Alexis Semevolos-Velazquez and ensemble in a scene from the show. Photo from Engeman Theater
Sofia Jarmel and Vincent Ortega in a scene from the show. Photo from Engeman Theater
Alexis Semevolos-Velazquez in a scene From the show. Photo from Engeman Theater
A scene from 'On Your Feet!'. Photo from Engeman Theater
Victor Souffrant and Alexis Semevolos-Velazquez in a scene from the show. Photo courtesy of Engeman Theater
Victor Souffant and ensemble in a scene from the show. Photo from Engeman Theater
A scene from 'On Your Feet! . Photo courtesy of Engeman Theater
By Rita J. Egan
Before Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine filled the airwaves with their Latin-inspired pop music and heart-wrenching ballads. On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan is now playing at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport, and local theatergoers can discover the Estefans’ story through Aug. 28.
The theater was nearly sold out on July 16, press opening night. The audience members were ready to be entertained and were not disappointed. Director Dana Iannuzzi and the Engeman cast skillfully share the inspiring tale of achieving the American Dream through infectious music and dynamic dance numbers.
The musical by Alexander Dinelaris takes place from 1975 to 1991 and highlights the early days of the Estefans’ climb to fame. It also incorporates a few flashbacks to even earlier periods. The show ran on Broadway from 2015 to 2017.
The day Emilio, of the Miami Latin Boys, visited the home of Gloria’s family was the moment that musical history began. The husband-and-wife team’s first encounter led to chart-topping hits such as “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “Get on Your Feet,” “Anything for You,” “Coming Out of the Dark,” and more. The songs are incorporated throughout the story, along with “If I Never Got to Tell You,” which was written for the musical. Each one is perfectly placed, whether it’s an upbeat number to mark a happy time in the couple’s life or a ballad to remember their adversities. The songs are not always sung by the Gloria character which puts a new spin on some well known tunes.
There are moments during the musical that will leave the audience teary-eyed as they are taken back in time to when young Gloria misses her father, who is fighting in Vietnam. A few years later, he is battling multiple sclerosis, and she helps care for him. There are also flashbacks to when Emilio’s and Gloria’s families escaped Cuba. The couple’s story would not be complete without including the bus crash in 1990, when Gloria was left with a broken back and unable to walk for months. She battled the fight of her life to get back on stage, which she did at the 1991 American Music Awards.
Alexis Semevolos-Velazquez is a stunning Gloria Estefan. She has mastered the singer’s alto voice range, where at times, one may feel as if they hear Estefan herself. Semevolos-Velazquez delivers on every number, especially during “Coming Out of the Dark.” The song marks the climax of the musical as Gloria takes to the stage at the AMAs. During the musical, the actress seamlessly goes from a sweet, young Gloria to a determined woman who will not let anything stand in her way.
Victor Souffrant is so convincing as the determined and focused Emilio Estefan that when he first sings during “I See Your Smile,” it’s hard to believe that the sweet, soothing vocals are coming from him, but they are. He sings beautifully with Semevolos-Velazquez and in Act 2 with Nicole Paloma Sarro, who plays Gloria’s mother, during the tearjerker “If I Never Got to Tell You.”
While the audience may want to dislike Sarro as Gloria Fajardo, the jealous mother who tries to keep her daughter from pursuing her musical dreams, one just can’t. She not only shines when she sings with Souffrant but also during “Mi Tierra” in the first act. Carol Beaugard, as Gloria’s grandmother Consuelo, and Gabriela Moscoso, who plays the singer’s sister Rebecca Fajardo, are both endearing. Moscoso sings backup on many of the songs and joins Semevolos-Velazquez on “Anything for You.” It’s evident her strong vocals are why she was chosen as Semevolos-Velazquez’s understudy, and she won’t miss a beat if she needs to step in as Gloria for a performance.
Ryan Morales plays Gloria’s father, Jose Fajardo, and it’s a delight to hear his bari-tenor singing voice during “When Someone Comes Into Your Life,” a duet with Semevolos-Velazquez. The song is bound to have many reaching for their tissues.
Sofia Jarmel is precious as young Gloria, and her singing voice stands out, even in a cast where she is one of the youngest. Luca Silva plays Nayib Estefan, a young Emilio and a couple of ensemble parts. The actor is adorable, and while he only has a few lines, his timing is perfect.
What else is perfectly done during On Your Feet! is the storyline covers the adversities in the Estefans’ lives without turning too somber. In addition to the infectious sounds of the Miami Sound Machine to keep audience members’ spirits lifted, there are some well-timed comedic lines. David De Almo, Phil the record label executive, especially had people laughing in their seats. The whole ensemble is a pleasure to watch.
Conductor Erika R. Gamez and the band nail the brass- and percussion-driven songs, while choreographer Sandalio Alvarez has crafted energetic, Latin-inspired dances. The costumes designed by Cecilia X. Gutierrez help to capture the various years depicted in the musical, and Gloria’s concert outfits are eye-catching.
