The 2018 Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Musical, Once on This Island, makes its way to the F. Otto Haas Stage at Arden Theatre Company (40 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA) starting May 16. Following the eight Tony nominations it received for its Broadway debut in 1990, including for Best Musical, Book, and Score, the revival of Once on This Island takes Philadelphia audiences ages 12 and up on a vibrant journey of a young girl searching for her place in the world. Directed by Amina Robinson, the first Black woman to win a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for The Color Purple, the theatrical Caribbean production unfolds with previews beginning May 16, opening night May 22, with performances through June 23.
With an effervescent score by Stephen Flaherty with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, inspired by Rosa Guy’s novel My Love, My Love, the 90-minute full-hearted musical tells the story of Ti Moune (Nadia Ra’Shaun), an orphaned peasant girl of the French Antilles who rescues and falls in love with Daniel Beauxhomme (Ethan B. Walker), a wealthy young man from the other side of the island. The people of the island are divided by color and class. However, when Ti Moune pursues Daniel, who returns to his people following his rescue, she is shunned because of her lowly status. Unbeknownst to Ti Moune, the pompous gods who preside over the island make a bet with one another over which is stronger, love or death, the stakes being Ti Moune’s life. Guided by four Gods: Ezrulie (Ryane Nicole Studivant), a warm and ethereal Goddess of Love, Asaka (Tiara J. Greene), the irrepressible Mother of the Earth, Agwé (Curtis Wiley), the dignified God of Water, and Papa Ge (Jessica Johnson), the mesmerizing Spirit of Death, Ti Moune embarks on a quest that will test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of prejudice, hatred, and even death.
Once on This Island is a beautiful, heartfelt love story about love conquering death, placed squarely within the context of the colonialist aftershocks of colorism and a clearly defined color-caste system. In many regards it is akin to a French Antilles Romeo and Juliet tale. However, bubbling just below the surface of this island story is a far more potent story of how a people, bathed in a powerful legacy, form and rely on “community” to rise from repeated devastation. In light of all that is happening in Haiti currently, this exploration becomes even more important. – Director Amina Robinson
The dynamic cast features Nadia Ra’Shaun(Ti Moune), an award-winning New York City-based performing artist, making her debut at the Arden. Regionally, Ra’Shaun has performed in Nebraska at the Shirley Tyree Theater in The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (Viveca), for which she won the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. Philadelphia-based actor Ethan B. Walker (Daniel) also makes his Arden debut. Walkers’ regional work includes roles at Garden Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, Media Theatre in Media, Pennsylvania, and Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia-based award-winning actress Jessica Johnson (Papa Ge) appeared at the Arden in Ragtime (Sarah’s friend/Ensemble) and The Legend of Georgia McBride (Jo). Johnson’s regional work includes roles at Theatre Exile in Philadelphia, for which she won the Barrymore Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical as Celie in The Color Purple, Walnut Street Theatre, and Gretna Theatre in Mt. Gretna, Pennsylvania.
Tri-state area singer and actress Tiara J. Greene (Asaka) has previously appeared at the Arden in Into the Woods (Witch u/s). Regionally, Greene has appeared in roles at The Candlelight Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, and The Eagle Theatre. Ryane Nicole Studivant (Ezrulie) makes her debut at the Arden. Studivant has performed in shows at local theatres, including Theatre Horizon, Gretna Theatre, Media Theatre, and Azuka Theatre. Curtis Wiley (he/him) (Agwe) also makes his Arden debut. Wiley debuted in the Original Broadway Company of Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations (Ensemble) in 2019. Regionally, Wiley has performed in productions at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.
Philadelphia-based actress Chabrelle Williams (Mama Euralie) makes her Arden debut. Williams’ regional work includes productions at Media Theatre in Media, Pennsylvania., and American Lyric Theatre in New York, New York. Christopher Faison (he/him) (Tonton Julian/Servant) also makes his Arden debut. Faison made his Broadway debut at Vivian Beaumont Theater in My Fair Lady (Lovely Quartet/ Freddy u/s) in 2018. Faison’s regional work includes performances at Phoenix Theatre in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania., and Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, Connecticut.
Also joining the cast is Sydney Banks as Andrea and Olivia D. Fowler as Little Girl. The chorus ensemble is rounded out with Miles Davis Tillman, Eliana Pickney, Jamie Powell, and Taylor J. Mitchell.
Individual tickets begin at $60, with discounts available for students, groups of 10, seniors, children, and teens. Tickets are available online at ardentheatre.org, by phone at 215.922.1122, or at the box office at Arden Theatre Company at 40 N. 2nd Street.
Special programming for Once on This Island includes:
Saturday, June 1, 2024, 8 p.m.
Teen Night! $15 tickets for ages 13-18 (Join us after the performance for a talkback with actors from the show!). Click here to book teen tickets.
