{"id":235134,"date":"2021-04-25T15:45:09","date_gmt":"2021-04-25T12:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/nyc-performers-are-gearing-up-to-step-back-into-the-spotlight\/"},"modified":"2021-04-25T15:45:09","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T12:45:09","slug":"nyc-performers-are-gearing-up-to-step-back-into-the-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nyc-performers-are-gearing-up-to-step-back-into-the-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"#NYC performers are gearing up to step back into the spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af556ec30ad2\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af556ec30ad2\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nyc-performers-are-gearing-up-to-step-back-into-the-spotlight\/#Laughing_matter\" >Laughing matter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nyc-performers-are-gearing-up-to-step-back-into-the-spotlight\/#No_strings_attached\" >No strings attached<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nyc-performers-are-gearing-up-to-step-back-into-the-spotlight\/#At_your_service\" >At your service<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nyc-performers-are-gearing-up-to-step-back-into-the-spotlight\/#Happy_feet\" >Happy feet<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nyc-performers-are-gearing-up-to-step-back-into-the-spotlight\/#Piano_man\" >Piano man<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nyc-performers-are-gearing-up-to-step-back-into-the-spotlight\/#Spelling_it_out\" >Spelling it out<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nyc-performers-are-gearing-up-to-step-back-into-the-spotlight\/#Learning_experience\" >Learning experience<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nyc-performers-are-gearing-up-to-step-back-into-the-spotlight\/#Reaching_out\" >Reaching out<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong>#NYC performers are gearing up to step back into the spotlight<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to believe, but Broadway lights have been dimmed for over a year now. Concert and dance halls are shuttered. Buying two $7 waters in a dank basement for that comedy show is no more.<\/p>\n<p>But finally, the performing arts are slowly coming back in NYC, and these creative souls are planning to tread the boards once more.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Laughing_matter\"><\/span>Laughing matter <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>At 42, New Jersey comic Richie Redding was faced with a decision at the pandemic\u2019s outbreak. \u201cI was either going to join TikTok or LinkedIn,\u201d he said. He chose the latter and was able to carve a niche as a comedy consultant at his site, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/FunnierThanYouAre.com\">FunnierThanYouAre<\/a>. Through that work, he\u2019s been able to produce more than 30 virtual corporate comedy shows, write content for multiple Fortune 500 companies and inject humor into blah digital conferences.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI might be the only comic on Earth that\u2019s on retainer,\u201d he said. \u201cSome very big companies have us on call in ways I never expected. We\u2019re pitching commercial ideas and writing CEO speeches, <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">script<\/a>s and social-media clapbacks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, he\u2019s cautiously returning to the stage, including rooftop shows at the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/New York Comedy Club\">New York Comedy Club <\/a>and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thetinycupboard.com\/\">Tiny Cupboard<\/a>. He\u2019s also at <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.standupny.com\/\">Stand Up NY<\/a>, which does shows in Central Park, Battery Park and others. Comics are hoping to see these venues continue for the long haul.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy second vaccine just kicked in, and I have a bunch of club spots coming up,\u201d he said. \u201cI had a headline weekend booked in Jersey, and it got canceled the day of the show .\u2009.\u2009. so comedy is back!\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"No_strings_attached\"><\/span>No strings attached <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" alt=\"Freelance violinist Ravenna Lipchik says seeing an audience \u201cbeing able to experience live music again is palpable.\u201d&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-18062822 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Ravenna-Lipchik.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Ravenna-Lipchik.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Ravenna-Lipchik.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Ravenna-Lipchik.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Ravenna-Lipchik.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Freelance violinist Ravenna Lipchik says seeing an audience \u201cbeing able to experience live music again is palpable.\u201d<br \/>\n<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Lauren Desberg<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ravenna Lipchik, 29, a freelance violinist in Inwood, has found the pandemic to be an awakening of sorts. She started doing socially-distanced live-streamed concerts, fostering dogs and taught English to Russian entrepreneurs over Zoom. She was also accepted into the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.juilliard.edu\/music\/historical-performance\">Juilliard School Historical Performance<\/a> program.<br \/>\nLast May, the Black Lives Matter protests stirred a sense of purpose. \u201cI realized how deeply unhappy I had been for years. Like wiping dust off of some forgotten heirloom, I was still there, under all the grime and stress the city had piled on top of me,\u201d she said. \u201cI started therapy and Lexapro, and I am the happiest I have been in a long time. I mention therapy and meds on purpose because it\u2019s important to normalize self-help and self-care, especially for artists. There is this weird idea that we have to be miserable in order to be creative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Recently, she\u2019s performed as a part of the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org\/mch\/musical-storefronts-series\/\">Kaufman Musical Storefront<\/a> on the Upper West Side, and she\u2019ll be recording an album with the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.acmemusic.org\/\">American Contemporary Music Ensemble<\/a> in June, as well as playing a month of in-person concerts in Minnesota for the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/lakesareamusic.org\/\">Lakes Area Music Festival<\/a>. \u201cPlaying for an audience again after a year felt like the most wonderful, effortless joy. And the shared gratitude from the audience of being able to experience live music again is palpable,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"At_your_service\"><\/span>At your service <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" alt=\"Hell\u2019s Kitchen resident Nathaniel Hill has helped Broadway actors sell their time for online coaching, appearances and concerts via the Broadway Plus platform. &#10;\" class=\"wp-image-18062829 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Nathaniel-Hill.