BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP FEBRUARY 23 - MARCH 1, 2018 39
Miss Norway 2018 to be crowned on March 24
BY VICTORIA MERLINO
EDITORIAL@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
Another Miss Norway will be
crowned come March 24.
The 63rd annual Miss Norway
of Greater New York Contest will
see another crop of young women vying
for title of Miss Norway, an honor that
includes a spot in the Norwegian Constitution
Day Parade in Bay Ridge and
a round-trip airplane ticket to Norway.
“It’s not a beauty contest. It’s more of
a chance for them to explain how their
Norwegian heritage influences who
they are now and who they want to be,”
said Lars Nilsen, co-chair of the Norwegian
Immigration Association (NIA).
Nilsen explained that NIA limits
the number of applicants to 12 to
ensure each contestant gets proper
consideration from the panel of five
judges. To enter, an applicant must be
a young, unmarried woman between
the ages of 17 and 24, and have a parent
or grandparent who is Norwegian.
Applicants must also write an essay
on their backgrounds and why they
want to be Miss Norway.
During the competition, the contestants
give a short synopsis of their
backgrounds and explain why they
are competing, followed by a questioning
from the judges. Each judge
reviews the applications before the
competition, and questions are tailored
to the contestant.
The judges picked so far for the competition
are Anja-Christin Nielsen, the
director of culture at the Norwegian
Seamen's Church in New York City;
Brian Andersson, the former commissioner
of New York City Department of
Records; Lene Samuelsen, Miss Norway
2016 and David Thorsen, the president
of Danish Athletic Properties.
The first place winner will be
crowned Miss Norway, and the second
place winner will be crowned Miss
Heritage.
“It’s a traditional thing and we emphasize
that,” said Nilsen. As Norwegians
assimilate to the United States
and spread out, Nilsen said, it becomes
more important to learn about and
celebrate heritage, something that
contestants do in the contest. “We
still feel it’s a positive thing for the
community.
“We’re just out here trying to get our
piece of the pie,” said Nilsen. “Norwegians
don’t really show up and thump
their chests about what they do.”
The contest will be held at 2 p.m.
in the Arthur Nilsen Banquet Hall
at the Norwegian Christian Home
and Health Center, 1250 67th Street.
Tickets are $35 per adult and $15 per
child. Applications for Miss Norway
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/file photo
are still open until February 26. Find
out more at niahistory.org.
"Beauty and the Beast" takes final bow
BY VICTORIA MERLINO
EDITORIAL@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
Their guest no longer.
Jeff Samaha Theater Productions
and Ridge Chorale’s
production of Disney’s “Beauty and
the Beast” ended on February 11 after
playing to a packed theater each
night at the St. George Community
Center Theatre, 6209 11th Avenue.
“I think it went beautifully. It was
very satisfying,” said Jeff Samaha,
founder of the performance group.
Samaha was pleased with the high
production quality, from the costumes
to the orchestra to the beauty
of the venue.
Former Councilmember Vincent
Gentile stopped by during one of
the shows to present Samaha with
a $10,000 grant as part of an appropriation
the district he represented
through the end of 2017 (now
represented by Councilmember
Justin Brannan) receives for the
arts each year.
A scene from “Beauty and the Beast.”
Samaha teased but declined to give
details about a production in honor
of Ridge Chorale’s 50th anniversary
to debut sometime this spring. The
production will feature choral music
performed since the company’s
Photo courtesy of Kathy Valentine
inception in 1968, as well a scene
from every musical production the
company has performed since 2001.
Past productions include "West
Side Story," "Miss Saigon" and "The
Producers."
Miss Norway 2017, Kristen Johnson.