Thursday, June 6, 2024, 7 p.m.
Young Friends Night! Use code: YFARDEN for $30 tickets (Arden Young Friends is designed for audience members 40 and under,and includes a pre-show networking event) Click here to purchase tickets.
PAC presents a Philadelphia premiere of Andrew Upton’s lively adaptation. “Children Of the Sun” this May.
Pavel Protasov’s scientific experiments leave him oblivious to his surroundings, including an impending cholera epidemic and the maelstrom of family, friends, and lovers that are beginning to boil over around him.
Megan Bellwoar directs.
This lively adaptation of Maxim Gorky’s darkly comedic tale runs May 2-19 at the Bluver Theatre @ The Drake, 302 S Hicks St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Cast:
PAVEL PROTASOV – Newton Buchanan YELENA – Jessica DalCanton LIZA – Cassandra Alexander BORIS – Damon Bonetti* MELANIYA – Madeleine Claire Garcia DIMITRI VAGEEN – Eli Lynn NANNY/AVDOTYA – Peggy Smith NAZAR/YAKOV – Eric Mills YEGOR/DOCTOR – Bob Weick ROMAN/MISHA – Frank Jimenez FEEMA/LOOSHA – Kelsey Hébert
Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the next generation of comedy superstars in a brand-new revue featuring side-splitting sketch comedy, songs, and trademark improvisation. The Second City: Comedian Rhapsody features the Chicago-based ground-breaking improvisational theater troupe, The Second City, an assembly of the country’s most prolific up-and-coming comedic talents.
Tickets are on sale now for the six-person ensemble cast starring Rich Alfonso, Kennedy Baldwin, Anna Bortnick, Karl Bradley, Claire Favret, and Ross Taylor. Anne Libera directs the production, with Bree Bartman (Stage Manager) and Tony Belsito (Music Director) on the BRT stage from May 14 to June 2.
The Second City players, known for their cutting-edge brand of cabaret theatre comedy, solicit impromptu audience participation during one hour and forty-five minutes of satire and social commentary with one 15-minute intermission. To bring the show to the stage, the cast constructs a two-act comedy sketch show over a 12-week rehearsal process, culminating in a comedic critique of pop culture, politics, and society. This spring, the cast of characters brings their comic relief to BRT to close the 37th season.
Founded in December 1959 by Paul Sillis, Bernie Sahlins, and Howard Alk, Chicago’s oldest continuously running improv theatre group is known for catapulting the careers of marquee comedians, directors, and award-winning actors. Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, and Jordan Peele, among several other noted performers and Saturday Night Live (NBC) alums, cut their comedic teeth as part of The Second City. The company debuted its musical revue on Broadway in 1961, growing throughout the decades to tour cities across America and Canada, including Atlanta, Boston, Denver, San Diego, and, annually, Washington, D.C. The Second City opened an additional 12,000-square-foot entertainment and training complex in Brooklyn, New York, welcoming new audiences in November 2023.
“The Second City is legendary to me as someone who grew up in the Midwest and spent my early career in Chicago, said Co-Producing Director Ken Kaissar. “They are the epitome of fearless comedy, and they end up improvising at every show, so no two performances are the same. I’m so honored to bring this national treasure to Bristol.”
If You Go:
Tickets for The Second City: Comedian Rhapsody are available online and by phone at 215-785-0100 for audiences aged 13 and over.
BRT’s productions offer special pre- and post-show engagements, which are included with the ticket price, for guests to create a special night out.
May 16 opening night performance is followed by a reception where patrons can revel over the night’s show.
May 17 ‘Friday Festival’ features drinks courtesy of Pat Deon Beverages and Dad’s Hat, pasta provided by Cesare’s Ristorante, and desserts.
‘Wine Down’ midweek on May 22 with complimentary wine from Chaddsford Winery Lahaska and desserts by Donna’s Delicious Delights
‘Thirsty Thursday’ on May 30 with beer courtesy of Broad Street Brewing and Naked Brewing Company with snacks courtesy of Dog & Bull Brew & Music House and Philly Style Soft Pretzel.
Find more information, including a season production schedule, at brtstage.org.
This May, Theatre Exile spotlights dynamic women writers and their comedically incendiary styles for three hilarious and interactive shows this spring. Philly Grit: A Pirate, A School Girl, & A Good Person, three funny and irreverent solo shows shining a glaring light on our world, incinerate the Exile stage from May 8 to 19.
The limited-run three-show series features stories by four playwrights: Jenna Kuerzi, Val Dunn, Kelly McCaughan, and Brett Ashley Robinson.
