Mr. Rich
Kids entertainer, educator, mentor and child acting coach. Richard E. Mr.
Calvache is a Jackson Heights Queen’s native, his artistic interest came about through community programs as a teen where he traveled to Manhattan's Lower East Side to learn, acting, singing, dance, and theater in all capacity. This led to Richard becoming a founding member of the "Urban Youth Theater" with the Henry Street Settlement Abrons Arts Center. After a few years, Richard took a big leap
I'll be performing "Gentleman Robert" once again at The Tank, September 22, at 3pm as part of the MexFest!
Come see this show! I'll be doing puppetry, ventriloquisim, magic, juggling, and science experiments!
Kid friendly show!
Tickets link: https://thetanknyc.org/calendar-1/2024/9/22/gentleman-robert
BroadwayWorld:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/MEXFEST-A-Mexican-Culture-Arts-Festival-to-be-Presented-At-The-Tank-20240909
I'm performing as lead for the show "Gentleman Robert," a play that has puppets, magic, singing, and dancing at the Target Margin Theater in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, on July 10th at 8pm.
Directed by Renée Lavalle and live music by Luis D'Elias, this story is inspired by a real story of Dr. Joaquin finding a new meaning in life and community that uses puppets, magic, and laughter during the Mexican Revolution.
Tickets: https://www.lavahousearts.com/event-list
Come and see this short workshop play!
07/06/2024
SuperYou Musical's "And Now I Rise" new music video is out!
It was an honor to have worked as First Assistant Director for this video to meet all these amazing cast, crew, and people, and to hear their stories.
If you want to hear these amazing stories visit:
https://www.superyoumanlife.com/
Like and share the video!
Subscribe to the channel!
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"And Now I Rise" from SuperYou Musical "And Now I Rise" is an anthem for anyone who has ever felt bullied, "othered," or who doesn't fit in. The cast features about 100 people who have shared the...
07/04/2024
Mr. Rich had the opportunity to film a music video and SEVERAL interviews with AMAZING people telling their stories for the SuperYou Musical "SuperYouman" series.
If you want to hear amazing stories from inspiring people, click the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOi8xSGiGu0&list=PLWMFJxTaUMincTEEuNiI7cCma2PFT7a5U
SuperYouman Stories: Thriving with Autism Episode #11. Meet the multi-talented Lexi, a we met at the video shoot who has transformed her autism into her supe...
05/04/2024
Who felt that?
Wow, we all felt that around here! Interesting to literally FEEL science, right? We hope everyone is safe and able to shake off the shake-up!
The Solar Eclipse is up next for nature's ongoing performance series. Join us at NYSCI on Monday to watch it with us during our party and ask our Explainers all your questions about earth and space. Or visit NYSCI Saturday or Sunday and receive a free pair of our Solar Eclipse glasses for each ticket purchased!
Explainers are always around and everyone here is also happy to talk about the questions our planet and solar system regularly bring up!
05/04/2024
Tomorrow!
Who's free and wants to get a sneak peek at this year's Queens World Film Festival lineup? Join us tomorrow in LIC and meet some local filmmakers and learn about their films!
Hope to see you there!
🎥 Join us tomorrow for the trailer party 🍿get your sneak peaks into the films featured in QWFF! ✨
17/03/2024
Today I got to work the Queens World Film Festival kickoff party at the Local Hostel in LIC. I've worked with this festival since the very beginning 13 years ago in every capacity and position they've needed.
This festival is all about the films and community. They make it a point to highlight the film and filmmaker, shining the spotlight on their work.
Today I met so many awesome filmmakers from all over, but 2 stood out.
As mentioned we celebrate the film and filmmaker but 1 filmmaker who works in LIC a lot recognized me from the former City Owlets location and knew me as Mr. Rich.
The other filmmaker and family of kids recognize me from Eight Tales of Pedro at Queens Theatre. They loved the show and were fans!
I was asked by the youngest, who saw the play and remembered the characters I played if I knew anyone famous. My quick reply was, "I know you! You're in a film right?!"
His smile made my night.
Come watch some films next month and meet some awesome filmmakers and volunteers!
Queens World Film Festival - Where Independent Film Meets the Diversity of Queens - Queens World Film Festival Discover independent movies from around the world featuring drama, comedy, LGBTQIA, documentaries and horror at one of the most diverse film festivals supporting the local community of Queens, New York.
14/03/2024
My mom is going to a concert at Radio City with my sister and they decided to visit my job and meet one of my favorite toy soldiers Johnny Tammaro!
Thank you for making her day before her concert!
Tomorrow is my first science show of the YEAR through City Owlets!!!
My last science show was in December and I asked all my jobs to book me after my surgery and recovery.
Tomorrow I have to race to the far west side in Midtown to buy a block of dry ice and then race back to Astoria to pick up my gear and then Uber it down to LIC for a 45-minute science show at a school start time is 9:30am it might be a school assembly.
I have a place just a few blocks from me that opens at 9am but the one on the far west side in Midtown opens at 7am and I can buy 5lbs for $10 as oppose to 10lbs for $20 at the place near me.
