Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater Approved For A Grant For NY Voices

Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, announced that Joe's Pub at The Public Theater has been approved for a grant to support New York Voices at Joe's Pub, a series celebrating New York City's diversity in performance and culture, presenting collaborations between artists from sound and stage. It is the first NEA grant for Joe's Pub, allowing the venue to award its first commissions to its critically acclaimed artists. The series will serve as the centerpiece of the initial fall programming schedule at the newly renovated East Village venue.

Blending the talents of performers from both Joe's Pub and The Public Theater, New York Voices will create one of a kind theatrical experiences that celebrate the diversity of New York's thriving artist community and their audiences. Inspired by the success of "Passing Strange", which began as a Public Theater commissioned work from Joe's Pub artist Stew and later went on to a critically acclaimed, Tony- Award-winning Broadway show, New York Voices is the manifestation of Joe's Pub Director Shanta Thake's vision to support artists more fully by allowing them the space and time to create new work that not only connects artists to their fans, but to their contemporaries. It's this vision that continues to provide the iconic East Village venue with some of the most unique and diverse programming the city has to offer.

"I am thrilled that this gift from the NEA has given us the opportunity to showcase five of the incredible Joe's Pub artists that have inspired us all through their artistry and commitment to their audience and New York City. This grant will support the creation of five new works that will no doubt have an impact on our community for years to come," said Joe's Pub Director Shanta Thake.

Artists include Grammy Award-winning Beninese star Angelique Kidjo with Director Jo Bonney, New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint, New York cabaret superstar Lady Rizo with Director Niegel Smith, hilarious and poignant songwriter Ethan Lipton and his Orchestra, and Brooklyn based funk-folk activist Toshi Reagon with Playwright Winter Miller and Director Lear deBessonet.

"Joe's Pub has been one of the most successful ventures The Public has ever undertaken, offering support and a venue to literally thousands of artists over the last 13 years," said Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. "This new commissioning program will help bind the Pub's musicians and The Public's theater artists even more closely together. It's going to be thrilling."

An independent agency of the federal government, the National Endowment for the Arts advances artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman said, "I continue to be impressed with the creative, innovative, and excellent projects brought forward by arts organizations across the country. Our grantees are not only furthering their art forms but also enhancing their neighborhoods by making them more vibrant, livable, and fun."

The New York Voices Series at Joe's Pub - ONSALE THURSDAY, AUGUST 18th at 2PM
Blending the talents of performers from both Joe's Pub and The Public Theater, New York Voices will create one of a kind theatrical experiences that celebrate the diversity of New York's thriving artist community and their audiences. For updates and information on these commissioned projects as they continue to develop go to www.joespub.com.

Angelique Kidjo with Director Jo Bonney
Dates / PrIce TBD
Angelique Kidjo will revisit the legends and tales of her childhood with a poignant perspective on the history of her native country. Born in Benin (West Africa), Angelique Kidjo is a Grammy award-winning music recording artist deemed "Africa's premier diva" by Time Magazine. Kidjo's internationally acclaimed repertoire includes collaborations with various recording artists such as Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel, Alicia Keys, Josh Groban, Branford Marsalis, Joss Stone, and many more. Known for her dynamic and uplifting music, she has translated her distinctive work in the arts to that of philanthropy; by promoting education for girls in Africa through her foundation, Batonga and as a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador Kidjo travels the world to inspire and empower.

Toshi Reagon with Playwright Winter Miller and Director Lear deBesonnet: Lines
November 4, 5 & 7 at 7:00pm - $20
Lines is a collaboration conceived by Singer, Musician, and Composer Toshi Reagon in development with Playwright Winter Miller (In Darfur, The Penetration Play,) and Director Lear deBesonnet (On The Levee). Toshi Reagon has been described as "a talented, versatile singer, songwriter and musician with a profound ear for sonic Americana-from folk to funk, from blues to rock" by critic/blogger Eva Yaa Asantewaa (InfiniteBody). "She masters each of these genres with vocal strategies that easily spiral and swoop from the expressively sinuous to the hard-charging, a combination of warmth and mischief." While her expansive career has landed her comfortably in residence at Carnegie Hall, the Paris Opera House and Madison Square Garden, you can just as easily find Toshi turning out a music festival, intimate venue or local club. Toshi finds home on any musical stage.