Make sure to bring your tissues and dancing shoes because the Engeman’s production of the Estefans’ story will pull at your heartstrings and have you on your feet dancing before the night is over.
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport, presents “On Your Feet” through Aug. 28. Tickets are $80 on Saturday evenings and $75 all other performances. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
Ursula is just dying to see you in her lair this weekend! Join the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main Street, Smithtown for the final performances of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” on Saturday, July 23 or Sunday, July 24 at 2 p.m.
Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr.is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages.
With music by eight-time Academy Award winner, Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.”
Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. All seats are $25. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport will present RENT School Edition on Monday, Aug. 1 and Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. The show is performed entirely by The John W. Engeman Studio’s audition-only elite Select Players.
The show, based loosely on Puccini’s La Boheme, follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.
Directed by Andrew McCluskey and choreographed by Becky Kalman, the cast features Lizzie Becker, Aidan Bento, Logan Borre, Kieran J. Brown, Richard Campbell, Gabe Cruz, Lizzie Dolce, Daniella Falco, Greta Frankonis, Giuliana Gallone, Finn Gilbert, Ariana Glaser, Tara Griffin, Jenna Hammelman, Derek Hough, Max Lamberg, Madison Loscalzo, Alexander Mahr, Angelina Miller, Mia Mirabile, Alexandra Mitnick, Zachary Podair, Madelyn Quigley, Samantha Regenbogen, Ari Spiegel, Jacqueline Winslow and Ray Zerner.
Tickets are $20 per person. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
Jeffrey Sanzel in a scene from 'Every Brilliant Thing.' Photo by Steve Ayle/Showbizshots.com
By Heidi Sutton
You’re seven years old. Your mother is in the hospital. Your father said she’s “done something stupid.”
Thus begins the remarkable one-man play, Every Brilliant Thing. Written by Duncan MacMillan with Jonny Donahoe, the story starts in 1973 as a young boy finds out his mother has attempted suicide. In response, he begins to make a list of everything brilliant about the world, everything worth living for — 1. Ice cream, 2. Water fights, 3. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV, 4. The color yellow, 5. Things with stripes. When his mother returns from the hospital, he leaves the list on her pillow in hopes it will help her heal. She corrects his spelling and gives it back to him.
Jeffrey Sanzel in a scene from ‘Every Brilliant Thing.’ Photo by Steve Ayle/Showbizshots.com
After his mother’s second suicide attempt ten years later, he brings the list out again and continues to add to it until it takes a life of its own. He leaves post-its all over the house in another attempt to reach out to her, to show her that life is truly worth living. When he falls in love with his future wife Sam, the list becomes a gift for her. When he struggles with his own depression, he rediscovers the list one final time until it reaches one million and helps him heal.
Now, in association with Response Crisis Center, the show heads to Theatre Three’s Ronald F. Peierls Theatre on the Second Stage for its Long Island premiere. Under the direction of Linda May, the show stars Theatre Three’s Executive Artistic Director Jeffrey Sanzel in an incredible performance.
The cabaret-style show recruits members of the audience to join Sanzel on stage to tell the story — the veterinarian who put his childhood dog Bark Twain to sleep — the character’s first experience with death; the father who prefers music over talking; and girlfriend Sam, who he meets in college.
Others participate from their seats— his guidance counselor Mrs. Patterson, his favorite college professor — people who have made a profound difference in his life. Still others, when prompted, call out brilliant things from his growing list — 23. Mighty Mouse, 24. Spaghetti with meatballs, 25. Wearing a cape, 317. Stars Wars, 319. Laughing so hard you shoot milk out of your nose, 731. hammocks, 993. Having dessert as your main course.
Jeffrey Sanzel in a scene from ‘Every Brilliant Thing.’ Photo by Steve Ayle/Showbizshots.com
Sanzel’s performance is, for lack of a more fitting word, brilliant. His ability to improvise is impressive and his presentation is flawless. The audience, which he draws into the story, hangs on his every word from start to finish. The result is an intimate, funny, sad, emotional, heart-warming and cathartic experience that ends much too soon.
While he works the room, Sanzel pauses often to addresses the audience about suicide prevention and depression:
“It’s important to talk about things — particulary things that are hardest to talk about.”
“It is common for children of suicides to blame themselves. It’s natural.”
“In order to live in the present we have to imagine a future that’s better than our past — because that’s what hope is.”
And the final — “I have some advice for anyone contemplating suicide. It’s really simple advice. Don’t do it — things get better. They might not always get brilliant, but they get better.”
1092. Conversation, 2000. Coffee, 2005. Vinyl records, 9995. Falling in love, One Million. Listening to a record for the first time, turning it over in your hands, placing the needle down … and then sitting and listening while reading through the sleeve notes.
The list (and show) will change the way you see the world. Don’t miss this one.
