FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karin Venegas, karin@anatgerstein.com, 347-361-7049
Sandra Tharas, sandra@anatgerstein.com, 718-793-2211

Flushing Town Hall to Celebrate Pride Month with a Special Musical Trilogy Featuring Mark Nadler, Marieann Meringolo, and Darius de Haas

Nadler has “talent and boundless drive.”
- New York Times -

Meringolo “transports us to a better and more ideal world.”
- WNYC -

"An astonishing vocal acrobat, Mr. de Haas combines the timbre of a pure wind instrument with a fearless but disciplined theatricality and the swinging authority of a jazz powerhouse."
- New York Times -




(Flushing, N.Y.) — In celebration of Pride Month, Flushing Town Hall presents its PRIDE TRILOGY, a three-part, musical series featuring an extraordinary lineup of award-winning performers and vocalists.

“Inspired by the success of our Black History Trilogy in February, we are very excited to present this new series for Pride,” says Flushing Town Hall’s Executive & Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek. “As New York City reopens, we are also thrilled to be welcoming artists back to the stage in our Hall while continuing to livestream for audiences at home.”

The PRIDE TRILOGY is supported in part by funding from New York City Council Member, Finance Chair, and LGBTQ Caucus Chair, Daniel Dromm, who says, “Flushing Town Hall’s Pride Trilogy is another exciting way that the organization ensures inclusivity in all of its fantastic events. Because invisibility is our biggest enemy, making us visible in the arts is so vitally important and no one does it better than Flushing Town Hall. I am most grateful to everyone involved for their support of the LGBTQ community of Queens. Happy Pride!” 

I. Mark Nadler kicks off the Trilogy with “Gay As They Say” on Thursday, June 10 at 7:00 PM (ET).

Did you ever listen to a song written by one of the greats and hear a phrase that made you say, “did I just hear what I think I heard?” In this fun and tuneful show, Nadler explores the theory that Cole Porter, Noel Coward, Larry Hart and Billy Strayhorn meant what you think they meant when they wrote provocative, gay sounding phrases in their lyrics. The virtual audience is invited to stay for a live Q&A with Nadler following his performance.

Mark Nadler is an internationally acclaimed singer, pianist, tap-dancer and comedian. He is the recipient of the 2015 Broadway World Editor’s Choice Award for Entertainer of the Year. His off-Broadway hit, I’m a Stranger Here Myself, has been honored with the 2013 Nightlife Award and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award and two Broadway World Awards. The show was presented at The Adelaide Cabaret Festival in Adelaide, Australia, where it was nominated for the prestigious Helpmann Award. Additionally, Nadler’s Broadway Hootenanny performed at Adelaide Festival for several years in a row. He has performed at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops Orchestra and has been a soloist with the Baltimore Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Oregon Symphony, National Arts Centre Symphony in Ottawa and others.

II. On Thursday, June 17 at 7:00 PM (ET), the PRIDE TRILOGY continues with Marieann Meringolo’s “Here’s to the Ladies! A Salute to Great Ladies of Song,” celebrating such icons as Peggy Lee, Barbra Streisand, Joni Mitchell, Dionne Warwick, and more. 

Multi award-winning vocalist Marieann Meringolo is a native New Yorker who has been called “one of the circuit’s most powerful singers,” and described by Time Out New York as “if k.d. lang’s DNA were to get whipped together with Barbra Streisand’s in a genetics lab specializing in divas, the result might well be Marieann Meringolo.” She is a MAC Award-Winning Recording Artist as well as a Back Stage Bistro Award-Winner for “Outstanding Vocalist.”

She performs in New York’s most celebrated venues, has toured with the late comedian David Brenner and headlines on cruises around the world. She received rave reviews for her 2018 album, released on the BluJazz label, Between Yesterday and Tomorrow: The Songs of Alan & Marilyn Bergman.

Meringolo’s gorgeous voice is often played on radio stations and the internet around the world, and has been heard on selected United Airlines flights, as well as on Air Force II. She has also had the honor of performing live at the United Nations.

III. Flushing Town Hall’s PRIDE TRILOGY will conclude with a very special performance from Darius de Haas on Thursday, June 24 at 7:00 PM (ET). In Darius de Haas Sings Billy Strayhorn: “Something to Live For,” de Haas will celebrate the composer’s rich contribution to the Great American Songbook with songs like “Take the A Train,” “Lush Life,” “Day Dream,” “Chelsea Bridge,” and more.

An Obie Award-winning actor and singer, Darius de Haas has appeared in Broadway's Rent, Shuffle Along, Kiss Of The Spiderwoman, and in Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. He brings an ever evolving and singular perspective to Strayhorn's tremendous output- celebrating a composer whose music he sung for his debut solo recording 20 years ago, the critically acclaimed Day Dream: Variations on Strayhorn.