The series premieres with Jenna Kuerzi and Val Dunn’s Johnny Depp: A Retrospective on Late-StageCapitalism performed by writer and actor Jenna Kuerzi, starring as “Johnny Depp”, preteen heart-throb turned wino forever. Kuerzi and Dunn first conceptualized the show in 2019 after discovering they’d both previously dressed up as Depp’s vivid character, Captain Jack Sparrow. The production presents their colorful retrospective on every film in Depp’s entire career, from the most popular to the critically panned, asking the ever-begged question… what happened? A satirical PowerPoint “extravaganza” that is part ritual and part drunken singalong, Johnny Depp! features objects thrown at random intervals, “fabulous” prizes, and the celebrity circus continually captivating audiences.
Johnny Depp: A Retrospective on Late Stage Capitalism runs on May 8 at 7 p.m., May 11 at 2 p.m., May 13 at 7 p.m., May 18 at 8 p.m., and May 19 at 3 p.m.
Catholic Guilt, the second of the series, written and performed by Kelly McCaughan, originated as part of Philadelphia SoLowFest in 2017. With multiple sold-out shows along the Northeast Corridor, the critically acclaimed production of the Philly Grit series delves deep into the perverse ‘holy war’ waged inside the heart and mind of one devout Catholic schoolgirl told through a comedically cheeky theatrical performance. The play explores the often-subversive Pandora’s box of imagination and fantasy tantamount to the impossible standards of the Catholic Church for anyone feeling the guilt that can surround religion.
The show blends audience participation with cringe-worthy personal recollections and stand-up performance. It’s onstage on May 9 at 7 p.m., May 11 at 8 p.m., May 12 at 3 p.m., May 16 at 7 p.m., and May 18 at 2 p.m.
The third show of the series, Good Person, stars Barrymore Award-winning Philadelphia-based playwright/actress/director Brett Ashley Robinson. Robinson peels away the character of the ‘do-gooder savior’ in her original role as Patricia!, an unhinged satirical parody of a wealthy white woman in the world of social justice, social media, callout culture, and snowflakes.
Good Person premiers on the Exile stage on May 10 at 8 p.m., May 11 at 5 p.m., Ma 15 at 7 p.m., May 17 at 8 p.m., and May 18 at 5 p.m.
If You Go
Audiences are invited to take in each show with a per-show ticket price of $30. Patrons can see all three shows for the price of two with Exile’s Three Show Bundle for an intimate and energetic experience.
Philly Grit begins on May 8, with tickets starting at $30. A full schedule of showtimes and dates can be found at Theatre Exile
Tri-State Jazz Society’s annual tradition continues – world-class British pianist Neville Dickie rejoins TSJS favorites Joe and Paul Midiri. Neville is among the most accomplished stride and boogie-woogie pianists on either side of the Atlantic.
Joe and Paul Midiri, well-known to Tri-State audiences, have recorded with everything from trios to big bands. Past Dickie-Midiri TSJS shows have set attendance records, so go early to get a seat.
Sunday, May 19, 2024 — 2:00 p.m. EDT
Haddonfield United Methodist Church
29 Warwick Road, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
Member admission is $10, general admission is $20. Introductory offer – start a new, first-time TSJS annual membership ($20) at the door and receive free admission to this concert (this offer not applicable to renewing or re-activating membership.) Full-time students with ID, or children accompanied by a paying adult, are free. There are no advance sales or reservations. The church is about 15 minutes from central Philadelphia via the Ben Franklin Bridge and parking is free. PATCO is nearby.
The 2024 IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC lineup was announced today
By Steven Brodsky
… in this International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) press release:
NASHVILLE (April 24, 2024) – The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and local host PineCone (Piedmont Council of Traditional Music) have announced the lineup for IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC. Sierra Ferrell, Steep Canyon Rangers with special guests Chatham County Line, Sierra Hull, Sam Bush, Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Danny Paisley, Amythyst Kiah, and Crying Uncle will headline the festival Sept. 27-28, 2024. The live weekend performances will take place at Red Hat Amphitheater and on stages all around downtown Raleigh.
In addition to the Red Hat Amphitheater, there are six more stages at IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC. Performers on those stages include:
Balsam Range; Barefoot Movement; Broken Compass; Compton & Newberry; Chris Jones & the Night Drivers; Country Current (US Navy Band); Dewey & Leslie Brown; Earl White String Band; Evans, Smith & May, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen; From China to Appalachia (Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian); Golden Shoals, The Gospel Jubilators; The Gravy Boys; Hank, Pattie & the Current; Henhouse Prowlers; Jacob Jolliff Band; Jake Blount; Jake Leg; Jim Lauderdale; Junior Appalachian Musicians; Kaia Kater; Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands; Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road; New Dangerfield; Nixon; Blevins & Gage; Raised in Raleigh All Star Jam; Sister Sadie; Songs From the Road Band; The Tan & Sober Gentlemen; Tray Wellington Band; Union Grove Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention 100th Anniversary; Unspoken Tradition; The Williamson Brothers; Wyatt Ellis; and more.
