“Tra la! It’s May.”
And now that I look at the rest of the lyrics from that classic Camelot song, I realize that I can’t use most of them. They’re not appropriate for a family newsletter.
Anyway, please don’t go blissfully astray because VLOG has a lot planned for you this spring. In our first few weeks of rehearsals for VLOG Does the Tonys 2, we’re already seeing some amazing numbers taking shape for those three June performances. In addition to the great songs, we have some surprises in store for you. See below for the show dates and times. Tickets will be on sale soon.
Shortly after the show, we’ll be having our Summer Membership Meeting, on June 17, and later that month, we’ll start rehearsing for the return of the VLOG Annual Summer Concert. That’ll be on August 5 in New Rochelle, “the place where the mansion will be” to which you’ll have your warm dinner delivered when you both come wearily home from downtown.
And the Membership Committee is planning Vloggers Meeting Vloggers. So rest up while you can and eat your Wheaties! Keep reading for all the details. Breaking News:
Vlog alum Bonnie Milligan has been nominated for a Tony in the Best Featured Actress in a Musical category for her role in Kimberly Akimbo. Brava, Bonnie, and break a leg! Joe Levine
June 9, 2023 - 7:30 p.m. - VLOG Does the Tonys 2, Symphony Space
June 10, 2023 - 7:30 p.m. - VLOG Does the Tonys 2, Symphony Space
June 11, 2023 - 2:00 p.m. - VLOG Does the Tonys 2, Symphony Space
June 17, 2023 - 4:00 p.m. - VLOG Summer Membership Meeting, In-Person, Location To Be Determined
June 17, 2023 - Vloggers Meeting Vloggers, In-Person, location TBD
August 5, 2023 - VLOG Annual Summer Concert, New Rochelle Public Library
Save the Date: Summer Membership Meeting
VLOG will hold our annual summer membership meeting on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 4:00pm.
We look forward to providing you with information about our forthcoming season and voting in our new board!
Your Membership Committee is planning our first ever
“VLOGGERS MEETING VLOGGERS”
Get Together this June!
WE HAVE NEW MEMBERS! WE HAVE “OLD” MEMBERS!! Our mission is to give longtime VLOG members and newer VLOG members a chance to meet and share VLOG stories. And have some drinks. And tell stories of backstage drama. And kvetch about “that” director. And just hang out. WHATEVER works for YOU!
There’s no denying that the VLOG organization has morphed over the decades. The VLOG that someone who joined in 1983 and the VLOG that someone who joined in 2023 are very different VLOGS. Getting to know each other can be a genuine gift in so many ways. Truly, what I’ve learned and continue to learn from longtime VLOGGERS has created a very special bond with all things VLOG that I most certainly would not have without my VLOG family generously sharing their rich history and stories. Let’s start building some connections between the generations and decades for ALL VLOG members – a connection to something that matters and deserves to be shared!
The VLOG legacy is robust and impressive. Let’s work together to keep it strong for another
eight decades!
All that said, we are actively asking for your help in finding a bar or restaurant or private home
where we can hold our first VLOGGERS MEETING VLOGGERS party. Our illustrious committee includes Belen Negron, Karen Mason, and Patty Shay. Please reach out to any of them or to me, Pam Palmieri, at pcp@gemfacts.com with all suggestions for a great spot to hold our first of these events.
Only a few more weeks until VLOG DOES THE TONYS 2, and what a classy extravaganza it’s going to be! We’re going to plan some craft parties this month for the cast and all VLOG members to help with the award envelopes aka playbills aka programs to be “presented” to each audience member when they arrive! As rehearsals progress, there will no doubt be additional opportunities to help us with creating and/or gathering props and stuff like that, so please stay tuned!
Thank you to Lalo Cavali for the beautiful graphic you see above.
TICKETS WILL BE ON SALE SOON! WATCH THIS SPACE FOR DETAILS!
