Introducing: MUUF Outings to the Arts!
- Shari Loe
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
With 18 of us signing up for HMS Pinafore a couple of weeks ago, I thought we should create an informal MUUF program for more outings to artsy things!
First up: August 6th at 7pm in NYC, The Green Room at Yotel Times Square, 570 Tenth Avenue at West 42nd Street. NO AGE RESTRICTION
As it happens, daughter Sarah Bernadette Matsushima is co-hosting and appearing in a new, original variety show, “Battle of the Siblings”, in NYC on Thursday, August 6 at The Green Room 42 venue at the Times Square Yotel. (The very impressive bios for the producer/performers are at the end of this article.)
Her co-hosts and fellow performers are talented siblings Jerrick and MacKenzie Cavagnaro. Here are some samplings of their lovely musical silliness:
Jerrick and Mackenzie performing “Siblings,” a riff on “Sisters” from White Christmas:
And for those of you who don’t know Sarah, here’s a clip from her and Jerrick’s concert at the Fellowship, the duet “I’d Do It All For You. ” The concert was called “Arias and Art Songs,” and took place on May 20, 2018 as a fundraiser for the revamp of Room 100. Look for newly arrived Stearns Matthews as featured page turner!
About the Show
"Who's Mom's favorite?" Musical Comedienne Mackenzie Cavagnaro seeks to answer the age-old question in her original production, "Battle of the Siblings!" featuring her real-life brother, organist, pianist, and vocalist Jerrick Cavagnaro.
Come ready for a hilarious evening of cabaret, sketches, and musical improv!
Also featuring vocalist and co-producer Sarah Bernadette Matsushima. Duration 75 Minutes.
If you want to know more, check out this link, where you can also buy tickets starting at $19, or email me at sloe@muuf.org. The venue offers food and drink.
There are roundtrip direct NJTransit trains from Morristown, Lyons and Summit. You could also drive – we can see about carpooling to the station or to NYC.
ACTION REQUIRED: Buy your tickets on the site but then make it official that you are coming by registering below!
Next: August 13-15 – Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy, Bound Brook NJ, at Alley 14, 13 John Street in Bound Brook (must be 21)
I don’t know anyone associated with this national touring company, but the reviews are great and it combines poetry, drama and specialist Cocktails for each of four Poe Favorites! Selfishly, I can’t always find a poetry lover to go to things like this, but I know you are out there, MUUF poetry lovers!
Preview of the Poe Works and the craft cocktail that will go with:
Tale 1: The Pit and the Pendulum – Paired with the Swing of Fate
Tale 2: Cask of Amontillado– Paired with the Montresor’s Revenge
Tale 3: Annabel Lee – Paired with the Lover’s Lament
Tale 4: The Fall of the House of Usher – Paired with the Roderick’s Ruin
Dinner and non-alcoholic drinks are also available. Here is the link to learn more and get your tickets (starting at $55).
ACTION REQUIRED: Once again please also sign up below so we know how many MUUF folk are coming. In your signup, please vote between the available dates so we can plan to include everyone!
COMING NEXT???? YOUR IDEAS HERE!!!
I invite each of you to come up with some outings for the fall! Please email me sloe@muuf.org or call me at my number in REALM. I’d love to see this take off!
Biographical notes:
Mackenzie Cavagnaro, the main author of the August 6 variety show, is a recent graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts where she earned her BFA in Drama at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and the Experimental Theatre Wing. She has taught Improv and served as the Assistant Director for the Comedy Ensemble at Traveling Players Ensemble in Tysons, Virginia. With a passion for bringing theatre education to kids of all ages and backgrounds, she has also worked as an assistant drama teacher at the High School of Economics and Finance in New York City, as well as a Music Theatre Teacher at the Summer Onstage Camp at Ady Art Center in Livingston, New Jersey. She loves all things comedy and improv and is very excited to bring her first original variety show to the NY Stage with help from Sarah and Jerrick!
Sarah Matsushima has a Graduate Diploma and a Masters from New England Conservatory and a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance and Composition from Berklee College of Music. She has worked with Kathleen Flynn, Dominique Eade, Cristi Catt, and Grammy-winner Cecile McLorin Salvant, whom she considers one of her biggest musical inspirations. Sarah’s music is available on all streaming services under the name Sarah Bernadette, including her most recent releases: “sad poems on my phone” and her debut album, “New Leaves.”
Jerrick Cavagnaro is a graduate of the Yale School of Music and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, where he obtained a master’s degree in organ performance studying under Jon Laukvik and Thomas Murray. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Westminster Choir College in sacred music and organ performance studying under Alan Morrison. A native of New Jersey, Jerrick currently serves as the Associate Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Church (Copley Square) in Boston, MA. In 2024, Jerrick won first prize in the American Guild of Organists National Competition in Organ Improvisation. He released his debut solo album, Firm Foundations, in the summer of 2025 featuring several improvisations and repertoire recorded at Trinity Copley Square in Boston. Also an active composer, Jerrick’s choral music has been performed by choirs around the globe and was recently featured in Oxford University Press’ latest edition of Carols for Choirs 6.