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Nathaniel-Hill.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Nathaniel-Hill.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Nathaniel-Hill.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Nathaniel-Hill.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Hell\u2019s Kitchen resident Nathaniel Hill has helped Broadway actors sell their time for online coaching, appearances and concerts via the Broadway Plus platform.<br \/>\n<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Broadway Plus<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Nathaniel Hill, 31, a former VIP Broadway concierge, launched a booming virtual biz. As founder of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/broadwayplus.com\/\">Broadway Plus<\/a>, the Hell\u2019s Kitchen resident now uses his connections to create experiences for clients via a platform on which actors sell their time for online coaching, appearances and concerts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt took off quickly, helping my actor friends secure much-needed income, and the new virtual corporate event economy was a boon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>By year\u2019s end, they had acquired their closest competitor and grew from one to 10 employees.<\/p>\n<p>As Broadway comes back, Hill plans on maintaining a hybrid business.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m incredibly excited to go back to work in the theaters,\u201d he said, adding that he just spent a ton of money to open a physical office space in the Theater District. \u201cWhat can I say? I work in theater because I am passionate about being \u2018in the room where it happens.\u2019\u2009\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Happy_feet\"><\/span>Happy feet <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" alt=\"Manhattan dancer Jenelle Manzi turned to baking healthy snacks and launched a nut-and-seed bar called Get Golden. \" class=\"wp-image-18062839 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Jenelle-Manzi.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Jenelle-Manzi.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Jenelle-Manzi.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Jenelle-Manzi.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Jenelle-Manzi.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Manhattan dancer Jenelle Manzi turned to baking healthy snacks and launched a nut-and-seed bar called Get Golden. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Jenelle Manzi<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>While coping with various injuries throughout her career, Jenelle Manzi, a Manhattan dancer with the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nycballet.com\/\">New York City Ballet<\/a>, turned to baking healthy snacks. Manzi, 32, planned on launching her passion project, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/getgolden.com\/\">Get Golden<\/a>, a nut-and-seed bar, last spring, but the pandemic delayed launch until the summer. \u201cI don\u2019t think we would have been able to build the company at this scale, which has been a small silver lining in all of this,\u201d she said.<br \/>\nManzi is eagerly anticipating returning to dancing, as the company plans their fall season at Lincoln Center next fall.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI cannot tell you how excited I am to bring snacks to our dressing room and to all my colleagues \u2014 it\u2019s my favorite thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Piano_man\"><\/span>Piano man <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" alt=\"Mark Weiser, owner of Shake Rattle &amp; Roll Pianos, moved his dueling piano shows online and ran them \u201cevery weekend for 54 weeks.\u201d&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-18062884 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Mark-Weiser.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Mark-Weiser.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Mark-Weiser.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Mark-Weiser.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Mark-Weiser.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Mark Weiser, owner of Shake Rattle &amp; Roll Pianos, moved his dueling piano shows online and ran them \u201cevery weekend for 54 weeks.\u201d<br \/>\n<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Suess Moments<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Mark Weiser, a 51-year-old from Tenafly, NJ, is the owner of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shakerattlerollpianos.com\/\">Shake Rattle &amp; Roll Pianos<\/a>, said to be the longest-running dueling pianos show in NYC. They sold out every Saturday from September 2010 until the pandemic shut down their Times Square showroom in March 2020.<br \/>\n\u201cThat week, we immediately moved our interactive shows online, and have been running them every weekend for 54 weeks. We even created new products and shows that fit the livestream format, like Piano Bingo and Name That Tune,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re now starting to book live shows in NYC again, \u201cin the hopes that we are up and running again by summer,\u201d he said. Meanwhile, they\u2019ve happily blossomed into a thriving virtual entertainment company, doing livestream shows for clients including the BBC, Leukemia &amp; Lymphoma Society and Columbia University.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Spelling_it_out\"><\/span>Spelling it out <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" alt=\"Magician and mentalist Gary Ferrar created a virtual show and performed for high profile clients such as Amazon, Google and Pepsi. &#10;\" class=\"wp-image-18062909 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Gary-Ferrar.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Gary-Ferrar.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Gary-Ferrar.