VLOG Annual Summer Concert
Hello VLOG! At long last, we are very excited to announce the return of our annual summer concert! The concert will be on Saturday, August 5, at 12 p.m., at the New Rochelle Public Library. Rehearsals will begin in mid-June. The call for singers and rehearsal schedule will be released in the coming months. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. We can’t wait to sing with you again!
The schedule is as follows:
Monday, June 26, 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.—Rehearsal, 353 Studios
Thursday, June 29, 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.—Rehearsal, 353 Studio
Thursday, July 6, 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.—Rehearsal, 353 Studios
Monday, July 10, 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.—Rehearsal, 353 Studios
Monday, July 17, 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.—Rehearsal,353 Studios
Monday, July 24, 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.—Rehearsal, 353 Studios
Monday, July 31, 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.—Rehearsal, 353 Studios
Thursday, August 3, 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.—Dress Rehearsal, 353 Studios
Day of Logistics (exact times to be confirmed)
10:00 a.m.—Arrive at New Rochelle Public Library
11:00 a.m.—Call Time, New Rochelle Public Library
12:00 p.m.—Concert, New Rochelle Public Library
3:00 p.m.—Party at Amy Tietz’s house
Michael Thomas, Music Director
Lauren Trapido, Producer
Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Month - May
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have a rich heritage thousands of years old and have both shaped the history of the United States and had their lives dramatically influenced by moments in its history. Every May during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and throughout the year, the National Park Service and our partners share those histories and the continuing culture thriving in parks and communities today.
For more information, check out the National Park Service
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month is meant to be a time to celebrate or commemorate together, but is not meant to be the only time of year. Find resources to learn, teach, experience, and reflect on women's history and heritage beyond May.
Sharing History & Heritage - Discover stories and cultural heritage shared in national parks and communities across the country.
Heritage Travel - Explore parks, memorials, and historic sites around the country and US territories in person or virtually.
Educators Portal - Find distance learning opportunities, lesson plans, and other educational material about history and heritage for all age groups.
Read A Proclamation on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, And Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 2022 from the White House
Jewish American Heritage Month - May
May is Jewish American Heritage Month, a great opportunity to celebrate the important contributions Jewish Americans have made to America since the first group of Jews arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654.
The United States has many heritage months that celebrate the various communities that form the mosaic of our country, including Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and more. By celebrating heritage months, we learn about one another, we honor the richness of our diverse nation, and we strengthen the fabric of American society.
Jewish American Heritage Month originated in 1980 when Congress passed a resolution, which authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating April 21-28, 1980 as Jewish Heritage Week. Following a series of annual presidential proclamations designating a week in April or May of each year as Jewish Heritage Week, President George W. Bush proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month on April 20, 2006. The proclamation began with efforts by the Jewish Museum of Florida and South Florida Jewish community leaders that resulted in resolutions introduced by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. These resolutions urged the president to proclaim a month that would recognize the rich history of Jews in America and the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American society. The resolutions passed unanimously, first in the House of Representatives in December 2005 and in the Senate in February 2006.
For me more information, check out the American Jewish Committee (AJC)
Mental Health Awareness Month - May
Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the U.S. since 1949. Every year during the month of May, NAMI joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Together, we fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support the millions of people in the U.S. affected by mental illness. Read below to learn more about how you can get involved.
For more information, check out the National Alliance on Mental Illness
Have you renewed your membership yet?
Contact Us: vlog@vlog.org, president@vlog.org
The Village Light Opera Group (VLOG) and its membership are actively and enthusiastically committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This encompasses age, cultural background, education, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, physical ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic background. We are actively committed to diversity in casting, and encourage performers, directors, designers, and crew of diverse backgrounds to join us. VLOG is committed to being a group that tells a diverse portfolio of stories which reflect the human experience and demonstrates the remarkable spectrum in our community. We are committed to creating a safe space for everyone. It is through diversity that we are made stronger, smarter, and more compassionate.