Vy Higginsen

Photos: On the 2025 Chita Rivera Awards Red Carpet
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - May 20, 2025

See photos from the 2025 Chita Rivera Awards red carpet here! Learn more about the Chita Rivera Awards and about the winners, including Buena Vista Social Club and more.

Savion Glover, Adrian Blake Enscoe and More Join as Performers at Chita Rivera Awards
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 19, 2025

Additional performances have been revealed for the 2025 Chita Rivera Awards, taking place on Monday May 19 at 7:30pm at NYU Skirball. Learn more here and see how to purchase tickets!

Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler, and Marissa Jaret Winokur to Host the 2025 Chita Rivera Awards
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 13, 2025

Hairspray stars Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler, and Marissa Jaret Winokur will host the 2025 Chita Rivera Awards. Learn more about the awards and see how to attend.

BOOP! THE MUSICAL, GYPSY and More to Perform at The 2025 Chita Rivera Awards
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 8, 2025

The presenters and performers have been revealed for the 2025 Chita Rivera Awards. Performances by Boop! The Musical and more will be featured. Learn more about the awards here!

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.

Writer and Producer Ken Wydro Passes Away at 81
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 23, 2025

Ken Wydro, writer, producer and creator of Off-Broadway’s “Mama, I Want to Sing,” died on Tuesday, January 21 at his home in Harlem, New York. He was 81 years old. Learn more about Hydro's life and legacy.

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.

MAMA, I WANT TO SING! 40th Anniversary Production Celebrates Black History Month At El Museo's El Teatro
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 19, 2023

The 40th Anniversary production of Mama, I Want To Sing! will play El Museo's El Teatro for a special Black History Month limited engagement, it was announced by Vy Higginsen, founder and executive director and producer of The Mama Foundation for the Arts.

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.

Idina Menzel, Beth Malone, Jose Llana, Mykal Kilgore & More to Star in THE BIG MIX at Little Island
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 9, 2022

Little Island, New York City’s new public park in Hudson River Park by W. 13th Street, announced today the complete casting for The Big Mix, a three-week, three-holiday, one-of-a-kind performance party. Get the scoop on who's performing and how to attend!

Little Island Announces Second Summer Season Featuring Joshua Henry, Tonya Pinkins, Judy Kuhn & More
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 19, 2022

Little Island, New York City’s new public park in Hudson River Park by W. 13th Street, announced today the 2022 line-up of ticketed events in The Amph, just days ahead of their one-year anniversary.

Work Light Productions and Mama Foundation for the Arts Announce Initiative to Recruit and Encourage BIPOC Talent
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 15, 2020

Work Light Productions and Mama Foundation for the Arts are partnering on a new program called 'Backstage' that will recruit, train, and employ BIPOC talent in multiple departments of Work Light's theatrical operation

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.

NYS SUMMER STAGE In Harlem Lineup Announced
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 22, 2019

RoAnn Destito, Commissioner, New York State Office of General Services (OGS) today announced the lineup for New York State's Summer Stage in Harlem 2019 series of free concerts that will be presented from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building at 163 West 125th Street in Harlem.

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.

Two Musicals Announce Return to Mama Foundation for the Arts
by Julie Musbach - Sep 19, 2018

The Mama Foundation for the Arts proudly announces the return productions of two acclaimed musicals: ALIVE! 55+ and Kickin' and Let the Music Play... Gospel! From the creators of Mama, I Want to Sing - the worldwide musical sensation - the two hit shows, back by popular demand, will run for six weeks only; performances begin on October 13, 2018 at The Dempsey Theater in Harlem.