Photo from Response Crisis Center
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Every Brilliant Thing every Sunday at 3 p.m. through Aug. 28. Running time is one hour with no intermission. All seats are $20 with 50% of the proceeds benefitting the Response Crisis Center. Staff members from the Center will be at each performance to answer questions and provide information. Audiences are encouraged to fill out their own “brilliant things” on provided Post-It notes in the lobby, which will be on display throughout the show’s run. For more information or to order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
CONTENT WARNING: Although the play balances the struggles of life while celebrating all that is “truly brilliant” in living each day, Every Brilliant Thing contains descriptions of depression, self-harm, and suicide. It is recommended that only audience members 14 and older attend. If you or somebody you know is struggling, call Response 24/7 at 631-751-7500 or the National Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Sebastian (Derek Hough) serenades Prince Eric (Brody Hampson) and Ariel (Dori Ahlgrim) in 'Kiss the Girl'. Photo from SPAC
By Heidi Sutton
This summer, families will have the opportunity to swim under the sea with Ariel and all her friends as the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts presents one of Disney’s most beloved classics, The Little Mermaid Jr.
From the moment you step into the historic theater you know you are in for a real treat. Decorated with shells and coral, the lobby beckons visitors to an afternoon of live theater as little Ariels and fellow princesses make their way to their seats. The set is equally impressive, with long blue panels affixed with coral and netting representing the kingdom of Atlantica. Once the show begins, every flawless scene delights with wonderful acting, singing and dancing by a cast of 20 young budding actors. Sitting in the balcony, I kept thinking how this could easily be a main stage production.
Ariel (Dori Ahlgrim) sings ‘Part of Your World’. Photo from SPAC
With music by Alan Menken, book by Doug Wright and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, the show, which opened last Saturday afternoon, begins with the seafaring number “Fathoms Below” and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Directed and choreographed by Ryan Nolin, with musical direction by Robbie Torres, the story centers around Princess Ariel, the youngest mermaid daughter of King Triton, who is obsessed with the world above and longs to trade in her fish tail for a pair of legs, much to the dismay of her father.
When she falls in love with Prince Eric, Ariel strikes a bargain with her aunt, the evil sea witch Ursula, to become human. There is a catch however — Ariel must give up her voice and Eric must fall in love with her in three days or she will lose her soul forever. With the help of her best friend Flounder, the court composer Sebastian the crab, and a seagull named Scuttle, Ariel sets off to follow her heart. But things do not go as planned.
Ariel (Dori Ahlgrim) and Prince Eric (Brody Hampson) in a scene from the play. Photo from SPAC
Dori Ahlgrim is perfectly cast as the free spirited Ariel. With a beautiful singing voice, her solo, “Part of Your World” brings the house down. As Prince Eric, Brody Hampson holds his own with the endearing number “One Step Closer” where he teaches a mute Ariel how to dance.
Molly Sanges is wonderful as Ariel’s best friend Flounder and Gianna Oppedisano is a delightful Scuttle in “Human Stuff.”
Special mention must also be made of Derek Hough as the crabby crustacean Sebastian who shines in the big dance numbers “Under the Sea” with mermaids and jellyfish and “Kiss the Girl” in a race against time as the sun goes down.
The big number ‘Under the Sea’. Photo from SPAC
Other standout performances include Jenna Hammelman as the heartless Ursula who belts out a superb rendition of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” and Gabby Blum and Kieran Brown as the slippery slithering electric eels Jetsam and Flotsam who show up when least expected to create havoc. In the second act, Luke Hampson, French accent and all, gives a hilarious performance as Chef Louis in “Les Poissons.”
Costumes by Liz Honig are on point, from the black and white sailors costumes to the bright, bold and sparkly mermaid outfits. The set, along with King Triton’s kingdom, switches flawlessly from Ariel’s grotto to Ursula’s lair to Prince Eric’s castle. Kudos to the set production team. As an added bonus, a large screen in the background changes with the scenery and adds a third dimension to the story.
Members of the cast will stay after the show for photos and shell wands and tiaras are sold in the lobby. Proceeds from the merchandise will benefit the restoration of the historic theater.
The Cast: Brody Hampson, Ari Spiegel, Ryan Romanelli, Derek Hough, Marilena Castoro, Selin Kazdal, Hannah Waller, Alia Romanelli, Emmerson Lebrecht, Nicole Sasbon, Molly Sanges, Dori Ahlgrim, Gianna Oppedisano, Gabby Blum, Kieran Brown, Jenna Hammelman, Luke Hampson, Allison Heidrich, Michael Gualtieri and Alexa Oliveto
The Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr. through July 24. Costumes are encouraged. Running time is one hour and 30 minutes. Tickets are $25 per person. For more information or to order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson is currently holding auditions for three non-equity actors-singers for full time positions for the 2022-23 season.
The Company contract is a ten-month (September – June) agreement in which the actors work exclusively for Theatre Three. Company members may have non-theatre related work that does not interfere with rehearsals and performances.
Actors will be featured in Theatre Three’s six in-house Children’s Theatre productions, the 38th annual production of A Christmas Carol, and select roles in Theatre Three’s Educational Touring productions (the musicals Stand Up! Stand Out! The Bullying Project and Class Dismissed: The Bullying Project; as well as the play From the Fires: Voices of the Holocaust). Additionally, there will be participation in the workshopping of a new touring production, How Does That Make You Feel?