As in years past, events during IBMA World of Bluegrass will take place at the Raleigh Convention Center, the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, the Red Hat Amphitheater and at various venues in town.
“This is our favorite time of year. I just love seeing everyone coming down to Raleigh with guitars and banjos slung over their shoulders,” says David Brower, festival producer and executive director of PineCone. “In addition to all the bands playing the big stages, there’s also something special for the everyday pickers. We’re dedicating a stage to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Union Grove Old Time Fiddlers Convention. We’ll have contests for fiddlers, banjo, mandolin and guitar players, plus a great big square dance to cap off the afternoon each day. Lifting up North Carolina’s musical traditions is something we’ve been proud to do with the festival over the last decade.”
For the 12th year, PNC Bank returns as the presenting sponsor of IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC. “Since helping bring this festival to Raleigh during the early days of PNC’s local growth story, all of us at PNC have been committed to making this event a success for visitors, residents and local businesses,” says Jim Hansen, PNC regional president for Eastern Carolinas. “We look forward to this year’s event, the community togetherness it will foster and the economic impact it will create.”
IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC is part of the five-day IBMA World of Bluegrass event, billed “The Most Important Week in Bluegrass,” which also includes the IBMA Business Conference, the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble showcase series and the 35th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, Sept. 24-28.
Tickets and hotel reservations will open for IBMA members May 8 and to the general public May 15. More information is available at the IBMA World of Bluegrass website, www.worldofbluegrass.org.
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IBMA – the International Bluegrass Music Association – is the non-profit music association that connects, educates, and empowers bluegrass professionals and enthusiasts, honoring tradition and encouraging innovation in the bluegrass community worldwide. IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC, featuring the best of the best in bluegrass today, helps benefit the IBMA Trust Fund—a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that assists bluegrass professionals during financial emergencies—and introduces the music to thousands of new fans every year.
PineCone is the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music. It is a Raleigh-based nonprofit that serves as the official local host and festival producer for IBMA’s World of Bluegrass. It was founded in 1984 by a group of friends looking to preserve, present and promote music and dance that’s rooted in the Piedmont. PineCone hosts year-round events that highlight rich and diverse musical traditions that’ve been passed down informally for generations. There’s more about PineCone’s concerts, jam sessions, workshops, camps, youth programs and weekly radio show at pinecone.org.
Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex is home to four pristine venues in Raleigh, North Carolina. Owned and operated by the City of Raleigh, the Raleigh Convention Center, the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, and Red Hat Amphitheater are located within a two-block radius in the heart of Downtown Raleigh and welcome approximately one million visitors annually. Nearby, the City of Raleigh-owned Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek welcomes roughly 300,000 people each season.
Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh) — As the official destination marketing organization for Wake County, the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh), is responsible for promoting Wake County as an attractive travel destination and enhancing its public image as a dynamic place to live and work. Through the impact of travel, the organization strengthens the economic position of and provides opportunity for people throughout Wake County. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes nearly 16 million visitors annually whose spending tops $2.3 billion. The visitor economy supports more than 21,000 local jobs in Wake County and generates $243 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $592 in taxes annually. visitRaleigh.com
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
The City of Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina, home to several colleges and universities, with a vibrant performing arts community. Fueled by an impressive mix of education, ingenuity and collaboration, North Carolina’s capital city has become an internationally recognized leader in life, science and technology innovation.
Posted 4-24-24
Information about Earlier Bird tickets for the 52nd annual Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival is now online; the Festival will take place on August 30 – September 1, 2024 at the Salem County Fairgrounds in New Jersey
By Steven Brodsky
…The stellar lineup of performers scheduled to appear on the Festival’s main stage and information about Earlier Bird tickets are at: https://delawarevalleybluegrass.org/.
The Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival was founded by Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley.
Posted 4-5-24
The official music video for the title track of Wyatt Ellis’ debut album has been released
By Steven Brodsky
… Enjoy:
Posted 12-20-23
The 2023 IBMA Gospel Recording of the Year: Larry Sparks’ ‘The Scarlet Red Lines’
Larry Sparks’ recording of “The Scarlet Red Lines” was named as the Gospel Recording of the Year at the 2023 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards.
Congratulations to Larry Sparks.
Posted 9-29-23, Reposted 12-20-23
Wyatt Ellis releases ‘Get Lost,’ a track from an upcoming album
By Steven Brodsky
… That album will be released on Wyatt Ellis’s Knee-High Records label.
Posted 9-11-23
‘Grassy Cove,’ the debut single of 14-year-old extraordinary mandolinist Wyatt Ellis, was released today; Sierra Hull is featured on the single
By Steven Brodsky
… “Grassy Cove” was written by Sierra Hull and Wyatt Ellis.
