Mark Stewart News

Bang on a Can and MASS MoCA announce the launch of a new, three-day music festival called LOUD Weekend, presented for the first time from Friday, August 2 through Sunday, August 4, 2019, at MASS MoCA in North Adams, located in the Berkshire mountains of western Massachusetts (1040 MASS MoCA Way). Dozens of concerts will take place in the museum's vast galleries and throughout its stunning collection of indoor and outdoor performing arts venues, over the three-day period. Early Bird tickets are available now for $60 (3-Day Pass), for a limited time.

On Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at 7:30pm, Bang on a Can will present the 2019 Bang on a Can People's Commissioning Fund (PCF) concert, one of the most anticipated and reliable launching pads for composers in New York and beyond. The performance is presented as part of Kaufman Music Center's Ecstatic Music Festival at Merkin Hall (Kaufman Music Center, 129 W. 67th St.) and a New Sounds Live co-presentation with host John Schaefer, streamed live at www.newsounds.org. 

Stephanie Klemons (Hamilton, If/Then, In the Heights), Associate Choreographer of Hamilton and Founder of Katie's Art Project, releases first holiday album on December 14 featuring Broadway's Marcus Paul James (RENT, In the Heights) original song, 'Best Time of Them All' in support of Katie's Art Project.

Guitar Mash's 7th Annual Urban Campfire at City Winery on Sunday November 18th will feature Ani DiFranco, Biodun Kuti, Fernandito Ferrer, Jimmy Vivino, Kat Edmonson, and Marc Ribot, leading the audience in covers of their curated "Songs for Change," backed by Guitar Mash Artistic Director Mark Stewart (music director for Paul Simon, founding member of the Bang on a Can All-Stars) and his house band.

Breaking News! Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP), in association with the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, announce additional casting for their newest production, the world premiere of THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, (300 East Green Street, Pasadena CA 91101) which will play a strictly limited engagement from December 15 through December 30. Singer, actress and dancer Mackenzie Ziegler (Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, Dance Moms) as Dorothy, Phil LaMarr ("Mad TV" and "Pulp Fiction") as The Tin Man, Jared Gertner (Broadway's The Book of Mormon) as The Scarecrow, and Hailee Payne and Valerie Rockey of So You Think You Can Dance join previously announced Kermit The Frog as the Wizard of Oz and Tony-Award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (Celebrity Big Brother Winner and Broadway's Hairspray) as Glinda. The official press opening will be held on December 14, 2018 at GIVE KIDS PANTO, a benefit to raise monies for the student matinee performance serving Title One schools in the PUSD and LAUSD.

Guitar Mash has announced its artist line-up for the 7th Annual Urban Campfire at City Winery on Sunday, November 18th from 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Urban Campfire is a unique and immersive musical experience where artists break down the wall between the stage and the house, and invite the audience to perform along with them.  The theme for this year's event is “Songs for Change” which focuses on the power of music to generate awareness and bring people together.

The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) and Guitar Mash have officially launched the 2nd Annual #MyNYCSong contest, once again giving young New York musicians a chance to show off their creativity, talent, and love for their hometown. Teen songwriters are invited to submit an original song about or inspired by any aspect of New York City that influences them, accompanied by a guitar, ukulele or keyboard.

ABC, PEOPLE and Four M Studios will present “The Story of the Royals,” a two-night, four-hour prime-time television event documenting the fascinating lives of the British royal family. Featuring an extraordinary panel of experts and voices, “The Story of the Royals – Part One” airs WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), and “The Story of the Royals – Part Two” airs THURSDAY, AUG. 23 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. 

ABC, PEOPLE and Four M Studios will present "The Story of the Royals," a two-night, four-hour prime-time television event documenting the fascinating lives of the British royal family. Featuring an extraordinary panel of experts and voices, "The Story of the Royals - Part One" airs WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), and "The Story of the Royals - Part Two" airs THURSDAY, AUG. 23 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. 

