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tpaigeme · 5 years

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Being West Virginia What People Are Saying About The Art of T. Paige “Some people are born to translate life's struggles and beauty into art with every ounce of their being. T. Paige Dalporto is one such person. He brings the heart and soul of West Virginia to life through his music, poetry, acting, and impressionistic photography. He is West Virginia." Annie Lindstrom, Talkupy on Blogtalkradio.com “I loved-loved-loved your song (“Hawks Nest: Tunnel of Death”) for The Hawks' Nest Tunnel film. There is no way that song will NOT be in the film. It is incredible and so are you. Just want you to know how I appreciate you. You rock!” Mari-Lynn Evans Producer of The Appalachians on PBS (6 million viewers) “Just reading the lyrics in your song makes me cry. Dear God, this song is great and you are a genius.” Judy Bonds, Coal River Mountain Watch, winner of the Goldman Prize, “The Nobel Prizefor Environmentalists” “This song says what I have tried so hard to put into words. I love it. You have outdone yourself again.” Maria Gunnoe, Coal River Mountain Watch, winner of the Goldman Prize, “The Nobel for Environmentalists” “One of the top 3 songwriters in WV”....John Blissard, Founder of Allegheny Echoes Old Time Music Festival and Camp "T. Paige, ‘The Soundtrack of our Movement’ (to save Appalachia’s mountains). One of the most eloquent songwriters around. There’s a real soul to what he sings.” Paul Corbit Brown, President, Keeper of The Mountains Foundation "This is a great song." Denise Giardina, environmentalist, West Virginia gubenatorial candidate, author, “Storming Heaven”, “Saints and Villains” “You’re a poet. And not a bad one.” Don Marsh, the late Senior Editor-in-Chief, The Charleston Gazette "This song makes me proud to know you"....Sandy Wells, Columnist, Innerviews, The Charleston Gazette. "I love your music."...Kate Long, veteran Singer/songwriter, Writer for The Charleston Gazette, WV Public Radio Producer “Keep doing what you’re doing”...Kathy Matea, Nashville Recording Artist “You rock hard for one cat." Todd Burge, singer/songwriter “I listened to your CD till 2 am last night. The first time I heard you play, I couldn’t wait to hear more. You were different, and I was struck by your uniqueness, passion, and the edginess in your playing and songs you weren’t like the rest. I really believe in your talent and I’ve listened to a lot of music and you rank up near the top.” Marcia Flannnery Griffith, Nashville Recording Artist, Singer Songwriter “T. Paige is a folk hero around here. He represents a LOT of music.” Louis Argento, Music Impresario, Charleston W.Va. “The most talented artist in WV.” Bob Henry Baber, Mountain Party candidate for U.S. Senate, Governor “Your music is cool, real...”Dylan meets the Luminaires” Wayne Killius, Nashville record producer, Session Drummer appearing on many hits “A Voice who speaks up for the common folk”...Rebecca Park, Actress, Educator “Dalporto's CD is a real gem...That sound is what makes him stand out among the ranks of West Virginia musicians. Dalporto is well on his way to making a big name for himself in the West Virginia music scene. Gripping lyrics, a classic."Matt Burdette, Editor, Graffiti Magazine “A piece that is at once both a song of defiance and tribute, T. Paige has found his voice. He reminds us that we cannot allow the continuation of the destruction of our beautiful pearl (WV) by out-of-state conglomerates. I think Pete Seeger would be very proud of the ‘passion to the people’ spirit of ‘The Pearl’”. Ross Ballard II, author, audio CD and compilation music CD. “Here is the song that captures so much emotion, so much pain, and so much of the tragic story of what happened on that terrible day when 12 loving, hardworking miners were treated as “items” in a WV coal mine. That day the world got a glimpse of West Virginia’s epic fight against corporate greed.” For Church Bells at Sago...Ross Ballard “Mr. Dalporto is a many-talented artist, writing original songs for the just released audio book of ‘When Miners March’, along with publishing a very nice book that collects some of his poems and photographs. He loaned me a copy of his excellent paperback book, “It’s Still a Wonder Just Being Here” that includes poems written between 1981 to 1999. He took most of the photographs around his home in the upper Kanawha Valley between 1989 to 1999. All of the photos are beautiful, simple, and sincere. I particularly enjoyed the two color photographs of Smithers and Alloy. His poems are likewise beautiful. Dalporto has traveled around the United States, living in Alaska, Nashville and other locations before returning home to Charlton Heights. He is active in the anti-MTR movement. He just received word that two of his works, “The Pearl” and “Railroad” have been accepted for publication in Blair Mountain Press' new book, due out this October---‘Coal: A Poetry Anthology.’” Steve Fesenmaier, former head of the West Virginia Library Commission Film Services “T. Paige is one of southern WV’s most creative artists. He is a great musician, recently writing and playing several songs for the soundtrack of the audio movie of When Miners March. Dalporto has traveled around the United States, living in Alaska, Nashville and other locations before returning home to Charlton Heights. He is active in the anti-MTR movement.” Steve Fesenmaier, former head of the West Virginia Library Commission Film Services FOR: The Ballad of Shirley Jones “This song is about my Uncle Shirley. He died at the age of 18 from working in Hawks Nest." Rita Jones Hanshaw "Horrible tragedy, this song is amazing and totally captures how most of the people who worked in that tunnel must of felt." Tessa Colyer 8 months ago “My grandmother is the daughter of Cecil Jones. She never knew her father as he died along with his brothers before she was born. Until yesterday, her daughters and grandchildren were not really aware of this massive tragedy. Thank you to the people making the songs and films so we have more information about our past. This story MUST be told.” Patricia Daniels "Wow, that's a great job on the song. I have been around the tunnel and I know of 4 locations where victims were buried, so I know what you are singing about. When does the film come out? This should be the theme song for the film." rickietube1 Shiny Shine 2 years ago "My grandfather was Charles Jones. I am so proud that this tragedy is finally coming to light". Cary Curlee "Awesome song! I have my students read Hawk's Nest (a novel about the tunnel) in Intro to Appalachian Studies. I believe this story story needs to be told!" FOR “When You Go” “This song makes me proud to know you"....Sandy Wells, The Charleston Gazette. "I try and not cry at work. Beautiful!" Linda Petry Hospice of WV "I love that song." Mike @ [email protected] “I love this song. It is powerful. Anyone that truly cares about people will be affected by this song. You have stayed true to yourself a long long time Paige. It's time your work is recognized. Hopefully this song will be the beginning of something really good for you. You are a wonderful beautiful person Paige. I am so proud to know you and call you my friend...." Bo Webb CRMW "Heartbreaking".. “Oh my, Paige, this will touch everyone who hears it. What a beautiful tribute!” Mary Caputi, MD “Very moving and tender tribute to the fallen Massey miners.” Tony Oppegard, Attorney for Miners’ Rights Very, very, great song!!! Couldn’t take my eyes off if it! You got a winner there. Thank you for sharing. Loved it.”....Joe Youtube musician, viewer “My friends Carrie & MIchael Kline sent me the link to your YouTube video "Buffalo Creek" yesterday. I'm an attorney in Kentucky who has long represented coal miners and their families in safety-related matters. I am also a collector of coal mining songs. I have quite an extensive collection, so I already had your songs "Church Bells at Sago", "The Pearl", "The Ballad of Ma Blizzard" and "Kiss the Hills Goodbye". No offense, but "Buffalo Creek" blows them all away...! What a great song! I love the lyrics, as well as the passion in your voice and picking! Then, I checked out your other videos and found the clever "Massey's Farm" (I've always loved Dylan) and the great "Who Did This?" I love the raw power and emotion of all three of those songs!! You are certainly one of the most talented performers that I have seen on YouTube, and I appreciate you sharing.” Tony Oppegard, Attorney for Miners’ Rights "Standing on my chair applauding. This is perfect. Had to subscribe after watching a bunch of your videos. Cheers." MisterNoHead For: It’s Still a Wonder Just Being Here: Photographs and Poems “Thank you for your lovely book. Both the poems and photographs are haunting and beautiful. I was very touched by your story.” Sylvia Nasar, author of, A Beautiful Mind, Columbia University, New York “This is one for the Mountain State to be proud of...beautifully printed.” Ken Sullivan, Ph.D., Executive Director, W.Va. Humanities Council, Charleston, W.Va. “The delicate way the images inform the writing and vice versa...and the relationship between the two is both personal and striking.” Meredith Coeyman, Aperture Foundation, New York “From big black coal cars that travel to heaven and ride among the stars, to his vivid descriptions of trees and West Virginia landscapes, this is one true example of turning coal dust into a real diamond of a book. The pictures are priceless, as well. Wait till you see where the Raven is sitting. I loved it. A real slice of Appalachia.” Patricia Syner, Educator, Fayette County, W.Va. “Every page is a gem.”..Gail Twigger, Twigger Shaw Design Source, Charleston, W.Va. “This book makes me proud to be a West Virginian. The author demonstrates a true understanding of Appalachian life through his photography and a desire to live life to its fullest through his poetry. An Appalachian Prize”...Amazon.com customer, from Montgomery, W.Va. For the film, Moving Mountains, by Penny Loeb The film, by Pulitzer finalist Penny Loeb, premiered August 21, 2014, to an excited and appreciative audience of 250 in Charleston WV, at the old Capital Theater. “T. Paige was brilliant. An extremely talented actor and artist. I really enjoyed working with him.” Michael Alban actor, Moving Mountains “T. Paige! This is unheard of! A first time actor holding his own alongside an accomplished star like Theresa Russell!” Michelle Farrell, Chief Cinematographer, Moving Mountains Awards WV Press Association---Photojournalism WV Writers---Poetry Billboard Magazine---Songwriting Soundtracks Moving Mountains When Miners March with Hazel Dickens Rise Up West Virginia Blood On The Mountain contributor Albums Pearl 2006 T. Paige: Collection due out in late 2019

