arena, heat between them builds, not from aggression but rather from a healing, electrifying effeminacy.

TRIBE is a New York City-based arts collective dedicated to creating, developing, and sharing multidisciplinary art projects and inspired by the afro-futuristic movement. Artistic Director Shamel Pitts is a Guggenheim Fellow (2020), NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow (2019), and Princess Grace Award winner (2018). Born in Brooklyn, Pitts studied dance at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, The Ailey School, and The Juilliard School before beginning his dance career in Mikhail Baryshnikov's Hell's Kitchen Dance and Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal. He went on to dance with the Batsheva Dance Company for seven years, under the artistic direction of Ohad Naharin. Pitts was the choreographer for the play Help by poet and playwright Claudia Rankine, directed by Taibi Magar at The Shed in New York. TRIBE is a 92Y Harkness Dance Center Artist In Residence for the 2020-2021 season."

More about Shamel: www.shamelpitts.com/bio/ ... See MoreSee Less

BIO | Shamel Pitts

www.shamelpitts.com

When an artist is genuinely at work in his craft, he's more fully calling on those connections to the universal. - Sidney Poitier

Thursday October 8th, 2020

Check out the new single "Liquid Courage" featuring Broadway veteran Ramona Keller (M&A '85 - Smokey Joe's Café, BKLYN The Musical, Caroline, Or Change. The song is from the upcoming musical theatre concept album "Love & Southern D!scomfort."

"Love & Southern D!scomfort," a musical set in present-day Louisiana, weaves a captivating tale about the Dejoies, an old-money family torn apart by greed, addiction, undiagnosed mental illness, and a long-buried family secret. The story's protagonist, Wilhelmina Dejoie (Keller), sings "Liquid Courage" when she finally "hits bottom" after a lifetime of self-medicating.

www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/New-Single-Liquid-Courage-From-LOVE-SOUTHERN-DSCOMFORT... ... See MoreSee Less

New Single 'Liquid Courage' From LOVE & SOUTHERN D!SCOMFORT Featuring Ramona Keller to be Released

www.broadwayworld.com

Today Patton Daye Slater Productions announced the forthcoming release of the haunting new single 'Liquid Courage,' a song from the upcoming musical theatre concept album Love & Southern D!scomfort. '...

Wednesday September 30th, 2020

Tonight, September 30, at 7:30pm catch a FREE virtual livestream concert with current LaGuardia student Anais Reno with Grammy Award-winning music director and pianist Billy Stritch. More about Anais at: www.anaisreno.com/

"This summer, thousands tuned in to hear teenage Reno in her 92Y June concert livestream, "The Quarantine Blues." On Wednesday, September 30 at 7:30 pm ET , Anaïs returns to 92Y's virtual stage with a free livestream concert, this time with Grammy Award-winning music director and pianist Billy Stritch, with whom she has dazzled audiences at Birdland. Join us as this remarkable young singer takes on jewels from the American Songbook-"Comes Love," "Autumn Leaves," "Body and Soul," and more-ahead of the release of her debut album."
www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/Anas-Reno-Performs-With-Billy-Stritch-For-Livestream-Concer... ... See MoreSee Less

Anaïs Reno Performs With Billy Stritch For Livestream Concert at 92Y Online

www.broadwayworld.com

Anaïs Reno Performs With Billy Stritch For Livestream Concert at 92Y Online

Friday September 25th, 2020

Check out this feature on Roxy Morris Birchfield (LaG '02, Drama), owner of Married By Rev. Roxy, a NYC-based officiating and premarital counseling service.
www.forbes.com/sites/brittanychambers/2020/09/22/celebrity-wedding-officiant-speaks-on-the-busine... ... See MoreSee Less

Celebrity Wedding Officiant Speaks On The Business Of Marriages & Making Them Long Lasting

www.forbes.com

With wedding ceremonies on hit shows on Netflix and more, Rev. Roxanne Birchfield is no stranger to officiating weddings. Learn more about her journey conducting more than 200 weddings, serving as a C...

Monday September 21st, 2020

It appears that every awards show includes at least one LaG, M&A or PA alumnus nominee/winner! Congratulations to Jasmine Cephas Jones (LaG '07, Vocal) for winning her first Emmy Award, for her role in the Quibi series #FreeRayshawn.
And congratulations to Jennifer Aniston (PA/LaG '87) for being nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for "The Morning Show" among so many wonderful actresses.

If there were any other alumni nominated please share in the comments (behind the scenes work, etc.). And always share with us if you know of a fellow alumnus who should be given a shout out. Send to info@alumniandfriends.org
www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winner ... See MoreSee Less

Nominees / Winners

www.emmys.com

Website content © Television Academy.EMMY, EMMYS, and the Emmy Statuette are registered trademarks and/or copyrights Of ATAS and NATAS.TELEVISION ACADEMY and ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES are...

Monday September 21st, 2020

If you're looking for tutoring for your K-12 student, please check out Gertie Zwick Schacter's (LaG '20, Drama) "Filling the Gap" - a NYC organization founded by and comprised of recent graduates from LaGuardia High School.
"We recently experienced the difficult transition from in-person to remote learning. Not only have these conditions set back the education of K-12 students but they have also created a childcare crisis in which parents must take on the role of teachers for their children in addition to their jobs. Simultaneously students previously hoping to attend college in the fall now find themselves at home looking for ways to fill their time meaningfully and financially support themselves. We saw the possibility for these groups of individuals suffering from parallel crises to support one another.

Filling the Gap provides job opportunities for previously college-bound students by pairing them with K-12 students in need of academic and artistic support. We work to pair students with tutors that grew up and learned in their same community, and who represent the best match for them both personally and academically. We offer tutoring in all academic subjects, including AP classes, languages, and various electives. We also offer SAT/ACT and SHSAT tutoring, as well as tutors who can provide college application support. Beyond academics, we are committed to making high-level tutoring in visual arts, dance, theater, and music available for students needing guidance with rehearsals, auditions, portfolios, or looking to continue their craft remotely."
fillingthegapnyc.com/ ... See MoreSee Less

Filling The Gap

fillingthegapnyc.com

Filling the Gap is an NYC organization that pairs gap year students as tutors with K-12 students grappling with remote learning during the 2020-21 school year.

Saturday September 19th, 2020

Read about the life of Music & Art alumnus Steve Carter, Steve Carter, "an award-winning playwright who explored the African-American and Caribbean-American experiences with incisiveness, humor and a willingness to wrestle with difficult themes, including hatred, revenge and forgiveness. Mr. Carter was one of many playwrights to emerge from the renowned Negro Ensemble Company in New York City in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s."
www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/theater/steve-carter-dead.html ... See MoreSee Less

Steve Carter, Playwright in a Black Theater World, Dies at 90

www.nytimes.com

He emerged from the Black Arts movement and the famed Negro Ensemble Company, writing dramas and satires about the Black and Caribbean-American experiences.