YANJ did put on a great party... Kevin Spacey was inspiring. He spoke on the value and role of the arts in his life growing up in New Jersey- how he met and was mentored by Jack Lemmon who encouraged him (and now us) to "Send the Elevator Down" help others get a leg up - teach, inspire and expose students, children, and adults who are in a different place than you are, lend a helping hand... or like the title of one of my favorite movies, that Kevin happened to star in with Helen Hunt- PAY IT FORWARD. His speech and photos from the evening are on the YANJ website below.
Ball in the House ROCKED THE HOUSE- Those GUYS are amazing- all vocal 5 -Mouth band.. it took me a while the first time I saw them that I realized that their voices were all making all the background bass and instrumental sounds.
And of course there is Susan Boyle, the woman who left us all speechless and teary eyed...
Two other things to note... I was gifted a ticket to see Hair on Broadway with my friend Janice Marsili. Not only was it as wonderful as she promised- flashbacks to my fifth grade dance routine to "Aquarius" -midriff gauge top and bell bottoms and all... Janice and I sang on Broadway!!! When the lights come up the cast invites everyone to dance - in the aisles, on stage...Janice promised her husband David that she would dance and dance we did front and center stage with the cast, belting out "Let the Sun Shine In...."
and... Stephen Fredericks of The Growing Stage a theatre company in NJ is doing a fabulous residency with the students of Red Bank Charter School. I spent an afternoon with him and the school last week as well. Watching 3rd, 4th, & 5th graders perform Shakespeare- many of them ESL was fun and fabulous for all.
Oh, one more went down to VA and DC to visit family and had a fabulous 8 course Morroccan meal at Marakesh.... belly dancing and all.
