Making Memories Through the Arts

Making Memories is a series of special programs designed for people living with memory loss and their caregivers, led by Marcy Rhodes.

In our Making Memories programs, individuals of all ages enjoy live musical performances and/or clips of classic films, all accompanied by guided conversation and reminiscence. Recognizing that music and movies have the power to spark memories and create emotional connections, these events allow participants with opportunities to sing, clap, laugh and engage in discussion while socializing with others.

In our Making Memories at the Movies events, individuals of all ages will enjoy clips of classic films followed by guided conversation and reminiscence. Recognizing that movies have the power to spark memories and create emotional connections, these events will present an opportunity to engage in discussion while socializing with others.

Our Making Memories with Music events will engage participants and give them the opportunity to sing, clap and laugh along with our specially trained musicians. This stroll down Memory Lane will engage everyone in attendance. The music will be accompanied by brief introductions that will put the songs into historical context, highlighting the social significance of folk music in America from the 1940s to the ‘70s and its role in helping to change our society.

Making Memories programs have been run successfully out of multiple venues throughout Long Island, receiving notable press and, most importantly, evoking important sensory memories for hundreds of people dealing with memory-loss and their care partners. We are proud to bring these programs to the Gold Coast.

VIRTUAL Concerts and Programs from the comfort of your home:

Songs & Stories with Lianne & Luke: Songs from the Movies

Enjoy a journey through vintage movie musicals with musicians and actors Lianne and Luke as they share joyful music and historical bits of information about each song they perform.

Lianne Marie Dobbs and Luke Darnell are New York City-based singer/musician/actors, each with 20 years of professional experience. Lianne has starred in “Always, Patsy Cline”, performed songs from Peggy Lee to Donna Summer along the Caribbean, starred in the new adaptation of Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Ladies”, and has sold-out major jazz clubs in San Francisco, New York and St. Louis. Luke is an actor/multi-instrumentalist and has performed on 4 continents. His performance experience ranges from dive bars to theatres to arenas and includes lead roles in musicals like “Jersey Boys”, “Million Dollar Quartet”, and “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story”.

CELEBRATE THE 60s!

Join Stuart Markus and Gerry McKeveny of the internationally recognized, Long Island base folk-rock group Gathering Time in a musical tour of the 1960’s. Memories will be sparked as you sing along to music we’ve all treasured.

About Gathering Time:

For over a decade, Long Island-based folk-rock/Americana/AAA trio Gathering Time (Stuart Markus, Hillary Foxsong, and Gerry McKeveny) has toured both in the US and internationally, mixing new interpretations of both ’60s and ’70s classics and old traditional tunes with their strong original songs. Their sound reflects the voicings and arrangements of the genre’s pioneers, The Byrds, Peter, Paul & Mary, Joni Mitchell, and Crosby, Stills & Nash, brought into today with an acoustic-electric alchemy all their own.

COLE PORTER TO LADY GAGA

Celebrate Fall with Roberta Fabiano and her new virtual show:  COLE PORTER TO LADY GAGA!

ROBERTA FABIANO has been the lead singer with the Peter Duchin Orchestra, appearing with them around the world, for years. She is a singer, songwriter and visual artist. She has performed with Making Memories with Music numerous times, always enchanting her audience with her beautiful voice and recognizable tunes.

Spark memories….Sing along….Watch as many times as you would like!

CELEBRATING WOMEN IN FILM

March is Women’s History Month so let’s celebrate with famous movie performances by some of our favorite female actors.  Watch legendary female actors as they take us on a trip through Memory Lane. Judy Garland charms us in The Wizard of Oz. Debbie Reynolds debuts in Singin’ In The Rain. Audrey Hepburn dazzles us in My Fair Lady….And much, much more!

Spark memories….Sing along….Watch as many times as you would like! Be sure to download the Discussion Guide for fun facts and conversation starters.

MARCIE CASTRO’S MUSICAL POTPOURRI

Marcie Castro has been thrilling audiences with her upbeat and engaging performances for many years around the world. Join her as she welcomes us into her living room while taking us on a musical tour of treasured songs we’ll all remember!

Enjoy a musical travelogue with Marcie Castro as she sings tunes from Broadway to Hollywood. Sing along….dance along. Marcie introduces us to a special guest who will have you on your feet, for sure.

STEVE CASSANO RETURNS! – Live Virtual Performance

Making Memories with Music is thrilled to welcome Steve Cassano back for another Live Virtual Performance. Steve is one of our favorite performers. He’ll take us back to times gone by when we sang along to every tune on the radio! Enjoy listening to Steve over and over again!

Native New Yorker Steve Cassano has been bringing audiences to their feet for over 40 years. His repertoire includes everything from the 40s to the 80s, as well as classic rock, today’s top hits and dance music. Steve’s charisma draws the audience in as he invites them to sing and dance along. A prolific songwriter and recording artist, he performs as a solo artist as well as with his renowned bands, Stages and Electric Blu.

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS TOGETHER

Do you remember seeing these films? Let’s spark some memories! Enjoy clips from some of our favorite classic movies, all with a common theme of the holidays.

CLICK HERE to find a conversation guide with questions and movie tidbits that promise to spark memories. Stop and start the video after each clip….Watch as often as you’d like!

Sing along to some of your favorite holidays songs such as “White Christmas” and “Baby It’s Cold Outside”! Laugh at Laurel and Hardy and enjoy family favorite “It’s A Wonderful Life”, and Celebrate Chanukah with the Rugrats!

