The Marlowsphere (Blog #159)
The Broadway-bound revival of “The Wiz,” a re-telling of the 1900 L. Frank Baum classic with an African American cast, began previews on March 29, 2024, at the Marquis Theatre ahead of an April 17 opening night. No, this isn’t a public relations piece about the show that premiered 50 years ago.... keep reading »
Every year in mid-January the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) hosts a multi-day conference at the Hilton Hotel on West 53rd Street and Avenue of the Americas. It is one of those most important gatherings that brings together performers and their representatives and presenter decision-makers from all parts of the United States and other parts of the planet.... keep reading »
The Marlowsphere (Blog #157)
When it comes to documentaries where the subject is jazz, the American catalogue is full of viewing choices, so much so you come away with the impression that jazz is only performed in the United States and if it is performed elsewhere on the planet, well, how good could it be?... keep reading »
Marlowsphere (Blog #156)
Music serves many functions in society and can be found in almost every corner of everyday life. One such function is “protest.” Protest songs give musical voice to issues dealing with racism, war, civil rights, and women’s rights, among others.
Among the most famous protest songs in western culture is “Strange Fruit” recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939.... keep reading »
Marlowsphere (Blog #155)
In Part I of this blog (posted last week), Female Student (FS) informed us of the inequities she and other females experience vs. males in the Pakistani culture.
EM: What about formal education in Pakistan?
FS: I completed high school in Pakpattan. In that region of Pakistan people are very narrow-minded.... keep reading »