Women Leading Change | Evelyn Heilbron

Over 1 million New York City residents face food insecurity every day. But there are those among us who are dedicated to helping their neighbors overcome it. Broadway Stages is happy to highlight women who passionately work to ensure everyone has food on their table at the end of each day. Today, we present Evelyn Heilbron of Community Center Services Organization Corp (CCSO).

Since 2020, Evelyn Heilbron has helped those in need. She started by handing out food and clothing on 34th Avenue with the help of the organization 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition. That is when she formed the nonprofit Community Center Services Organization Corp. CCSO offers support and services for the entire community without discrimination, including immigration, taxes, food distribution, and advice to disfranchised families and individuals.

In 2023, she opened the Corona Food Bank, located at 92-21 Corona Avenue in Elmhurst, New York. This 4,200 square foot facility serves as a food collection and distribution facility. The 12-month no-cost lease and facility modifications, valued at over $210K, were donated by Broadway Stages. Today, Heilbron and her 60 volunteers pass out up to 800 packages of non-perishables and fresh vegetables from the facility per week.

Our president, Gina Argento, said, “The CCSO represents the best of what our community can accomplish when we come together to help those in need. At Broadway Stages, we are always looking for ways to give back to our community and foster equitable growth. We are proud to support this initiative and are humbled by the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.”

CCSO’s mission is to work endlessly until there are no more hungry families. You can help by donating at this link. Volunteers are also always needed. As Heilbron said, “Volunteering saves lives!” To volunteer, call CCSO at 332-228-8525 or email them at communitycsorg.c@gmail.com.

The Corona Food Bank is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can follow their good work on Instagram and Facebook.

Broadway Stages asks you to join us in supporting Evelyn Heilbron and the volunteers at Community Center Services Organization Corp so they can continue their fight. Together, we can make a difference! And check back next week when we highlight another local woman leading the fight against hunger, Dr. Melony Samuels of The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH).

Spotlight | Girl Be Heard

Welcome to Broadway Stages’ Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to join us in supporting these establishments and advancing local economic growth. For Women’s History Month, we are shining the spotlight on a few of the women-owned or oriented businesses and organizations in the neighborhoods where we work. This week, we share Girl Be Heard, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit theater company and educational program.

Melinda Gates once said, “A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.” She very well could have been talking about Girl Be Heard (GBH). Their program is part-acting and part-activism. And while it is based in Brooklyn, they bring their mission and voice to communities via a traveling company and weekend and after-school programs.

GBH began with a spark. With only 300 dollars in the bank, Founding Artistic Director Ashley Marinaccio brought 12 young women to the stage at the EstroGenius Theater Festival in NYC in 2008. But that spark was fanned, and today, GBH is a renowned theatre company of 170 girls and a global movement. They regularly perform in underserved communities locally and globally but also engage audiences at the White House, United Nations, State Department, and TED conferences.

GBH’s nonprofit theatre company takes on global concepts women face, such as sex trafficking, forced child marriage, and gender-based violence. But it also gives voice to issues that girls care about most (such as bullying, body image, and self-harm).

The organization’s “Girl Power” puts its mission to work through workshops, after-school programming, global performances, and youth-led social justice movements. These platforms empower young women to become brave, socially conscious leaders. Their free year-round programming encompasses the following:

• The Artistic Company brings together 15-21-year-old performers who have honed their performing and leadership abilities and are ready to share their ARTIVIST voice.

• The Education Programs offer a creative, learning and community-building space for young women of color and gender-expansive youth. Together, they explore and define their personal and collective leadership, activist, and performance voice.

• GBH’s Special Projects use storytelling to raise critical consciousness, gain technical skills, and build community.

If you know a young woman ready to find their voice, you can share this referral link with them to get started. Likewise, if you want to volunteer, you can learn more here. And as a registered 501 c3 charity, your financial support is 100% tax deductible. You can make a gift here. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram to see what is happening next, or check out their YouTube channel to see them at work!

It is inspiring to hear international superstar Alicia Keys say, “I’m so proud to support Girl Be Heard because it builds future leaders through arts and storytelling. Art inspires people and reminds them how to get in touch with themselves.” But one participant may have said it better when she declared, “It feels so empowering to be there. I think the little exercises have a bigger lesson to it. If you really break it down, you can understand it.” She added, “We have such powerful voices.” It warms Broadway Stages’ heart to hear that. Their work at GirlsBeHeard can change the world, one girl at a time.

