BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP BUZZ MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2018 37 BROOKLYN
CULTURE BRIEFS
COMPILED BY JAIME DEJESUS
CONVERSATION ON GRIEF
Head over to Green-Wood Cemetery for Modern
Loss: Candid Conversation About Grief.
Rebecca Soffer and Gabrielle Birkner,
co-founders of the website Modern Loss, talk
candidly about coping in the face of loss and
how to connect with other people who “get” it.
This program, co-sponsored by Green-Wood
and Because Jewish, will not include tips to help
you “get over it,” or the phrase, “everything
happens for a reason.” The duo will discuss
their new book, Modern Loss: Candid Conversation
about Grief. Beginners Welcome, which
explores empathy, resilience and the power of
sharing our stories.
The event will be held on Wednesday, May 23
at 7 p.m. at Green-Wood Cemetery, 25th Street
and Fifth Avenue. Tickets are $15 for non-members.
For more information, visit www.greenwood.
com.
THE ONE ACT FESTIVAL
Theater lovers should head to Brooklyn
College as the Department of Theater presents
“The One Act Festival.” The event includes three
plays performed and executed by aspiring
actors, directors and theatre technicians. The
shows include Heather Dundas's “Cannibals,”
directed by Chris McCreary, Sørena Casey's
“Take the Car” directed by Lillian Meredith and
Stephen Gregg's “The New Margo,” directed by
Emily Edwards.
The performances will take place between
Friday, May 11 and Monday, May 14 at Studio
Theatre 307, 2900 Bedford Avenue. Tickets
are $18; seniors, $15, students, $12. For more
information and a schedule, visit www.brooklyncenter.
org.
SOUNDINGS
Jody Sperling/Time Lapse Dance will present
“Soundings” at the Brooklyn Public Library,
featuring two new works-in-process and a
revival of “Ice Cycle.” The program highlights
Sperling's ongoing collaborations with composer
Matthew Burtner and cellist Scott Johnson.
The performance at the Williamsburg Library,
, 240 Division Avenue, co-presented by
Human Impacts Institute and Spaceworks, will
take place on Saturday, May 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets
are free, and reservations can be made at http://
timelapsedance.com/events/soundings/.
On Stage at Kingsborough
highlights oldies and goodies
BY JAIME DEJESUS
JDEJESUS@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
It’s going to be a nostalgic blast
from the past.
On Stage at Kingsborough
is bringing classic Motown, pop,
rock and doo-wop hits with the
Modern Gentlemen, a popular
and talented four-part harmony
group.
The group, which toured and
performed with legendary Rock
& Roll Hall of Famer Frankie
Valli for over a decade, decided
to go out on its own to bring the
hits of several beloved bands to
the masses.
"The four of us became a quartet
when we were originally selected
by Frankie Valli to join his show
and tour," recalled band member
Brian Brigham. "It was our first
experience working with a Rock
& Roll Hall of Famer so it was
incredible. It was before 'Jersey
Boys,' and it took his career and
our experience to another level."
The group was formed about
two years ago, when members
were still working with Valli. But,
as of a few months ago, the group
decided to go full time with their
own shows.
"It was getting to the point
where we had to turn down a lot of
opportunities," he said. "With his
support and blessing, we decided
to take a chance."
Although it was a lot more work
to be on their own, as they had to
learn all aspects of the business,
and be their own travel agents
and tour manager, it has been
more fulfilling for the group to
make its own decisions.
"We learned a lot working with
Frankie and seeing the way he
was doing things," Brigham said.
"It gave us a big fan base already.
People were rooting for us right
out of the gate which was a really
great thing."
Just this past March, the band
performed in a PBS special, "Doo
Wop Generations."
Photo courtesy of On Stage at Kingsborough
"It was like passing the torch
from the older generation to the
newer one and keeping the music
alive," he said. "It was great to be
a part of it."
Executive Director of On Stage
At Kingsborough Anna Becker
is excited to have the group in
Brooklyn.
“Any group that the great Frankie
Valli raves about is a must for
On Stage at Kingsborough.” she
said. “When I first heard the
Modern Gentlemen, I knew we
had to invite them to perform
here. This fantastic group has the
outstanding talent, brilliant song
selection and great entertainment
value that our patrons have come
to expect from us.”
Brigham and the Modern Gentlemen
are also thrilled to come to
On Stage at Kingsborough.
"We are very excited," he said.
"This is our first show in New York
as a group so we’re very happy.
Our show is interactive. We
get the audience involved from
the beginning because we want
them to have a good time. It's all
about entertaining. If you’ve seen
Frankie Valli perform in the past
15 years, you've seen us."
As for the music, "We do a
big mix of music over several
decades," Brigham said. "We do
Four Seasons but Motown too.
Inevitably, we will play somebody's
favorite. It's nice to hear
people's favorites but it's difficult
to choose because we also have
our own individual tastes."
The group still looks to Valli for
guidance.
"He's been like a father figure to
us many years on the road," said
Brigham. "I call him on the phone
and ask for advice, not just in music
but in life."
The Modern Gentlemen will
perform at On Stage at Kingsborough,
2001 Oriental Boulevard,
on Saturday, May 19 at 8 p.m.
Tickets range from $32-$37. For
more information, visit www.
onstageatkingsborough.org.
The Modern Gentlemen.