The Church of the First Order of Cloud City’s Inaugural Unity Jamboree! at PRISM Festival of New Queer Musicals
The citizens of Cloud City, a floating city and the peak of human ingenuity, have gathered to worship the cloud, just like every other Sunday, or so they think. Complications and hilarity ensue when the congregation of the first order of Cloud City are joined by dissatisfied citizens, dissenting robots, and a bunch of mutant ding dongs from the “Underworld”. Join our congregation as the Church of the First Order of Cloud City celebrates its inaugural unification service.
The inaugural PRISM Festival of New Queer Musicals is an innovative platform dedicated to celebrating and nurturing emerging Queer theater talent. Nestled within the historic walls of Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village, this unique theatrical event, produced by The Makers’ Ensemble and Judson Arts, is poised to ignite the stage with fresh perspectives and electrifying premiere performances. Dedicated to amplifying the voices of emerging Queer theater artists, the festival invites you to witness the birth of four audacious new musicals. Four creative teams will embark on a paid developmental process culminating in a captivating week of concert-style semi-staged performances. At its essence, the PRISM Festival celebrates the transformative power of Queer artists and the musical theater form. Much like a prism dispersing light into a spectrum of hues, Queer artists imbue the stage with a kaleidoscope of perspectives, creating a mosaic of stories that reflect the richness and depth of human experience. Join us as we initiate a thrilling odyssey of creativity and self-discovery, where Queer voices shine brightly, illuminating the path towards a more inclusive and vibrant artistic landscape.
The inaugural PRISM Festival of New Queer Musicals is an innovative platform dedicated to celebrating and nurturing emerging Queer theater talent. Nestled within the historic walls of Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village, this unique theatrical event, produced by The Makers’ Ensemble and Judson Arts, is poised to ignite the stage with fresh perspectives and electrifying premiere performances. Dedicated to amplifying the voices of emerging Queer theater artists, the festival invites you to witness the birth of four audacious new musicals. Four creative teams will embark on a paid developmental process culminating in a captivating week of concert-style semi-staged performances. At its essence, the PRISM Festival celebrates the transformative power of Queer artists and the musical theater form. Much like a prism dispersing light into a spectrum of hues, Queer artists imbue the stage with a kaleidoscope of perspectives, creating a mosaic of stories that reflect the richness and depth of human experience. Join us as we initiate a thrilling odyssey of creativity and self-discovery, where Queer voices shine brightly, illuminating the path towards a more inclusive and vibrant artistic landscape.
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The Dastardly Thornes vs. the Town of GoldhavenAfter the most rootinest, tootinest showdown in local history, the town of Goldhaven, Arizona has (despite its lack of infrastructure) decided to carry out due process and put the treacherous Thorne gang (a family of outlaws) on trial. The town theatre, being the largest building in town, becomes the hotspot for this legal spectacle, the only catch, per their agreement with the mayor, everything performed on their stage is liable to be scrutinized, dramatized and set to music by their artistic director (played by Imari). Pull up a chair, crack open a can of beans and rub shoulders with an audience full of outlaws, neer-do-wells, and horses with ill-intent, as the local acting troupe performs each testimony with gusto, slowly revealing the lascivious lies and troubling truths that led to the most violent shootout in town history. “Goldhaven,” an immersive, comedic western musical, by Ben Holbrook and Nate Weida, explores contradicting colonizing narratives and themes of toxicity, manifest destiny, beans, and the ownership of history.
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is thrilled to announce casting for the third installment of the Fly On The Wall Series: virtual reading of Act I of Douglas Lyons' INVISIBLE on May 29 at 8 PM. The series, presented online in tandem with IAMA Theatre Company in Los Angeles, gives audiences the opportunity to follow and participate in the development of a new play from a blank page to the first draft.
Act One of Invisible is read aloud, directed by Amina Robinson (Godspell), and will star Kim Exum (Book of Mormon) and Imari Hardon (Avenue Q), with Josh Davis (Beautiful), Suzanne Grodner (Bye Bye Birdie) and Terence Archie (Rocky). About Invisible Invisible tells the story of lifelong best friends, Eemani and Jade, who decompress one afternoon over a good blunt. Unbeknownst to them the blunt is laced with much more than weed, spiraling the duo into a wild hallucination that allows them to confront the oppressors of the past, dead on. |
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After 16 incredible years, the Tony Award Winning musical Avenue Q has finally come to an end, completing Imari's 5 year run as the female swing. Over the years Imari was privileged enough to play multiple tracks including her personal favorite, Kate Monster/Lucy the Monster, fan favorite Gary Coleman, and of course Girl Bad Idea Bear/Mrs. Thistletwat.
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New American Songbook Orchestra's mission is to rejuvenate American vocal and orchestral music to date, in effect, re-examining the cornerstones of American ideology. We aim to promote true American ideals—inclusion, diversity, and our melting-pot culture—through the performance of American music from musical theater, jazz, film and classical genres. With diverse musicians of all backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual identities, and genders, we hope to inspire a movement of social acceptance.
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Imari was recently featured on HBO's The Deuce as her first ever co-star!
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Imari was recently invited to be a guest artist as part of The Sounds of the City concert series with her Solo Show: I'm Here...and I'm Hungry. The evening featured songs ranging from show tunes, to original pieces by local artists, to pop and R&B as well as some "awkward yet charming" repartee. Guest appearances from Broadway's Denée Benton, Paul Lincoln, Meg McWhorter and the puppets of Avenue Q. Original pieces by Corey Wachala, Eric Dietz, Melissa Modifer, and Nell Benjamin. Direction by Peter William Dunn and Music Direction by Corey Wachala. Clips coming soon!
