New York City Gay Men’s Chorus returns to Asbury Park
Sunday's Big Gay Sing A Last Nod To NYC Before Mind the Gap Opens
The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus returns to Asbury Park Sunday with a last chance to catch their Welcome to New York production before launching a new showcase in Manhattan.
“Big Gay Sing: Welcome to New York celebrates New York as a vibrant and spectacular city that is multicultural and outward-looking,” Artistic Director Charlie Beale [at right] said in a written statement. It celebrates the greatest city in the world in all its dirty, gritty, crazy, and spectacular glory.
The 3 p.m. show will be held inside the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel’s Crystal Ballroom, located at 1401 Ocean Avenue. The roster features their renditions of arrangements by Alicia Keys, Ella Fitzgerald, Taylor Swift, and Sara Bareilles.
“The arrangements, the immensity of the sound, and the sparkle from drag queens and dancers will have you jumping to your feet,” Beale said.
The free performance, with a pay what you like donation component, also includes a pre-show and intermission fundraising raffle with round trip JetBlue air tickets up for grabs.
The over 260 member chorus was founded in 1980 as a pioneering voice for the LGBTQ community. Through the power of this sound, and our spectacular performances, we are fearless champions for love, equality, and acceptance, reads a statement on their website. We sing to challenge perceptions of the LGBTQ community, to combat fear and hatred, encourage compassion and human connection, and to thrill with the superb quality of our sound.
And, through their Big Apple Performing Arts non-profit management company, the group administers Youth Pride Chorus to engage lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight young people ages 13-22 as agents of change.
Now in its ninth year, the Big Gay Sing is performed annually to welcome in spring. The outrageous sing-along format has become so popular that Big Gay Sing has been franchised to choruses around the US and the world, organizers said.
“We are thrilled to be back for another sing-along with our friends in Asbury Park,” Beale said. “We have started another great tradition bringing the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and Big Gay Sing to our neighbors to the south before our NYC premiere.”
That premiere – Big Gay Sing: Mind the Gap runs 8 p.m. March 24 and 25, and 3 p.m. March 26 at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are available here or via nycgmc.org.
[Photos courtesy of NYCGM and Michael R. Dekker]
——————————————————-
Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.
