FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com april 2, 2015 • BUZZ • The Quens Courier 55 Master Pianist/Vocalist Kenny Brawner IS RAY CHARLES at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC) on April 12 “...the sound of Mr. Brawner singing is the stuff of an immediate good mood!” - Roslyn Sulcas, The New York Times April 1, 2015 (Bayside, NY)--The exceptional musicianship and charismatic stage presence of Kenny Brawner and the Brawner Brothers Band will bring the music and story of the great Ray Charles to life at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC) on April 12 at 3:00 p.m. Kenny Brawner will lead his 12-piece orchestra and three sultry vocalists to perform the legends’ most popular hits including, What I’d Say, I Got a Woman, Georgia On My Mind, Doin’ the Mess Around, I Can’t Stop Loving You and Let The Good Times Roll. The songs are interwoven by Mr. Brawner, depicting how Gospel, Blues, Jazz and Country music influenced Ray Charles’s style. “This is a show-stopping tribute to Ray Charles, a genius and pioneer of soul music,” said Susan Agin, Executive and Artistic Director, QPAC. “There is no better musician to honor him than Kenny Brawner, who has enjoyed a distinguished career which has won him accolades from audiences and critics around the country. For more information, please contact the QPAC Box Office at 718.631.6311. Tickets are available online at Visit Box Office - and don’t forget to visit us on Facebook! Don’t let the high cost of shows in Manhattan plus the added expense of parking your car stop you from seeing quality entertainment. QPAC’s excellent location, diverse schedule of events, reasonable ticket prices, free parking, beautiful theatre, infrared listening devices and exceptional service make it an excellent choice for a memorable outing. Distinguished artists who have performed throughout the decades at QPAC include jazz legend Thelonius Monk; renowned dance choreographer Merce Cunningham; 60’s folksinger Judy Collins; and more recently Dionne Warwick, Joan Rivers, Joel Grey, Robert Klein, Ben Vereen, Wayne Newton, Chita Rivera, Mandy Patinkin, Norm Lewis, Rob Schneider, Tommy Tune and Michael Bolton. ST. FRANCIS PREP ART STUDENTS HAVE WORK EXHIBITED AT THE MET, AND PERFORM A BROADWAY CLASSIC Fresh Meadows, NY -- St. Francis Prep’s Art department has yet again earned some very well-deserved praise, this time from the 2015 The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Nicole Noel and Sun Young Park earned Honorable Mention, Emily Paredes and Alexandra Boodram earned Silver Keys, and Kaisia Menzies, Cyan Daly and Mary Millus earned Gold Keys. Additionally, Mary Millus earned a medal for national recognition. Nationally recognized artists have been identified by panels of creative professionals as the most talented young artists in the nation. On Friday, March 20th, Gold key recipients attended a reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Their work was exhibited in the museum. On Saturday March 21st, Silver and Gold Key recipients received awards at the New School. Mary Millus, our National Medalist, will have the opportunity to attend a ceremony at the world famous Carnegie Hall on Thursday, June 11th. Congratulations to our extraordinary art students! When asked about having her work displayed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, senior Mary Millus talked about the great honor it was to have her art displayed next to her peers who had also been recognized. It allowed her to grasp just how many talented artists there were in New York, and see the vision other students have. To her, it was humbling. Mary hopes to continue her Art sudies collegiately, either at the Rhode Island School of Design or at the Penny W. Stamps Scool of Art and Design at the University of Michigan. When spoeaking aboiut her teachers, she described them as “really supportive,” and that they made their best efforts to help students get their work displayed, and achieve as artists and individuals. She is especially thankful to Prep Art Department Chairperson Jeanne Buccino, her family, and her fellow Art students for being great peers. On Friday, April 17th, Saturday the 18th, and Sunday the 19th, St. Francis Prep’s Alvernian Drama Society will be presenting Leonard Bernstein’s timeless “West Side Story.” Students have been working diligently since February. Directed by veteran faculty member Donna Mejia, this is the second time Prep has mounted a production of “West Side Story” during her tenure. When asked about this version, Mejia spoke about the profound enthusiasm the 78 cast members have. “They don’t want to leave rehearsal.” Visually, this particular production focuses more on the dramatic and dance talents of the students, as the set is particularly minimal. Mejia, herself a trained dancer, spoke of how she has raised the bar in terms of the dancing for this show. There are also some unique elements to this show that don’t have to do with the performance itself. Mejia has started a tradition of inviting the parents of 4-year Alvernian Drama Society members to the Sunday performance to be publically recognized. Mejia has also invited actress Louanna Factora speak to this cast. Louanna, a 2000 Prep graduate, was a member of the 1999 cast that presented the show, and has gone on to perform in Off-Broadway productions and national touring companies. This is part of the culture of Prep, where there is constant giving back to current students. Prep’s production of “West Side Story” runs April 17th at 8PM, Saturday the 18th at 7PM, and Sunday the 19th at 2PM. Ticket are $5 for students and seniors, and $12 for adults. Tickets are available in the school’s Art Department office, or at the door. St. Francis Prep is located at 6100 Francis Lewis Boulevard in Fresh Meadows, and the production will be held in the Brother Ralph Clifford Memorial Auditorium. For more information, please contact the Director of the Alvernian Drama Society, Donna Mejia at (718) 423-8810, x218, or dmejia@ sfponline. org, Prep’s Chairperson of Art, Jeaane Buccino at (718) 423- 8810, x218, or jbuccino@ sfponline. org. l-r, Prep Art Students Alexandra Boodram, Mary Millus, Emily Paredes, Cyan Daly, and Kaisia Menzies Cast members from St. Francis Prep’s current productiopn of “West Side Story”
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