Known mainly in his lifetime as one of Duke Ellington's greatest collaborators, Strayhorn has been increasingly celebrated for his own rich contributions, not just to music but as a humanitarian. An out, gay Black man at a time when the norm was to keep that hidden (particularly in the macho-dominated world of jazz), Strayhorn was not only out but held in the highest regard by his fellow musicians and colleagues.

“Billy Strayhorn is someone who I affectionately call ‘a triple threat’— gay, Black and a genius,” says de Haas. “I, and certainly many other artists, have benefited from his contribution to the Great American Songbook and stand on his small but mighty shoulders.”

Flushing Town Hall’s PRIDE TRILOGY is presented as part of its FTH At Home! virtual programming initiative to provide the highest caliber, global arts performances to audiences throughout New York, the country, and across the world to enjoy from the safety of home. Since New York City first shutdown to Covid in March of 2020, Flushing Town Hall’s YouTube subscriber audience has grown by more than 220%. To learn more about the upcoming TRILOGY and to reserve virtual tickets ($5 each, plus a $1 service fee) visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/pride-trilogy
 

Support Flushing Town Hall this season:

Flushing Town Hall recently launched its new membership program, Flushing Town Hall’s Circle of Friends, with memberships starting at gifts of $50 or more. With the loss of nearly all earned income, Flushing Town Hall is in dire need of support and is currently raising funds under its Lemon-AID the Arts Campaign. Donations in any amount are appreciated to support the artists and nonprofit cultural organization as they continue to provide programming and entertainment across New York and the world.

Flushing Town Hall’s facilities are temporarily closed to the public in accordance with COVID-19 safety regulations. Current programs are being presented virtually.

for Calendars:

JUNE 10 @ 7:00 PM (ET)
PRIDE TRILOGY I: Mark Nadler’s “Gay As They Say”

https://www.flushingtownhall.org/pride-trilogy-1

JUNE 17 @ 7:00 PM (ET)
PRIDE TRILOGY II: Marieann Meringolo’s “Here’s to the Ladies! A Salute to Great Ladies of Song”

https://www.flushingtownhall.org/pride-trilogy-2

JUNE 24 @ 7:00 PM (ET)
PRIDE TRILOGY III: Darius de Haas Sings Billy Strayhorn: “Something to Live For”

https://www.flushingtownhall.org/pride-trilogy-3
 


Thank you to our generous community of donors for providing Flushing Town Hall a foundation of strength and endurance. We are grateful beyond measure for the elected officials, donors and members, foundations, corporations, volunteers, and all patrons who have supported us for over 40 years, in the best and the worst of times. Flushing Town Hall is grateful for all gifts received and wishes to thank everyone for their ongoing generosity.

Flushing Town Hall is a not for profit organization which receives major support from the National Endowment for the Arts; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; New York State Assembly Member Ron Kim; The City of New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Commissioner Gonzalo Casals; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; The New York City Council, Speaker Corey Johnson, Council Members Costa Constantinides, Daniel Dromm, Barry Grodenchik, Peter Koo, Karen Koslowitz, Paul A. Vallone, Jimmy Van Bramer; Howard Gilman Foundation, Booth Ferris Foundation, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation.

Flushing Town Hall greatly appreciates the supporters of our current campaign, Lemon-AID the Arts. If you are able and willing to help, please click here to learn more and donate today. Special thanks to our donors with gifts of $100 and above: Arline Abdalian, Alberta Alexandre, Karen Argueta, Maria Arias, Henry Assael, Bob Band, Christopher Banks, Barbara Banks Schwam, Beverly Bartow, Geraldine Benfante, Viviana M. Benitez, Carl Bennett, Denise Boudiette, Seth Bornstein, Larue Brathwaite, Anne Bresnahan, Carolee Brooks-Hildenbrandt, Jeanette Brown, Claire Bullard, Christopher Caltieri, Jenna Capeci, Calvin Chan, Dongshin Chang, Christopher Chen, Annika Cheng, Cecilia Cheng, Amy Chin, Wanda Chin, Ginger Chinn, Alexander Choi, David Creed, Jacob Eichenbaum, David Fesser, Ellen Fisher-Turk, Karen Fitzgerald, Paul Foster, Toni Foy, Emma Frankel, Andrew Garson, Gitler Family Fund, Anat Gerstein, Carl Gold, Loren Golden, Howard Graf (Graf & Lewent Architects), Constance Hammen, Heather Harrison, Alan Heilbron, Susan Hennessy, Loren Golden, Geraldene Hornsby-Gray, Rhenaye Hornsby, Timothy Hosking, Ming-I Huang, Raymond Jasen, Carmen Jimenez, Minja Kang, Andrew Karp, Amir Kassam, Adrienne Kivelson, Bob Kodadek, Ellen Kodadek, Saul Kupferberg, Carol Leaf, Stephanie Lee, Anne Lewent, Judith Lewent and Mark Shapiro, Steve Lewent, James Liao, Jeri Lim, Meiling Liu, Stephanie Long, Martha Ma, Frank Macchio, Rob Mackay, Sandra Mann, Pamela Marquez, Steve Marston, William McClure, Brenda McCoy, Steven Mecca, Cynthia Merkle, Chi Mo, Lee Nash, Sandra Nash, Rochelle Nechin, Albert Niu, TeHsing Niu, The Ong Family Foundation, Jessica Peña, Kimberly Phelan, Mary and Oscar Pollock, Ryan Powers, Hope Pordy, Qi Shu Fang Peking Opera Association, Richard Quatrano, Alfred and Diane Rankins, Dottye Ricks, Mira Rubens, Teresa Salles, Jeffrey Schneider, Roslyn Schwersenz, Anthony Scotto, Gustavo Segredo, Tina Seligman, Dominique Sellers, Alice Sharp, Thomas Simmons, Stephen Sincovich, Judi Silvano, Mike Sperendi and Jan Schneider, Douglas Stalnaker, Sheila Sweeney, Jean Tatge, Marsha Toma, Veronica Tsang, WAC Lighting, Tai-nin Wang, Jill Ward, Daryl Ware, Jay Wegman, David and Elsie Werber, Constance Wingate, Robert and Karla Wishnick, Edwina and Eldwin Wong, Lucy Wong, Jennie Woo, Jon Yanofsky, Mimi Yeung. 