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newyorktheater · 6 years

Text

Ben Platt accepting his award as Best Actor in a musical, in a speech that seemed to reintroduce the concept of 78 rpm

Sam Shepard at La Mama in 1971

It was a year of shocks. In 2017, we got Hurricane Harvey and Harvey Weinstein, indecency in the White House and terror in Times Square. Meryl Streep began the year speaking out against Donald Trump’s bullying and ended the year accused of remaining silent about Harvey Weinstein’s bullying. To many in America, to borrow half of Charles Dickens’ famous phrase, 2017 was the worst of times, an age of foolishness, an epoch of incredulity. And the theater community was far from immune. But it was also far from passive. This was also a year of standing up and speaking out, resisting and persisting. Below are some of the top New York theater news stories of 2017, presented chronologically month by month, including prominent theater people who died. As you’ll see, in many of the months, a different new (or newly renovated) theater building had its ribbon cutting ceremony. Nearly every month, resisters held a protest or a spoof of the White House went viral

JANUARY

The Anti-Inauguration

The story of Inauguration Day becomes almost as much about culture as politics. The list of performers who decline an invitation to perform at official Inauguration ceremonies certainly exceeds the list of those who accept – and several, including Tony winner Jennifer Holliday and Springsteen tribute musicians the B Street Band, first accepted and then, after getting flak for their decision, reverse themselves and withdraw. The theater community in New York and across the country held events signaling resistance but also hope. The Ghostlight Project saw people gather outside theaters in all 50 states – including 50 in New York City, plus Times Square – to shine light, literally, against what many fear is the coming darkness. Other projects include the Concert for America, the Inaugural Ball at HERE, and The Resister Project. Trump imposes a visa ban against citizens of six Muslim-majority nations that complicates international artist exchanges. The order sets off court challenges, and revised orders, throughout the rest of the year; the matter as of this writing is still not fully resolved.

