Author Daria Lavelle's Novel ‘Aftertaste': Check Please
To be fair, it begins quite well. The story starts by following the childhood of Konstantin 'Kostya' Duhovny, a poor, awkward New York City kid who lost his Russian immigrant father at a very young age. His last words to his father were those of disgust and scorn; he tells his father the family should have stayed back in the old country where Kostya could've been a chef, instead of a pathetic bus driver in America.
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New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Staten Island summer theater rises again for first time since COVID: ‘Emotional tie for all of us'
The lights are back up in Staten Island. The borough's summer theater is operating again for the first time since COVID swept through the city half a decade ago — and the stars of the show are celebrating the return like a family reunion. Ten families and countless friend connections make up the cast of this year's 'Fiddler on the Roof' production — relying on their close-knit links to bring the little Russian town of Anatevka to life on the CUNY College of Staten Island stage. 11 Lee Tennenbaum and BJ High rehearsing for their roles as Golde and Tevye in a production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' at the College of Staten Island on July 24, 2025. Rachman 11 High performing in a scene with Claire Scala (Fiddler) at rehearsal. Rachman 'It was really important for me to bring the connections that I had growing up so that it felt like an emotional tie for all of us,' said Bronwyn Fugate, the show's director and choreographer, to The Post. 'Myself and many of the cast members are community theater kids that grew up with our families doing theater,' Fugate said. 'We were the generation that would sit and watch our parents create lighting design or be the directors or be on the stage. 'It was a no-brainer that these were the people that I wanted to be the inhabitants of Anatevka because that is kind of the heartbeat, the pulse of Anatevka.' More than 90 people auditioned for the inaugural community theater production show, with 46 people and an orchestra of 10 musicians making the final cut. 11 'Fiddler on the Roof' is the College of Staten Island's first summer theater production since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Rachman 11 The cast of 'Fiddler' rehearsing choreography for the show. Rachman The cast and crew have been in intense rehearsals five days a week since the end of May — and have their eyes set on a July 31 opening night. As grueling as the process has been, the players said they treat the experience like a homecoming and an excuse to spend time with one another — especially those who are sharing the stage with their own families. BJ High, 46, said he is honored to play the leading man, the impoverished milkman Tevye, with his wife and son at his side. 11 BJ High, a retired NYPD officer, is performing alongside his wife Christie and son Liam. Rachman 11 The cast of 'Fiddler on the Roof' listening to notes from director Bronwyn Fugate during a rehearsal. Rachman 'We run lines at homes, in the kitchen, wherever we are, in the pool, in bed, and the basement, any room, we can,' said High, a retired NYPD officer, adding that he met wife, Christie, on stage during a 1998 performance of 'The Most Happy Fella.' 'If the kids aren't bothering us too much, I grab a script,' he said. 'We took a trip recently, and while I was driving, I'd have the two of them acting out scenes with me. It was great.' 11 High singing a song as Tevye with Amelia Gordon (Tzietel), left, and Adam Simancas (Motel the tailor). Rachman The experience has been made even more special because of the message behind the play — which explores clinging to tradition during a time of political and social upheaval. ' 'The Fiddler' is about family, it's about tradition, and it's the perfect show for this cast with these people in this space, because it basically goes back to the ideas of the show,' said Peter Ascolese, 41, the play's costume designer. 'It's tradition, it's generations, it's being all together to do something special,' he said. 'Once I saw the cast list, I was like, how do I get involved?' 11 Katie Callahan, center poses with her daughter Claire, and father Ed during a rehearsal. Rachman 11 High in a scene with Katie Micha (Chava). Rachman This year's show is dedicated to the memory of Jennifer Straniere, who ran the performing arts program at the College of Staten Island for 18 years before passing away in June 2021. 'Fiddler on the Roof' was chosen as this year's performance because Straniere fondly referred to it as her favorite — and one she, her husband and newborn daughter performed in together in 1984. The father-daughter pair are back this summer to carry on Straniere's legacy on the stage, and this time with Strainiere's granddaughter in tow. 11 Judge Philip Staniere (Rabbi), left, poses with his daughter Amanda (Village Mama) and granddaughter Abby Hart (Bielke) during a rehearsal. Rachman 11 Katie Micha, right, poses with her aunt Lee Tennenbaum, second left, and cousins, Lucy Schnall, left, and Molly Schnall, second right, at a rehearsal for 'Fiddler on the Roof.' Rachman Katie Micha, 30, who plays Chava, the youngest daughter of Tevye, also is taking the stage this year with her aunt and two cousins, a mission they call a 'family affair.' 'It's one of my favorite musicals ever. Besides the music being fabulous … it's just a really fabulous show, and I am so excited to be doing this,' Micha said. 'It's really cool to see the whole Staten Island theater community come together. It's very special. We all have known each other forever. All of our families know each other.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Billy Joel Says Wife Alexis Was 'Unimpressed with the Whole Billy Joel Thing' When They First Met — Which 'Impressed' Him
