Thanks to the amazingly talented Susanne Pinedo(PinedoPR), here is an amazing play coming soon to you NEW YORKERS! The play is called Alive! 55+ and Kickin’, which is produced by Vy Higginsen and the Mama Foundation for the Arts, which is a non-profit program dedicated to promoting the history and fundamentals of gospel, jazz, and rhythm ans blues for current and future generations. They also provide quality training and employment in the performing arts to both youths and adults. The play, taking place in Harlem, New York, is a soundtrack of a culture featuring gospel, blues, jazz and pop music. The production depicts the healing power of stories and music, and the triumph of recovering from a difficult life challenge. Sounds good, right? Well, you can read more on Alive! with the press release below, as well as the official show dates and more.
Alive!
The Mama Foundation for the Arts
Venue: The Dempsey Theater, 127 W 127th Street, Harlem, NY 10027
Ticket link: http://ow.ly/uwA5C
The Mama Foundation for the Arts proudly announces their musical production, ALIVE!, a musical celebration of a generation featuring a full company of performers who are age 55 and over; at The Dempsey Theater in Harlem (127 W. 127 St.). ALIVE! Is playing in repertoire with the Harlem Musical Theatre Series. Conceived and written by Vy Higginsen and Ken Wydro, and directed by Mr. Wydro. “Real people, telling real stories!” The cast of ALIVE! is comprised of everyday, “ordinary” citizens from all walks of life; people with amazing talent, who never realized their desire to perform live. Each cast member now taking center stage, proves that it’s never too late to live a dream. ALIVE! features a unique blend of gospel, jazz, R&B and pop music – songs that served as a soundtrack for this generation. Through the music, and through authentic stories and testimonies, the ALIVE! cast tell how it used to be, and how life could be going forward . . . at any age. They are ALIVE! . . . and kickin.’
The cast of ALIVE! features Num H.S. Amun’Tehu, Deborah Bingham, Donna Love Brown, Matthew Brown, Matthew Burke, Robin Campos, Robin Crudup, Gladys DeJesus Mitchell, Darlene Eklou, Phyllis Harris, Theo Harris, Gloria Jones, Susie Jones, Sharon Patrick, Roberta Ross, Ricardo Vega, Renee Walker, Pamela White, and Hugh Wright. ALIVE! has music direction by Greg Kelly and musical staging/choreography by Elijah Ahmad Lewis.
Proceeds from the production benefit The Mama Foundation for the Arts, a cultural space in Harlem with a mission to present, preserve, and promote the history and fundamentals of gospel, jazz, and rhythm and blues music for current and future generations, as well as to provide quality training and employment in the performing arts to both youths and adults. A non-profit 501(C)3, the Mama Foundation for the Arts was founded in 1998 by Vy Higginsen, inspired by the worldwide success of her musical, Mama, I Want To Sing. Through the Foundation’s School of Gospel, Jazz and R&B and its Gospel for Teens program, instruction in these musical art forms has been offered to young people between the ages of 13 and 19 at no cost since 2006. The Gospel for Teens program has serviced hundreds of students in the past seven years, providing desperately needed support to musically gifted children and replacing arts programs taken out of many inner city schools.
Tickets for Alive! are available by calling the Mama Foundation for the Arts at 212-280-1045 or through SmartTix.com (212-868-
Directions to The Dempsey Theater via Public Transit: – Subway: Number 2 or 3 express trains to 125th St and Lenox Ave; walk two blocks north, turn left on 127th St. – Bus: M2, M3, M7 Buses to 127th St.
Show Dates:
March 8, 15, 22 and 29
April 5, 12, 19 and 26
May 3, 10 and 31
June 7 and 14Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.
March 15
April 19
May 3
June 14
VISIT the Mama Foundation’s official site & VISIT Vy Higginsen’s official site as well. Also VISIT here for a link to the tickets.
Photo Credit: http://www.mamafoundation.org/
Dear Ms. Higginsen and Ken Wydro,
I just saw 60 Minutes and your piece was on. Wow! It was really awesome and I just wanted you to know that. I will try really hard to see a show when it starts.
Ms. Higginsen and Mr. Wydro you have made a difference in a lot of older people’s lives. You have given them many more years of living (and singing). I enjoyed it so much that I can’t even express it. I will just say thank you to a wonderful lady and her husband.
Best Wishes,
Sandi Sutton
I totally enjoyed the music on 60 minutes if “Alive & kickin ”
I’m interested in purchasing a CD of the music if possible .
Could you send information on how aquire one if possible !
Thank you
Debbie Sheetz
Dear Ms. Higginsen,
I was moved beyond words watching the 69 Minutes segment on “55 Plus and Kickin'”!
Is it possible to send me the name and artist of the song performed so touchingly by the woman who is sending her children off to school?
I would appreciate it very much.
I wish you the greatest success with this amazing project !
Blessing,
Bonnie
I would like to purchase tickets to this show. I called and I have not yet heard from anyone concerning the tickets prices and show dates.
Again I can be reached at 347 848 0099.
Thank you
Hi, Marlene!
I believe you can check out this site: http://www.mamafoundation.org/alive.html and see if the number works that’s available there. If not, reach out to them through social media–maybe that will work?
Hoping we helped out! The show is fantastic so definitely keep trying! 🙂
-Philip Hernandez of Black Talent TV
Aloha Vy,
I am a Black Baby Boomer who was and still is a great Fan of yours. I remember listening to your show when you were a very special Radio Personality when I was young, searching for my role in this journey called life.
Currently, I live in Hawaii although I was born on Sugar Hill during the early 50’s however I will always be a New Yorker.
Vy, I must Congratulate you on 55 and Kicking which by a fluke, I saw recently on 60 minutes….I really enjoyed this positive and uplifting work of GENIUS.
That being said, I So much so would like to discuss with you the possibility to see this production here in Hawaii and beyond in the Pacific as there is an audience which would benefit tremendously both young and old alike.
In closing, I again Congratulate you and the Cast for a job well done and look forward to hearing from you.
Much Mahalo and Aloha
Shirley Jones