PATRICKRILEYHEADSHOT2.JPGWELCOME to "The Life of Riley" which will include periodic chronicles of pop culture and possibilities that flow out of Patrick L. Riley's day. That's me!!! Through blogging (and soon some other technological features on which I'll keep you posted as they launch), I will pull experiences from my busy life to entertain and inspire all of you. Through this site, I will share my observations and insights. 

Some features to look forward to:

1.) "PATRICK'S POP UP(DATES)" will feature stories from pop culture, music, theater, fashion, and the entertainment industry at large. 

2.) "The Life of Riley" will also introduce a "take-a-look-at-your-life" section (READ: sort of an advice column), where I will help readers come up with their own questions and answers around what "ways of being" are working (or not working) to have them acheive their respective goals and live their best lives. This section is called "WHO YOU BE?".

3.) Additonally, there will be a free-flowing, organic section called "TESTIFY" from which I will pull from my own life's journey to share and hopefully inspire. Some of the fare may be new musings and experiences. Other times, I may pull from my journals and past sharings to shed light on some uncomfortable truths that I've experienced and that may perhaps play a role in healing someone else's wounds as the real-life experience did for me. From my experience of covering 9/11 as a freelance journalist to courageously coming out (as gay) to my family, "TESTIFY" promises to move those who choose to read it.

4.) And a section titled "PR" (like my initials, but also like "public relations") will include press clips from any coverage I get. 

5.) And anytime pictures or video can support an entry (in the blog, and perhaps in the subsequent podcasts, my space, and website), those visuals will keep things aesthetically enrolling. That section will be called "MY TUBE".
PLAYING TO THE POP IN POSSIBILITIES!
Patrick L. Riley

 

Entries in Condola Rashad (2)

Romeo and Juliet from Broadway in MOVIE THEATERS Feb 13 thru 19

Hi folks,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Lots going on in THE LIFE OF RILEY! I'll detail more later or you can ALWAYS feel free to check out what's going on IN THE DAY OF via FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley.
ALSO: Please check UPTOWN Magazine's digital channel UPTOWN UNPLUGGED recently profiled me on its H LIST:  http://uptownmagazine.com/2013/12/h-list-patrick-riley-video/

You KNOW I've been singing the praises of Condola Rashad this past Broadway season - from "The Trip to Bountiful": http://thetriptobountifulbroadway.com (which unveils its cable adaptation on Lifetime next month: http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/) to Shakespeare classic "Romeo & Juliet". And from COZI-TV on NBC: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Pop-Culture-Expert-Patrick-Riley-on-Black-Broadway_New-York.html to ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDxfe-hG_aY and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AijZZeZgFkQ, it's been a HALLELUJAH CHOIR for all things Condola and "Romeo & Juliet". 
Well, GUESS WHAT? The 2013 Broadway production of ROMEO AND JULIET starring Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad was filmed during its final week of performances and will be broadcast in theaters nationwide February 13 – 19 as part of BroadwayHD.
Like when "Romeo & Juliet" premiered on The Great White Way, THE LIFE OF RILEY has been given the opportunity to GIFT one of my readers A PAIR of tickets to see the film. Even for those who saw the stage production, there is certainly an interesting perspective seeing it in a different medium. 
HERE'S WHAT YOU DO: ONE PAIR OF COMP TICKETS FOR THE “…LIFE OF RILEY…” READER WHO WANTS TO SEE THE HD CAPTURE OF “ROMEO AND JULIET” ON BROADWAY in a MOVIE THEATER NEAR YOU (Further details on location below)! ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SEND AN EMAIL TO: patarack@hotmail.com - no later than NEXT FRIDAY, JANUARY 31ST. I’ll choose – RANDOMLY – a name from that batch of emails and will – in turn – send the WINNER the info on their ticket to see "ROMEO AND JULIET" at a movie theatre near you - from FEBRUARY 13-19. Please include your NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS, and CELL PHONE NUMBER in the body of the email. And put ROMEO & JULIET MOVIE in the subject line. EASY, RIGHT? Let me hear from you at patarack@hotmail.com. GOOD LUCK… and SEE YOU AT THE (MOVIE )THEATER this time! Go Condola, Go!


MORE INFORMATION:
ROMEO AND JULIET starring Orlando Bloom (Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean) as Romeo and Condola Rashad (Smash, Sex and the City 2) as Juliet, will be opening at a movie theatre near you this Valentine’s Day! The film has an exclusive run in movie theatres from February 13-19.

