WQXR Presents “Heritage and Harmony,” A Unique Virtual Concert Featuring Leading Musicians of Asian Descent Performing Modern and Traditional Works by Asian Composers

Available online starting Thursday, May 28 on WQXR.org

In collaboration with WQXR, I am honored and so very proud to present Heritage and Harmony, a unique virtual concert featuring leading musicians of Asian descent performing contemporary and traditional works by Asian composers.

The concert is both a recognition of the tremendous contributions to the musical canon by classical musicians of Asian descent, and also a reminder of the need to stand together against mindless intolerance.

Heritage and Harmony launches on Thursday, 5/28th, here:  https://www.wqxr.org/story/heritage-harmony/

All the performances were recorded by these outstanding musicians while sheltering at home.  Among the featured artists is two time Grammy award winning composer Christopher Tin, does Baba Yetu, from the video game Civilization IV sound familiar? 

In honor of Asian Pacific Heritage Month and beyond, from our homes to yours, we stand together in Heritage and Harmony!

Helping Kids Focus on the Process (vs the Products) of Creativity

Like most kids, Alexander loves making art of all kinds. He gets such positive feedback from his family, friends and school (so many prizes!), he wants to keep them all! Forever! Fortunately for everyone, an intervention comes in the form of an old fairy tale, The Kingdom of Tides, in which King Shivo and his people learn a lot about creativity with the help of the Moon. The Kingdom of Tides can be a source of practical (à la Marie Kondo) and metaphysical inspiration for the young and not so young to find joy in creating every day.

This picture book borrows from Hindu teachings and is the first in a series of philosophical picture books by Bill Wescott ’85. Bill believes “a childhood lasts a lifetime” and hopes that readers will find meaning in the experience of sharing the book with little loved ones.

Other Website: https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Tides-Will-Wescott-ebook/dp/B085GM52CQ

Author Ann Tashi Slater ('84) has new work in Catapult and Tricycle

Author Ann Tashi Slater ('84) has new work in Catapult and Tricycle. She offered a virtual memoir writing workshop in May for Princeton alumni in France and the UK, as well as one for students at The American University of Paris. For more: 
www.anntashislater.com

Follow: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Film Release: "The Dinner Party"

Hi Tigers! My latest film, "The Dinner Party" was just released and is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. It's a modern day Greek tragedy with a hint of dark comedy. Fun fact... this film was directed by Marco Capalbo *89. I was cast in this movie and neither of us had any idea that the other was a Tiger until we had a meet-and-greet at his home and I saw the latest edition of the PAW on his coffee table! If you are looking for content to stream during quarantine, please give us a look!

Ticket Website: http://www.amazon.com/Dinner-Party-Kelly-Decker/dp/B087KV3BH2
Facebook URL: http://www.facebook.com/The-Dinner-Party-101248057988115/
Instagram URL: http://www.instagram.com/dinnerpartyfilm/

Happy & You Know It: A Novel

My new novel, about a musician who takes a job singing for a playgroup of wealthy mothers only to get drawn into their glamorous lives and dangerous secrets, came out May 19th! It's a May Book of the Month selection, a Library Reads pick, and one of Newsweek's Spring Must-Reads. Bookpage called it a "romp with substance," while Betches dubbed it "Mean Girls meets The Nanny Diaries."

You can order it anywhere books are sold! More info here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/608155/happy-and-you-know-it-by-laura-hankin/

Interactive Zoom-Based Performance for Kids!

Fridays at 4pm and 5:30pm Eastern Time.
Adventure Theater LIVE! (Via Zoom)

Marisol Rosa-Shapiro ‘07 is a founding company member of Adventure Theater LIVE!, a collective of professional theater artists and educators offering a uniquely imaginative and interactive online experience for children ages 4-9. Performances take place every Friday afternoon at 4pm and 5:30pm EDT. Suggested Contribution: $20/child. Reservations open at 12pm EDT each Wednesday at www.adventuretheaterlive.com.