The Second City: Chicago Comedy Titans Bring It to Brooklyn

Brooklyn's vibrant cultural scene just got a whole lot funnier with the arrival of The Second City, the legendary comedy troupe that has birthed some of the biggest names in comedy. Earlier this year, The Second City kicked off its residency at a facility owned by one of Broadway Stages’ affiliates. The Second City converted the former record shop and club into a 200-seat mainstage, a 60-seat second stage, several classrooms where improv and comedy writing are taught, and a restaurant. But wait, there’s more! The Second City also offers creative professional development services via Second City Works that use the same methods pioneered on their stages to drive individual growth and organizational improvement.

For decades, The Second City has been synonymous with cutting-edge comedy. From the early days that saw the likes of Bill Murray and Tina Fey grace its stages to the current era that boasts talents like Keegan-Michael Key and Stephen Colbert, The Second City has consistently pushed boundaries and redefined the art of sketch comedy and improvisation. Audiences can expect nothing short of wild laughs and bold sketch comedy. From uproarious antics of seasoned performers or the fresh, innovative humor of rising stars, there's something for everyone at The Second City. And let's not forget their world-famous improvisation, where quick wit and on-the-spot creativity reign supreme, ensuring that no two shows are ever alike.

In a city known for its hustle and bustle, The Second City offers a welcome respite — a chance to laugh, create, and connect in the heart of Brooklyn. So, get your tickets, spread the word, and get ready to embark on a comedic journey like no other. The Second City has arrived, and they're here to make you laugh like never before! For information about tickets, the restaurant, classes and professional services, click here.

"Oppenheimer" Wins Seven Oscars Including Best Picture

Christopher Nolan's biopic about the father of the atomic bomb dominated award shows all season long, and Sunday was no different as "Oppenheimer" won the season's top prize – Best Picture at the 96th annual Academy Awards. The film entered the night with 13 nominations, just one fewer than the all-time record.

The cultural phenomenon "Barbenheimer" ruled the night, as the two films provided the most memorable and talked-about moments of the evening. "I'm Just Ken" may have lost the Oscar for Best Original Song to another tune from the "Barbie" soundtrack ("What Was I Made For?" by Billie Eilish), but Ryan Gosling's performance got everyone in the crowd on their feet singing along.

Nolan also pocketed the Best Director Oscar, and "Oppenheimer" stars Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. The film also won several artistic and technical awards – Best Score, Best Editing, and Best Cinematography.

Yorgos Lanthimos's "Poor Things" also had a good night, winning four awards including a surprising Best Actress trophy for Emma Stone. Stone previously won in this category for 2016's "La La Land." The dystopian retro-futuristic fantasy film also won Best Production Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Costume Design.

Most experts predicted that Best Actress would go to Lily Gladstone, the star of Martin Scorsese's crime drama "Killers of the Flower Moon." Instead, the film about the murders of members of the Osage community in the 1920s was shut out despite 10 nominations.

Several newcomers also took home prizes. Cord Jefferson won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his first-ever film, "American Fiction," which was also nominated for five awards including Best Picture. Da'Vine Joy Randolph won the prize for Best Supporting Actress for her breakout performance as a grieving mother in Alexander Payne's "The Holdovers."

French filmmakers Justine Triet and Arthur Harari earned their first-ever Oscar nominations and wins for their work on the courtroom drama "Anatomy of a Fall," earning trophies for Best Original Screenplay. Triet was also nominated for Best Director.

Additionally, a Ukrainian filmmaker took home an Oscar, the first in the nation's history. Associated Press war correspondent Mstyslav Chernov won for Best Documentary Feature for the film "20 Days in Mariupol," which tells the story of the nearly three weeks that he and his colleagues spent in the besieged city of Mariupol at the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In his heartfelt acceptance speech, Chernov stated that he wished he had never made the film and that he could exchange the prize for Russia never attacking Ukraine or occupying its cities.

Congratulations to everyone. See the full list of winners here.

The Women Behind Three Local Film Festivals

While the number of women in film production has been inching upward, the number is still drastically disproportionate to society. Film festivals provide a unique opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to connect with industry professionals, fellow creators, and potential collaborators. Film festivals play a vital role in fostering new storytellers. So, the role of “gatekeeper” is pivotal. That is why we are proud to highlight a few enterprising women and the film festivals they founded.