Children’s Theatre roles in the original musicals A Kooky Spooky Halloween, Barnaby Saves Christmas, The House That Jack Built, Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz, The Adventures of Peter Rabbit, and Cinderella will be assigned throughout the season.
Most roles require performers who appear late teens to late 20’s.
Salary is $340/week, with a completion bonus of $1,000. There are opportunities for Mainstage roles for additional compensation. These are non-Union positions. Performers must provide their own housing and transportation.
Theatre Three encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages to submit.
Please Note: THEATRE THREE requires all staff—including performers—to be fully vaccinated.
Auditions. Prepare a song of your choice (bring sheet music in the proper key; accompanist provided). Reading will be from sides. Positions will be auditioned until filled.
Please contact Executive Artistic Director Jeffrey Sanzel at (631) 928-9202 or email [email protected] for further information or to schedule an audition. Video will be accepted for preliminary auditions.
Role Breakdown for Educational Touring Programs and A Christmas Carol:
Stand Up! Stand Out! The Bullying Project
Using famous children’s stories (Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, The Three Little Pigs, and The Wizard of Oz), the musical teaches lessons in identifying and dealing with bullying.
Olivia (any gender) – the most popular student in school
Peg (any gender) – well-liked and finding her own voice
Nellie (any gender) – new student trying to get along
Tyler & Jayden (any gender) – class members
Class Dismissed: The Bullying Project
The musical follows a year at Harrison Central School, with a focus on social interactions and a range of bullying, including physical, isolation, and cyber bullying.
Logan (female-identifying) – queen bee of Harrison Central School
Kaitlin (female-identifying) – Logan’s sometimes best friend
Julie (female-identifying) – new student at Harrison Central School, trying to find a place
Victor (male-identifying) – popular bully with a rough home life
Tommy (male-identifying) – an outsider trying to survive
From the Fires: Voices of the Holocaust
Spanning 1937 to 1945, this is the story of Rachel Gold, a Berlin teenager, and her experiences as a Jewish person during one of the darkest episodes in world history.
Rachel (female-identifying) – a Jewish teenager in Berlin and the center of the story
Evy (female-identifying) – a Jewish teenager and Rachel’s best friend
The American Soldier (male-identifying) & various roles – the play is seen through the eyes of the American Soldier; other roles include a non-Jewish shopworker, various guards, etc.
A Christmas Carol
THEATRE THREE’s award-winning production is an original adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic story.
Belle and others (female-identifying) – Young Scrooge’s fiancé as well as a range of supporting roles
The Ghost of Christmas Past/Fred’s wife (female-identifying) – the first spirit to visit Scrooge; Scrooge’s nephew’s wife, as well as a range of supporting roles
On any given day here in America, roughly 130 people die by suicide. Countless more are actively struggling with poor self-esteem, depression or self-harm. If it’s not you, then it’s likely someone you know and love. No one is immune. One bright spot: It’s also becoming more common to talk openly about mental health. More people are going to therapy or reaching out for help in other ways.
This summer, Theatre Three in Port Jefferson will present eight performances of an intimate, moving and funny one-man play called Every Brilliant Thing. The protagonist, a middle-aged man played by Jeffrey Sanzel, takes the audience along as he recalls his mother’s mental illness and multiple attempts at suicide, along with their impact on his own wellbeing.
Audience participation is a large part of ‘Every Brilliant Thing.’
What’s funny about that? Well, after his mother’s first attempt when he was seven years old, the young narrator sets out to make a list of everything in life that’s brilliant – like eating ice cream, or peeing in the ocean without getting caught. Some items on the list come with silly memories that put the honest, pure heart of a little kid on full display. And as he grows, so does the list. The hour-long show is equal parts heartbreaking and uplifting.
Sanzel, the theater’s executive artistic director, said he first discovered the show thanks to lighting director Robert Henderson.
“Robert attended the Utah Shakespeare Festival several years ago and bought the script [for this show] for me to read, just because he thought I’d enjoy it,” Sanzel recalled. “I thought it was a beautiful piece of writing, though I didn’t intend to do a production of it.”
Some time later, he bought a second copy of the script as a gift to his friend, director and actor Linda May.
“When I read the show, I said to Jeffrey, ‘Not only do I love this, but I think we need to do it, and we should do it together.’ Everything came together very quickly from there, and I feel like it was meant to be,” May said.
Every Brilliant Thing was originally set to open in July 2020, only to be tabled by the pandemic. May said the extra time has allowed them to delve much deeper into the show and its character.
Jeffrey Sanzel stars in the one-man show, ‘Every Brilliant Thing,’ on Theatre Three’s Second Stage through Aug. 28. Photo by Steven Uihlein/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
“Jeffrey is very decisive and businesslike as a director, but I’ve had the opportunity to see a more vulnerable side of him as an actor,” she said. “This unnamed narrator really divulges personal parts of his life, and I knew that Jeffrey could bring that sensitivity and communicate how important it is to bring the issue of suicide into the open, without shame.”