The readers of this column will be among the very first people to hear the single.
After you listen to the single and love it, share the love by linking to this post on social media.
From a press release about the single that was issued today, July 7, 2022:
During the darkest days of the pandemic, Ellis was chosen by Hull for a Tennessee Folklife Apprenticeship to study the traditional art of bluegrass mandolin. Working with Hull ignited what his parents have described as a “musical fire” in the young musician. A then-11-year-old Ellis went from playing a few hours a week to playing a few hours a day. Eager to improve under the watchful eye of a true virtuoso, Ellis jokes that he “didn’t put his mandolin down for three days” after finding out about the apprenticeship.
“Grassy Cove” was inspired by the rich musical history and natural beauty of Ellis’ home in East Tennessee. When Ellis was 12-years-old, on the way home from his grandpa’s house, he was driven through the picturesque community of Grassy Cove, TN at dusk. Seeing the fields lit up with sparkling fireflies, he hummed a simple melody. When Ellis got home, he quickly transferred the newborn tune to his mandolin. Fairly new to melody writing and a little unsure of himself, he brought the song to Hull for her opinion. Sierra jumped in with guidance, and along the way, added some very special touches.
“Wyatt came to me with an already existing three-part chord progression and a melody,” explains Hull. My hope was to simply point him toward some inspiration and encourage him to explore the entire instrument outside of first position while still keeping a strong melody as the core of the tune. He drove the train and I was simply along for the ride!”
“Grassy Cove” was recorded in early 2021 with Sierra’s husband, award-winning multi-instrumentalist and fellow East Tennessean, Moses, as producer. It was the young musician’s first experience in a recording studio.
“Being in a recording studio for the first time was a dream come true for me. It was surreal to listen through my headphones to my heroes recording a tune I had written. We were all so excited to be making music together in real life after almost two years of only online collaborations,” Wyatt recalls.
Holding his own with the best of them, Ellis was joined in the studio by a stellar list of who’s who of bluegrass musicians. In addition to the twin mandolin parts covered by Ellis and Hull, also on the track is Deanie Richardson (fiddle), Cory Walker (banjo), Mike Bub (bass), and Justin Moses (guitar).
“It’s really thrilling to see a young musician like Wyatt dive into his music so full-heartedly,” Hull adds. “He’s steeped in bluegrass tradition, but has the love and musical curiosity to keep learning, growing, and expanding.”
ABOUT WYATT ELLIS:
Born in the rich music bed of East Tennessee, Wyatt Ellis has quickly become one of the most-watched young musicians in bluegrass music. A devotee of Bill Monroe, Ellis has been mentored by many iconic musicians, including Sierra Hull, Bobby Osborne, Mike Compton, and others. Ellis has studied with mandolin masters, composed his own original instrumentals, and transitioned from playing alone in his living room to performing seamlessly alongside bluegrass legends and Hall of Famers. In his two short years on the scene, Ellis has become a multi-instrumentalist and has been invited to perform on stage with some of the most iconic musicians of this era, including Billy Strings, Dierks Bentley, Peter Rowan, Sam Bush, Bryan Sutton, Dailey & Vincent, and Marty Stuart.
“Grassy Cove” will be included on an upcoming album that will be released on the Knee-High Records label.
Posted 7-7-23
‘The Ballad of Jed Clampett’ (with Earl Scruggs playing banjo)
Bill Monroe passed away 26 years ago at age 84 on September 9, 1996.
Posted 9-9-22
Revisiting With Carl Goldstein, Director of the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival and Treasured Pillar of Bluegrass
By Steven Brodsky
Few have done nearly as much for the bluegrass genre and its fans as has Carl. He co-founded the Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music in 1971 and has served in a leadership role ever since. Carl has been the director of the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival throughout its history, including when it was known as the Delaware Bluegrass Festival. He is chair of the Brandywine Friends. The Brandywine Friends produces the Festival and a concert series. Carl is an inductee into the WVUD Radio Hall of Fame; he has hosted WVUD’s Fire on theMountain show since it went on the air in 1977. Carl has also significantly contributed to the history, present-day vibrancy, and future of bluegrass music in other ways.
We’re coming upon the 47th Annual Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival, Labor Day weekend. This Festival is one of the nation’s best (and was recognized as the 2016 IBMA Event of the Year). Carl, when did you have confidence that this Festival was going to have longevity and would reach and maintain the highest level of stature?
We had no idea how successful we would be for the first several years, even though we had the greatest possible lineup of bluegrass talent headed by Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley. The uniqueness of the concept in the Northeast and weather problems made the first several years tough, but after about year 3 or 4 we started to increase attendance. Of course national attention took a few more years to attain but our progress was steady.