Kweighbaye Kotee

Kweighbaye Kotee is the founder and CEO of the Bushwick Film Festival. Born in Liberia, West Africa, she moved to the U.S. during the Liberian civil war. In 2007, while studying Media, Culture, and Communications at NYU, she started the festival. Her desire was to share her love for indie film with others in the neighborhood and celebrate filmmakers. Also, she wanted to use the festival as a platform to help diversify the industry and connect people of all backgrounds through film.

She said, “The arts, for me, are one of the best ways to bring people together and build a community with people that you otherwise would think are different than you.”

Ingrid & Sonia Jean-Baptiste

The Chelsea Film Festival (CFF) was founded by Sonia Jean-Baptiste and her daughter, Ingrid Jean-Baptiste. The festival was born out of hardship. Just after Ingrid graduated from the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, she was in a car accident that left her in a coma with a fractured spine. She said, “I like to use this phrase in moments of doubt or difficulty: ‘Gam Zou Letova,’ meaning ‘This too is for the best.’ Every challenging moment you find yourself into is for the best. It helps me remain optimistic about the future.” 

In her time of healing, she had the idea to start the CFF in October of 2013 to discover upcoming talents by raising awareness about American and foreign independent films. Today, it is an international event with 100+ films every year. In 2019, it was voted one of North America’s Top 10 Best Film Festivals.

Roxy Hunt & shannon Walker

The Lower East Side Film Festival (LESFF) started in 2011 when filmmakers Shannon Walker and Damon Cardasis needed help finding a platform for films made on a low budget. Together with their friend Roxy Hunt and her husband Tony Castle (co-founders of BFD Productions), they came up with the idea for the LESFF. It started as a pop-up space in a little storefront with 30 folding chairs, a pull-down projector screen, and a popcorn machine in the back.

Roxy Hunt said, “It’s just important to have all different kinds of voices making the thing that you see on the screen so that you can potentially see a piece of yourself somewhere because when you see something that is relevant to you and feels like your story, you feel like you’re not alone. If there are more women who can tell stories that help other women feel less alone, that’s awesome.”

Broadway Stages loves that there are more women artists in cinema and that there are great outlets like these film festivals for their work to be seen. The TV and Film industry is on the path of inclusion and representation. And because of motivated women like Kweighbaye Kotee, Sonia and Ingrid Jean-Baptiste, Shannon Walker, and Roxy Hunt, the future is bright.

Inside Broadway Stages | What's Filming

We are thrilled to share updates on the productions that call Broadway Stages home and play a significant role in bolstering New York's film and television industry. This year is shaping up to be a good one for the industry and Broadway Stages, as several productions will be back filming new seasons at our facilities in the coming months. Read on to find out more about what's happening.

"Ripley" Coming to Netflix in April

The highly anticipated small-screen adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's 1955 psychological thriller "The Talented Mr. Ripley" is coming to Netflix on April 4. Broadway Stages was ecstatic to help the production titled "Ripley" refilm several important scenes at our facilities to ensure a flawless finished product.

The popular novel has served as the basis for several big screen adaptations, including Anthony Minghella's well-received 1999 film starring Matt Damon as the smooth conman Tom Ripley, Gwyneth Paltrow as the rich American expat Marge Sherwood, and Jude Law as Dickie Greenleaf, the spoiled yet charismatic son of a shipping magnate.

Andrew Scott, who earned rave reviews in the critically acclaimed film "All of Us Strangers," will portray the title character, while Dakota Fanning and Johnny Flynn will play his unsuspecting victims. Steven Zaillian, who won an Oscar for writing "Schindler's List" and co-created HBO's gritty Emmy-winning limited series "The Night Of," will write and direct all eight episodes.

While much of the story centers on the characters' time jet setting across Italy, Ripley's story begins in New York, which is where Broadway Stages comes in. We can't wait to see the latest adaptation of Highsmith's novel when all eight episodes of "Ripley" drop on Netflix on April 4.

"The Girls on the Bus" Rolling Onto Max on March 14

We are so excited that another new series filmed at our facilities will debut soon! The first two episodes of the political drama "The Girls on the Bus" will hit Max on March 14, followed by a new episode each week through May 9. The series draws inspiration from New York Times journalist Amy Chozick's 2018 book "Chasing Hillary," which chronicles her eight years spent reporting on Hillary Clinton's multiple presidential campaigns.

