Exciting Events Around New York: May 2024
STRENGTH OF A WOMAN PRESENTS: TIFFANY HADDISH
Friday, May 10th at 8:00pm
Location: Apollo’s Historic Theater
Tickets: $72.70
Live Nation and Mary J. Blige are bringing the third annual Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit to New York City for weekend full of activities dedicated to empowering, educating, and elevating, women. One of the annual staples of the festival is the comedy show. This year’s show will feature a headlining set from Tiffany Haddish with support from Don’t Call me White Girl and Paris Sashay.
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM FAMILY MATINEE: HARLEM MOUSE/COUNTRY MOUSE
Saturday, May 18th at 3:00pm
Location: Apollo’s Historic Theater
Tickets: start at $25
The Dance Theatre of Harlem presents a family matinee of Harlem Mouse/Country Mouse – an exciting retelling of Aesop’s Fable, City Mouse and Country Mouse.
Harlem Mouse/Country Mouse references the rich traditions of the Black South, modern-day life in Harlem, and the unique expressions of dance, music and poetry that arise when cultures collide. It unites the dynamic artists of the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company together with students from the Dance Theatre of Harlem School. Conceived as a celebration of the Harlem community, this full-length story ballet is an uplifting event for the whole family!
“Dance Theatre of Harlem…a premier ballet company and global ambassador for excellence and diversity.” -Sarah L. Kaufman, Washington Post.
Directed and conceived by Robert Garland and Tai Jimenez
LEO BAR HAPPY HOUR
Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month!
Thursday, May 9th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm
Tickets: $25 includes a free drink
Visit Asia Society’s new exhibition, COAL + ICE with an evening of cocktails, music, and catching up on Thursday, May 9th from 5:30 to 8 PM.
Enjoy the gorgeous Garden Court as you look at art, mingle with friends, and make new connections at Asia Society!
A ticket includes one drink, followed by a cash bar. Kindly note this event is only open to guests 21 years old and over.
Music by DJ Kai Song.
DANCING THE GODS
In Partnership with World Music Institute
Asia Society is pleased to collaborate with World Music Institute for Dancing the Gods, an annual festival of Indian Dance celebrating its 13th year, featuring some of the leading performers of Indian dance. Each night begins with a slide presentation by Rajika Puri, festival curator, and acclaimed dance storyteller.
Night One – Kasi Aysola and Archana Raja (Kuchipudi)
Friday, May 10th from 7:15pm to 10:00pm
Kasi Aysola is a performer, choreographer, and nattuvangam artist based in the United States. Apart from his solo performances, as Artistic Director of the Prakriti Dance Company, he also collaborates with and trains artists across America. Moreover, he is renowned for his original rhythmic compositions and the musical insight with which he has accompanied dance artists like Rama Vaidyanathan, Mythili Prakash, and Janaki Rangarajan, all of whom have appeared in Dancing the Gods over the years. WMI last presented Kasi as part of our virtual Dancing the Gods festival in 2022, where he performed the world premiere of a series of Kuchipudi works. For this year’s festival, he will be joined by Archana Raja, a Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi practitioner, teacher, and choreographer based in the Bay Area who is currently a student of Kasi in the Vempati style of Kuchipudi.
Night Two – Rama Vaidyanathan (solo Bharatanatyam)
Sunday, May 12th from 7:15pm to 10:00pm
Rama Vaidyanathan is one of the foremost Bharatanatyam dancers of her generation and is also the recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar awarded by the central government of India. Her technique is grounded in tradition, yet she brings a fresh approach to her choreography that is evident in the innumerable dance compositions she has added to the Bharatanatyam repertoire. As Director of Ganesa Natyalaya New Delhi, she is actively engaged in teaching and nurturing young dancers, inspiring a whole new generation. Rama opened the very first Dancing the Gods festival in 2011.
IRONWEED: An Evening of Art & Humanity
Friday, May 17th at 7:30pm
Location: BAM Strong, Harvey Theater
Tickets: start at $35
Four-time Academy Award nominee Mark Ruffalo and two-time Tony Award nominee Jessica Hecht star in an innovative mix of live performance and recorded sound directed by Jodie Markell and produced by Brad Gilbert, based on a new play adapted from William Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. IRONWEED: An Evening of Art & Humanity offers a heartbreaking look at a man’s end-of-life reckoning during the Great Depression. Set on All Hallows’ Eve in 1938 on the streets of Albany, the play follows one man’s journey through purgatory and his struggle for redemption, bringing to life the poetry, humor, and heartbreak of Kennedy’s prose. The evening includes select readings of scenes from a new stage version of the novel, adapted by Kennedy and Markell. Following the performance, Ruffalo and Hecht discuss the timeliness of IRONWEED and the current crisis of the unhoused with local advocates, moderated by The New Yorker writer and author Vinson Cunningham. This exclusive one-night event offers a memorable, moving experience of the power of creative expression to illuminate the human condition.
