Vulture Festival 2021 took place at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
Imagine the most sinister unfolding of events within one series that you possibly can, and we can assure you that Amc+‘s new series Ragdoll will have it beat. Following the events that occur when six people have been murdured in a london flat and are found to have been dismembered and sewn into the shape of one grotesque body, nicknamed the ‘Ragdoll.’ This is a case unlike anyone has ever seen before, especially once the Ragdoll is found suspended from the ceiling of a flat. A team is assembled to get to the bottom of who is behind all of this, made up of the newly reinstated DS Nathan Rose, his best friend and boss, DI Emily Baxter, and the unit’s newest recruit, DC Lake Edmunds. The thriller captures the longstanding effects of trauma that so many people face on day to day basis, and opens up so many important conversations within its thrilling and horrific source material. It’s an edge of your seat type of thriller that many viewers will love. The cast is made up of Henry Lloyd-Hughes (The Irregulars, Killing Eve), Thalissa Teixeira (Too Close, The Musketeers) and Lucy Hale (The Hating Game, Pretty Little Liars), and the three work together to create an immersive and incredible television experience We sat down with Lucy, Thaliasa and Henry to talk all about the series, check out the full conversation below!
In the recent times of Covid Isolation, the once incredibly simple world of children’s friendships has changed into anything but that. With the new world, it seems as if everything is virtual. Pixar’s newest animated film, Ron’s gone wrong, has arrived at the perfect time. Without even trying too, the film itself delves deep into this new narrative that kids today face. Ron’s Gone Wrong tells the story of Barney, a socially awkward middle-schooler and Ron, his new walking, talking, digitally-connected device, which is supposed to be his ‘Best Friend out of the Box.’ Ron’s hilarious malfunctions set against the backdrop of the social media age, launch them into an action-packed journey in which boy and robot come to terms with the wonderful messiness of true friendship. It’s a story that kids of all ages can enjoy, and the immersive animation style creates a beautiful cinematic experience that will touch the heart of any viewer. This idea was brought into action by an incredible team of artists and filmmakers who came together to bring this wonderful project to life. We had the opportunity to sit down with the team behind this amazing film to talk all about the impact of the film, the process, and everything in between. Check out our full conversation below!
The Roxy Hotel in TriBeCa hosted the cast of Black Mafia Family and special guests for an intimate screening of the new Starz series.
The world of bright colors and Instagram photo opportunities have exploded with the opening of SoHo’s Color Factory a few years ago, and the trend has only gotten better with age. Also in SoHo, The Happy Go Lucky Exhibit leaves nothing to the imagination. Sporting a Ball Pit, Pink Pool Room, and even a Diamond Room, there’s nothing here that won’t absolutely dazzle anyone’s Instagram followers. But there’s more to it than that, Happy go lucky celebrates you! The stage is yours to create any experience that one would dream of. Step inside of the diamond place, A complete runway that dazzles with sparkling lights and colors. It’s the perfect outlet for high quality pictures and unmatched experiences.
The exhibit showcases the lively spirit of its SoHo address with its bright colors and unique aspects of each and every room. The Kaleidoscope tunnel is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, sit inside as the colors constantly flash, shapes morph into new shapes, light shifts, and patterns spin. It’s truly a place unlike any other and anyone who sits in it for awhile will be moved and amazed.
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The exhibit contains illusions, magic, optics, and opportunities sure to make anyone’s trip (or regular day) in New York unique and exciting. This event is can’t miss, check it out here!
Music amplifies issues that the youth grapple with. And as generations go on, modernity gains new meanings in the form of new artists embracing new ideals. Up and coming singer GAYLE caters to this in her own incredibly unique way, harboring song lyrics that touch the hearts of so many by telling stories we can all relate to.
After the year and a half+ we all had, we could use a little bit of merriment in our lives. So, without further (much) ado (about nothing) – here are your top 5 reasons to run to see the current production of Merry Wives – this summer’s featured Free Shakespeare in The Park show presented by The Public Theatre.
