Day: May 27, 2021

After nearly a year since Broadway’s lights turned dark leaving its artists in limbo, the return of live performance has Set Designer Vivienne Liu excited for the theater industry’s long-awaited return. 

This September, as stage lights flicker awake, Vivienne will be making her Broadway debut as the Associate Scenic Designer of Manhattan Theatre Club’s Lackawanna Blues—one of the first shows to return to the Great White Way. 

Vivienne Liu is a Set and Production Designer whose work can be seen across platforms—from the stage and screen to magazines and the catwalk. “The pandemic has only increased my belief that artists especially in the theater should be multi-hyphenates and not limit their art to one format or audience. Regardless of genre, I aim to create designs that tell provocative stories that celebrate human existence. I’m always excited by the underdog and by stories that shed new light on classic themes,” she said. 

Originally from China, Liu cut her teeth working on productions in Beijing for National Theatre of China, Poly Theatre, Jinan Opera & Dance Drama Theatre, and Ke Contemporary Theatre. Liu realized that to best chase her design dream she would make the leap and move to New York City. While expanding her knowledge and expertise working under noted designers Robert Perdziola and Paul Tate dePoo III, Liu took the next step in honing her craft enrolling in the MFA program at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. 

The COVID-19 pandemic may have put a halt to Liu’s plans to return to the theater, but Liu has kept herself busy. Vivienne joined the Art Department of the new CBS show The Equalizer starring Queen Latifah. “I really appreciate that the pandemic offered me the opportunity to explore design for the screen,” Liu reflected. Recently, news spread that the show will be greenlit for a second season. Liu would be excited to return to the team as a Set Designer. 

As Broadway now has a scheduled reopening date, Liu is excited for the future. “It was hard to see the entire industry turn silent suddenly due to the pandemic, but it’s been so comforting to see the industry take this time dark to reflect and dismantle the systemic barriers facing in particular artists of color. We See You W.A.T. and the See Lighting Foundation has made amazing efforts to advocate and instigate change,” she shared. “I am ready to see how the industry will rise up and support its artists and to further discover how I can help advance my fellow BIPOC artist’s voices. We are on the precipice of a revitalized industry that is primed to produce some incredible art. I feel honored to be joining the Lackawanna Blues team and begin the great work.”  

The Broadway production of Lackawanna Blues produced by Manhattan Theatre Club is set to begin previews on September 14th. 

To learn more about Vivienne Liu’s designs by visiting her official website. 

From rapping, DJing, events to podcasting and now movie reviewing, Thaddeous Shade has come a long way.

A closer look around us will let us know how things have been fast-moving and changing for the better across industries and sectors. This is a great sight to behold, looking at how different individuals from different parts of the world, especially youngsters, have come forward and showcased what they truly possess as professionals in their respective niches. We might have come across many such incredibly talented beings and also often wonder what could have been the reasons that help these individuals stay at the top of their game always. “Well, there are multiple reasons, but nothing beats resilience and perseverance”, says Thaddeous Shade, a name that has become quite popular in the events and entertainment niche of the US.

He is a sought-after promoter who recently started with his podcast named Seasonable Clout Podcast, which is about social media tips, trending topics, industry news, humorous moments and so much more. It is available on all podcast platforms. His podcast is soon going to complete a year and has already garnered great love and appreciation from all. Apart from showing his prowess as a podcaster, Thaddeous Shade, for his love for the movies, even began running his site https://theoddnerds.com/ for serving movie lovers and others with the latest TV and film reviews, making sure they get their dose of entertainment through the same.

Thaddeous Shade has become the go-to-man for any events in the Phoenix, as so far in his career as a promoter and backed by his experience as a rapper and DJ, he has had the opportunity to work with some of the most prominent names of the music industry, also including the best Grammy Award-winning producers Swizz Beatz & Brian Kennedy, recording with E-40 & JAE E. The young talent says that Phoenix is in the midst of a rebirth that he is excited to help cultivate. People are excited already as they gear to reopen nightlife safely.

