Help us Celebrate 10 years of real Asbury Park theatrics. Come to Chico's House of Jazz tomorrow at 3 pm for libations, nibbles and live entertainment. Print out this flyer for 10% discount. more at http://www.blackboxap.org/
- The Voice of Asbury Park ~ matters vital to justice, environment, equality, culture and pursuit of happiness.
Showing posts with label arts in Asbury Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arts in Asbury Park. Show all posts
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Pioneering Arts Group Celebrates 10 Years in Asbury Park on Dec 5th
It all began with a knock at 3 Deal Lake Court. "You're Maureen Nevin and I hear you know everybody in Asbury Park," the delicate green-eyed brunette said. "I'm Terri Thomas," she sang out in a lilting British accent. "I'm an actress and coloratura soprano and I want to create a Black Box here."
Soprano, thought Nevin, that would explain the voice. Having an hour of air time to fill for her new radio show each week, Nevin had met quite a few people in town. She invited Thomas inside.
"But how would that work?" she asked. "Do you peak inside the box like an antique film projector?"
"Not exactly," said Thomas, accepting a cup of Earl Grey from her host. The concept was common in the United Kingdom, Thomas' long-time home. "A black box is a small, plain -- in fact black -- performance space, so versatile that it easily morphs to accommodate a variety of productions; poetry and spoken word readings, script-in-hand play readings, jazz combos and chamber ensembles, one-person shows, works in progress and small plays..."
Nevin dictated about six or eight names and numbers and Thomas hit the pavement never stopping until she had secured a storefront on Cookman Avenue and opened her Black Box. That was ten years ago. Today, the Black Box of Asbury Park is an arts incubator helping to nurture new works and encourage writers and performers who might otherwise slip through the cracks. A not-for-profit, the Black Box is recognized by the Monmouth County Arts Council for its long list of credits for helping to produce plays, hosting women's festivals, musical productions and weekly writers' workshops. And, the Box hopes to enter its next phase with a brand new home courtesy of Carter Sackman and Trip Brooks, city developers, who are restoring the historic 500 Building of Cookman Avenue.
December 5th, from 3 - 6 PM, supporters will celebrate the Black Box's anniversary at Chico's House of Jazz, 631 Lake Avenue, Asbury Park. The event features an open bar from 3 - 4 pm with refreshments, courtesy of Wegman's, and entertainment MC'd by Ocean Mile actor Steve (Gary) Hirsekorn: Greg (Buster) Lega on piano, Mary Hirsekorn, of Neptune City, on vocals, and the Chico's House Band with Rosemary (Marilyn) Conte, and more surprises...
Tickets are $40 until Dec.3, and $48 at door, available online at www.BlackBoxAP.org, or checks payable to the Black Box of Asbury Park, can be mailed PO Box 955, Asbury Park, NJ 07712. Email tickets@BlackBoxAP.org, or call Maureen at 732-774-0779
Soprano, thought Nevin, that would explain the voice. Having an hour of air time to fill for her new radio show each week, Nevin had met quite a few people in town. She invited Thomas inside.
"But how would that work?" she asked. "Do you peak inside the box like an antique film projector?"
"Not exactly," said Thomas, accepting a cup of Earl Grey from her host. The concept was common in the United Kingdom, Thomas' long-time home. "A black box is a small, plain -- in fact black -- performance space, so versatile that it easily morphs to accommodate a variety of productions; poetry and spoken word readings, script-in-hand play readings, jazz combos and chamber ensembles, one-person shows, works in progress and small plays..."
Nevin dictated about six or eight names and numbers and Thomas hit the pavement never stopping until she had secured a storefront on Cookman Avenue and opened her Black Box. That was ten years ago. Today, the Black Box of Asbury Park is an arts incubator helping to nurture new works and encourage writers and performers who might otherwise slip through the cracks. A not-for-profit, the Black Box is recognized by the Monmouth County Arts Council for its long list of credits for helping to produce plays, hosting women's festivals, musical productions and weekly writers' workshops. And, the Box hopes to enter its next phase with a brand new home courtesy of Carter Sackman and Trip Brooks, city developers, who are restoring the historic 500 Building of Cookman Avenue.
