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Carnegie Hill Productions and James Spry present

Maya Azucena

A Brooklyn, New York raised singer/songwriter, entrepreneur and producer, uses her music as a tool for activism and inspiration around the world. Ms. Azucena has earned comparisons to a young Chaka Khan and Roberta Flack with “story-telling lyrics and soulful soaring vocals” according to the New York Post and Billboard. She recently joined forces with Emmy-winning director, Lisa Russell to co-found MDGFive.com, a global platform for improving maternal health through the Arts. The UNFPA provided a grant for Maya and Lisa to go to Tanzania to create and record both an original collaborative song with Tanzanian artists, and a short documentary to raise awareness for better maternal health. Maya has toured both Asia and Central America as a U.S. Cultural Ambassador, doing music concerts and workshops under US State Department grants and is pleased to return to Honduras for another "Esperanza de Brooklyn" tour at the invitation of the US Embassy. She is featured on Stephen Marley's Grammy-winning CD "Mind Control"; has won a Porin (Croatian version of Grammy) for her duet with Croatian superstar Gibonni; and received 2010’s prestigious "Top 40 Under 40" Award, presented by national business magazine, The Network Journal. Maya has just completed her newest CD, “Cry Love,” an uplifting mix of her unique Soul sound. Visit her w ww.MayaAzucena.com for more information.

Opening night Monday, June 6

UNION SQUARE THEATER

(100 EAST 17TH STREET)

Maya Azucena Performing at Opening Night Party!

(Photo: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)

PHOTO FLASH: Ruby Dee, Colman Domingo, Star Jones, Donna McKechnie, et al. at Opening of Desperate Writers

By: David Gordon · Jun 7, 2011 · New York

Joshua Grenrock and Catherine Schreiber's new play Desperate Writers opened Off-Broadway at the Union Square Theatre on Monday, June 6.

Directed by Kay Cole, the play stars Maddie Corman, Jim Stanek, Bob Ari, Angel Desai, Christopher Durham, Kelsey Nash, Susan Louise O'Connor, Vayu O'Donnell, Catherine Schreiber and Pauletta Washington.

Guests at the performance included Patrick Breen, Ruby Dee, Colman Domingo, Daisy Eagan, Donna McKechnie, Star Jones, Maria Wallace, and Sharon Washington.

The show focuses on a couple of desperate writers, with the baby clock ticking and their home about to be sold out from under them, who are driven to desperate measures to get their script read, bought and made.

For tickets and more information, click here.

Sharon Washington and Colman Domingo

Star Jones

Patrick Breen

Maria Wallace and Donna McKechnie

Ruby Dee

Kay Cole

Christopher Durham

Maddie Corman, Kelsey Nash, and Jim Stanek

Daisy Eagan

Susan Louise O'Connor, Catherine Schreiber, and Vayu O'Donnell

PHOTO CALL: Daisy Eagan, Ruby Dee, Star Jones and More Celebrate Opening Night at Desperate Writers

By Lucas Lilieholm
07 Jun 2011

Broadway's Maddie Corman and Jim Stanek are the titular Desperate Writers of the Joshua Grenrock-Catherine Schreiber comedy, which officially opened Off-Broadway June 6 at the Union Square Theater.

Veteran actress, director and choreographer Kay Cole, an original cast member of A Chorus Line, stages the 80-minute comedy that began previews May 17. Desperate Writers premiered in California in 2008. Both Schreiber and Grenrock appeared in the 2009 Los Angeles bow of the play.

Corman (Next Fall) and Stanek (Lestat) are joined by Angel Desai, Christopher Durham, Kelsey Nash, Susan Louise O'Connor, Vayu O'Donnell, Pauletta Washington and co-creator Schreiber.

Here is a look the guest arrivals, and members of the cast posing in casual dress prior to the show:

Jim Stanek

Patrick Breen and Lisa Goritsky

Photos by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Sheryl Kaller

Joy Browne

Lynn Shaw and Lionel (of WPIX)

Catherine Schreiber

Donna McKechnie, Kay Cole and Don Percassi