Melissa Benoist ("Supergirl") stars as Sadie McCarthy, a young writer who seeks to cover a presidential campaign like the reporters in Tim Crouse's 1973 non-fiction book "The Boys on the Bus." Carla Gugino ("The Haunting of Hill House"), Natasha Behnam ("Blake & Emily Get Famous"), and Christina Elmore ("Insecure") play three fellow journalists that McCarthy befriends on the campaign trail. Scott Foley ("Scandal"), Brandon Scott ("Dead to Me"), Mark Consuelos ("Riverdale"), Griffin Dunne ("This Is Us"), Leslie Fray ("Reacher"), and Tala Ashe ("DC's Legends of Tomorrow") will also have recurring roles on the show.

Election season begins March 14 on Max!

Critics Embrace "The Good Wife" Spin-off "Elsbeth"

Carrie Preston portrayed the quirky attorney Elsbeth Tascioni on both "The Good Wife" and its spin-off "The Good Fight" for a combined 13 seasons, and Broadway Stages was there for all of it. We are so excited that series creators Michelle and Robert King stuck with us for "Elsbeth," the latest addition to the franchise.

We are so pleased that the series, which debuted last month, has received plenty of positive attention from the press, including a writeup in The New York Times and great reviews in The Hollywood Reporter, The Washington Post, Variety, and NPR's "Fresh Air."

Additionally, "Elsbeth" drew high ratings, raising viewership by 45% from the show in the same time slot a year ago ("CSI: Vegas"). It also topped the combined numbers of its NBC and ABC time slot competitors.

The new CBS series follows Tascioni as she leaves her legal career for a new investigative role working with NYPD Captain C.W. Wagner (Wendell Pierce) and Officer Kaya Blanke (Carra Patterson). Gloria Reuben ("The Equalizer") plays Wagner's wife in a recurring role, and guest stars include Jane Krakowski ("30 Rock"), Linda Lavin ("Alice"), Retta ("Parks and Recreation"), and Blair Underwood ("L.A. Law").

Preston recently appeared on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" to talk about the series and share some treats with the late-night talk show host.

We are so happy for Preston and the rest of the cast and crew and hope that "Elsbeth" finds as much success as its predecessors.

"Girls5Eva" Moving to Netflix on March 14

"Girls5Eva," a critically acclaimed comedy about a once popular '90s girl group attempting a comeback, ran for two seasons on Peacock then was canceled. Peacock's loss was Netflix's gain, as the show will return for its third season on a new network this week.

Created by Meredith Scardino and executive produced by Tina Fey, "Girls5eva" stars Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell, and Busy Philipps as the girls (now grown women) hoping for another chance to make it big in the music industry.

When we last saw the girls in June of 2022, they were receiving devastating news from the "Property Brothers," Drew and Jonathan Scott. The girls had landed a deal with Property Records, the brothers' fictional label, earlier in the season, but in the finale they learned that they would not be opening for a hit group on its upcoming tour.

Following a skirmish between Gloria (Pell) and Drew in a newly renovated kitchen, the girls discover that one of their songs has gone viral, and they decide to fund their own tour. Fans have had to wait nearly two years to find out how the tour went, and now the wait is nearly over.

Be sure to log in to Netflix on March 14 when the first two seasons will become available to stream, and all six episodes of the new season will drop.

Disney+ Renews "Goosebumps" for a Second Season

"Goosebumps" will have an eight-episode second season, which will feature an entirely new cast and setting as the series adopts an anthology format reminiscent of "American Horror Story" and "True Detective." We are excited to provide facilities for the upcoming season of the spooky series based on R.L. Stine's popular teen horror book series of the same name.

Disney+ reports that the new season will revolve around teenage siblings who discover a threat within their home, setting off a chain of events that unravel a profound mystery. As they delve into the unknown, the duo find themselves entangled in the story of five teenagers who mysteriously vanished in 1994.

We will report updates when we find out more such as who will be joining the cast and when new episodes will be streaming.

Limited Series "Long Bright River" Adds Cast Members

Amanda Seyfried ("The Dropout") will executive produce and star in an adaptation of Liz Moore's New York Times bestseller "Long Bright River," which will stream on Peacock. The book centers on a police officer who patrols a Philadelphia neighborhood hard-hit by the opioid crisis. After a series of murders in the neighborhood, she realizes that her personal history might be tied to the case.

Starring alongside Seyfried will be Nicholas Pinnock ("The Book of Clarence") as her former partner Truman Dawes. Ashleigh Cummings ("Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries"), Callum Vinson ("Chucky"), and John Doman ("The Wire") recently joined the production in undisclosed roles.

