#theplayers

NEW YORK - Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy Host BenefitRecently, I was privileged to cover a special fundraising event sponsored by WOC, Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy. This special fundraising event was held at the prestigious Player’s Club at 16 Gramercy Park South. Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy event at the Players Club in Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighborhood. Photo by Sora VernikoffNow first, I had the honor to meet Yolanda F. Johnson, the Founder of WOC, who shared that she became the founder of WOC because she wanted “a truly dedicated space for women of color and their allies in the fields of fundraising and philanthropy and therefore I created the WOC concept, to have this particular space come into fruition.”And indeed, she has. Yolanda F. Johnson, Founder of Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy event at the Players Club in Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighborhood. Photo by Sora VernikoffThe mission and vision of WOC are to celebrate, inspire, and champion women of color in fundraising, philanthropy, and related fields by building a community and providing unparalleled personal and professional development resources. WOC endeavors to be the “hub” and “heart” for women of color in the fundraising and philanthropic communities worldwide.The first image, shown below, shows members of the WOC National Advisory Committee, and the second image shares the three 2024 WOC Awards Honorees. Note Sarah Lomelin, CEO of Philanthropy Together; Hera Javid, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement of the City of New York, School of Law; and Aditi Sharma, Program Manager of Amplify Her Foundation. Members of the Advisory Committee of Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy event at the Players Club in Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighborhood. Photo by Sora Vernikoff Honorees of Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy event at the Players Club in Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighborhood. Photo by Sora VernikoffI loved some of the Silent Auction opportunities! Philanthropists Change the World T-Shirt available at the silent auction at the Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy event at the Players Club in Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighborhood. Photo by Sora Vernikoff A T-Shirt available at the silent auction at the Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy event at the Players Club in Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighborhood. Photo by Sora VernikoffSuppose you understand that people and communities worldwide have complex daily challenges, from poverty to environmental challenges to the lack of access to healthcare. In that case, it’s essential to understand that governments can’t always fulfill these needs, which is why philanthropy through fundraising is vital.You can learn more about WOC and the great benefits it provides by supporting individuals who fundraise. Click HERE and open your heart to all possibilities.Aditi Sharma, WOC National Advisory Committee, Philanthropy Together, Institutional Advancement of the City of New York, School of Law and Aditi Sharma, Amplify Her Foundation.Readers may also enjoy reading New York Press Club Awards for Journalism Dinner 2024, The HANYC Foundation Hosts a Red Carpet Hospitality Gala, New York Common Pantry Fill the Bag event, NY Fashion Week Supports the American Heart Association, and the Explorers Club Supports Chinese Indigenous Communities through Fashion.https://youtu.be/I7kE5S_0G8Y?si=wGvj_lYHwtC5TFXG

Artists from all walks of life came together on January 10th in the Hampden-Booth Theatre Library to showcase their artistic talents at The Players 3rd Annual Artist Exhibition.Throughout the library, The Players Art Committee exhibited twenty pieces of members-only artwork produced in different mediums, with several artists on hand to discuss their work and give attendees some insight into their art careers, whether it be for a few short years as a hobby or decades.Loren Arethas started painting as a hobby 30 years ago and submitted Sunset Haze, a 12” x 12” acrylic on canvas. Arethas previously worked selling advertising space for interior design publications. Her familiarity with interior design has transformed this expertise onto canvas, painting appealing landscapes like Sunset Haze and other still-life.Phyllis Cox, who said she has been painting since she was 12, exhibited a 12” x 12” acrylic entitled Rings, a stunning canvas of a jewelry box filled with an assortment of rings. Cox showed attendees she was wearing some of the jewelry she showcased in her art piece. She has worked as an art director, is a book author, and of late, started a second career as an actor. Kudos to her skill and longevity with her hobby.David W. Grunner displayed his 20” by 24” framed photograph entitled Boy with Kite Beneath Assisi, a black and white masterpiece shot with a Fuji X100 in 2021. Before the event, Grunner shared personal information about his lifelong photography hobby.“My love for photography was instilled by my father, who was an incredible photographer as well,” Grunner said. “My fondest childhood memories were summer walks in Urbino, Italy, using a Nikon FM3 camera.”“My father taught me to set up a shot, think about lighting and scale, but most importantly, how to sneak photographs of ordinary people going about their business.”Grunner, a native New Yorker, spent a decade teaching high school English. He now serves as the sales director for a wine and spirits portfolio. He joined the club with a passion for the arts and pursue his goal of being part of their magnificent art collection. David W. Grunner. Photo by Victoria Dammer“Where else can you sip a martini beneath the eyes of a Sargent?” Gazing around the library during the art show or perusing the halls and staircases of The Players, one would certainly confirm Grunner’s praise.A worldly and one-of-a-kind entry by Olivera Medenica was her Prismacolor art piece entitled Gracanica Monastery, representing the last endowment of King Stefan Uros II Milutin. Medenica paid homage to the sacred church through her work.The following is a description provided by Princeton.edu.: “King Milutin’s five-domed edifice has a cross-in-square floor plan, an almost square naos, a deep sanctuary, a narrow western bay, and a two-storied narthex with katechoumena (gallery). The central part of the building is surrounded by aisles, which incorporate the choirs and eastern chapels flanking the tripartite sanctuary. The church was built using the cloisonné technique with horizontally arranged ashlars framed with brick, while the windows and domes were made exclusively of brick.”Medenica, a Dunnington Bartholow and Miller LLP partner, started painting at 17. Her work was publicly displayed for the first time this evening. Considering her talent, we need to see more of her work in the future.Members and guests of The Players know well the informal room that houses the pool table and casual restaurant/bar on the lower floor, so it was striking to see Sonia O’Mara’s intensely realistic 20” x 24” framed oil on linen The Grill Room.Before the first night exhibition, O’Mara shared some background history. Her father was a painter, and her mother a dancer, and she comes from a long line of artists and musicians. She was torn between a career in acting or painting, but ultimately, she painted.“The decision came down to understanding if I pursued acting, I would need to be hired in theater. As a painter, I was in control of when and how I could express my creativity,” O’Mara said.As fate would have it, O’Mara shares the same birthday with The Players founder Edwin Booth, and she feels an important part of the very special community of gifted members and artists at 16 Gramercy Park South.“The Players is an oasis of those simple old-world ideals of camaraderie, humanity, and celebration of creatives,” O’Mara said.Those simple feelings seem in short supply in our new nonchalant society. Looking upon O’Mara’s painting brings viewers closer to what we all know - this is indeed “a certain club” meant to be cherished and revered.Finally, Dana York’s gold leaf, oil, ink, and synthetic glass A Dance in London maintains an old-world charm with a modern technique twist. York retired several years ago and took up art for additional income. Guest Bobby Singer said her spellbinding submission made participants stand back in awe of its beauty and intricacy.Long-term member Sarah Ann Rodgers was the original impetus behind the concept of the annual art show, and she thanked the staff who kept the artwork safe.Art Committee Chair Michael Gerbino and Rodgers worked tirelessly to bring about this splendid evening. The art committee and all involved care about the larger issue of keeping Edwin Booth’s dream alive well into the 21st century and beyond. Bravo!Readers may enjoy our reviews of The Days of Wine and Roses, Artwork at the Players (50 Selected Essays), and The Players 2nd Annual Art Show.https://youtu.be/XkgyOZxIw0k?si=znjPwhqxwOEVv4Ry

