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Photo by John Quilty
Photo by
Fred
Askew
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Adetola
Abiade – Alto
Adetola got introduced to the
works and music of Reverend
Billy & The Stop Shopping
Gospel Choir while attending
the choir’s last Spiegel
Tent Show on October 1st 2006
to show support and watch her
good friends Paul Allen and
Andrew Pacho perform. During
that very show Reverend Billy
did something his choir and
band had not planned for---a
mini open mic for people in
the audience with a “call
& response” segment
he made up on the spot….The
words the Rev asked the audience
to repeat and sing resonated
with her “if you don’t
know your history, you are doomed
to repeat it”. With the
forceful encouragement of a
friend, the heavenly microphone
made it into the hands of Adetola
and she was plucked out of musical
obscurity by Savitri D. &
Reverend Billy, asked to join
the choir and dropped into the
welcoming arms of their raucous
and diverse activist theatre
community.
Adetola is from Rhode Island
and was raised by native Nigerian
parents who taught her and her
siblings the importance of education,
sacrifice, love, and the use
of one’s talents to make
a difference in the world. There
is no question that an intense
raw passion for music comes
naturally to this choir member
and soloist. Her musical inspirations
range from Stevie Wonder, Dinah
Washington, Oleta Adams, India
Arie and many other vocal legends.
Since joining Rev. Billy and
the Choir, Adetola has gone
through a “Consumption
Awakening” and has been
more thoughtful in where, why
and how she spends her hard
earned dollars. Honestly, when
one listens to any of the famous
Stop Shopping sermons, you can’t
help but challenge yourself
to think about the mechanics
of consumption and its impact
on the world without being forever
changed. Adetola has now kicked
the big box to the curb and
takes pride in the support of
Fair Trade, small business,
and causes that protect workers,
celebrate the arts and the environment….”Sing-a-luia”!!!!
"No one can make you feel
inferior without your consent"
—Eleanor Roosevelt
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Photo by Mama Wolf
Visit Fred Askew's website. |
Fred Askew— Photographer
Fred Askew is a freelance photojournalist. His photographs have appeared in Time Magazine, The New York Times, The Times of London, Le Monde, El Pais, New York Magazine, Artforum Magazine, Stern Magazine, and other publications.
He fell under the spell of the
Church in 2001 and refuses to
leave. He is rumored to live
in the garden of a coffee shop
in the East Village where he
constantly listens to Jolie
Holland and chases butterflies. |
Ric
Becker— Trombone, Tenor
Ric Becker am a human trombone player. He has performed all kinds of music on the street, on the beach, in parks, and on the top of a building in the wee small hours of the morning. His trombones' names are Christina (tenor) and Amynette Stephanie (bass). Ric's other joys: the road, cooking, and literature. "Unlike most people, I am best friends with my doppleganger and where I am weak, he is strong. Someday we may take over the world." |
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photo by
Fred Askew |
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James
Solomon Benn — Choir Director
I saw
Reverend Billy's work chronicled
on Channel 13's "Egg: The
Arts Show". His presentation
of an edgy fun-filled parody
of the black church captivated
me. He provided me a way of
getting in touch with my own
fractured youth — my father
having been a Methodist preacher.
My fated meeting with the Rev.
occured the next day at the
Kinko's on 54th Street. I learned
first-hand about his mission
and asked him how I could join
his funky-purple-wig-wearing
gospel choir. I was hooked.
The rest is history. Having
performed in and directed everything
from Fats Waller to Shakespeare,
the Church of Stop Shopping
has allowed me to use my theatre
skills to make a difference.
Regional credits include AIN'T
MISBEHAVIN' at Starlight Musicals,
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and A
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at Indiana
Repertory Theatre, FIVE GUYS
NAMED MOE at Charlotte Rep and
SHE LOVES ME with Nebraska Rep.
James' one-person show, LITTLE
BUTCHIE SINGS, explores growing
up fat, black and gay in the
Bible belt.
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Ben
Cerf — Bass
He always suspected there was something sinister in shopping. brands
befuddled him and the logos burned with meaningless urgency. always
and here he is.
photo
by Fred Askew |
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Molly
Chanoff is
an acrobat living and teaching
in Brooklyn. For 7 years she
has been hanging from her toes
and diving through hoops with
LAVA, the award winning all-female
acrobat/circus/dance troupe.