Be sure to check out all of the productions above as they become available, follow our blog, and sign up for our newsletter to stay informed of updates on all of our productions.

Spotlight | Urban Bush Women Dance Troupe

Welcome to Broadway Stages’ Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to join us in supporting these establishments and advancing local economic growth. For Women’s History Month, we are shining the spotlight on a few of the women-owned or oriented businesses and organizations in the neighborhoods where we work. This week, we present Urban Bush Women (UBW), a ground-breaking performance ensemble.

Urban Bush Women (UBW) is a Brooklyn-based performance ensemble and dance company with a mission to bring a woman-centered perspective as members of the African Diaspora community to create a more equitable balance of power in the dance world and beyond.

When she founded UBW in 1984, choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar saw her creation as a means to tell stories. She knew there were untold and under-told histories and stories and sought to tell them through dance. Forty years later, UBW has performed on six continents and at such prestigious venues as New York City’s Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

She noted, “I had this vision of a rough-hewn physical approach that also dealt with theater, singing vocalizations, but was centered in movement. From the beginning, the ensemble practice always valued that the dancers would be collaborative partners.” Today, those partners include Artistic Directors Chanon Judson and Mame Diarra Speis.

Beyond the stage, UBW tries to serve as a positive force for progress in the dance community. To achieve this, they offer programs to develop artists and their art. The Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) offers an intensive 10-day experience where artists learn and practice effective ways to deepen or begin their work. In doing this, the artists can connect dance to community organizing and progressive social change strategies.

The UNW’s BOLD (Builders, Organizers & Leaders through Dance) workshop facilitates dialogue within an organization using a unique blend of dialogue and movement. The workshops are available in various groups and contexts, from the dance studio to board retreats.

Beginning in 2013, their Choreographic Center Initiative researches the role of Black Women(+) and female choreographers of color, barriers to entry in the field for this group, and ways the dance community could better support, foster, and build audiences for these artists.

Building off the progress of the Choreographic Center Initiative, UBW created a pilot program designed to cultivate the next generation of women+ of color producers. The Choreographic Center Initiative Producing Program (CCI 2.0) delivers collaborative learning experiences, hands-on opportunities, mentorship, and a bi-weekly stipend. CCI 2.0 also supports women+ of color movement makers who have participated in the CCI.

Their performances are in high demand, but they are prolific performers. You can follow them on Instagram and Facebook or find their tour dates here. If you are interested in New York City metropolitan area performances and national/international keynotes, lectures, and panels, contact Director of Production, Booking & Touring Michelle Coe. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, UBW only thrives through the generous support of others. If you would like to support them, you can do so by clicking here.

Broadway Stages embraces the wisdom that we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions for a positive future. You can take a step in that direction by supporting Urban Bush Women and experiencing their storytelling. And when you do, tell them Broadway Stages sent you!

Brooklyn Museum 200th Anniversary Events

Since its inception in 1824 as Brooklyn’s first free circulating library, the Brooklyn Museum has been evolving and transforming. Inspired by the free-thinking spirit and creative energy of the community they call home, they are constantly reimagining what a museum can be.

With this as their guiding force, this fall’s anniversary festivities will be something you will not want to miss! And if you are an artist who has lived or worked in Brooklyn during the last five years (2019–24), you can be a part of it!

This October, the museum will host The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition featuring artworks in all mediums in the Museum’s Great Hall. It will be the largest showcase in the museum’s history. Applications are open through Sunday, April 7, at 11:59 p.m. ET. For more information or to apply, click here.

The complete anniversary lineup includes numerous special exhibitions highlighting their commitment to Brooklyn and its artists and displaying new gifts of art. They will also reveal initiatives to provide more access and more space to experience art — led by launching a mobile Museum on Wheels. The events include:

• Birthday Bash | October 5, 2024: The best of the borough and mark two centuries of doing things “the Brooklyn way” 

• The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition | October 4, 2024 – January 26, 2025: Spotlight on Brooklyn artists with a major group exhibition reflecting the range of creativity in the borough

• Reinstallation of American Art Galleries | Opening October 4, 2024: A groundbreaking reinstallation of over four hundred objects

• Solid Gold | November 15, 2024 – May 4, 2025: An immersive exhibition illuminating the ways that gold has been a symbol of beauty, ritual, spirituality, and success throughout history

• Gifts of Art in Honor of the 200th | Opening February 28, 2025: A special exhibition of recent acquisitions given in honor of the 200th anniversary

• Brooklyn Made | Opening February 28, 2025: A presentation of the museum’s collection of art made in Brooklyn from the nineteenth century to today

• Building the Brooklyn Museum and Its Collection | Opening February 28, 2025: A presentation charting 200 years of Brooklyn Museum history

• Museum on Wheels | Pilot: July 2024, Launch: April 2025: An interactive art and education experience for communities across the borough

And the 200th anniversary is a great reason to take action and join the museum or support them financially. If you are interested, click here to become a member and here to donate. 