Meryl Streep’s speech at the Golden Globes, January 8, 2017: nd this instinct to humiliate, when it’s modeled by someone in the public platform, by someone powerful, it filters down into everybody’s life, because it kinda gives permission for other people to do the same thing. Disrespect invites disrespect, violence incites violence. And when the powerful use their position to bully others we all lose.

In accepting the Cecil B. Demille Award at the Golden Globes, Meryl Streep attacks Donald Trump for having made fun of a disabled reporter — “disrespect invites disrespect” — and addresses Trump’s characterization of foreigners as dangerous. “Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners. And if we kick ’em all out, you’ll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts, which are not the arts.” Saturday Night Live used a parody of the musical Chicago to spoof Trump aide Kellyanne Conway’s ambition https://youtu.be/sb9ybImGwkU The non-profit Alliance for Resident Theaters opens a new theater, A.R.T./New York with two performance venues, offering a home — and rental subsidies — to some long-time nomadic companies. Jitney, the first play that August Wilson wrote in his 10-play America Cycle – one for each decade of the 20th century – is the last of his plays to open on Broadway.

August Wilson

Jenny Schlenzka, current curator of performance MoMA PS1, is appointed the artistic director of PS 122, only the third person in the post since the East Village cultural center began in 1980; the first woman.

RIP

British actor John Hurt, 77 Mary Tyler Moore, 80, beloved TV actress, Broadway producer and Tony-winning performer, co-founder of Broadway Barks Photographer Martha Swope, 88, ballet and Broadway chronicler for 40 years.

Articles I wrote that were published in January

Staged Resistance Bridging Cultures at China Shanghai International Arts Festivala

FEBRUARY

Barry Jenkins, left, and Tarell Alvin McCraney accept the award for best adapted screenplay for “Moonlight”

At the Academy Awards, a distracted accountant handed the wrong envelope to Warren Beatty, who announced that the winner of the Best Picture was La-La Land. The actual winner, Moonlight, was based on the play, Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue, by Tarell Alvin McCraney (playwright of Head of Passes, the Brother/Sister Plays, etc.), who also won for adapted screenplay. Another playwright, Kenneth Lonergan (This is Our Youth), won in the original screenwriting category, for Manchester by the Sea. Pasek and Paul, the songwriting team behind Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway, won an Oscar as lyricists for the best song, from La La Land. “This is dedicated to all the kids who sing in the rain,” Benj Pasek said, holding his trophy, “and all their moms who let them” Jack Viertel, the producer of the Encores concert production of Big River, wrote to the Times theater editors calling the newspaper’s review of the show by Laura Collins-Hughes a “ significant humiliation for the paper, a stunningly amateurish piece of work.” Critics of his action suggest that it is sexist. He wrote no letter to the editors at New York Magazine, though Jesse Green’s review offered much the same critique. Hamilton’s original Schuyler Sisters reunite to sing at the Super Bowl

#Hamilton‘s Schuyler Sisters (Phillipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jasmine Cephas Jones) slay “America The Beautiful” #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/I4BtzUrvQw

— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) February 5, 2017

The 2017 Grammy for best musical theater album was given to The Color Purple Dear Evan Hansen cast recording makes it to the Billboard Top 10, only the fourth cast recording since 1965 to have done so.

Charles Isherwood

The New York Times fires its long-time second string theater critic Charles Isherwood, never publicly explaining why Several shows he championed Off-Broadway in the Times, transfer to Broadway in large part on the strength of his review. The Time gives them lukewarm reviews, and they close after just a few months. After a scandalous confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education, here is my review of Scandalous, the Broadway flop she produced. The Hudson Theater opens as the 41st Broadway house, with “Sunday in the Park With George.” Although built in 1903, it had not been used to present a Broadway show since 1968, when it became a nightclub, then a hotel conference center. The 115th Street branch of the New York Public Library is being renamed for Harry Belafonte, as the singer, actor, activist and Tony Award winner nears 90th birthday on March 1.

Anna Deavere Smith

Theater artist Anna Deavere Smith won the George Polk Career Award, which is a top award in journalism. A 24-Decade History of Popular Music by Taylor Mac and Matt Ray won the 2017 Edward Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History,

RIP

Harvey Lichtenstein, 87, executive producer for 32 years of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, transforming it from a moribund institution to “a dynamic showcase for cutting-edge performing arts.”

Arthur and Barbara Gelb

Barbara Gelb, 91, playwright and journalist who, with her husband, Arthur Gelb, produced the first full-scale biography of the playwright Eugene O’Neill Professor Irwin Corey, 102, “world’s foremost authority.”

