SummerStage 2011 in Central Park
Written by Film FestivalTraveler Staff Monday, 06 June 2011 00:00
SummerStage 2011 runs from June 7 - September 2, 2011 at the MainStage in Rumsey 
Playfield in Central Park, with additional performances and attractions at East River Park, Marcus Garvey Park, Tompkins Square Park, and 12 other parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City.
Summer in the City is not all air-conditioned offices and sizzling sidewalks. Thanks to SummerStage, performances ranging from American pop, Latin and world music to dance, spoken word and family programs fill a vital niche in New York City’s summer arts festival landscape.
Some of the main events are:
Motown Meets NYC, a special fundraising event taking place in Central Park on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Hosted by Colman Domingo, 2011 Tony Nominee and Obie Winner, performing artists include:
- Dennis Edwards of The Temptations
- Martha Reeves of Martha and The Vandellas
- Percy Sledge
- New York Pops with Music Director Steven Reineke
For the third year, Istanbulive, an all-day showcase of Turkish music takes place at 
Rumsey Playfield. Istanbulive brings together one of the largest-ever assemblies of musicians from Turkey on an American stage and presents the most diverse live music the nation has to offer. Istanbulive III is supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
A new live show by comedian/ musician/ bon vivant Reggie Watts and Natasha Leggero will play the MainStage as well.
An avowed "disinformationist," Watts improvises musical sets on the spot, using only his voice and a looping machine. No two songs are ever the same.
And when Leggero is not acting in such series as Chelsea Lately and Ugly Americans, she tours the country as a standup comedian, having appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
The sounds of Africa come alive with performances by:
- Hugh Masekela, legendary South African composer, trumpeter and innovator
- Freshlyground, international pop musicians best known for their Shakira collaboration/World Cup Anthem "Waka Waka"
- Somi, Ugandan jazz vocalist
Other presentations include:
Everybody Loves the Sunshine, a series of unique commissioned works celebrating be-bop icon Roy Ayers‛ 70th birthday, featuring spirited re-interpretations of his classic works by the Jazz Mafia and a performance by Roy Ayers.
For theater enthusiasts, SummerStage has commissioned two distinctive theater pieces from up and coming playwrights:
- Mando Alvarado Sangre, a spirited re-envisioning of Federico García Lorca’s classic Blood Wedding
- Chisa Hutchinson Tunde’s Trumpet is a family-friendly musical featuring a cast of puppets.
Other theater performances are:
- Indomitable: James Brown, a testament to the musical, political and entrepreneurial impact of Brown
- Classical Theatre of Harlem interprets Shakespeare’s King Henry V
- The Faux-Real Theatre Company, known for their plays set in unique environments, perform two Greek classics, Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Aeschylus’ Seven Against Thebes
Dance aficionados can enjoy 14 Free SummerStage Dance performances is a wide array of genres, including tap, hip-hop, step, modern, flamenco and salsa. Among them are:
- the world premiere, live in Central Park, of a new work commissioned by New York's SummerStage: UnEasy, created by choreographer Karole Armitage with music composed and performed by Vijay Iyer. Also featuring Liberty Ellman, guitar; Okkyung Lee, cello; Kassa Overall, drums.
- Tap legend Omar Edwards with his company, Passion of Tap
- Contemporary dance superstar Keigwin + Company restage Bolero NYC with a cast of 50 dancers
- Up-and-coming choreographer Darrel Grand Moultrie presents the world premiere of his new company, Dance Grand Moultrie with a series of original works
- Hip-Hop Master Class with members of Shlank Squad, Elite Force and Ladies of Hip Hop
Musical highlights for this season include:
- The Silk Road Project featuring Yo-Yo Ma, the Silk Road Ensemble and Silk Road Connect Students
- hip-hop legends EPMD, Funkmaster Flex, Talib Kweli and Rakim
- contemporary R&B stars Ryan Leslie, Chrisette Michele and Jagged Edge
- indie rockers We Are Scientists and Friendly Fires
- politically-charged reggae star Tiken Jah Fakoly
- gospel greats Hezekiah Walker and Donald Lawrence
- a global cast of the best Latin rockers, salseros and bachata singers including Jarabe De Palo, Chocquibtown, Joe Bataan, Johnny Colón, and Henry Santos
- jazz greats Toots Thielmans and the Archie Shepp Quartet
- Lee Fields & The Expressions / Fitz & The Tantrums / KING / Rich Medina
- Levon Helm Band and Emmylou Harris with Special Guest Hayes Carll
- Shelebration! A Tribute to the Works of Shel Silverstein, Produced by Hal Willner
Pink Martini encompasses a multilingual, international style of music that blends the band members‛ diverse multi-national backgrounds. By drawing inspiration from music from all over the world, and crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop, the band has referred to itself as "musical archeologists, digging through recordings and scores of years past and rediscovering beautiful songs."
The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival annually assembles some of the finest musicians in the world who reflect Parker’s musical individuality and genius, to promote appreciation for this highly influential and world-renowned artist. Two days of free concerts take place in neighborhoods where Charlie Parker lived and worked: in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park and the Lower East Side’s Tompkins Square Park. Featured artists include:
- Toots Thielemans
- James Carter
- Tia Fuller
- Cécile Mclorin Salvant
- Archie Shepp Quartet
- Madeleine Peyroux
- Anat Cohen
- the Gerald Clayton Trio
Wanda Jackson / Imelda May
As a recent inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for her pivotal role in the evolution of popular music, Jackson was the first woman to perform unadulterated rock and roll. Imelda May also performs.
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series presents six performances. This Recital features rising stars Angela Meade (soprano), Dimitri Pittas (tenor), Jennifer Johnson Cano (mezzo-soprano) accompanied by pianist Bradley Moore.
Documentary Film at Central Park Summerstage
Films featured include:
- Elza – The closing night film of The 9th Cine Fest Petrobras Brasil NY is directors Izabel Jaguaribe and Ernesto Baldan’s groundbreaking documentary, preceded by a live performance by Brazilian samba superstar Mart’nália.
- Gainsbourg and His Girls – A study of one of France's most provocative and cherished figures, French singer-songwriter, actor and director Serge Gainsbourg. He composed for some of the most iconic vocalists, including Brigitte Bardot, Jane Birkin and Vanessa Paradis. Preceded by live performances from Ben L’Oncle Soul and Catherine Ringer.
- We like it like That: The Story of Latin Boogaloo – Called the "King of Latin Soul," Joe Bataan was influenced by the sounds of doo-wop and the energy of Latin music that were the hallmarks of his Spanish Harlem neighborhood. Thanks to Fania Records, Bataan became a major force in the Latin Boogaloo music scene.
For refreshment, Brooklyn Flea returns to Central Park, making it that much easier for audiences to eat and drink well while enjoying great performances.
"I am thrilled to have the Flea back at SummerStage. It was my hope to raise the quality of food offerings at the festival, and the Flea exceeded even my expectations," said SummerStage General Manager Rachel Black.
This is only a sample of the many performances happening at Central Park‛s MainStage. Many other events take place at other venues in the five boroughs.
For more information, visit www.SummerStage.org.
SummerStage
June 7 - September 2, 2011
Central Park
Rumsey Playfield
Fifth Avenue at 69th Street
New York City
East River Park
Montgomery Street to East 12th Street
FDR Drive
Manhattan
Marcus Garvey Park
120th St. to 124th St.
(betw. Lenox Ave. and Park Ave.)
Manhattan
212-860-1394
Tompkins Square Park
Avenues A to B, and
E 7th to E 10th Streets
Manhattan
