Sasha Allen sings at Joe's Pub

I attended a wonderful show this past week, the scene was magical. Joe' Pub was on its feet, quiet, and breathless! Sasha Allen was singing  many classic soul hits and it was a lovely sight to behold, the silence really took hold once she had begun her tribute-medley to Whitney Houston. We sort of all held our breath not wanting to miss a note. There' was not the usual hooping and hollering you hear at these sort of shows because the audience litteraly did not want to miss a note. Miss. Allen was in top form, wearing a simple white blouse and black pants. The vocalists accompanying her were true soulsingers, nothing background about them (among them underground soul rocktress Kimberly Nicole) were dressed to impress and the band was immaculate and lush: strings, horns, they spared no expense. later in the eveing even the vocalists Cheryl Pepsi Riley and Inaya Day aka "Jiffy" came out and did a powerhouse rendition of "This Will Be". Wooo lawd! Their "Teflon" voices were in the house! The Musical Director, her long time beau, Rob Lewis, put together an amazing show and I was happy to be there!This was a beautiful night always a treat to hear a voice like hers and see all the wonderful Hair Broadway peeps in the crowd! It was like a reunion of sorts.

Check out this link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgPxr8LKLzA

xoxo
Saycon 

Saycon and Nneka in New York City

Nneka in New York! the Nigerian & German songbird is here in the U.S. to promote her new album. I saw her across the room in a Whole foods store while have a tea with my friend Maia (aka Soulluvlai)  often at a loss for words I couldn't remember her name for the life of me but of course who can forget that face! A classic beauty without a shred of makeup. Boldly, and nosily, I approached her to ask if she was a Nigerian singer she said yes though I'm pretty sure she and her friend thought I was full of sh*t, LOL anyway we began to chat. I told her about my visit to Nigeria last spring.  Nneka said she was in town to promote her new album and I was happy to tell her we shared a publicist when we were in Nigeria, Miss Bobby Taylor who did some amazing work during our time there. Nneka was kind and I was random, anyway, well done Nneka let's do a duet one day :-) let's unite for Liberia and Nigeria ya digg?. Check out this video of Nneka making of her new album.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pVKyP56PXLY

PS.-Shoutout to my Nigerian brothers and sisters struggling to pay for gasoline with oil prices surging. peace,
Saycon

Justin Johnston is Roger in Rent! Flashback:Saycon as Mimi

http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/gallery/2735.html

y good friend Justin Johnston who will be made his debut soon as Roger in the off-Broadway production of Rent! I'm thrilled because Justin and I go way back. Years ago when I first traveled to New York to audition for the show there I was nervous in the waiting room, waiting for my turn to go inside and sing and read my scenes for my Mimi audition. In the room next door was a window through which I could see the coolest dancers ever. Also peeking into the room was Justin Johnston and we watched excitedly killing time waiting for our chance to shine and we were thrilled to find out that the dancers with rehearsing for Missy Elliots latest video. We always recall this memory and years later he's about to open as Roger! I'm quite proud. Ha! the show Rent will always be a part of me as, I got my Equity card on the national tour of Rent. Also, my current show Hurt village co-stars Nicholas Christopher who is on leave from the Off-Broadway Rent company in which he plays Collins. Check out some photos of me from the tour for the nostalgia :) and check out the link to the flashback of Broadway's various casts of Rent as showcased on Playbill.com http://www.playbill.com/news/article/158801-Josh-Grisetti-Justin-Johnston-Rashad-Naylor-Are-Rents-New-Mark-Roger-and-Benny-Starting-Jan-20

Milk Like Sugar

Milk like sugar! Milk, milk like sugar! Finally, I got out of the house and saw the show. You know how it is when you're waiting on something, waiting for time, waiting for people, waiting for money, just waiting to go see a show and somehow you forget because life sort of takes over and then you turn around and the show has closed already! Well that didn't happen to me, on a whim I called my friend Nicole and we went out to see Milk Like Sugar. Tickets were available we made it happen. I'm shown above with the the cast. If you don't know, the show written by Kirsten Greenidge, is a play about a trio of young ladies who decide to make a pact to have babies while still in highschool, the young men and friends, and mother involved in their lives . I took in this show that was deeply anxious inspired by true events and well acted by friends and cohorts. Starring the lovely Angela Lewis, Cherise Boothe and Nikiya Mathis as the three naive and scheming teenagers along with young men J. Mallory-McCree, LeRoy McClain, and the awkward friend played by Adrienne C. Moore. Milk Like Sugar is a small play that makes a big statement, its truly exciting to see all this young talent onstage and to witness the hard working cigarette smoking genius of the exquisite Tonya Pinkins as the matriarch of the piece.. On a side note my good friend and "Hair" revival cohort, Nicole Lewis and I happily found ourselves seated behind Heidi Griffiths and the ever smiling Jordan Thaler, the casting directors for the NY Public theater. They looked on us with the twinkling eyes of proud parents as the 4 of us reminisced on how casting a little 3 day 40th anniversary "Hair"concert lead to Tony award winning stint on Broadway , London and a National tour. Our memory was cut short when the lights dimmed and sound of Beyonce "Run the World Girls" theme started pumping from the speakers as the 3 highschool divas in training started us on a journey. I enjoyed the show having recently read another play by the author, and I look forward to more of her work!
Peace ya'll,
Saycon
ps- I've begun working on a new online boutique full of fun items to raise funds for upcoming projects look out for them and the launch of a new youtube page dedicated to all the people who've been bitten by the theater bug!