My articles in February

The N-Word on Stage China on Stage

MARCH

New York theatergoers look to the government for support of the arts – the government of Canada, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends “Come From Away” on Broadway, accompanied by some 600 friends and allies, mostly Canadian, but also a number of UN ambassadors, and Ivanka Trump. Her father was invited as well, but according to an article in the Washington Post, he said “Absolutely not,” and flew to Nashville instead to visit the gravesite of Andrew Jackson. That same day, the Ides of March, comes news of Trump’s budget plan, which calls for “the elimination of of four independent cultural agencies” – the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Late Late Show with James Corden presented Donald the Musical, with Tim Minchin on a swing singing “When I grow up, I will be president and build big walls, ban Muslims, play with Putin’s (bleep)”? https://youtu.be/WZWNHCRCpNM

Jesse Green

Right before the busiest month in New York theater, theater critics are getting new assignments (a polite way of putting it.) Jesse Green, the current critic at New York Magazine, has been named “co-chief theater critic” of the New York Times. Bryan Doerries, the founder of Theater of War, is named New York City’s Public Artist in Residence, (PAIR.) Theater of War uses the dramas of Ancient Greek and other classic tragedies to help with the healing process. Initially, this was with military veterans, but it has spread. The Actor’s Fund’s Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts opens in the theater district https://youtu.be/7hNkQu0fKYU

RIP

Miriam Colón a well-known movie actress who took roles opposite Brando and Pacino (most famously as his mother in Scarface) and many others, has died at age 80. She was the founder of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in 1967, to bring free bilingual theater to venues throughout New York City

Derek Walcott

Derek Walcott, 87, Nobel Laureate, poet, and playwright of more than 20 plays,

My articles in March

Cooling Down: How Actors Unwind After Taxing Performances Scenes from the original productions of the 11 Broadway plays and musicals that are being revived, for the second, fifth, or 16th time, this season on Broadway.

APRIL

Andy Karl is injured three days before the opening of Groundhog Day, forcing him to miss some performances and wear a knee brace when he returns. In a cheeky bit of improvisation in what was supposed to scene of seduction, he proudly stuck a glass of Scotch on outstretched knee brace. Sweat wins the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It closes two months later

Lynn Nottage

This is Lynn Nottage’s second Pulitzer – she is one of 15 women playwrights ever to win it. The New Yorker’s Hilton Als won the Pulitzer in criticism, just the second theater critic to do so. Fourteen shows open on Broadway in April, exactly one third of the entire season. Mine of them open in the last ten days of the month — as usual “Rebecca” will never open on Broadway, according to the attorney for its producers, who admits during the trial against the show’s former publicist that the producers have lost the rights to it.

Donald Trump reviews his first 100 days in office. Watch an all-new episode of #TheSimpsons this Sunday at 8/7c on FOX. pic.twitter.com/rDtvNgusFs

— The Simpsons (@TheSimpsons) April 26, 2017

RIP

Linda Hopkins, 92, show-stopping Tony-winning singer, actress and writer Tim Pigott-Smith, 70, who made a splash on Broadway as the title character in King Charles III

My article in April

History of Infamous Broadway Injuries

MAY

The Broadway League releases statistics for the 2016-17 Broadway season just ended. Revenue made a big jump, even though attendance has dipped slightly. The reason is primarily increased ticket prices. Shows that opened during season: 45 (eight of them not eligible for Tony Awards) Attendance at all shows: 13,270,343 visitors (down about .3 percent from 2015-16) Revenue: $1,449,321,564.64 (up 5.5 percent from 2015-16) Richard Rojas crashes his car in Times Square, killing one person and injuring 20. Police iscovered he had taken phencyclidine before the crash. He told them he wanted to die in a “suicide by cop” and that he had been hearing voices. Alyssa Elsman, 18, a recent high school graduate, was visiting New York from Portage, Michigan. Richard Basciano dies at the age of 92, making it likely that the pornography establishment he owned would close, thus leaving only three porn shops in the theater district, which was once the porn capital of the United States. With reports of as many as four theatergoers in a single night fainting, some vomiting, in reaction to the torture scene on “1984,” the producers announced that nobody under 13 years of age (“born after 2004″) would be admitted to the show. Olivia Wilde, one of the stars, Tweeted that “this is not your grandfather’s 1984.” Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney attacks a grant given to the 2014 climate change show by The Civilians, The Great Immensity, to justify slashing the budget of the National Science Foundation

(l-r) Katrina Lenk and Tony Shalhoub

Although it closed at the Atlantic Theater Off-Broadway in January, The Band’s Visit sweeps most theater awards during this month of theater awards. (It will transfer to Broadway in the Fall.) “Rebecca” producers were awarded $90,000 from publicist Marc Thibedeau, far short of $10.6 million they sought.Both sides claim victory

Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard

Quote of the Month: “I’m sorry. Stop the show. Someone there is taking photos. You must know how distracting and disrespectful that is. Now, we can have a show or we can have a photoshoot.” – Glenn Close

RIP

Dina Merrill, 93, actress and philanthropist William Brohn, 84, one of musical theater’s top orchestrators

My article in May

Power Struggle on Broadway: Escapist vs. Socially Conscious Shows in the 2016–17 Season

JUNE

Gregg Henry (center) and the company in The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Julius Caesar

The Public Theater’s production of Julius Caesar depicted a Trump-like figure in the title role, which prompted many protests, and led to some corporations canceling their funding. Shakespeare companies across the country that had no connection to the Public’s production were also the target of angry protests. “Dear Evan Hansen” won best musical and five other awards at the 71st annual Tony Awards, the most of any show. “Oslo” won best play, “Jitney” best play revival, “Hello, Dolly!” best musical revival. Among the highlights of the ceremony was Ben Platt’s Tony acceptance speech: “Don’t waste any time being anyone but yourself because the things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful.” The 2017 Tony Awards broadcast attracts just six million viewers, a sharp decrease from the 8.7 million who watched in 2016. (To be fair, that Hamilton-soaked show had the highest ratings for the Tony broadcast in 15 years.) The Pearl Theatre Co. files for bankruptcy, and is closing after 33 years. https://youtu.be/PQ04sTZ79HQ

RIP

A.R. Gurney, 86, playwright My 2014 profile of Gurney

My article in June

Politics, Propaganda, and Aesthetics: Sorting through Building the Wall

JULY

NYC’s first ever “cultural plan” will link funding of arts groups to the diversity of their staff and board. 180-page Create NYC plan

Diversity Concerns Prompt ‘Great Comet’ Casting Shakeup

After a social media storm over the musical’s plan to replace Okieriete Onaodowan, Mandy Patinkin declined to assume the lead male role. But Oak has announced he’s still leaving August 13.

