Spotlight | Urban Bush Women Dance Troupe

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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

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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

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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!

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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.

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

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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!

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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.

"Oppenheimer" Dominates the BAFTA and SAG Ceremonies; "All of Us Strangers" Wins Big at Dorian Awards

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Over the last two weeks, the awards season reached a boiling point with several major ceremonies held around the world.

First came the 77th annual British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Film Awards held in London on February 18 and hosted by "Doctor Who" star David Tennant. The night's big winner was Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," which won seven awards including Best Film, Director, Actor for Cillian Murphy, and Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr.

"Poor Things" took home five BAFTA Film Awards, including Best Actress for Emma Stone. "The Holdovers" continues to garner acclaim for its cast, with the film winning Best Casting and Da'Vine Joy Randolph earning another award for her supporting role as a bereaved mother.

See the full list of BAFTA Film Awards winners.

The 30th annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, held in Los Angeles on February 24, brought a few surprises and added a mix of uncertainty to the upcoming Academy Awards. Lead actresses Stone and Lily Gladstone ("Killers of the Flower Moon") have both performed well this awards season, but many experts were predicting that Stone would edge out Gladstone for the Oscar. Gladstone triumphed at the SAG Awards, giving her momentum and shifting the odds two weeks before the awards season's main event. Murphy, Downey, and Randolph cemented their positions as frontrunners, taking home awards in their respective categories. "Oppenheimer" additionally took home the night's top film prize, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

SAG also recognized the season's top performances in television, with "Succession" and "The Bear" earning the top prizes for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series and Comedy Series, respectively. "Succession" did not fare as well in the individual Drama Series categories, as Pedro Pascal of "The Last of Us" beat three of its stars (Brian Cox and recent Golden Globe winners Kieran Culkin and Matthew Macfadyen) in the Male Actor category, and Golden Globe winner Elizabeth Debicki of "The Crown" won another trophy, beating out Sarah Snook for Female Actor. "The Bear" stars Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri continued their sweeps of the awards season in the Comedy Series individual categories, and Steven Yeun and Ali Wong picked up more trophies for their performances in Netflix's limited series "Beef."

Another highlight of the evening was Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper presenting screen legend Barbra Streisand with SAG's Life Achievement Award.

See the full list of SAG Awards winners.

Lastly, the 15th annual Dorian Awards were presented by GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics on February 26. Andrew Haigh's supernatural drama "All of Us Strangers," starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal, won three awards including Film of the Year and LGBTQ Film of the Year.

While "Barbie" ruled the box office in 2023, it has failed to win many major industry awards. The blockbuster took home two awards, including Director of the Year for Greta Gerwig, who did not earn an Oscar nomination. "May December" also won a pair of awards – Screenplay of the Year and Supporting Film Performance of the Year for Charles Melton. Additionally, the film's director Todd Haynes won the Wilde Artist Award, which goes to an individual the organization considers a "truly groundbreaking force in entertainment." Gladstone won the other individual acting honor, Film Performance of the Year.

"Rustin" star Colman Domingo won the LGBTQIA+ Film Trailblazer Award "for creating art that inspires empathy, truth, and equity," while Edebiri of "The Bear" took home the "We're Wilde About You!" Rising Star Award.

The organization also recognized two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster with its Timeless Star Award "honoring an exemplary career marked by character, wisdom, and wit."

See the full list of Dorian Awards winners.

The next major red carpet event will be the big one – the Academy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, March 10, at 7 p.m. ET and televised live on ABC. Jimmy Kimmel will once again host. See the full list of nominees here. Congrats to all of this season's winners!

Writers Guild of America (WGA) Reveals Strike-Delayed Award Nominations

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Most years, all major film industry award winners are revealed before the season's main event – the Academy Awards. But 2023 was not like most years, as the 148-day strike by the 11,500 screenwriters who make up the Writers Guild of America (WGA) caused massive disruptions and delays across the industry. The guild has finally revealed its nominations for the 76th annual Writers Guild Awards, which will take place on April 14 – five weeks after the Oscars.

Many Oscar frontrunners were not eligible for consideration due to the guild's requirement that scripts be written under the WGA minimum basic agreement or under a bona fide collective bargaining agreement of affiliated guilds in other countries. Due to this rule, Best Picture nominees "Anatomy of a Fall," "Poor Things," and "The Zone of Interest" were ruled ineligible. The WGA also determined that "Barbie" would compete as an original screenplay, despite the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominating it as an adapted screenplay because it is based on existing characters and intellectual property.

