Tag Archives: Performing Arts

Dr. Sue Positive Entertainment meets Rita Moreno at APAP 2016

Rita Moreno at APAP

“Alive and Kicking!” could be a theme of the APAP (Association of Performing Arts Presenters) conference and its closing speaker: Rita Moreno, 84 year-old multi-award winning performer (including the Oscar for her role “Anita” in the film “West Side Story”).

APAP’s event features presenters from Broadway and far beyond (think global!) – industry mentors, and mentees – like the finalists of the Wallace Foundation’s “Five Minutes to Shine” who won a conference package with travel.

Attendees include over 3,600 APAP members and professionals who come for networking, support, development, and great entertainment, and is accessible via live-streaming.

Ms. Moreno will be awarded Kennedy Center Honors, capping off a career that amazingly includes Tony, Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar awards. She is one of a handful of performers to win all four – and the only Latina.

Ms. Moreno spoke about her life journey from childhood poverty in Puerto Rico and the Bronx to Hollywood/Broadway legend. Her current high-kicking courage, quick wit, compassion, and poignant honesty inspires her audience and readers of her recent book “Rita Moreno: A Memoir” to go for their dreams.

Rita Moreno & Dr. Sue

Dreams and determination helped Rita survive bullies and bigots in the ghetto and gilded Hollywood mansions. Her mom took her for dance lessons, and when she was performing in Macy’s toy department, she was discovered by a talent scout for MGM, who set up an appointment with Louis B. Mayer. She showed up looking like a Latin Elizabeth Taylor (with a waist-cincher and “feminine enhancements”). Mayer promptly signed her to a seven-year contract. As a contract player, Rita was invited to Hollywood parties – loaded with lecherous producers. She was also assigned a series of dark-skinned stereotypical roles: the Polynesian/American Indian/Mexican mistress of a white man – which she played with the same one-size-fits-all vaguely Latin accent (no one noticed).

Moreno also had some amazing opportunities, including “Singing in the Rain” (with Gene Kelly) “Desiree” (with Marlon Brando). The second encounter ignited a scorching eight-year affair that left Rita burned – but never killed her innate optimism – or her ability to do the work she loves and fall in love with “a great guy” – a nice Jewish doctor and her husband of forty-six years It’s all in her book “Rita Moreno: A Memoir” – which sold out at the conference raising $1000 for The Food Bank, but is still available in stores and online.

To learn more about APAP/NYC, visit their website: www.apapnyc.org

Susan “Dr. Sue” Horowitz,Ph.D. www.drsue.com

CD “Keys of Love” www.cdbaby.com/drsue

Book: “Queens of Comedy” (interviews with Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, etc.) http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/219367

“Sss…Witch!” – a Magical, Motivational Musical! www.ssswitch.net

“Judy Maccabee”: a Hanukah comedy with a girl hero!

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Dr. Sue Psycho Motel Funny Positive Entertainment

I just got an Email from “HOTEL HELL” a reality show who wants to help desperate HOTEL, MOTEL, OR B&B owners turn their business fortunes around. HOTEL HELL offers to send a team of experts to “troubleshoot problems…and get you back on the road to success.” The E-mail tells me to “Contact us NOW!” As I read the E-mail, my thoughts drift to Norman Bates, the shy, yet homicidal motel owner in Alfred Hitchcock’s movie “Psycho.” I wonder if HOTEL HELL can help him. So I write my own E-mail in Norman’s name. “Dear Hotel Hell, Thanks for your offer. I am the owner of the Bates Motel (actually a co-owner, with Mother) I need all the help I can get, what with dirty bathrooms and nosy detectives. I’d also love to make a killing on reality TV! I went down to the cellar and asked Mother’s permission. She said, “Take a stab at it! In life you have to take what comes. You have sunshine, and you have showers.” Based on her advice, I decided to write. Mother and I are having a lot of trouble running our motel. Actually, I’m the one who runs it. She is elderly and ill, and mostly stays in our house next door. I’m a very shy person. I have a hard time making friends. Usually the only people I talk to are the people who check into the motel. I can’t really make friends with our motel guests because they only stay for one night. Besides, Mother is jealous of everyone who checks in. I guess she wants me all to herself. I need help fixing up the motel – especially the showers which are wearing out because I have to clean them so often. Please come to to troubleshoot (if I don’t trouble-stab first – ha ha! just a little joke 🙂 ) And be kind. As I mentioned, I’m shy. Sincerely, Norman aka Mother Bates Within minutes, I get an E-mail from the team at Hotel Hell “Thank you very much for your email. Our casting team will review. In the meantime if you are an owner – please log on to our website for the application.” Happiness/Success Habits:

Never feel like you’re dumb or crazy – there’s always someone dumber and crazier – and they make big money on Reality TV

(Editor: Jay Berman)

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Book: “Queens of Comedy” (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and more!) www.smashwords.com/books/view/219367 Musical: “SssWitch”: www.ssswitch.net www.YouTube.com/drsuecomedian https://www.youtube.com/feed/my_videos

Dr. Sue New Tang Dynasty Media Chinese New Year Positive Entertainment

Dr. Sue Jose Pinto Stephen, Musician with Pipa

I just had the pleasure of attending the New Tang Dynasty (NTD) TV’s New Year’s reception – a celebration of the revival of traditional Chinese Arts. The date fell between the Western and Chinese New Year – and provided many East Meets West moments – a traditional Chinese tea service in one room and a cocktail bar in another; models in costumes inspired by ancient dynasties posing in front of a Christmas tree; a demure, musician playing a pipa (traditional stringed instrument) – while in other rooms, programmers sat at computers producing NTD television –technically sophisticated international, multi-lingual cable and webcast programs. NTDTV sponsors Shen Yun – http://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/ – a multimedia feast of Chinese dance, music, costume, cultural costumes, in a blend of live performance and digital projections of a classical landscapes and spiritual visions. Shen Yun tours internationally and performs annually in New York around Chinese New Year. NTD also sponsors other cultural events throughout the year – musical, dance, fashion, and culinary competitions. In fact, our hors d’oeuvres were made by a master chef and competition winner. One of my first words in Chinese is “ho mei!” – delicious! Here’s another photo from the reception – photographs by Photographer/Writer Jose Pinto Stephen (who is in the top photo). I’m wearing my East-Meets-West black and red jacket! Happiness/Success Habits: Enjoy cultural diversity! There is so much to learn, savor, and share! Your real kindred spirits may – or may not – come from your own background. Why limit your friendships to people who look or sound like your relatives? Life is like a rolling cart of steaming dim sum (Chinese dumplings) – you have to sample a few to find out what’s ho mei!

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.