It’s a month for immigrants and other foreigners. The Canadian theater company Soulpepper is wrapping up its month-long residence at Signature. The first annual Immigrant Arts in America Summit concluded with a rousing concert and resulted in the formation of an Immigrant Arts Coalition. More than 60 artists, including playwright Annie Baker and director Sam Gold, signed a protest letter to Lincoln Center, trying unsuccessfully to get the cultural institution to cancel a production of the Israeli play “To The End of The Land” as part of the Lincoln Center Festival. They objected to some funding that Israel’s Office of Cultural Affairs in North America gave to this play, an adaptation by two Israeli theater companies of a novel by Israeli novelist David Grossman.

Sara Holdren, new critic at New York

Sara Holdren, a recent graduate of the Yale School of Drama who identifies as a theater director, is hired to be New York Magazine’s new theater critic in July, to replace Jesse Green, who was hired at the New York Times to replace Charles Isherwood. She had written just one professionally published review before she was hired. Lawyers for the actor James Franco sent a cease and desist letter to shut down a two-character play entitled “James Franco and Me” scheduled to run at People’s Improv Theater. Initially, playwright Kevin Broccoli promised to rename the play “_____ and Me” and eliminate all mentions of Franco’s name, but otherwise perform it as is.

RIP

John Heard,71,”Home Alone” Dad, “Sopranos” corrupt cop, four-time Broadway veteran

My article in July

John Leguizamo on his life, career, being a theater nerd, and the coming power of Latinos

AUGUST

All 17 members of The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, including theater director George C. Wolfe and actor John Lloyd Young, resigned in August to protest President Trump’s comments on the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. True or false, the first letter of each paragraph in their resignation letter spelled out the word RESIST. Michael Moore debuts on Broadway in “Terms of My Surrender,” opening in August. After one performance, he takes the audience on buses to an anti-Trump demonstration at Trump Tower. The Fringe makes news by not happening – after 20 years, the company went on “hiatus.” Artistic diretor Elena K. Holy says It WILL return next year, but half the size and preferably in one location.

The new Flea theater

The Flea opens its new $18 million Off-Off Broadway theater with “Inanimate” a play about a woman who has fallen in love with an inanimate object. Lin-Manuel Miranda holds a month long #Ham4all fundraising challenge to raise money for the Immigrants: We Get the Job Done Coalition. Josh Groban’s contribution:

Many challenges accepted! @Lin_Manuel requested Burn! I challenge @thatgracemclean & @brittainashford! #HamForAll https://t.co/3Po3AYhmrS pic.twitter.com/sU1VhtVaiH

— josh groban (@joshgroban) June 29, 2017

Quote of the Month

.@NoahEGalvin interview June,2016. I guess he let NY know: In @DearEvanHansen in Nov https://t.co/thDXj0XIv9 pic.twitter.com/jkbjteT1PD

— New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) August 23, 2017

June,2016. Interview with Noah Galvin, who announces in August, 2017 he will take over the role of Dear Evan Hansen

RIP

Barbara Cook, 89, singer Sam Shepard, 73, playwright, actor Thomas Meehan, 88, librettist Bernard Pomerance, 76 playwright (The Elephant Man) Jerry Lewis, 91, comedian, director, veteran of two Broadway shows. Stuart Thompson,62, producer

My article in August

Antigone in Ferguson: Dramatizing the Divide between Law Enforcement and Community

SEPTEMBER

The Atlantic hurricane storm season hits hard, with 17 named storms, Harvey causing extensive damage to Texas (wreaking havoc in the Houston theater district), Irma to Florida, and Maria to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has still not recovered.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has been a visible supporter of the recovery efforts in the island of his ancestors, writing an article pleading for Puerto Rican aid, promoting fundraising, organizing a song a la “We Are The World” entitled Almost Like Praying (an allusion to the Maria from “West Side Story”)

When the president attacks San Juan mayor Yulín Cruz for her “poor leadership,” and suggesting that the island’s residents are are not doing enough to help themselves, Miranda goes ballistic, tweeting: “You’re going straight to Hell. No long lines for you. Someone will say, ‘Right this way, sir.’ They’ll clear a path….You’re a congenital liar.”

Miranda then took the logical next step when he visited Puerto Rico in November to deliver care packages: He announced his return to his starring role in Hamilton, in a production in Puerto Rico, scheduled to run from January 8 to 27, 2019 at the University of Puerto Rico’s Teatro UPR

The Great Comet closes, a disappointment to its fans, who ask: Could it have been saved? When Josh Groban left the role of Pierre, the producers hired Okieriete “Oak” Onaodowan to replace him. Sales did not improve, so they hired Mandy Patinkin, who was to return to Broadway after 17 years to star. Some protested, starting online, accusing the producers of insensitivity and worse, for cutting Oak’s tenure short, and replacing a black actor with a white actor. Patinkin withdrew. Low box office receipts convinced the products to pull the plug. There is a lesson here, but different people argue over what it is. Barry Diller kills Pier 55, his $250 million planned futuristic performing arts center near The Highline. The following month, with help from the governor, Diller changes his mind, the project continues. In solidarity with the NFL players who have been “taking knee” during the playing of the National Anthem before football games to protest racism, the cast of “Miss Saigon” kneel during curtain call Audra McDonald enters Theatre Hall of Fame, along with Matthew Broderick, The Public’s Oskar Eustis + 5 In her new memoir, Hillary Clinton writes about the healing power of Broadway: “There’s nothing like a play to make you forget your troubles for a few hours,” they wrote. “In my experience, even a mediocre play can transport you. And show tunes are the best soundtrack for tough times. You think you’re sad? Let’s hear what Fantine from Les Misérables has to say about that!”

