42 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • AUGUST 10, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
buzz
Share your
immigrant story
at Queens Library
& help pave Ellis
Island in gold
BY ANGELA MATUA
amatua@qns.com / @AngelaMatua
Some immigrants were lured to the
United States by rumors that the
streets were paved with gold.
Th e National Park Service (NPS)
will try to make that rumor a reality
with their “Streets Paved With
Gold” exhibit that aims to collect stories
from immigrants citywide. Peter
Wong, supervisory park ranger for
education, came up with the initiative.
“It’s based on the old immigration
adage and because gold is used in so
many immigrant stories we found
that this was appropriate for them to
refl ect on their experience with immigration
on these gold bricks,” he said.
Wong said that NPS is looking to
collect several thousand responses on
gold foil paper to add to the exhibit.
Respondents can choose to write
a letter to their immigrant ancestors,
write a message to immigrants coming
to the country today or write what
they wish they would have known as
immigrants themselves.
Wong added that he asked his
mother, a Chinese immigrant who
has lived in the United States for 35
years, to participate and that the two
had “the most meaningful conversation
on her immigrant story based on
those questions.”
“People have connected to it,” he
said. “If you could see their faces,
they were asking them questions that
they’ve never really thought about,
that delve so deep. Th ey put up so
many walls. Th ese are questions they
haven’t really been asked about.”
NPS has been collecting stories at
libraries around the city and will visit
two Queens libraries in the coming
weeks. On Aug. 7 from 1:30 p.m. to
7 p.m., you can share your story at
the Rochdale Village branch at 169-
09 137th Ave.
On Aug. 14, NPS will be collecting
stories at the Jackson Heights branch
at 35-51 81st St. from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wong said the responses can be
about 150 words and people should
respond in whatever language they
feel the most comfortable using. Th ey
can also send responses to streetspavedwithgold@
nps.gov. NPS will print
out the emails and put them on the
gold foil paper.
So far, they have collected stories
and advice in more than 30 languages.
Th e exhibit will open sometime next
fall and NPS is still working out the
logistics, Wong said.
The “Cool Considerate Men” belt out the Act I fi nale.
JC Players’ “1776” Still Rings True in 2017
In a stirring tribute to the founders
of the Declaration of Independence,
the JC Players very proudly present the
Tony award winning musical “1776”.
Concluding their fi nale with a powerful
“God Bless America,” the troupe reminds
us that our country’s place in history is a
proud, ever-changing process that is still
evolving aft er 241 years.
Th e Auriemma family takes the reins
both onstage and off . Director Barbara
Auriemma makes the most of a relatively
small stage and auditorium. Th e end
result is a powerful, productive theatrical
evening. Musical Director Frank
Auriemma, along with bassist Edward
Voyer never miss a beat for more than
two hours.
Our ever bold forefather John Adams
is played with intensity and intelligence
by Frank B. Auriemma. He is musically
challenged by Annice Auriemma who
portrays bitter, angry congressman John
Dickinson. A genuinely fi erce musical
attack by southern slaveholders versus
northern capitalists is off ered by Austin
Auriemma as Edward Rutledge.
Th e Hinz family also make signifi cant
contributions. Christine Hinz is choreographer
and actor while Charles and
Charles P. Hinz both perform onstage.
Julia Marshall and Scott Marshall are the
young courier and Reverend Jonathan
Witherspoon, respectively. Th e delegate
from New York, is played with a sweet
sense of humor by Melanie Pozarycki.
Exuberant Alicia Brosky “patriotic-Lee”
sings and swaggers as Virginian Richard
Henry Lee. Meanwhile, Christopher
Brosky also handles lighting chores. Of
course, worldly wise founding father
Benjamin Franklin is played with a clear,
clever purpose by local community veteran
Alan Perkins. Another unmistakable
American hero, Th omas Jeff erson,
is Drew Harnedy who sings with patriotic
perseverance. Mark York is humorous
without losing historical perspective.
Amy Ellis portrays long suff ering but
devoted wife Abigail Adams. Elizabeth
Grumley absolutely lights up the stage
as Martha Jeff erson. Kudos to the entire
cast and crew including Guy Caraturo,
Miriam P. Denu, Alison Duignan, Beatrice
Miranda Holman, Richard Miller, Dennis
Popp, Jennifer Silverman, Jillian Smith,
Steve Stromberg, Alison Goldman,
Matthew Ahrens and Jess Ronzo.
Don’t miss this warm, wonderful production.
For information on the troupe
and the current schedules for this great
musical which will be housed in two separate
venues, call (718) 894-8654, surf
to www.jcplayers.com or “like” them on
Facebook. As always, save me a seat on
the aisle.
A VIEW FROM
THE CLIFF
BY CLIFF KASDEN
Alan Perkins (at left) as Ben Franklin with Frank B. Auriemma as John Adams.