When she is not doing that you
can find her at Human Rights
Watch, or doing capoeira, or
perhaps in Brasil. She is overjoyed
to be singing with the Stop
Shopping Choir. |
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Mi
Sun Choi
— Soprano
Orignally from Korea, Mi Sun
received her MFA degree in Theatre
from Sarah Lawrence College
in 2003. She has been exploring
different venues to continue
her artistic career as a dancer,
singer, or actress in New York.
She is one of the affiliate
artists of The ConcreteTemple
Theater company. photos
by Fred Askew
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Ben Dubin-Thaler — Basso, sinner
I met the Reverend when he grabbed my ass while I was walking through Union Sq. park. He must have mistaken me for the Starfucks mermaid, as soon as he saw that it was just a boy dressed in a skirt on his way to radical cheerleading practice, he immediately and profusely apologized. But the Rev. couldn't get rid of me that easily. He has a way with hands, you see...just one grope and well... I was hooked on his spirit.
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savitri
d— Director
Savitri lives in Brooklyn. |
| Sarah
East Johnson —
Alto is the founder and Artistic
Director of LAVA, an Obie and
Bessie Award winning performance
troupe that integrates dance
and acrobatics into original
productions characterized by
physical rigor, intellectual
wit and subversive politics.
LAVA has performed at PS 122,
Dance Theater Workshop, The
Kitchen, The Flea Theater, Symphony
Space, The Joyce, and the New
Victory Theater and has toured
around the U.S. The LAVA Studio
in Prospect Heights Brooklyn
offers classes for kids and
adults in the unique blend of
acrobatics and dance that LAVA
is known for. |
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Leah
Farrell
"There's a time for pirating
and there's a time for singing."
How lovely to not be buying
anything! Through deserts dusty
and book release parties boozy
Leah came into the open arms
of the lovely Stop Shopping
communitas. When Leah is not
H.A.A.K.ing or feeding lil'
lovable scamps she is practicing
her harmonies and establishing
her rhythm. On her off hours
she cultivates temporary autonomous
zones and reads distant fiction.
"Look for the absurd, and
jump!" She is a Tenor and
very proud to be working out
the kinks in identity flexibility
of all sorts. "May your
alternative to shopping have
a lot to do with fun! and art!
and may the world use all downward
spirals to whip up into new
orbits. Hallelujah!" |
Gina Figueroa — Alto
Gina “La Loca” Figueroa is a revolutionary soul singer and a homesteader. The child of Puerto Rican nationalists and a serious native of the East Village she got her start in show business as the youngestmember of the now infamous SOLID GOLD dance machine. Since then she has worked as an actress, a model, a singer and what is sometimes known as an “instigator.” Gina is a loyal friend, a gifted monologuist and makes strong coffee wherever she goes.
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Donald Gallagher
Donald Gallagher is a Radical Faerie. He is also a decorative painter of homes, offices, churches, restaurants. Some of his base needs he gets satisfied in the bass section of the Church of Stop Shopping gospel Choir. He joined the group to participate in the "Save the Poe and Judson Houses" campaign since he had his honeymoon at Judson House in 1966 with his so-called "lover." The Choir and the message of the Church of Stop Shopping have been a joy for him to be a part of. |
Jerry Goralnick — Bass
It was a dark stormy night. Turning up my collar against the biting wind I roamed the docks hoping to find a little comfort on a cold wintry night. It’s funny how desire can drive a man. I heard a scurrying from behind but before I could react I felt cold steel against my head and the lights on the wharf dripped into my unconsciousness. Upon awakening I first felt the swaying and then I heard the sound of the water beating against the hull. Shanghaied! I was on a tramp steamer, bound I knew not where. The door to the little cabin swung open and there stood the meanest orneriest scoundrel I’d every encountered on the seven seas. Dressed in black boots and pantaloons, two belts holding swords criss crossed his chest. Oddly, he had no nipples. “I’m Captain Starbuck, and this ship is mine. You’ll do as I say or I’ll keel haul ya.” I soon learned what that meant. Slavery, processed foods, days of mindless strenuous work filled with a fear that blossomed into self loathing for not having the strength to overcome my predicament. All that changed one morning when sailing towards us out of the sun came a frigate flying the cancelled Mickey Mouse. Before we could man the cannons we were boarded and the captain and his cronies were quickly subdued. And there standing before me was a man. His pompadour was huge. His white collar barely smudged. “You’re all free” he said, “They call me Reverend Billy and this ship is no longer Starbuck’s. In the name of the Church of Stop Shopping this is now a bright unclaimed space. You’re welcome to join me, especially if you’re a tenor, but even if not, you’re still welcome.” How inclusive, I thought. And that’s how I came to join the Church of Stop Shopping .