Either way I might be starting my day early at 6am and will be running around and performing within those 4 hours. I'm excited to do this again but I do not miss the running around as much.
I packed my "just in case" experiment which is the plasma ball experiment i use to do at FAO Schwarz. Both the dry ice and plasma ball experiment are really cool but I don't like to do both, it's either/or depending on the space or situation. Sometimes the locations run out of dry ice, and I had to learn that the hard way. Sometimes the N train doesn't stop at Queensboro Plaza and bypasses it heading to Queens for the next few weeks. I also had to learn that the hard way.
This is still week 2 from working again after my recovery from my February 9th vocal surgery. I've been using my mic and portable speaker that I use for parties and events for teaching now also. I had to take most of the today to go through my science bag and remember the order of experiments I do for the show. I'm kinda rusty but teaching again helped me warm up for this. I just have to find the balance to not strain my voice tomorrow at the event because I know my old instincts will want to kick in and I tend to get loud.
I got everything packed and I'm about to go to bed to start my crazy journey to this event in a few hours.
Wish me luck!
12/03/2024
I've thankfully reached a point in my jobs where I'm asked by name by parents about classes, and my classes book quickly.
My "Weird and Wacky Science" classes have been a hit, both in person, and 1 online school continuous since 2020. Through 1 organization, some schools hire me for the entire school year and/or summer classes, school events, or "camps" during school breaks for either morning and/or afternoon classes. In the other organization, I teach in person, so the students come to me at a location in Brooklyn for both morning and afternoon classes.
My "Blockbuster Videos" film classes in Brooklyn and my "Hollywood Videos" film classes in Queens have both taken off with parents eagerly waiting for our newest "episodes" or short films.
We use my Canon DSLR 70D with a Rhodes mic, 2 LED lights, and a tripod, and by we, I mean the kids. By kids, I mean from the ages of 6 - 13. They've learned to trust me just as much as I trust them to use my equipment. I HAVE INSURANCE!!!, under my LLC REC Productions.
We've parodied/created films like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Pokemon, Zoltar, time traveling, wishes, video games, mysteries, portals, soccer, superheroes, puppets, black and white mad scientist films, and silent films.
It's become a hit with the students and parents. It also pushes me to try stuff I've been wanting to try but, needed an excuse to do it. I recently bought a green and blue screen that I'm waiting to come in next week to see if we could "shrink" someone down to create a superhero movie with my teen filmmakers in Queens. I have finally been using and buying nerdy collectibles or "props" I've been hoarding in case I ever shot a themed film.
IT'S FINALLY BEEN PUT TO USE!
The films look and feel similar to the movie "Be Kind Rewind" using copyright-free music, copyright-free effects, edited off my Adobe Premiere, and using whatever nerdy collectible, toy, or nostalgic prop is available.
While reflecting, I've recently realized that I've been teaching some sort of after-school class for over 20 years and also creating some sort of video media production for clients, gigs, or jobs for the past 25 years.
I'm now producing, directing, editing, and, teaching kid film production and acting classes, weekly, with 3 classes, within 2 organizations in 2 different boroughs.
The science classes I teach, are ones that I've researched and created themes for. It has the kids thinking about finding the answers, as I perform while teaching as "Mr. Rich." I also have my catchphrases that the kids know and repeat.
Even as I sit and write this, a parent from the organization I teach at, inquires if I do parties, so I forward her info to the other organization I teach, with school residencies and do events for. My year is almost booked.
I guess I write this because I feel grateful.
After my first week back to work from healing my voice, I was missed by staff and the kids everywhere I teach. Now this week has started and everything feels back to normal, including my voice, with the help of a portable speaker and mic that I use for birthday parties.
I'm finally working and doing all the things I have a passion for, for a living. After years of hard work, I get to do this full-time and work WITH organizations instead of working FOR them.
For a while I was nervous about my voice not returning and if I could continue teaching and performing. It was taking me to some dark places that pretty much have now left completely after my first week back and I'm grateful to the doctor for doing her "good job 👍" surgery. I'm quoting her by the way.
I have a follow-up appointment tomorrow morning with her and my first vocal coaching with another doctor who is at the same location.
I feel like my year has started now and after a month of healing and rest, I'm ready and I'm busy.
I'm also making MONEY...
Be Kind Rewind (2008) Trailer Be Kind Rewind Trailer taken from Jumper DVD*Seen this movie, its not great. But you might like it.*This Video Clip Is In No Way Profitable, All Copyright Re...
Mental Regurgitation with Mr. Rich
Post surgery.
After a week of healing, I finally got my follow-up appointment on my vocal cord surgery to remove 2 cysts. The results were surprising, and I still have a long road ahead. Thank you for following my journey.
Mental Regurgitation with Mr. Rich.
Surgery.
This February 9th, four days before my birthday, I'll be going under the knife to have a cyst in my vocal cord removed. It'll be in the same hospital, my father passed, a 90-minute surgery, and 3 weeks of at home recovery.
This is my first surgery ever, and in anticipation of it, I decided to go through a roller coaster of emotions thanks to the power of anxiety.