December 5th, from 3 - 6 PM, supporters will celebrate the Black Box's anniversary at Chico's House of Jazz, 631 Lake Avenue, Asbury Park. The event features an open bar from 3 - 4 pm with refreshments, courtesy of Wegman's, and entertainment MC'd by Ocean Mile actor Steve (Gary) Hirsekorn: Greg (Buster) Lega on piano, Mary Hirsekorn, of Neptune City, on vocals, and the Chico's House Band with Rosemary (Marilyn) Conte, and more surprises...
Tickets are $40 until Dec.3, and $48 at door, available online at www.BlackBoxAP.org, or checks payable to the Black Box of Asbury Park, can be mailed PO Box 955, Asbury Park, NJ 07712. Email tickets@BlackBoxAP.org, or call Maureen at 732-774-0779
Sunday, July 11, 2010
ReVision's "Tommy" is Steamy Hot!!
Maureen Nevin on Revision Theatre's Production of Tommy at the copper-roofed Carousel House in Asbury Park:
Tommy was searing!! All the vitriol Tommy (played by first Jack and Andrew Newsome and later Marshal Kennedy Carolan) couldn't articulate in the first half, Cousin Kevin (played to perfection by William J. Lewis) took and electrified the stage with until Carolan found his voice in the second half of the show. Then he pumped the tempo even higher, exploding (from that lovely six-pack torso) with all the passionate rage smoldering and building until then. Great acting and direction.
The set: look up and you tell me. A rotting vestage of childhood lost? Tom, did you find that in the Carousel House? Great job all around!
Tommy was searing!! All the vitriol Tommy (played by first Jack and Andrew Newsome and later Marshal Kennedy Carolan) couldn't articulate in the first half, Cousin Kevin (played to perfection by William J. Lewis) took and electrified the stage with until Carolan found his voice in the second half of the show. Then he pumped the tempo even higher, exploding (from that lovely six-pack torso) with all the passionate rage smoldering and building until then. Great acting and direction.
The set: look up and you tell me. A rotting vestage of childhood lost? Tom, did you find that in the Carousel House? Great job all around!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Comment on Palace Amusements Demise
Dear Maureen:
Thank you for posting Kathryn Bevacqua's inventory of the 1888 Carousel House and the Palace Amusement's treasures that were destroyed through what is apparently neglect by the City of Asbury Park. For those of us who have been involved in trying to save all the treasures of the Asbury Park waterfront, this outcome could have been predicted as far back as 1994 when my husband and I first moved to Ocean Grove.
Our apartment on Ocean Avenue overlooked The Palace Amusements, the Casino with its lovely art nouveau Carousel House and Wesley Lake. Yes, they were all in pretty bad shape but they still possessed an astounding - if eerie - beauty. So beautiful, in fact, local artists continually painted and photographed the waterfront and "Tillie" and other examples of Asbury Americana. Those art works were (and continue to be) on display in antique stores and galleries and restaurants.Intrigued by Asbury Park and its connections to Ocean Grove, I joined the Citizens for Wesley Lake where I eventually became secretary of the organization and worked on the painting of the footbridges and raised money to place fountains in the center of the lake. Later on, I joined the Historical Society of Asbury Park.
It was through CWL that I first met Werner Baumgartner, who at the time, I believe, was Vice President of the organization and the modern founder of the HSAP. I was immediately impressed by his vast knowledge of Asbury's history and his brilliant articulation of the myriad problems facing the town and redevelopment. I would even go so far as to say that Werner is a visionary. And that, of course, is what disturbs and infuriates those who cannot see what he sees.
Now, I'm no visionary, and I don't know much about art, but I know what I like: those lost and fading treasures we thought were safely entombed within the Public Works office. I believe there is a lot of blame to spread around regarding this mess, including individuals such as myself who were way too slow to action.