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photo by Fred Askew |
Amber Gray— Alto
Growing up an Army brat, Amber Gray quickly learned the theatre
was an immediate source for community. She is grateful to have found
The Church of Stop Shopping family and forever relieved they have
given her the strength to overcome her retail therapy vices. This
August, Amber can be seen in the NYC Fringe show Melo-Llama: A Melodrama
at the Connelly Theatre. Other New York credits include Dearborn
Heights (Vital Theatre Company's Drama League Alumni Fest,) On the
Verge or The Geography of Yearning (Red Room Theatre,) The Just
Assassins (Wow Café Theatre,) as well as the new musical
ULA: A Dream Play with Music (Phil Bosakowski Theatre.) Regionally,
Amber has been seen in the world premiere of Prudence (Connecticut
Repertory Theatre,) Ain't Misbehavin' (Huntington Theatre Company,)
On the Razzle and Lady Windermere's Fan (Williamstown Theatre Festival.)
Amber is a graduate from Boston University's College of Fine Arts
where she received a BFA in Acting alongside the Bette Davis Award
from the Davis Foundation and the Kahn Career Entry Grant for her
artistic accomplishments.
photo by Fred
Askew
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Marianne
Hodge — Tenor
When you give in to creative
passion, it will bring you to
the ultimate thresholds of transfiguration
and renewal. This growth causes
pain, but it is a sacred pain.
It would be much more tragic
to have cautiously avoided these
depths and remained removed
on the shiny surfaces of the
banal.” – John O’Donohue,
from his book Anam Cara, A Book
of Celtic Wisdom
Marianne first witnessed the
creative passions of Reverend
Billy, Savitri D., and The Church
of Stop Shopping at the Astor
Place Starbucks in New York
City. Both enlivened and fascinated
by their synthesis of art, performance,
song, and activism, Marianne
was soon singing and participating
in the event she came to watch.
Such is the nature of street
theater, where the street is
the stage and the spectators
often become part of the performance.
Marianne’s first real
experience with social awareness,
service engagement, and peace
activism came from the Dominican
sisters and her teachers at
Molly College. Growing up in
the 80’s she was also
influenced by the activism of
pivotal groups who called for
radical and proactive responses
to the crises of the Cold War
nuclear arms race and emergence
of AIDS.
Marianne has been in several
vocal groups and celebrates
the opportunity to be a part
of this performance community.
When not with the Church, crafting,
reading, traveling, or dancing,
Marianne teaches Naam Yoga at
Cat Cow Yoga Studio in Greenpoint,
Brooklyn and studies at the
Universal Force Healing Center
in New York City.photo
by Fred Askew |
Monica Hunken — Soprano
As soon as Monica had her first
Billy sighting surrounded by
a team of sad prisoners of Starbucks,
she made a vow to herself that
she would work with him. In
a couple months, she signed
up for his political Theater
class at NYU and weasled her
way into the choir, where she
happily sings and dances her
consumer sorrows away. Monica
is very pleased to be in the
company of such a dynamic, hopeful
group of people.photo
by Fred Askew |
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photo by
Fred Askew |
Eric
Johnson — Drums
Birthdate: January 15th 1972
(same day as Martin Luther King,
same year as Watergate). Started
playing drums in 1977 (same
year P-funk recorded their Mothership
concert to vinyl and 8-track).
Grew up playing gospel in the
church in Chicago until I left
for college in 1990. Played
with Afro-cuban band Maruwa
in college. Started collecting
records while in college. Graduated
college in 1994 (B.S. in Marketing).
Moved back to Chicago. Played
on tv commercials for McDonald's,
Anheuser-Busch, Busch gardens,
Toys R' Us, and Budweiser. Did
production work with Crucial
Conflict, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye
West, Common, Angie Stone, Jamie
Foxx, Pras and Wyclef. At the
present time I play with Spank
(www.spankfunk.com),
Tycoondog (www.tycoondog.com),
Cool Hand, Orbita, Funky Fritters,
Adrian Hibbs and the Riot, and
of course, the Not Buying it
Band. I also have dj mixes under
the DJ MARBLE icon on deephousepage.com,
bringtheheat.com,
and theundaground.com.