As a movie ‘nerd’, Thaddeous Shade also recently hosted an exclusive movie screening that had the best of vibes with cocktails and a photographer. Speaking on what has helped him keep going, he says that the love for films, the city of Phoenix and the strong connection with his audiences has helped him stay on his track and achieve the success he enjoys today.

To connect with him, follow him on Instagram @thaddeous.shade

With so many negative and sorrowful events occurring throughout the world, people are desperate for something motivational and inspiring to uplift their mood and fill up with positive energy. Luckily, there are hundreds of thousands of movies and feature films we can watch and simply entertain ourselves. However, the development of various social media platforms led to the popularization of shorter video clips and people are more likely to watch videos posted on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok rather than go to an actual movie theatre. If you are looking for an inspirational YouTube channel, SoulSnack might be the right option for you.

SoulSnack is a new YouTube channel that managed to gain over 65k subscribers in just 4 months. By producing and sharing around 20 videos about life, health, business, and relationships, SoulSnack reached more than 11 million views. They keep adding 2-3 videos per week and the chances that the channel will start growing even faster are pretty high. 

SoulSnack: Videos for Passion, Purpose, and Positivity

SoulSnack was created with the aim to not only entertain people but also teach them life lessons by telling real-life stories. 5- to 10-minute that are written and produced by Marcus Freemont feature actors and actresses who do their best to share awareness of various social issues, including those related to racists, sexists, gold-diggers, abusers, bullies, spoiled teens, and wealthy people. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic going on, the channel also features videos emphasizing the importance of wearing a mask and keeping social distance. 

As you may have noticed, SoulSnackStudios is a fast-growing channel with an audience from all around the world. You might be wondering how the studio managed to gain so many views and subscribers in just a couple of months. The main reason for this is that the entire SoulSnack team is oriented toward offering high-quality videos that could potentially change the viewers’ perspectives on various aspects of life for the better. Besides, the content is totally family-friendly, making it much easier for parents to educate their kids on some of the most influential social issues. 

The content offered by SoulSnack is very unique and carries meaningful messages, teaches life lessons, shares inspiring stories, and just encourages people of all ages to be better versions of themselves. 

As the spring slowly turns into summer, music fans around the world are searching for new artists and new songs to add to their summertime playlists. In a world where thousands of songs are released every day, it can be hard to find music that you truly connect with, and even harder to find new artists who match the style you like to hear. Saint is one such artist that the whole world needs to hear. Saint has been pursuing music professionally for over eight years and is making headlines with his new single “Magic Man.” With incredibly trippy production and unique vocal patterns, he stands out among many other artists aspiring to break into the mainstream music scene.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Saint began releasing music at the age of sixteen. After many years of refining his voice and developing his sound, he has stepped into an alternative hip-hop vein that is not very commonly heard. His new single, “Magic Man,” is a true uptempo synth ballad. With heavy vocoder on the vocals and drums mixed into the back of the record, Saint brings his own life experience to the table, displaying vulnerability through his art and giving fans a deeper look into the life that he has lived in his lyrics. Harmonies come easy to some artists and harder to others. Saint uses harmonies very selectively in the production of his music, which elevates moments very well.

His new album, 21st Century Sonic Wisdom, is a well-rounded piece of art. Starting off the project with “Magic Man,” he then quickly transitions into a song called “Supreme,” which is a fan favorite. The nine-song album is not the first full-length project from Saint this year. Already having released “The Tower” earlier in the year, he is building momentum for something huge to come. In an industry where consistency is key, Saint is proving to his fans and fellow artists that he is here to stay. The timing of his releases matches the seasons that they are delivered in and gives a sort of seasonal feel, which only adds to the depth of the records.

If you are looking for a hot new artist to show your friends, go give “Magic Man” and the entire 21st Century Sonic Wisdom project a listen. Make sure you follow Saint on social media to keep up with all things Saint. “Pretty by Nature” off the Tower album is also a must-listen. The melodic flow on each of Saint’s most recent projects is a refreshing take. It can be extremely difficult to find new artists who create the music that you want to listen to. Everyone has their own taste and own preferences, but the music that Saint has been releasing has something in it for everybody. I honestly cannot wait to hear more from the young star. 

Go stream and share Saint’s most recent projects and keep up with him on social media.