Paradoxically, I was the first person on the scene at 6:00 am in 2004 when the demolition began on the Palace. I was alerted to this by an Ocean Grove pal who was rattled out of her bed by the sound of bulldozers. This was a startling development: the demolition was scheduled for 8:00 am. Why was the time changed? Was it to get the drop on activist-citizens who planned to rally at that exact hour while others sought a court injunction?
By the time I called Werner and others, the destruction was well underway and I was advised by police to move away from the scene. Such a sad morning and I strongly remember Werner's grief and frustration at the waste.
But it wasn't just the ordinary residents of the area who were to blame. Much of the fault lies with a truly supine media that ignored every indication of the wholesale destruction that was to come. By media I mean: The Asbury Park Press, the Coaster and the Tri-City News. The Asbury Park Press and the Coaster blindly supported the redevelopment plans while Tri-City waffled back and forth, finally settling on a countdown to the death of "Tillie" and a foolish editorial stance that suggested the world-famous Stone Pony be removed from its Ocean Avenue location and resettled in the downtown area. Luckily, that brain child never came to fruition.
Meanwhile, the APP reporters never failed to call concerned and intelligent tax payers who gathered at City Council meetings "gadflies", while the Coaster took up precious newspaper space to publish a photograph of Werner's (a private citizen, mind you) house after he received several code violations. What was the purpose of that except to embarrass the City Historian? I always thought that backfired since the photo showed a lovely Victorian house that fairly glowed with mellowed charm.
In the end, of course, the lion's share of blame must lie with the past and present City Councils who were so giddy at the prospect of redevelopment and tax ratables, they were deaf to all reasoned arguments that challenged the perceived wisdom of out-of-town developers, the felonious City Manager, Terrance Weldon, unlicensed city planners, builders and perhaps worst of all, the lawyers who followed in their wake.
As Addie says in Lillian Hellman's underappreciated play "The Little Foxes": "Well, there are people who eat the earth and eat all the people on it - then there are people who stand around and watch them eat it...sometimes I think it ain't right to stand and watch them do it."
You said it, sister.
Maire Martello
Thank you for posting Kathryn Bevacqua's inventory of the 1888 Carousel House and the Palace Amusement's treasures that were destroyed through what is apparently neglect by the City of Asbury Park. For those of us who have been involved in trying to save all the treasures of the Asbury Park waterfront, this outcome could have been predicted as far back as 1994 when my husband and I first moved to Ocean Grove.
Our apartment on Ocean Avenue overlooked The Palace Amusements, the Casino with its lovely art nouveau Carousel House and Wesley Lake. Yes, they were all in pretty bad shape but they still possessed an astounding - if eerie - beauty. So beautiful, in fact, local artists continually painted and photographed the waterfront and "Tillie" and other examples of Asbury Americana. Those art works were (and continue to be) on display in antique stores and galleries and restaurants.Intrigued by Asbury Park and its connections to Ocean Grove, I joined the Citizens for Wesley Lake where I eventually became secretary of the organization and worked on the painting of the footbridges and raised money to place fountains in the center of the lake. Later on, I joined the Historical Society of Asbury Park.
It was through CWL that I first met Werner Baumgartner, who at the time, I believe, was Vice President of the organization and the modern founder of the HSAP. I was immediately impressed by his vast knowledge of Asbury's history and his brilliant articulation of the myriad problems facing the town and redevelopment. I would even go so far as to say that Werner is a visionary. And that, of course, is what disturbs and infuriates those who cannot see what he sees.
Now, I'm no visionary, and I don't know much about art, but I know what I like: those lost and fading treasures we thought were safely entombed within the Public Works office. I believe there is a lot of blame to spread around regarding this mess, including individuals such as myself who were way too slow to action.