"Barbie" will compete with "Air," "The Holdovers," "May December," and "Past Lives" for Best Original Screenplay. For Best Adapted Screenplay, WGA members will award either "American Fiction," "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," "Killers of the Flower Moon," "Nyad," or "Oppenheimer."

The WGA also recognizes television writers, and we are excited that Peacock's "Poker Face" is up for two awards. While the first season of the murder mystery series does not include scenes filmed at our facilities, we are proud to be working with the production team on the upcoming second season. "Poker Face" will compete for Best Episodic Comedy for the episode "Escape From Shit Mountain." The show also earned a nomination for Best New Series, as did "The Diplomat," "Jury Duty," "The Last of Us," and "Shrinking."

In other Broadway Stages news, we are thrilled that MGM+ series "The Godfather of Harlem" earned a nomination for Best Episodic Drama for its heartbreaking season three finale titled "Our Black Shining Prince."

Other major television awards include Best Drama Series, which will come down to either "The Crown," "The Curse," "The Diplomat," "The Last of Us," or "Succession," which dominated the Emmys in its final season. Competing for Best Comedy Series are "Abbott Elementary," "Barry," "The Bear" (the favorite among Emmy voters), "Jury Duty," and "Only Murders in the Building." Best Limited Series will pit awards darling "Beef" against "A Murder at the End of the World," "Daisy Jones & The Six," "Fargo," and "Lessons in Chemistry."

Congratulations to all nominees! See a full list of nominees here.

Meet the Multi-Talented Okema T. Moore

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The theme of Black History Month this year is African Americans and the Arts. As a member of the arts community, Broadway Stages is thrilled to recognize the accomplished work of Okema T. Moore. 

Okema T. Moore is an actress, producer, writer, director, and entrepreneur. She is a first-generation American born in Brooklyn, New York. Her father was born in Guyana, and her mother was born in Barbados. She was lucky enough to spend her early childhood between Guyana (South Ruimveldt, Georgetown) and Brooklyn and traveling the Caribbean. 

Growing up, her mother enrolled her in acting, dance, and music to keep her preoccupied on weekends. And her mother’s efforts paid off. In 1985, she landed a role on a season of the popular children’s program “Sesame Street.” After that she joined an all-girl group in Brooklyn called Cuties in Affect (C.I.A.). With this group, she was able to perform with artists such as SWV, Biggie, and Tupac.

As an adult, she has performed on Broadway in Dreamgirls, won several awards for her one-act plays, and co-produced a project nominated for a Single Spot Emmy in 2013. In 2019, she premiered at Tribeca N.O.W. and won Best Web Series for Little Apple at the American Black Film Festival as a co-producer. 

It is an altruistic spirit that drives her achievements. She said, “I create to represent voices, perspectives, and stories that deserve the shine,” and “The ability to bring BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) creatives to the table makes me so happy, as lifting while I climb is essential.”

And she has empowered herself to make that happen with her business MOOREthanEnuff Media & Consulting. About the name, she said, “As an actor, if you don’t bring your confidence to the table…it shows...That is why I named my company MOOREthanEnuff Media & Consulting. Not just because my last name is Moore, but to remind myself as well.”

Okema brings solid business experience to running her own company. She holds a BS in finance and business from Brooklyn College (she is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority) and has worked in the finance industry. In addition, she has a Producing Certification from NYU. This certification has been put to use with her work for Netflix, Spotify, Nickelodeon, Dreamworks FOX, OWN, and the Food Network, with a documentary series for PBS and American Masters.

Moore is committed to continuing to lift while she climbs, building up women, queer, Indigenous, POC, and Black creatives as she simultaneously strives for continued success in her own creative career. She noted, “As a creator, I am able to create opportunities for others. By writing, I’ve now created a need for talent to bring that writing to life. As a producer, I’m hiring a crew that can be ethnically and gender diverse.” She also brings that advocacy to her role as a board member of NYWIFT and the Black TV & Film Collective.

As you can see, Moore has many irons in the fire. Broadway Stages knows that with her combination of drive and talent, the sky is the limit. To stay abreast of the latest, you can follow her on Instagram and Facebook. We look forward to seeing what story she brings to life next!