Iain Armitage

The first theater critic to become a TV star? (surely the first who’s 8) Iain Armitage, who became one of the best known theater critics in the country when he began at age 5 to post his reviews on YouTube, stars in a TV series that’s a prequel to the Big Bang Theory, entitled “Young Sheldon.”

J.K. Rowling

Quote of the Month: After seven books and eight movies, J.K. Rowling thought she was done with Harry Potter. “I genuinely, I didn’t want Harry to go onstage,” Rowling said in the video below. “I felt that I was done.”

RIP

Michael Friedman, 1975 – 2017

Composer Michael Friedman 41 Director Sir Peter Hall, 86 Playwright Albert Innaurato, 70

My article in September

Dramatizing Dystopia

OCTOBER

The New York Times and the New Yorker write articles alleging that movie producer Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed and assaulted young actress for years with impunity. In the two months since then, the list of women accusing Weinstein has grown to more than 80 — and counting. On October 15, actress Alyssa Milano Tweets: “If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me too’ as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.” In the two months since, almost 50 high-profile men have been fired, resigned or experienced similar professional fallout as a result of accusations of sexual misconduct.

Accused of sexual misconduct: top row, left to right, actor Kevin Spacey, producer Brett Ratner, comedian Louis C.K., actor Dustin Hoffman, and bottom row from left, former Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., former “Today” morning co-host Matt Lauer and former “CBS This Morning” co-host Charlie Rose,

It takes two weeks into the #MeToo movement for it to bring down the first prominent figure in the theater industry. In 1986, while they were both in shows on Broadway, Kevin Spacey, then 26, tried to seduce Anthony Rapp, who was then 14 years old, Rapp tells Buzzfeed. Spacey issues a statement that is a non-apology apology, and comes out as a gay man. Ninety-seven theaters in the United Kingdom issue a joint statement on sexual harassment “It is the responsibility of the industry to create and nurture a culture where unacceptable behaviour is swiftly challenged and addressed. …there is no room for sexual harassment or abuse of power in the theatre. Everyone deserves to enjoy a happy, healthy and safe working environment. We will support you to speak out, and we will hear you when you do.” Trump as Lying Theater Critic

While not at all presidential I must point out that the Sloppy Michael Moore Show on Broadway was a TOTAL BOMB and was forced to close. Sad!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 28, 2017

1) You must have my smash hit of a Broadway show confused with your presidency– which IS a total bomb and WILL indeed close early. NOT SAD https://t.co/URgXgzWWVk

— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017

Broadway producer Roland Scahill who admitted scamming friends and others into investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into a nonexistent play about opera star Kathleen Battle has been sentenced to six months in jail. First Hamilton and now Hello, Dolly have broken $1,000 barrier for box office ticket prices

Springsteen in Springsteen on Broadway

Springsteen on Broadway opens

Annie Baker, 2017 MacArthur Fellow, Brooklyn, New York,

Taylor Mac, 2017 MacArthur Fellow,

Playwright Annie Baker and multidimensional theater artist Taylor Mac are among the 24 winners of the 2017 Macarthur Foundation “Genius” Grants. Ellen’s Stardust offers 31 fired union employees their jobs back thanks to settlement with the union Stardust Family and the National Labor Relations Board.

RIP

Robert Guillaume, 89, actor. best known for TV’s Benson, seven-time Broadway veteran

My articles in October

How do you Theatricalize Oppression? Belarus Free Theatre’s Burning Doors What’s It Like Being on the Autism Spectrum? Andrew Duff in Uncommon Sense

NOVEMBER

Telsey & Co. has fired senior casting director Justin Huff, who has cast six Broadway shows (Kinky Boots, Newsies ) amid internal reports of sexual misconduct. Nine women accuse Playwright Israel Horovitz of sexual misconduct Old Vic releases statement about investigation of Kevin Spacey The investigation resulted in 20 personal testimonies shared of alleged inappropriate behaviour carried out by Kevin Spacey during his time as Artistic Director. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio signed the repeal of the hated 91-year old Cabaret Law, which made dancing illegal in bars/eateries without a cabaret license. (Only 104 out of 20,000 + had one) “New Yorkers looking to let loose will no longer have to fear the dance police” – Councilmember Rafael Espinal Jr. Lincoln Center is killing its Lincoln Center Festival, which for 21 summers has presented theater (and dance and music) from around the world. At the Broadway Accessibility Summit, organizers explained that soon, every Broadway theater will have “on-demand” captions for hearing impaired through an app, #GalaPro

The Tony Awards nominating committee has ruled “1984” ineligible for Tony Awards because the production refused to allow the journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, who is a member of the nominating committee, to see the play.

RIP

David Cassidy

David Cassidy, 67, teen heartthrob best known for his starring role in The Partridge Family musical TV series, the son and stepson of two Broadway musical theater stars, and himself a Broadway veteran.