The show relies on some audience participation, with showgoers making brief appearances as significant people in the narrator’s memories — his father, a counselor, a young woman — and reading items from “the list” from Post-It notes they’re given on arrival. The resulting dynamic is personal and emotional, and each performance will have its own unique variations.
“I have to admit that audience participation isn’t my favorite thing, but it’s brilliantly woven into the fabric of the piece,” Sanzel said. “It’s very funny and balances out the darker elements, while remaining sensitive and respectful of the topic … In fact, this is probably the best play I’ve ever read on the subject of depression. It’s a common topic of discussion in theater, but this was captured in such a unique way.”
Theatre Three has partnered with Response Crisis Center of Long Island for this production. Founded in 1971 by volunteers after a suicide attempt at Stony Brook University, the center is now a 24/7 local hotline and chat service for people in crisis. They also function as a backup center for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, taking more than 5,000 additional calls, chats and texts from them each month.
“We want to give people the support they need and help them to stay safe. It’s hard to problem solve during a crisis situation — you can get a sort of tunnel vision and feel helpless. Talking to someone can help create distance from those feelings,” said Meryl Cassidy, the center’s executive director. “There’s tremendous relief that comes in sharing your story, having someone take the time to listen and help come up with a plan for safety.”
Sanzel approached Cassidy about using the performance to lessen stigma and shine a light on local resources.
Cassidy said that it was important to vet the play first to ensure its message was appropriate and accurate. While she had never heard of the play before, it was well-known to colleagues at the American Association of Suicidology, who were thrilled to endorse the production.
“People are afraid to say the word suicide or disclose thoughts of suicide, both because of stigma and fear of repercussions. But open and honest conversation about suicide saves lives — it’s so important to be able to speak frankly about what you’re feeling and know there are people you can talk to,” Cassidy said.
Half of all gross ticket sales will directly benefit Response Crisis Center. Staff members from the center will be at each performance to answer questions, provide information and offer a listening ear.
Audiences are encouraged to fill out their own “brilliant things” on provided Post-It notes, which will be on display throughout the show’s run — a constantly growing collection of reasons why life is worth living.
“It’s not only a lovely hour of theater — funny, sweet and poignant — but there’s something to take away from this show, and that’s being able to see people in crisis in a different way, without judgment,” May said. “If people walk away feeling more compassionate or less judgmental, or if someone finds the courage to reach out for help, then it’s a success.”
Every Brilliant Thing will run at 3 p.m. on Sundays from July 10 through Aug. 28 at Theatre Three, 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson. Performances are held downstairs on the second stage. Tickets are $20. For more information, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. Learn more about Response Crisis Center by visiting www.responsecrisiscenter.org.
Note: Although the play balances the struggles of life while celebrating all that is “truly brilliant” in living each day, Every Brilliant Thing contains descriptions of depression, self-harm, and suicide. The show briefly describes attempted suicides and death by suicide. The show is recommended for ages 14 and up, with your own comfort level in mind.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available 24/7 at 631-751-7500 or the National Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Save the date! Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson will hold open auditions for its upcoming production of “Guys and Dolls” on Tuesday, July 12 and Thursday, July 21 at 7 p.m. Seeking strong singer/actor/dancers ages 16 and older. Bring headshot/resume if available. Callbacks TBD. Performances will be held from Sept. 27 to Oct. 22. Please note: all actors must be fully vaccinated. For more information, visit www.theatrethree.com/auditions.html
CRUISE NIGHT AT THE SHOPPES
Check out the fine array of classic cars at the Shoppes at East Wind's Cruise Night on June 22.
Thursday June 16
Stony Brook Village Walking Tour
The Ward Melville Heritage Organization presents a Secrets of Stony Brook Village Walking Tour at 11:50 a.m. and again at 3:50 p.m. Hear some newly uncovered stories while strolling through the picturesque village. $10 per person. Advance registration required by calling 751-2244.
Family Festival
St. Philip & James School, 1 Carow Place, St. James presents its annual Family Festival today from 6 to 10 p.m, June 17 and 18 from 6 to 10:30 p.m. and June 29 from 5 to 9 p.m. with carnival rides from Newton Shows, games, food, refreshments. Questions? Call 584-5454.
Historical Walking Tour
The Huntington Historical Society presents a Historical Walking Tour titled The Centers of Controversy from 6 to 9 p.m. Led by Town of Huntington Historian, Robert C. Hughes, the tour will head east from the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building to visit sites in central Huntington that gave rise over the centuries to scandals, lawsuits, and other controversies.This tour will terminate at Six Harbors Brewing Company.$25 per person. Advance registration required by emailing [email protected] or by calling 427-7045.