DanceAfrica 2024
Friday, May 24th through Monday, May 27th
Location: Peter Jay Sharp Building, Howard Gilman Opera House
Tickets: start at $25
This year, the festival’s anchor performance, under the artistic vision of Abdel R. Salaam, welcomes the illustrious Cameroonian dance company Cie La Calebasse, founded by acclaimed choreographer and dancer Merlin Nyakam. Renowned for captivating performances that blend traditional African dance with contemporary flair, Cie La Calebasse presents an array of traditional Cameroonian dances and music. The program, titled Cameroon: The Origin of Communities/A Calabash of Cultures, also fosters a unique collaboration with the DanceAfrica Spirit Walkers and The Billie’s Youth Arts Academy Dance Ensemble, joined by Women Of The Calabash, an ensemble known for its mesmerizing polyphonic sound. The artistic vision is brought to life with costume designs by Wunmi Olaiya, lighting design by Al Crawford, set design by Jasiri Kafele, and music and sound design by David Margolin Lawson, creating an immersive experience that celebrates the depth of Cameroonian culture.
First Saturday: In Bloom
Saturday, May 4th from 5:00pm to 10:00pm
Celebrate spring, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and our exhibitions Artland and Hiroshige’s 100 Famous Views of Edo (feat. Takashi Murakami). May’s First Saturday features a lineup of artists, poets, and musicians from the Asian diaspora in Brooklyn and beyond.
This program is free; registration is required and includes Museum general admission. Tickets are released on a rolling basis. Sign up for the Brooklyn Museum newsletter to be notified of the next release.
Brooklyn Pop-Up Market
every Sunday from 10:30am to 5:30pm
Location: Iris Cantor Plaza, 1st Floor
Stop by our market to shop one-of-a-kind, handmade items from local artisans. This weekly event features more than 20 vendors offering artwork, jewelry, fashion, home and apothecary goods, and more.
This event is free and takes place outdoors (rain location: Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, 1st Floor).
Jake Blount
Presented in Collaboration with City Winery
Saturday, May 11th at 8:00pm
Tickets: start at $40
When Jake Blount stumbled upon a banjo performance in an Ethiopian restaurant around a decade ago, he instantly fell in love with the instrument. Now you’ll instantly fall in love with him — banjoist, fiddler, singer, scholar, and entertainer — as he explores the folk traditions of Black and indigenous Americans. A recipient of the prestigious Steve Martin Banjo Prize, Blount will blend his “charismatic and limber” voice (The Guardian) with blues, bluegrass, and spirituals for a deeply fulfilling musical experience.
An Evening Of Wine
A Benefit for Caramoor’s Education Programs
Saturday, May 18th at 6:00pm
Tickets: $2,500
By joining us this evening, you are contributing to the vibrant experiences that Caramoor offers, fostering a sense of discovery and inspiration among all who visit. We believe these educational programs will ignite a lasting passion for the arts within our community, nurturing creativity and curiosity for generations to come. We hope you’ll join us.
Schedule
6:00pm / Cocktails
7:00pm / Musical Performance by Stella Cole
8:00pm / Dinner by Chef Jesse Schenker & Silent Auction of Rare Wines
10:00pm / Cigar Lounge and Nightcaps
VICTOR GOINES QUARTET
Friday, May 17th through Sunday, May 19th
Tickets: start at $25
Join tenor master, clarinetist, and longtime JLCO member and music director Victor Goines as he leads his 4-piece ensemble at Dizzy’s Club. An artist of compelling versatility, Goines has collaborated with a diverse roster of leaders, including Ahmad Jamal, Ruth Brown, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Dizzy Gillespie, Lenny Kravitz, Branford Marsalis, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder.
SUN RA AT 110 WITH SULLIVAN FORTNER'S GALACTIC FRIENDS
Wednesday, May 22nd and Thursday, May 23rd
Tickets: start at $25
Celebrating what would have been composer/keyboardist Sun Ra’s 110th birthday on May 22, Grammy-winning, Earth-born, New Orleans pianist/keyboardist Sullivan Fortner has summoned his most galactic-minded of friends to delve into Sun Ra’s inventive and adventurous music. From swing to free to earthy and spacey, Fortner and his fellow explorers – including Sun Ra Arkestra veterans and Grammy-winners – will embrace the eclecticism that marked Sun Ra’s atmospheric musical forays.
