James Jackson Jr. and LaDonna Burns Come to Joe's Pub, 8/10

Performance Artist and lover of tight jeans, James Jackson, Jr. has teamed with long time friend and hair-changing Diva-About-Town, LaDonna Burns (Rent Nat'l Tour, Seussical Nat'l Tour) for a show they've written based on the early years of their friendship and careers singing behind several New York City acts.

What happens when the only two members of America's newest soul-sensation, "Becky & The Whiteboys", to show up at their New York City debut are the black-up singers? Can these two over-worked and under-used talents find a band in time? More importantly, who's going to sing lead? "Becky & The Whiteboys" are not only the band these two sing behind. They also represent the things The Black-Ups have been stumbling over for years while searching for a reason to step out from behind that up-stage-left microphone and into the spotlight.

With the sexiest soul band in town, lead by the multi-talented, ever-charming, birthday boy Elliot Roth, James and LaDonna are taking a trip, meeting center stage, basking in the spotlight, and ready to blow the roof off the place.

Tickets: http://joespub.publictheater.org/en/Tickets/Calendar/PlayDetailsCollection/Joes-Pub/The-Black-Ups-featuring-James-Jackson-Jr--LaDonna-Burns/

Sunday, Aug. 10th @ 7PM (doors open at 6:00PM)

BIO

James Jackson, Jr. Lover of tight jeans, too much jewelry, and good soul searching music, the diamond-hearted, sharp-witted, Boston native Mr. Jackson was undergraduately reared by lesbians in the New England Berkshires after artistically growing up on the south shore of Massachusetts under the soul-food tutelage of a deep southern family. The shoes; Birkenstocks. The music; Indigo, Simone, Franklin & Difranco. The relationships; many, lost, and strong.

Deposited in New York City over a decade ago & the real work began. Dance belts, regional stage yelts, never fitting in with the in-crowd, a team of demanding Brits, and even a rather unfortunate stop in Branson, Missouri all lead to his discovery of artistic truth on prestigious stages like Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall. His highly emotional, devastatingly funny cabaret act has been seen at Joe's Pub, 54 Below, Duane Park, DROM, The A.R.T.'s Club Oberon, and Los Angeles' Lyric Theatre. James' razor-sharp wit, unique sense of humor, talent, and on & off stage persona have become an artistic force to be reckoned with as well as a voice people want to hear as he changes the face of the concert stage.

LaDonna Burns is originally from Indianapolis. Her National Tour credits include Rent ("Seasons of Love" Soloist/Joanne understudy), and Seussical the Musical (Sour Kangaroo). LaDonna has appeared as Teen Angel/Miss Lynch in Grease at the International Music Festival in Macau, China. She was last seen in NYC playing Momma in Supersoldier by Jim Rado. Regional credits include All Shook Up (Sylvia), Smokey Joes Café (BJ), Ain't Misbehavin' (Armelia), Beehive (Diane Ross/Aretha Franklin/Patti LaBelle/Ikette), Crowns (Jeanette) and Satchmo: The Life and Times of Louis Armstrong (Ella Fitzgerald/Bessie Smith). LaDonna can be heard singin at Brandy's Piano Bar and spreading the joys of singing Pop/Rock music at The New York Film Academy.