Standouts from the world of new-age soca, such as Blaxx and Nadia Batson are blended with a lineup of seasoned veterans including Black Stalin, Sugar Aloes, Edwin Yearwood and Denyse Plummer for the 36th annual edition of the Mother’s Day show, on Saturday, May 12 at Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts, Brooklyn College, starting at 8:00 p.m.
This year’s Trinidad and Tobago calypso monarch, Dwayne O’Conner, multiple Barbados calypso and road march winner Red Plastic Bag and the always entertaining Allrounder (“Body Wine” and “Garlic Sauce”) are on board as well.
Also in the cast, as the show turns the spotlight on the future of calypso, are three-time junior monarch in Trinidad, Aaron Duncan and Devyn Tyson, who has wowed audiences as well with her poise and stage presence. Steelpan virtuoso Dane Gulston is on the roster too, with comedienne Donna Hadad and Jason Benn as emcees. Accompanying the artists will be the Sunshine Band.
The 10th anniversary of the passing of the show’s founder, Isaac McLeod, will be observed at this year’s presentation. McLeod died in February 2002, after having spearheaded the event from its inception in 1977.
This year’s show continues the format change instituted in 2011, wherein emphasis is placed on performance time for the artists, their ability to deliver sustained qualitative performances during their ample time on stage being a major consideration in selecting cast members.
The Mother’s Day show has proved beyond question the durability of Isaac McLeod’s concept that packaging superlative Caribbean entertainment as a gift primarily for mothers in the community. Howard McLeod, son of the founder, has been executive producer of the event following his father’s death.
Tickets for the Mother’s Day show are available at the Brooklyn Center box office where they can also be charged and at several conveniently located neighborhood outlets. The number for information is 917-447-2323.