In the immortal words of Sun Ra:
In the half-between world,
Dwell they: The Tone Scientists
In notes and tone
They speak of many things…
The tone scientists:
Architects of planes of discipline
Mathematically precise are they:
The tone-scientists
–Sun Ra
ESSENTIALLY ELLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND COMPETITION & FESTIVAL
Friday, May 10th and Saturday, May 11th
Location: Rose Theater
Tickets: start at $25.50
The annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival is one of the most innovative jazz education events in the world. Each year, high school musicians from across North America travel to New York City to spend three days immersed in workshops, jam sessions, rehearsals, and performances at the “House of Swing,” Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.
BATTLE OF THE BIG BANDS: NEW ORLEANS JAZZ ORCHESTRA AND CAPTAIN BLACK BIG BAND
Friday, May 17th and Saturday, May 18th
Location: Rose Theater
Tickets: start at $40.50
When The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra with Adonis Rose, a 20-piece ensemble of intergenerational voices representing the birthplace of jazz, faces off against the Captain Black Big Band with Orrin Evans, a bold, swinging assemblage of artists from Philadelphia and the mid-Atlantic, expect a high-energy, roof-shaking rumble, as they duke it out to the music of Count Basie, Sun Ra, Stevie Wonder, and more, in one of jazz’s most beloved traditions, in The House of Swing.
First Friday
Friday, May 3rd from 10:00am to 9:00pm
Tickets: FREE!
Join Poster House on the First Friday of every month for free admission and extended hours! Explore the museum’s latest exhibitions and get in on the fun by attending a tour, workshop, or activity throughout the day. This month, the museum is thrilled to partner with Welcome to Chinatown for a series of programs that celebrate the culture, community, and resilience of Chinatown. Stop by and learn more about Welcome to Chinatown and how you can support the organization’s recovery efforts.
Sleepless in Seattle Movie Screening
Friday, May 17th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Tickets: FREE!
The Anatomy of a Movie Poster: The Work of Dawn Baillie includes some of the most iconic and beloved posters in modern cinematic history. Throughout the exhibition, Poster House will screen a selection of films from the movie-focused exhibition. On Friday, May 17, there will be a free screening of the romantic classic, Sleepless in Seattle. The year before this poster was created, Dawn became one of the first female cofounders of a Hollywood design studio. This poster was one of the first she created with the use of Photoshop—at the time, a new digital tool many studios were not yet using. Be sure to stop by Café des Affiches for exclusive, themed drinks and snacks to accompany the screening!
Mother's Day
Sunday, May 12th from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Location: on the grounds
Tickets: Mother’s Day is a premium day for admission at the front entrance; $2 surcharge per visitor. Free admission for children 5 & under.
Wonderfully timed to coincide with the arrival of spring, Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to pull out all the stops. Plan to spend the day in the gardens, with a special Family Art Project, a guided walk in the gardens, a session of spring birding, and free sessions of community and family yoga. Links below.
Enjoy the very rare opportunity to picnic on the Wave Hill House Lawn. Bring your own feast or purchase a delicious picnic curated by our exclusive partner Great Performances. Limited, first come, first served seating will also be available in Armor Hall for picnic purchasers. If you would like to picnic on the Wave Hill House Lawn, you may bring your own blanket and outdoor folding chairs.
Night Out at Wave Hill: The Birders Lounge
Saturday, May 18th from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Location: Wave Hill House
Tickets: $25; including admission to the grounds. Members save 10%
Don’t let the fun end! Grab your friends or a date and spend a leisurely spring evening at Wave Hill with fellow birders and nature enthusiasts. Enjoy drinks and a lively round of Birders Trivia with local bird guide Gabriel Willow as your host, and hang out on our tented café terrace with gorgeous views of the open lawns and woodlands. Wrap up your evening with a guided nature walk as the birds are heading home to roost or enjoy a quiet sunset from the café terrace or the Great Lawn. No birding experience necessary! Cash bar with a variety of local beers and themed cocktails. Ages 21 and older.
CITYPICKLE AT WOLLMAN RINK
Projected Opening May 1st
Open Daily from 8:00am to 9:00pm
Court rentals, clinics, open play, special events…we have you covered.
We welcome all levels, from beginners to elite players.
Come play on our 14 courts, the largest pickleball offering in the Northeast!
Related Posts
No records found for the
search criteria entered.
-
Chefs' Choir: Celebrating Thanksgiving
Our group of professional chefs at Chefs’ Choir™ shares some of their favorite meals to make around Thanksgiving...
-
Great Performances 2025 Calendar: Have a G.O.A.T. Year!
Sharing our 2025 calendar with a wish for a peaceful, healthy, meaningful and delicious year ahead for you and your loved ones...
-
Celebrating Community: An October Full of Nonprofit Events
October was a month of meaningful connections and vibrant gatherings as Great Performances proudly catered several nonprofit events...