The Resident Acting Company in New York City celebrated the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio with a performance of The Tempest on November 16 at The Players.Many fans of Shakespeare appreciate the play’s exploration of emotions like love, betrayal, revenge, magic, and family. Shakespeare may have written this play as late as 1610-1611, and is perhaps his last one. Some claim The Tempest is his farewell to the stage and debate whether the play is a tragedy or comedy. One cannot deny a gender imbalance in the story, a common theme of the day, with Shakespeare writing only one female role in the entire script.Act I occurs 12 years before a major part of the story begins. Prospero (Glenn Fleshler), the former Duke of Milan and sorcerer, has been overthrown by his brother Antonio (R.J. Foster), and the King of Naples (Carol Schultz). Fleshler is formidable in his performance as the story’s protagonist. Prospero and Miranda (Julia Baker) find refuge on a deserted island, and they are both protected by the spirit of Ariel (Carine Montbertrand). Giorgione, The Tempest. Public DomainAware that Antonio’s ship is nearby, Prospero invokes a destructive storm, shipwrecking Alonso, his son Ferdinand (Eddie Cruz), and other court members. Prospero plots revenge to take back his kingdom. Sorcery and mystery surround Prospero’s request of Ariel to produce a masque; in Renaissance England, they often presented a masque as a disorder, and the troupe onstage engaged in singing and untamed dancing. As a result, Prospero has the upper hand, seeing his secret plans for a takeover coming to fruition.Prospero’s chances of reclaiming his throne depend on his daughter marrying Ferdinand to preserve their royal bloodline. Ariel uses a new masque in the last act to teach Miranda the gift of chastity and not disorder; the masque in The Tempest is not an actual masque but delivers the narrative of the drama it contains. Montbertrand’s performance is dynamic and captivating in her role.By seeing the culmination of his plot with the use of his daughter, Prospero forgives all who intended him harm and requests the audience to set him free. Those in attendance applauded, as they did in Shakespeare’s time, and Prospero became the rightful king once again. Perhaps the ending to The Tempest represents Shakespeare’s personal request to be released from the stage before retiring. In short, we will never know.The Tempest by William Shakespeare was presented by The Resident Acting Company. Performances by Carol Schultz, Jennifer Yadav, Glenn Fleshler, R.J. Foster, Eddie Cruz, Dan Daily, Jay Patterson, Andy Paterson, Duane Boutte, Julia Baker, and Carine Montbertrand. Directed by Bradford Cover; Production Stage Manager Jason Imber; Club Sponsor Grace Ann Baresich; Photos by Al Foote III.The Players, 16 Gramercy Park South, New York 10003Readers may also enjoy reviews of War Words, Godzilla’s Prince at Pangea, Aging is Not a Fairy Tale, The Constant Wife, HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, and the Oratorio for Living Things.https://youtu.be/9oxp2_OOdvs?si=QGl-rP9nIhnJEyHw