Ticket Website: www.adventuretheaterlive.com
Facebook URL: 
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=112988130367869&ref=content_filter
Instagram URL:
https://www.instagram.com/adventuretheaterlive/?igshid=qdxnlkrayzyi
Other Website:
www.adventuretheaterlive.com

SAUNDRA LEZZENBAUM PRESENTS LOVE IN THE TIME OF CORONA

Ronkonkoma, Long Island and the World

Author of such self-help classics as Married to Menopause and Heart Attack, the Good Kind, Host of the CW's lunchtime-Emmy award-winning Queen of Hearts, Saundra Lezzenbaum has become America's Love Coach. Quarantined and isolated, with her beloved husband building parking lots in South Korea for the foreseeable future, Saundra is now releasing priceless romantic wisdom from the safety of her palatial duplex in Ronkonkoma Long Island. These videos will save your (love) lives! Love and Follow Saundra on Instagram (@saundralezzenbaum_), via email (BigLezzieLove@gmail.com), or on Facebook (Saundra Lezzenbaum Love Page).

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/biglezzielove/
Instagram URL: https://www.instagram.com/rakejobertson/channel/
Other Website: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xNInjq1OGL1RAMK9LWJmw?view_as=subscriber

My portrait of Princeton professor Andy Moravcsik was just published in GQ Italia

[This was published in the March 2020 issue, which due to the pandemic only just came out.]

Nice to get some good news out of Italy! My portrait of Andy Moravcsik, Director of the European Union Program at the Woodrow Wilson School, was recently published in the March 2020 issue of GQ (Italia). I took this picture of Andy for my current portrait series, Taking Pause. If you read Italian, it is an interesting article that talks a little about his family and wonderful marriage to Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of the New America foundation.

Other Website: http://www.gqitalia.it/

Outer Banks on Netflix

I am sad my 25th Reunion will be virtual but thrilled that 2 episodes of the hit Netflix show I directed are available for everyone to watch. Created by Princeton Alum Jonas Pate with his brother Josh and Shannon Burke, this series has been in the Top 10 (mostly at #1) on Netflix since it premiered over a month ago. I was thrilled to direct episodes 7 and 8. In other news, I’ll be appearing on the Princeton Alumni Panel “Science Under Attack by Politics and the Media”, date TBD.

SideLight: a Curated Blog by Adin Walker

Amidst the darkness and uncertainty, I have been grateful for the opportunities to find ways to deepen my connections with family and friends across distance – often through long, winding conversations about a film, or a book that we all finally finished. And so, I wanted to carve out this space devoted to sharing critical and creative writing as another avenue for us all to continue staying connected.
Shout out to Ava Geyer '15 for the idea for the name:)

Check out the first edition of pieces published on the site now, including one by Olivia Robbins '16!
And if you are interested in submitting a piece, please reach out to Adin Walker at adinwalker@gmail.com

Ticket Website: https://www.sidelightbyadinwalker.com

Poetry Fundraiser

Ari Satok '14, an author of two books of poetry, recently launched an art/poetry fundraiser, partnering with other artists to raise money for important charities responding to the effects of coronavirus.

Satok along with these wonderful artists are selling prints of text-based pieces of art. 50% of the proceeds going to support incredible charities doing COVID relief. Each artist has chosen what specific charity the sales of their prints are supporting (these charities include Feeding America, No Kid Hungry, the International Rescue Committee, to name just a few).

To browse the pieces and learn about the charities being supported, check out the project website: https://www.poetryartprints.com/

Quarantine Concerts

Crista Kende Bergendahl '07 and her husband launched Quarantine Concerts (www.quarantineconcerts.tv), a platform for livestream concerts from the homes of classical musicians worldwide.

The platform has already held 100 concerts from artists in the US, Sweden, Germany and Holland and have a fast-growing roster of top artists set to perform in the coming weeks. Quarantine Concerts has also partnered with key players in the classical music world who support our mission, most notably the Verbier Festival.

Donations will go directly to the performers.

If you are interested in performing, please sign up here: signup.quarantineconcerts.tv

Check out Feature Film "Working Man" Available on VOD!

Produced by Lovell Holder '09 and Clark Peterson S*91, film festival award-winner "Working Man" premiered on VOD this past May 5. Starring Peter Gerety (The Wire), Billy Brown (How to Get Away with Murder), and two-time Oscar nominee Talia Shire (Rocky, The Godfather), "Working Man" is a classic American story for our contemporary world. When a factory closure threatens a small Rust Belt town, one older factory worker continues going to his former job every day, despite the shutdown. His peculiar decision has a profound effect on the whole community, and his actions lead him to become what he never thought possible: a leader. Praised by the Hollywood Reporter as "a potent tribute to out-of-work Americans," the film's themes regarding unemployment and mental health have never been more timely.