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photos by Fred Askew |
Gwen Kash — Alto
Gwen Kash - Alto
Gwen may look innocent, but fortunately for the safety of Western
Civilization, the NYPD wasn’t fooled. Seeing her engaged in the
extremely hazardous activity of stopping her bicycle at a red light,
they acted quickly to arrest her – three times. Annoyed at spending
the night in jail and having her beloved bicycle impounded, Gwen and a
group of jail mates – I mean new friends - formed Freewheels Bicycle
Defense Fund to fight back. She beat her
charges and the bike was recovered mostly unharmed from the NYPD
warehouse after a month’s sentence. It has since been renamed Connie
the Ex-con Bicycle.
When not riding her bike, getting arrested, or going to court, Gwen
enjoys hanging out in Brooklyn, reading, jello wrestling, and stopping her shopping. |
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Katrina Lewis — Band Leader,
Keys
E Katrina
Lewis is a self taught musician,
entangled between two worlds
of passion & prize, with
influences dating as far back
as King David. Living, breathing,
& nurturing the thought,
sound, & existence of every
form of music created and in
process of creation. "I
am not just a musician but the
actual music, Ms. Music."
By profession, she is a freelance
music producer leaving in Brooklyn,
NY wearing various hats. Katrina
mixes tracks and I also do sample
library production. Beyond productions
she is a keyboardist for life!
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Her production
and performances signatures her gift
as a well versed keyboardist. She
spends most of her time creating music
and samples while expressing her feelings
through any genre of music possible
and NOT. You can log onto www.myspace.com/bewareofmusic
to listen to Katrina's production
work.
Katrina is honored to be the band
leader of the Stop Shopping Church.
Having grown up as a church music,
Katrina brings a wealth of the techniques
and creativity of Gospel music to
the performances. The overall union
between Katrina and Stop Shopping
is a testimony of how paths become
full circle in perfect time. Katrina
holds a Bachelor's in Political Science
and English from NC Wesleyan College
and was very active as a grassroots
protest organizer during her undergraduate
tenure. Currently, she is attending
Metropolitan College of NY where she
is studying for her MBA in Media Management.
Outside of work, she loves nature,
tv, writing, reading, eating sushi
and exposing myself to anything that's
harmless and will induced the best
out of me. Katrina believes and practice:
The journey of a thousand miles, begins
with one step (Lao Tzu).
Anna-Sara Malmgren — Alto
Anna-Sara spends most of her time in the NYU philosophy department, and she is glad to have found a way to express her less cerebral side, and her political frustrations. She saw reverend Billy and the choir for the first time in August 2005, and instantly realized she had to audition for the choir. A former French horn player, she very much enjoys doing music again, especially in such a fun and purposeful setting. |
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Derrick
McGinty — Star
Billy and I met when he came
to see a Peculiar Works Project
show I was in at the Dixon
Place Theatre, which at that
time was located at the Vineyard
26 space. I didn't know him
at the time but we talked
a bit after the show and did
some hamming it up, a la Southern
Baptist Church. Unbeknownst
to me he was not just auditioning
me but creating a role, the
1st Lady of the Church, for
me. And the rest, as they
say, is history. photo
by Fred Askew |
Barbara Robin Lee — Soprano
*I'll send you a bio soon and if you need more information, I'm sure the police will help you out.**I was born in Pilgrim State Hospital to a crazy black lady and raised in foster care. My many families are mad cool!**I've been a runaway, a college kid, a perky artist's model, a punk rocker, a granola hippy, one of those pesky Tompkins square rioters, a squatter, a writer, a poet, a lover. * *My main ambition in life is to love myself and the world. Power to the people (and my roustabout cats)!!!!*
Barbara'a Shopocalypse Tour photo page |
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Chantel Cherisse Lucier— Alto
In addition to singing, Chantel creates theatre
with woken'glacier, makes jewelry, art and interdisciplinary work... for more info. visit: www.wokenglacier.org and www.chantellucier.com.
"Words,
like other waste matter, eventually
drift down the drain. acts
live on... action".
-
— Henry Miller |
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William
Moses — Musical Director,
Bass, Guitar
With the looks of a Middle Eastern terrorist and the heart of a nappy-headed Detroit boy, William began to lift his voice with the Stop Shopping Choir in 2003. In addition to performing with the choir, he stubbornly entertains the hope that Cassavetes will rise from the dead and reveal the way to make films about love and death and alleyways and bars and Mexico and Rio. He is a producer, composer and audio engineer interested in music from the experimental to the folk. He also composes for theater and film, and will act when prodded sufficiently. His blog is Hazmat. |
Urania Mylonas is a writer and editor living in New York City. She first heard of Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir from a little bird in Washington Square Park named Harvey. Go to Urania's photo page...