The website of the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival contains a list of performers who have appeared at the Festival:http://delawarevalleybluegrass.org/legacy-of-performers/. Many of the greatest names in the history of bluegrass and country music have been on the Festival’s main stage. Which of the artists might you rank among your personal favorites and what songs of theirs do you most enjoy?
Of course Monroe and Stanley were pioneers of this music. We were incredibly fortunate to have them as our founders and to this day they rank among my favorites. Others would include the Osborne Brothers, Jim & Jesse, Lester Flatt, the Country Gentlemen, Doc Watson, and our local heroes Ted Lundy and Bob Paisley. In recent years, the Seldom Scene, Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, Sister Sadie, and Patty Loveless would be among my favorites, but let me add, this is a very difficult question to answer. There would be many more if space allowed. To pick specific songs would require even more time and space—so let’s just say a huge number of songs from each of their repertoires remain my favorites.
Let’s talk about the upcoming Festival. Artists and festival attendees appreciate the capabilities of the Festival’s stage management. Who is involved and for how many years have they stage managed the Festival? What does the role of stage manager at the Festival entail?
In the early days a very few of us did everything, including MC, stage management, ticket sales and more. More recently Archie Warnock and Howard Parker have adroitly handled stage management. They coordinate all backstage activity, monitor the artists’ performance times and generally get things to run smoothly and on time. Their roles are vital.
Tell us about the stage announcers.
We are very fortunate to have two very fine MCs for our festival. Katy Daley is a legend among bluegrass DJs and personalities. She hosted a longtime radio program on WAMU Bluegrass Country and has written widely on the music. She and her co-host Bill Foster, also of WAMU fame, have a deep knowledge of the artists and present and provide a context to the audience to enhance their enjoyment.
Please touch upon the music and performance lineup of the 47thAnnual Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival.
We have always tried to provide variety, with a view to emphasizing traditional bluegrass and showcasing its roots in old-time and related fields like western swing, traditional country, Cajun, etc. This year we feature two of the hottest acts in bluegrass, Hot Rize with Tim O’Brien, and Jerry Douglas’ Earls of Leicester, who recreate the classic sounds of Flatt and Scruggs. We also feature four of the six IBMA nominees for Emerging Artist of the Year: Mile Twelve, Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Sister Sadie, and High Fidelity. For variety we have western swing artists the Quebe Sisters, Dom Flemons (formerly of the Carolina Chocolate Drops), Mick Kinney (old-time/ragtime from Georgia), and early 20th century Tin Pan Alley style performers Bill and the Belles. There are a host of other great acts and I encourage your readers to check out our web site where there are not only bios but music clips to enjoy as well.
What do you most enjoy about Festival weekend, given that you attend to your responsibilities as festival director?
In addition to hearing as much great music as time allows my greatest satisfaction is watching our audience appreciate and enjoy our offerings, especially those new and unexpected acts we slip in, including folks who rarely and in most cases have never appeared at a bluegrass festival like last year’s Tuba Skinny—Dixieland from New Orleans, or Asleep at the Wheel, or Patty Loveless.
What are some of your fondest all-time Festival memories?
There are numerous outstanding memories but I think a couple of them would be the Bill Monroe and Doc Watson duet at our first year at the Salem County Fairgrounds, and the infamous year that Hurricane Edouard hit us head-on and yet, pros that they were, bands like Riders in the Sky played on (with comments like, “Hey those lawn chairs blowing past us look just like tumbleweeds!”). It was a financial challenge but a victory of heart and soul for performers and audience alike.
A Conversation With Carl Goldstein, Champion of Bluegrass Music
By Steven Brodsky
Among those who’ve done the most to preserve bluegrass music and further its appreciation is Carl Goldstein. Consistent with the informal yet respectful norm of the bluegrass community, I’m not using the title “The Honorable” before his name; he was a judge in Delaware for 40 years before retiring in 2013. With two others, Carl founded the Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music in 1971. He’s provided leadership for the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival since its start in 1972. (The Festival was called the Delaware Bluegrass Festival until it moved to New Jersey in 1990.) Since 1977, Carl has hosted the Fire on the Mountain radio show on WVUD FM. In 2011, he was inducted into the WVUD Hall of Fame.
Carl, what are your official roles at the Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music and the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival?
I’m Chair of the BFOTM and Director of the Festival.
How long have you served in these capacities?
Since the organization and Festival’s inception.
How did you get introduced to bluegrass music?
I became interested in folk music during the “folk music scare” of the ’60s although I had listened to country music and blues even before that time. I found the more earthy and honest music of early Appalachian music to be even more to my liking.
When you first got involved in bluegrass music, where did you travel to hear the music and to learn more about it?
I travelled with companions to southwest Virginia, western North Carolina and Tennessee to fiddlers’ conventions and the earliest bluegrass festivals.
What drew you to the music and how did it engage you?