Wish me luck, and if you wish to reach out, please don't force me to talk, either text, email, or learn telepathy...
#46
I almost got hit by a mail van today crossing the street with the crosswalk in my favor. I would love to say this is a first but honestly, this is my 3rd time jumping away from a car making a turn that would have hit me in NYC.
I decided to stroll around Astoria today, enjoy the snow, run errands, and think about lunch. While listening to music I go on auto-pilot and get lost in my mind with the music in the background and my thoughts wandering.
While halfway crossing the street with the crosswalk again in my favor, I saw a mail van make a turn, the driver avoided traffic and was still going while I was crossing.
My old-school New York mentality is, "What you're gonna hit me? Try it!"
So I crossed with the New York confidence using my peripherals to eye the van. I noticed he doesn't reduce his speed.
I then notice the left side of his van coming very close to me without slowing down.
At that moment time slows down and my brain prepares for 3 different scenarios.
Scenario 1. I'm going to get hit or clipped from the side of the van on my leg, hip, and shoulder and I most likely will either hit the ground several feet ahead or I might get thrown to the parked car near the crosswalk.
Scenario 2. I'm going to get hit or clipped and fall down getting run over on my left leg and slightly dragged on the left side of his van.
Scenario 3. Leapfrog like I'm spamming the jump button in Frogger and long jump it across as if I were avoiding snow puddles in the winter.
As graceful as a ballerina, I choose scenario 3.
I make it across very last minute.
The van stopped.
I turned around and my inner New Yorker came out but instead of "Hey, I'm walking over here!", I was shouting, "That was my LIFE!"
The postman who was probably my age rolled down his window slightly and I was expecting some sort of apology but instead, he thought "I didn't see you" would suffice.
I again in my most New York Queens rage yell out "OPEN YOUR BEAUTIFUL EYES NEXT TIME YOU POSTMAN!", "THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MY LIFE YOU POSTMAN!!! Turning around and pointing at the crosswalk with the walk sign shining bright like a diamond.
I didn't use those words exactly but he tried to emphasize his new catchphrase of "I DIDN'T SEE YOU!" again but with aggression.
At that point, I started to realize that it was a Post Office Mail Van and the driver was in post office uniform. Instead of a "ding!" the sound of horns honking like drums manifests out my inner afterschool teacher.
With a "what did you just do?" tone I sternly shout back, "Are you being argumentive with me!?", he immediately says "No!" as if I reached his inner child.
The only other thing I could say after that was,
"Then... GOOOoooooo you POSTMAN!"
Again I didn't say it exactly this way.
I decided to grab a pizza and some coffee almost slipping on the floor on my way out, prompting a patron to ask me if I was ok.
"My adrenaline is already up so I guess it'll stay that way for a while now." I leave carrying my hot chocolate, muffins, and pizza to enjoy my snowy day off.
As I write this I can't help but feel the areas that scenarios 1 and 2 would have hit.
It's as if I can feel the tire running over my left leg scraping against my jeans or I can feel the areas on my shoulder, hip, and leg bouncing off the van.
Not pain but awareness of those areas.
The tire over the leg feeling is hard to explain.
It's as if 2 parallel versions of me are right now in pain but thinking about what to buy and where to go from the lawsuit against the post office...
Meanwhile, I'm not leaving my apartment for NO REASON today...
Stay safe folks!
Yesterday I taught 3 morning classes not knowing I had off...
However, as the staff and I were figuring out what to do, a teacher mentioned to me that they had asked the kids a holiday question.
"If you could invite ANYONE over to your Thanksgiving, who would you invite?"
I figured the kids would mention, family members, famous people, cartoon characters, etc which they did.
Several also mentioned, Mr. Rich!
That not only caught the teachers by surprise but me as well!
I joking said, "I hope the foods good!" but in reality it was very sweet, the gesture, not the food...
It was nice to hear.
Wishing everyone a happy and thankful day with family!
Happy Halloween from Mr. Rich!!!
29/10/2023
Both Professor Atlas and Mr. Rich were busy today!
Mr. Rich made an appearance at Lightbridge Academy for 2 Halloween Bash Science performances today!
Professor Atlas made an appearance today at FAO Schwarz for a directorship special Halloween event!
Mr. Rich had a great summer teaching science to kids at the Union Square Park in Manhattan.
Contact City Owlets to find out how we can do the same on your community.
Mr. Rich loves magic as much as he loves science and with a magnet wand and some ferro fluid, ANYTHING is possible!
Mr. Rich LOVES magnets! This was at the Union Square Park over the summer through City Owlets .
Contact us to find out more.
Mr. Rich also worked with the Union Square Park through City Owlets to teach science classes outdoors in the park.
Contact us to find out how we can do the same on your community.
Mr. Rich leaves an impact where he goes!
Check out this video made over the summer where he taught outdoor science for the kids in Long Island City Queens along with other amazing educators!
Mr. Rich does residencies in schools or camps. Contact us to find out more.
City Owlets
Are you looking for educational entertainment for kids?
Mr. Rich can provide, contact us to find out how!
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