Buzz
Times Square Alliance launches song-writing contest for
livestream concert series in June
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
Broadway actors will perform
original coronavirusthemed
songs during a
series of livestream concerts in
June.
In response to the COVID-19
pandemic, the Times Square Alliance
announced the fi rst-ever
“Songs for Our City” songwriting
challenge to support artists.
The challenge calls on Broadway
actors and composers to create
new original music while offering
a unique and interactive way
for audiences to enjoy new music
while in-person events are on
pause.
“As the entity responsible for
taking care of and celebrating
the Theater District, this is a
symbolic and simple way for
us to continue to showcase and
support Broadway performers
who create their own original
work throughout June,” said Tim
Tompkins, President of the Times
Square Alliance.
Twenty-seven artists will debut
their songs over a series of free
livestreamed concerts starting
on June 2, fi nishing off on June
21 as part of Make Music New
York. The fi rst six shows will
feature participants performing
their new songs, and will allow
for audience members to vote to
send one participant from each
concert into the fi nale. Viewers
will be able to choose their
favorite during the fi nale for the
Audience Choice Award. A panel
of judges, which will be made up
of esteemed Broadway and music
industry notables, will determine
the overall winner.
The series will be streamed on
the Times Square Alliance’s
website and social platforms in
partnership with Time Out New
York, as a part of their recently
launched Love Local campaign.
The series will be hosted by
Broadway Buskers host & curator
Ben Cameron. Participants
include Alice Ripley; Ethan Slater;
Rob Rokicki; Leslie Becker; Sam
Carner, Derek Gregor, and Selda
Sahin; Jaime Cepero; Lauren
Elder; Drew Gasparini; John Arthur
Greene; F Michael Haynie;
Marcus Paul James; Donnie
Kehr; John Krause; Janet Krupin;
Molly and the Memphis Thunder;
Anthony Norman; Alexander
Sage Oyen; Alice Ripley; Rob
Rokicki; Jennifer Sánchez; Max
Sangerman; Heath Saunders; Dru
Serkes; Ethan Slater; Starbird &
the Phoenix; Will Taylor; Will
Van Dyke & Jeff Talbott; Joel
Waggoner; Mike Wartella; and
Tim Young.
All participants will receive a
stipend from the Times Square
Alliance, and fi nalists will receive
additional cash prizes. The
concerts will also raise funds for
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights
AIDS’ COVID-19 Emergency
Assistance Fund, which provides
urgent resources to those within
the performing arts community.
“Our friends in the theater
community are remarkably talented
even beyond their night jobs on
Broadway, and we’ve been lucky
to have some of them share their
singer-songwriter side during the
past two seasons of Broadway
PHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES
Buskers. With the halt of performances,
we wanted to fi nd a
way to support our community
while providing an outlet for their
incredible creative energy. We are
so excited to offer a platform for
them to continue sharing their
music with the world,” said Sophie
Aung, Programming Manager of
the Times Square Alliance.
The concerts will be streamed
live at 7:05PM EDT at TSQ.org/
Songs.
Online gym classes for kids at home during coronavirus
BY REGAN MILES
If your child is fi nding it tough
to stay active at home and
looking for exciting new ways
to get moving, New York City
gyms for kids are offering online
live streams and classes for all
ages. Check out the YMCA’s
dance parties and jumping jack
challenges, Brooklyn Zoo NY’s
at-home parkour classes and
more online gym classes for kids
at home.
YMCA
The YMCA is currently offering
a series of free workout videos
for kids on their Youtube channel,
which include cardio options like
basketball drills, soccer drills,
dance parties and jumping jack
challenges as well as yoga classes
with breathing and stretching
exercises.
14th Street Y
The 14th Street at First Avenue
is live-streaming exercise
classes for its members, including
hour-long family fi tness classes,
Fit Family with Jacqueline, on
Monday mornings and Saturday
afternoons; for all 14Y members,
log-in instructions can be found
in the weekly newsletter. Virtual
Youth Classes like ballet, gymnastics,
youth sports basketball
and youth sports conditioning
are mainly for families who are
already enrolled, but if you’re
new to Youth Programs and
want to register your child for a
Virtual Youth Class, simply email
AfterSchool@14StreetY.org.
Kidville
Kidville is a music, art and
dance studio, kids’ gym, playground,
pre-school and party
place “rolled into one.” Currently,
Kidville is offering their content
through a digital membership.
For a monthly price of $74.99,
your child will have unlimited
on-demand access to Kidville
content. The membership includes
over 80 interactive live
classes every month and access
to the Kidville Video Vault. The
Video Vault holds all of Kidville’s
previously-aired, full-length gym,
dance, art and music classes that
can be viewed at any time. If
the membership isn’t for you,
Kidville’s pay-as-you-go, drop-in
options for a la carte classes begin
at $14.99.
Brooklyn Zoo NY Gym
Brooklyn Zoo NY Gym’s
wide variety of online exercise
classes for kids include acrobatics
classes, hip-hop dance classes,
basketball classes and more,
tailored to children who are 7 to
15 years old. Parent-child classes
are available for kids ages 3 to 7.
Brooklyn Zoo NY’s trademark
King of the Jungle classes are
parkour-based and use calisthenics
and cardio to keep kids active
during quarantine. The online
class gym membership, which
provides access to all classes on
Brooklyn Zoo NY’s robust online
live stream schedule, costs $15;
Brooklyn Zoo NY is also offering
$5 drop-in classes so your child
can see if the classes are right for
them.
The Little Gym
The Little Gym believes in the
importance of offering young children
a safe and inspiring environment
to direct their energy, build
confi dence and develop key skills
through play. Stay engaged with
The Little Gym through their
Youtube channel, where they
post videos like Dance Skill Spotlights,
at-home Sing-A-Longs, and
parent-child classes to keep your
child moving and learning.
Super Soccer Stars
Super Soccer Stars, a New
York-based sports program, is
offering three options for online
exercise and soccer skill development.
First, your child can
register for weekly classes, which
are divided by age. Classes are
30-45 minutes, designed for small
spaces and capped at 15 students
per coach. Children ages 1 to 12
can participate in Super Soccer
Star’s online classes at $45 per
month.
This story fi rst appeared on
newyorkfamily.com.
20 May 21, 2020 Schneps Media
/newyorkfamily.com
/TSQ.org
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