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Laura
Newman — Soprano
Laura was assigned to go
on a field trip to Reverend
Billy's Church by professor
Stephen Duncombe in the
spring of 2000. One month
later at the April 16th
March on D.C. the Reverend
and Laura spent the day
together as tourists de
la Resistance and she told
him she liked to sing. Since
then she has sung on hundreds
of stages and into many
bullhorns. Highlights include
soloing after Joan Baez
at Burning Man 2005 and
singing a gospel rendition
of the 1st amendment under
her breath while handcuffed
at the police station with
Reverend Billy. Laura is
also a film director and
writer. Her work, which
often stars members of the
choir, can be seen at irREVERENTproductions.
She would like to thank
James for giving her the
juice that makes her more
than a white girl with a
wind pipe.
photos
by Fred Askew
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Michael
ONeil — Manager, Media
Relations
How I got into the Church:
Though I'd read of Billy in
contraband copies of Adbusters
while attending Catholic high
school, I didn't meet him
until the freezing, though
exhilarating Febuary 15th
march of this year. Laura
the Soprano introduced me
to the choir and I've been
enjoying the ride ever since.
photo by
Fred Askew
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Stefani Peikin— Soprano
Stefani
is a vocalist from Virginia.
She holds a BA in Vocal Performance,
Opera & Classical music.
She can be seen around NYC with
her band, “Stefani &
the Soft Corps,” (formerly,
“Stefani and the Lower
Middle East Siders,) performing
original music, in small roles
in indie films, or at a myriad
of rock shows. She is ecstatic
to be absolved from her shopping
demons and to be spreading the
love and singing the gospel
with Reverend Billy and family.
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Susannah Pryce— Soprano
The
first time I saw The Rev was
98 or 99. I was performing
in a show and riding around
box office cash on a bike
for the Fringe Festival. I
saw this thing with a preacher
and somebody in a mouse costume
and I thought... I want to
see that one! Later as an
organizer for Artist for Peace
(now Artists for Humanity)
I called on the Rev to open
our first show. A couple years
later The Rev saw me drowning
in a 'real job' and saved
me from the 'no shows' blues.
Thanks Rev! "
Susannah Pryce is a multi
talented artist. She holds
a degree in Performing Arts
Acting (Cum Laude) from Florida
School of the Arts and has
been studying and performing
on both the east and west
coast since 1989. Highlights
include Comedy Centrals Upright
Citizens Brigade (Season 1,
Episode 107/The Lady of the
Lake ), East coast tours with
Theatre IV, and West coast
tours with B Street theatre
under the direction of Timothy
Busfield. As a model Susannah
has graced the cover of the
village voice and walked the
runway for Nigerian Fabrics
and Fashion (NYC), Timeless
Elegance (NYC), and the Rhone
Alps ski show at Florence
Gould Hall in mid-town Manhattan
. As a visual artist Susannah's
work was shown at ABC No Rio
(NYC-lower east side), Korova
Milk Bar (NYC-east village),
and is currently on display
at the Bedford Avenue booth
of the L train in Williamsburg
, Brooklyn. As a vocalist
she has performed her own
original songs live at Tagine
Dining Gallery (NYC-43rd and
9th Avenue ), Stingers Lounge
(Williamsburg , Brooklyn),
and at the Fete de la musique
in Strasbourg , France . As
a musician Susannah has been
playing the clarinet for more
than 13 years and has experience
playing the piano and violin
as well. As a writer she has
two projects completed and
copy written: a one act play
titled "Chai Mama"(now 'Chai')
and a book of 300 poems titled
"Diary in Disguise". She speaks
French and is a candidate
for degrees both Modern Dance-Choreography
and English at Long Island
University (Brooklyn Campus).
Susannah is thrilled to be
a part of Reverend Billy's
Stop Shopping Choir! |
Andrew Pryce— Soprano-non-castrato-one-day-to-be-Tenor
Andrew
began singing in the womb. His
second song (Sung at the age
of 11 months) was the ABC's.
At 13 months of age he's moved
on to his own version of a song
he learned from some purple
thing on TV. Now at the ripe
old age of 14 months he is randomly
repeating "Ashes Ashes Ya Ya
Yah!" Andrew is thrilled to
be a part of Reverend Billy's
Stop Shopping Choir!