The stunningly modern stage production has received acclaimed-reviews, including this from the New York Times: “Mr Bloom in a first-rate Broadway debut and the gifted Rashad exude a too fine for this world purity that makes their characters’ love feel sacred.” In addition to Bloom and Rashad, the cast includes Christian Camargo (The Hurt LockerDexter), Justin Guarini (American Idol, American Idiot), Tony Award winners Brent Carver (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Sleepy Hollow), Chuck Cooper (Law & Order, American Gangster), and two-time nominee Jayne Houdyshell (Follies). Romeo and Juliet was captured for cinema on November 27 at New York’s Richard Rodgers Theatre by the multiple, Emmy award-winning Don Roy King (Saturday Night Live).

 

While ROMEO AND JULIET is the most famous love story of all time, this production marked the first time in 36 years that the play was produced on Broadway. 

 

TICKETS

 

For movie times and tickets, visit http://broadwayhd.com/ 

 

ONLINE & SOCIAL NETWORKS

Website: www.RomeoAndJulietBroadway.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RomeoJulietBway

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/RomeoJulietBway

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/RomeoJulietBway

Google+: Plus.google.com/+RomeoJulietBway

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4ZvduhMstA


hold my head up high

HI FOLKS! PLEASE READ ALL THE WAY THROUGH FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SEE ORLANDO BLOOM AND TONY-AWARD NOMINEE CONDOLA RASHAD (STICK FLY, THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL) IN Broadway’s ROMEO AND JULIET (www.RomeoAndJulietBroadway.com).

 

BUT FIRST…

survive Newark

http://youtu.be/huwEcfXuzRI MISS Diana Ross brought Newark, New Jersey a special treat this past Friday at her sold-out Diana Ross At Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Newark, NJ - Aug 16 show: the original singer of her mid-‘90s MOTOWN hit “I Will Survive”, Gloria Gaynor – NEWARK’s LEGENDARY OWN! WHAT A MOMENT IN NEWARK HISTORY; POP CULTURE; AND ALL-AROUND DIVA-DOM! AND HOW EXCITING to see R&B Diva's Monifah Carter in the house! Shout out to Monifah’s boo Terez Mychelle; Mark A Forrest; Savoy Walker; and a host of my FAVs were in the house to see MISS ROSS! ‪#‎dianaross ‪#‎gloriagaynor ‪#‎njpac ‪#‎iwillsurvive ‪#‎monifah Photos (of Miss Ross and Miss Gaynor) are courtesy of: Tony Bea. After the aforementioned MISS ROSS set, Ant and I were excited to see CRISTAL – our friend from Atlanta who happens to share a birthday with MISS ROSS! BBQ was our post-set backdrop! YUM! TRY TO SEE MISS ROSS IF SHE COMES TO A CITY NEAR YOU! SHE'S IN GREAT FORM!

GO YANKEES!

Last I updated my blog, Ant and I got an invite from our friend Derrick Hemphill to attend a Yankees game - my first time in the new stadium. Great meal, food, and fun... and what a BLAST to run into Reginald Van Lee who invited us all to the Evidence Dance Company benefit in The Hamptons. You know we went? LOL! MORE ON THAT LATER as there was quite a week ahead before we could get there… THANKS DERRICK!

HARLEM BRUNCH WITH THE PORTERS

Last Sunday gave us the chance to catch up with BFFs the Porters (Mara, Tommie, and MISS Nina) in Harlem at Chez Lucienne. Always a good scene with our NYC fam!

WENDY IN ‘CHICAGO’

 After brunch, my matinee date - buddy Karu Daniels – invited me to join him to see sometimes-client Wendy Williams on Broadway in "Chicago" - one of her last performances this summer before she returns for the new season of 'Wendy' in September! CONGRATS WENDY! Great JOB! And of course, we’ll be watching your show when you return in September. THANKS KARU! Karaoke was a BLAST too (at YUKI 55)!

K. MICHELLE – LOVE & HIP HOP

Many are burying the "ratchet", but K.Michelle is growing on me and resuscitating her image towards proven artistry and a new chapter via - first Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta - soon Love and Hip Hop: NYC. Sweet woman! And again, a classically-trained ARTIST! Shout out to my friend Nathan Hale Williams who invited me to his Tuesday-night event at GO TUESDAYS at G Lounge - COME GET OFF‪ ‎#kmichelle‪ ‎#atlantic‪ ‎#thekmichelle

EVIDENCE in HAMPTONS

I’d mentioned while at The Yankees last week, we ran into Reggie Van Lee who personally invited Ant, Derrick, and me the 10th anniversary of our ‘On Our Toes in the Hamptons’ summer benefit – including cocktails, light dinner, auction, a dynamic performance by Evidence and the signature “Dancing with the Dancers” moment at the end of the event.