1.) The diverse and unique perspectives brought to a classic work. Upon being seated, audiences are fully welcomed into the production via a drummer on stage who invites audience members to participate in a series of call and response greetings that are native to various African nations, including Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, among several others. This warm welcome brings us into the world of modern day South Harlem and sets up the stage perfectly for this witty and fun production of Merry Wives, which is a spin on Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor adapted by Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Associate Art Director/Resident Director Saheem Ali. The choices made regarding this production make it clear that this is more than just your average Shakespeare in the park show – this summer’s production is here to honor Black joy, queerness, differences, similarities, heritages of all sorts, and the city itself.
2.) Physical comedy. Mark my words, there is no greater joy than seeing excellent physical comedy in a Shakespeare production. A good physical performance can take the antiquated words from the page and transport them centuries into the future. Overall, the performances were very strong – it was clear that the cast trusted each other and celebrated heritage, the Bard, and each other on that stage. I would be remiss if I didn’t shout out Jacob Ming-Trent, who portrays Falstaff in one of the most innovative and dynamic ways I’ve ever seen – perfectly adapted for a modern audience, but remaining true to iconic joker himself. Comedy gold was shining thru when Madam Nkechi Ford (Emmy nominee, Susan Kelechi Watson) and Madame Ekua Page (Tony nominee, Pascale Armand) play Falstaff’s game and meet him with shenanigans of their own in their element, heightening the confusion and making the encounter all the more enjoyable for the audience.
3.) Lights! Sets! Choreography! Costumes! Where to start. The craftsmanship of Merry Wives was all around outstanding. As mentioned earlier, from the get go, the audience is fully immersed in the world of this contemporary story. The scenic design by Beowulf Boritt and costume design by Dede Ayite focus on the small, but necessary details that make this production realistic and relatable such as Black Lives Matter signage all around the neighborhood and decorated iPhone cases that were used by characters to capture hysterical moments. At the end of the show there, we are transported into a “dream-like” sequence, which utilizes costumes and design in an extremely dynamic way that derives elements from various African cultures, making the scene impactful and emotional not only for Falstaff, but also for the entire theatre. Speaking of the “dream-like” scene, the choreography (by Darrell Grand Moultrie) and fight direction (by Rocío Mendez) were powerful vehicles for physical storytelling throughout the duration of the 110 minute show. The use of movement truly propelled the story in ways that just dialogue did not, we felt more connected to the characters and the emotional journeys they were going on.
4.) Theatre, but make it socially distanced (and vaccinated). Re-acclimating to “normal” life is a challenge in its own right. In addition to being an outdoor production (which is a staple of Shakespeare in the Park whether during a pandemic or not), The Public is requiring proof of vaccination for full capacity seating areas. Upon walking into the Delacorte Theatre, you must wear a mask until you get to your seat and those in physically distanced seating areas do not need to provide proof of negative testing, but those non-vaccinated guests must remain masked at all times. I’ve seen a few productions back at this point and this was by far among the safest I felt. A huge thank you to The Public for taking the initiative to put the safety of so many New Yorkers first.
5.) Merry Wives highlights the beauty of New York City in all its glory! Free Shakespeare in the Park has been a New York City tradition since 1954 and it’s one of the few that continues to strive to make professional theatre relevant to new generations and widely available to diverse audiences. This production is a love letter to New York and shows the world that we’re back and merry, baby!
Free Shakespeare in the Park’s production of Merry Wives as presented by The Public Theatre, is playing at the Delacorte Theatre (81 Central Park West) through September 18th, 2021. For more information, please visit: https://publictheater.org/productions/season/2021/sitp/merry-wives/
Any new parent knows that navigating the brand new adventure they’re embarking on is one filled with many whirlwinds. Award winning actress Ashley Tisdale knows this for certain. The High School Musical Actress welcomed her daughter, Jupiter Iris French with husband Christopher French back in March.
The movie ‘Lorelei’ directed and written by Sabrina Doyle.
Nick Barrotta plays Allan in Tyler Perry’s scripted award-winning drama “The Oval.”