The soulful, powerful and yet down to earth nature of the music drew me in. I started collecting the music and eventually learned to play guitar.
In your early years as a fan of bluegrass music, who were some of your favorite musicians?
The Stanley Brothers/Ralph Stanley, Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Mississippi John Hurt, and the Country Gentlemen were among some early favorites.
What were some of your favorite songs?
Too many to single out I’m afraid.
What memories do you have of Sunset Park (the iconic country music venue that was located in Chester County, Pennsylvania)?
I lived only a half hour or so from Sunset Park. I went there many Sundays during the summer months and was lucky enough to hear many of the greats of bluegrass and country music. In addition, each week musicians would jam out in the field.
What caused the Delaware Valley to become a hotbed of bluegrass music?
During the tough economic years of the ’30s many families from the mid south relocated to the area (NE Maryland, Southeastern PA and Delaware) in search of work bringing with them their culture and music. Among these families were the Paisleys, the Lundys, and the Campbells (Ola Belle Reed) and many others.
How were Ralph Stanley and Bill Monroe responsible for the first annual Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival?
Ralph Stanley, whom I had known from years of following his music, came to us on behalf of himself and Bill Monroe in 1971 asking whether our organization would host a festival – the first in the northeast. They were to supply the talent (although we did have some limited input) and we were to supply the venue and publicity. We were delighted to agree. The Festival was set for Labor Day weekend 1972. That first year it was in a KOA campground but moved to a newly constructed music park – Gloryland Park – the second year.
After the third year Bill and Ralph decided to start their own festivals that weekend in their respective home places. From that point on we produced the Festival ourselves and after their festivals ended in a few years we had each of them back nearly every other year.
Did you believe that the first Festival was going to become an annual event?
We had high hopes but that first year was a muddy mess. They (Bill and Ralph) and we persevered.
Please tell us about a few of your most valued memories associated with the Festival.
It was Lester Flatt who stepped up that 4th year at a fee we could afford so we were able to present a fine lineup our first year on our own.
Doc Watson and Bill Monroe did a rare and historic set together in 1990, our first year in New Jersey.
We had some legendary folks perform for us over the years. In addition to nearly all of the great bluegrass musicians, we have presented Merle Travis, Hank Thompson, and a number of special tribute sets and reunions that were very memorable like, for example, Ricky Skaggs and Ralph Stanley.
I should mention that the Brandywine Friends and hence the Bluegrass Festival is run by a Board of Directors of 16 members. They are all interesting, smart and funny human beings. I mention it here because part of the joy of the Festival is doing it with these exceptional folks.
Congratulations on the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival winning the award for 2016 IBMA Event of the Year. What components make the Festival a favorite of musicians and attendees year after year?
I think that because we are nonprofit and all volunteer we have the luxury of presenting a top-notch lineup of talent – top to bottom each year. While our main focus is bluegrass, we have always presented some variety with comparable genres like old-time music, traditional country music, Cajun and French Canadian.
We also include features like a Children’s Stage and a Kids’ Academy where youngsters can gain instruction in every bluegrass instrument during the course of the weekend. We are also known as a great jam festival. Our campground is filled with folks playing day and night.
Please speak about the lineup for the 46th Annual Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival taking place on Labor Day weekend.
Once again we have a great lineup featuring some of the best acts in traditional music – Del McCoury, the Gibson Brothers, and a host of others. We have the perennial favorites: The Grascals, Blue Highway, and IBMA 2016 Male Vocalist of the Year Danny Paisley. All that in addition to relative newcomers like Becky Buller and Flatt Lonesome and powerful old-time music from the Foghorn Stringband and April Verch – not to mention Asleep at the Wheel who I will in a moment.
Are there performers that you are especially looking forward to seeing this year? If so, why?
It’s always a treat for us to surprise our audience with an act that may be unexpected but is fully within our view of traditional music. This year it is Asleep at the Wheel – the legendary Texas Western Swing band. That’s gonna be fun.
What doyou most enjoy about hosting the Fire on the Mountain radio show?
I think it’s the audience. Each week I get calls from interesting and informed people. They have been very loyal over these 40 years and each year those folks lead all programs on the station for our fundraising efforts. They’re just great. Besides, if I weren’t playing that music on the air, I’d be home doing the same thing.
What does the future look like for bluegrass music and the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival?
If you’d asked me that question 15 or so years ago I might not have been as optimistic as I am now. There are a great number of younger folks playing bluegrass and old-time music these days. That in turn bodes well for the festivals.
Colonial Playhouse presents “Old Ringers” by Joe Simonelli directed by Gabrielle Affleck.
“Old Ringers” runs May 3-19 at Colonial Playhouse in Aldan.
In this adult bawdy comedy, four senior women try to fight the shrinking economy and their shrinking pocketbooks by opening up a home phone sex service after receiving an unsolicited obscene phone call!
