Wales Week USA 2010: events taking place in America
As St. David's Day approaches, it's always great to hear about the many Welsh events taking place here in the United States.
Our friend Catrin, who works in the First Minister's Office, told me a while back that there would likely be just a couple of things going on this year around March 1st as nowadays there are so many Welsh events year-round. Well, Catrin's enthusiasm and the great Welsh support has once again lead to a fully-fledged "Wales Week USA."
Here are just some of the things going on in America...
WASHINGTON DC
Make a trip to the nation's capital between now and April 25th to see National Museum Wales' fascinating Davies Sisters Collection as it takes up residence at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. "Turner to Cezanne" is a collection of 53 Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings from the full set usually housed in National Museum Cardiff. www.corcoran.org/turnertocezanne
SCRANTON, Pennsylvania
Check out the "Wales in America" exhibition at the Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton from March 1st through May this year. It tells the story of Welsh immigration into the USA and the contribution that the Welsh have made to America throughout its history. www.anthracitemuseum.org
BOSTON, Massachusetts
If you're interested in Dylan Thomas and Wales' literary goings-on, then be sure to contact Catrin Brace to find out more about a very special evening event on March 1st. It's the launch of the Dylan Thomas Prize for young writers 2010 - an annual prize of £30,000 (c $46,000), awarded every November to a published writer under 30 years of age for poetry, short stories, a play, a novel or a screenplay. There will be a lecture about Dylan THomas by Professor Peter Stead who is Chair of the Dylan Thomas Prize followed by a launch event with guests including media, publishers, writers and academics. If you fall into those categories and love Wales and Dylan Thomas' work, then drop Catrin a line at catrin.brace@wales-uk.com to be considered for an invitation, space-permitting.
NEW YORK, New York
Have you seen 'A Little Night Music' yet at the Walter Kerr Theatre? Welsh actress and Academy Award–winner Catherine Zeta-Jones and five-time Tony Award®–winner Angela Lansbury star in the first Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Tony Award–winning masterpiece, directed by Tony Award®-winner Trevor Nunn. www.nightmusiconbroadway.com
NEW YORK, New York
Dylan Thomas fans in New York from March 2nd through March 7th will want to visit the Morgan Library & Museum. There's a special exhibition of some rare Dylan Thomas manuscripts and other artefacts. Admission is $12 for adults, although it's free on Friday from 7pm to 9pm.
The Morgan Library is also celebrating St. David's Day by offering Welsh afternoon tea each day in their restaurant. www.themorgan.org
NEW YORK, New York
On Friday March 5th, the St. David's Society of the State of New York are holding their 175th annual St. David's Day Dinner Dance at the prestigious Yale Club. Welsh composer Karl Jenkins will be the 2010 William R Hopkins Bronze Medal recipient at the dinner, and the evening will include a performance by contemporary Welsh choir Only Men Aloud! The good news is that tickets are available publicly at $150 each. For more information and bookings, contact the society, tel. (212) 422-5456 or Email: jwthomas@amergeog.org.
NEW YORK, New York
On Saturday March 6 at 3pm... It’s Alec Templeton Time! with Dr.Rhian Davies of the Gregynog Festival and pianist Simon Crawford-Phillips at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Born in Cardiff on July 4, 1909, the blind composer-pianist Alec Templeton was brought to America by the bandleader Jack Hylton in the mid 1930s. Templeton soon had his own weekly radio show ‘Alec Templeton Time'. Templeton toured widely in America and crossed over to television and film, earning a personal star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This show combines archive film footage, broadcasts and recordings with live performances from Simon Crawford-Phillips of Templeton’s classical, jazz and blues compositions. Free entry; no reservations required. Seating will be on a first-come-first-served basis so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. www.nypl.org
NEW YORK, New York
On the evening of March 6th, there's a very special performance, 'Music Masters of Wales' at Carnegie Hall. Karl Jenkins is set to conduct the US premiere of his composition Uephonium Concerto and selections from Sacred Songs. Arwel Hughes will premiere his composition Dewi Sant. For more information on the line-up, check the website: www.dciny.org/2010-opportunities/saturday-march-6-2010.html. It sounds like a fascinating evening showcasing two of Wales' current top composers and conductors.
NEW YORK, New York
Be sure to join Professor Peter Stead on Sunday March 7th at 9.30am as he leads a Dylan Thomas -themed walking tour of Greenwich Village. The two-hour tour costs $25 with all proceeds going to the non-profit organization "The Dylan Thomas Prize for Young Writers." As numbers are limited, booking is required by Emailing: catrin.brace@wales-uk.com.
NEW YORK, New York
Catch the New York premiere of Welsh film Sleep Furiously. It's being screened at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) on February 24th at 8pm and February 25th at 4pm. Directed by Gideon Koppel, Sleep Furiously is set in a small farming community in mid Wales, and features a soundtrack by Aphex Twin. Following the film screening, there will be a discussion with Gideon Koppel. For more information, see the web page: www.moma.org/visit/calendar/film_screenings/8798.