ROMANTIC INTERLUDES – Virtual Film Event

All films in this program have something in common: Romance is front and center in all of them! Do you remember seeing these films? Let’s spark some memories!

Even though we’re not gathering together in person, there’s no reason you can’t go to the movies! Enjoy clips from some of our favorite classic movies, all with something in common.

CLICK HERE to find a conversation guide with questions and movie tidbits that promise to spark memories. Stop and start the video after each clip….Watch as often as you’d like!

Favorite movie clips come alive in this virtual event! Sing and dance with Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and Barbara Streisand. Fall in love with Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, and laugh along with Lucy and Ricky…

TONY BARCA – From the Foxhole

Tony Barca has been entertaining Facebook friends since the beginning of the pandemic. He brings his brassy voice alive with songs from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s that are sure to strike a cord!

A native of Long Island, NY, Tony signed his first recording contract at age 17 with Rust Records. After playing in many bands, Tony joined The Cyclone Rangers. They have opened for such artists as Leon Russell, Rick Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Dicky Betts, Dr. John, Pure Prairie League, and Asleep at the Wheel. Tony sold out the famed IMAC Theater in Huntington, NY and was a top 20 finalist for a slot to play with Eric Clapton at The Crossroads Festival at Madison Square Garden. Tony’s newest project In 2013, “The Bucket List” uses a variety of uniquely arranged cover and original music.

LIVE VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE WITH TOMMY DODSON

Tommy Dodson joins Making Memories with Music Goes Virtual all the way from California! Tommy has been performing on the West Coast for most of his career. His love of music gave him the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to entertain aboard Crystal Cruises for four years, enjoying two world cruises and visiting many well-known ports.  At the end of each cruise, he was rated by the guests as their favorite cabaret pianist/singer. Currently, Tommy lives near Palm Springs, California. For the last six years he has entertained throughout the Coachella Valley, performing steadily in night clubs, private gatherings, festivals and more.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

MAKING MEMORIES AT THE MOVIES

JAZZ PERFORMER PAULA ATHERTON GOES VIRTUAL

Sax player/vocalist and songwriter Paula Atherton has performed at the Plaza, Pierre, and Waldorf hotels, as well as the Rainbow Room and the Blue Note NYC. One of her most notable performances was a weeklong engagement at the Blue Note with pianist and jazz legend, Hank Jones. Paula has also performed with Grammy award winning singer Dee Dee Bridgewater at the Annenberg Theater, for the Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival.

MAKING MEMORIES AT THE MOVIES GOES VIRTUAL

Even though we’re not gathering together in person, there’s no reason you can’t go to the movies! Enjoy clips from some of our favorite classic movies, all with something in common. Includes clips from classic films such as The Gay Divorcee, Around the World in 80 Days, A Hard Day’s Night, A Day at the Races and more.

Click HERE to find a Conversation Guide with questions and movie tidbits that promise to spark memories. Stop and start the video after each clip….Watch as often as you’d like!

Day & Night from Marcy Rhodes on Vimeo.

MARCIE CASTRO – MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

Join Marcie Castro and sing along as she leads us in some of our favorite, familiar tunes.

Marcie Castro has been thrilling audiences with her upbeat and engaging performances for many years around the world. Being multilingual and well traveled, she enjoys playing a large variety of International music as well as American jazz and pop hits.  Her regular engagements include restaurants and private events on Long Island and Manhattan. She is currently on staff at Hofstra University as collaborating musician and composer for Modern Dance and Ballet.

GAIL STORM – VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE

Tap your toes as you dance down Memory Lane with NY based singer/songwriter/ pianist Gail Storm. Gail regularly performs classic blues and jazz along with her original boogie woogie tunes.  Join her as she performs bluesy renditions of classic standards and traditional pop tunes.

STUART MARCUS – Live Virtual Performance!

Sing along with Stu as he celebrates Spring, sunshine, hope and cheer spanning the decades from the 1930’s – 1960’s.

Stuart’s virtual Making Memories concert will available for you to view from the comfort of your home as many times you would like through June 15.

Stuart Marcus is a founding member of Gathering Time, a favorite Long Island folk/rock band.

STEVE CASSANO – Live Virtual Performance From Home!

Join Steve Cassano in the comfort of your home as he sings some of our favorites. Even though we can’t be together in person we are in spirit! Click on the video below to watch the concert. You can view this recording as many times as you’d like.

Native New Yorker Steve Cassano has been bringing audiences to their feet for over 40 years. His repertoire includes everything from the 40s to the 80s, as well as classic rock, today’s top hits and dance music. Steve’s charisma draws the audience in as he invites them to sing and dance along. A prolific songwriter and recording artist, he performs as a solo artist as well as with his renowned bands, Stages and Electric Blu.

Marcy Rhodes is a certified special education teacher and licensed master social worker. She developed a well-established, person-centered approach to patient care in the office of Rudansky and Winter, Neurology & Neuropsychiatry in Huntington. Currently, she works privately with clients in their homes. Marcy has collaborated with several cultural arts organizations, including Cinema Arts Centre, Gold Coast Arts Center, The Heckscher Museum of Art, The Long Island Museum of Art and The Whaling Museum & Education Center, assisting them in the development of special events for individuals with memory loss and their care partners.

We remain committed to bringing you the best of virtual cinema and we need your help now more than ever. Please consider donating if you are able, we are deeply grateful for your continued support!

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