New Single "Up On The Roof" - Luke Cissell

A GRAMMY® first-round entry for Best Arrangement (Instrumental or A Capella), "Up On The Roof" by Luke Cissell '02 is an instrumental (violin/viola) cover of the Carole King / Gerry Goffin song first recorded by The Drifters in the early sixties. The accompanying video was named a winner in the Goffin King Foundation ISO Booth competition.

Website: https://lukecissell.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: http://fb.watch/1Ww87UZBod/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/lukecissell/status/1315302143725891585?s=21

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/tv/CAN_GgeJwmN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awyMxsnIFkM

Central Park Arsenal Gallery Wreath Interpretations - this year, online!

Kaitlyn Hay is participating in the 38th Annual Central Park Arsenal Gallery Wreath Interpretations exhibit, sponsored and organized by the New York City Parks Department.

Event Date: December 1, 2020

Website: https://www.nycgovparks.org/

Montaigne, Beyond Shangri-la, A Podcast Interview

In "Montaigne, My Father, and the Art of Living," an essay in Catapult Culture/Books, I explore what I learned from my father--and Montaigne--about how to live well.

In other news, my interview with Oxford professor Clare Harris, "Beyond Shangri-la," appears in the Winter 2020 issue of Tricycle magazine. We discussed Harris’s work on Tibet and photography, and how Tibetans are taking control of the camera.

It was an honor to speak with alum Dr. Anita Gupta on her Health Logic podcast about my experience of serious illness. I read from "Traveling in Bardo," my AGNI essay about the illness and how it related to my Tibetan family history; we then talked about ways the patient perspective can impact the COVID-19 crisis as well as future directions in health care.

Montaigne, My Father, and the Art of Living Essay: https://bit.ly/3foH9e8

Beyond Shangri-la Essay: https://bit.ly/3lXha0a

Health Logic Podcast: https://apple.co/2HnmWZK

AGNI Essay: https://bit.ly/3pQYp0E

Other Website: http://www.anntashislater.com

Stillwater premieres December 4 on Apple TV Plus

Apple TV Plus has unveiled its newest children’s programs, including “Stillwater,” an animated series based on the Scholastic book series “Zen Shorts” by Jon J. Muth.

Produced by Gaumont and Scholastic Entertainment, the series centers on three siblings who have a wise panda, Stillwater, for a next-door neighbor. The show will premiere globally with the first six episodes available on the streaming service on Dec. 4.

Through stories and humor, Stillwater the panda helps provide “children a deeper understanding of their feelings, as well as mindfulness tools that help them face their own day-to-day challenges,” according to Apple TV Plus. The wise panda also “brings newfound fun and adventure for the three, opening their eyes to the quiet wonders of the world around them, and guiding them to their place within it.”

I was lucky to work on this incredible series and write episodes that will be in the next drop!

Other Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz1GkcvkT1g

Producer Hub launches to serve theater practitioners across the industry!

Incubated by Octopus Theatricals, and stewarded by Ronee Penoi 07', Adam Hyndman '12, and Sophie Blumberg, Producer Hub is a one-stop center for theater makers across our community that are looking for a whole host of services and resources.

The mission of Producer Hub is to provide an online resource that showcases and supports the wide variety of producing models that exist in the world of live performance through shared business and educational resources and networking. Producer Hub will offer a range of services to support the work of those independent producers, theatre makers, and organizations who are looking to engage with our community. The program offerings of the Producer Hub were developed based on market research, and consist of the following arms: Shared Business Resources, a Library of Practical Resources, Educational Resources, Networking, Mentorship, and EDI/Social Justice training.

To access information, resources, and events visit:

Website: www.producerhub.org

TISG forms to create a new pathways to support and develop commercial theater!

The Industry Standard Group, the first completely BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) commercial theatre investment and production organization, is proud to announce the launch of their new company today. Focusing on increasing the presence of BIPOC investors and producers in the field, The Industry Standard Group is breaking new ground by expanding the access and opportunities granted to BIPOC communities within the industry.

The founding members of the groundbreaking group are Rashad V. Chambers, Miranda Gohh, Adam Hyndman '12, Toni R. Isreal, Rob Laqui, Sammy Lopez, Ronee Penoi '07, and Cynthia J. Tong.

As the first of its kind, The Industry Standard Group’s (TISG) mission is to give existing and potential BIPOC investors, producers, artists and theater makers opportunities to participate in the financing and producing of projects, and to promote and invest in work that reflects the diversity of its membership. Therefore, fostering more equitable, diverse, and inclusionary representation in the commercial industry of the arts & entertainment.

The Industry Standard group believes that the current make-up of commercial producing and investment isn’t reflective of the diversity in projects being produced due to systemic denial to access. The group’s aim is to amplify their presence in major projects through various media, including Broadway and other commercial theater ventures.

For more information, please visit our website.

Website: www.TheIndustryStandardGroup.com

Two new documentary shorts about the secondary impacts of neighborhood gun violence

Nora Gross, PhD recently produced two short documentary films connected to her ongoing research and current book project about the secondary impacts of urban gun violence. The first film, Our Philadelphia, made in collaboration with several youth, explores the way the deaths of friends impacts Black adolescent boys and young men. It can be viewed on YouTube. The second film, Club With No Name, tells the story of three Black mothers of gun violence victims their efforts to turn their pain into purpose. The film will screen on Facebook Live on December 4th at 7pm followed by a community conversation. More information about both films can be found at http://www.noragross.com/film.

Website: http://www.noragross.com/film.

Our Philadelphia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPmz6DYnzMg&feature=youtu.be

Club With No Name:  https://www.facebook.com/WomenOfValor74

New Podcast for Writers

I've launched a new podcast called Writerly Bites. The podcast aims to give quick, bite-sized tips for making your creative writing and your writing life better. New episodes appear every Tuesday, and we're searchable on Apple Podcasts. I'll interview fellow authors to get their favorite tips, too. Your ratings and reviews on Apple Podcasts are much appreciated to help the podcast grow!

New, Unique Peace Corps Book Published

Randy Hobler, an RPCV from Libya 1968—1969, has released a highly-praised book, 101 Arabian Tales: How We All Persevered in Peace Corps Libya. It is remarkable in that he interviewed 101 of his fellow RPCVs in depth for the book. Former Ambassador to the Comoros and Cameroon Niels Marquardt (who was a volunteer in Zaire and Rwanda) wrote: “Randy Hobler has written the best memoir of a Peace Corps experience that I have ever read. His amazingly detailed book instantly grips the reader by putting Libya in its properly rich and unique historical perspective.” The book is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle form.

Website: https://www.101arabiantales.com

Other Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3587631417914624