My articles

Will Future Storytelling Include Live Theatre? When the Playwright Has an Agenda

DECEMBER

Suspect Akayed Ullah, 27, sets off bomb in Port Authority bus terminal in Times Square. Four injured. “This was an attempted terrorist attack” – NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio

The Town Hall on sexual harassment in the theater community at the Public Theater

Town Hall on sexual harassment in the theater is held at the Public Theater In an article in the Hollywood Reporter, Anna Graham Hunter accuses Dustin Hoffman of sexually harassing her when she was 17, interning as a production assistant on the set of 1985 TV film ‘Death of a Salesman,’ Five weeks later, Kathryn Rossetter writes in the Hollywood Reporter that Dustin Hoffman sexually harassed her daily while they both were in the cast of the 1984 Broadway revival of Death of A Salesman Hollywood executives announce the creation of the Commission on Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality in the Workplace. Chair: Anita Hill After 47 years as avant-garde nomads, Mabou Mines gets his own theater, in the renovated PS 122 building in the East Village, launching The Mabou Mines Theater with Glass Guignol.. A Christmas Story Live, the seventh live TV musical since the trend began in 2013 with The Sound of Music Live, got the worst rating and among the worst reviews. More popular: Fatwa The Musical: https://youtu.be/pDx3vnvSbm8

Top New York Theater Stories of 2017: Reeling, Resisting and Persisting oc It was a year of shocks. In 2017, we got Hurricane Harvey and Harvey Weinstein, indecency in the White House and terror in Times Square.

