February 2013
Rochdale Village Bulletin
Page 3
Classy Queen of Comedy, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, headlining at Black Spectrum Theatre By Susan Van Brackle
I
f you loved her in ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’, ‘A Different World’, and ‘New Jack City’, then you will love seeing Phyllis Yvonne Stickney once again as she headlines 8pm at the Black Spectrum Theatre on Saturday, February 23. Ms. Stickney will perform her comedy revue entitled ‘Phyllis Yvonne Stickney and Guests: Are You Kidding Me?’ RV cooperators that are looking for an exciting night out on the town need look no further than their own backyard. The Black Spectrum Theatre is one of the best kept secrets in southeast Queens. The arts center regularly features some of the hottest acts that can be found anywhere from Broadway to Hollywood. The Rochdale Village Bulletin had the opportunity to sit down with Ms. Stickney for a candid interview about her vibrant career and the upcoming show. She shared that “Comedy allows people to see what I think and how I think whereas with acting, you read from a script.” The Bulletin asked Ms. Stickney about her trajectory from comedy to acting where she said “I
created my own work by working in the streets.” She spent many years as an outdoor performance artist in Washington Square Park and other comedy clubs on West 4th Street. The more she performed, the more people recognized her talents. People like programming directors and casting agents who saw promise in her and others like Bill Cosby who casted her for the hit television sitcom, “A Different World”. “I wasn’t interested in singing and dancing and my aspirations didn’t include Broadway...I wanted to do character driven comedy.” A lot of Ms. Stickney’s appeal is what she describes as her ability to be a “chameleon actress”. For her, performing at the Black Spectrum Theatre is almost like returning home. “My first play with Carl Clay [Executive Producer of Black Spectrum Theatre] was called “Precious Love”. When asked about what theatregoers can expect to see at her comedy revue, Stickney says, “I realize that I have a following and realize that people want to know what I’ve done and what I’ve been doing. According to Ms. Stickney, the show
is “new and improved.” The last time performance date. Stickney looks Phyllis Stickney was set to be at the forward to doing the show stating, “I Black Spectrum Theatre, the force am not a trip, I am a journey.” of Hurricane Sandy interrupted the
1st Phase of LIRR stairwell reconstruction completed By Susan Van Brackle
R
V Cooperators that commute via the Locust Manor railroad station will be happy to know that the extensive repairs being performed on the stairwell of the Long Island bound side have finally been completed.
Repairs are coming along but not fully completed
The crumbling concrete stairs on Platform B of the Far Rockaway bound station recently reopened after being closed for well over six weeks, due to necessary reconstruction. The Locust Manor station is a hub for many Rochdale Village commuters as well as supporting neighborhoods like Springfield Gardens, St. Albans and Jamaica. Area LIRR customers and senior citizens that frequent the Far Rockaway line were required to exit at the far end of the station on the Bedell Street side many times during inclement weather or late at night. Community partners like The Springfield Gardens Taxpayers Civic Association in conjunction with community members from Salem Missionary Baptist Church and elected officials like Assemblyman William Scarborough (D-St. Albans) worked tirelessly with LIRR management and engineers to complete the first phase of construction. While the stairwell has reopened, there is still a bit of work to do. The
The Locust Manor stain repairs are seemingly headed in the right direction but which way will they go next? hand railing and scaffolding around the renovated stairwell is still comprised of unfinished wooden planks. Riders exiting the train should protect their hands as they descend down the steps to avoid splinters and other injuries. Back in July 2012, Rich Bockmann of The Times Ledger broke the story about the impending renovations also stating that the Manhattan bound side
will be up next for renovation now that the Long Island side has been completed. To help continue the push for much needed station repairs at the Locust Manor LIRR platform, the community should reach out to their elected officials and local area politicians. Stay tuned.