BAM Scene: Carrie Cracknell talks to Friends of BAM Members

(Photo: Beowulf Sheehan)

Sunday afternoon, Friends of BAM sat down for an exclusive talk with hot young director Carrie Cracknell, of this season’s acclaimed production of A Doll’s House, and moderator Michael Cadden, Ibsen scholar and chair of the Peter B. Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton.

Keep reading for highlights from the event and check out the full photo album.

Meet a Friend of BAM: Shelley

This month in Meet a Friend, we become acquainted with Shelley, a Prospect Heights local and, it turns out, a whiz with obscure dessert metaphors.

Member since: November 2012

Where are you from? What neighborhood do you live in now?
I grew up in Louisiana, moved around the US and abroad, and now live in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

If you had to describe BAM to someone who had never heard of us using only metaphors that involve dessert, what would you say?
If reality TV is like a candy bar (and don't get me wrong, I enjoy a candy bar from time to time and almost anything on HGTV) then BAM is like a mixed berry pie. There's a variety in there, but every bite is both indulgent AND good for you. And when you're a member, the pie basically pays for itself (or makes itself)? It's as if BAM becomes your grandmother. The one that makes you put down your phone and engage with the world and then serves you pie to help you cope with the new things you've learned. Thanks, BAMma.

If the world was ending and you could only save one Iconic BAM Artist, who would it be and why? 
Reggie Wilson [whose Moses(es) was at the BAM Harvey last week]. I hardly have to think about it. I saw him perform in his show A Revisitation earlier this year at New York Live Arts and was mesmerized. I feel confident he could tell a creation story to build a new world I'd want to live in.

How far would you travel to see a show or film you really loved? What show/film would it be?
If I could travel back in time, I'd see the live 1977 performance of The Nutcracker with Baryshnikov. I watched the video on repeat as a little girl and if I could see it live, the dream would come alive for me as it does for Clara in the story.

Meet a Friend of BAM: Gil

This month in Meet a Friend, we chatted with an Emmy-nominated film composer who specializes in sensitive, socially conscious material. He also happens to be a BAM member.

This month's featured Friend: Gil

Member since: December 2012

Where are you from? What neighborhood do you live in now?
I was conceived in Manhattan and was born in Louisville KY. I grew up in London, Holland, and Israel. So I would say ... planet Earth, in general. I live in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

If you had to describe BAM to someone who had never heard of us, what would you say?
BAM is the mothership. She makes daily landings in Brooklyn, bringing the very best of intergalactic creativity, in all media, for the benefit of all of humankind.

Meet a Friend of BAM: Candace

Welcome to Meet a Friend—a new series of brief Q&As with Friends of BAM members, the utterly unique individuals who help bring art to our stages. From different zip codes, boroughs, and backgrounds, our members gather around a commitment to adventurous performance—and we couldn’t be prouder to know them.

This month’s featured Friend: Candace, a new addition to the Clinton Hill neighborhood
Member since: Feb 2012

Friends of BAM Learn About the Royal Ballet of Cambodia's Dazzling Costumes

by Sarah Mischner

Sylvain Lim. Photo: Elena Olivo

Anyone who attended the Royal Ballet of Cambodia’s The Legend of Apsara Mera last week will admit to being dazzled by the ornate costumes worn by the dancers. Friends of BAM gathered in the Hillman Studio for an afternoon reception and discussion on these costumes given by fashion and costume designer Sylvain Lim.

Lim, a native Cambodian who lived in Paris for more than 30 years and worked in fashion houses including Dior and Balmain, described the history of the costumes and their construction—a process that has barely changed since the 11^th century.

Costumes in Cambodian ballet consist of pieces of raw silk or velvet brocade, stitched with thick spring-like coils of golden threads, metalwork, and sequins or beads to catch the light. It can take one person five months to create one costume, or four people can make a single costume in a month with three people doing the intricate embroidery. The costumer works up to the moment a dancer goes onstage; the dancers are sewn into their costumes. (Those dancers playing male roles often can’t use the bathroom for up to 4 hours.) As Lim explained, the Royal Ballet dancers' costumes are stitched tightly to their bodies, which helps them make the shapes of the deliberate choreography.

DanceAfrica 35th Anniversary Celebration

BAM toasted 35 extraordinary years of DanceAfrica this past Sunday night at the DanceAfrica 35th Anniversary Celebration. Over 400 guests celebrated in the Lepercq Space following the afternoon's performance, including DanceAfrica founder and artistic director Baba Chuck Davis, the evening's performing companies and past alumni companies, New York State and City government officials, and BAM donors. 

Click below for more highlights and photos from this historic event!
For a full Event Album, click here.

Being Shakespeare Opening Night Reception

Simon Callow at the Opening Night Reception of Being Shakespeare now playing at the BAM Harvey Theater (Photo: Elena Olivo)

Wednesday night, the singular Simon Callow opened the one-man play Being Shakespeare at the BAM Harvey Theater. Written by Jonathan Bate and directed by Tom Cairns, the piece employs the fantastically dexterous Mr.Callow to explore the Bard's life and work through his many characters from Jacques to Henry V to King Lear.

Read on for more highlights from the event and for a full Event Album click here.

Jeremy Irons and Sinead Cusack at BAM

Early this month Friends of BAM were invited to join Friends of BAM Chairs Sinead Cusack and Jeremy Irons for a special screening of their 1988 film Stealing Beauty. This coming of age story explores the relationships of Lucy, an American teenager visiting Tuscany, and the eccentric residents she encounters, including Irons as a dying playwright and Cusack as one of her hosts. The couple recounted their experience of making the film in an exclusive introduction to the audience.

