Ryan Joseph
(left) during
recording
session
with Pan
Sonatas
Steel Orchestra
New York
- He is one
of the better
known faces
on the New York
steelpan music
scene.
A frontline
player with
the champion
steel orchestra
Pan Sonatas,
and, one of
the core members
of its stage
side, Ryan Joseph
is additionally
a member of
the highly visible,
well-known,
cutting edge
music group
Steel Sensation
based in Queens,
New York.
And now he will
add the role
of ‘actor’ to
his many achievements
when he takes
on the lead
role of “Lypo
Tom” in the
play “The Pan
Man” on July
2 and 3 in New
York, with three
shows carded
for each date.
Ryan Joseph
(right)
during a
recording
session
with Steel
Sensation
in 2005
A mere twenty-one
years old, this
young but talented
individual is
a veteran musician.
He has been
enamored with
the steelpan
instrument and
art form for
many years,
having played
with Sesame
Flyers Steel
Orchestra before
moving over
fully to Pan
Sonatas.
And it was at
the pan yard
of the latter
that playwright
Franky Duke
would be shepherded
toward Ryan
in his quest
for a dynamic
lead for his
play “The Pan
Man.”
Beside his love
of his music
- Ryan has another
love - helping
people.
And it is for
this reason
that he is pursuing
a role in Radiologic
Technology.
Figuring out
that the health
field was a
great place
to follow his
heartfelt desire,
Ryan explained
“I get satisfaction
through helping
people...if
that means I
am able to attain
the skills to
detect something
that can save
someone’s life,
possibly, or
even cure an
abnormality
or some health
problem, that
means a lot
to me.”
But before eventually
settling on
his college
goals Ryan,
along with his
fellow musicians,
was doing very
well aiding
in the feeling
of ‘well-being’
for anyone who
was within earshot.
It was steelpan
‘music for the
soul’ being
served up for
all music lovers
fortunate enough
to catch such
performances,
either of Pan
Sonatas or Steel
Sensation, with
Ryan in the
line-up.
Ryan Joseph
(third
from left)
performs
with Pan
Sonatas
Steel
Orchestra
It has been
a balancing
act during the
last two months
or so for Ryan.
Studies at New
York City of
Technology,
work after school,
commitments
to Steel Sensation
and Pan Sonatas
- and naturally,
rehearsals for
“The Pan Man”
all had his
attention and
commitment.
And now at last,
it is time to
unveil the fruits
of his efforts
in the play.
Ryan Joseph
With a few of
the proverbial
butterflies
in his stomach,
the experience
has paid off
for Ryan.
Laughing a bit,
he says there
are a few nerves
“thinking about
when those seats
fill up!”
“It is an honor
to play the
role of the
Pan Man....I
love to play
steelpan and
it is a wonderful
opportunity
to try something
new - acting
- and to showcase
it while doing
something I
love.”
At first, he
admits, he was
a bit intimidated
being in the
company of experienced
cast members,
some with a
background in
theater.
But he became
more comfortable,
Ryan says, with
his lines and
motivation.
He started to
bring his personality
and feelings
into play -
while enjoying
doing something
he never ever
thought he would
be doing (acting)!
And he is grateful
to his fellow
cast mates for
all that he
is learning
along the way.
Ryan
Joseph
(center)
performs
with
Steel
Sensation
The history
of the steelpan
instrument and
culture, and
the related
challenges faced
by many steelpan
musicians over
the decades
- are known
to almost everyone,
including Ryan.
Interestingly,
the story woven
around the character
of ‘Lypo Tom’
- where he sneaks
away to play
steelpan, is
one which Ryan
himself is able
to relate to
somewhat personally.
He
explained that
while still
a member of
Sesame Flyers,
he himself often
‘sneaked off’
to Pan Sonatas
to ‘take [learn]
music’ with
the orchestra,
so much was
his pan passion.
His mother had
given him permission
to play only
with Sesame
Flyers and did
not know about
his additional
pursuit.
When she was
eventually told,
Ryan did not
experience the
social stigmatization
and hardships
visited upon
many of those
who did so years
ago. He
did however
find the partial
similarities
between his
character, Lypo,
and his own
- intriguing.
Ryan
Joseph
(right)
with an earlier incarnation of Steel Sensation
“It actually
reminded me
how fortunate
I am to get
the opportunity
to play the
steelpan - as
in the past
some others
were not as
fortunate to
get into playing
the instrument.
And it makes
me appreciate
the instrument
a little more.
I get a little
more history;
I can see where
it actually
came from.
[Through the
play] I can
see the hardships
that the instrument
went through
to get to where
it is today,”
Ryan explained.
His Mom, Dad
and other family
members were
quite taken
aback - and
excited - when
Ryan first told
them he was
cast in the
play, and even
more so that
his was the
lead character.
But they are
totally behind
him, and like
many people,
already have
“The Pan Man”
in their calendars
as a ‘must-attend.’
Ryan Joseph
(right)
with
some of
the Pan
Sonatas
crew at
their
panyard
The stage is
set - literally
- at the Baruch
Performing Arts
Center at Baruch
College, in
New York.
Two days, six
shows - Franky
Duke’s play
“The Pan Man”
with David Duncan
and Karen Joseph
as Lypo’s father
and mother Rufus
and Josephina
Tom, with a
full performing
cast - is an
event not to be
missed.
More info is
available at
rockstoneproductions.net.
Contact
Ryan Joseph
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