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John Quilty — Tenor
John is a New York-based actor
who works regularly Off-Broadway.
He came to the Gospell Choir
after being healed from credit
card debt. In his youth, John
was a New York City Guardian
Angel who patrolled Restaurant
Row and the A "Muggers
Express" subway trains.
He no longer dons a red beret,
but sings for peace and non-violent
solutions.
photo by Fred Askew
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Maraluna Rivas — Alto
Maraluna Rivas, Native New Yorker, was born on a stage. Her parents Margie and Bittman "Bimbo" Rivas, legendary
for their work in the housing movement and revolutionary theater, her talent comes as a part of the blood line. Acting since she was a child, and watching her father and mother work as historical theater giants, has moved Maraluna to become an actress. It is an honor and a privilege for her to work with Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping gospel Choir. A full time student at Hunter College and being a stellar mother as well. |
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She would like to thank her son Mason; Glen, her brothers Bimbi & Kaita, her niece Majic, her cousin Gina, her God-father Chino, Luis Guzman and ALL of her friends for all their love, support and inspiration.
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Sari Rubenstien
— Alto
Sari is a lifelong New Yorker.
After attending a string of
incredibly hip art schools,
she began performing as lead
singer of The Gamma Rays (Teenbeat
Records) and Music From The
Mood Expansion Chamber. She
is a proud member of the Missile
Dick Chicks and a founder of
Rubulad, a community-based arts
organization that produces large
scale, multi-media events. Her
belief that music and performance
can change the world remains
unshaken.
photo by Fred Askew
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Judy Sky — Soprano
"I believe that service to mankind , is the rent that we pay for a life on earth." So, I have always sought out worthwhile causes for my music and art. If my work inspires, causes dialogue, provokes change or just provides a moment of pleasure, then I know that I have succeeded. |
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photo by Fred Askew |
Michele Smith — Alto
Several years ago I came to the realization that choice of product has become one of the few avenues Americans have to assert their individuality and sense of self. Increasingly, life is dictated from the minute one awakes until the television is turned off after the nightly news at 11. Then I read an article in the New York Times printed a few years ago about this performance artist, Reverend Billy, who had the audacity to confront this very subject. Not only did he decry our emotional and spiritual state but the ethical reaches of consumerism in this country and its tentacles that reach far and wide. I had to meet this person and, once I did, was more than willing to join his battle to thwart the grotesque evils of shopping! |
Lizzie
Steelhart — Soprano
lizzie steelheart found salvation with the church of
stop shopping a little over three years ago. she
loves rock n'roll, playing the electric guitar really
loud, burningman, swimming, traveling, reading,
writing, dancing, costumes and chocolate (among other
things.) she has a B.F.A. in theater and a license
of cosmetology, and would love to cut, color and style
your hair or do your makeup! she lives on the lower
east side with her husband and true love, the fabulous
french ben.
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Nathan
Stevens — Bass
Nathan Stevens was born and raised in Louisville, KY, right around
the time when the Empire Striked Back. He began playing the bass
when he was twelve years old, setting aside a promising future
as a violist in order to "get girls." In those days,
the Suzuki Method was not as sexy as the Smashing Pumpkins. But
soon enough, young Nate learned that the bass was more than just
a Weapon of Attraction, but could, in some instances, replace
the need for women all together.... |
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Mark
Tipton — Trumpet
Mark Tipton has been playing trumpet with Reverend Billy since January
of 2005. An active freelance musician across the country, Mark holds
a B.M. from the Oberlin Conservatory and an M.M. from the Mannes
College of Music. In his short but busy career, he has had the opportunity
to perform with such artists as Doc Severinsen, Quincy Jones, Vassar
Clements, and Bobby McFerrin. He is currently preparing original
music for his debut album, "Love, Sweet Love", which will be recorded
in September of this year. His interests besides music include:
hiking, poetry, sailing, and vegetarian cooking. |
photo by Fred Askew
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Rick Ulfik — Keyboard
Rick is the Founder and Director of We, The World, a non-profit organization that is forming global networks of collaboration between groups and individuals to build mass public involvement in creating a peaceful, caring, sustainable world that works for all. Rick is also Co-Chair of the Foundation For Ethics and Meaning , a non-profit organization that is challenging our prevailing cultural emphasis on material self-interest while encouraging a spirit of caring and a process of mutual recognition that will nourish inclusive, sustainable, just communities. Rick is an accomplished composer, musician and recording studio owner who is well known and respected for his work in television, film, and many other media. During the last 25 years he has been a member of hundreds of television, film, commercial and other media production teams and has written, produced and directed two films. Rick is currently co-producing "Visual Voices" a TV Series that presents voices in media, the arts and beyond (such as Rev. Billy) who are shaping our culture and our world. |
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Francisco Valera— Bass
Francisco Valera was born and raised in Caracas-Venezuela. His first theatre experience was at six years old with Grupo Cultural La ladera, playing a poor student in a chaotic school in a country in crisis — a character not far removed from his own reality. He worked seven years with this company on a number of productions, performing plays with a strong political message (and very inspirational) in hospitals, prisons and on the streets.