Atelier online lecture
Calling all fantasy fans! The Atelier at Flowerfield in St. James will offer a free online lecture titled Dungeons & Dragons: Digital Painting” at 7 p.m. Presenter James Beihl will take you through the history of D & D art and its impact on the broader fantasy art movement today along with a real time demo of a dragon in oil inspired by the work of artists such as Todd Lockwood and Matt Stawicki. To register, visit www.theatelieratflowerfield.org or call 631-250-9009.
Friday June 17
Family Festival
See June 16 listing.
Summer Paint Night
Start summer early with a Summer Paint Night at the Heritage Center, 633 Mount Sinai-Coram Road, Mt. Sinai at 6 p.m. A master artist from Yaymaker Long Island will provide step-by-step instructions for creating your own Long Island Lighthouse masterpiece. Socialize and enjoy light refreshments while you paint and support North Shore Youth Council’s recreation and enrichment programs for youth. Tickets are $40 per person, for teens and older. To register, visit www.nsyc.com.
An Evening of Jazz
The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave.,Stony Brook, will be welcoming the Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra at 7 p.m. Hyeseon Hong is a Korean jazz composer and arranger whose music creates a dialog between her Korean cultural heritage and the culture of the west. The concert is part of the Olivia & Harlan Fischer Concert Series. Tickets are $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children. To order, visit www.thejazzloft.org.
Saturday June 18
Family Festival
See June 16 listing.
Kings Park Day
Come on down! The Kings Park Chamber of Commerce presents the 44th annual Kings Park Day at the Library Municipal Parking Lot, 1 Main St., Kings Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy a craft fair with over 100 vendors, international food court, live music, dance performances, karate demonstrations, kids activities, rides, raffles and more. Call 846-1459.
Strawberry Festival/Tag Sale
Who doesn’t love strawberries? Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 716 Route 25A, Rocky Point will be hosting their annual Strawberry Festival/ Church Tag Sale 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring a huge indoor church tag sale, great gift basket raffles, delicious local strawberry treats, and BBQ. Fun filled outdoor activities for children and adults. Questions? Call 744-9355
Freedom Day Celebration
The Town of Brookhaven will hold its annual Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration at the historic Longwood Estate, 205 Longwood Road in Ridge from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.. This year’s event is in recognition of the 157th anniversary of the end of slavery in 1865. Included is a BBQ picnic, games, music, dancing and activities for the entire family. For TOB residents only. For more information and to make a reservation, go to www.BrookhavenNY.gov/Juneteenth. Call 451-2627 for more information.
Farmers & Artisans Marketplace
Farmingville Residents Association hosts a Farmers, Artisans and Friends Marketplace at Triangle Park, corner of Horseblock Road and Woodycrest Drive, Farmingville today, Aug. 20 and Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring vendors selling local produce, handmade and homemade items and flea market treasures and live music. Call 260-7411.
Butterfly and Bird Festival
Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown presents a Bird and Bird Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shop at Sweetbriar’s Wildlife and Craft Fair for a day of fun and education and celebrate the grand opening of the Center’s enclosed Butterfly House with musical entertainment, crafts, games, face painting, animal shows. Food and refreshments are available for purchase. $25 per carload. Tickets will be available at gate, bring cash if possible (no bills over $50). Call 979-6344.
Spring into Summer concert
The Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council hosts a Spring into Summer Concert at the First United Methodist Church, 603 Main St., Port Jefferson at 7:30 p.m. featuring Tricycle: the Fortier Family Band performing in an original song writers circle with special guests. Advance sale tickets only are $25, $10 students at www.gpjac.org. For more information, call 473-5220.
Voices of Walt Whitman concert
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Church, 175 Wolf Hill Road, Huntington Station will present The Voices of Walt Whitman Reunion Concert from 8 to 9:30 p.m., an evening of choral music featuring an alumni choir of over 60 graduates from 2012-2021. Tickets are $10 per person. Visit eventbrite.com to purchase.
Sunday June 19
Family Festival
See June 16 listing.
Father’s Day at the LIM
In honor of Father’s Day, the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook offers free admission to fathers and grandfathers from noon to 5 p.m. Spend the afternoon with Dad exploring the museum’s latest exhibit, Atoms to Cosmos: The Story of Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the state of the art Carriage Museum. Call 751-0066.
Juneteenth Walking Tour
The Northport Historical Society presents two Black History of Northport Walking Tours today at 2 p.m. and again at 3:45 p.m. in honor of Juneteenth. Join NHS Museum Educator/Researcher Ceylan Swenson on a tour that will offer attendees a new perspective on familiar locations and tell the stories of the generations of Black families who lived in and around Northport. Tour starts from the 9/11 Memorial in Northport Village Park. Tickets are $10 per person, children ages 8 to 14 are free. To register, call 757-9859 or visit www.northporthistorical.org.
Jazz in the Afternoon
Stony Brook Community Church, 216 Christian Ave., Stony Brook will present a fundraiser concert, Jazz in the Afternoon, featuring the Jazz Loft’s Gospel Road Band and its president/founder, Tom Manuel, at 3 p.m. Suggested donation is $20 general admission and $10 students. Hor d’oeuvres and dessert to follow. For sponsorships, tickets or other information, call 751-0574.
