Tribute to composer Peter Schickele, his PDQ Bach persona, Fargo roots; and a Plains Folk essay. Travel tips from Alicia Underlee Nelson on the April 8 solar eclipse.
Guys and Dolls reunion and
Stars in the House aims to pass the $1 million mark.
First of all, Iâm starting to perform in person
again. I m so excited! I just booked my deconstructing show, aka
Sethâs Big Fat Broadway Show, in Rochester for July 17th and 18th. Come see me deconstruct Patti, Ben Platt, Whitney Houston, Barbra, Billy Porter, Betty Buckley, and more. Tickets are here.
So many reunions on
Iâll focus on two for this weekâs column; the first is the fabulous
Dreamgirls concert that I put on for The Actors Fund back in 2001. FYI, Billy Porter played Jimmy Early, but he couldnât make it to the reunion because he was on a TV set. As he texted me about himself, âSheâs directing now.â (#Sass) Hereâs the entire episode.
Following the Banking on Style Competition, The Competing Designers Continue to Push Their Brands to New Heights
Sponsored by Chase
Chase’s Banking on Style Competition, launched in December 2019 in a partnership between ESSENCE, Chase, and American lifestyle brand, Lands’ End, came to a close in November after naming designer Deidre Jefferies as its winner. While the victory earned Jefferies a $10,000 cash award towards advancing her luxury line, ESPION Atelier, the program served to highlight and provide resources to all three talented designers involved.
Jefferies and competitors Sergio Hudson and Undra Duncan were selected to compete by designing a workwear capsule collection. The results were equally unique collections that fused the personality of each designer with that of Chase. “The designers really nailed the creativity and progressive vision Black creators bring to the table, as well as expanded the reach of Black style,” Cori Murray, Entertainment & Talent Dire