Paradoxically, I was the first person on the scene at 6:00 am in 2004 when the demolition began on the Palace. I was alerted to this by an Ocean Grove pal who was rattled out of her bed by the sound of bulldozers. This was a startling development: the demolition was scheduled for 8:00 am. Why was the time changed? Was it to get the drop on activist-citizens who planned to rally at that exact hour while others sought a court injunction?
By the time I called Werner and others, the destruction was well underway and I was advised by police to move away from the scene. Such a sad morning and I strongly remember Werner's grief and frustration at the waste.
But it wasn't just the ordinary residents of the area who were to blame. Much of the fault lies with a truly supine media that ignored every indication of the wholesale destruction that was to come. By media I mean: The Asbury Park Press, the Coaster and the Tri-City News. The Asbury Park Press and the Coaster blindly supported the redevelopment plans while Tri-City waffled back and forth, finally settling on a countdown to the death of "Tillie" and a foolish editorial stance that suggested the world-famous Stone Pony be removed from its Ocean Avenue location and resettled in the downtown area. Luckily, that brain child never came to fruition.
Meanwhile, the APP reporters never failed to call concerned and intelligent tax payers who gathered at City Council meetings "gadflies", while the Coaster took up precious newspaper space to publish a photograph of Werner's (a private citizen, mind you) house after he received several code violations. What was the purpose of that except to embarrass the City Historian? I always thought that backfired since the photo showed a lovely Victorian house that fairly glowed with mellowed charm.
In the end, of course, the lion's share of blame must lie with the past and present City Councils who were so giddy at the prospect of redevelopment and tax ratables, they were deaf to all reasoned arguments that challenged the perceived wisdom of out-of-town developers, the felonious City Manager, Terrance Weldon, unlicensed city planners, builders and perhaps worst of all, the lawyers who followed in their wake.
As Addie says in Lillian Hellman's underappreciated play "The Little Foxes": "Well, there are people who eat the earth and eat all the people on it - then there are people who stand around and watch them eat it...sometimes I think it ain't right to stand and watch them do it."
You said it, sister.
Maire Martello
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Asbury Park's Exiled Historian Faces Jail Again
Werner Baumgartner, the city's only officially designated historian to date, goes to court again tomorrow for another hearing in a long series that has been running for at least two years, since a bogus 911 caller reported a dead body in Baumgartner's basement. The caller has never been identified. The charges -- all relating to building code violations against Baumgartner's home -- also carry jail terms.
Not unlike most historians Baumgartner is a frequent outspoken critic of developers, builders and City officials. He has racked up dozens of summonses for violations for infractions ranging from not mowing his lawn in a timely fashion and cracks in his sidewalk or driveway to not placing a railing on his porch. The fines, at $1250 a piece carry possible jail sentences of 30 days each. Municipal Court Judge Mark Apostolou sent the historian to jail twice before, once for a long weekend and later for a 30-day sentence during which the inmates gave Baumgartner the nickname "Porch".
At one time Baumgartner had 19 fresh summonses. Code officials were reportedly on the property again yesterday.
The historian says any money he would have earmarked for making improvements is going to pay the fines to keep him out of jail. In this spiraling downward slide, the fines appear to be winning.
Not unlike most historians Baumgartner is a frequent outspoken critic of developers, builders and City officials. He has racked up dozens of summonses for violations for infractions ranging from not mowing his lawn in a timely fashion and cracks in his sidewalk or driveway to not placing a railing on his porch. The fines, at $1250 a piece carry possible jail sentences of 30 days each. Municipal Court Judge Mark Apostolou sent the historian to jail twice before, once for a long weekend and later for a 30-day sentence during which the inmates gave Baumgartner the nickname "Porch".
At one time Baumgartner had 19 fresh summonses. Code officials were reportedly on the property again yesterday.
The historian says any money he would have earmarked for making improvements is going to pay the fines to keep him out of jail. In this spiraling downward slide, the fines appear to be winning.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Award Winning Artist Launches Website
Jean Johnson, the award-winning artist who heads up the Art Dept. at Asbury Park High School, has launched her own website. Check it out at http://www.jeanjohnsonartist.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)