Mmm...I told you Ms. Sarah Jones was super wonderful. Now we just wait and see what the Tony committee will say for this (drumroll please) nominee for Favorite Solo Performance and Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Female). Whoo Hoo! See? You can do your thing on Broadway and not end up in a pair of boyshorts eight shows a week. Go Sarah! Iss Ya Toe Nay!
And then there's the E*L*E*V*E*N Tonys that Miss Oprah's The Color Purple has been nominated for, including the Tony for Best Musical. Word! I am especially excited since the Good Lord has blessed DivaCardista to be able to gather up about 4o or so young people and bring them on down from my Connecticut alma mater to see this great show in the fall. How happy are we this fine sunny morning. Happy indeed.
Now let me get my pencil in my hand and create something grand!
Blessings!
DivaCardista
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Monday, May 29, 2006
Me & My Shadow: Ms. Sarah Jones
Finally got myself in to see twin soul Sarah Jones after church yesterday. Man, it was warm and bright and lovely, just like a Sunday afternoon should be. And, just as I was hoping, folk were out and about in droves. Soon as I got off the train I was greeted by the tempting smells of outdoor frying & the sounds of custom reggae mixtapes, resplendent in steel drums and that unmistakable island pulse, which would be met just moments later with a disgruntled Midwestern "Could you please turn that down!" as we all wafted through the cordoned off corridor of pre-summer commerce, but I didn't care. I was head to ankle in my deep royal purple polished cotton 116th Street African finest and was feeling far too pleased to let some tourist bring me down.
As for Sarah Jones: believe the hype. I enjoyed a highly entertaining evening from a truly gifted and visionary woman. While enjoying the hot hip hop pre-show music I had the gentle realization that even as I love and grow my unique and beautiful business -- my day job :) -- I never want to be too far from The Theater. I never want to be too far from the girl who used to sing/perform Lou Rawls "Me and My Shadow" for my mom in the living room with my big sister (with whom I would be "competing" for applause), much less the woman whose own solo performances left formidable heat behind whenever she left the stage just three, four years ago right here on the same delighful isle of Manhattan.
I guess it doesn't take Freud to see why I have been dragging my feet to see the internationally acclaimed Obie winner Sarah Jones till now. But now having seen her, especially right after worship service and the powerful word from a 26 year old guest preaching phenom out of New Jersey whose sermon was all about how God sometimes uses our private frustration to catylize us into miraculous public progress and peace, I realize that there is room for all of us multitalented visonary artists. Not unlike jello (or in my case Junior's pre-show carrot cake cheesecake), there is always room for excellence, skill and vision in the theater. There is always room for that unique voice that intrigues and entertains, doing both with skill and joy.
And, as soon as I get back to Brooklyn and find my musician again, there's room for me.
As for Sarah Jones: believe the hype. I enjoyed a highly entertaining evening from a truly gifted and visionary woman. While enjoying the hot hip hop pre-show music I had the gentle realization that even as I love and grow my unique and beautiful business -- my day job :) -- I never want to be too far from The Theater. I never want to be too far from the girl who used to sing/perform Lou Rawls "Me and My Shadow" for my mom in the living room with my big sister (with whom I would be "competing" for applause), much less the woman whose own solo performances left formidable heat behind whenever she left the stage just three, four years ago right here on the same delighful isle of Manhattan.
I guess it doesn't take Freud to see why I have been dragging my feet to see the internationally acclaimed Obie winner Sarah Jones till now. But now having seen her, especially right after worship service and the powerful word from a 26 year old guest preaching phenom out of New Jersey whose sermon was all about how God sometimes uses our private frustration to catylize us into miraculous public progress and peace, I realize that there is room for all of us multitalented visonary artists. Not unlike jello (or in my case Junior's pre-show carrot cake cheesecake), there is always room for excellence, skill and vision in the theater. There is always room for that unique voice that intrigues and entertains, doing both with skill and joy.
And, as soon as I get back to Brooklyn and find my musician again, there's room for me.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Monie, Memorials & Meatballs
It is warm tonight and Monie Love is blowin up the spot with the greatest of ease. Indeed it is a shame that by "the spot" I mean TV. Nevertheless I am happy to finally begin this here blog that has been following me like a shadow since my brilliant mentor/friend Ally first said, "Diva you need a blog. Don't nobody know nothin about you or your site (www.blessedstarcards.com). You need to get your blog on in the most serious way. Stop living in 1983!"
Ok. It is clearly warm outside cause folks are starting to get mad loud about nothing in particular, revving motorcycles and what have you, like 80 degrees is their licence to lose all of their minds along with most of their clothes. Folks went from timberlands to jelly shoes in a heartbeat. But its midnight I'm still groovin to the rhythm of traffic and checkin out the scenario of this upcoming holiday weekend. Beaches and barbecue! Not that I need barbecue, but if offered, this Diva will not refuse.
As a matter of fact, there is somebody in the cafe kitchen at church who makes the most amazing barbecued meatballs. I tried to replicate and got real close with some seasoned turkey that I fried up and then drizzled with barbecue sauce, which was good served with that new mutivitamin/multifabulous Barilla spaghetti, but nothing near the sweetsavory delight that they serve up about once a month after service.
Which is just one more thing I love about my church: where else can you get fish & grits, eight types of chicken, vegetable lasagna, curry goat, collard greens and barbecued meatballs for coffee hour?
Wow. Who knew we had so much on the dome?
Here's hoping your memorial day celebration is both reflective and flavorful.
Blessedly,
Diva Cardista
Ok. It is clearly warm outside cause folks are starting to get mad loud about nothing in particular, revving motorcycles and what have you, like 80 degrees is their licence to lose all of their minds along with most of their clothes. Folks went from timberlands to jelly shoes in a heartbeat. But its midnight I'm still groovin to the rhythm of traffic and checkin out the scenario of this upcoming holiday weekend. Beaches and barbecue! Not that I need barbecue, but if offered, this Diva will not refuse.
As a matter of fact, there is somebody in the cafe kitchen at church who makes the most amazing barbecued meatballs. I tried to replicate and got real close with some seasoned turkey that I fried up and then drizzled with barbecue sauce, which was good served with that new mutivitamin/multifabulous Barilla spaghetti, but nothing near the sweetsavory delight that they serve up about once a month after service.
Which is just one more thing I love about my church: where else can you get fish & grits, eight types of chicken, vegetable lasagna, curry goat, collard greens and barbecued meatballs for coffee hour?
Wow. Who knew we had so much on the dome?
Here's hoping your memorial day celebration is both reflective and flavorful.
Blessedly,
Diva Cardista
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