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He became a clown for childrens parties, of which he confesses: " I wasn't funny, but when my make up was done I looked very cute, good for the pictures! right? "
Francisco then spent four years at Taller Actoral 80 — a well known company in Venezuela, under the guidance of Ricardo Lombardi and Ada Nocetti.
Following this, Francisco took a long detour — an exciting and eye opening journey out of his acting path into the world. Joyful and painful experiences took place."I didn't go to college, and yet It feels as if I got a P.h.D." this detour ended after Sept 11, 2001, when he witnessed the most horrific scene of his life: "I was there, on Church St. standing speechless and sobbing as I saw people jumping off the towers in fire, thinking, death comes and take us in the most unexpected ways, sometimes we don't even know is happening and in a second were gone."
He returned to pursue his dream of acting — the ghost which had followed him each day that he had been away from it. In the States, recent credits include: Theatre: Cruelties (Drama league Production, dir. Robert Urbinatti). The Don Quixote Project (Peculiar Work Project). Lovers Under the Bridge (dir. Susan Batson) Short Film: Pescador, (dir. Cara Seymour), Saint Paul,(dir. Francisco Ordonez, winner best short film Latino film fest. 2005). Short Film, Absolute Calm,(dir. Roey Shmol). Alliance Francaise and School of Visual Arts Master Class, I Can't Sleep, (dir. Claire Denis). Feature Film: What Would Jesus Buy, (dir.Rob VanAlkemade, executive prod. Morgan Spurlock, opening at the coming up Toronto Film Festival). He's currently working on the preproduction of his debut as writer- director short film, Dog Run. He is very Proud to be a permanent member of Reverend Billy and The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir! Francisco lives and loves in the East Village.
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Rob VanAlkemade — Videographer
Rob VanAlkemade was an interviewer and videographer for the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation from 1995-98 while earning an MA in
media studies from the New School for Social Research in New York. He
has since played director, producer, camera, sound and/or editor on a
variety of broadcast and independent documentaries. Recent projects have
addressed autistic children and schools, Kosovar refugee teens, Tibetan
monks in India, Black Panthers in Cuba, UN weapons inspectors in Iraq, a
Burning Man in Nevada and an activist preacher with a rap sheet for
exorcising cash registers.
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Valerie
Kelly
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Andrew Pacho
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Nasser
Kigiri
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Paul
Allen
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savitri d and Choir
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Choir
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Ben
& Lizzie Wed
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Musicians
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Revival
Bus
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Past Members of the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir
Carolyn Kelley
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Eric Quick
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Beauty
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Mike Flyte
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Katerina
Mann
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Pearl
Quick
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Deloris Olivero — Soprano
First I sang with choirs in Yugoslavia, Israel, and Brazil. Now, I am one of the stop shop-ping choir. Dream of a gig for a singer like me! Sometimes, I work as ACTRESS.