My socialite-BFF-with-the-most Carl Nelson joined Ant, Derrick, and me – a day that started with a pop by Sag Harbor’s B. SMITH where we ran into many friends – including co-owner Dan.

AWESOME EVENT!

We all really had a great time!

And it's always nice to see our NYC regulars in an off-the-beaten-path destination.

Plus, the dancing is always wonderul!

These young dancers are uber-talented!

And they are so humble and kind as well!  

Later in the evening (after the benefit which gave us a chance to hang out with HONORARY CHAIRS Susan L. Taylor and her husband Khephra Burns and a host of others), we went to Jamaica’s fine foods and grocery, JAMAICA Specialties. It's in East Hampton and Carl knows the owners. We enjoyed some delicious food from the Caribbean (and – of course – some TING). GREAT WEEKEND in The Hamptons!

THE MISSION OF EVIDENCE is to promote understanding of the human experience in the African Diaspora. Dance and storytelling take you on the ride. And they provide sensory connections to history and tradition through music, movement, and spoken word, leading deeper into issues of spirituality, community responsibility and liberation. For more information on EVIDENCE and how you can support: www.evidencedance.com. GO EVIDENCE! THANKS REGGIE!

 

ROMEO & JULIET on BROADWAY: GIVEAWAY!!!!

You folks know I’ve been booking a lot of hosting and moderating gigs on Broadway - like this clip from "STICK FLY" last year (starring Condola Rashad); I interviewed the cast after a show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrdnbMgJn9s. AND WNYC/WQXR - THE GREENE SPACE has become a client the like. They have been booking me to host mini-productions (performances and panels) in its studio which records its content for radio and its website. This past Fall, I hosted a performance and discussion on "Teacake's Legacy" (as in Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God"s Teacake). Here's a link to that awesome session: http://www.thegreenespace.org/events/thegreenespace/2012/sep/17/their-eyes-were-watching-god-teacakes-legacy/ The plan is I'll be doing more on-camera/moderating for WNYC/WQXR. I just hosted another BIG READ program for them in Newark and we're talking some recurring possibilities in which I'll do consulting/producing and hosting this year. Stay tuned. AND MY HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON: I was hired to do red carpet interviews on MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL's opening night for its cameras. and to host its highlight video! YAY! LOL! Here's the clip I host: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ. AND THIS VIDEO IS LOOPING ON THE MONITORS OUTSIDE THE THEATER; on the big screen in Times Square sometimes; lots of YOU TUBE traffic; and in cabs; etc! WOW! LOL! Other outlets picked up the raw footage of my MOTOWN THE MUSICAL interviews - including REUTERS: http://www.reuters.com/video/2013/04/16/motown-memorialized-in-new-musical?videoId=242278913&videoChannel=3. BROADWAY BUZZ also used my MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=An_r_D2HM5Q. ALSO: I have been a contributor on ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 - most recently predicting TONY AWARDS nominations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTd5S1wKUs0. A few weeks prior, I was on ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 to talk BROADWAY... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDxfe-hG_aY. In the aforementioned ARISE 360 Broadway segment, I predicted the iconic Cicely Tyson would be nominated for her role in Broadway's "The Trip to Bountiful". And she was!! YAY!  So, they played that clip and referenced my prediction the following day:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuJEs6ruin0. I was again on ARISE recently to talk GATSBY: the book, the film(s), the blueprint on hip hop! HERE'S THE LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBT9mSmfmCo. ALL OF THAT TO SAY: The marketing folks on forthcoming Broadway production of ROMEO AND JULIET (www.RomeoAndJulietBroadway.com) reached out to THE LIFE OF RILEY re: this Shakespeare revival – featuring Orlando Bloom and two-time Tony Award nominee Condola Rashad (STICK FLY, THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL). ROMEO AND JULIET begins performances on August 24 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Press Event Teaser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvnU8CIpSVE&feature=youtu.be WITH THAT NEWS COMES ONE PAIR OF COMP TICKETS FOR THE “…LIFE OF RILEY…” READER WHO WANTS TO SEE “ROMEO AND JULIET” ON BROADWAY! ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SEND AN EMAIL TO: patarack@hotmail.com. I’ll choose – RANDOMLY – a name from that batch of emails and will – in turn – send the WINNER a ticket voucher for you to select a performance date that works for you. You will send that form to the box office which will confirm and hold tickets for you at will call. Our vouchers will be eligible for Tues-Thurs performances in September. EASY, RIGHT? Let me hear from you at patarack@hotmail.com. GOOD LUCK… and SEE YOU AT THE THEATER! Go Condola, Go!