The legendary musician talks about meeting his wife for the first time in the new HBO documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' Billy Joel brought out all the stops for his wife Alexis the first time they met — but she wasn't exactly impressed by a private concert. Joel, 76, reflects on the first time he met Alexis, 43, in the new HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes, and recalls that her nonchalance toward his skills drew him to her. 'When you meet someone who captures your imagination, it renews, it revitalizes,' he says in the film. 'I remember the first time I met Alexis, we went to my house, and I wanted to play the piano for her. It's a form of communication for me.' The 'Just the Way You Are' singer says he drew on a famous scene from the Marilyn Monroe film The Seven-Year Itch, in which the character trying to woo Monroe's character plays a song by the Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. 'I'm playing that and she's completely unimpressed with it, totally. She couldn't care less what I'm playing and I'm thinking, 'Oh OK, this isn't working,'' Joel says. 'She was very unimpressed with the whole Billy Joel thing, which impressed me. Because I thought, 'OK, maybe she's just here because she likes me, not the Billy Joel guy.'' Joel says he was initially uncertain as to whether he wanted to start a new relationship, as he was fresh off a divorce from his third wife, Katie Lee, and was wary. Still, the star explains that 'something popped,' and he knew he was open to love once more. Alexis — whom he went on to marry in 2015 and welcome daughters Della, 9, and Remy, 7 — also appears in the documentary, and says that the couple got to know each other better after that first meeting through phone calls and emails. She also praises his skills in the kitchen, saying Joel would often cook dinner for her to come home to while she was working in finance. 'We had a couple years together before we had kids and he had completely stopped doing shows,' she says. 'We traveled everywhere. We did a motorcycle trip from Maine down to Long Island, we were on boats 24/7. We were in Europe. We had so much fun.' Alexis has been a pillar of strength for the star in recent months as he deals with a treatable brain condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus (The rocker tells PEOPLE in this week's issue that he's 'OK' and not 'deathly ill'). Dennis Arfa, the star's longtime booking agent, tells PEOPLE he's 'so happy' to see Joel 'raising his children and being so in love with them and Alexis and his family.' 'It's quite rewarding,' Arfa says. 'I'm always rooting for Billy's happiness and his success. I've seen Billy have a lot of happy times through his life, [but] he's had to deal with certain adversity. I'm happy for him in this chapter, and I'm looking forward to the next chapter with him.' Joel himself adds that he's 'really enjoying this time in my life.' Billy Joel: And So It Goes (now streaming on HBO Max) is a rare, revelatory glimpse into the private world of one of rock music's most enduring acts, and how he overcame substance abuse, mental health struggles, and more to find peace. Read the original article on People
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Boston Globe
Blind date: ‘We went for ice cream after'
ALAN L.: 24 / Air Force What makes him a catch: He's great at public speaking. His hobbies: Piano, triathlons, boxing 7 P.M. BLACK LAMB, BOSTON Feeling Symptomatic Anja I've been burnt out with dating apps and haven't been able to meet people organically. Alan My older brother had friends who started relationships after signing up [for Cupid]. Anja I did talk about Cupid with my friends, sister, and therapist to get their opinions before I agreed to do it. Alan I knew her name was Anja, so I touched up on my Russian and had some lines prepared. Anja I waited for the host to bring me to the table. I was a little surprised, because he was blond with blue eyes, like me. He is handsome, but I don't really find myself attracted to blonds. Alan I came in with an open mind. The first thing I noticed were her eyes. Big and blue like an ocean. She also wore Birkenstocks, which I thought was interesting. Advertisement In Treatment Anja When he saw my name, he thought it was Russian and so he brushed up on his Russian (which he almost minored in). Alan I discovered she was NOT Russian, so I prepped my lines for nothing. We talked about movies, music, a lot of surface-level topics. Anja He studied at the Air Force Academy and has worked at multiple bases, where he is a trainer, conducting fitness tests. I also learned that he is interested in boxing, UFC, and [the martial art] Muay Thai. Advertisement Alan She was easy to talk to and had a warm smile. I think the only deal breaker was that she was older than me, and clearly a little more mature. Anja We got the shellfish platter (oysters, clams, crudo, shrimp), mussels, and fries. Alan The food and service were great. We stuck strictly to seafood and Anja held my hand while I tried out new, scary foods for the first time. Anja I'm a bit of a flirt, so there were never any lulls in our conversation. I would be nervous to date someone who has an interest in concussive-heavy sports. I have too much knowledge about the downstream effects of that activity. Alan She was sweet and seems like a great person. But we floated around conversation to conversation and there weren't any real sparks. Related : Unclear Prognosis Anja We went out for ice cream after. I wasn't in a rush to end things, but I think my mind had been made up before dinner was finished. I'm too scared of confrontation to tell someone right away that I'm not really interested. Alan We walked to an ice cream spot nearby, and I was excited to continue listening to her. Anja We exchanged numbers and tentatively agreed to go on a second date. We hugged. He was respectful. Alan We hugged good night. Second Date? Anja I think we will, but I don't see things long term between us. Alan Maybe. I proposed a coffee once she's back in town but I wouldn't be surprised if we never saw each other again. We're on different [paths]. Advertisement Grading the Date Anja / A Alan / B Related : Go on a blind date. We'll pick up the tab. Fill out an application at