Spotlight | De L’or Cakery

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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. In celebration of Black History Month, we are shining the spotlight on a few of the Black-owned businesses in the neighborhoods where we work. This week, we are sharing the sugar artistry of De L’or Cakery!

Kayisha Thompson grew up enjoying the beach life of Far Rockaway, Queens. But when she opened De L’or Cakery, her treats were infused with love and flavor from the beaches of her parents’ homes. She noted, “I grew up in a household where I was enmeshed in the culture, specifically the Jamaican culture.” 

Today, she is the “Cake Executive Officer” of a 5 Star Artisan Cake catering company offering cupcakes like Salty Caramel Bae, Pineapple Coconut Rum, and Wicked Dark Chocolate. One customer raved, “This past Sunday, I hosted a Women’s Business Brunch. The guests absolutely LOVED the cupcakes and cake pops! Moist and delicious. They were gone in a blink of an eye!” If you are one to feast with your eyes, check out her creations on her Instagram page.

But De L’or Cakery is not just a catering company. You can order exotic flavored cake jars and internationally inspired cookie mixes delivered anywhere in the United States. These ready-to-make products reflect the flavors and spices of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora, sourcing the highest quality ingredients.  

Thompson said, ““My life experience and having severe food allergies has pushed me to explore sourcing top-notch ingredients.” She also noted, “Your health is more valuable than gold. All our products are made with clean, sustainable, organic, and premium ingredients.” To learn more about the items that are offered, you can check out the menu here. 

Earlier in her life, Thompson earned her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and worked as a social work supervisor with a Brooklyn-based nonprofit. This time left her with a mission to provide each child in New York with a safe, loving family and the tools they need to thrive in school and life. To this end, she often mentors young women and offers free baking and cooking classes. But baking advice is not limited to just those young women. You can also find baking tutorials and recipes on her YouTube channel.

De L’or’s reputation is growing with each bite. One customer said, “I ordered a Coconut Pineapple Rum Cake for my wedding from De L’or Cakery. It was delicious, and Kayisha was very helpful. The owner came early and set up the 3-tier cake before the wedding started. All my guests loved it!” and another offered, “De Lor Cakery is amazing. The love and attention to detail are breathtaking. Definitely ask for the liquor-infused cupcakes. They’ll spark joy in your life!”

Broadway Stage is happy to share the success stories of black entrepreneurs like Kayisha Thompson. It makes us proud to know that NYC is fostering their progress. But we know that new small businesses need your support most of all. So, treat yourself and order something sweet from De L’or Cakery today! And when you do, tell her Broadway Stages sent you!

Join the 2nd Annual NYC Winter Walk for Homelessness

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Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness in New York City? Mark your calendars for this Sunday, February 25, as Winter Walk returns for its 2nd annual event at Chelsea Piers, Pier 62.

What is Winter Walk?

Winter Walk is more than just an event; it's a movement dedicated to raising awareness, breaking down stigmas, and creating systemic change to end homelessness. By bringing together participants from all walks of life, both housed and homeless, Winter Walk aims to foster unity and support for our homeless community.

Event Details

Date: Sunday, February 25, 2024
Time: Registration opens at 10:00 a.m., with a short presentation followed by the Walk at 10:30 a.m.
Location: Chelsea Piers, Pier 62 (12th Ave & 21st street), New York City
Who: Winter Walk is presented in collaboration with Covenant House, WiN NYC, Coalition for the Homeless, New Destiny Housing, The Bowery Mission, and New Alternatives, with stories shared from individuals with lived experience of homelessness.
Special Guests: We are honored to have Paul English, founder of Winter Walk and co-founder of Kayak, joining us along with Ben Lawson, Australian actor, and Violett Gaida, international model and philanthropist based in NYC.

How to Join

Registration for the Winter Walk is now open! You can register HERE and donate HERE. Can't make it to the event? You can still show your support by donating online at the Winter Walk NYC 2024 Donation Page or by visiting winterwalk.org.

About Winter Walk

Winter Walk believes that ending homelessness is within our reach. Our mission is to raise awareness and funds towards that goal, supporting organizations that work on prevention, support, and care for our homeless community.

Join us as we take steps towards a brighter future for those experiencing homelessness in New York City. Together, we can make a difference.

For more information, visit winterwalk.org.

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