By Lucy Foster
14 May 2009

   The Metropolitan Museum of Art is set to reopen the New American Wing after two years of construction and renovation on May 19th. The new American Wing includes The Charles Engelhard Court, Balcony Galleries, 20 historic period rooms, and The Erving and Joyce Wolf Gallery. The New American Wing will feature American ceramics, sculpture, stained glass, architectural elements, silver, pewter, glass, jewelry, and a vast collection of new displays. 
   In addition the popular American Wing Café will also reopen in its previous location in The Charles Engelhard Court, on the park side of the court. Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art online for more details.   

By Metroway.com Staff
May 12, 2009

   The annual holiday tradition of Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular starring the world-famous Radio City Rockettes are on sale now. The popular Christmas show runs from November 13th thru December 30th, 2009 with a wide selection of daily performances to choose from. The family-friendly show features the Radio City Rockettes in the classic “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers”, “New York at Christmas,” and a delightful selection of holiday cheer. The show runs 90 to 105 minutes long and concludes with the moving story of the first Christmas in the “Living Nativity” scene. Ticket prices range from $52.00 – $250.00. Visit Radio City Music Hall online to purchase tickets or call 212-307-1000.

by Diane Malone
28 April 2009

    The 36th annual Film Society Gala honored Tom Hanks with their Chaplin Award on April 27th, 2009, at the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall’s Starr Theatre. The stars came out to celebrate in tribute to the two-time Oscar-winning Actor, who “looked forward to partying” with his film friends.  

    Among the star-studded lineup included Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Ron Howard, Steven Spielberg, Charlize Theron, Mike Nichols, Bruce Springsteen, Nora Ephron, John Patrick Shanley, Robert Zemeckis, Glenn Close, Sam Mendes, Adrien Brody, Christopher Walken, Jeremy Irons, Geoffrey Rush, Ed Burns, Christy Turlington and Colin Hanks.  
   The Hollywood atmosphere of the special event had dozens of photographers, fans, and onlookers all waiting to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars. A line of parked limousines waited just up the street after each celebrity made their grand entrance.
    Actor Jeremy Irons gave his fans a treat arriving on his motorcycle and taking a slow spin for photographs before walking the red carpet.

     
    Julia Roberts arrived just before 7:00 pm flashing her trademark smile to the cheering crowds. Once on the red carpet, Julia Roberts spoke fondly of Tom Hanks and how likeable he is as a person and actor. She added the now famous extra “expletives” to her speech once the evening’s tributes began inside. She wore a white Dolce & Gabbana sheath dress for the Gala evening.
   The Gala evening began with VIP cocktails followed by a seated dinner in the glass atrium located in the Hauser Patron Salon in Alice Tully Hall. The evening began at 9:00 pm and ended around midnight to a dj’ed dance party.
    Currently, Tom Hanks finished filming the Da Vinci prequel, Angels & Demons, directed by Ron Howard, due out this summer.

    Tom Hanks shares the Chapin Award with past honorees of the Film Society including Meryl Streep, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Michael Caine, Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino, Bette Davis, Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, among many others. The Chaplin Award was named after its first recipient, in 1972, Charles Chaplin. Visit the Film Society of Lincoln Center to support and learn more.

All Photos: © Caroline P. Digonis 2009
       

by Chris Hale
April 26 2009

    On April 20th, 2009, the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch lead the New York Philharmonic through a colorful burst of Broadway moments with the stars that made them famous. The Annual Spring Gala titled “New York Moments”, was held at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. The gala fundraiser featured Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, Jennifer Holliday, Kelli O’Hara, Paulo Szot, Ashley Brown, Maria Friedman and Nikki Yanofsky. The gala event showcased each Broadway performer in one of their trademark “New York Moments” performances.
    The gala concert opened with “Cabaret” star Joel Grey performing his trademark “Wilkommen” performance playfully warming the audience up to the evening’s Broadway atmosphere.  
    Next, we were treated to the two rising stars from “South Pacific” playing currently at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. The 2008 Tony Award-winner Paulo Szot captured the audience with his powerful “This Nearly Was Mine”. His rich baritone voice mixed with the acclaimed New York Philharmonic Orchestra was one of the highlights of the evening. He joined his “South Pacific” co-star Kelli O’Hara for a pleasant “If I Loved You”. Kelli O’Hara later performed a cheerful “I Could Have Danced All Night” as well as “Show Me” from “My Fair Lady”.
    Jennifer Holliday, nearly three decades from her “Dreamgirls” Broadway debut, belted out her signature showstopper “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” interestingly followed by “They Didn’t Believe Me”. The Gospel diva was clearly an audience pleaser with her emotionally filled powerhouse performances.
    The New York Philharmonic followed with a warmly polished instrumental selection of several Jerome Kern tunes.   
    Other notable performances were Ashley Brown (from “Mary Poppins”) singing Cole Porter’s “I Happen to Like New York”; as well as the 15-year-old Canadian up-and-coming singer Nikki Yanofsky who performed “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and “Take the A Train” from her soon to be released album “Ella” after legend Ella Fitzgerald. 
    The last vocal performance of the evening belonged to the energetic Liza Minnelli performing her signature “New York, New York”, which brought most of the thrilled audience to their feet in a standing ovation. 
    Marvin Hamlisch concluded the evening with a moving performance of “The Way We Were” on piano. Early in the program Marvin Hamlisch enchanted the crowd with a beautiful piano version of “Manhattan” accompanied brilliantly with a violinist from the orchestra.     
    The sold-out concert was a pleasing collage of memorable New York moments that lingered with you long after the 90–minute program concluded. Visit the New York Philharmonic online for additional upcoming events.  
     

Photo: (c) Chris Lee 2009     

by Chris Hale
27 April 2009 

• Suzanne Braun Levine in conversation with Gloria Steinem, Isabella Rossellini, Lesley Jane Seymour and Donna Edwards, will be discussing her new book “Fifty is the new Fifiy” on 06/01/09 (6:00 pm) at Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Triangle, New York, NY 
• Chuck Barris (host from “The Gong Show”) will be signing copies of Who Killed Art Deco? on 06/04/09 (7:00 pm) at Borders Books at Columbus Circle, New York, NY 
• Director Guillermo del Toro, (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) will be signing copies of The Strain on 06/04/09 (7:00 pm) at Barnes & Noble at Union Square, New York, NY
• Melissa Gilbert (star from “Little House on the Prairie”) will be signing copies of her memoir on 06/09/09 (7:00 pm) at Borders Books at Columbus Circle, New York, NY 
• Lynda Carter will be performing and signing copies of At Last on 06/09/09 (5:30 pm) at Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Triangle, New York, NY  
• Keith Hernandez (former 1st baseman for the NY Mets) will be signing copies of Shea Goodbye on 06/11/09 (Noon) at Barnes & Noble on Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 
• The cast from West Side Story will be performing and signing copies of West Side Story-2009 Broadway Revival Cast CD

   on 06/11/09 (4:30 pm) at Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Triangle, New York, NY