Legendary songwriter, recording artist and performer Paul Simon will release his 14 th studio album - In The Blue Light - on September 7. Produced by Simon and Roy Halee, who have worked together since the 1960s, the album features a talented cast of musicians who have joined Simon to lend fresh perspectives on 10 of the artist's favorite (though perhaps less-familiar) songs, drawn from his unparalleled body of work.

ABC, PEOPLE and Four M Studios will present 'The Story of the Royals,' a two-night, four-hour prime-time television event documenting the fascinating lives of the British royal family. Featuring an extraordinary panel of experts and voices, 'The Story of the Royals - Part One' airs WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), and 'The Story of the Royals - Part Two' airs THURSDAY, AUG. 23 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network.

ABC, PEOPLE and Four M Studios will present “The Story of the Royals,” a two-night, four-hour prime-time television event documenting the fascinating lives of the British royal family. Featuring an extraordinary panel of experts and voices, “The Story of the Royals – Part One” airs WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), and “The Story of the Royals – Part Two” airs THURSDAY, AUG. 23 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network.  

From July 12-28, 2018, the “relentlessly inventive” (New York Magazine) new music collective Bang on a Can collaborates with MASS MoCA to present the 17th annual Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival at MASS MoCA. The festival is a musical utopia for innovative musicians and adventurous listeners in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts, dedicated entirely to the creation, study, and performance of contemporary music. Featuring public performances, recitals, and lectures, the festival features over 60 cutting-edge composers and performers from around the globe, including over 42 fellows selected from a pool of more than 250 applicants from throughout the world. This year's featured guest composer is Steve Reich. MASS MoCA, 'a mind-blowing delight,' (New York Post) is one of the largest museums of contemporary art in the country, with exhibitions spaces dedicated to James Turrell, Laurie Anderson, Sol LeWitt, Anselm Kiefer and Jenny Holzer, as well as massive gallery spaces with exhibitions by Taryn Simon, Liz Glynn, Allison Janae Hamilton, and Rachel Howard among many others.

Final casting is announced for musical drama San Domino by Tim Anfilogoff and Alan Whittaker, based on Mussolini's infamous persecution of homosexuals.

San Domino is the story of a group of men sentenced to five years confinement for degeneracy on the island fortress of San Domino, with actor-musicians conjuring up an intimate tragi-comic world of love, loss and the struggle just to survive. 

Marcus Paul James (Miss You Like Hell, Motown, RENT) is kicking off the summer with a jam session at Alphabet Cities hottest new music spot NUBLU 151. Also performing that evening, special guests Broadway songstress fresh from the hit show 'Hamilton' Amber Iman (Hamilton, Shuffle Along) and Billboard featured singer/songwriter Crystal Monee Hall (The Mikey Hart Band, RENT). Also with Kristina Miller, Shaul Eshet, Eli Menezes, Mark Stewart, and Tom Griffin. This soul jam will have your hands up and head bobbing straight through the new season.

Mark Stewart, better known as 'Stew,' is noted for being a member of the band, The Negro Problem. He is also the author of the book and lyrics for 'Passing Strange,' a semi-autobiographical musical, co-written with Heidi Rodewald in collaboration with Annie Dorsen. The script is presently rocking Karamu.

Marcus Paul James (Miss You Like Hell, Motown, RENT) is kicking off the summer with a jam session at Alphabet Cities hottest new music spot NUBLU 151. Also performing that evening, special guests Broadway songstress fresh from the hit show 'Hamilton' Amber Iman (Hamilton, Shuffle Along) and Billboard featured singer/songwriter Crystal Monee Hall (The Mikey Hart Band, RENT). Also with Kristina Miller, Shaul Eshet, Eli Menezes, Mark Stewart, and Tom Griffin. This soul jam will have your hands up and head bobbing straight through the new season.

Final casting is announced for musical drama San Domino by Tim Anfilogoff and Alan Whittaker, based on Mussolini's infamous persecution of homosexuals.

On Thursday, February 15th, Kaufman Music Center's Ecstatic Music Festival featured Bang On A Can People's Commissioning Fund, co-presented by New Sounds Live and hosted by John Schaefer.