Alumni and Friends of LaGuardia High School

Listen to this great Tavis Smiley podcast with Mitchell Marchand (LaG '91), the Emmy-nominated head writer of "John Lewis: Celebrating A Hero," who tells us what it was like to be a child intern on the set of "Do The Right Thing" and how that experience shaped his future as a sought-after writer and showrunner. https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VOl8YrrCX3WNfr9NYzr9m

Please join Marcello Pellitteri on Sunday, October 10 at 5-6:30pm at Birdland Jazz Club for his annual Benefit Concert in memory of his daughter Veronica Pellitteri (LaG '09). 315 W 44th St. https://birdlandjazz.com//marcello-pellitteri-in-a-benefi/ Marcello Pellitteri drums Bruce Barth piano Mimi Jones bass & vocals Nicola Caminiti sax... Emmett Sher guitar All proceeds go to the Veronica Pellitteri Memorial Fund.: https://alumniandfriends.org//veronica-pellitteri-memorial World-class musician, Marcello Pellitteri is best known as an award-winning drummer. He is also an educator, composer, arranger and producer. His latest CD Aquarius Woman received a rare 4&1/2 stars review from Downbeat. His previews CD Acceptance has been considered emotionally shattering one of the year’s most strikingly beautiful releases (Jazz Corner) and got 5 Stars rating by All About Jazz. Pellitteri graduated Cum Laude at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston and then received a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies with Distinction in Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. More information: https://birdlandjazz.com//marcello-pellitteri-in-a-benefi/ See more

Timothee Chalamet (LaG '13) is set to star as a young Willy Wonka in the "Chocolate Factory" prequel! https://nypost.com//timothee-chalamet-to-star-as-willy-wo/

Take a trip down memory lane and read Roger Ebert's 1980 review of "Fame!" https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/fame-1980 '"Fame" is a genuine treasure, moving and entertaining, a movie that understands being a teen-ager as well as "Breaking Away" did, but studies its characters in a completely different milieu. It's the other side of the coin: A big-city, aggressive, cranked-up movie to play against the quieter traditions of "Breaking Away'"s small Indiana college town. "Fame" is all New York City.'

October 6, 2021 at 7pm, see LaGuardia Jazz teacher and trumpeter Kevin Blancq performing with his quartet and special guest vocalist Anaïs Reno (LaG '21)! They will play the music of Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington as well as music from Ms. Reno’s debut album 'Lovesome Thing.' Chelsea Table + Stage - 152 W 26th St. More information and tickets: https://chelseatableandstage.venuetix.com//R/1633561200000

Check out an interview with current LaGuardia junior Mia Lailani (LaG '23) and her debut album "Blink of an Eye." https://bronx.news12.com/hispanic-heritage-month-16-year-ol

Happy #FiorelloFriday! Enjoy this beautiful performance by the 2020 Senior Chorus, performed (virtually) at the LaGuardia 2020 Graduation Ceremony. Jana Ballard, Conductor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97uL2HCMHds&t=1s SUBSCRIBE to our Alumni & Friends YouTube channel to see more amazing student and alumni performances: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK7Bnh5JkMsHLuTcwJeIWIg

Tonight (Thursday 1/21) at 8pm! FREE virtual event! Catch Julian Maile (PA '83) playing with the amazing The Losers Lounge on YouTube, paying tribute to one hit wonders! "Since 1993, the Loser's Lounge has performed nearly 300 shows honoring 50 different artists, from ABBA to the Zombies, sometimes with the honorees present: Lee Hazlewood, Paul Williams and Denny Doherty (of the Mamas and Papas) all enthusiastically attended their own tribute nights." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OODeCXqce-c&feature=youtu.be

Nora Lum (LaG '06), aka Awkwafina, is on the February cover of Harpers Bazaar! She took time out of her busy schedule to talk about how she got her nickname (from her high school friend Kim) and to make slime. Maybe we can get her favorite slime recipe? Check out Awkwafina in FAME 4.0 - a benefit for LaGuardia on February 11th 2021. SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube page so you don't miss it! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK7Bnh5JkMsHLuTcwJeIWIg https://www.harpersbazaar.com//awkwafina-nora-lum-februar/

Read a great piece and listen to a podcast with Sarah Paulson (LaG '93)! Sarah began acting onstage in New York City before graduating high school, making her screen debut on Law and Order and climbing Hollywood’s ranks all the way to an Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award. She’s delivered compelling work in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Game Change, 12 Years a Slave, Carol, Blue Jay, American Crime Story: The People v. O. J. Simpson, Glass, Mrs. America, and Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s American Horror Story anthology, in which she’s played upwards of 10 characters. Sarah now executive produces the Netflix drama Ratched, starring as Nurse Mildred Ratched, and recently led Hulu’s Aneesh Chaganty thriller Run. https://www.backstage.com//sarah-paulson-ratched-acting-c/

SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to see and hear the works of current LaGuardia students, and TUNE IN at 7pm on February 11, 2021 for FAME 4.0 celebrating 40 years of the iconic film "Fame" and the legacy that lives on at LaGuardia https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK7Bnh5JkMsHLuTcwJeIWIg

From one alumnus to another! Read this piece written by folk icon Peter Yarrow (M&A '55) about graphic design icon Milton Glaser (M&A '47): https://washingtonspectator.org/milton-glaser-yarrow/

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! We know that Halloween 2020 is VERY different from years past, but I know we all remember the AMAZING costumes from high school! Please share your current or high school Halloween photos in the comments or on instagram @lagalumniandfriends.