Fashion Week: Saycon at Mychael Knight

Things started nicely for me this week, in that I've been writing new songs, and
have great friends in town this week! Its pretty amazing, my girl Day Hill of
Buddhaflyy and her whole team included her business partner Keisha Mackie-Coleman came up from Atlanta to do the Mychael Knight show on Saturday night. The quality of his clothing is amazing, I hope to get something made by him asap! The show was
flawless and makeup was beautiful and the evening was so much fun! My friend
@CharlesBrowning met me at the soho event fresh from another show his cousin
Olivia was in. She's an up and coming model, the 3 of us have been kickin' it
since fashion week began. I won't front, I had the ultimate fan-out moment when I
realized Trina was sitting across from me on the front row! LOL everyone knows
me for singing love songs or doing theater but I'm from the dirty south and
Trina is one of my favs! Also in the house was celebrity hair stylist Terrence Davidson, VIBE editor Daytwon Thomas, and supermodel, Jessica White, who wore the finale look on the run way. Coming up I'll be attending Edwing D'angelo
and B. Micheal and I'm looking forward to it!
Saycon

Henry V

Get thee to the theatre! I had a chance to see Henry V at the classical theater of Harlem last night and the final show is today! Check it out! I also look forward to seeing upcoming Classical Theater of Harlem's, "Seed" by Radha Blank, directed by Nijel Smith, both of whom I worked with on Broadway's Fela.

Henry V
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Jenny Bennett

“Henry V” plays through Sept. 4 at Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center, 3940 Broadway, at 165th Street, Washington Heights; (866) 811-4111, ovationtix.com. classicaltheatreofharlem.org.




http://www.classicaltheatreofharlem.org/index.html

Macdella Cooper Foundation Luncheon

There's no time like the present to make plans and I've been making big ones. One of the most exciting ventures I see coming forward will be more work with the Macdella Cooper foundation. I met Macdella Cooper a few months ago and performed in her La'Africana program a fundraiser for her school located in Liberia, West Africa. And god willing there will be more. Thanks to some really great artists who are lending their time, skill, and patience I will soon be presenting new songs, new music videos, and more live performances in the weeks and months to come. On a day that included meetings with all of them I started off at a small luncheon that featured some amzing people who intend to make change, each in his/her own way in Africa.

http://macdellacooper.org/

Isaach De Bankole (world renown Actor & Model)

Zelma Davis (international pop Singer, Dancer & Performer)

Georgie Badiel (international Fashion Model & Goodwill Ambassador)

Saycon Sengbloh ( broadway Actress, Singer & Dancer)

Mariama Mounir Petrolawicz (Model & Activist)

Danny Soto (Dancer & Educator)

Saycon attends Kimberly Nichole Presents: The Rise of the Underground

I had the great pleasure of attending "Kimberly Nichole Presents:The Rise of the Underground" at Le Poisson Rouge.This show was featuring Kimberly Nichole, Rahbi, and Charles Perry! Woo they were on fire! Lots of good "sangin", ruffles, lace, diamonds and pearls: everything I adore! It was a great show and I had a great time! They were on fire!

Saycon Sengbloh attends the NYC premiere of the Whipping Man!

Theater is alive and well! I attended the opening night for the Whipping Man starring Andre Braugher. It was a very unique show that give a bit of insite into the lives of slaves own by Jewish Americans. A different angle from the usual narrative on slavery the play also featured Jay Wilkison and Andre Holland who has an uncanny resemblance to Danny Soto. Of course I had a ball hamming it up in front of the red carpet "step and repeat"! I'm a recessionista, my shoes cost more than my entire outfit! We had fun laughing as the people told Danny congrats on the show that he happened to not be in! Great Fun!

Diahann Carroll

Meeting Diahann Carroll was great! She spoke about her book and her career and answered a few questions.I read her first biography after finding it in a used book store. I later found out its out of print. I love her work and so I look forward to reading this one. If you're a fan of Diahann's like me, let me know why, I invite you to post your thoughts on Saycontalks.blogspot.com Peace ya'll!

Aventures in New York: Fela the musical!

Hello Friends,

This past weekend I found myself nursing a cold when a call from an old friend came. The opportunity was here: I had the wonderful chance to see Fela the musical! Well, I tell ya I washed my face got dressed and headed down to 37 ARTs. The thing is, not only is this the story of one of my favorite musicians but my friend and *YEA brother Sahr Ngaujah was its star! This show was inspiring and brought tears to my eyes and rhythm to my gut. He did a wonderful job and all his years of creativity and world travel certainly informed his instincts as an actor. Its always good to see friends from back home. I saw not only Sahr but his beautiful wife, Ayesha, as well, they were a site for sore eyes! If you love Afrobeat you'll love this show. It closed on Sunday but hopefully a tour or Broadway production will be in its future! Special thanks to J.Kyle Manzay for tix!

*YEA- Freddie Hendricks' Youth Ensemble of Atlanta