Happy 4-year anniversary to “Un-Block The Music”! I have certainly traveled “The Long and Winding Road” to get to where I am right now! Yes…I am still a Paul McCartney fan. Yes, Joan Jett is still my alter ego. HOWEVER, I not only hike the streets of Greenwich Village as I once claimed, I also... Continue Reading →
Jimmy “J. Keys” Talks About Sound Design, Hip Hop, “Confederates” & The New Broadway
When I secured the interview with Jimmy Keys for “Un-Block The Music,” I had a flashback to the days working at Billboard. At that time, did I ever expect to interview a rapper for a Broadway show story? I didn’t! But, “Un-Block The Music” is so excited to be on the front lines as theater... Continue Reading →
Tony Winning Sound Designer Rob Kaplowitz Talks About Bringing A Car Factory To Life
It always surprises me to find that so many “behind the scenes” theater artists start out in acting and later find their true passion is in other areas of creation. Case in point….Tony Award winning sound designer Rob Kaplowitz. “Un-Block The Music” got the chance to speak with Rob when he was working on Skeleton... Continue Reading →
Celebrate International Women’s Day With “Un-Block The Music”
What a joy it is for “Un-Block The Music” to celebrate International Women’s Day this year. On March 20th, I will celebrate 4 years of blogging. When I started out, I barely knew what a blog was, and I didn’t really know what to do with my career which needed to drastically change as magazines... Continue Reading →
“Six’s” Musical Director, Julia Schade Talks About Mental Health & Having A New Career At 43
( Photo by Joan Marcus©2020) Pictured: Ladies In Waiting--- Front, l-r: Elena Bonomo (Drums), Kimi Hayes (Guitar), Back l-r: Michelle Osbourne (Bass), Julia Schade (Conductor/Keyboard) Meeting Six The Musicals’s Julia Schade in a Manhattan Starbucks on a Saturday between shows was awe-inspiring. That was not only just because of her talent, although that was the... Continue Reading →
Get Tickets For “Skeleton Crew” This Last Weekend
“Un-Block The Music” is posting this ticket link to the Broadway show, Skeleton Crew. It was written by Tony winner Dominique Morisseau with music, lyrics and sound design by Rob Kaplowitz and Jimmy Keys. It ends its limited run this Sunday and the Manhattan Theater Club in NYC. I spoke to Rob and Jimmy last... Continue Reading →
Spend Your Friday Night With Edward Hardy At NYC’s Joe’s Pub For An Eclectic Musical Treat
If you are in New York City and don’t have a Valentine’s Day plan for your sweetheart or even your best friend this weekend, here is a treat!!! Joe’s Pub will present Violinist Edward W. Hardy tonight at 7 p.m. “Un-Block The Music” spoke to Edward this week about his career and this show. I... Continue Reading →
Women Wonders: Violinist Jennifer Koh Challenges Tradition With Her Art & Her Non-Profit Geared Toward Aiding Younger Artists
“Just being a complex Korean-American woman is an act of rebellion in itself,” says violinist Jennifer Koh. In a chat with “Un-Block The Music,” about what it means to defy the odds and succeed in this industry, she adds, “As a woman, you have to be stubborn and keep doing what it is that you... Continue Reading →
Women Wonders: Run To See Stacey Weingarten’s “Rescue Rue” Combining Music/Puppetry For A Loving Purpose
Photo by Jeremy Daniel “Un-Block The Music” realized today would be the perfect day to run a story about Stacey Weingarten and her off-Broadway musical Rescue Rue. During this pandemic, there has been so much more talk of rescuing pets. And, today is the late Betty White’s birthday. She was such an advocate for animal... Continue Reading →
“Slave Play’s” Tony Nominee Lindsay Jones Talks Scoring & Sound Design
Forgive “Un-Block The Music” for holding this story for so long! Go see Slave Play before it closes on January 23rd! (https://slaveplaybroadway.com/) Wait…why am I writing about a play and not a musical? Well…this is a play with music, and the phenomenal Lindsay Jones was nominated for two Tonys, one for the original score and... Continue Reading →