Arts & Entertainment

By Christopher A. Pape &
Narbeh Minassian

As an editor of a travel magazine in the Hamptons, I am no stranger to emails offering getaway trips. Without meaning to boast, what are usually rare opportunities are fairly commonplace in my professional life. This privilege, while thoroughly enjoyed, tends to raise the standards of even the most humble editor as we become increasingly difficult to please. We are a demanding breed, I admit. Any approval from our spoilt bunch should therefore be given the utmost respect, and it should, therefore, be taken with no pinch of salt when I wax lyrical over my trip to the Hamptons courtesy of Zipcar and Universal Auto Sports.

By Elvis Duran

August is my birthday month, so Christopher Pape, the wonderful editor of this magazine, thought it might be fun for me to write about my favorite celebration songs. While brainstorming my celebration list, I couldn’t stop myself from singing Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration” over and over, which is the absolute LAST song I want to hear on my birthday. Cellllllllllebrate good times- come on! Let’s celebrate. After much deliberation I finally decided my favorite song to rock out to Lady GaGa’s “Just Dance”. I was listening to the song when an email popped up in my inbox, totally distracting me from writing this, and reminded me of my next board meeting for a charity I am involved with, Rock & Rawhide.

By Barry Bassis

To kick off the 50th anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater, the Public Theater has chosen well. “As You Like It” is a bucolic comedy that is ideal for outdoor staging in the middle of Central Park. The Bard’s comedies are somewhat uneven but, as directed by Daniel Sullivan, the play is filled with verve and humor. The action has been moved to the American frontier in the 19th century and this conceit works quite well, especially because of the terrific bluegrass score by Steve Martin and the magical set by John Lee Beatty. “As You Like It” has one of those unmotivated grudges that turns up in some of Shakespeare’s works. Here, it is the enmity that Oliver (Omar Metwally) feels toward his younger brother, Orlando (David Furr). There is also a pair of Dukes (both played by Andre Braugher), one of whom banishes the other. Intertwined are various romances and some cross-dressing. Rosalind/Ganymede (Lily Rabe in another dazzling performance) is in love with Orlando. The hilarious Oliver Platt as Touchstone pursues goatherd Audrey (Donna Lynne Champlin). Finally, the shepherd Silvius (Will Rogers) falls for the shepherdess Phoebe (Susannah Flood), whose affections are initially directed elsewhere. Also adding spice are Renee Elise Goldsberry as Celia, Rosalind’s cousin and companion (an unusually plucky rendition of a character who in other productions often comes across as bland) and Stephen Spinella as the melancholy Jaques, who delivers the Ages of Man speech (“All the world’s a stage…”). Director Sullivan even evokes laughter where there are no funny lines and the evening ends on a high note with a hoedown. The run is over but next up at Shakespeare in the Park is Stephen Sondheim’s fairy tale musical “Into the Woods,” which should be another winner.

By Barry Bassis

Pianist Chick Corea and vibraphonist Gary Burton first played together at a jazz festival in Germany in 1972, when they joined for a spur of the moment encore. They jelled so well that they made a recording a couple of months later. Over the last 40 years, they have made eight recordings. Their latest CD, “Hot House” (on Concord Jazz) is being released on September 4th and the two are on tour together. The new recording is made up mostly of songs by composers they admire from the 1940’s to the 1960’s. “Can’t We Just Be Friends” is notable for some stride piano, performed by Corea as a tribute to Art Tatum, who recorded the tune. There is a moody version of Lennon and McCartney’s “Eleanor Rigby.” The title track is a bebop classic by Tadd Dameron and “Light Blue” is a rarely performed Thelonious Monk tune with a second chorus of melody by Corea. “My Ship” is a lovely Kurt Weill song, popularized as a jazz piece by Miles Davis and Gil Evans. There are also two pieces by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Brazil’s greatest songwriter. This album should be a contender for next year’s Grammy Awards. On August 26th, Chick Corea and Gary Burton will perform together at Tanglewood Festival in Lenox, Massachusetts.

Color. Most people love it, but shy away from it when it comes to using it in their homes. Color often evokes the thought that a space is going to be loud if too much is used. But that doesn’t have to be the case. The trick, like in anything, is to find a balance between the really intense colors and those that are less intense. When this balance is successfully achieved the effect is more often times than not a peaceful, cozy interior.

By Christopher A. Pape

Have you ever had the chance to meet your idol? The one person with whom you feel intrinsically connected; who when you see their face or hear their voice, a smile is formed. I recently had that opportunity. As the daughter of two of the most beloved Hollywood royalty, she is a testament to classic beauty, but also to perseverance and hard-fought respect and admiration. She is one of only thirteen people to win an Emmy, Tony, Oscar and Grammy; she is the epitome of stage presence and a lover of good music.

By Christopher Pape
Photos by Carol Seitz

Kitty Pilgrim of CNN fame is now a published novelist. And I’m jealous. I’m jealous of her beauty, talent and wherewithal to sit down and actually conceive of and actualize her two novels, The Explorer’s Code and The Stolen Chalice.

By Christopher A. Pape

Karine Bakhoum, an Iron Chef America judge and owner of the successful restaurant public relations firm, KB Network News, knows food. From early childhood she as exposed to and feel in love with all aspects of the craft.

By Christopher A. Pape

Alexia Landeau, of 2 Days in Paris and Marie Antoinette fame, has just co-written and starred in a new movie aptly named, 2 Days in New York, a sequel to the Paris hit. As a New Yorker with French roots, she is able to move between both worlds seamlessly and does so in both movies.

By Christopher Pape

Broadway Baby, Bernadette Peters, has captivated generations of Americans with her thrilling voice, exquisite acting and stunning beauty. When I first heard that I had the opportunity to interview her, I was over-the-moon with joy and couldn’t wait to speak with her! I was so happy that I did. She was gracious, lovely and passionate about Broadway Barks, the organization in which she co-founded with Mary Tyler Moore and has just been honored with a special Tony for her hard work and dedication to giving back.