Vy Higginsen

Review: Cheyenne Jackson Makes His Rapturous Carnegie Hall Solo Debut
by Rebecca Kaplan - Dec 14, 2025

The 30 ROCK and XANADU star made his Carnegie Hall solo show debut on December 8th as part of the Originals series, which continues February 2 with Patti LuPone. Read a review of Jackson's joy-filled show.

Service and Celebration for Writer and Producer Ken Wydro to Take Place in February
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 5, 2025

The service and celebration of life for Ken will be on Saturday, February 15 at 3:30PM at The Bethel Gospel Assembly Ministry Complex - The Destiny Worship Pavilion at 1483 Fifth Avenue. Learn more.

MAMA, I WANT TO SING! 40th Anniversary Revival Receives Seven Audelco Award Nominations
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 21, 2023

Mama, I Want to Sing! 40th Anniversary Revival Receives Seven Audelco Award Nominations. Harlem's Audelco Awards to honor the acclaimed revival at their 51st Annual Awards.

BAM to Present 37th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in January
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 16, 2022

Continuing a tradition in its 37th year that has evolved into the largest such gathering in New York City, BAM will host the annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 16, 2023, at 10:30am in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House.

VIDEO: Get a Sneak Peek of Joshua Henry, Tonya Pinkins & More in THE BIG MIX - JUNETEENTH at Little Island
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 16, 2022

The Big Mix - Juneteenth will play June 16 to 19 at 8:00 p.m., hosted by Tony and Grammy Award nominee Joshua Henry (Into the Woods, Waitress, Carousel). With performances from Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins ('All My Children,' Mother Courage and Her Children, Holler If Ya Hear Me), and more.

Melissa Errico, Peggy Noonan and More are Coming to The Sheen Center This Spring
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 13, 2020

The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, the arts center of the Archdiocese of New York, has announced highlights of its 2020 Spring season, a rich mix of theater, film, music, author's nights, gallery exhibitions, and talk events featuring artists and thought leaders including Pulitzer Prize-winning Wall Street Journal columnist and author Peggy Noonan; New York Times columnist and bestselling author David Brooks, and Director of The Philanthropy Roundtable's Character Initiative and author Anne Snyder; Director of the Vatican Observatory and President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation Br. Guy Consolmagno, SJ; a rousing evening of gospel music from Vy Higginsen's Sing Harlem choir; celebrated composer and big bandleader Darcy James Argue plus the New England Conservatory Alumni Big Band; Tony Award nominee Melissa Errico and multi-award winning New Yorker staff writer Adam Gopnik; singer, songwriter, and acclaimed clawhammer banjo player Abigail Washburn and genre-bending composer, guzheng virtuoso and vocalist from Beijing Wu Fei; and events tackling thought-provoking topical themes including justice in underserved communities, the protection of immigrants to America, and the inspiration of Sr. Thea Bowman and other Servants of God.

The Mama Foundation Seeks Local Talent For MAMA, I WANT TO SING
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 19, 2019

The Mama Foundation for the Arts announces open auditions for all roles in the upcoming performances of Mama, I Want to Sing, the classic gospel musical created by Vy Higginsen and Ken Wydro.  Auditions will take place on Saturday, September 28th (for those who sign up between 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm) at The Mama Foundation for the Arts, located at 149 West 126th Street (between 7th and Lenox Avenue). All roles are open; the leads are African American women in their ages 18 - 60; African American men ages 20s a?" 60; and ensemble soloists and chorus members of all ages and ethnicities.

MAMA, I WANT TO SING Celebrates Anniversary with Return to Original Theater
by Julie Musbach - Aug 26, 2019

Mama, I Want to Sing, the classic gospel musical created by Vy Higginsen and Ken Wydro, will celebrate a special 35th anniversary season this fall. Having been performed locally in Harlem, New York; as well as nationally and internationally for over three decades, Mama, I Want to Sing proudly returns to the theatre where it began, The Heckscher Theatre, now known as El Teatro of El Museo del Barrio, located at 1230 5th Avenue (at 104th Street).

Photo Flash: THE MOTH Pops Up at Harlem Week
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 20, 2019

Storytelling nonprofit The Moth – the force behind the Peabody Award-winning public radio show, The Moth Radio Hour, and the ultra-popular eponymous podcast, which is downloaded 70 million times a year – hosted The Moth Pop-Up Story Pitch Event on Saturday, August 17th as part of Harlem Week's “Summer in the City” celebration.

The Shed Opens This Friday With Specially Commissioned New Works
by Stephi Wild - Apr 3, 2019

The Shed, New York City's new arts center dedicated to commissioning, develops, and presents original works of art, across all disciplines, for all audiences, will open to the public on April 5 with the world premiere of Soundtrack of America. The five-night concert series, conceived and directed by Steve McQueen with a creative team led by Quincy Jones and Maureen Mahon, celebrates the unrivaled impact of African American music on contemporary culture with performances by a new generation of artists. A free live stream of the April 5 concert will be available on The Shed's website, TheShed.org, and its social media channels.