Support for our programs is also provided by Cathay Bank, Douglass Chan, Amy Mak Chan, Calvin W. Chan, Sharon Chen, Ginger Chinn, Dr. Hsing-Lih Chou/New York Institute of Culture and the Arts, Con Edison, Crossings TV, Kuang-Yu Fong/Chinese Theatre Works, Howard Graf and Kathy Donovan, Guru Krupa Foundation, Investors Foundation, Raymond D. Jasen, the Jim Henson Foundation, Ellen Kodadek, Nelson Lee/Flushing Bank, Anne Lewent, James S. Liao, Emily Lin/Lin & Loveall Foundation, Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Frank Macchio, Materials for the Arts, William McClure/Queens College, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Northwell Health, TeHsing Niu, Carlos Ortiz, Queens Art Education Center/Arthur Liu, RuDance/Asian American Dance Sport Corp., Helen Shieh, Richard Siu, Curtis Smith, Michael Tang, Veronica Tsang, Tai and Tony Wang/Glow Foundation, Anna Wu, Minwen Yang, Hank Yeh, Sandy Yeh, Shane Yeh, and Angela Qi Zhang.

Flushing Town Hall greatly appreciates the sponsors of the 2021 Lunar New Year Chinese Temple Bazaar: Tai Wang and Glow Foundation (Title Sponsor), Amy Mak Chan, The Andy Li Team at Compass, Healthfirst, MetroPlusHealth, The Parc Hotel, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr., Shandong Association, Shanghai Commercial Bank, and President of Flushing Town Hall Veronica Tsang. A special thank you to Flushing Town Hall’s Chinese Cultural Committee for their ongoing support.

With special thanks to the Howard Gilman Foundation, Flushing Town Hall was able to purchase equipment needed to live-stream and record from its theater.

Louis Armstrong Legacy Virtual Jazz Jam is supported in part by a grant from The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation.

Crazy Talented Asians & Friends: An Evening of Live Comedy – Triumphing Over Quarantine! is sponsored by a generous anonymous donor. Flushing Town Hall thanks the sponsor and the numerous community volunteers and viewers for your strong support.


We have done our best to recognize donations correctly, but should your recognition be incorrect, please contact Jessica Peña, Director of Development, at jpena@flushingtownhall.org.

About Flushing Town Hall
Flushing Town Hall (FTH), a Smithsonian affiliate, presents multi-disciplinary global arts that engage and educate the global communities of Queens and New York City, in order to foster mutual appreciation. As advocates of arts equity since 1979, we support local, immigrant, national, and international artists, developing partnerships and collaborations that enhance our efforts. As a member of New York City’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), we serve to restore, manage and program the historic 1862 landmark on behalf of the City of New York. FTH celebrates the history of Queens as the home of Jazz, by presenting the finest in Jazz performance. We are committed to arts education and hands-on learning, for the arts-curious, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists. We serve one of the most diverse communities in the world and strive to uphold the legacy of inclusiveness that has defined our community since the Flushing Remonstrance of 1657.

Land Acknowledgement:
Flushing Town Hall acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Matinecock People, one of the original tribes of New York, and the first people of Flushing, Queens. The Matinecock continue to live and work on this land to this day. Flushing Town Hall honors their elders who have stewarded this land throughout generations.

COVID-19:
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, while our venue remains temporarily closed in accordance with social distancing guidelines, we are proudly presenting performances, exhibitions, panel discussions, and educational activities online through our virtual initiatives, FTH at Home! and Global Arts for Global Kids.


For more information:
www.flushingtownhall.org
(718) 463-7700 x222
137-35 Northern Blvd. Flushing, NY 11354