FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 61
buzz
“Rent” at Secret Theatre
LIC Flea & Food’s Queens Beer Festival set for October return
BY QNS STAFF
On Oct. 5 and 6, the LIC Flea & Food’s
4th Annual Queens Beer Festival will
off er the best craft beer makers in the
state with the tastiest culinary cooks in
a gorgeous, harvest fair ambiance, and
so much more. Revel in endless pours of
ales, saisons, pilsners, IPAs, lagers, porters,
ciders, stouts and more — all enjoyed
in the fresh air while taking in the waterfront
and the Manhattan skyline.
Th is event will give you the unprecedented
chance to experience the best
brews from 20 top-notch breweries from
all fi ve boroughs, plus Long Island and
upstate, as well as a selection of local and
international fare available for purchase,
from Memphis Seoul BBQ to Gaucho
Burger Company, just to name a few.
With the best sips and sups all in one
place for you to devour and imbibe, this is
what fall in NYC is all about!
Your Ticket Includes:
Admission to Queens Beer Festival
with a choice of Session 1 (12:30 to 2:30
p.m.) or Session 2 (3:30 to 5:30 p.m.) on
Saturday, Oct. 5, or on Sunday, Oct. 6
Two hours or two and a half hours of unlimited
tastings of curated local and regional beers
from Big aLICe, Rockaway Brewing, Brewery
Omeggang, LIC Beer Project, Greenport
Harbor Brewing and more
Gourmet eats available for purchase
Live DJ performance
A souvenir tasting glass to take home
Tickets start at just $39 and can be purchased
at www.QueensBeerFest.com. Use
code QNS for 10 percent off your ticket
purchase.
LIC Flea & Food is open on specifi c
dates Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.
until 6 p.m. and is located at 5-25 46th
Ave. in Long Island City, at the corner of
Fift h Street and 46th Avenue. For more
information and to RSVP for a chance to
win Flea Bucks to spend at the market,
visit www.LICFlea.com.
A hauntingly beautiful portrait of
youthful angst and optimism is currently
on stage at the Secret Th eatre.
Th e classical 1890s opera “La Boheme”
is the inspiration for Jonathan Larson’s
1990s rock opera “Rent,” which is thrilling
audiences at the Long Island City theatre.
At Saturday evening’s performance,
the talented cast displayed limitless energy.
Th eir characters show complex, oft en
opposing feelings of love and distrust as
they sing complicated vocal harmonies.
Roger (Kurt Phelan) is a tortured musician
writing his farewell melody. Mimi’s
(Alex Lugo) love for Roger is interrupted
by unresolved attractions for her former
boyfriend — a now -cheming landlord
Benny (Saidu Sinlah) — and hardcore
drugs.
Lugo’s charisma and ability to rivet the
audience is palpable. Documentary photographer
Mark (Evan Maltby) has the
best opportunity to escape the group’s
bleak existence. But will he?
Strong-willed Maureen (Miriam
Pultro) and equally strong Joanne (Jade
Litaker) off er a powerful, dramatic backbone
for the entire production. Th e most
heart-wrenching performance is given by
Jordan Ho as fragile Angel.
A deathly ill drag queen, Angel is supported
without hesitation by Tom Collins
(Kedrick Faulk). Angel’s ultimately fatal
vulnerability becomes the story’s turning
point and what could be perceived as a
societal warning.
Th e mark of a professional troupe
includes watching any supporting player
at any time and noting how completely
engaged they remain in the story line.
A look at Rori Nogee as both “Mom”
and ensemble player shows her extremely
intense and believable support for the
main action.
Well-deserved bows as well to actors
Kate Anderson-Song, Morgan Bartholick,
Lisbeth Celis, Donavon Chambers, Kiara
“KiKi” Davis, Christopher Alexey Diaz,
Darion Matthews, Bryan Songy and
Anthony Logan Cole.
As expected, the Secret Th eatre off ers
another well-polished, highly professional
presentation.
Acknowledgements to Director Lauren
Elder, Executive Producer Richard Mazda
and Musical Director Justin Baldridge
(with band players Eddy Marshall,
Matthew De Maria and Laura Hamel).
“Th ough it is now a period piece…its
message still rings true and touches the
hearts of all who experience it,” Elder said.
Kudos to the entire production
team (Joe Reault, Kurt Phelan, Natalie
Chernicoff , Kate Anderson-song, Cesar
Renero, Claire McClain, George Ibanez,
Jonathan Cottle, Antonio Consuegra and
Patrick Budris).
For information on this and future productions,
visit www.secrettheatre.com,
call (718) 392-0722, and follow the theatre
on Facebook and other social media
platforms.
Photo courtesy of Festival Media
A VIEW FROM
THE CLIFF
BY CLIFF KASDEN
Courtesy of Secret Theatre
Evan Maltby as Mark and Kurt Phelan as Roger.
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