Ethan Lipton & his Orchestra
November 10-12 at 7:00pm - $15
Ethan Lipton & his Orchestra ("Best Lounge Act," New York Magazine) present an irreverent song cycle about the demise of a local workplace and the diminishing returns of the American dream. Ethan Lipton & his orchestra play an edgy brand of jazz/folk/alternative nosh with a chewy singer-songwriter center. With melancholy wit and a cockeyed worldview, sepia-toned frontman Lipton and band mates Eben Levy (guitar), Ian Riggs (bass) and Vito Dieterle (sax) deliver songs steeped in mixed-message sincerity and soul. The band has appeared at Celebrate Brooklyn, MASS MOCA, Bryant Park, the Camden Opera House, Tangier (LA), Vermont Arts Exchange, and has been featured on NPR and radio stations around the country. As a playwright, Lipton's work has been produced in New York, LA, Edinburgh (Scotland) and Berne (Austria).

Allen Toussaint: A Southern Night
November 20 at 12pm (noon) / November 21-23 at 7:00pm
$15 children under 12 (11/20 show only) / $30 adults
One of America's greatest musical treasures, Allen Toussaint presents A Southern Night featuring songs from the album as well as songs that relate to the Toussaint Family. A singer, pianist, songwriter, arranger and producer - the New Orleans native and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee has been making hit records for over forty years. His massive influence on American music reaches deep into the idioms of rhythm and blues, pop, country, musical theater, blues and jazz. The master has produced such artists as Etta James, LaBelle, John Mayall and Dr. John, and has been covered by and/or performed with the Pointer Sisters, Robert Palmer, Otis Redding, The O'Jays, Ringo Starr, Paul Simon, Chet Atkins, and Elvis Costello, among others. In New Orleans, Toussaint is revered for his distinguished record in public service, consistently devoting his talents to a variety of community and charity programs.

Lady Rizo with director Niegel Smith
November 4, 11, 16 & 18 at 9:30pm - $15 advance / $20 door
Lady Rizo has recently been ordained by the Temple of Glitter. Aggressively feminine and possessing a distinct absence of inhibition, she will lead you in a night praising the power of song, giggles, madness and glamorous glances in this new collaboration with director Niegel Smith (Associate Director, FELA!). The 'Cabaret Superstar' (New York Magazine), comedienne and chanteuse revives the genre by creating vintage arrangements & theatrical explorations of pop songs from every decade. Lady Rizo (nee Amelia Zirin-Brown) co-created the cult caburlesque spectacular Lady Rizo & the Assettes in 2005 and has been in residence with Joe's Pub with her sold out monthly show for over two years. She has collaborated on albums with Moby and Yo Yo Ma; and in 2010 won her first Grammy on an album with the acclaimed cellist. She is the Mistress of Ceremonies for current hotspot The Darby, a decadent modern supperclub in the West Village.

JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater, set to reopen October 4th, 2011 from a top to bottom renovation, debuted in October 1998 and quickly became one of New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance. With its genre-blind booking and vast diversity of interests, the stage at Joe's Pub gives voIce To a world of varied and stellar artists. Joe's Pub is open seven days a week, regularly hosting as many as three shows a day. Dinner and drink service is available during every performance. In addition to its reputation of presenting internationally known stars, Joe's Pub has also developed into a premier showcase stage for up-and-coming musicians and emerging artists from a variety of disciplines. www.joespub.com

The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Joey Parnes, Interim Executive Director) was founded by Joseph Papp in 1954 and is now one of the nation's preeminent cultural institutions, producing new plays, musicals and productions of classics at its downtown home and at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The Public Theater's mandate to create a theater for all New Yorkers continues to this day on stage and through extensive outreach and education programs. Each year, more than 250,000 people attend Public Theater-related productions and events at six downtown stages, including Joe's Pub, and Shakespeare in the Park. The Public Theater's productions have won 42 Tony Awards, 151 Obies, 41 Drama Desk Awards and four Pulitzer Prizes. Fifty-four Public Theater Productions have moved to Broadway, including Sticks and Bones; That Championship Season; A Chorus Line; For Colored Girls...; The Pirates of Penzance; The Tempest; Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk; The Ride Down Mt. Morgan; Topdog/Underdog; Take Me Out; Caroline, or Change; Passing Strange; the revival of HAIR; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and The Merchant of Venice.

The NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government that has awarded more than $4 billion on projects of artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the National Endowment for the Arts at arts.gov.

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!