LISCA Spring Concert
St. James Roman Catholic Church, 429 Rte. 25A, East Setauket hosts a Spring Concert by the Long Island Symphonic Choral Society at 5 p.m. Program will include Durufle’s “Requiem,” Brahms’s “Alto Rhapsody,” Beach’s“Three Shakespeare Choruses” andLysenko’s “Prayer for Ukraine.” A reception with light refreshments will follow. Tickets are $25 general admission, $20 seniors, free for students at www.lisca.org or at the door.
Monday June 20
No events listed for this day.
Tuesday June 21
United Nations Day of Yoga
The Meadow Club, 1147 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station hosts the 7th annual United Nations Day of Yoga from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event will include a variety of yoga classes for all ages and levels, meditation sessions, candle lighting ceremony, vendors, guest speakers, raffle baskets, vegan vegetarian buffet (fee) and more. Bring your own yoga mat or purchase one at the event. Registration is required by visiting www.LearnwithMasters.com.
Wednesday June 22
Memorial Garden Ceremony
Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth will host the Town of Huntington’s 11th Annual Anne Frank Memorial Garden Ceremony in the Anne Frank Memorial Garden at Arboretum Park on Wilmington Drive (between Threepence Drive and Roundtree Drive) in Melville at 4:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be Gail Sheryn Kastenholz, a Huntington Station resident, Second Generation Survivor and Holocaust education advocate. Attendees may take a walk through the garden following the program. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, 631-351-3000.
Author Talk & Book Signing
The Friends of the Northport/East Northport Public Library will host an Author’s Talk and Book Signing featuringOrel Protopopescu, author of Dancing Past the Light: The Life of Tanaquil Le Clercq, wife of Balanchine and Ballerina at the Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Ave., Northport at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Copies of the book will be available to purchase (cash or check only). To register, call 261-6930 or online at www.nenpl.org.
Cruise Night Car Show
The Shoppes at East Wind, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River hosts a Cruise Night Car Show every Wednesday through Oct. 26 from 5 to 9 p.m. Visit the Shoppes, enjoy a bite to eat and then check out the fine array of classic cars in the parking lot. Call 929-3500.
Thursday June 23
Native American Drumming
All Souls Parish House, 10 Mill Pond Road, Stony Brook hosts an evening of Native American Drumming Meditation from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Led by elder drummer, Ric Statler, drumming meditation seeks to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of the human self, creating a state of well-being. Please call 631-655-7798 for more information
Film
‘A World Within a World’
The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington continues its Maritime Film Festival with a screening of A World Within a World: Long Island Bay Houses on June 21 at 7:30 p.m.The film explores, the lives, history, and experiences of bay house owners in the Town of Hempstead from both a historical and contemporary perspective. Based on fieldwork by folklorist and maritime ethnographer Nancy Solomon of Long Island Traditions, local filmmakers Barbara Weber and Greg Blank capture the essence of how bay house owners have persevered and endured through severe storms and hurricanes as well as eroding marshlands all while preserving traditions that began in the early 19th century. Followed by a Q&A and discussion. Tickets are $17, $12 members. Call 423-7610 or visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
‘Savage Land’
The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington presents a special screening of Savage Land on June 22 at 7 p.m. When Custer County Police kill 18-year-old Cheyenne Arapaho Mah-hi-vist Red Bird Goodblanket in his family’s kitchen, descendants of the Sand Creek and Washita Massacres take us back 150 years to reveal how historical trauma and the horrors of the past are still present in America today. With writer/director Campbell Dalglish in person. Tickets are $17, $12 members. Call 423-7610 or visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.
Theater
HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES Theatre Three’s ABBA-inspired ‘Mamma Mia! The Musical’ is receiving rave reviews! Catch a performance before the show ends on June 25. Photo by Brian Hoerger/Theatre Three Productions, Inc.
‘Mamma Mia!’
Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson closes its 2021-2022 with Mamma Mia! from May 21 to June 25. ABBA’s timeless hits tell the enchanting story! On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the Greek island paradise they last visited twenty years ago. Featuring such chart toppers as “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!,” and “Dancing Queen,” this is a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget. Contains adult themes and situations. Tickets are $35 adults, $28 seniors and students, $20 children ages 5 and older. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.
‘Much Ado About Nothing’
The Carriage House Players continues its annual Shakespeare Festival at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport with Much Ado About Nothing from June 5 to June 26 on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 7 p.m. Performances take place outdoors on stage in the courtyard, where the Spanish-Mediterranean architecture adds a touch of timeless charm and magic. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy before the show and bring your own lawn chair. Inclement weather cancels. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and children ages 12 and under. To order, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
‘Kinky Boots’
John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents Kinky Boots from May 19 to July 3. With songs by Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein, this dazzling, sassy and uplifting musical celebrates a joyous story, inspired by true life events, taking you from the factory floor of a men’s shoe factory to the glamorous catwalks of Milan! Tickets range from $75 to $80 with free valet parking. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
‘Mikado’
The Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island presents The Mikado: A Long Island Fantasy at Suffolk Y/JCC, 74 Hauppauge Road in Commack on June 17 at 8 p.m. Admission is $30, seniors and students $25. For further information, call 516-619-7415 or visit www.gaslocoli.org.