Read a great piece about LaG '19 Art alumnus Shane Araujo, student at Bowdoin College: https://bowdoinorient.com//shane-araujo-23-uses-time-away/

Read this wonderful piece about artist Katy Schneider (M&A '82, Guggenheim Grant recipient and Smith College Professor) and her hundreds of 3x4 inch paintings created during Covid. Follow Katy on instagram: @katyschneiderpainter https://www.gazettenet.com/Living-Broken-Plate-36889326

CASTING CALL! Via Zoom, $500 for a 1/2 day on November 2! All details below. Nef Jones (M&A/LaG '85) is a casting agent and is SEEKING FOOD FANS TO SHARE OPINION in BURGER KING VIDEO. Nef Jones Real People Casting is seeking people ages 25-50's nationwide who enjoy eating at Burger King and would be happy to share their opinion about food for an internal video. ... We are not looking for actors - we are looking for people who enjoy Burger King to talk about their real food preferences. Open to individuals, couples, friends, etc. Looking for people who identify with one or more of these categories in their general food preferences: - Budget Friendly: People who usually choose value menu items - Health Aware: People who like a good deal, but generally choose the healthier available menu items - Taste Focused: People who put taste first - they're focused on good service, good quality, and simple classic flavors. - Food Adventurer: People who like unique, new foods, and care more about taste than being healthy or budget conscious when trying something new. - Health Focused: People who generally focus on high quality, fresh ingredients. Health comes first in general in their life. PAY: Selected participants will be paid $500 for a 1/2 day interview. You will be recorded via ZOOM, from your home. DATE: Monday Nov. 2nd Please email [email protected]: 1. Your name/s, occupation, contact number 2. What category/ies best describes you from above? 3. What restaurants do you eat at from this list (select all that you've eaten at): Burger King, Panera, KFC, Sweetgreen, Subway? 4. 2-3 photos of yourself 5. Please confirm you're NOT an actor and have ZOOM 6. A quick video (selfie mode is fine) answering the following questions (please record in a place that gives of a sense of your space, no blank walls please): 1. Tell us your name, occupation and location 2. What category/ies best describes you, please mention all categories that are a fit (descriptions above), and WHY (please talk about this for 30-90 secs)? Categories: Budget Friendly, Health Aware, Taste Focused, Food Adventurer, Health Fanatic 3. If you went to Burger King, what would be your order? Is there anything you wish was on the menu? https://www.nefjonesrealpeoplecasting.com/

Enjoy this beautiful original song and video for "Fireflies" by Alice Texas (LaG '87): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTK6lSxwn-I

#thankfulthursday Dawnn Lewis (M&A '78) said today: "Some of the best years of my life were spent at M&A! It’s a matchless foundation for the creative growth of our next & future generations." Learn more about her recent philanthropic work here: http://www.anewdayfoundation.net/... "Dawnn Lewis hit national TV as Jaleesa in A Different World. Not only did she land a leading role, but Lewis also co-wrote the sitcom’s theme song. Her next starring part was in Hanging With Mr. Cooper, where she also sang the theme song with Holly Robinson-Peete and En Vogue." Most recently, Lewis starred as Tina Turner's mom in the Broadway hit "Tina The Tina Turner Musical." She dedicates much time to motivational speaking and working with underserved youth through her 'A New Day Foundation.' Fun fact: Dawnn Lewis was one of the LaGuardia 1989 graduation speakers! Twitter & Insta: @dawnn_lewis

Enjoy this new video by GET OPEN, featuring Sebastian Bardin-Greenberg (aka Siba Giba, LaG '89) and Kiambu Dickerson (LaG '91): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey4agjcEt-k&feature=youtu.be

Tonight, October 20 at 7pm! Check out THE FUTURE OF CABARET virtual performance featuring LaGuardia students and alumni: Anais Reno (LaG '21, Drama), Jennifer Poroye (LaG '20, Vocal) and Thomas Hogan (LaG '19, Dance), along with LaGuardia accompanist John Prestianni. The theme of the October 20 concert will be the future of cabaret. Foundation board members Adela and Larry Elow have created an endowment fund to encourage teenagers to learn and perform the Great American Songbook, composed between 1900 and 1970. Participants in the fund’s program are pupils at New York City public performing arts high schools and participate in an annual competition. https://www.forbes.com//mabel-mercer-foundations-annual-/

Read a great interview with Lynn Nottage (M&A '82), two-time Pulitzer Prize recipient, and MacArthur Fellowship awardee. https://broadwaydirect.com/lynn-nottage-on-finding-inspira/

Enjoy this great oral history about the groundbreaking 2000 independent film "Requiem for a Dream," which starred Marlon Wayans (LaG '90). https://www.vulture.com//an-oral-history-of-requiem-for-a- "I slept in the same clothes, literally, for ten days, Marlon Wayans says of his Requiem preparation. I barely washed. I would talk like the character. My boys would come over to the house Omar Epps was concerned, like, Are you okay?

Another awards show with another alumnus! Congratulations to Danny Burstein (PA '82) for his Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for "Moulin Rouge." (Did we miss anyone? Please let us know in the comments if any other alumni were nominated.) https://www.playbill.com//2020-tony-award-nominations-jagg

Netflix's new show "Grand Army" is filled with LaGuardia alumni! Watch Amalia Yoo (LaG '20), David Iacono (LaG '20), August Blanco Rosenstein (LaG '19) and Mirabella Raschke-Robinson (LaG '18) star in this exciting new show! Did we miss anyone? https://nypost.com//meet-the-cast-of-netflixs-gritty-new-/