Broadway Stages hopes to see you as a visitor, patron, or exhibiting artist at the museum this fall!

Women's Stories Come to Life on Film | Part I

For Women's History Month, we are sharing the stories of real women who lived extraordinary lives, changed history, or made the world a better place. As a film and television studio production company, we naturally love to learn and share these stories via film. Learn about the lives of entertainers, writers, artists, athletes, activists, and more women by checking out these acclaimed biopics, many of which are available to rent on streaming services.

"Hilary and Jackie" (1998)

British sisters Jacqueline (Jackie) and Hilary du Pré both excelled in music at a very young age, with Jackie on the cello and Hilary on the flute. Younger sister Jackie proved to be a virtuoso and was playing packed concert halls as a teenager and earning international acclaim by the time she was 20. While Jackie toured Europe, Hilary remained in London and started a family.

Tragedy struck as Jackie developed multiple sclerosis in her late 20s, which slowly robbed her of her motor skills. She died in 1987 at the age of 42. She is considered to be one of the greatest cellists of all time.

The film "Hilary and Jackie" recounts the lives of the two sisters as they find fame and overcome tragedy. The film earned positive reviews, and Emily Watson and Rachel Griffiths each earned Academy Award nominations for portraying Jackie and Hilary, respectively.

Learn about other entertainers and musicians by watching: "Respect" (2021), "Being the Ricardos" (2021), "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" (2020), "Judy" (2019), "La Vie en Rose" (2007), "Selena" (1997), "What's Love Got to Do With It" (1993), "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1980), "Lady Sings the Blues" (1972), "Funny Girl" (1968)

"Madame Curie" (1943)

While Marie Curie may be a household name, few people know much about her beyond her discoveries of radioactive elements. "Madame Curie" chronicles her life as she begins sharing a laboratory with French physicist Pierre Curie, who she would later marry. They won the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics (along with physicist Henri Becquerel) for their work developing the theory of radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and in 1911 she became the first person to win two when she won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her discovery of the elements polonium and radium.

The film "Madame Curie" earned seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Greer Garson, and Best Actor for Walter Pidgeon.

Learn about other women who excelled in scientific, mathematical, and medical fields by watching: "Hidden Figures" (2016), "Gorillas in the Mist" (1988), "Temple Grandin" (2010), "The Lady With a Lamp" (1951), "Nurse Edith Cavell" (1939)

"Nyad" (2023)

Diana Nyad made history in 2013 when, at the age of 64, she swam from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida without the use of a shark cage. She had first attempted this 110-mile swim in 1978 in a shark cage, but had to stop after swimming 76 miles in 42 hours due to large swells and high winds. Throughout the decade she set several open-water swimming world records.

From 2011 to 2013, Nyad made five attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida and eventually completed the trek with a protective jellyfish suit and electronic shark repellent devices. She also had a large support team of navigators, doctors, and trainers that accompanied her in a boat, including her best friend Bonnie Sue Stoll, an athletic trainer and businesswoman.

Streaming on Netflix, "Nyad" shows the treacherous hurdles that Nyad had to face to make history and highlights the powerful friendship of Nyad and Stoll, portrayed by Annette Bening and Jodie Foster respectively. Both actresses earned Academy Award nominations for their performances.

Learn about other female athletes by watching: "Battle of the Sexes" (2017), "Queen of Katwe" (2016), "As One" (2012), "From the Rough" (2011), "A League of Their Own" (1992) – a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, "Heart Like a Wheel" (1983), "Little Mo" (1978), "The Other Side of the Mountain" (1975)

"Philomena" (2013)

Philomena Lee spent five decades trying to find her son who she was forced to give up for adoption in the 1950s. As a pregnant teenager in Ireland, she was sent to live in an abbey (a Magdalene Laundry run by nuns) that housed unwed mothers. At the abbey, she gave birth to a son then spent several years working unpaid. When she was 22, the nuns sold her three-year-old son to a family in the United States for adoption, against her wishes.