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Gary-Ferrar.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Gary-Ferrar.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Magician and mentalist Gary Ferrar created a virtual show and performed for high profile clients such as Amazon, Google and Pepsi.<br \/>\n<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Jessica Monahan<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Gary Ferrar, 36, a magician and mentalist, performed roughly 300 events per year pre-COVID. When the pandemic arrived, the Queens resident created a virtual show, which has now been booked for clients including Amazon, Google and Pepsi.<\/p>\n<p>He just did his first in-person performance in over six months for a small, outdoor birthday party in Prospect Park. \u201cIt felt like a dream,\u201d he said. \u201cI had forgotten how enjoyable it was to hear the buzz of the crowd, and to earn silence through dramatic tension rather than a \u2018mute all\u2019 button.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Learning_experience\"><\/span>Learning experience <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" alt=\"Broadway stage manager Cody Renard Richard created a scholarship program along with the Broadway Advocacy Coalition for BIPOC offstage theater-makers.&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-18062929 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Cody-Renard-Richard.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Cody-Renard-Richard.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Cody-Renard-Richard.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Cody-Renard-Richard.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Cody-Renard-Richard.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Broadway stage manager Cody Renard Richard created a scholarship program along with the Broadway Advocacy Coalition for BIPOC offstage theater-makers.<br \/>\n<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Corey Rives<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Cody Renard Richard, a Manhattan-based Broadway stage manager, 32, shifted his focus from finding virtual theater work to becoming more engaged with the things that mattered to him. Specifically, he created a scholarship program along with the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bwayadvocacycoalition.org\/\">Broadway Advocacy Coalition<\/a> for BIPOC offstage theater-makers and co-taught a class at Columbia University called Current Issues in Stage Management.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond these new pursuits, he\u2019s worked at several in-person events, including serving as a stage manager for the 2020 VMAs and gigging at two concerts at New York City Center.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith Broadway on the horizon of re-opening, I plan to keep on doing what I\u2019m doing. My scholarship program is a huge priority for me as well as being an educator. There will be a bit of juggling that I\u2019ll have to do once I begin to take on in-person work, but as the saying goes, you make time for the things that are important to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reaching_out\"><\/span>Reaching out <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" alt=\"Actress Yvonne Jessica Pruitt loves \u201cbeing able to interact with people and bring a little joy,\u201d as a host for Breakout.&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-18062941 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Yvonne-J-Pruitt.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=300 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Yvonne-J-Pruitt.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Yvonne-J-Pruitt.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Yvonne-J-Pruitt.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Yvonne-J-Pruitt.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2000 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Actress Yvonne Jessica Pruitt loves \u201cbeing able to interact with people and bring a little joy,\u201d as a host for Breakout.<br \/>\n<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Yolanda Perez Photography<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Actress Yvonne Jessica Pruitt, 24, jokes that she has worked more in the pandemic than ever before. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cLike many of us during the start of the pandemic, I was lost and unsure of how to move forward or what to focus my time and energy on,\u201d she said. Ultimately, she joined a virtual production in Chicago, took classes, starred in a short film and participated in a weekly reading group for works written by black playwrights.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile I was auditioning and getting into the groove of virtual shows and COVID-19 compliant filming, virtual hosting fell into my lap,\u201d she said. Pruitt became a host for <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/breakout.chat\">Breakout<\/a>, a platform which runs virtual events to build remote culture, leading interactive summer camp themed team-bonding events for several teams over the holidays.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI love being able to interact with people and bring a little joy to this time that is undoubtedly stressful for everyone,\u201d she said.\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/04\/25\/nyc-performers-are-gearing-up-to-step-back-into-the-spotlight\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#NYC performers are gearing up to step back into the spotlight&#8221; It\u2019s hard to believe, but Broadway lights have been dimmed for over a year now. Concert and dance halls are shuttered. Buying two $7 waters in a dank basement for that comedy show is no more. But finally, the performing arts are slowly coming&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":235135,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/Richie-ReddingMAIN.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[103386,7918,71736,29467,74440,32926],"class_list":["post-235134","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-4-25-21","tag-actors","tag-at-work","tag-broadway","tag-comedians","tag-performers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=235134"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235134\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/235135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=235134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=235134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=235134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}