Show dates include nine performances: May 3, 4, 5*, 10, 11, 12*, 17, 18, 19*. Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m. and Sunday Matinee* at 2 p.m.
On April 27, from 6 to 9 p.m., the Museum for Art in Wood (141 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106) and acclaimed poet, multi-platform artist founder LindoYes, host The Gumball Machine Celebration, a special event unveiling a poetry-dispensing wooden gumball machine sculpture. The machine’s unveiling will be commemorated with music performances and spoken word readings by local artists, with light refreshments served by Harper’s Garden.
The new Gumball Machine sculpture will be on display and free to view at the Museum for Art in Wood from April 27 to December 31, 2024.
The one-of-a-kind wooden gumball machine is a fully mechanized, robot-shaped sculpture created by local artist Jesse Rinyu, which dispenses unique walnut shell capsules made by artist Jennifer Eckenrode. Each walnut can be opened to reveal a two-sided slip of paper with an original poem composed by LindoYes and information for free local social services and mental health hotline numbers. The walnuts are returned by placing them into the robot’s mouth, where it’ll fall into an internal storage space. They are then refilled with a fresh poem and added back into rotation.
The sculpture was created through The Gumball Machine Project, a community-wide program created by LindoYes in 2022 to support free access to the arts, poetry, and mental health care. He places repurposed traditional gumball machines in locations throughout Philadelphia and New Jersey, including Bok Building, The Painted Bride Arts Center, and The Philadelphia Liberation Center. Each machine is hand-painted and decorated by community members living near its location, and holds up to 200 capsules with unique poems.
1812 Productions is dedicated to creating theatrical works of comedy and comedic works of theater. They will present the Philadelphia Premiere of “Torch Song” April 25-May 19.
Torch Song
Written by Harvey Fierstein
Directed by Bill Fennelly
This is the Philadelphia Premiere of Harvey Fierstein’s 2018 adaptation of his iconic Torch Song Trilogy!
Hilarious and heart-wrenching, Torch Song follows Arnold Beckoff, a torch song-singing, Jewish drag queen in New York in the late 70s, early 80s. As he searches for love, happiness and a pair of bunny slippers that fit, a visit from his overbearing mother reminds him that he needs one thing more: respect. Join Arnold in this dramatic comedy about the families we’re born into, the families we choose, and the battles to bring them all home.
If You Go
Mask-wearing is optional at Plays & Players Theatre for performances of Torch Song EXCEPT for the following performances when masks are required:
Sunday, May 12th 2pm
Thursday, May 16th at 7pm
The show is recommended for ages 16 and older – contains adult language and mature themes.
All performances at: Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, PA
Beginning May 1, People’s Light begins its Series 2 productions with the regional premiere of the Obie Award winning play Hurricane Diane by Pulitzer Prize finalist Madeleine George. The comedic romp with a mythological twist is a hilarious parable of climate reckoning and liberation set in an unassuming Monmouth County, New Jersey cul-de-sac.
Madeleine George is an award-winning playwright and author known for her 2014 play The Watson Intelligence, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. She is a writer and executive producer of the Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-nominated Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building. George’s Hurricane Diane made its world premiere at Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey, in 2017, then went on to run off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop in 2019.
The play centers on Diane, a permaculture gardener with swaggering charm. She also has supernatural powers thanks to her secret identity: the Greek god Dionysus. After settling in a modern day New Jersey suburb, Diane sets out to recruit the mortals for an environmental revolution that would restore Earth to its natural state. She begins with a clique of four housewives who are in dire need of a bacchanalian catharsis. George’s Obie Award-winning comedy is a hilarious story that blends ancient myth, climate revolution, and Real Housewives of New Jersey drama.
The playfeatures actor Rami Margron in the lead role, performing alongside Suli Holum, Teri Lamm, Shauna Miles, and Julianna Zinkel.
Malvern native and People’s Light Associate Producing Director Molly Rosa Houlahan will make her directorial debut at the theatre with this production.
When searching for my first play to direct back in my hometown, I was immediately drawn to Hurricane Diane. I recognized the women in this play as ones I grew up with – fierce, funny, smart, and incredibly complicated women who stubbornly made their world in their own image for better or for worse. It felt like a delightful challenge to invite this community to turn a careful eye to our own worst habits and potentially indulge in the wild, wicked catharsis that awaits. -Producing Director Molly Rosa
If You Go
The play runs from May 1 to 19, with 21 performances presented on the Leonard C. Haas Stage, a 340-seat performance venue housed in an 18th-century stone barn.
Previews are from Wednesday, May 1, through Saturday, May 4. Tickets start at $42, including fees.
Learn more about available ticket discounts and special performances by visiting peopleslight.orgor calling the box office at 610-644-3500.