‘On Your Feet!’
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport presents On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan from July 14 to Aug. 28. From their humble beginnings in Cuba, Emilio and Gloria Estefan came to America and broke through all barriers to become a crossover sensation at the very top of the pop music world. But just when they thought they had it all, they almost lost everything. On Your Feet! takes you behind the music and inside the real story of this record-making, and groundbreaking couple who, in the face of adversity, found a way to end up on their feet. Get ready to get on your feet, and dance to the smash hits “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “1-2-3,” “Live For Loving You,” “Conga,” and many more. Tickets range from $75 to $80 with free valet parking. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
Vendors Wanted
◆ The Shoppes at East Wind, 5768 Route 25A, Wading River has vendor opportunities available for its upcoming outdoor Farmer’s Markets on June 18,July 16, Aug. 20 and Sept.17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 631-929-3500 x708 for an application.
◆ Nesconset Chamber of Commerce seeks vendors for its Nesconset Day street fair along Smithtown Blvd. in Nesconset on Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 631-672-5197 or email [email protected].
◆ St. Thomas of Canterbury, 29 Brooksite Drive, Smithtown seeks craft or new merchandise vendors for its Craft Fair and Car Show on Oct. 8 (rain date is Oct. 15 for craft fair only). Visit www.stthomasofcanterbury.net or call 631-265-4520 to obtain an application or get more info.
◆ The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor seeks glass enthusiasts (both sea glass and historic glass) and vendors to be a part of it Suffolk County Seaglass Festival on Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee for vendor participation is $50 and entitles you to a 72” banquet table for displaying your items. Visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org for an application or call 631-367-3418.
From left, Richard Risi, Sabrina Lopez and Michael John Ruggiere in a scene from the show.
Photo by NanMagna/The Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island
The Mikado: A Long Island Fantasy, a new approach to the classic comic opera, will appear for one night only in Commack when the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island brings its 2022 production of the beloved show to Suffolk Y-JCC on June 17.
Directed by Tony Tambasco and with the orchestra conducted by music director Stuart Watarz, this all-new Mikado recasts the most famous of the Gilbert & Sullivan operas to be set on Long Island’s Gold Coast in the 1920s, the era of Prohibition, the flappers, silent movies and The Great Gatsby.
“I have attempted to recover the spirit of Gilbert & Sullivan’s intentions with a production that holds a mirror up to the present day, while also engaging in light-hearted fairy-tale-telling,” Tambasco said.
“Setting The Mikado on a fantasy Long Island of 100 years ago allows us to activate the `Gatsby’ mythology that is a part of the cultural heritage of Long Island in the service of telling Gilbert & Sullivan’s comic fairy tale of a community overcoming the nonsensical cruelty imposed on its people.”
The score is packed with famous songs, including the lovely ballad “The Sun, Whose Rats Are All Ablaze,” the rattling patter song “I’ve Got a Little List,” the ingenious trio “I Am So Proud” and the wistful “Titwillow.”The story is a merry farce that’s as funny now as it was in 1885 when the show premiered, and virtually defines the idea of “fun for the whole family.”
The cast includes more than a dozen of the company’s finest singers and dancers, more than meeting the challenge ofthe production.
Richard Risi plays Nanki-Poo, the wandering minstrel who’s secretly the son of the all-powerful Mikado (Lloyd Baum).Sabrina Lopez is Yum-Yum, Nanki-Poo’s secret love, with Michael John Ruggiere as her guardian Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner.Tamara Shyngle and Delaney R. Page play Yum-Yum’s schoolmates Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo, with Kenneth Kopolovicz as the pompous Pooh-Bah and Jordan Breslow as the wily Pish-Tush. Patricia Gallagher plays the fearsome aristocrat Katisha, who claims Nanki-Poo in marriage and won’t take “No” as an answer.
The most popular comic opera ever written, the only one of the Gilbert & Sullivan operas popular even in non-English-speaking countries and the first ever to be made into a movie, the show has been a hit on Broadway as The Hot Mikado (1939), and has even had a movie—“Topsy Turvy” (1999)—made about its creation. It remains arguably the most popular work of music theater ever.
The Mikado: A Long Island Fantasy will be presented on Friday, June 17 at 8 p.m. at Suffolk Y/JCC, 74 Hauppauge Road in Commack. Admission is $30, seniors and students $25. For further information, call 516-619-7415 or visit www.gaslocoli.org.
“People are afraid to say the word suicide or disclose thoughts of suicide, both because of stigma and fear of repercussions. But open and honest conversation about suicide saves lives — it’s so important to be able to speak frankly about what you’re feeling and know there are people you can talk to,” Cassidy said.
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