AOP Brings Brooklyn Voices to 5×10 Talks

On Tuesday, May 6, 2014, AOP was asked to be a part of the inaugural 5×10 Talks, an event organized by the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership to showcase innovation in the neighborhood.

The event- which raised funds to support the DBP’s year-round public programming and was held at the brand-new BRIC Arts | Media House– highlighted five leaders from Downtown Brooklyn to answer the question, “What’s next?”

Under their I HEAR AMERICA SINGING program, AOP featured two of composer Gilda Lyons’ songs, rapid transit and “I am From the Ghetto ‘Brooklyn'” (the latter from her cycle Songs from the F Train), and three of their regular performers, soprano Adrienne Danrich, contralto Nicole Mitchell, and pianist Mila Henry. In addition, young poet Najaya Royale read her original text for “I Am From the Ghetto ‘Brooklyn'”, which she wrote when she was only 12 years old.

Wanna find out what else is “next”? Watch clips from the entire event here, and check out photos here.

And thanks to a partnership with Brooklyn Independent Media, you can watch a SPECIAL BROADCAST of the 5×10 Talks from 6-7:30pm on May 24th, May 25th, May 31st, and June 1st. Tune in on Brooklyn’s Time Warner Cable 756, Verizon FiOS 46 (all five boroughs), and online at BRIC Brooklyn Indie Media.

Singers and Composers Honor Stephen Schwartz at 25th Anniversary Gala for American Opera Projects

Brooklyn’s AOP (American Opera Projects) celebrated its 25th anniversary of developing and producing opera and music theater on Monday, May 12 with a gala that honored Stephen Schwartz, composer and lyricist of Wicked, Pippin, and Godspell as well as the AOP-developed opera Séance on a Wet Afternoon. It was a hot night (and not just because the air-conditioning was on the fritz) as a packed house of composers, singers, producers and supporters of new music entertained by a concert of Mr. Schwartz’s music performed by a mix of opera and Broadway stars including Lauren Flanigan, Anthony Roth Costanzo, and Betsy Wolfe. AOP-produced composers Daniel Felsenfeld (Nora, In the Great Outdoors), Zachary Redler (Jonathan Larson Award, The Memory Show), and Gregory Spears (Paul’s Case) were among those who spoke about their connection to AOP and the influence of Mr. Schwartz on their lives. The event was held at the landmark theater club The Players in New York City and raised funds to support the not-for-profit AOP and its mission.

Check out photos from the evening in the gallery below and here.

l. to r. (standing) Laura Bergquist, Simone Osborne, Betsy Wolfe, Jessica Phillips, Bailey Grey, Lauren Flanigan, Stephen Schwartz, Bret Shuford, Doug Carpenter, Justin Hopkins l. to r. (kneeling) Tony Ponella, Michael Marcotte, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Michael McCorry Rose

Stephen Schwartz and presenters. l. to r. (standing) Lauren Flanigan, Laura Bergquist, Betsy Wolfe, AOP Producing Director Matt Gray, Stephen Schwartz, AOP General Director Charles Jarden, Michael Jackowitz, Laura Kaminsky, Steven Osgood, Paula Kimper, Daniel Felsenfeld, Gregory Spears, Zach Redler, Sandy Silverberg l.tor. (kneeling) Bret Shuford, Michael Marcotte, Anthony Roth Costanzo

l. to r. Tony Ponella, Bailey Grey, Michael Marcotte, Simone Osborne, Betsy Wolfe, Jessica Phillips, Lauren Flanigan, Bret Shuford, Michael McCorry Rose, Doug Carpenter, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Justin Hopkins

Opera diva Lauren Flanigan performs an original song written in honor of Stephen Schwartz

l. to r. Tony Ponella, Bailey Grey, Michael Marcotte, Simone Osborne, Betsy Wolfe, Jessica Phillips, Bret Shuford, Michael McCorry Rose, Doug Carpenter, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Justin Hopkins

Towering conductors J. David Jackson and Steven Osgood with Stephen Schwartz

Dina Gray, AOP Producing Director Matt Gray, artist Nathaniel Soria

opera singer Sarah Moulton-Faux with composers Stephen Schwartz, Douglas J. Cuomo, and Gregory Spears

Composers Douglas J. Cuomo, Laura Kaminsky, Daniel Felsenfeld, Stephen Schwartz, Michael Dellaira

Rich and Lucille Janssen, AOP General Director Charles Jarden, opera singer Donna Smith, Karen Nelson

Stephen Schwartz and music director Laura Bergquist