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tpaigeme · 5 years

Text

Press Release

Being West Virginia What People Are Saying About The Art of T. Paige "Some people are born to translate life's struggles and beauty into art with every ounce of their being. T. Paige Dalporto is one such person. He brings the heart and soul of West Virginia to life through his music, poetry, acting, and impressionistic photography. He is West Virginia." Annie Lindstrom, Talkupy on Blogtalkradio.com “I loved-loved-loved your song (“Hawks Nest: Tunnel of Death”) for The Hawks' Nest Tunnel film. There is no way that song will NOT be in the film. It is incredible and so are you. Just want you to know how I appreciate you. You rock!” Mari-Lynn Evans Producer of The Appalachians on PBS (6 million viewers) “Just reading the lyrics in your song makes me cry. Dear God, this song is great and you are a genius.” Judy Bonds, Coal River Mountain Watch, winner of the Goldman Prize, “The Nobel for Environmentalists” “This song says what I have tried so hard to put into words. I love it. You have outdone yourself again.” Maria Gunnoe, Coal River Mountain Watch, winner of the Goldman Prize, “The Nobel for Environmentalists” "T. Paige, ‘The Soundtrack of our Movement’ (to save Appalachia’s mountains). One of the most eloquent songwriters around. There’s a real soul to what he sings.” Paul Corbit Brown, President, Keeper of The Mountains Foundation "This is a great song." Denise Giardina, environmentalist, West Virginia gubenatorial candidate, author, “Storming Heaven”, “Saints and Villains” “You’re a poet. And not a bad one.” Don Marsh, the late Senior Editor-in-Chief, The Charleston Gazette "This song makes me proud to know you"....Sandy Wells, Columnist, Innerviews, The Charleston Gazette. "I love your music."...Kate Long, veteran Singer/songwriter, Writer for The Charleston Gazette, WV Public Radio Producer “Keep doing what you’re doing”...Kathy Matea, Nashville Recording Artist "You rock hard for one cat." Todd Burge, singer/songwriter “I listened to your CD till 2 am last night. The first time I heard you play, I couldn’t wait to hear more. I knew I had to wait but eventually would get together with you to hear more. I knew, because of what you were doing...you were different, and I was struck by your uniqueness, passion, and the edginess in your playing and songs you weren’t like the rest. I really believe in your talent and I’ve listened to a lot of music and you rank up near the top.” Marcia Flannnery Griffith, Nashville Recording Artist, Singer Songwriter T. Paige is a folk hero around here. He represents a LOT of music.” Louis Argento, Music Impresario, Charleston W.Va. “The most talented artist in WV.” Bob Henry Baber, Mountain Party candidate for U.S. Senate, Governor “Your music is cool, real...”Dylan meets the Luminaires”...you should put out an album.” Wayne Killius, Nashville record producer, Session Drummer appearing on many hits “A Voice who speaks up for the common folk”...Rebecca Park, Actress, Educator “Dalporto's CD is a real gem...That sound is what makes him stand out among the ranks of West Virginia musicians. Dalporto is well on his way to making a big name for himself in the West Virginia music scene. Gripping lyrics, a classic."Matt Burdette, Editor, Graffiti Magazine “A piece that is at once both a song of defiance and tribute, T. Paige has found his voice. He reminds us that we cannot allow the continuation of the destruction of our beautiful pearl (WV) by out-of-state conglomerates. I think Pete Seeger would be very proud of the ‘passion to the people’ spirit of ‘The Pearl’”. Ross Ballard II, author, audio CD and compilation music CD. “Here is the song that captures so much emotion, so much pain, and so much of the tragic story of what happened on that terrible day when 12 loving, hardworking miners were treated as “items” in a WV coal mine. That day the world got a glimpse of West Virginia’s epic fight against corporate greed.” For Church Bells at Sago...Ross Ballard “Mr. Dalporto is a many-talented artist, writing original songs for the just released audio book of ‘When Miners March’, along with publishing a very nice book that collects some of his poems and photographs. He loaned me a copy of his excellent paperback book, “It’s Still a Wonder Just Being Here” that includes poems written between 1981 to 1999. He took most of the photographs around his home in the upper Kanawha Valley between 1989 to 1999. All of the photos are beautiful, simple, and sincere. I particularly enjoyed the two color photographs of Smithers and Alloy. His poems are likewise beautiful, simple and sincere. Dalporto has traveled around the United States, living in Alaska, Nashville and other locations before returning home to Charlton Heights. He is active in the anti-MTR movement. He just received word that two of his works, “The Pearl” and “Railroad” have been accepted for publication in Blair Mountain Press' new book, due out this October---‘Coal: A Poetry Anthology.’” Steve Fesenmaier, former head of the West Virginia Library Commission Film Services “T. Paige is one of southern WV’s most creative artists. He is a great musician, recently writing and playing several songs for the soundtrack of the audio movie of When Miners March. Dalporto has traveled around the United States, living in Alaska, Nashville and other locations before returning home to Charlton Heights. He is active in the anti-MTR movement.” Steve Fesenmaier, former head of the West Virginia Library Commission Film Services ________________________________________________ For, “The Ballad of Shirley Jones” "This song is about my Uncle Shirley. He died at the age of 18 from working in Hawks Nest." Rita Jones Hanshaw "Horrible tragedy, this song is amazing and totally captures how most of the people who worked in that tunnel must of felt." Tessa Colyer 8 months ago “My grandmother is the daughter of Cecil Jones. She never knew her father as he died along with his brothers before she was born. Until yesterday, her daughters and grandchildren were not really aware of this massive tragedy. Thank you to the people making the songs and films so we have more information about our past. This story MUST be told.” Patricia Daniels rickietube1 "Wow, that's a great job on the song. I have been around the tunnel and I know of 4 locations where victims were buried, so I know what you are singing about. When does the film come out? This should be the theme song for the film." Shiny Shine 2 years ago "My grandfather was Charles Jones. I am so proud that this tragedy is finally coming to light". Cary Curlee 1 day ago "Awesome song! I have my students read Hawk's Nest (a novel about the tunnel) in Intro to Appalachian Studies. I believe this story story needs to be told!" For, “When You Go” "This song makes me proud to know you"....Sandy Wells, The Charleston Gazette. "I try and not cry at work. Beautiful!" Linda Petry Hospice of WV "I love that song." Mike @ [email protected] "I love this song. It is powerful. Anyone that truly cares about people will be affected by this song. You have stayed true to yourself a long long time Paige. It's time your work is recognized. Hopefully this song will be the beginning of something really good for you. You are a wonderful beautiful person Paige. I am so proud to know you and call you my friend...." Bo Webb CRMW "Heartbreaking"...Vivian Stockman OVEC “Oh my, Paige, this will touch everyone who hears it. What a beautiful tribute!” Mary Caputi, MD “Very moving and tender tribute to the fallen Massey miners.” Tony Oppegard, Attorney for Miners’ Rights “Very, very, great song!!! Couldn’t take my eyes off if it! You got a winner there. Thank you for sharing. Loved it.”....Joe Youtube musician, viewer My friends Carrie & MIchael Kline sent me the link to your YouTube video "Buffalo Creek" yesterday. I'm an attorney in Kentucky who has long represented coal miners and their families in safety-related matters. I am also a collector of coal mining songs. I have quite an extensive collection, so I already had your songs "Church Bells at Sago", "The Pearl", "The Ballad of Ma Blizzard" and "Kiss the Hills Goodbye". No offense, but "Buffalo Creek" blows them all away...! What a great song! I love the lyrics, as well as the passion in your voice and picking! Then, I checked out your other videos and found the clever "Massey's Farm" (I've always loved Dylan) and the great "Who Did This?" I love the raw power and emotion of all three of those songs!! You are certainly one of the most talented performers that I have seen on YouTube, and I appreciate you sharing "Standing on my chair applauding. This is perfect. Had to subscribe after watching a bunch of your videos. Cheers." MisterNoHead One of the top 3 songwriters in WV....John Blissard, Founder of Allegheny Echoes Old Time Music Festival and Camp __________________________________________ For: It’s Still a Wonder Just Being Here: Photographs and Poems “Thank you for your lovely book. Both the poems and photographs are haunting and beautiful. I was very touched by your story.” Sylvia Nasar, author of, A Beautiful Mind, Columbia University, New York “This is one for the Mountain State to be proud of...beautifully printed.” Ken Sullivan, Ph.D., Executive Director, W.Va. Humanities Council, Charleston, W.Va. “The delicate way the images inform the writing and vice versa...and the relationship between the two is both personal and striking.” Meredith Coeyman, Aperture Foundation, New York “From big black coal cars that travel to heaven and ride among the stars, to his vivid descriptions of trees and West Virginia landscapes, this is one true example of turning coal dust into a real diamond of a book. The pictures are priceless, as well. Wait till you see where the Raven is sitting. I loved it. A real slice of Appalachia.” Patricia Syner, Educator, Fayette County, W.Va. “Every page is a gem.”..Gail Twigger, Twigger Shaw Design Source, Charleston, W.Va. “This book makes me proud to be a West Virginian. The author demonstrates a true understanding of Appalachian life through his photography and a desire to live life to its fullest through his poetry. An Appalachian Prize”...Amazon.com customer, from Montgomery, W.Va. For the film, Moving Mountains, by Penny Loeb The film, by Pulitzer finalist Penny Loeb, premiered August 21, 2014, to an excited and appreciative audience of 250 in Charleston WV, at the old Capital Theater. “T. Paige was brilliant. An extremely talented actor and artist. I really enjoyed working with him.” Michael Alban actor, Moving Mountains T. Paige! This is unheard of! A first time actor holding his own alongside an accomplished star like Theresa Russell!” Michelle Farrell, Chief Cinematographer, Moving Mountains Awards WV Press Association---Photojournalism WV Writers---Poetry Billboard Magazine---Songwriting Soundtracks Moving Mountains When Miners March with Hazel Dickens Rise Up West Virginia Blood On The Mountain contributor Albums Pearl 2006 T. Paige Collection available late 2019

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