Signed: Espiritus Uncorrupted
photos by Fred Askew
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photo by Fred Askew |
William J. Vila (aka the "Triple-5") With an enthusiastic zeal for life and all its offerings, Triple-5 can best be described as aâ?¦ wellâ?¦ a tripâ?¦ who has a heluva lot of work to do. A born and bred Nuyorican (thatâ's New York-born, Puerto Rican), Bill has used his abilities as a musician to drive him to pursue (and achieve) his goals. In addition to contributing as a tenor to the CoSS, Bill works in a law firm, is a charter bus operator (a lifelong dream-come-true), is a pianist, composer, arranger, band leader (thevilaproject) and an actor. "I am a source of service, giving myself to the world" became his mantra a number of years ago, and he does that by deeds. Venues Bill has performed in include The Duplex in New York, Metropolitan Community Church of New York, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and Medicine Show Theatre in New York, the Park Performing Arts Theatre in Union City, New Jersey, the Gene Frankel Theatre in New York and the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Additionally, Triple-5 has worked as a stage manager, having worked at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe under the directorship of Rome Neal (the Cafe's Artistic Theatre Director). Productions include Ismael Reedâ's THE C ABOVE C ABOVE HIGH C & MOTHER HUBBARD, Alex McDonaldâ's PRISM, Rome Neal's adaptation of JULIUS CAESAR: SET IN AFRICA and currently, Laurence Holderâ's one-man production of MONK, directed and portrayed by Rome Neal. The CoSS provides an opportunity to showcase my skills to an appreciative and diverse group of (crazy-ass, fool-like) individuals who feel strongly about the current state of affairs to take up the notion that if it's gonna be, it's up to me. This is more than just a cause, this IS the CoSS. I dedicate this bio to my parents, and to my heart, (my partner) Mr. John O'Toole. ¡Bendici³n
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Rhetta Barron — Alto
Rhetta is a native New Yorker who grew up before the Age of Parental Fear and thus drank long and deep of the freedom of her playground and university-- the NYC parks and streets. She learned very early that things were usually stacked against the poor, the different, and the weak... and that hypocrisy and manipulation often underlay the smiling masks of the powerful.
Rhetta knows that creating a better world is not only possible and necessary, it can be done anywhere, anytime and it can be fun! Because she wants to share this tasty message with everyone, she is very happy to have found Reverend Billy and to be singing in the Church of Stop Shopping's Inspirational Gospel Choir. |
photo by Fred Askew
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Julio Herrera — Piano, Keyboards
Julio Herrera began his career as a child actor on Broadway, starring in such plays as Thieves, raisin, and Shenandoah. He appeared in in over commercials before beginning his recording career at age 16. Since then he has played on numerous Rhythm and Blues and Dance classics and has worked with artists including Michael Jackson, Asford and Simpson, and Luther Vandross. Currently he is concentrating on his work as a producer and has been the musical director of The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir since July 2004
photo by Fred Askew |
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Emilia
Flor Engelberg — Production
Staff
I met Reverend Billy through
Richard Sandler's amazing movie,
The Gods of Times Square. |
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Mark
"Splinter" Harder
—
Bass
Splinter
first learned of the Reverend's
good works on a march to save
the now defunct NYC Lower East
Side Community Center Shashama
from the evil hands of real
estate developers. Impressed
by the Reverend's energy and
message, Splinter waited for
the opportunity to get involved.
When he heard that the Choir
was going to Burningman, Splinter
decided it was time and hasn't
looked back. A Burningman Staff
Member because of his extensive
work with the Burningman Organization
as a Black Rock Ranger Council
Member, managing the Ranger
Mentor Program, and being a
Black Rock Ranger Trainer, Splinter's
passions of fire, community
and singing all came together
when Reverend Billy and the
Choir planned a trip to the
desert festival in 2003.
Splinter sings bass with the
choir and is also involved in
many other community and art
building projects. Splinter
is a member of Madagascar Institute,
a Brooklyn Arts Collective.
He is the New York City Team
Leader of Synapses, a nationwide
art project that teaches people
to weld while constructing fire
cauldrons that will all burn
together at Burningman in 2005.
Luckily he was also an installer
and remover on Christo and Jeanne
Claude's "The Gates"
project in Central Park. where
he met his fiance Amelia, who
is a photo editor and the art
director of The Brooklyn Rail,
a monthly free art journal in
Brooklyn. |
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Sarah
Schol — Soprano
Sarah
Schol joined the choir in January
2005 as part of a semester long
internship through Hamilton
College, and has since stopped
her shopping. amen. photos
by Fred Askew
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Meredith
Manna — Alto
Meredith Manna is a strong,
versatile singer, specializing
in Jazz & Blues. She sang
for many years on jingles, records,
and CD’s, performing and
recording with her own band,
and as a freelance singer (both
lead & back-up) for other
singers, bands and orchestras.
She also does extra work in
films, voiceover projects and
a lot more. Urged by old friend
& colleague Rick Ulfik,
(choir keyboard player, writer
and arranger) with whom she
had worked on many projects
over the years, Meredith auditioned
and then joined the alto section
of the Stop Shopping Gospel
Choir 4 years ago. Impressed
with the music, a great group
of talented people, and passionate
political goals set by Reverend
Billy for the choir, she’d
finally found a way to both
make music and sing about important
issues at the same time! |
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