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Avenue Q teamed up with Swedish singer-songwriter Ledisnky to make a video for his new hit song, DonaldTrumpMakesMeWannaSmokeCrack. He's seen on the musical's set, which currently plays Off-Broadway in New York City, singing with the cast, who are decked out in T-shirts with the eponymous lyrics as they sing the refrain, "Money on my mind" and exhort others to put their "middle finger in the air." It turns out that the show's cast and Ledinsky had a common anti-Trump message to share since Avenue Q closes each production with the song "Only For Now," and currently they've amended the the lyrics each night to be: "Donald Trump is only for now." Imari is featured as a puppeteer and voice as the Girl Bad Idea Bear, and several others. Check out the article HERE on Rolling Stone.
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Meg & Mari were asked for an encore performance of their cabaret Perpetual Pajama Party at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. **A cabaret about two twenty somethings who find each other and form the least likely and most hilarious sisterhood. Come watch Meg and Mari belt their way through the trials and tribulations of living with your best friend.**
Directed by: Ben Cameron Music Direction by: Corey Wachala |
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Imari is making her debut at Feinstein's/54 Below this upcoming Saturday, Nov 21st at 11:30 in Paradise Found: The Lost Songs of Jim Steinman! Between hits from BAT OUT OF HELL as well as a stunning selection of “lost children” personally curated by The Lord Of Excess himself, PARADISE FOUND: THE LOST SONGS OF JIM STEINMAN promises to be an unforgettable night of rock n roll. “Everything is permitted!” Come find out which long lost song of the musical genius Jim Steinman Imari will be bringing back to life!
Produced & Directed by Pat Cerasaro Use code: STEINMAN5 to get a $5 discount! Tickets HERE |
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Imari will be featured at Broadway Sessions this Thursday along with other members of the cast of Avenue Q, and their neighbors, Clinton the Musical, this Thursday, June 11th. Broadway Sessions is described as an evening of Musical Performances,games and open mic featuring a new Broadway guest each week. The show is created and hosted by Ben Cameron (Bway Wicked, Aida, and Footloose) and features musical director Joshua Stephen Kartes on piano. Check out the press release on Broadway World HERE.
Video from that night HERE, or on Imari's Media Page. |
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So excited and proud of the Avenue Q family for winning The Most Fabulous Bonnet Presentation at the 29th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition for Broadway: Cares Equity Fights Aids! " The high point of the afternoon (and the winning bonnet presentation) came from Off-Broadway's Avenue Q, which voiced the frustrations of years of Easter Bonnet about The Lion King's domination of the award with it's elegant modern dances performed by perfectly toned Pride Rock dancers." Read more on Playbill.com. Watch the full "side-splitting parody" here, or on Imari's Media page.
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Just released a new up and coming web-series:
It Be Like That Sometimes, check out our website: itbelikethatsometimes.net and follow @KeishaAndSkyy on twitter/ig. #KeishaAndSkyy #ItBeLikeThatSometimes #getintoit |
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Imari is overjoyed to be making her Off-Broadway debut!!!!!! Imari is joining the cast of Avenue Q at New World Stages as the understudies for Gary Coleman, Kate/Lucy, Mrs T/Bad Idea Bear, and Ensemble Swing. Tickets and additional information at www.AvenueQ.com. Great last minute ticket prices can be found on TodayTix.
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Imari covers both the Gary Coleman and Kate Monster tracks
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An Extension! (Because of Winn Dixie)
Due to popular demand, the world premiere of Because of Winn Dixie The Musical at Arkansas Repertory Theatre has extended it's run! It will now run until January 5th!!! So excited for the additional opportunities to perform this show with such a phenomenal cast! Also, check out this wonderful review from a local paper! They had very nice things to say about Imari's performance as Amanda.
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Because of Winn Dixie at Arkansas Rep
Imari is beyond excited and honored to be playing the role of Amanda in the World Premiere of the new musical Because of Winn-Dixie at The Arkansas Repertory Theatre this winter. Because of Winn-Dixie is a new musical based on the heartwarming and award-winning novel by Kate DiCamillo about a young girl and a dog she finds at a Winn-Dixie supermarket. This unique production will include music by Duncan Sheik (Tony and Grammy Award Winner for Spring Awakening), lyrics and book by Nell Benjamin (Tony Nominee for Legally Blonde), direction by John Tartaglia (Tony Nominee for Avenue Q) and animal direction by Bill Berloni (a 2011 Tony Honor recipient). The show runs from Dec 4th - Dec 29th. For more information and to buy tickets please visit the Arkansas Rep's website or at winndixiethemusical.com. There has also been some cool buzz about the show on Playbill, & Broadway.com! Check out this cool video from the amazing creative team!
"First", commercial for SGU
Imari was recently featured in a commercial for St. Georges University. "First" was filmed on location in Grenada by the production team at Make Visual, headed up by director Mike P. Nelson. The commercial will air in the Caribbean. The video can be found here on Imari's media page!
Premiere of We'll Take Brooklyn
Shown in this shot with Thea Brooks
We'll Take Brooklyn, a commercial Imari was featured in, premiered on Thursday 8/30 at Brooklyn Bridge Park as the lead-in to the SyFy Movie at "Movies with a View". We'll take Brooklyn was produced by Irondale Ensemble Project & Libby Handros. Directed by John Kirby. The video can be seen HERE on Imari's media page.
