News Briefs

ArtsWestchester Names Tom Manisero as Golf Outing Honoree

ArtsWestchester has named Thomas R. Manisero, a longtime supporter of its annual golf outing, as its 2021 Golf Outing honoree. Even though Manisero, one of the organization’s board members since 2014, is an attorney, he has also supported the organization, giving counsel on board legal matters and actively participating as Co-Chair of the golf outing for many years. His participation has helped to transform the event into one of the organization’s most successful fundraisers. Professionally, Manisero lectures, and writes articles and thought leadership pieces on his high-profile cases, some notorious enough for television coverage. The 2021 Ralph Martinelli Memorial Golf Outing will take place on June 14 at Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle. 

 

On-Demand Production of  Love, Linda Filmed in Westchester

The world premiere of a presentation of the Off-Broadway musical Love, Linda: the Life of Mrs. Cole Porter debuts on Cole Porter’s birthday, June 9, exclusively on Broadway On Demand.  The production, which stars American jazz vocalist Stevie Holland as Linda Lee Thomas, was taped at Whippoorwill Hall at North Castle Public Library during the first week of May.  According to Holland, it was the first event to take place in the theater since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scarsdale native added: “We had a terrific experience filming Love, Linda at this gem of a theater – and as a Westchester native, it was additionally nostalgic and heartwarming.” The musical tells the story of Thomas, “the Southern beauty who was the driving force behind legendary songwriter Cole Porter.” The production will stream through June 27. 

 

Hudson Valley Writers Center Appoints New Managing Director

Hudson Valley Writers Center recently announced the appointment of its new Managing Director, Jessie Wright. Wright joins the Center from New York City Ballet, where she served as Senior Manager, Major Gifts. In addition to her strong background in fundraising, she has experience in finance, operations and marketing, which, along with development, will be her key areas of responsibility at the Center. Wright has a B.A. from University of Virginia and an MBA in Arts Administration from University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

 

 

 

 

Poetry “Emerges” Throughout Westchester

Poems are coming up like crocuses. From Yorktown to Yonkers and Peekskill to Port Chester, local poets are emerging from quarantines and lockdowns, inspired by the burgeoning signs of spring and summer.

Beginning in mid-June, established and up-and-coming poets will read their original poems from various locations in a “Emergence Poetry Pop-Ups” video series that will highlight the nooks, crannies and natural beauty of Westchester County.

The ArtsWestchester series and social media campaign, created in collaboration with Hudson Valley Writers Center, is curated by Westchester Youth Poet Laureate Danielle Kohn and Poet Laureate BK Fischer.

Poets will report from all corners of the county and will represent a variety of styles, forms and backgrounds, all sharing in the energy of this season of renewal—energizing activism, awareness and acts of attention. A variety of page and performance poems in the midst of reviving public life will be shared through Labor Day.

To find the latest poet-in-the-spotlight, readers can follow the hashtag #westchesterpoetry, visit ArtsWestchester’s YouTube playlist, and find a featured location on the Google Map, which will represent all submissions by location.

 

800 Words (Acorn)

Another Australian/New Zealand show of pure delight.  A man moves to a town like none other with his two children after the tragic death of his wife.  The escape becomes a new life, and we are treated to the (mostly) delightful neighbors. I say “mostly” because there are also the bad ex-husbands, the bullying teenage girl and the unscrupulous business people.  But luckily there is also the wonderful teacher, art gallery owner and the fellow surfer who becomes a guardian angel… lots of great quirky characters.

Children are born, grow and put their parents through trials and tribulations. People get over their past and fall in love. All seems so familiar, right? Could this be us? Maybe, except for the fact that we don’t live in this gorgeous, intimate, somewhat incestuous, and completely vulnerable place called Weld. So, enough fantasy and stories are there to make this a totally enjoyable series that gets tied with a beautiful bow at the end. However, by the end, we may indeed think of ourselves as a citizen of Weld.  The success of this show is that as a viewer you can be enough of an outsider to peek in, but also be enough of an insider to feel very deeply about the townspeople we are privileged to grow to love.

A version of this article first appeared in the June issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.