She later married and had several more children, but she kept her son a secret for nearly 50 years. In 2003, she revealed her secret to her family, and her daughter connected her with a journalist who helped her track down her son.

Today, she is an advocate and spokesperson for adoption rights. She established The Philomena Project in 2014 to raise awareness about adoption laws and encourage their improvement.

Judi Dench earned an Academy Award nomination for her performance in "Philomena," and the film earned three additional nominations, including Best Picture.

Learn about other female activists, advocates, and leaders by watching: "Shirley" (2024) – coming to Netflix on March 22, "Till" (2022), "On the Basis of Sex" (2018), "First They Killed My Father" (2017), "Woman in Gold" (2015), "Iron Lady" (2011), "Erin Brockovich" (2000), "Dead Man Walking" (1995), "Blossoms in the Dust" (1941)

"The Lost King" (2023)

Philippa Langley is a British writer and scholar who led the project to locate the long-lost remains of King Richard III, the final ruler of the Plantagenet dynasty. He was killed in 1485 during the Wars of the Roses and buried in a simple church plot. The exact location of his tomb was lost when the church disbanded in the 1530s.

Langley spent more than a decade learning about the king and visiting potential sites of his burial. In 2012, she contracted a team of archeologists to exhume his body from under a parking lot in Leicester, England, where it had been buried more than five centuries earlier.

"The Lost King" chronicles the challenges Langley (played by Sally Hawkins) overcame in trying to convince historians and scholars to support the project.

Learn about other female writers and journalists by watching: "Boston Strangler" (2023), "She Said" (2022), "A Private War" (2018), "The Zookeeper's Wife" (2017), "10 Days in a Madhouse" (2015), "Wild" (2014), "A Mighty Heart" (2007), "Veronica Guerin" (2003), "Born Free" (1966)

Check Out NYC Audubon March Events!

March is a great time to get out and meet the birds of New York City. Our year-round friends are out, and their migrating cousins are on their way back. NYC Audubon has excellent resources to help you get started. On their Birding Resources pages, you can find profiles of over 100 New York City parks, Birding 101 tips, and more.

You can join local guided bird outings with the NYC Audubon. Explore one of the City’s parks with an expert guide to marvel at the hundreds of species of birds that frequent our urban landscape.  

NYC Audubon Members get exclusive access to special members-only outings, advance registration on their popular outings and classes, including those listed below, and a 30% discount on fee-based programs. You can join or renew here. The March calendar has plenty to offer. Keep your eye on the calendar for registration to open. All outings are free unless otherwise noted.

• Weird Duck Spotting at Carl Schurz Park with Alyssa Bueno (3/9) 9 - 10:30 am

• Birding At Jamaica Bay with Woo Sung Park (3/9) 10 - 11:30 am

• Winter Birding at Highland Park with Outdoor Afro (3/10) 10 - 11:30 am

• Winter Birding on Governors Island (3/10) 2 - 3:30 pm

• Intro To Birding Webinar with Tod Winston (3/13) 6:30 - 8:30 pm

• Birding At Mount Loretto Unique Area with Anthony Ciancimino (3/16) 8 - 10 am

• Pelham Bay Park Birding with Jack Rothman (3/17) 9 - 10:30am

• Early Spring Birding at Green-wood Cemetery with Tod Winston (3/23) 8 - 11 am

  • This event does have an admission fee.

And don’t forget that the NYC Audubon is now accepting applications for the 2024 Artists in Residence on Governors Island cohort. This opportunity offers two local artists space, resources, and opportunities to work with like-minded experts. The selected artists will learn about birds and wildlife conservation in the context of the City’s unique urban natural space and through public engagement. The program runs May-October 2024. Each artist will receive a stipend of $750. You can find out more information and apply here.

And as always, the success of the NYC Audubon’s mission depends on the many of you who are dedicated and generous with your time. Whether you are a veteran birder or an interested newbie, there are many ways to get involved with NYC Audubon. Click here to learn more about the opportunities to help keep NYC safe for our feathered friends! 

With so many resources and opportunities, you can start a new hobby or rekindle an old one. Even in the concrete jungle, you can explore and conserve the natural world, and March is an exciting time to start!

