Act Two New York

Held back in June, “Brand New Day” was an ecstatic takeover of Times Square, with singers and dancers from Broadway and beyond celebrating what they hoped was the imminent return of New York Theater. But some of the featured performers couldn’t help but wonder - was the closing of New York an opportunity to do better than rebuilding on the same outdated foundations?We spoke with Jason A. Rodriguez of the hit TV show “Pose” and his long-time business partner Ricardo Sebastian about their vision for a new day in New York that supports performers who have long been marginalized and exploited.

Featured in this Episode

• From Arraygency and House of Eon:
• https://www.arraygency.com/ (@arraygency0 )
• Jason A. Rodriguez (@thejasonarodriguez)
• Ricardo Sebastian (@ricardoxsebastian)
• Robert J Mason (@therobertjmason)


• Brand New Day Event Organizers:
• Macy’s (@macys)
• Kaleidoscope Entertainment (@kaleidescopeent)
• Times Square Alliance (@timessquarenyc)
• RRR Creative (@rrrcreative)

• Hosts and Other Performers::
• Frank Dilella, NY 1 Reporter (@fdilella)
• Miss Jay Alexander Runway Coach (@miss_jalexander)
• Jackie Cox (@jackiecoxnyc)

Resources/More Info:

• https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Inside-BRAND-NEW-DAY-in-Times-Square-Celebrating-New-York-Citys-Reopening-20210612
• https://variety.com/2021/legit/news/pose-star-jason-rodriguez-arraygency-talent-agency-bipoc-queer-trans-creative-1235034306/
• https://www.them.us/story/jason-rodriguez-new-talent-agency-inaugural-roster-arraygency<

The craziness of the last few years has made for some unexpected partnerships around the city. None of these were stranger and more successful than the shotgun wedding of a tiny neighborhood history museum and a risk-taking collective of burlesque artistes known to some as a “Voltron of gay strippers”. This unlikely collaboration not only saved them both financially, but pushed them both into bold new creative directions they never would have otherwise discovered.

Featured in this Episode

• Last Chance Dancers - (Insta @lastchancedancers , venmo: @lastchancedancer)
• Maggie McMuffine - ( @maggie_mcmuffin) - Founder
• Venuhhhtrix - (@venuhhhtrix) - Founder
• Esme (@esmedavril)
• Kita St. Cyr (@kitastcyr)
• Queensinera (@queensinera_vdlp)
• Special Guest Dancer - Jack Barrow (@mr.jackbarrow)


• City Reliquary (Insta @cityreliquary, website: https://www.cityreliquary.org/)
• Jacob Ford (Insta @unitof, https://jacobford.com/)


• Natalia - Photographer - (Insta @natsinbrooklyn)

Special Thanks: Nightlife Documentrian Andres (Insta @legomojo

Stand-up comedian Joe Orecchio faced a choice at the start of the pandemic. Would he grieve the state of his show, Comedy Cabaret, and it’s unknown future? Or would he use this opportunity to make the show everything it could be? Lucky for his audience, he chose the latter. Tanya Moberly, the Booking Manager at Don’t Tell Mama, a world famous venue in the heart of New York City, was eager to welcome him back to showcase his new vision. Join Tania Mohammad as she visits another small but mighty performance space striving to survive in the shadow of the pandemic along with the brilliant artists who make venues like Don’t Tell Mama great.

Featured in this Episode:

• Venue: Don’t tell Mama - (www.donttellmamanyc.com) @donttellmamanewyorkcity
• Tanya Moberly (https://tanyamoberly.com/)
• Julia Richardson (@missjuliarichardson)
• Nate Buccieri (@nateonthekeys)

Cast & Crew of Comedy Cabaret

• Joe Orecchio @orecchiophotography
• Elyse Orecchio(@elyseorecchio)
• Kenda Cunningham (https://www.kendracunningham.com/) (@theotherkendra)
• Sam Nikki (@samisims21)
• Anna Bianco (@annacainbianco)
• Natalie Perlin (@natalieperlincomedy)
• Ann Walker (@awalkinpeace)
• Ish Gupta (@doofyish)

Resources for this Episode:

• https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/BWW-Feature-Dont-Tell-Mama-Proves-You-Cant-Keep-A-Good-Piano-Bar-Down-20210521
• https://www.vulture.com/2020/09/new-york-comedy-clubs-demand-reopening-coronavirus.html

As the summer ramped up, Tania headed out to the Empire Rooftop to speak with Dawn Durham, VP and Director of Operations at Hospitality Holdings, Inc. Like so many venues, the Empire Rooftop struggled throughout 2020. But when Dawn received a call from Melissa Gerstein and Kimberly Giannelli, Co-Founders of iHeartDance NYC, about organizing a dance performance on the rooftop, Dawn couldn’t resist. Suddenly dancers like Ingrid Silva and Gilbert Bolden were performing for the first time in well over a year.

Featured venue and performers in this episode:

• Ingrid Silva (@ingridsilva)
• Gilbert Bolden III (@dancerdude56)
• Eli Raphael Gruska (@eli.raphael)
• Olivia MacKinnon (@oliviamackinnon)
• James Kinney - Choreographer (@jkinneydance)
• Luciana Paris (@luciana_paris_official)
• Melissa Musen Gerstein - Producer (@melissagerstein)
• Kimberly Giannelli - Producer (@soulforhire)
• The Empire Rooftop (https://www.theempirerooftop.com/ (@theempirerooftop)
• I Heart Dance NYC (https://www.iheartdancenyc.com/) (@iheartdancenyc)

Resources/more Info:

• https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a36062101/return-of-new-york-city-dance-iheartdance-nyc-2021/
• https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/NYC-Brightest-Dance-Stars-in-Live-Rooftop-Dance-Series-to-Support-iHeartDance-Relief-Fund-20210318?fbclid=IwAR3L_Ob5UCCQny7Lv9u-RqFQmkmklO8REpMsHjmorGs6egGX_mQkbXH54jo
• https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/arts/dance/dancers-of-nycb-empire-hotel.html

Produced by Tania Mohammad. Additional production by Charlotte Moore-Lambert. Executive produced by David Hoffman. Post-production, original music, and sound design by Garrett Tiedemann. Production managed by Gabriela Montequin

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Racecar Radio presents an all-new series about the performers and venues across New York City who are fighting to survive in the aftermath of Covid-19. New episodes every other Friday, starting August 13th!