To learn more about becoming a member and receiving access to special screenings and events visit BAM.org/Membership.

Click below for more photographs of this special event.

Next Wave Gala Producers Council Celebration

From left: BAM Executive Producer, Joseph V. Melillo, Krapp's Last Tape Actor, John Hurt, and BAM President, Karen Brooks Hopkins

Last week, BAM celebrated the 2011 Next Wave Festival with its' annual Next Wave Gala honoring our loyal BAM donors, the Producers Council.

Jump ahead to read more about this exciting, festive evening!
And check out all the photographs from the event here and here.

Serial Party - Infernal Comedy Opening Night

Mr. Malkovich is congratulated by a guest on his performance in
The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a serial killer (Photo: Elena Olivo)

Last week the inimitable John Malkovich graced the BAM Opera House stage as an operatic murderer in Michael Sturminger and Martin Haselbock's The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a serial killer. BAM celebrated the opening night last Thursday with members of the cast and BAM Producers Council members at the Benefactor level and above. It was a charmingly eerie evening with decor by Fleurs Bella, hours devours by Great Performances, cocktails by Brooklyn Gin, and wine generously provided by Brotherhood Winery.

The Next Wave Festival continues after Thanksgiving with Big Dance Theater's Supernatural Wife, followed by Tudo Isto E Fado which is accompanied by two receptions for Generation Advance members on December 2nd. And on December 6th we have our 2011 Next Wave Gala celebrating all of our Producers Council members and the opening of Samuel Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape starring John Hurt.

More pictures and information about the Opening Night Party for The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a serial killer below:

BAMboozle Arrives in Brooklyn Babylon

Glasses of BAMboozle standing at the ready moments before being sipped up by BAMfans

Brooklyn Babylon premiered last night at the BAM Harvey Theater and shared their opening night reception with the highly anticipated launch of BAMboozle, Brooklyn Brewery's fantastic ale designed just for BAM's 150th Anniversary! There was much love for Brooklyn among the party's guests, who included artists of Brooklyn Babylon, Brooklyn Brewery's co-founder Steve Hindy and BAMfans. The beer flowed late into the night and happy guests left with bellies full of beer and Danijel Zezelj's visions of a future Brooklyn dancing in their heads, scored by Darcy James Argue's Secret Society.

If you missed the BAMboozle launch never fear, BAMcafe will start serving it up starting this weekend, our neighbors at Greene Grape will start selling bottles in the next week and more will be hitting the shelves of your local supermarket come December. More below.

Check out the full album from the event here.

La Magia de la Danza Opening Night Party

BAM welcomed Ballet Nacional de Cuba with open arms Wednesday night at the Opening Night Party for La Magia de la Danza. BAM members joined the company in BAM's Lepercq Space to celebrate the arrival of our Cuban friends. Read on for more highlights!

Following an enthralling performance featuring scenes from seven classical works - choreographed by legendary General Director Alicia Alonso, guests nibbled on vegetable mofongo and Cuban sandwich bites while sipping the ever popular Cuba Libre.

La Magia de la Danza marks the final mainstage performance of the 2011 BAM Spring Season and last dance piece of the citywide festival, Si Cuba. It has been a blast hosting all of our Cuban visitors and experiencing the art and culture of such a dynamic country.

Check back in later this week for scenes from the BAMcinemaFest Opening Night Party. If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, be sure to do so now. A ticket to the movie gets you into the party!

Principal Dancer, Viengsay Valdez, with Ballet Nacional de Cuba Tour Organizer, Jane Hermann

Viengsay Valdez with guests

BAM members enjoying a glass of wine

BAM Lepercq Space

Viengsay Valdez giving remarks

BAM Member with BAM bag

Macbeth Opening Night Party

Cheek by Jowl company posing with BAM employees Mary Reilly and Stacey Dinner

The Campbell Lobby of the BAM Harvey Theater was dressed to impress Tuesday night, as BAM members celebrated the opening night performance, and US premiere, of Cheek by Jowl's Macbeth. With the help of our generous sponsors and a very enthusiastic, well-dressed, groups of actors, the party proved to be quite a hit! - read on for more details!



Benefactor and Producers Council members joined the company of Cheek by Jowl to ring in the 2 week run of Macbeth here at BAM. With a relationship of nearly 20 years, it was a pleasure, as always, to welcome our friends across the pond. Cheek by Jowl first came to BAM in 1994 with the production of As You Like It and have continued to entertain the Brooklyn audience throughout the years.

Guests were served a speciality Brooklyn Gin cocktail, "Three Witches", created by mixologist Stephanie Schneider from Huckleberry Bar. The combination of smoke and citrus made for an excellent and creative beverage that proved to be a huge hit among the crowd. We can't wait to see what Brooklyn Gin comes up with for our King Lear opening night party!

As always, the very generous and always tasty, Brooklyn Brewery supplied us with endless amounts of beer while Fleurs Bella beautified the Campbell Lobby with the creative and stunning eye they're known for.

Although there is limited availability for the remainder of this run, call 718.636.4100 for inquiries. This performance of Macbeth is not to be missed!

Cheek by Jowl Artistic Director's Nick Ormerod and Declan Donnellan pose with 

BAM Executive Producer Joseph V. Melillo

Producers Council members John & Karin Strasswimmer both holding "Three Sisters" cocktails

Bernadette Anderson from the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation and her daughter

 Friend of BAM Anne Vinnicombe and Chairman's Circle member Elaine Bernstein

Anne Vinnicombe chats with the actress playing Lady Macbeth, Anastasia Hille

Event Decor by Fleurs Bella

All Photos by Elena Olivo.