Spotlight | Kinoko

Welcome to Broadway Stages’ Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to join us in supporting these establishments and advancing local economic growth. For Women’s History Month, we are shining the spotlight on a few of the women-owned or oriented businesses in the neighborhoods where we work. This week, we are happy to share a new local favorite restaurant, Kinoko, and the chef/owner, Kelseay Dukae! 

In Japanese, Kinoko means mushroom, but one recent patron raved, “Kinoko must mean go eat at this restaurant!” This new Greenpoint restaurant offers casual hand-rolled sushi with a modern take on the Japanese staple. The owner and chef, Kelseay Dukae, is a New Orleans native. With this background, she creates inspired hand rolls with plant-forward combos of Asian, Creole and Cajun flavors.

Dukae started working at sushi restaurants in Louisiana as a teenager. In 2017, she opened a pop-up restaurant in a New Orleans farmer’s market. By 2021, New Orleans Magazine listed her creations on their list of the ‘Best Sushi in the City.’

But now, she is a proud New Yorker. “I’m a Greenpoint girl,” Dukae said. “Greenpoint through-and-through. This has been the only place I ever wanted to live in New York.” As such, she supports her neighbors. Kinoko serves Brooklyn Kura sake and Talea beer, both brewed in Brooklyn. She added, “We are primarily using all local and sustainable fish, local wine, sake and beer, and local mushrooms.”  

And while she is Greenpoint through and through, the cuisine she serves is more eclectic. From Gulf shrimp and Louisiana crawfish dumplings to Jambalaya fried rice, the menu is sure to offer something exclusive and delicious. 

But one of the most popular items is Jer’s Gumbo Ramen, which Dukea described as “Nola meets Japanese.” Jer is Jerilyn Ackel, Dukea’s mother, and has been anointed “the gumbo queen.” The dish has gulf shrimp, andouille sausage, chicken, okra, soy egg, scallions, and nori. For a complete menu, click here.

Dukea is not only bravely taking on small business ownership. As a female, she is a rarity in the sushi chef field. Less than one-quarter of sushi chefs are women. Traditional Japanese chefs can give many reasons why a woman cannot take her place behind the counter at a sushi restaurant, all outdated and erroneous. 

She noted, “An ancient Japanese mindset has kept women from becoming sushi masters. However, stereotypes are diminishing, and old traditional thinking is not upheld as it used to be. The Japanese/sushi world is behind on seeing women as equals in the kitchen, but it is flipping to a more progressive state. I’m excited for the future of women sushi masters and thrilled to be in the mix!” 

Kinoko is open Wednesday through Sunday, 5 to 10 p.m. And with its growing popularity, you would be wise to get reservations. Just click here! Keep an eye on the restaurant’s Facebook and Instagram pages for events and information, too!

Broadway Stages is thrilled to have a Cajun/Creole sushi house in our own backyard! As one customer said, “I didn’t know I needed this my life!” We are thrilled to support Kelseay and her work and hope you will, too. And when you do, tell them Broadway Stages sent you!

March is Women’s History Month!

Women’s History Month was established in President Jimmy Carter’s 1980 proclamation declaring the week of March 8 National Women’s History Week. The U.S. Congress followed suit the next year, passing a resolution establishing a national celebration. Six years later, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.

In 2024, Women’s History Month celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.

New York City has a long history of brave women and allies who have promoted the fair treatment and full participation of all people. Throughout the City, there are plenty of ways to champion and learn more about these efforts, past and present.

Throughout March, the New York Public Library is hosting events and programming in honor of Women’s History Month, celebrating women who have been active in all media and storytelling. The offerings include live author talks and panels, book discussions, arts and crafts, and more. For more information, click here.

Year-round, the New York Historical Society’s Center for Women’s History unearths the lives and legacies of women who have shaped and continue to shape the American experience. This March is a perfect time to visit their exhibition, “Women’s Work.” Approximately 45 objects from their own Museum and Library collections are on display to demonstrate how “women’s work” defies categorization. You can find out more by clicking here.

Our friends at the Paley Center have uplifted and preserved the work of the women who broke barriers and defied expectations in their fields through the years. Join them this month for in-person and virtual events featuring talented women who are pioneers in their fields. A complete listing of the event can be found here.

These are only a few options for you to recognize the work done by trailblazers throughout the City’s history and today. However you choose to recognize the occasion, Broadway Stages encourages you to take a moment to thank the women who have made a difference in the fight against prejudice and exclusion. Stay tuned throughout the month to hear the stories of some great women writing their own stories of success.